JANUARY 22, 2016
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892
SURVEY BY UC PROF PROMPTS SKIRMISH IN WI TENURE FIGHT
Law Professors, Company Rep Debate Uber Regulation
BY SONIA SCHLESINGER SENIOR REPORTER
BY ISAAC TRONCOSO NEWS STAFF
This past Wednesday, Law School professors Eric Posner and M. Todd Henderson debated Uber’s future impact on the transportation industry with the company’s Midwest Public Affairs Manager, Robert Kellman. The event aimed to address three topics: Uber’s growth and strategies, the company’s challenges, and the rise of the sharing economy in general. Henderson, the Michael J. Marks Professor of Law and Mark Claster Mamolen Research Scholar, observed that Uber’s rise is simply a variant of the larger trend towards services such as Amazon and eBay that rely on the self-regulation of customer reviews as a cornerstone of their business models. In addition, Uber does not compete with a field dominated by entrenched private companies. Rather, it targets failings of the government. “What Uber does that’s interesting to me, is—they don’t challenge incumbent businesses. Their business model is to be in direct competition with government. Their rival is the City of Chicago’s taxi commission. They come to the people and say ‘we offer a better system for regulating cabs through our star system rating. If you rate the ride one star you get your money back, and all the while you can track it on GPS.’ That’s a better regulator than a taxi commission. They’re trying to go after inefficient regulation,” Henderson said. Kellman, Uber’s representative, spoke of how the company offers opportunities for both riders and customers. “Parts of this city and many others once had no access to transportation five years ago. Now everyone takes it for granted that you can just open up a phone app and within five minutes have a car in front of you. That kind of freedom and connectivity does incredible things for cities. The opportunities for everyone are massive,” he said. He went on to note that in Continued on Page 2
William Howell, a professor of political science at the Harris School of Public Policy, published the results of a controversial survey about tenure last month. Howell administered the survey in September to faculty at the University Courtesy of Shrine of Christ the King of Wisconsin (UW), where it Shrine of Christ the King church will be demolished following damage raised many questions about from a fire in October. anonymity, the format of the questions, and whether the results could be used against faculty in the state legislature’s debates over tenure protection in the UW system. Overall, the survey had BY KAITLYN AKIN proval from the Commission of a 22 percent response rate, NEWS STAFF Chicago Landmarks to demol- which, according to Barry ish the building on January 6. If Burden, a UW political sciIn the first week of January, they secure the approval of the ence professor, may not be repthe Archdiocese of Chicago filed City of Chicago Department of resentative of the UW faculty a petition to demolish the Shrine Buildings, then they will move population as a whole. Several of Christ the King church on forward with the plans for dem64th Street and Woodlawn Ave- olition. nue, which was ravaged by a fire Some members of the comthat broke out last October after munity feel that the Archdiocese improperly-stored rags sponta- did not provide the necessary neously combusted. comfort and support in this time “The loss of the Shrine of of tragedy. “One might think Christ the King is upsetting and that a reaction from your hierBY ADAM THORP a disappointment to the Archdi- archy and administration would NEWS EDITOR ocese, the people who worship be one of support in the moment Participants in the college there and the Woodlawn commu- of disaster—meeting with the nity,” Susan Burritt, spokesper- community, with the faithful, admissions process should son for the Archdiocese of Chi- show of solidarity—none of that weigh ethics and character cago, said. “However, we value happened. Instead, the Archdio- when preparing and considlife and safety above all else and cese unpleasantly surprised ev- ering applications, argues will proceed with those priorities erybody by applying for a dem- a recently released report guiding our actions.” olition permit,” UChicago art endorsed by the head of the Continued on Page 4 University of Chicago’s adThe Archdiocese received apmissions office. “Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good through C ol lege Ad m issions ” was released Wednesday by the BY EILEEN LI ley. M a k i n g C a r i n g C om mon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Franklin’s resume includes Project, a project by the Harexperience as the chief technol- vard Graduate School of EduOn January 11, the Univer- ogy officer of Truvisio, a data an- cation that explores how edusity announced the appointment alytics company later purchased cation can make people more of Michael Franklin as chair of by Cisco, and advising experi- ethical. the Department of Computer ence with a variety of technology Jim Nondorf, the UniverScience. Franklin is a promi- companies. He also has over 30 sity of Chicago’s dean of adnent data science scholar and years of experience in databases missions, was one of a group current chair of the Computer and data management as an ac- of 85 admissions and educaScience Division of the Depart- ademic, an entrepreneur, and tion professionals to sign on ment of Electrical Engineering director of his own laboratory, to the report. Representatives and Computer Sciences at the the AMPLab. of every Ivy League school Continued on Page 4 University of California, Berkeand some elite preparatory
Woodlawn Church to be Demolished amidst Protests
Franklin New Chair of Computer Science Department
Chicago Looks to Extend Early Success Against Wesleyan and Wash U
Page 5
Pages 2 UCDems and the IOP held a mock Democratic presidential debate at the Revival theater.
professors did not complete the survey once they had started it and more than 200 participants also opted out of the survey after completing it due to the concerns mentioned above. Howell had decided to administer the survey because tenure issues have been particularly contentious at UW, after the legislature eliminated tenure from the state statute in June. However, he did not anticipate the extent of discontent with the survey. “I was surprised at just how live an issue it is,” Howell said. “When I wanted to go out there and do the survey I thought… it’s controversial, it’s relevant, but didn’t realize that the anxiety is right there.” The results of the survey reaffirm UW faculty’s anxiety over losing tenure. When Continued on Page 4
NEW REPORT: APPLICANTS MUST KNOW THAT CHARACTER COUNTS
Less Checked Boxes, More Change
Democrats Debate on Behalf of their Primary Picks
VOL. 127, ISSUE 22
Page 11
Turning the Tide“ lacks funsamental changes needed for a more ethical admissions process.
The Verdict? I’ll Go Back to Packed Page 9 “The portions are small, but the amount loaded into these tiny dumplings is so great that you get your money’s worth.”
The men’s and women’s team placed fi rst in the Phoenix Invivational.
schools were among the other signees. “As a liberal arts college specifically, as a highly selective institution specifically, all of this is a really good message to support. Because it’s the message you try to get out to your applicants. You try to tell students and family and high school communities [that] it’s not about gaming a system… it’s about what we really value,” said Veronica Hauad, the director of equity and access programming in the University of Chicago’s admissions office. The report argues that the admissions process often sig na ls to applicants that colleges value individual achievement rather than character or commitment to community. “ U ltimately, we cannot bring about a sea change in the messages our culture sends to young people unless Continued on Page 3
Contributing to the Maroon
If you want to get involved in T HE M AROON in any way, please email apply@ chicagomaroon. com or visit chicagomaroon.com
Excerpts from articles and comments published in T he Chicago Maroon may be duplicated and redistributed in other media and non-commercial publications without the prior consent of The Chicago Maroon so long as the redistributed article is not altered from the original without the consent of the Editorial Team. Commercial republication of material in The Chicago Maroon is prohibited without the consent of the Editorial Team or, in the case of reader comments, the author. All rights reserved. © The Chicago Maroon 2015
2
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
Panel Discusses whether Uber Should Be Regulated by Government Continued from front Loop, taxis would maintain routes—‘long hauling’ their June, Uber announced dominance. To emphasize customers. “They tried a its intent to create 10,000 this point, Kellman men- report system where they driving jobs on the South tioned that prior to the en- would have people, when and West sides of Chicago try of Uber, San Francisco they felt they were cheated, in twelve months. They International Airport saw fill out an affidavit in the were more than halfway to 150,000 to 160,000 taxi hopes that they would gain their mark after four. rides per month. In the reimbursement through The panel mainly dis- time after Uber’s introduc- hearings. They tried a sysagreed over whether Uber tion, however, Uber served tem of roadblocks where should be regulated by the roughly 250,000 people they would stop cabs, ask government. Posner sug- per month while the taxis where they were going, gested that such regulation maintained their numbers. and if they said the Strip, would be inevitable, and Henderson and Kell- riders were handed a piece that Uber would establish man further argued that of paper that said ‘head to a monopoly by displacing Uber is much more efficient this hearing and you can taxi companies completely. without government regu- get your money back’. They Otherwise, he suggested lation. “Uber has created delayed people from getting that multiple ride-sharing a model that is inherently to where they want to go in companies would domi- efficient, that responds to order to give them an opnate the market, and price changes in demand nearly portunity to be further dehaggling would become the instantaneously. It can ad- layed. This is the way the norm. just to the pressures of the government works.” Both Henderson and market in real time,” KellThe event was held by Kellman disagreed with man said. the newly formed Chicago Posner, arguing that Uber Henderson spoke of Economics Forum and coserves a different market Las Vegas as an example sponsored by the Intercolthan taxis—citing the idea of government inefficiency legiate Finance Journal. that in congested down- in response to cabs taktown areas such as the ing purposely circuitous
CORRECTIONS: Correction: In Tuesday, January 19th’s issue, the article “See Through Stigma Week Raises Awareness of Mental and Physical Disabilities” incorrectly stated that the RSO Axis raises awareness about physical and mental health. Active Minds, the other RSO mentioned in the story, focuses on mental health. Axis focuses on raising awareness about disability.The article has been updated online to reflect the distinction between mental health and disability. Clarification: In Friday, January 15th’s issue the Uncommon Interview with Professor Harold Pollack did not include his full title. Pollack is the Helen Ross Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy.
