FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 7, 2014
CHICAGOMAROON.COM
ISSUE 25 • VOLUME 125
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892
In Kent lecture, Brazile tells Residents fight lawsuit dismissal of struggle in black politics Jonah Rabb News Staff
After the dismissal of a lawsuit to halt rezoning of the McMobil site on East 53rd Street, Hyde Park residents who filed the suit said in a press release that they would appeal the ruling of Judge Kathleen Pantle. The University-owned McMobil site is slated to be the home of Vue53, a 13-story retail and residential building. The site housed a Mobil gas station until it was demolished this summer. The plaintiffs, who all live within 250 feet of the subject property, filed a complaint on
August 29, 2013 alleging that the proposed development and rezoning is “wholly inconsistent with the existing uses and zoning on 53rd Street.” The complaint also alleges that the development plan does not provide adequate parking and will deprive neighboring properties of sunlight. In a motion to dismiss the case, DLA Piper LLP, representing the University of Chicago, claimed that the plaintiffs did not give notice of their challenge to the zoning ordinance to all owners of property within 250 feet of the site, causing Pantle to uphold the motion and allow the rezoning to go forward.
“We continue to believe that the proposed McMobil development is the wrong building for the site, and we will continue to work to get the University to engage the community in a real discussion about the future of the McMobil lot and the rest of 53rd Street,” Michael Scott, a plaintiff in the suit, said in a press release. The McMobil site has garnered contentious discussion since it was introduced at a 53rd Street Vision Workshop in 2007. Citizens for Appropriate Retail and Residential Development (CARRD), a Hyde Park organization, formed in response to the McMobil site plans.
Diplomat talks Russia-US strife Political strategist Donna Brazile delivered the George E. Kent Lecture Thursday. SYDNEY COMBS | THE CHICAGO MAROON
Christine Schmidt News Staff Drawing on her Christian faith, Louisiana heritage, and tenacity on television, Donna Brazile shared her thoughts
on topics. ranging from equal pay for women to black Republicans as part of the 2014 George E. Kent Lecture in Mandel Hall on Thursday night. Brazile, a Democratic politi-
cal strategist and the campaign manager of Al Gore’s 2000 presidential bid, was invited by the Organization of Black Students to give the prestigious lecture in honor of George E. BRAZILE continued on page 2
Alec Goodwin Maroon Contributor Current Diplomat in Residence for the Midwest Ian Kelly discussed Russia’s attempts to distance itself from the West and turn inward during a lecture sponsored by the Center for International Studies on Wednesday in Swift Hall.
Kelly is the former U.S. representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a nonbinding intergovernmental organization that deals with issues such as human rights, ecology, and arms control. He characterized Russia’s philosophy of “turning inward” as a means of consolidating
Who’s who: Obama library community board
power. “I think that [Russian President Vladimir Putin’s] endgame is regime consolidation and regime survival, and I think that the way that he sees to achieve that is to try and consolidate support among Russian patriots and Russian chauvinists,” Kelly said. “And so this RUSSIA continued on page 3
by Marina Fang & Harini Jaganathan
The University has announced the members of a community advisory board that will guide the process of bidding for the Barack Obama presidential library. Here are five of the 12 South Side community leaders, including clergy, business leaders, and nonprofit administrators, who comprise the board.
COURTESY OF CHICAGO NEWS OFFICE
COURTESY OF WTTW CHICAGO TONIGHT
COURTESY OF CAROL ADAMS
COURTESY OF BEVERLY ARTS CENTER
COURTESY OF APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF GOD
Timuel Black (A.M. ’54): The historian and civil rights leader grew up in Chicago’s Black Belt and is steeped in Chicago history. He was a college classmate of Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago, and worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement, organizing Chicago residents to attend the March on Washington. In recent years, he has written extensively about the history of black Chicago and at 94 is still active in public life on the South Side.
David Mosena: He has served as the sixth president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) since 1997. Before his time at the MSI, he was president of the Chicago Transit Authority and was the Chicago commissioner of aviation, overseeing the operations of Chicago’s airports. He was the chief of staff for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, and was the chairman of the board of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools from 1993 to 1999.
Carol Adams: Adams, the president and CEO of the DuSable Museum of African American History at East 56th Place and South Cottage Grove Avenue, has experience in academia, nonprofits, and government. She has worked for the Chicago Housing Authority, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the City of Chicago’s After School Matters program. She also developed a curriculum linking museums to the Chicago Public Schools and serves as a consultant and fundraiser for a variety of arts organizations.
Andrea Zopp: As the president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, Zopp works to promote economic development and social change for blacks. Previously, she worked in business and law, taking on executive and legal positions at Exelon Corporation and Sears Holdings Corporation, and serving as the first assistant state’s attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. She is a member of the boards of the Urban Partnership Bank, Navy Pier, the Black Ensemble Theater, and the Chicago Board of Education.
Byron Brazie: Since 2008, he has been the pastor of the Apostolic Church of God, based at East 63rd Street and Dorchester Avenue. Prior to that, he was an assistant pastor and general administrator of the church. Earlier in his career, Brazier was the chief information officer for the Chicago Housing Authority and held positions at Johnson & Johnson and IBM. He currently serves on several boards, including the Cook County Sheriff ’s Merit Board, the Civic Advocacy and Action Committee, Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community, and the Metropolitan Planning Commission.
IN VIEWPOINTS
IN ARTS
IN SPORTS
Coke-existence » Page 4
In memoriam: Philip Seymour Hoffman, 1967–2014 » Page 7
Chicago returns home to mixed field at Windy City Invite » Back Page
Long behind the camera, Allen finds himself once again in focus » Page 8
First DIII competition awaits on two-day road trip » Page 11
Take Piers down » Page 6
THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | February 7, 2014
Two new eateries join Harper Court Hyde Parkers will soon be able to enjoy both real and fake pork under the same roof. Porkchop and Native Foods Cafe are slated to open in Harper Court on East 53rd Street by the beginning of March, ac-
affairs. Kim will focus on clinical faculty, while Hale will engage with basic science faculty. The UCMC joins the ranks of Harvard, Northwestern, and Yale University, all of which have positions or offices for dean for faculty affairs for their respective research hospitals.
cording to the Hyde Park Herald. Porkchop serves ribs, steaks, and southern comfort foods. It currently has a brick-and-mortar location in the West Loop and a food truck that frequents Hyde Park. Porkchop will have a bar as well as a sit-down area where breakfast, lunch, and
dinner will be served. Native Foods Cafe is a California-based vegan restaurant with locations in the Loop, Lakeview, and Wicker Park. Some of its menu items include vegan meatball sandwiches and bacon cheeseburgers.
—Joy Crane
—Harini Jaganathan
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A thriving career in finance demands more than just technical skill — it requires the knowledge and critical thinking that come with a background in the liberal arts.
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Phone: (213) 740-3932 Start Date: May 27, 2014
his babies.” “Is that a diagnosis for what’s gone wrong in the black community? Is it more a diagnosis for the black community than the white community or Hispanic community?” she asked. “I’m not a doctor, but it seems that…we’ve trimmed the branches, healed some of the blight of the tree of liberty, but the roots remain infested with bigotry, intolerance, and a very small and ruthless minority insistent on getting their way.” Brazile touched on the issue of equal voting rights, a lightning rod for her as the vice chair of voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. “That was the goal 50 years ago, and it’s still the problem,” she said. “If you try to stop people from voting because you’re afraid of how they’ll vote, you’ve not only failed the test of history, but you’ve failed the test God gives us.” By Alex Hays
Weekly Crime Report Here are this week’s notables:
Since Jan. 1
Jan. 30 Feb. 5
8
2
Arrest (except traffic violation)
0
0
Assault (multiple types)
0
0
Attempted burglary
2
0
Attempted robbery
3
0
Battery (multiple types)
4
0
Burglary
0
0
Criminal trespass to vehicle
9
2
Damage to property (including vehicle)
63
16
Other Report
5
0
Robbery (multiple types)
0
0
Traffic violation
20
7
Theft (including from motor vehicle)
0
0
Trespass to property (including residence)
» January 28, 5815 South Maryland Avenue (Mitchell Hospital), 10 a.m.—A patient complained of rough treatment while being examined by a staff member at the hospital. The case is now closed. » February 1, 901 East 58th Street (Mitchell E.R.), 3:25 a.m.—A patient in the E.R. was using his or her iPhone to videotape staff members and other patients in the treatment area and refused to stop when told to do so by staff members. Patient ceased videotaping and deleted the data after UCPD responded. » February 4, 4900 South Lake Park Avenue, 1:01 a.m.—A 47th motorist was arrested by a UCPD officer for possession of a controlled substance subsequent to a stop for a traffic violation. Source: UCPD Incident Reports
Type of Crime
51st 53rd
Assault Battery
55th
Criminal tresspass to vehicle Damage to property
57th
Other Report Theft Traffic violation Trespass to property Burglary
59th 60th
University
The new Master of Science in Finance Program at the University of Southern California is a roadmap to excellence, providing students from across academic disciplines with the tools they need to hone their talent, leverage their creativity and innovate new approaches to business success. Based on USC’s Los Angeles campus, they put their undergraduate training to work and earn an accelerated master’s degree in finance in just 12 short months.