Democrats Debate on Behalf of Their Primary Picks BY JAEHOON AHN NEWS CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Chicago Democrats (UC Dems) and the Institute of Politics (IOP) held a mock Democratic presidential debate on Thursday at The Revival theater in Hyde Park. Students from UChicago Students for Hillary, UChicago Students for Bernie Sanders, and Maroons for Martin O’Malley assumed the roles of presidential candidates. The hour-long debate, moderated by IOP fellow and democratic political operative Patti Doyle, followed a question-and-answer format where each candidate was given a chance to answer questions on a wide range of issues from climate change and gun control to health care and financing education. Calvin Cottrell represented Clinton, Tyler Kissinger represented Sanders, and Kennedy Greene represented O’Malley. Cottrell and Greene worked for their respective candidates’ campaigns last summer. Kissinger is the head of UChicago Students for Bernie Sanders. Questions on imple-
menting policies to address climate change prompted discussion on each candidate’s ability to draw bipartisan support in an increasingly polarized political atmosphere. Greene, representing O’Malley, stressed his construction of offshore wind turbines in Ocean City, while Cottrell, representing Clinton, emphasized his candidate’s promise to build a half billion more solar panels by the end of her first term. Many students in the audience came from different presidential candidate groups on campus in support of their representative. Jessica Law, a second-year sociology major, said that she heard about the event from her involvement in
UChicago Students for Bernie Sanders. “I think the debate went very well and the speakers stayed true to the candidates,” Law said. Third-year Henry Bensinger, the executive director of UC Dems, said the goal of the organization is to get more students engaged in politics, and he thought that a mock debate would be a great way to get all the different presidential candidate groups on campus in a conversation with one another. Bensinger said that while the UC Dems primarily had students in mind for the target audience, they “also thought about the members of the community, since we aren’t going to get a presidential debate here in Hyde Park.”
Xin Sui Zhang | The Chicago Maroon
Students represented Democratic presidential candidates at a mock debate hosted by UC Dems and the IOP.
The Lumen Christi Institute for Catholic Thought, The Medieval Studies Workshop, & The Theology & Religious Ethics Workshop present
Finding the right home begins with finding the right home loan. With a Citibank mortgage, your clients will receive exceptional benefits: ■ SureStart® Pre-approval 1 to help your clients shop with confidence ■ On-Time Closing Guarantee 2 so your clients can be confident their loan will close on time ■ Lower rates with Citibank Relationship Pricing ■ Jumbo loan sizes up to $8 million
Aquinas
Poet & Contemplative a lecture by Paul Murray, O.P. Thursday January 28 7:00pm Swift Hall Common Room
Contact me today to learn more: Jim Nagrant Home Lending Officer 773-758-0323 james.nagrant@citi.com NMLS# 444459
Terms, conditions, and fees for accounts, products, programs, and services are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend. Certain restrictions may apply on all programs. SureStart is a registered service mark of Citigroup, Inc. Final commitment is subject to verification of information, receipt of a satisfactory sales contract on the home you wish to purchase, appraisal and title report, and meeting our customary closing conditions. This offer is not a commitment to lend and is subject to change without notice. There is no charge for the SureStart pre-approval, but standard application and commitment fees apply. 2 If you are purchasing a home, we guarantee to close by the date specified in your purchase contract, unless prohibited by federal law,* and further provided that the date is at east 30 days after the application date and the date of your purchase contract. f your loan fails to close on time due to a delay by Citibank, you will receive a credit toward closing costs of $1,500. Offer not available for refinance loans, co-ops, unapproved condos, residences under construction, some community lending programs and government loans. In Texas, the credit may not result in your receiving cash back. (*Federal law requires certain disclosures be delivered to the borrower at least 3 business days before consummation. The Guarantee to close does not apply if such disclosures are required and your closing is delayed due to the 3-business-day waiting period.) ©2016 Citibank, N. A. Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC. NMLS# 412915. Citi, Citibank, Arc Design and Citi with Arc Design are registered servicemarks of Citigroup Inc.
for more information visit www.lumenchristi.org
“The well-known is what we have yet to learn.” T.S. Eliot What do we know of the prayer-life of St Thomas Aquinas? This lecture will be directly concerned with this question, and the answer may well come as a surprise to many people. Aquinas is still today almost exclusively regarded as an outstanding scholastic philosopher and theologian. But what is little known is that he was also a master of the spiritual life and a very considerable poet, perhaps even the greatest Latin poet of the Middle Ages. Paul Murray O.P. is an Irish Dominican, a poet, and a professor in Rome at the University of St. Thomas, the Angelicum.
3
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
Trans Erasure, Whitewashing Subjects of Emerging Mind Talk BY MIN HAHN NEWS STAFF
On Thursday, the University of Chicago Center for Identity and Inclusion hosted “Trading Faces: Trans Erasure and Whitewashing in Hollywood.” The discussion was a part of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP), started five years ago by a group of students who wanted more opportunities to interact with peers of different identities. The goal of the project is to complement students’ academic coursework with discussions of daily societal issues. According to Emy Cardoza, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, students saw many opportunities to participate in race-specific or orientation-specific RSOs, but could not find many opportunities for interracial interaction. Trading Faces was organized as a discussion-based event in an effort to understand the reasons behind people’s opinions regarding trans and
racial discrimination in Hollywood. T he introduction overviewed three major subtopics within the broader conversation of trans erasure: cisgender actors playing transgender characters, straight actors playing LGBT characters, and LGBT actors playing straight characters. Trans erasure was defined as the ignoring or passing up of transgender or transsexual actors in popular media. An example of a cisgender actor portraying a transgender character included Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of Lili Elbe in the critically acclaimed biographical drama fi lm, The Danish Girl. The popular TV show Glee’s portrayal of Blaine by straight actor Darren Criss was an example of a straight actor portraying a gay character. Conversely, Neil Patrick Harris was discussed for his part as Barney on How I Met Your Mother as a gay man acting in the role of a straight man. Movies such as Exodus and The Last Airbender were men-
Ahona Mukherjee | The Chicago Maroon
Emy Cardoza gives a presentation at the Center for Identity+Inclusion during a panel on Trans Erasure and Whitewashing in Hollywood.
tioned in discussions of whitewashing in Hollywood, and discussed alongside Hollywood’s historic use of black and yellow face. After the introduction, the participants split into two discussion groups led by facilitators. One group was led by second-years Soreti Teshome and Cori Tingstad; the other was facilitated by second-year Katherine Vega and Brett Stachler, a staff member of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. The facilitators opened up the group to a variety of topics ranging from the seemingly niche markets of media containing diverse cast members to the contradictory arguments relating to universality. “If you have multiple minorities, it’s suddenly a minority show,” one participant said. “But then the question is, why is that seen as such a bad thing? Why is that seen as such a niche market?” There was discussion of media portraying group-specific experiences as contrary to universality, especially in the case of women. Such arguments, for the discussants, are usually only made against women and minority stories, rather than against dominant white and male stories. “There is this idea that if you’re telling a story about women’s issues you’re not speaking about universal issues...I think that’s completely ridiculous,” Tingstad said. The EMP has planned another event later in the quarter to discuss the topic of Islamophobia. Unlike this discussion, the next one will include a panel. Editor’s Note: Katherine Vega is a senior reporter for THE MAROON.