history of being a bad girl.” Brazile’s speech focused on core problems for the black community, which she said are the same as those that the community faced 50 years ago. “We have to be twice as good to get twice as far. That is not a legacy, not a permanent condition. It’s an entry card, the dues we pay to belong here in society,” she said, explaining that the dues reach back to when Africans first arrived in the Americas. “We have been given a bad check, Dr. King said, marked with insufficient funds. Like Dr. King, I believe the bank of justice is bankrupt. There are more than sufficient funds in America’s great vault of opportunity.” Brazile also addressed claims that people in poverty are lazy and that black men are failing as fathers, describing how her dad worked two jobs, earned four Bronze Stars in the Korean War, and “never abandoned
Blackstone
FRED V. KEENAN CHAIR IN FINANCE, USC MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST, U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Kent, one of the earliest tenured African-American professors at the University of Chicago. Brazile focused on the current state of black politics in the United States and the changes that have taken place since the March on Washington 50 years ago. She also touched on several of today’s politically vibrant issues. After tracing the history of Black History Month, Brazile shared some of her background with the audience. She spoke of one of her first brushes with racial defiance. At Brazile’s elementary school, black students were made to stand without shelter while waiting for the bus, unlike the white students, who had a shelter. Brazile organized her fellow black classmates to promote racial integration, telling them to stand underneath the shelter. “I wasn’t suspended, but I sure got into trouble,” she said. “I have a
S. Lake Shore
The University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) created the new position of dean for faculty affairs last week in an effort to coordinate between the faculty of the UCMC and of the Biological Sciences Division.
Karen Kim, associate professor in the Department of Medicine, and Melina Hale, professor in Organismal Biology and Anatomy, will work with the elected faculty advisory committee, faculty, department chairs, and section chiefs. They will report to Kenneth Polonsky, dean of the biological sciences division and executive vice president for medical
BRAZILE continued from front
S. Hyde Park
UCMC creates Faculty Affairs position
—Thomas Choi
Brazile: Problems are the same as 50 years ago
Attempted Robbery Robbery Arrest Attempted Burglary
Cornell
Steve Edwards will succeed Darren Reisberg as executive director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) effective March 31, the IOP announced Thursday afternoon. Edwards joined the IOP in October 2012 as the Institute’s deputy director of
position at the beginning of spring quarter, when Reisberg becomes secretary of the University. Institute director David Axelrod (A.B. ’76) commented on Edwards’ abilities and potential in the IOP’s e-mail announcement. “Steve came to us after a rich career in journalism and quickly established himself as an extraordinary leader at the IOP. With Steve, we will not miss a beat,” Axelrod said.
Stony Island
Edwards named new IOP executive director
programming. His duties consist mainly of developing the speaker series, the visiting Fellows program, and student internship opportunities. Prior to his time at the IOP, Edwards worked at WBEZ for almost 14 years both on-air as the host of daily shows The Afternoon Shift and Eight FortyEight, as well as behindthe-scenes as the station’s content development director and acting program director. He will assume his new
Ellis
NEWS IN BRIEF
Cottage Grove
2
62nd *Locations of reports approximate
CORRECTIONS The January 27 Grey City article “Walking the Right Path” misstated the number of paid employees on Fiske’s Safe Passage route. There are 10 employees on the route. The January 27 Grey City article “A Play for Reynolds” misidentified Larry Zbibkowski and Larry Norman’s positions. Zbibkowski was appointed deputy provost for the arts effective July 1, 2013, at which point Norman left the position and returned to the faculty.
THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | February 7, 2014
Kelly: Olympics are “a real plus for Putin and for Russia”
Diplomat Ian Kelly discussed US-Russia tensions in a Center for International Studies lecture on Wednesday in Swift Hall. SYDNEY COMBS | THE CHICAGO MAROON RUSSIA continued from front
is why you see this pattern of rejecting the West: Russia can go it alone, demeaning gay people and setting Russian values against Western values.” Moving back through history, Kelly
underscored the importance of the Helsinki Final Act, a non-binding accord signed by both the U.S. and Russia in a mutual agreement to recognize human rights, noting that the act gave legitimacy to the human rights move-
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ment within the USSR. “History has shown that the USSR actually sowed the seeds of its own destruction by agreeing to these principles,” he said. Kelly turned to contemporary issues such as the current situation in Ukraine where President Viktor Yanukovych unexpectedly turned down an economic partnership with the European Union, going against his previous statements, due to pressure from Russia. This act sparked mass protests. “We just want to ensure that Ukraine is able to make the right choice. And, quite frankly, this choice is totally false. They should be able to have relations with the E.U. and Russia. It shouldn’t be either-or, and this is the crux of the problem,” Kelly said. Kelly fielded questions from the audience, which covered topics such as LGBT discrimination, the differences between American and Russian values, the Syrian conflict, and the Olympics in Sochi. Regarding the Olympics, Kelly felt they would be “a real plus for Putin and for Russia” in the end. “I think it’s going to be a very successful Olympics,” Kelly said. “This is all part of Russia being back, being an important international player, and showcasing Russia.” Kelly characterized Russia’s granting of asylum to Edward Snowden as “a real irritant in our relationship.” “Our feeling is that if you’re going to Cold War–style give asylum to someone who really damaged our national security, then we have to question what our relationship is. Are we partners or are we adversaries?”
3
Dining director reveals Campus North plans Isaac Stein News Staff Campus North Dining Hall is slated to incorporate features unseen in Bartlett or Arley D. Cathey Dining Commons. According to Richard Mason, director of UChicago Dining, the plan for Campus North “incorporates the most successful and important elements from our existing dining halls,” including a mix between House and nonHouse tables, which currently exists at Cathey and Bartlett, but also implements features that neither dining hall currently offers. “[There] will be two private dining rooms, which we envision as multipurpose spaces that will allow groups to have meetings over meals. This is something that we had identified as a need through our operations
at Cathey and Bartlett,” Mason said. Additionally, Mason said Campus North will house a new gluten-free station, as well as a full halal station, like the one at Bartlett. UChicago Dining intends to respond to student desires for greater accessibility and use of technolog y in the dining halls, but according to Mason, those plans are still pending. “The integration of technolog y in the dining halls is something that we are still working on,” he said. “We haven’t settled on a definitive approach in this dining hall design but have heard from students that they want to be able to charge their cell phones, tablets, and laptops. We are also considering the use of tablets at the food stations to display menus, ingredients, and nutritional information.”