Author Discusses Late Internet Hacktivist at Sem Co-op BY HILLEL STEINMETZ MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
A discussion at the Seminary Co-Op on Tuesday examined the life of programmer and Internet hacktivist Aaron Swartz and the larger evolution of copyright law. The talk was led by Justin Peters, author of The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet. The event was co-sponsored by UChicago Careers in Journalism, Arts, and Media (UCIJAM). Swartz was a computer programmer involved in the creation of the sharing website Reddit. He was also social activist instrumental in the formation of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a political action committee affiliated with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Swartz was indicted by federal authorities in 2011 for illegally downloading thousands of academic documents from JSTOR, an online academic journal database. In January 2013 he hanged himself in his Brooklyn
By the time Swartz was in eighth apartment at the age of 26. Peters presented Swartz as grade, he had won an award for one of many nonconformists who creating a data-hyperlinked onchallenged notions of copyright line encyclopedia that could be edited by anyone just a few months and intellectual property (IP). “Throughout American his- before Wikipedia launched. Peters later talked about how tory, and I will assume, sort of, world history too, there are Swartz became particularly disalways these flashpoint figures, tressed by the fact that libraries right? People who take it upon in developing countries struggle themselves to harangue the gen- to pay for access to scholarly daeral public to care about IP and its tabases. In 2008, Swartz wrote “Guerilla Open Access Manifesto,” implications.” He discussed Noah Webster, which advocated that those with who, after attempting to publish access to scholarly documents spelling and grammar textbooks should share them on the Interin the 1780s, lobbied on behalf of net for free on ethical grounds. Lastly, Peters discussed creating copyright infrastructure. He continued the discussion Swartz’s legacy and expressed with the story of Michael Hart. concern about how large technolHart redefined what information ogy companies have grown in size could be accessed through the in- and influence. He said he worries ternet, and beginning in the early about the government’s use of 1970s spent several years typing technology to monitor the habits up public domain works and of its citizens and the citizens of publishing them as free eBooks. other countries. “I would hope that Aaron’s legHis effort, Project Gutenberg, is widely considered to be the first acy is something that reminds us all on a regular basis of the merits digital library. Peters then spoke about Aaron of looking inside black boxes. Of Swartz, the subject of The Idealist. the merits of curiosity.”
UChicago Researchers to Use Digital Storytelling to Explore Reproductive Health in India BY FENG YE NEWS STAFF
A University research center recently received a $1 million, two-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the center’s new research project, Kissa Kahani. The project will focus on factors that influence reproductive health of young people in India. Instead of employing traditional research methods like structural surveys, the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Ci3) will approach its research topic through digital storytelling in workshop environments. Combining personal narratives, photographs, writings, and music, the short documentaries will present rich portraits of lives of Indian youths ages 15–24. Kahani will not be the first Ci3 research project to use digital storytelling. The Transmedia Story Lab at Ci3 has completed a two-year project that collects digital stories of young black youth on the South Side of Chicago. The project aimed at reframing the narratives of what race and sexuality meant for black youths. Digital storytelling particularly fits the current research project. “One goal is to get a contextualized understanding of issues of gender and health…we can understand the larger context in the social and political environment that young people live in. The idea is that things that may seem unrelated to reproductive health, like whether you have a car, whether you have a form of transportation, whether your
parents have to monitor you, or whether you stay in school, can actually be very related [to issues of reproductive health],” said Ci3 founder and project investigator Melissa Gilliam. For Kahani, Ci3 will work with several local organizations in India. Ci3’s main partner is Operation ASHA, a non-profit organization founded in 2005 that brings tuberculosis (TB) treatment to disadvantaged areas. The CEO of Operation ASHA, Sandeep Ahuja (M.P.P. ’06), is an alumnus of the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and has been in touch with the University for years, according to Gilliam. Two faculty members will travel to India for the research project. They are Gilliam, M.D., M.P.H., professor of obstetrics/ gynecology and pediatrics, and Alicia Menendez, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. The specific locations for the workshops have not been chosen, according to Valerie Reynolds, the communication director for Ci3. The center has, however, already sent the storytelling group, led by Project Administrator Shirley Yan, to India. “[I’ve been in India] since mid-November of 2015, but we’ve been doing work since September. Difficulties include all the usual when doing an implementation project in India—various bureaucratic processes, trying to get incentives aligned. For the most part though, these difficulties have been very minimal because we have fantastic project partners,” Yan said.
Dean Nondorf Signs Report Emphasizing Character, Ethics as Admissions Criteria Continued from front
educational institutions at every level elevate and embody a healthier set of values... In the face of deeply troubling trends that only seem to be worsening, it is time to say ‘Enough’,” the report reads. Two groups of students, the reports says, are poorly ser ved by a n appl ication process that focuses on individual achievement: low-income and first generation applicants with few opportunities to build conventional resumes, and well-off applicants pressured to take every academic or extracurricular opportunities offered to them. To help low-income and first generation applicants, the repor t says, col leges should make clear to applicants that they will value work to support their families inside and outside of the home as a form of community engagement.
The report suggests that better-off applicants should be told that stacking up extracurriculars and Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes, or taking standardized tests multiple times will not necessarily improve their chances of admission. T he repor t emphasizes community service but encourages colleges to communicate that exotic or f lashy service will not be valued more than meaningful service that is more modest or closer to home. This new emphasis, the report says, will mean that students will benefit even when trying to “game” the system. “I think when you go on quality of character, it’s hard not to notice when someone’s not being authentic or genuine,” Hauad said.
4
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
“I was surprised at just how live an issue it is”
“It gives people hope for a better Woodlawn... to stifle all that would be a crime” Continued from front
Zoe Kaiser | The Chicago Maroon
Professor William Howell discusses the sur vey he recently conducted among professors at the University of Wisconsin. Continued from front higher education and whether asked how they would respond or not you’ll get a job,” he said. if tenure were replaced with “In those areas members of renewable contracts and cor- the humanities are disadvanresponding salary increases, taged.” nearly 90 percent of particiSeveral professors worried pants said they would consider that even if their responses leaving the state of Wisconsin remained anonymous, they altogether to teach at univer- could be used for political sities elsewhere. purposes. At the time, rumors Appr ox i mat ely ha l f of circulated that the survey had the survey’s participants re- been funded by the American sponded that without tenure, Legislative Exchange Council they would be less likely to dis- (ALEC), a group that writes cuss controversial topics in the and promotes conservative classroom. About 80 percent legislation in state, though would be less likely to conduct this was later proved untrue. controversial research. HowBurden added, “even if the ell, who has tenure himself, survey was well-intentioned, said that this fi nding was not well-designed, and carefully surprising. analyzed by the researcher, “If I undertake a project, there’s still a fear that jourI think about a timeline, [i]t nalists or advocates or polimay take 10 years but I have ticians might try to spin the protection to pursue that line data to their advantage.” of inquiry and figure out if it’s A UW professor of populagoing anywhere. But I don’t tion and health sciences, Daknow if I would pursue it if my vid Vanness, quit the survey contract was up for renewal halfway through because he every few years,” he said. did not agree with the presenBurden agreed. Tenure tation of the questions. is “a protection of ideas, a “I was uncomfortable with… mechanism to support faculty the statements and wanted to to pursue research or teach leave [the question] blank but courses in a way that…isn’t the software did not allow me conventional wisdom, or pop- to do so,” he said. ular, or expected. It’s really at While the issue of tenure is the heart of what a university currently pertinent in Wisconsin, it is, according to Howell, is,” he said. Professors of the human- less so in other states and esities indicated a greater con- pecially at private universities. “At the University of Chicern about maintaining the current tenure system than cago we don’t have a state legthose in other departments. islature breathing down our Compared with the 89 per- necks, one that looks skepticent of participants overall cally upon the name of openwho would consider leaving ended inquiry,” Howell said. the state upon losing tenure, Working at a private univer94 percent of the humanities sity “allows me to take risks faculty participating said like [putting out this surthey would do so. 59 percent vey]. I had notions and ideas of professors in the human- and didn’t know if they’d pay ities would consider leaving off and if I’d been more conthe profession altogether, strained they would’ve been compared with an average of more watered down.” To Howell, the University 52 percent among all departments, though fewer jobs in of Chicago’s response to the the humanities exist outside controversy demonstrated its specific commitment to acaacademia. Howell explained that this demic freedom. “I felt incredibly supported trend is not unique to the Uniby the University of Chicago,” versity of Wisconsin. “There’s been a much larger he said. “I know that this conversation about the hu- institution’s commitment to manities’ role, and the country free and open inquiry is often has seen a decrease in funding discussed…in the abstract… for humanities, in humanities but I really came to feel…and majors, and a shift in dis- deeply appreciate it in its afcourse about the purpose of termath.”