GREY CITY just got an online makeover. GREYCITY.CHICAGOMAROON.COM
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial & Op-Ed FEBRUARY 7, 2014
Take the next step Career Advancement has the opportunity to make unpaid internships more meaningful The student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892 REBECCA GUTERMAN Editor-in-Chief SAM LEVINE Editor-in-Chief EMILY WANG Managing Editor AJAY BATRA Senior Editor DANIEL LEWIS Senior Editor MATTHEW SCHAEFER Senior Editor EMMA THURBER STONE Senior Editor THOMAS CHOI News Editor MARINA FANG News Editor HARINI JAGANATHAN News Editor ELEANOR HYUN Viewpoints Editor LIAM LEDDY Viewpoints Editor KRISTIN LIN Viewpoints Editor EMMA BRODER Arts Editor ALICE BUCKNELL Arts Editor WILL DART Arts Editor LAUREN GURLEY Arts Editor DANIEL RIVERA Arts Editor SARAH LANGS Sports Editor SONIA DHAWAN Head Designer KEVIN WANG Online Editor MARA MCCOLLOM Social Media Editor CONNOR CUNNINGHAM Head Copy Editor ALAN HASSLER Head Copy Editor SHERRY HE Head Copy Editor BEN ZIGTERMAN Head Copy Editor SYDNEY COMBS Photo Editor JULIA REINITZ Photo Editor PETER TANG Photo Editor FRANK YAN Photo Editor COLIN BRADLEY Grey City Editor JOY CRANE Grey City Editor SINDHUGNANASAMBANDAN Assoc.NewsEditor ALEX HAYS Assoc. News Editor STEPHANIE XIAO Assoc. News Editor TATIANA FIELDS Assoc. Sports Editor
The summer internship application cycle is in full swing for many UChicago students. Through Summer Action Grants, International Experience Grants, and the 1,000 Metcalf internships offered this summer, Career Advancement (CA) provides many paid opportunities for students. In addition, CA also offers an unpaid option for students: the Internship for Credit Practicum. However, as it currently stands, the Practicum is not much different from an unpaid internship, and actually costs students $150. While providing this opportunity allows students to take internships that require academic credit, CA can still do more to make the credit offered meaningful and find additional sources of funding for students. Twenty-eight students participated in the Practicum last year. Students must pay a $150 oversight fee and are required to turn in a journal, a final report, and an updated résumé to receive 0.25
credits that appear on the transcript but do not count toward graduation. If an internship does not pay at least minimum wage, the law mandates employers to fulfill six requirements outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These six requirements structure an internship with the intent that students benefit from an educational experience, not that the employers necessarily benefit from students’ work. The credit awarded from these experiences is not meant to take the place of wages. Many UChicago students already take unpaid internships, but currently the Credit Practicum option is not much different—except that it costs $150 more. There are a couple of ways that CA can make a program like this more beneficial for students, starting with eliminating the $150 fee and revising the course syllabus. Now, the awarding of credit and the work attached to
it is only nominal. Offering a full credit that counts toward graduation for this course would be a good first step. Of course, this increase in credit would also warrant more work on the part of students. CA can play a role in ensuring that that this work is meaningful by asking employers to require students to produce a tangible product which will assist them in finding paid positions in the future, such as a writing sample, research abstract, or presentation. Currently, though the responsibility to uphold FLSA requirements is on the employer, CA already works with them to ensure that students’ experiences provide appropriate professional training and preparation. Changing the work expected of students in this program will probably require CA to more carefully check its employers, which will only improve the experience that students receive. A 2012 study by college re-
America is inherently multilingual
Olympic boycott will harm the wrong people
TYRONALD JORDAN Business Manager TAMER BARSBAY Director of Business Research SHAWN CHEN Director of Internal Marketing ANNIE ZHU Director of External Marketing VINCENT MCGILL Delivery Coordinator ANNIE CANTARA Designer CARINA BAKER Designer JANE JUN Designer JONAH RABB Designer NICHOLAS ROUSE Designer MOLLY SEVCIK Designer KRYSTEN BRAY Copy Editor SOPHIE DOWNES Copy Editor JOE JOSEPH Copy Editor MICHELLE LEE Copy Editor CHELSEA LEU Copy Editor KATIE LEU Copy Editor JOHN LOTUS Copy Editor KATARINA MENTZELOPOULOS Copy Editor HANNAH RAUSCH Copy Editor CHRISTINE SCHMIDT Copy Editor OLIVIA STOVICEK Copy Editor ANDY TYBOUT Copy Editor LAN WANG Copy Editor RUNNAN YANG Copy Editor
The Chicago Maroon is published twice weekly during autumn, winter, and spring quarters Circulation: 5,500. The opinions expressed in the Viewpoints section are not necessarily those of the Maroon. © 2014 The Chicago Maroon, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street Chicago, IL 60637 Editor-in-Chief Phone: 773.834.1611 Newsroom Phone: 773.702.1403 Business Phone: 773.702.9555 Fax: 773.702.3032 CONTACT News: News@ChicagoMaroon.com Viewpoints: Viewpoints@ChicagoMaroon.com Arts: Arts@ChicagoMaroon.com Sports: Sports@ChicagoMaroon.com Photography: Photo@ChicagoMaroon.com Design: Design@ChicagoMaroon.com Copy: CopyEditors@ChicagoMaroon.com Advertising: Ads@ChicagoMaroon.com
The Editorial Board consists of the Editors-in-Chief and the Viewpoints Editors.
Hate the politics, not the Coke-existence Games
SAM ZACHER Assoc. Sports Editor
AURNA HASNIE Designer
cruiting consulting firm Intern Bridge found that 64.1 percent of students working in an unpaid internship also needed to work second jobs. However, the Internship for Credit Practicum increases the opportunities available to students and provides access to employers who otherwise would not offer internships. Given that unpaid internships aren’t likely to go away soon, CA should explore other options of funding for students. Even if the University is not able to devote any more money to fund students, CA can connect students to other funding options outside of the University. The expansion of the Metcalf program in recent years has been an admirable effort on the part of CA to secure funding for student interns. We now ask them to take the next step.
By Anastasia Golovashkina Viewpoints Columnist This year’s Winter Olympic Games got underway yesterday morning in Sochi, Russia. In the lead-up to the long-awaited events, a variety of human rights organizations, journalists, celebrities, and regular people have announced their decision to boycott the games, with many calling on others—leaders, companies, viewers, and even athletes—to do the same. The Internet, in particular, abounds with Twitter handles, Facebook pages, opinion pieces, and websites urging people to boycott viewing or attending the games. Though I have no doubt that the individuals and organizations behind these messages have good intentions, the idea of boycotting the games is ultimately a misguided and futile one. Boycotting isn’t going to do what most of these groups and people think it’s going to do. But it will hurt athletes—the very people who most deserve this moment in the spotlight. For one thing, it’s not going to send Russian President Vladimir Putin any kind of political message. Everything about the past several years of preparation for the games—throughout which Rus-
sia has been particularly uncooperative with the United States on matters of organization and security—suggests that Putin doesn’t give a dying duck about the United States’ opinion, whether it be that of the government or of the country’s general public. He is not going to interpret the Games’ ratings as a referendum on the way he runs his country. He is just not going to care. No matter how much we—and that’s a “we” that very much includes myself—oppose Russia’s flagrant human rights violations, especially with respect to LGBT
“
Boycotting will hurt the athletes—the very people who most deserve this moment in the spotlight.
”
individuals and nonviolent activists, we are not going to accomplish anything on this front by not tuning in. Nor is boycotting going to stop the rampant corruption plaguing the arenas’ highly overpriced construction, though it’s true that with an estimated price tag of $51 billion, the Sochi Olympics are shaping up to be the single most expensive Olympic Games in history. But everyone who had someSOCHI continued on page 5
By Jane Huang Viewpoints Columnist Coca-Cola, which has long been associated with imagery like cute polar bears and Santa Claus, has not exactly developed a reputation for provocative advertisements. And one of the commercials that debuted last Sunday during the Super Bowl seemed to fit right in with the other “aww”-inducing advertisements that Coke often rolls out; “It’s Beautiful” featured children singing “America the Beautiful” in different languages while scenic clips played of happy people enjoying Coke around America. Nevertheless, proving that people can get angry at just about anything, numerous tweets responded negatively to the inclusion of foreign languages in the commercial. The reaction to the Coca-Cola commercial hasn’t been uniformly condemnatory. But as someone who comes from a bilingual household, I can’t say I’m astonished by the social media backlash, which sounds simply like a highly public version of the negativity that I’ve heard expressed toward foreign languages throughout my life. Though people in college settings like ours seem to see multilingualism as a sign of being smart and sophisticated, back when I was a kid, speaking Mandarin within earshot of another kid who wasn’t Chinese invited open mockery. The day after the Super Bowl, former congressman Allen West published a blog post on his website describing the commercial as “Coca-Cola’s politically correct attempt at the balkanization of
America.” The charge is absurd. If anything, Coca-Cola’s ad demonstrated the merits of inclusivity. Despite being unfamiliar with Hindi, Tagalog, or most of the other languages featured in the commercial, I understood what everybody was singing because “America the Beautiful” is an iconic song. I don’t need it to be sung in English, because I already know all the words. However, Coke was able to make a piece of American culture accessible to a broader crosssection of people, integrating different heritages into that piece of culture. And indeed, the English language itself has a long history of integrating contributions from other languages. For those who are dismayed by the influence of foreign languages in the United States, I suggest that they try to go about their daily lives without using any words that have been borrowed from other languages. Good luck ordering one of those hot brown drinks from Starbucks, or describing that year of school between preschool and first grade. Not only does the exchange of words help build bridges between speakers of different languages, but it also helps English speakers communicate with one another. How many instances in our lives have we spent time searching for just the right way to say something? Whether we’re tapping away at essays on our computer, talking to our friends, or playing a heated Scrabble match, adapting words from other languages adds to our toolbox of the perfect words we need. In this way, English becomes stronger, not weaker. One of the common arguments against promoting foreign languages in America is that unity will be undermined if people can’t communicate with one another. In a broad sense, I agree that we have a communication problem in the U.S., given the divided reactions to Coca-Cola’s celebration COKE continued on page 5
THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | February 7, 2014
Learning other languages encourages empathy COKE continued from page 4 of multilingualism. However, communication is not predicated solely on people speaking the same language; understanding one another’s experiences is also critical. When we get into policy debates about the place of foreign languages in schools, public life, or cultural events, we ought to be aware of what some of the concrete impacts might be on individuals. Consequently, I believe that every American student should be encouraged to learn a foreign language. Aside from the mental exercise and résumé boost that are often cited as reasons to learn foreign languages, spending some quality time conjugating verbs or trying to memorize the genders of all the nouns gives people some insight into the challenges encountered by those who came to America and adapted to not only speaking a new language, but also living in a new culture which shapes and has been shaped by its language. Given that the United States is a nation of immigrants, many of whom arrived from non-Englishspeaking countries, foreign languages ought to be considered as much a part of the American experience as the proverbial baseball and apple pie. Perhaps equally important, learning a foreign language could teach people to be less fearful of the unknown. Just as some of our parents urged us
ALICE XIAO
to look under our beds to assure ourselves that there were no monsters there, we need to ask people to look at foreign languages to realize that they don’t contain any magical incantations that can be deployed to ruin the America they know. In these other languages, people can still ruminate on life, debate the merits of Coke versus Pepsi, or even sing “America the Beau-
| MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
tiful.” Instead of allowing fear to persist, we should seek to use foreign languages to teach empathy and mutual respect for one another’s heritages. And that would be a rather beautiful thing to experience, wouldn’t it? Jane Huang is a fourth-year in the College majoring in chemistry.