history grad student and church parishioner, Anatole Upart said. Some members of the church and neighborhood community are still trying to save their place of worship. Upart explained that many members of the congregation have created the Coalition to Save the Shrine, a group made up of what their GoFundMe page describes as “preservationists, parishioners, and community members” in favor of repairing the church. This group has reached out to local leaders including 20th district Alderman Willie Cochran, whose signature is needed before the demolition is approved. The community has also raised almost $70,000 for repairs, but this money went to the Institute of Christ the King, the international umbrella organization that runs over a dozen
churches in the U.S. and Italy, ter Woodlawn, it draws people to rather than community orga- the area, and that also allowed nizers. other businesses to partake in “There are always viable al- a revitalization of the neighborternatives to pulling a plug on a hood,” Upart said. “To stifle all Historic Landmark,” Upart said that would be a crime.” in an e-mail. “[The] community The Archdiocese maintains has asked Archdiocese to delay that demolition is the safest and demolition to allow time for a best option for this structure. serious proposal to be drawn up “The urgency and time-line for and funds raised.” Various al- this effort have been driven by ternative solutions to demolition concerns for safety after the have been proposed, including a building was deemed to be “imcommunity center with religious minently dangerous and hazcomponents. ardous” by the City of Chicago,” The building is meaningful Burritt said. not just to those who worship For now, though, the comthere, but also the community munity is staying strong in this at large, according to Upart. As trying time, according to Upart. he explained, the 92-year-old “On one hand, the people have Shrine of Christ the King church come together in this moment of is a reminder of Woodlawn’s days disaster, became stronger, yet on of prosperity and a source of the other hand the uncertainty pride for the community to this of the future weighs heavy on day. everyone’s minds.” “It gives people hope for a bet-
Franklin Was Drawn by the Potential For Growth in the Young Computer Science Department Continued from front
In a phone interview, Franklin said he was attracted to UChicago because of its very young computer science department, to which a substantial amount of faculty has been added within the past five years. This has resulted in exploding demand for computer science classes at the undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D levels. “I think we’re going to have continued growth…With growth comes the ability to move into new areas, interesting areas, like computer security, robotics, human computer interface, a lot of things that I think can be built out as the department grows,” Franklin said of his vision for the future. While much of the focus in the department will be on expanding research, Franklin also hopes to increase course offerings and research opportunities for undergraduates. “As we get bigger and make more noise, more companies will pay attention to what we’re doing and that will lead to more opportunities for internships, speakers from outside, and ultimately, hopefully, job offers and things for people who are hoping to go into the industry,” he said. The exact timeline for Franklin’s transition into the department has not been set,
but he will likely assume the responsibilities of the chair over the summer. Shan Lu, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, was a member of the search committee for the new department chair. “These days, many people are talking about Big Data, data science—it’s driving things behind many science breakthroughs… and Michael, because he is a world famous database person… will help not just our department, but the whole University a lot. There are a lot of people in social science, in biological sciences, and in physical sciences that hope to have someone to support [their research],” Lu said. Lu also referenced the history of the UChicago computer science department and the hope for future expansion as driving forces behind the appointment decision. “We are already very good in theoretical computer science but I think the University realizes we need other parts… we’re hoping that, because we have been progressing toward the right direction...we can have another hire that will lead us to an even higher level.” The computer science department has roughly doubled in size over the past five years, often competing for new faculty
The University of Chicago
Michael Franklin was recently hired as the new chair of the Computer Science Department.
members with other top institutions such as MIT and Stanford, according to Borja Sotomayor, a senior lecturer in the department. Enrollment for introductory courses such as CompSci 121: Computer Science with Applications has grown from 15–20 students in its first year to over 200 this year. “The fact that we were able to recruit such an important computer scientist as professor Franklin, someone who has such stature, someone who is currently leading the department at Berkeley, which is one of the top computer science schools… really speaks to the growing quality of the computer science department,” Sotomayor said.
Tonight’s Lascivious Ball kicks off University of Chicago’s fourth Sex Week. The Magical World of Porn? A Consumer’s Guide to Sex Toys? See the Maroon’s website for a runthrough of the week’s events. The Anti-Aramark group “Fight for Just Food” continued its campaign with a teach-in Wednesday evening. The group wants the University to sever ties with the company, which it believes profits unjustly from its work in prisons. See the Maroon’s website for a report on the evening’s events.
5
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
VIEWPOINTS
Fewer Checked Boxes, More Change “Turning the Tide” Lacks Fundamental Self-Reflection Needed for a More Ethical Admissions Process
Alice Xiao
“ Turning the Tide”, a recently released report from Harvard Graduate School of Education, encourages a new emphasis on the ethical orientation of prospective college students. The report was signed by 85 admissions and education professionals, including Jim Nondorf, vice president for enrollment and student advancement and dean of admissions. While we
applaud the coalition behind the report for its commitment to improving the college admissions process, we are skeptical that the suggestions outlined in the report will actually lead to a more ethical society. The report falls short of realistically representing the role of colleges in changing the culture around the admissions process. It emphasizes ethics
and character as the new basis for evaluating students, however The M AROON Editorial Board is not convinced that college admissions officers are properly equipped to determine who among their applicants are the most good and ethical people. While it is undoubtedly valuable to emphasize community service and engagement, we do not think that emphasizing it in college admissions will truly lead to a cultural shift. The report attempts to shift the focus from academics to service, putting forth suggestions for how to reduce academic pressure on students and shift their perspectives from self-centered to more community-oriented ones. The M A ROON Editorial Board however doubts that these measures will lead to decreased academic pressure. Students who feel pressured to achieve high grades and test scores will not feel less pressure to do so because of a new emphasis on service in admissions. They will instead feel that they have yet another box to check and strive to present many service hours on top of their top-tier academic performance.
We are skeptical that this will engender a genuine community and ethical orientation in high school students. The college admissions process is undeniably flawed, especially at selective four-year private institutions such as the University of Chicago. From the multi-billion test prep industry to the emphasis on the prestige of colleges with single-digit admission rates, the process is fi lled with pressure, money, expectations, and often, disappointment. It is difficult to know where to begin to create a process that is less stressful and more fair for students of all backgrounds. However, while “Turning the Tide” addresses the flaws of the admissions process, it also feels largely like a continuation of the old model. Perhaps a more effective way to encourage an ethical orientation in students is to lead by example. We believe that if high school applicants are expected to be more ethical and self-reflective in the college admissions process, college admissions officers should be as well. While promoting measures to promote
community engagement, reduce applicant stress, and better fit the process to students from diverse backgrounds are good aspirations, there are more concrete measures college admissions officers can take to demonstrate their commitment to ethics. Colleges can relax their focus on encouraging as many students as possible to apply to drive down their admissions rates, be more transparent about the costs international students face, and be straightforward about the role of legacy admissions in the application process. “Turning the Tide” is promising evidence that we are ready to look at the current college admissions process critically, but its suggestions are not enough. We hope its supporters continue to pursue transformational changes in the college admissions process. –T h e M A R O O N Edit or i al Board Editor’s Note: Adam Thorp recused himself from the writing of this editorial.
Irate Over I-House International House’s Scheduled Transformation into Exclusively Undergrad Dorm Forgoes its Original Mission, to the Detriment of the University Last week, the University sion was supposedly made to announced its decision to turn “accommodate an increasing International House (I-House) number of College students.” To into an exclusively undergrad- put this decision in perspective, uate residence hall beginning International House will cease in the fall of 2016. The deci- to provide accommodation for
The independent student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892. Eleanor Hyun, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Manhardt, Deputy Editor-in-Chief The MAROON Editorial Board consists of the Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor-in-Chief & editors of THE MAROON.
NEWS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Marta Bakula, editor Maggie Loughran, editor Adam Thorp, editor Lorentz Hansen, deputy editor Annie Nazzaro, deputy editor
Emily Harwell, editor
VIEWPOINTS
Kayleigh Voss, editor Sarah Zimmerman, editor ARTS
Hannah Edgar, editor Grace Hauck, editor
MULTIMEDIA
Forrest Sill, editor Annie Asai, director of web development Euirim Choi, creative director Vishal Talasani, director of data analysis PHOTO
Zoe Kaiser, editor VIDEO
Stacey Reimann, editor
SPORTS
BUSINESS
Helen Petersen, editor Zachary Themer, editor
Nicolas Lukac, chief financial officer Ananya Pillutla, vice chief financial officer
GREY CITY
Patrick Quinn, director of strategy Ben Veres, director of operations Andrew Ahn, co-director of marketing Eitan Rude, co-director of marketing
Natalie Friedberg, Editor-in-Chief Evangeline Reid, Editor-in-Chief DESIGN
Annie Cantara, production manager Stephanie Liu, head designer COPY
Sophie Downes, head editor Morganne Ramsey, head editor Erica Sun, head editor Michelle Zhao, head editor THIS ISSUE:
Copy: Kate Blankinship, Shannon Bull, Steven Cui, Maryann Deyling, Laura Hu, Katrina Lee, Ben Zimnick Design: Associates: Priyani Karim, Pia Ramos, Elizabeth Xiong; Editor: Jen Xue
Regina Filomeno, business manager Harry Backlund, distributor Editor-in-Chief E-mail: Editor@ChicagoMaroon.com Newsroom Phone: (773) 702-1403 Business Phone: (773) 702-9555 Fax: (773) 702-3032 For advertising inquiries, please contact Ads@ChicagoMaroon.com or (773) 702-9555 Circulation: 5,500. © 2016 THE CHICAGO MAROON Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
graduate students, exchange students, visiting scholars, and researchers—domestic and international alike —after the current academic year. These changes will effectively eliminate International House’s international residential community. The University should reconsider its decision, because its implementation will violate I nt er nationa l House’s m ission and result in the loss of a unique culture and community. I-House was originally endowed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1932 and intended to be a “home away from home” for the significant number of international students who came to pursue knowledge at the University. Cur rently, I-House houses residents from around 50 countries each year. It is one of 17 sister institutions worldwide dedicated to serving the same mission. Since its opening in 1932, the International House at the University of Chicago has provided accommodations for students from many nations and f ields of study, as well as exchange students, visiting scholars, researchers, and, on occasion, a number of luminaries. Langston Hughes, who was a poet-in-residence in 1949, described it as “a pleasant place to live, to practice
one’s languages, and to meet students and teachers from all around the world.” Other former residents include atomic scientist Enrico Fermi and newspaper publisher K atharine Graham. In light of this storied tradition, the University’s decision came as a shock to many current and former I-House residents. While the changes are purportedly temporary, the University has not indicated any plans to return to the current system. It has simply said that I-House will be occupied by the undergraduate housing system “until the next major residence hall construction,” which should be complete “in a few years” and “at that point, it will be possible to move back to partial occupancy by graduate students.” This explanation is vague and inadequate and alone cannot serve as a guarantee that I-House will return to its original mission in the foreseeable future. Besides, the fact remains that the Un iversity ’s de cision— even if it is a temporary one —is against the International House mission. In fact, in 2013, the main lounge of International House was memorialized as the “ David Rockefeller Lounge,” in honor
of the Rockefeller legacy and financial contributions which still continue to this day. These contributions were made explicitly to continue I-House’s original mission: to promote the understanding and fellowship “among the peoples of all nations.” A discontinuation of this service, temporary or permanent, would violate the International House mission and the original agreement made between the University and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in the 1930s. It is clear that the purpose I-House serves, first and foremost, is to provide much-needed accommodation for international students. So long as there is still a significant number of international students at the University, I-House should continue to serve this purpose. One might argue that while the International House will no longer house graduate students and scholars, it will still continue to host internationally-focused programs and events and continue its relationship with international organizations; that in this way, its function as a “host to the world” will not change. This argument is flawed. The residential component of I-House is indispensContinued on Page 6
6
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
I-House Downgrades to an Undergraduate-Only Residence Continued from Page 5 able to its mission. As we all know, traditions must be lived to be kept alive. It is through living together that bonds are formed and friendships are deepened. In fact, the Office of Undergraduate Housing is well-aware of this fact and exists to serve the same mission: to provide a shared, welcoming living space for like-minded yet diverse you ng students. An I-House that houses exclusively College students in the undergradu at e hou s i n g s y s t em will be imbued with the characteristics of under-
graduate houses, which have different goals and missions from those of I-House and will not be dedicated to facilitate li fe-long internationa l friendship. I experienced all of I-House’s vibrant community first-hand as a resident during my last two years at the College. The benefits of living in an international community were immense. My fellow residents came from every walk of scholarship and life, from students in the College to foreign government officials pursuing their higher degrees to doctoral scholars in phi-
losophy, economics, linguistics, and the sciences t o F u lbr ight schola rs and year-long exchange students from the most est e emed i n st it ut ions worldwide. This kind of diversity facilitated the exchange of cultures and ideas and forged friendships that I never could have imagined otherwise. This is also a testament to the role I-House plays in being a true “host to the world.” Without the presence of any student outside of the undergraduate housing system, all of this would be lost. This has already caused an uproar among current and
former I-House residents, which will only amplify in the weeks and months to come. Recently, the University announced the closure of a number of other undergraduate residence halls at the end of this academ ic yea r. T hese undergraduate residence halls also have vibrant communities. T he University has devoted sign i f ic a nt r e s ou r c e s t o preserve these communities: it has painstakingly c o m mu n i c a t e d e v e r y detail of the closures to the students, proposed closing ceremonies, and ensured that all students would be relocated to other houses on campus. In contrast, no detailed explanation was g iven to the graduate students residing in I-House. Both Undergraduate Housing and I-House were created to foster communities and to forge life-
long f r iendsh ips. T he University has taken so much effort to keep the communities within the underg raduate houses intact, but has not done anything to preserve that of I-House. W hy is one community valued more than another? One of the longest-running traditions at International House is the “Sunday Supper.” At the end of each academic year, the residents gather in the auditorium for a supper by ca nd lel ight accompanied by music, speeches, and the presentation of “the resident of the year” award. At the end of the supper, residents each light a candle and group themselves by nationality. T hen, one after another, the groups take the stage and read aloud the pledge of International House in their own language: “As light begets light,
so love, friendship and goodwill are passed from one to another. We who have come from many nations to live in one fellowship at International House promise one another to pass the light wherever we go. I hope the University will reconsider its decision to terminate this fellowship of many nations who have come to live together at the International House at the University of Chicago.”
Lucy Duan is an alumna of the College (A.B. ’13)
CORRECTIONS: “Under Pressure (1/24/2016)” incorrectly stated that Bowie’s alter-ego is associated with the album Ziggy Stardust. It is actually Aladdin Sane.
GET AHEAD IN YOUR STUDIES DURING SUMMER QUARTER 2016.
• Complete required Core or hard-to-get courses in 3–5 weeks • Focus on a particular subject in smaller classes For more information on courses, summer housing, and how to register, visit summer.uchicago.edu
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
PhoeniX-Word: Rough Center Created by Daniel Ruttenberg
The Shrine of Christ the King, a Chicago Historic Landmark, is threatened with immediate demolition — contact Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Cochran today!
Sign the Online Petition together we can
Save the Shrine
Organizations In Support of #SavetheShrine: The National Trust for Historic Preservation • Landmarks Illinois • Preservation Chicago • The Woodlawn Residents Association
7
8
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
ARTS
Spice Up Your Winter This Restaurant Week BY CAITLIN HUBBARD ARTS STAFF
Restaurant Week is returning to Chicago. From January 21 through February 4, over 350 of Chicago’s best restaurants will create special menus to showcase their favorite items. The menus will be fixed-price at either $22 or $33 for lunch and either $33 or $44 for dinner. These deals are expensive, but exploring new cuisines and neighborhoods is worth the cost. From German to Vietnamese to Caribbean, over 30 different cuisines will be represented across the city, from River North to Wicker Park to the West Loop. A10, a French and Italian–inspired eatery on 53rd Street, will represent Hyde Park this coming Restaurant Week. UChicagoans eat, sleep, and breathe the Med; for UChicago students, Medici is the only restaurant in Hyde Park that is nice enough to bring a date or visiting friends. However, if you’re desperate to find a new Hyde Park locale to impress your friends and, more importantly, your stomach, consider stopping by A10 to sample their signature dish of the week: braised venison
leg drizzled with a bacon vinaigrette. If you are in the mood to sample cured meats, pâtés, and sausages of the highest quality, consider Tête Charcuterie on Randolph Street. I visited the restaurant last October, and not only was the food memorable, but the service was impeccable. Even if you pass on the charcuterie board and the delicious pickled beef cheeks, you must brace yourself for this restaurant’s mastery of flavor when it comes to more traditional meals. The Restaurant Week menu has both a grilled hanger steak with bordelaise sauce and a wheat berry mushroom risotto. If you do come to the Tête Charcuterie, do not leave without tasting the sticky date cake for dessert, which is an option on the Restaurant Week menu. It is one of my favorite desserts to date. To find the list of restaurants participating in Chicago Restaurant Week, visit choosechicago.com. The website allows you to search for restaurants based on cuisine and location. Check out the menus, and make your reservations soon, as the restaurants are quickly filling up. Happy eating, UChicago.
RollingOut.com
Hyde Park’s A10 is one of over 350 Chicago restaurants participating in this year’s restaurant week.