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Boycotts of the Sochi Olympics don’t have political clout, but they do hurt the athletes SOCHI continued from page 4 thing to gain from this corrupt planning—a practice of which the Russian government has an extensive history—has already pocketed her money and walked away a happy camper. Boycotting is not going to make the estimated $25–30 billion that was likely lost to bribes and fraudulence miraculously reappear. Indeed, save for some kind of miracle, it’s gone for good. Nor is not watching going to do anything to prevent a terrorist attack. Though putting a terrorist magnet like Sochi on the globe’s center stage certainly carries a number of inherent risks, the same was true for previous host cities like London and Beijing, not to mention for every other internationally-broadcast mass gathering of people. Plus, the United States is set to provide FBI security assistance at the games— and in the event of an attack, our team has already laid out an escape plan. Are these precautions foolproof ? No. But they’re a heck of a lot more logical than plans to protect competitors via turned-off TV screens thousands of miles away. So, who will these bril-
liant boycotts hurt? They’ll hurt our businesses. NBC, for instance, has paid $1.18 billion for rights to broadcast the games. Meanwhile, Olympic Games sponsors like Coca-Cola, Visa, Panasonic, Samsung, and Procter & Gamble are already facing a major public relations nightmare in addressing calls from groups like RUSA LGBT to boycott the games. Though I’m not usually one to defend big business for, well, anything, it’s completely unfair to socially and financially fault these companies for a decision over which they had virtually no control. Most importantly, and the reason for this entire piece: These boycotts will hurt the 230 athletes the United States is sending to Sochi—the hardworking men and women who have trained their entire lives for this one opportunity. Lowered ratings will erode not only their current visibility as athletes, but also their future prospects for sponsorships and success. It’s a shame that Russia’s social, political, and human rights problems have taken over the media’s coverage of the Olympic Games; it shoul d be the athletes on whom we
focus most. It bears repeating that none of this is to excuse Russia’s despicable treatment of gays and opposition activists or its corrupt handling of the games, or to suggest that we should momentarily forget about these problems as we watch our athletes compete—we absolutely shouldn’t. But if history is to be any guide, the United States’ boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow proved to be completely futile; this will as well. Now, to be sure, there are exceptions. Boycotts from the likes of political leaders such as President Barack Obama and German President Joachim Gauck have very different (and very meaningful) political implications than do those from regular people like you or me. Before you choose to boycott or encourage others to boycott viewing the Olympic Games, understand what it is you’re boycotting. I, for one, know that I’ll be supporting our athletes by tuning in—will you? Anastasia Golovashkina is a third-year in the College majoring in economics.
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Tear Piers down Janet Mock’s appearance on Piers Morgan Live has opened up questions about transgender representation in the media This is something you should know because Morgan’s second interview with Mock is absolutely worth watching. It is a more than a powerful example of the way in which the media fails transgender people (of which there are many: Laverne Cox, Carmen Carrera, and Chelsea Manning are
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By Emma Thurber Stone Viewpoints Columnist Here is something you should know about: Writer Janet Mock, a transgender woman of color, appeared on Piers Morgan Live on February 4 to promote her book, Redefining Realness, and to speak about her life and work as a transgender advocate. After the interview aired, she was immediately invited back to the show—not because Morgan was impressed by her story and thought it deserved more airtime, but to account for what Morgan termed the “firestorm of abuse and vilification” that he had experienced via Twitter from Mock’s “cisphobic” supporters. At issue in the second interview was the fact that in the first Mock was misgendered several times by the show’s production team: She was described onscreen and on the show’s Twitter as having “formerly been a man” and having been “a boy until age 18.” Morgan took personal offense to these critiques, arguing that Mock was just trying to create controversy, and was feigning offense for press. As proof that no harm had been done, Morgan offered up his previously expressed support of “equality for all people.” Mock, along with others, was not convinced.
It isn’t just Morgan who has the power to contribute to the invisibility of transgender people.
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the tip of the iceberg). It is one of those failures captured in agonizing slow motion and painfully prolonged. Morgan did not just make a mistake: He made a mistake and then proceeded to passionately and nonsensically defend it. It’s incredible, in a way. Morgan doesn’t just disagree; he doesn’t just “not get it.” He interrupts, gaslights, and condescends. He ends the interview by offering Mock, who has remained patient, eloquent, and unbelievably positive throughout, some “advice.” She refuses politely, but he gives it anyway: “Next time you’re doing a big high-profile television interview and you feel that the interviewer is miscategorizing your identity or your gender… my advice, and I say this in a nice and a friendly, respectful way, is say something. Don’t pretend it’s all gone very well and shake his hand and thank him,
and then go off five days later and ignite a social media firestorm of abuse in his direction because that isn’t fair either.” The message? “I am powerful, and you are not, and that is why it does not matter if you are offended with the way my production team has portrayed you. Don’t disagree with people like me. We can make you invisible, and we will.” But it isn’t just Morgan who has the power to contribute to the invisibility of transgender people, and especially transgender people of color. Morgan is merely exercising an ability that many white and/ or cis people have: to deny others the opportunity to define themselves, or to offer an opportunity only to refuse it because it is not articulated in a way that is palatable to us and absolves us of blame. This process happens outside of mainstream media and even outside of social media. It is a daily experience for those whom advocates like Mock seek to bring to our attention. So Morgan is dreadful, and we are also dangerously capable of the same dreadfulness—what does it mean to say this? Well, first and foremost, what this column seeks to do is spill more ink about a topic that never has enough ink spilled about it, to
borrow a useful metaphor that has been circulating among Twitter activists as of late. This column is to ask you to go watch Morgan splutter for 14 minutes and ask yourself from where his ire comes. And this column is to remind us how little we are told about transgender men and women that doesn’t necessarily relate to issues of surgery or genitalia. Where are the high-profile interviews about the extremely high rate of violence against trans people and particularly against trans people of color? About the immense danger faced by trans sex workers? About the isolation and bullying faced by trans youth? These are the things that Janet Mock wants you to know. These are the things she would have talked about if she had been given the chance. Watch Morgan closely, and remember that the way he claims not only innocence but also victimhood is not at all exceptional. What you are seeing is everywhere. This is the way you hold power when you have it. Emma Thurber Stone is a third-year in the College majoring in anthropology and gender and sexuality studies.
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Heartlandia FEBRUARY 7, 2014
In memoriam: Philip Seymour Hoffman, 1967–2014
ALICE XIAO
Dan Ackerman Maroon Contributor Media coverage of a celebrity death tends to break the celebrity fairly cleanly into his constituent parts: on one side, his life, up to and including his death, and on the other, his work. Neither the constant scandals nor the benzos in Michael Jackson’s system will make us listen to “Billie Jean” any differently. For all the glamour of her personal life and all the mystery surrounding her drowning, we take Natalie Wood’s performance in West
Side Story pretty much at face value. If the public has a harder time separating Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death from his work it may be because his actual self—the overdose victim who built his career on incredible self-control— seems like a part Hoffman could have played in front of a camera very well. In his early years, Hoffman stole scenes and arguably whole movies, all while playing generally low-status characters. From the boom operator in Boogie Nights to the butler in The Big Lebowski to the home hospice nurse in Magnolia, every one of his early roles
| MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
suggested that the actor needed greater challenges. Much has been made, justifiably, of the enormous role Hoffman’s voice played in his acting, and it is hard to believe that the man would have had such an impact in this period of his career without the slurs and stutters and tics that betrayed his characters’ frustrations in every line. The tension never failed to boil over, and there was a special kind of guilty gut-laugh that these characters could induce when their impossible attempts at love, respect, or simple control sputtered out into verbal flailing. The painfully awk-
ward pass Hoffman’s character makes at Mark Wahlberg’s character in Boogie Nights deserves particular recognition in this area. Once he got the opportunity to star, this sense of transparency that Hoffman worked to such successful comedic effect in his side characters transformed seamlessly into some of the best tragic performances of 21st century film so far. Capote, Doubt, and The Master are the first that come to mind. These were the “great men” of Hoffman’s career. These three characters were meticulously kept, and each spoke incredibly carefully. The fact that Hoffman’s characters no longer had speech impediments did not mean their desperation wasn’t audible, though. Through the cult leader’s utopian bluster in The Master and the priest’s aggressive familiarity in Doubt, only Hoffman could weave in the subtle cruelty or self-hate that leaks into their lines. Watch Father Flynn toy with Meryl Streep’s nun over tea or “Master” Dodd try to keep from falling apart when confronted by a skeptic. You want to believe their principles, but they can’t even convince themselves. Hoffman always maintained a special mastery over the realm of the pathetic, and what set his later performances apart was not that he exposed those larger-than-life figures as alcoholics and sexual sadists and whatever Truman Capote was, but that he revealed them to be scared and unconvinced by their
own pretensions. It was the careful blend of fragile charisma and charismatic fragility that cultivated the kind of personal connection viewers felt toward the character and the actor. Which brings us to the death. As with any premature celebrity death, especially one apparently related to drugs, the media’s perverse attention to detail in the case (the number of envelopes in the apartment, the amount of cash taken out of the ATM) is as predictable as it is appalling. But many fans are focusing on one detail in particular: Hoffman’s repeated confession that he knew drugs could and very likely would be the end of him. Denial seems terrifyingly absent in Hoffman’s approach to his addiction, and his frank recognition of his own helplessness is disturbing precisely because it fits into Hoffman’s personality as we thought we knew it. Although finding any kind of lesson in a death like this is more an exercise in projection than analysis, the effect that Hoffman’s death had on his audience is real, and it is important to understand why this death is particularly painful. It could mean that we have to reevaluate how we relate to Hoffman’s performances aq2nd the hilarious, horrifying, fascinating examples of humanity he showed us. Understanding your compulsion is not enough. After 60-odd films and decades spent demonstrating that we could capture and control our self-destructive drives, Philip Seymour Hoffman could not let us believe it.
From curbside to (55th) streetside It wasn’t long ago that Bergstein’s Deli reigned as the darling of Hyde Park’s food trucks. Students familiar with the corner of Ellis Avenue and East 57th Street probably remember the chaotic scene of lunchgoers vying for a spot in line. At least I certainly do. Each week, throngs of students flocked to the blue van, attracted by the dated music and smell of cured meats. For many, the deli crowds were just a mild obstacle while speed-walking to class, but for those interested in seeing what the truck had to offer, it could be a bit more complicated. The first time I tried to eat at Bergstein’s the line snaked down past the next truck over, and a woman trying to grab her order shoved me off the sidewalk. Animals. I did eventually have the chance to eat at Bergstein’s— several times, in fact—before it vanished in January of last year. It was a heavy loss. What made Bergstein’s NY
Delicatessen unique—so different from the rest of the pack—was its overall simplicity. While other food ventures focused on oneupping each other with garlic aioli mayonnaise and truffle-infused fries, Bergstein’s was serving corned beef and
BERGSTEIN’S NY DELICATESSEN 1164 East 55th Street Average sandwich: $10
pastrami on rye, served with a side of homemade potato chips. Solid food with a sheer lack of pretension in a homey and quaint truck that was more familiar and distinctive with each visit: That’s what Bergstein’s brought to the table. So it was that the disappearance of that beloved truck from the neighborhood was heartbreaking, and the deli’s eventual return to Hyde Park uplifting.
Bergstein’s was too good not to come back to Hyde Park. Not only did it have a triedand-true business model that must have pleased the University administration, but here also was a restaurant whose success was all but guaranteed. The lines on Ellis were tangible evidence of this. The new East 55th Street Bergstein’s NY will finish its soft opening on February 10, expanding hours to 8 p.m. and extending the limited menu to include all the classic sandwiches from the original Chicago Heights location. There is no doubt that Bergstein’s is here to stay, but how does the restaurant fare when compared to its mobile counterpart? Entering and ordering might be the toughest part of Bergstein’s to swallow. The current ordering process looks like an inefficient factory line: fill out your order, hand it to the people behind the counter, and watch as it ever so slowly makes its way
A signature sandwich at Bergstein’s NY Delicatessen, which has a new location in Hyde Park. Departing its soft launch on February 10, Bergstein’s will be open until 8 p.m. most nights. COURTESY OF NEIL CONWAY
down the line. Should I sit down while I wait, maybe a grab a soft drink before paying? It’s all rather unclear. In the meantime, you’ll be
forced to absorb the atmosphere of the place. What strikes you immediately is the sterile, tacky interior that lacks any of the hominess
of the neighborhood deli we imagine. This part of the restaurant can only improve with age, but would it kill DELI continued on page 9
THECHICAGO CHICAGOMAROON MAROON || ARTS ARTS || November February 7,1,2014 THE 2013
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Long behind the camera, Allen finds himself once again in focus Robert Sorrell Arts Staff
ALICE BUCKNELL
On Sunday, January 12, Hollywood was all in a huff over the Golden Globes, and Woody Allen was, as usual, safely on the island of Manhattan. To be precise, he was in the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on 43rd Street. Meanwhile, longtime friend Diane Keaton was accepting the Globe’s highest honor, the Cecil B. DeMille Award for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment,” on Allen’s behalf. Though Allen’s work in cinema since the 1960s has cast a shadow of influence over all American (and many nonAmerican) comedians, screenwriters, and directors, not everyone thought the award was appropriate. The outrage can be traced back to the infamous scandals of the early ’90s. In 1992, thenpartner Mia Farrow discovered that Allen was having an affair with her adopted daughter Soon-Yi, who, though legally an adult at the time, was a full 35 years younger than Allen. Then, to complicate matters, Allen was soon after accused of molesting his seven-year-old adopted daughter Dylan, who recently wrote an excruciatingly detailed open letter to The New York Times about the experience. The scandal is still simmering with the Farrow family who felt that Hollywood was sweeping Allen’s problems under the
| THE CHICAGO MAROON
rug due to his critical acclaim and success. Mia’s son Ronan stuck the knife in via Twitter that evening: “Missed the Woody Allen tribute - did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?” As Allen’s film Blue Jasmine, which was released this summer, is receiving critical accolades and three Oscar nominations (Cate Blanchett for actress in a leading role, Sally Hawkins for actress in a supporting role, and one for Allen’s original screenplay), movie fans, myself included, are forced to once again consider Allen’s work. This reconsideration is particularly interesting for me as I was still in diapers when the scandal was rocking the entertainment world in the early ’90s. My first exposure to Allen came, as to many others, when I watched Annie Hall. I fell for Allen’s wistful romanticism and the leisurely way the scenes folded in and out of each other, tinged with sepia, like memories of childhood or of being in love. After Annie Hall I romped through Manhattan, Zelig, Sweet and Lowdown, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona along with countless others. And it didn’t take long to develop an indelible fondness for his style, his films, and the memories I had of watching them. But at some point—I don’t really remember when, probably from
an offhand comment—Allen’s hermetic film world was shattered by the infusion of reality. Re-watching Allen’s relationship with a young Mariel Hemingway in Manhattan or with a younger niece in Crimes and Misdemeanors now leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. And watching Keaton’s acceptance speech was frankly uncomfortable, mainly because of her emphasis on Allen’s female characters. Or, as she puts it, “Woody’s women.” Allen has long been lauded for creating dynamic and fresh characters, as Keaton puts it, “starting with ‘la di da’ Annie Hall all the way through Cate Blanchett’s beautiful performance in Blue Jasmine.” In the light of Allen’s sexual proclivities and alleged sexual abuse, the emphasis on his “women” comes off a bit strange—like praising an alcoholic for their collection of spirits. Yet, the praise is strange in a twofold manner; we expect great characters from our filmmakers and writers, regardless of gender, and it is perhaps more telling about the American film industry, which still contains huge gender disparities, especially in high-level positions such as director, than about Allen himself. Yet, as damning as the headlines seem for Allen, a thick fog hangs around the whole ordeal. Allen was never convicted, or even charged for child molestation (though he did ALLEN continued on page 9
For two days only, CSO brings Schubert mass to life MJ Chen Arts Staff The great thing about birthdays is that they keep coming long after you’re dead. So it is with Schubert. The composer turned an ancient 217 this past January. Around this time of year the fandom pays homage to his brief but prolific life. We remember Schubert best for his legion of lieder, or German art songs—over 600 in total.