Muse’s New Album, Chicago Show Drones On BY AUSTIN BROWN MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
I didn’t really seek out music for a lot of my childhood; the music that made it into my long-term memory was hammered in there by my parents. So when I became a bona fide fan of Muse in ninth grade, it was both a heartening development in my tastes—I had found music I liked, independent of my parents—and an extension of what my parents liked (’70s stadium rock). I didn’t have any investment in saving face or developing “cred,” so I didn’t attach any embarrassment to my love of what was, to me, a great band. Fast forward to present day: when I got a chance to cover Muse’s stadium show supporting its new album, Drones, I couldn’t help but be interested. My interests have shifted and my tastes have changed, but, nevertheless, Muse remains a meaningful wrinkle in my musical history, one that I felt eager to reinvestigate. After all, one of the first concerts I went to was Muse in the fall of 2010, when I saw the band headline the Austin City Limits Music Festival. I went with my father. At the time, I was almost certain that my dad would love Muse. His favorite childhood bands (U2 and Def Leppard) did the same thing that Muse does: they had big choruses, histrionic vocals, heavy-metal riffs, and most of all, no shame. Of course, he wasn’t nearly as enthused as I thought he’d be, but I just took the loss as a generation gap—as another instance of parents just “not getting it.” Besides, I was distracted by Matt Bellamy blatantly aping Freddie Mercury while also holding a twin-necked guitar as the stage exploded behind him. That was something I missed, and despite all my inclinations otherwise, I was looking forward to a stadium show from the band that made me love prog-pop (if just for a bit). Going into the United Center a week ago, though, I was struck by a feeling unfamiliar to my relationship with live Muse: skepticism. Skepticism at the Bud Light being sold at every corner, at having to go through a literal metal detector to get to will-call, at the guys talking about Benghazi behind me in my seat, at the whole
Danny Clinch
Muse’s show at the United Center is essentially more of the same, plus a cyborg or two.
ethos of Muse: at how this entire event felt more like a football game and less like a show. Even though I understand shows— even stadium-sized ones—better than any sport, this felt like a different beast. It felt fake and overblown, even to someone who believes artifice in no way discredits art. As a string of men dressed up as cyborg soldiers marched out around the stadium, I instinctively rolled my eyes. Muse marched out as unabashedly as ever, ripping into their fi rst single from Drones, “Dead Inside.” Not long after, images of an antagonistic female cyborg lit up the banners surrounding the stage, instantly citing a combination of 1984, some video game, and impending cybernetic doom. As Bellamy strutted around with puppet hands guiding his movements, I wrote quickly in my notebook, “Does Matt Bellamy believe this shit?” and then, almost immediately afterwards, “Does the audience?” As has been repeated over and over again in the press, it’s really weird that this now-mid-
dle-aged British guy thinks that he should focus his music on the (no-lie) robot apocalypse. What’s even weirder, though, is that millions go along with it. Muse undoubtedly knows its reputation. It is intensely goofy, often (read: always) to a fault. Their publicity rarely uses social media or unconventional promotional modes. Muse doesn’t “experiment” very often, and when it does (in “Madness,” one of its biggest pop hits) it’s always truncated or stilted by the confines of familiar forms. In a word: Muse is old. But from the moment I went up to the United Center to get my ticket from willcall, to when I left the show into the crowd, what struck me most was how much of an event this still managed to seem like, seven years removed from Black Holes and Revelations, the album Muse made its name with. Even the songs I hated (mostly from their new album) received thunderous applause, headbanging, and sing-alongs. It seemed like Muse could only do right; my
negative feelings about the spectacle made me feel like I was out of the loop or listening wrong. This is the part where you go “Why the fuck do you care, dude? Muse is trash, everyone knows that.” Here’s the thing. I’m definitely not a fan of Muse anymore. But I really wish I were still a fan of Muse. Muse appeals to the part of me that I left behind when I came to UChicago—the part of me that loves big riffs and big statements even when I know they’re reductive and oversimplified. The part that’s content with spectacle for spectacle’s sake. It’s a band that wants to go big, go dumb, and disregard reality, all while creating a sonic fantasyland for the audience to live in. At its best, Muse serves the same purpose as Coldplay—mild spiritual balm—only adding sci-fi iconography and guitar solos. And I still felt that balm, when the moment was right. For at least an hour of Muse’s performance, as it ran Continued on Page 9
9
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
“[Muse is] a band that wants to go big, go dumb, and disregard reality . . .” Continued from Page 8
through some of its biggest and best songs, that was my prevailing sentiment—of overcoming adversity through sheer force of will, albeit for only as long as the songs lasted. Even “Madness,” a song I never found to be especially compelling on-record, revealed a potential for intense pathos onstage: the emotion was supplied by the subtle switch mid-song from drum machine to live drums, which dragged my attention in and held it. And for a while, as I was hearing those songs, I was
able to convince myself that I still liked Muse, that this concert was where I belonged, that there was something rewarding in its simplicity. But unfortunately, such a high can only last for so long. No matter how hard I tried to like songs from Drones, they all landed with a thud—the lack of synthesizers, piano riffs, or sympathetic vocals rendered the Drones songs uninspiring. Instead, there was little but guitar, histrionic/faux-operatic vocal acrobatics, and visual pyrotechnics to aid the songs.
Just as Muse at its best performs a near-religious service—music as uncomplicated renewal—Muse at its worst seems exploitative and unintelligent. Even Drones, the title of the latest album, feels nasty—as hundreds die every month from real-life drone strikes in the Middle East, Muse chose to use the term to describe robot soldiers. Then it had the gall to make one song a clipped speech by JFK? Really? By the end of the show, the faux-revolutionary stance that I had always managed to look past was impossible to ignore. If Muse
was sometimes able to use music right? But seeing a balloon comthat made me forget the world, it ing out of the side of the stadium also made me realize music’s po- and encircling the stage—meant to represent a large military tential for abuse. Part of why I notice this more drone—it’s not hard to realize now is that they’ve become “polit- that there are ethics, that this ical” as time has gone on, making does matter, and that “pop” or it a more vocal part of their iden- “rock” are never just that. I have tity. But part of it is also on me: written down in my notes “A few five, six years ago, I didn’t feel albums ago, this would’ve been a like pop music had an “ethics” or rocket ship,” but that’s not quite a way to disrespect its audience. It right. A few albums ago, there was just pop music, something to just wouldn’t have been a balloon. be listened to and then disposed The fact that there is now means of when it got boring. There can’t I can’t give Muse the free pass I be too much to talk about there, used to.
The Verdict? I’ll Go Back to Packed BY SHOSHANNA COALSON ARTS STAFF
Stepping into Packed, Hyde Park’s newest and highly anticipated restaurant, you are greeted with bright blue exposed-brick walls, smiling workers, and a diverse menu. After the enthusiastic cashier broke down the contents of the menu for my friend and me, she informed us that they were out of the duck dumpling. In fact, she told us that the dumplings had been so popular that Packed, unable to meet the demands of hungry, dumpling-crazed Hyde Parkers, had had to close early the previous day. Bearing Packed’s highly anticipated opening in mind, I eagerly awaited my butternut squash dumplings. Unfortunately, aside from Packed’s three non-dumpling sides, butternut squash dumplings were the only vegetarian option for vegetarians
like me. I wasn’t very hungry; luckily for me, Packed’s menu offers two serving sizes: two dumplings ($4) and four dumplings ($7). The squash dumplings did not disappoint. I appreciated this seemingly simple dish’s intricate marriage of textures and flavors: the sweet, nutty flavor of the squash, herbal sage, and balsamic caramel garnish came together in the form of a soft, squishy dumpling. On top of my two dumplings, my friend and I sampled the hush puppies, the pastrami dumplings, and the short rib dumplings. I had never tried hush puppies before. Packed’s take on the traditional Southern side dish includes Shishito peppers and a light and creamy coconut-rosemary aioli. It is a must-try for Packed visitors. The crunchy, fried cornmeal dish balanced out the smooth aioli to create a harmonious blend of fresh and fried foods.
My meat-eating dining partner ordered the pastrami and short rib dumplings. He admired both dishes’ plating but favored the short rib’s taste; he found his stomach much fuller than ex-
pected, given the small portions (each dumpling was about half the size of my fist). Packed stuffs each dumpling to the brim and left us both satisfied. The portions are small, but
the amount loaded into these tiny dumplings is so great that you get your money’s worth. I regret missing out on Packed’s variety of vegetarian side options; I guess I’ll just have to go back.
ZAGAT.com
There’s more to be reimagined: Packed is an appetizing work in progress.
the Sketch A RTS , B RIEFLY .