MUTI CONDUCTS SCHUBERT MASS Chicago Symphony Orchestra Through February 8
Through them, we come to experience his tremendous melodic genius and clarity. Both carry over to his larger-scale works, including the compelling Mass No. 5 in A flat major. We start by considering the Schubertian lied. Poetry set to music, pure and simple. The poem may be long or short, standalone or one in a cycle: It is always scored for voice with
piano. Unlike sonatas and other forms of “absolute” music, lieder actively tell a story or describe an image through sound. Two weeks ago, I went to hear baritone Matthias Goerne and pianist Christoph Eschenbach perform Die Schöne Müllerin (The Lovely MillMaid) with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The song cycle follows a young man’s ill-fated love for his boss’s beautiful daughter through joy, unrest, and betrayal. Goerne and Eschenbach deliver a clean, convincing recital. The key to performing Schubert’s lieder lies in creating a private atmosphere. To convey emotion the singer must connect personally, and Goerne sings directly to you. Eschenbach plays beautifully as well, but fails to achieve complete unity with Goerne. Unity between singer and pianist is essential to delivering that seamless, intimate sound. Now split the soloist into four and the piano into full orchestra and choir, and we’re ready for Schubert’s large-scale choral works. The crisp beauty in a single melodic line mul-
Riccardo Muti conducts Schubert’s Mass No. 5 in A flat major, a 30-minute piece from the “master of song.” COURTESY OF TODD ROSENBERG
tiplies to become intense, powerful expression in the A-flat major Mass. Listen to each section of the performing force individually and together: Notice how Schubert underscores punchy choral writing with vigorous strings? This rhythmic drive lends
energ y to the music and pushes it forward. Or how the orchestra copies melodies sung by soloists or the choir? Doubling provides crucial support and makes for a richer, fuller sound. Following the traditional liturgy, the mass contains six movements. The second,
Gloria, features one of my favorite moments in the piece. A choral fugue based on the words “cum Sancto Spiritu” (“with the Holy Spirit”) builds with unrelenting energy to an exultant “Amen.” Each voice in a fugue (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) sings independently
with equal importance, passing around a common melodic motif. The challenge—and the fun—is to listen to all four voices and the orchestra simultaneously, keeping track of their individual lines and relationships with each other. It’s harder than it sounds.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | February 7, 2014
Maroon goes gold Best Foreign Film contender The Hunt sniffs out raw truths
Mads Mikkelsen, the pride of Denmark, has appeared in Casino Royale, and currently stars in NBC’s Hannibal. COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES
Ellen Rodnianski Arts Staff It is generally believed that children never lie. The Danish director Thomas Vinterberg proves exactly the opposite in his film The Hunt. The film, which is nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign film category, demonstrates that chil-
dren are not always innocent. In fact, their wild imaginations sometimes lead to life-ruining lies. The Hunt begins by introducing its main character, Lucas, played by the Danish superstar Mads Mikkelsen. Lucas is a decent man, temporarily working at a kindergarten because problems in the economy caused him to be laid off from
his previous job as a teacher. He is introduced as a great friend and a genuinely good, patient person who enjoys his job. He is also a father fighting for custody of his teenage son. And yet when little Klara, his best friend’s daughter, accuses him of sexual abuse by lying to the kindergarten administrator about seeing Lucas’s genitals, everyone in
his town automatically shuns him, including, unfortunately, his best friend. Klara tells this lie to the kindergarten principal, who cautiously approaches the tender subject. A lie from one little girl spirals into the belief that Lucas abused many more children, and parents start looking out for signs of abuse, which include nightmares, according to the child psychologist. As tensions rise, Lucas’s son, Marcus, who lives with his mother, comes to see Lucas upon hearing the accusations. As any teenager would, he reacts significantly more physically to the attacks on his father’s reputation, at one point beating up an adult whom Lucas used to consider a friend. The climax of the film occurs at Christmas mass when Lucas confronts his best friend. The plot of the film is very powerful. The audience finds itself trying not to hate the ignorant child, who, out of the simple desire for attention, came up with a lie that ruined an innocent man’s life. But more importantly, the movie shows the unity anger can create, for as the lie manifests itself, Lucas ends up being the target for unjustified abuses from the entire community. A shot is fired at Lucas’s window while he’s cooking with his son, he is refused service at the gro-
cery store, and the butcher provokes a fight with him. It seems that from the start, the accusation itself convicts him, because as Grethe, the school administrator, said, “Children never lie.” The cinematography of the film, shot by Charlotte Bruus Christensen, is fantastic. The film is set in late autumn, and the scenes of the hunt and the neighborhood show the yellow, orange, and red shades the leaves acquire at that time of year. Naturally, at the center of The Hunt, and nearly every shot, is Mikkelsen, who with this film demonstrates his versatility. Outside of Denmark he is best known as the star of the television show Hannibal, for his convincing portrayals of the frightening Le Chiffre, a villain with bleeding eyes, in Casino Royale; the 18th-century physician in A Royal Affair; and Stravinsky in Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. The role of Lucas once more illustrates his acting gift. No matter what type of character he plays, his performance is extremely effective. The Hunt is without a doubt one of those films that make the audience reflect for at least a couple of days. It is an outstanding movie that is undoubtedly a favorite among the Oscar contenders in the best foreign film category.
Despite mountains of meat, Bergstein’s NY Deli misses trademark charm, homemade potato chips DELI continued from page 7 them to include more lights? Despite the strange interior appearance, the restaurant always seems too busy, even when it’s not. Maybe it has to do with the long counter line, or the disproportionate number of employees in the back. Either way, the place is happening. Once you grab a seat—my favorite place to be is at the window counter looking out onto East 55th Street—you can be fully acquainted with
your sandwich. On my first visit I had the Second City, a deceptively compressed creation on a fluffy pretzel roll. The salami and turkey are densely packed in, allowing the flavors of the meat to sing through despite the sharp Muenster in the background. It’s a solid first-time pick. But the magnum opus here is the Bensonhurst, a sandwich of David and Goliath–like proportions. The sandwich is a combined
layering of pastrami and corned beef covered in melted Swiss on two slices of rye bread. Bergstein’s uses the same meats as the legendary Manny’s in the South Loop, but their inclusion of the cheese and having it packed so tightly together is brilliant. Some might be dismayed that it’s too little for the price, but the sandwich satisfies in ways invisible to the naked eye. Of the sandwiches, the only one I felt disappoint-
ed with was the Reuben. It needs more sauerkraut and Thousand Island. But in the category of sides I was a bit miffed. Instead of the homemade potato chips that the food truck—in all its glorious blue splendor—served, the Hyde Park location only gives the option of Lay’s or Kettle Chips. To those who previously enjoyed the greasy and crunchy goodness of their chips, I am sorry to report that they are not there now. I’m still hold-
ing out that they may come back. Since its opening, I have eaten at Bergstein’s four times, and maybe for some that will be enough tries for the school year. There is no doubt, however, that I will be back to Bergstein’s, and sooner rather than later. They are now the definitive kings of the Hyde Park meat market, and I’m still dying to try their SoVo (corned beef and chopped liver on rye) and Double Down (pastra-
mi and turkey pastrami with lettuce and tomato on rye). There are things about Bergstein’s that could use some work: the decor, the sides, and the prices (depending on what you get). But there is just something beautiful about corned beef when it’s handed to you boldly and without any fanfare on a slice of the bread of your choice. This place may not be the 60-some-year-old Manny’s, but it’s Hyde Park’s deli of choice.
With Allen controversy, “it is amazing how quickly knowledge can taint our experience of art” ALLEN continued from page 8 lose visitation rights), and psychiatrists and medical doctors who examined Dylan at the time could not find evidence of sexual abuse. Regardless of the truth of these allegations, Allen’s relationship with Mia’s adopted daughter Soon-Yi is enough to make me cringe. Many cultural critics have taken the opportunity for a theoretical exploration of art-artist separation. Most of these attempts haven’t gotten very far, concluding instead
with a big question mark. Theoretically, it is difficult to separate an artist and their work. In practice, it’s nearly impossible. It is amazing how quickly knowledge can taint our experience of art, and the media storm is once again bringing Allen’s personal life in context with his films. Yet at the same time, Allen is sliding more and more into the background of his own films. Already famous for being a hands-off director, Allen has reached a peak with Blue
Jasmine, giving up many of his standard visual cues and even abandoning his old haunts of New York, London, and Paris for San Francisco. Allen now rarely acts in his own films, though admittedly retains the old font and occasional strains of jazz while filling famous actors’ mouths with his own words. Actors such as Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Match Point, Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris, and Cate Blanchett
in Blue Jasmine have taken Allen’s scripts and given them a different manifestation, free from the stiff, insular world that makes Allen’s films feel at times pretentious or overly philosophical. Now, Allen’s contemporary films, usually free of his presence, take on an air that is perhaps slightly less unique but at the same time more relatable. Wilson’s wide-eyed wonderment in Midnight in Paris lends a fresh air to Allen’s distinctive dialogue, turning
a nebbish anxiety into something more engaging. The same is true for Match Point, a surprisingly grisly tale of murder and deception, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, where the actors Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz translated parts of Allen’s script into Spanish themselves. Many of the greatest actors of our time, including Cruz, Blanchett, and Alec Baldwin, among others, still work with Allen despite the scandals. And that is not likely to change.
Allen is a very skilled writer and director. He makes good, sometimes great, films. He may or may not have molested Dylan Farrow at age seven, but he certainly has a proclivity for much younger women. On Oscar night, as the world watches Hollywood, Allen will be somewhere in New York or on location for his next film, continuing the work that makes him a pop culture icon. He will also be with his wife Soon-Yi, 35 years his junior.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | February 7, 2014
Dobbs: “[it’s] another chance for us to go get in some solid performances” TRACK continued from back
be able to see where we stand before going into some very competitive meets.” The men have 10 athletes ranked in the top five in their respective events in the UAA, and the women have 17. Look for these 27 athletes to start approaching their best times over the next couple of weeks.
There are numerous others on both squads who are on the verge of entering scoring positions in the UAA, and they too will try to improve their times. The meet this weekend, the Maroons’ second-to-last home meet, will start at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and continue through about 5:30 p.m.
UAAs next up for squad after Augustana WRESTLING continued from page 11
Look out for the MAROON’s special Historical issue, coming this Tuesday, February 18th.
Chicago, either. “Some of us even saw Augustana at the dual,” Pennisi said. “So we’ll have had a look at our guy already.” A few standouts have started to push forward in the past few weeks. First-year Charlie Banaszak is expected to continue the strong momentum that he has been building all season, and he’s also confident in his teammates’ performances. “I think that our [third-year] 133-pounder Adam Wyeth, our [fourth-year] 149-pounder Jacob Smith, and our [fourth-year] heavyweight Jeff
Tyburski are really hitting their strides,” Banaszak said. “I think they’re going to do really well in the postseason.” Even with this weekend’s match in the foreground, the Maroons can’t help but ponder how they’ll perform in the postseason, beginning with UAAs in just two weeks. “We’ve been practicing really hard in preparation for the next few weeks, especially focusing on our technique,” Banaszak said. “I think our performance this weekend will be a good indication of the way we’ll perform at the UAAs.” The match against Augustana will begin at 7 p.m.
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Time for revenge against Rochester MEN’S BASKETBALL continued from page 11
rebound power. “We felt like we had an advantage inside, so we made a concerted effort rebounding,” said fourth-year forward Sam Gage. “I’m actually excited to be playing these two teams for the second consecutive weekend. It gives us a chance to get an immediate second shot at Rochester, but this time on home court,” Muskeyvalley said, despite the surprising loss to the Yellowjackets last Sunday. The Maroons have been working hard all week
DESIGN.
DRAW.
and are ready to face Rochester and avenge that loss. This Friday’s women’s and men’s games against Emory will feature the annual Order of the “C” clothing drive, at which participants can donate clothes and purchase raffle tickets for gift cards to restaurants in Hyde Park and downtown Chicago, University of Chicago apparel, tickets to professional sports games and museums, and much more. Chicago tips off against Emory at 8 p.m. tonight and against Rochester at noon on Sunday.
WRITE.
COPY EDIT.
SEEKING WRITERS, DESIGNERS, COPY EDITORS, CARTOONISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS Have what it takes to make the Maroon Staff? Contact us: editor@chicagomaroon.com
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | February 7, 2014
Déjà Vu: Maroons to face same schools in second-straight weekend Women’s Basketball Adam Freymiller Sports Staff Turn on the flux capacitor and get Christopher Lloyd’s agent on the phone, because next week’s women’s basketball schedule will take us back to the future. More specifically, the near future, as the Maroons (10–8, 4–3) will play Emory (15–3, 4–3) and Rochester (7–11, 1–6) in a rematch of last weekend’s games. Both games were played at an extremely high level for all parties involved, and this weekend’s games promise to be just as intense. In Atlanta last week, Chicago fell behind early in the first half before coming back against Emory, ultimately losing 78–86. Although the Maroons hope that their offense can replicate its Friday performance, they will want to win the turnover battle (Chicago committed 26 turnovers to Emory’s 11) and come up with a plan to slow down Emory guards Savannah Morgan and Hannah Lilly, who combined for 41 points in the game. Look for Chicago to receive a boost from playing at home, following a challenging fourgame road stretch.
Although no loss is received well, third-year guard Claire Devaney believes the South Siders will put it behind them and come out ready for the rematch this Friday. “Our loss to Emory on Friday was certainly a tough one, but the great part of playing in the UAA is that you always have a chance to play again on Sunday,” said Devaney, who scored 22 points and secured eight rebounds against the Eagles. “With close losses like that, we have to put the game behind us and focus on what we need to fix for our next time on the floor.” Whichever team can learn the most from its previous performance and implement an effective game plan will certainly have an advantage. According to head coach Carissa Sain Knoche, the games were excellent learning opportunities and will influence the team’s tactics. “We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend that will help us prepare for the next two games. We will certainly adjust some things in our offensive and defensive schemes as a result of what we learned,” Sain Knoche
said. While different individual players have proven their ability to come up with big performances, it’s difficult to pinpoint an individual on this team who has stood head and shoulders above the others in recent games. In five of the past six games, first-year Britta Nordstrom, fourthyear Maggie Ely, third-year Morgan Donovan, and Devaney have scored at least 10 points each. Other players have also contributed important shifts, such as third-year forward Ellie Greiner, who has pitched in recently with several strong starts, notably against Case Western and Emory. This is a perspective that Ely shares. “I think all of our girls have made a great impact in these games—there are so many combinations of players and positions that suit our offense well, and I’m thrilled that every girl has played a particular role well and complimented the team with their individual potential,” she said. Chicago will face Emory at Ratner on Friday at 6 p.m., and will play against Rochester in the same venue at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Third-year Ali Shaw looks to make a move against an Illinois Wesleyan defender. FRANK WANG | THE CHICAGO MAROON
First DIII competition awaits on two-day road trip Women’s Tennis David Gao Sports Staff After introducing a new training regime and facing a DI school for their first match of the season, No. 8 Chicago will be traveling to Granville and Gambier, OH, to face two schools in its division. “Playing Illinois last weekend was a great way to begin competition this quarter,” second-year Sruthi Ramaswami said. “We all played very challenging matches, which showed us how we’re just as able to compete at [high levels of competition]. Hav-
ing that confidence moving forward will serve us well.” Chicago has been working hard since its match against the Fighting Illini, continuing a new workout regime the team implemented starting this year. “I felt like last week was one of our best weeks of practice since I’ve been here,” head coach Jay Tee said. “I think the team can see their improvement and it has motivated them to put in extra time and effort on the court and in the weight room. Additionally, we learned that we play much better when we are
having fun and not worried about the outcome. That will be much tougher to do as we play matches with more on the line, but it will be important for us to find that mindset throughout the year.” The team decided the new regime was necessary after the South Siders lost in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championships. “We came off last season with a good sense of where we need to improve with our fitness and have been working to get faster and stronger,” Ramaswami said.