Plan your week. Plan for Arts. Satchmo Saturdays at Promontory In homage to Louis Armstrong, The Promontory’s Satchmo Saturdays feature a new jazz act every Saturday in January. This event runs in conjunction with the Court Theater’s play about Louis Armstrong, Satchmo at the Waldorf, and is a key component of the Court’s Louis Armstrong Festival. This weekend’s performer is the Grammy-award winning trumpeter and composer Terrance Blanchard, a New Orleans– based artist. Next weekend features the South Side’s own Marquis Hill, also a trumpeter and composer. The Promontory restaurant will also be featuring New Orleans–inspired dishes on Saturdays, and tickets to Satchmo Saturdays are half-price for diners who order the New Orleans specials. Friday, January 23, 8 p.m., Terrance Blanchard at The Promontory. Friday, January
30, 8 p.m., Marquis Hill at The why does having archives of Promontory. Dinner hours 5 –11 queer zines matter? “Collectp.m. Tickets available at prom- ing” features Milo Miller from ontorychicago.com. The Queer Zine Archive Project, Liz Mason from Quimby’s Lee Hangjun & Hong Bookstore, and Sarah Wenzel Chulki, Co-Presented With from the the University of ChiLampo cago Library. The discussion Two Korean artists, film- is curated by Bea Malsky and maker Lee Hangjun and mu- Jean Cochrane. sician Hong Chulki, combine Friday, January 22, 7 p.m., their media for a new exhibit at 5733 South University Avenue. the Logan Center. Lee’s Film Free admission, wine, and Walk (2012) and Phantom snacks. Schoolgirl Army (2013) will be projected on 16mm, accom- Musicians from Marlboro panied by sounds from Hong’s with Anthony McGill, clar“cartridge-less turntable.” inet Saturday, January 23, 8 Featuring musicians from p.m., Logan Center for the Arts, the renowned Marlboro Music Performance Penthouse. Free, Festival in rural Vermont, Mubut space is limited. Register sicians from Marlboro is celein advance at smartmuseum. brating its 50th anniversary uchicago.edu. season as the music festival’s touring extension. The ManPlease Unfold: A Month del Hall program opens with of Queer Zines at CSGS // Beethoven’s String Trio in C Collecting minor then spotlights New The third installment of York Philharmonic principal Please Unfold: A Month of clarinetist Anthony McGill in Queer Zines, “Collecting,” is a Penderecki’s Clarinet Quartet discussion panel exploring the and Brahms’s Clarinet Quintet. effects of collecting queer zines: Friday, January 22, 6:30
p.m. conversation with artists a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through and Berthold Hoeckner, per- Saturday and from noon–5 p.m. formance 7:30 p.m., Mandel on Sunday. Free admission. Hall. Tickets $5 students, $35 Professional Disruptors: general admission. Tickets sold via the Logan Center box office Changing the Work of Art by phone at 773.702.ARTS, or Is art merely a product of online at tickets.uchicago.edu. social changes, or can art itself change the world? Theo Museum of Contemporary Edmonds believes it can. A conPhotography at 40 ceptual artist and co-founder of The Museum of Contempo- the IDEAS xLab—an organirary Photography at Columbia zation which helps artists beCollege Chicago celebrates its come catalysts of social change 40th anniversary with a spe- in their community—Edmonds cial exhibit featuring works will lead a discussion at the from the museum’s permanent CIE about America’s broken collection. “MoCP at 40” in- healthcare system and what cludes photography by artists creative people can do to make such as Diane Arbus, Roy De- a difference. Wednesday, January 27, 5:30 Carava, Walker Evans, Sally p.m. networking reception, 6:15 Mann, and Andy Warhol. Opens Monday, January p.m. talk and Q&A, Chicago In25 and runs through Sunday, novation Exchange. Admission April 10 at Columbia College free, but RSVP recommended. Chicago. The MoCP is open 10 Register at eventbrite.com.
CORRECTIONS: Last week’s Sketch stated that the Pacifica Quartet’s January 17 concert was to take place at Mandel Hall. It actually took place at the Logan Center.
10
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
Download your future for free. Millions of data scientist jobs are ready to be filled. What are you waiting for? Dive into a career in analytics with SAS® University Edition. Free to download. Easy to use. Plus, you get access to tons of training videos and a vibrant online community. So seize the data, learn SAS now. Who knows, your biggest challenge on graduation day might be negotiating your starting salary. Get your free software
sas.com/universityedition
SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2015 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. S141952US.0815
11
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
11-Game Winning Streak on the Line at Hoops at Hogwarts MEN’S BASKETBALL
BY KATRINA WILLIAMS SPORTS STAFF
Coming off an undefeated weekend against Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve, the No. 12 Maroons will face off against New York University and Brandeis this weekend. With an impressive 12–2 record overall and 3–0 in the UAA, Chicago will look to extend its 11-game winning streak in its first conference weekend on its home court. Following their one-point victory against Wash U the previous Saturday, the South Siders had yet another close game against Carnegie Mellon on Friday, but were able to secure a 70–68 victory. On Sunday, in an offensive showdown, the squad defeated Case 112 –100, the Maroons’
highest scoring performance since 1995. The high-scoring dual also marked an exciting milestone for fourth-year forward Jordan Smith. With 26 points on the day, Smith surpassed 1,000 career points. He arrived in Cleveland with 999 career points and fi nished with 1,025, after going 9–13 from the field to become the 16th highest scorer in Chicago history. This weekend is sure to be another competitive one for the Maroons, facing off against two conference foes. With a series of incredibly close games across the conference, the UAA title seems to be entirely up for grabs this season. No. 17 NYU is 12–1 overall and 2–1 in UAA conference play. With wins against Brandeis
and Rochester, the team’s only loss was to Emory, 64–71, last Friday. Fourth-year forward Evan Kupferberg has been dominant among the Violets, averaging a whopping 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. The South Siders will look to control the boards and play strong pressure defense to lock Kupferberg up. The theme for this Friday’s game against NYU is Hoops at Hogwarts, which means free Harry Potter T-shirts at the door, a Quidditch game at halftime, and prizes for the winners of the best-dressed contest. Second-year guard Jake Fenlon commented on the team’s enthusiasm for Hoops at Hogwarts, “The team is excited. Hopefully the theme attracts a crowd and
makes it fun for us to play in front of a supporting fan base.” Third-year point guard Tyler Howard echoed his teammate, saying, “the team is very excited for Hoops at Hogwarts; it seems like the perfect theme for UChicago. We are going to focus on improving some of our own things as well as getting ready for a very talented NYU team on Friday.” Brandeis is 7–7 overall and 1–2 in UAA conference play. Unlike NYU, Brandeis beat Emory 76–68, but fell to Rochester 53– 77. Brandeis is a high-scoring team, averaging 70.9 points per game. Defense will play a huge role for the Maroons this weekend in order for them to come out on top and continue their winning streak.
“The team is feeling very confident and we›re excited to have to the opportunity to get two more wins,” Howard said. “My role as the point guard is to make sure we are organized and on the same page throughout the game.” Fenlon elaborated on the team’s feelings going into the weekend: “We’re feeling pretty good going into this weekend. Obviously we have built up some momentum with this win streak, and we are excited for this opportunity to face two more UAA opponents. This is a big weekend for us to continue our success and establish ourselves in conference play.” Tip-off against NYU will be at 8 p.m. on Friday and against Brandeis at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Ratner Athletic Center.
Magical Match Up with No. 9 NYU Violets
Chicago Looks to Extend Early Success Against Wesleyan and Wash U
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
TRACK & FIELD
BY ZACH THEMER SPORTS EDITOR
On paper, the 9–5 Maroons head into their matchup against NYU as the apparent underdog. The Violets enter the game having only dropped one of their 14 games, and are currently ranked No. 9 in the nation. However, as is traditionally true when these two squads face off, there is much more at stake than sheer win-loss records and rankings. When Chicago hosted NYU last season, a piece of the UAA title was on the line. NYU was ranked No. 11 at the time and boasted a 20 –3 record, while the Maroons had dropped six games at that point in the season. All of that, however, mattered little as the Maroons outrebounded, outshot and had more points off the bench in the match, and eventually won the game 66–55. As is tradition, the game against NYU falls on a themed night. While last year the glow of neon propelled Chicago to victory in the second annual “Neon Night,” this year the squad will be playing under a more enchanting light. “Hoops at Hogwarts” will aim to bring out basketball and Harry Potter fans alike to cheer on both the men’s and women’s basketball teams this Friday. The Maroons will look to win not only the game, but also the House Cup as they suit up in their Gryffindor gear for the night. Not coincidentally, NYU will sport the color purple— make what Ravenclaw association you will. Chicago is coming off a 1–1 weekend on the road. After falling by a margin of three to No. 20 Carnegie Mellon, the squad bounced back to defeat the Case Western Spartans this past
weekend. The team is hoping the win will carry over to this evening. Starting second-year point guard Elizabeth Nye said, “It felt good to get our fi rst conference win last weekend against Case. I think that win and the extremely close game against Carnegie gives us a lot of confi dence moving forward.” Nye is averaging 10 points a game and is joined in double digits by third-year forward Britta Nordstrom, who is averaging 13. The Maroons are deep, however, with six players averaging more than five points per game. Many of those players, namely a pair of second-year guards K atie A nderson and Madison Dunbar, have found their stride recently and will look to be threats against the Violets. First-year forward Ola Obi is averaging nine points and nine rebounds a game to lead the Maroons on the boards. After a tough matchup with N Y U, the South Siders will have to turn around and do it all over again, sans the excitement of Hoops at Hogwarts, as they take on Brandeis on Sunday. The Judges are 8–5 on the season and have dropped games to both N Y U and Rochester thus far in conference play. Nye said, “Our conference is extremely diffi cult and on any given day any team could win. That being said we’re still in it. We 100 percent still have a shot at UA A title if we take it one game at a time. NYU is a good team but we always play well on theme nights. We’re solid one through 14 and tomorrow is the perfect time to show that to everyone.” Hoops at Hogwarts kicks off with the women’s game at 6 p.m. at Ratner Athletic Center.
BY MAX HAWKINS SPORTS STAFF
T he women’s and men’s teams placed first in last week’s Phoenix Invitational, and the Maroons hope to continue their momentum this Saturday at the Illinois Wesleyan University Triangular Meet. Chicago will battle against its conference rival, Wash U, and the host, Illinois Wesleyan. On the men’s side, the Maroons hope to avenge their onepoint loss to Wash U in last year’s UAA championships. After their successful start to the season last week, the Maroons believe they’re much improved from last year. “We have a good mix of great newcomers as well as experienced veterans. Everyone who competed at nationals last year is returning this year, so the team shows a lot of promise. After gaining some confidence from the Phoenix Invitational, I think everyone is eager to get back on
the track next week to see what else they can do,” third-year Kareem Kebaish said. Last year in the Triangular Meet the men placed second behind rival Wash U again. Even though the season is just starting, the South Siders are looking to send a message to their rival and to the rest of the UAA conference. “I think everyone has something to prove going into this meet. It will be a good measure of where we stand and what we’ll need to improve upon through out the season…We have our eyes fixed on finally winning the UAA championship. We also have an impressive number of athletes that will be in contention for the national championship as individuals and relay teams,” fourthyear Parker Tikson said. On the women’s side, Illinois Wesleyan comes in as the favorite for its first meet of the season, as it is ranked #2 in the country. Chicago comes in at #8, while Wash U comes in without a ranking in the top 25. Last year the
Chicago women won the Triangular Meet by a comfortable margin. They hope to continue last week’s momentum and win again. “The Phoenix Invite was a great start to the season. A lot of my teammates were hitting times and distances that they usually don’t make until the end of the season, and the freshmen performed well at their first meet, so I think everyone is excited for what we’ll achieve this season,” said fourth-year UAA champion Alison Pildner. The Triangular Meet will serve as a measuring stick for the team’s high expectations. “I think we can expect to see some very good early season performances. This is a great opportunity for our team to see how we compare against other athletes we may compete against in the conference and national meets,” Pildner said. Both teams hope to make a statement against rival Wash U and build their momentum from last week this Saturday at 11 a.m.
University of Chicago Athletics Department
Second-year Angel Fluet pole vaults in a meet during the 2014 –2015 season
12
THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 22, 2016
SPORTS IN-QUOTES... Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan’s insightful comment on penalties: “So sometimes penalties themselves don’t tell the whole story, but sometimes they do.”
Maroons Return to Elmhurst for Second Chance at Victory WRESTLING
BY DAVID KERR SPORTS STAFF
The Maroons will travel to Elmhurst this Friday to take on the Elmhurst College Bluejays, and this is not a new feeling for the squad. This is the second time in as many weeks that the Maroons will be in the Illinois city, as they competed in the Elmhurst Invitational last Saturday and notched a sixth-place finish out of 11 teams. Four of the South Siders placed in the top six of their respective weight classes in the invitational, and the Maroons will look to compound on this success in their upcoming match against the Bluejays. The squad has a lot of respect for the Bluejay wrestling program, and, based on the Bluejays’ 4–2 overall record, it is certainly warranted. The Bluejays are fresh off a strong second-place finish at the Elmhurst Invitational and are coming off two straight team wins against Loras and Concordia (WI). Chicago and Elmhurst haven’t faced any of the same teams this year, so this will certainly present a welcome change of pace for the Maroons. The Bluejays are led by second-year 125 lbs. Anthony Munoz, who scored a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Regional last year as a first-year. At 141 lbs., the Bluejays have Jimmy Nehls, who transferred to Elmhurst from UW–Whitewater after an All-American season where he had a fifth-place finish in the NCAA tournament. However, the fourth-year
was unable to defeat his former team, as the squad fell to Whitewater earlier this year. The losses notwithstanding, the Bluejays have had plenty of veteran leadership on their team, which has resulted in a season of success so far for Elmhurst. Third-year Paul Papoutsis believes that even though Elmhurst is a strong opponent, if the Maroons step up their game, they have a solid shot to win. “It will definitely be a tight match. We have some guys out, so the starters are going to need to come up big to pull out the win. All of our guys are going to need to wrestle at the top of their game to not only win, but get a few extra points with majors and pins to come out on top as a team. I have confidence that we can pull it out.” First-year Cristen Bublitz had a similar sentiment with regard to the Elmhurst challenge, and believes that with an emphasis on technique the South Siders should be able to pull out a victory. “Elmhurst is a very solid team. The key to coming out on top is that we need to be more technical in how we approach the meet. Our overall chance is very high,” he said. The Maroons will be busing down to Elmhurst this Friday, January 22, to take on the Bluejays at 7 p.m., hoping to go back to their winning ways of earlier in the month.
University of Chicago Athletics Department
Fourth-year Ryan Walsh competes in a match earlier this season. Walsh in the 184/197 weight class.
South Siders to Be Tested in Field of Squads Take on DI Chicago State in Top Competition First Matches of 2016 SWIM & DIVE
BY FRANCES MCDONALD SPORTS STAFF
With only a few meets left before conference and national championship meets, the Maroons are traveling to DePauw this weekend to face DePauw and Calvin in what is shaping up to be a clash of the titans. Chicago has had a winning season so far, with only one loss this past weekend to Division I UW–Milwaukee on Senior Day. With wins against tough competition earlier in the season, the Maroons are feeling hopeful heading into this weekend and the approaching postseason. T he women’s team is cu r rently ranked eighth in the nation while the men’s team is ranked 10th. DePauw holds rankings of 13th for their women’s team and 21th for their men’s team. This past weekend, the DePauw men’s team split with a win against Franklin and loss against Rose-Hulman while the women won both. The Calvin men’s team, on the other hand, is currently ranked 13th with their women’s team ranking 18th. The women’s team split this past weekend with a win against Albion and loss against Hope while the men’s team won against both teams. Fourth-year Brian Weisbecker be-
lieves everyone in the meet is aware that the weekend will be a robust one with lots of competition. “Going into this meet, we know we are going to see a lot of tough competition. We are all ranked top 25 in the nation right now, so to come out with two wins on both the men and women sides we are going to need to be focused and ready to race come Saturday,” Weisbecker said. This focus was present last year, as both the women’s and men’s teams beat DePauw. As one could assume from their immense success, the Maroons have been going through intense training the entire season in preparation for the UA A and national championships. Weisbecker commented on the way the South Siders’ weekend can be successful as the last few strides to the postseason are underway. “We are in the last few weeks of tough training before we start resting for our end of the season meets. So while we may be a bit broken down, with some heart and energy we should come away with those W’s.” The meet will begin at DePauw on Saturday at 11 a.m.
TENNIS
BY GARY HUANG SPORTS STAFF
The men’s and women’s teams look to continue their success from the fall as they prepare for their fi rst match of 2016 this weekend against Chicago State University. With the men’s team ranked No. 6 and the women’s team ranked No. 16 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) preseason national poll, both teams have the confidence they need to face the Division I Cougars. The approaching season sees last season’s standout performers, Nicolas Chua (M second year) and Ariana Iranpour (W second year), both return. During the past fall at the ITA National Small College Championship, two-time ITA Regional champion Chua placed sixth in singles. Also an ITA Regional champion, Iranpour took fourth in singles. Both will surely be expected to lead their respective teams this year with the help of highly touted recruiting classes. After a 2014– 15 campaign that saw them reach the Division III semifi nals, the UChicago men were able to acquire the top recruiting class in Division III. The Maroon women weren’t far behind, obtaining the second-best recruiting class in Division III. While extremely talented, both the Maroon men and women feature young
rosters with only five out of 17 men and three out of 12 women listed as upperclassmen. As was the case last year, the upperclassmen will step up and mentor the younger players with their experience. The Chicago State men come into the matchup with a 0–2 record, having been defeated by IUPUI 2–5 and Northwestern 0 –4. Second-years Christian Gonzalez and Gonzalo Martinez were able to secure wins for the Cougars against IUPUI; more notably, Gonzalez and firstyear Gabriel Niculescu won a doubles match against Northwestern. Having only fi rst- and second-years fi lling up the roster, the CSU men have the potential to fi nd a new identity for the program and reverse a streak of losing seasons. With zero wins to date, the Cougar men will be hungry for their fi rst win of the season. The Cougar women will be opening their season against the South Siders. In October, fourth-year Marnie Perez-Ochoa took fi rst place in the Bronco Invitational’s Stephanie Prychitko fl ight singles title. After going 3–19 in the 2014–15 season, they will be looking to start their season on a positive note. The Maroons will take on the Cougars this Sunday, January 24: the women’s team at 11 a.m. and the men’s team at 3 p.m.