Both players and coaches recognize the work needed for the new regime, as well as the results that have come with the added workouts. “It’s a credit to the girls for sacrificing a few extra hours per week in order to be a better team in March and April. After only two weeks I’ve already noticed a change in the team. We’re more defined and in better shape, and [that] has had a positive impact on the court,” Tee said. This weekend, the Maroons will travel to take on the No. 30 Denison University Big Red in Granville and
the Kenyon College Lords in Gambier. “Denison did very well in regionals last year, so our 8–1 win against them was definitely unexpected, but a great confidence boost,” third-year Kelsey McGillis said. “They are always a solid team, so we will not go into this weekend underestimating them. This doubleheader will give us the opportunity to show off our hard work both on and off the court.” Matches begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday against Denison and 9 a.m. on Sunday against Kenyon.
Augustana meet will be key as postseason approaches
Emory and Rochester come to town for round two
Wrestling
Men’s Basketball
Bronagh Daly Maroon Contributor Although momentum is picking up at the right time, the pressure is on for the Maroons as the postseason approaches. Chicago will compete against Augustana College this Saturday in Rock Island, IL. This meet will be the last of the team’s regular season before UAAs. “A tournament like last weekend’s gives us all a lot to work on individually to get ready for the dual,” fourth-year Sam Pennisi said. The South Siders have been trying to learn from last weekend’s tournament at Wheaton College. “We’ve been focusing on pinpointing specific weaknesses that became apparent during [the]
weekend and hoping to build on the strength and conditioning aspects of our matches as well,” fourthyear Jacob Smith said. The squad is trying to keep calm and focused throughout this preparation, but the pressure has inevitably started to build. “Although I try and maintain the same feelings of intensity before every match, the fact that the season [is] drawing to a close has given me an extra sense of desperation to perform at my best,” Smith said. Even so, the prospects for this Saturday’s tournament appear promising. “We’re feeling really good,” first-year Paul Papoutsis said. “It’s going to be a tough match. We have a few guys missing from our lineup, but we’re just going to go there and leave it all on the mat.” The competition won’t be completely new to WRESTLING continued on page 10
Jenna Harris Maroon Contributor As winter has crossed its midway point, so have the Maroons—into the second half of UAA competition. For the past four weeks the South Siders (11–7, 4–3 UAA) have travelled around the country, from St. Louis to Pittsburgh to Cleveland to Atlanta to New York, playing for the UAA championship. Chicago will play many more home games in the latter half of the season. Third-year guard Royce Muskeyvalley is looking forward to future home games, given the long distances the team has ventured. “Going from flight to flight and hotel to hotel can definitely take a toll on your energy level. Also, the gym you practice in practically every day has a
much more comfortable feel,” he said. Staying at home more will likely give the Maroons a chance to rest and recover between games. There have been some stunning victories as well as some tragic losses, but as the South Siders head into the back half of the schedule, they come with renewed energy and fire in their hearts. Chicago faces the Emory Eagles (12–6, 4–3) and the Rochester Yellowjackets (8–10, 2–5) once again this weekend on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Coming out of last weekend with a split result, the Maroons have the opportunity to come back with two conference wins. After a double loss to Chicago and Wash U (16– 2, 7–0) last weekend, the Eagles are coming to Chicago for a possible back-to-back beating by the Maroons. Last Friday the South Siders played up their MEN’S BASKETBALL continued on page 10
SPORTS
IN QUOTES “Shout out to George Orwell for writing “Animal Farm”. One of the dopest books I’ve ever read. U got pigs walking right up windmills n more!” —Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert gets literary on Twitter
After first match canceled, season to finally begin Men’s Tennis Alexander Sotiropoulos Senior Sports Staff Being the head coach of a collegiate athletic team is a tough task. Being the head of two collegiate athletic teams is, perhaps, unenviable. And being the head coach of two collegiate athletic teams without an assistant coach is almost unthinkable. Yet this is the exact situation men’s and women’s tennis coach Jay Tee has had to endure for the past several days. Still, he and the No. 30 Maroon men’s team are using the situation as a motivator. “Our mantra going into the year was ‘give a little extra,’ and this is a perfect time for all of us to give a little extra,” Tee said. “Lately, we’ve talked about giving an extra 10 percent in everything we do, and now it’s my turn to give my extra 10 percent, too.” Tee and the men’s team have been preparing extensively to start their championship season this weekend after last Saturday’s match against Kalamazoo was cancelled. Chicago takes on Denison on Saturday and No. 5 Kenyon on Sunday. “We would have liked to play that match [at Ka-
lamazoo] to kind of see where we’re at as a team, but we used the time to get rested and healthy and also to continue working on the court,” Tee said. Denison (12–7) lost to the Maroons 6–3 at home last year. Given that it is the first match of the season, Tee is not worried about Chicago overlooking the Big Red in anticipation for the next day’s match against national powerhouse Kenyon. “We always talk about giving our opponents the respect they deserve and make sure we don’t look at the ranking next to their name,” he said. “Once you’re on the court with your opponent, none of that matters.” To defeat the Big Red, Tee plans to use the same lineup he was prepared for against Kalamazoo. In singles, third-year Deepak Sabada will take the top spot, followed by firstyear Sven Kranz, firstyear Brian Sun, third-year Ankur Bhargava, secondyear Gordon Zhang, and fourth-year Zsolt Szabo, respectively. Doubles will feature the top tandem of Sabada and Kranz along with Szabo and first-year Max Hawkins at No. 2. The lineup will be rounded out by Bhargava
and Sun at No. 3. The Maroons, which include three first-years in the starting lineup, will need to play at the top of their game to defeat Kenyon. The Lords have had recent success on the national stage, reaching the quarterfinal of last year’s national tournament and earning second place in 2012. One Maroon already has experience playing Kenyon this academic year. The Lords’ top player, secondyear Sam Geier, defeated Sabada in the final of the prestigious ITA Central Region Championships 7–5, 7–6 (7–4) in the fall. Geier was the first player in Lords’ history to win the tournament. Still, Tee said his team has the tools needed to compete with Kenyon. “It’s you, them, a can of balls, and a racquet, and you battle to see who’s better,” he said. “We have the physical skills to compete with anyone. It’s the mental and psychological side that we will work to develop this year, especially with our younger guys.” Both matches are going to be played in Kenyon’s home of Gambier, OH. Doubles is set to start at 5 p.m. on Saturday against Denison and 1 p.m. Sunday against Kenyon.
Fourth-year Neil Karandikar prepares for a backhand in a match earlier this season. COURTESY OF UCHICAGO ATHLETICS
Chicago returns home to mixed field at Windy City Invite Track & Field
Third-year Semi Ajibola competes in the high jump during a meet last season. COURTESY OF UCHICAGO ATHLETICS
Isaac Stern Sports Staff After about a month of traveling throughout the Midwest, Chicago will come home to Henry Crown to host the Windy City Invitational.
Twelve teams across all NCAA divisions and numerous club teams are expected to compete. Chicago’s women will get to see action for the first time in two weeks. Last week’s Whitewater Invitational was split into two
days, Friday for men and Saturday for women. The women could not make the trip on Saturday due to weather concerns. “We were all pretty disappointed that we didn’t get to race at Whitewater,” first-year Michelle
Dobbs said. “There were some teams there that are very competitive, and there definitely would have been some great performances as we fed off the talent on other teams.” Dobbs is a middle-distance runner for the Maroons whose primary event is the 800-meter run. As a first year, Dobbs has led the Maroons in both the 800-meter and the mile with her times of 2:20.73 and 5:16.23, respectively. “I have some high goals [in the 800],” Dobbs said. “I am hoping to run a time good enough to qualify for the national meet over the course of the indoor season. The race this weekend may not be the time when I’m going to run the time I need to qualify, but I think this race will be an important step along the way, and I’m hoping to cut five or six seconds off of my Phoenix Invitational time.” If the season ended today, the qualifying time for nationals in the 800-meter would hover around 2:17. The Maroons will once again be racing against themselves this weekend, as the majority of the teams competing do not have
particularly strong rosters. Expect there to be a few solid competitors on each team, but nothing like last week where almost every event included athletes who are among the top 10 in the nation. “This weekend, there probably won’t be quite as much competition from the schools that are coming, but I think the competitive attitude we had going into last weekend will definitely carry over, and we’ll see some great races this Saturday, as well,” Dobbs said. The result of the meet does not have much significance for the Maroons’ season. The meet is merely preparation for conference and nationals later this season. The UAA championship, however, is rapidly approaching. “This meet is another chance for us to go get in some solid performances before some of the larger meets start coming our way,” Dobbs said. “The indoor season is not extremely long, so I think at this part of the year we need to start approaching the elite marks that we’re capable of. I think we’re all looking to establish some consistency in our performances to TRACK continued on page 10