FEBRUARY 9, 2016
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892
Shrine Receives $450,000 From Donors BY KAITLYN AKIN NEWS STAFF
Preservation Chicago, an organization that works to preserve historic sites throughout Chicago, announced at a press conference yesterday that it had received enough donations to stabilize the Shrine of Chr ist the K ing church. Located on 64th Street and Woodlawn Avenue, the church was declared hazardous after
a fire last October. $450,000 of donations were pledged anonymously to repair the building and make it safe, but more funds would be required for a full-scale restoration. C om mu n it y a nd pa r i sh members have been working to raise money and awareness in hopes of stalling the destruction of the church since the Archdiocese of Chicago filed for a demolition permit last month. Continued on page 3
Statements Released in Response to Leaked AEPi E-mails BY SONIA SCHLESINGER SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Courtesy of The Chicago Tribune
An FBI wanted poster offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual above, wanted for five bank robberies.
“Pinball Bandit” University Will Accept Bids for New Shuttle Company Commits Five Bank Robberies BY HILLEL STEINMETZ MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
The University is expecting new companies to bid for the contract to manage its shuttle services later this spring. The University presently employs First Transit, a transport company based in Cincinnati, to operate its shuttle system. Its fiveyear contract ends in August 2016, before which the University will reach an agreement with First Transit or another shuttle service
company. The University expects to publish a detailed request for proposals with guidelines for companies this April. Bridget Malone, the communications manager for the University’s Department of Safety and Security, said in an e-mail that First Transit manages campus transport systems by training and hiring drivers, in addition to providing the University with the vehicles used for the shuttle system. According to its website, Continued on page 3
Hyde Park Locals Discuss Plans for Washington and Jackson Parks BY GARRETT WILLIAMS MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
Hyde Park locals reconvened at the Washington Park Refectory on Monday evening to continue talks concerning upgrades to Jackson and Washington Parks. Either Jackson Park or Washington Park will be selected as the site for the Barack Obama presidential library. The open dialogue was prefaced by community activist Timuel Black (A.M. ’54), who celebrated
his 97th birthday this past December. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the social values that neighborhood parks afford to the surrounding community; these values, Mr. Black argued, are integral to the cultural biography of the South Side parks system. Patricia O’Donnell, the landscape architect overseeing the South Side parks project, led the remainder of the workshop in conjunction with Robert Karr, presiContinued on page 3
BY GABE BENNETT-BRANDT MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
The FBI has released new i n formation rega rd i ng the activities of the bank robber they are calling the “Pinball Bandit.” So named for the frequency and relative proximity of his crimes, the Pinball Bandit committed a reported five robberies between January 13 and February 2, including two at a Chase bank in Hyde Park. The FBI recently identified the perpetrator of the five robberies as the same individual. Although previous statements from the FBI and a M A ROON article published on February 5 described the two Hyde Park robberies as unrelated, new information released by the FBI suggests that the Pinball Bandit is in fact responsible for all five robberies. A n i nd iv idua l mat ch i ng the suspect’s description entered the MB Financial Bank on Broadway Street and Chase banks on Taylor Street, Division Street, and 53rd Street and threateningly demanded money from bank employees. The suspect robbed the 53rd Street bank twice. While no weapon was used or displayed
The ɑβγ’s of Inclusivity
during any of the five robberies, the suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous. The FBI is offering a reward for any information leading to the suspect’s arrest. According to the official report by Special Agent Garret Croon, “the Pinball Bandit is described by witnesses as a male, black, 25 to 35 years old, 5’8” to 6’1” tall with a slim to medium build, and brown eyes.” The suspect, who has been spotted in dark, hooded clothing with tan boots and some form of head coverage, is still on the loose. During last Tuesday’s robbery, the suspect entered the 53rd Street bank about 20 minutes before its 6 p.m. closing time and demanded money from the teller. The incident was captured on the bank’s su r vei l la nce ca mera. L ess than three weeks prior, the same bank was robbed at 5:50 p.m. In both cases, the amount of money taken was not made public. Anyone who recognizes the Bandit or possesses information about his whereabouts is advised to call the Chicago FBI Field Office at (312) 421–6700 or the local police.
Page 11 “If we want change, we need to rely on those within the system to hold each other accountable...”
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MAB’s Third Winter Showcase Rolls Out Best Lineup to Date Page 8
“Greek life, and fraternity life in particular, is dangerous, hateful, and discriminatory.”
Ron Funches headlined this year’s comedy event.
UC h ic a g o ’s Pa n hel len ic Council and the Institute of Politics’ Leaders of Color Initiative have issued statements in response to the A EP i emails leaked last week. T he Panhellenic Council, comprised of the A lpha Omicron Pi, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Pi Beta Phi sororities, announced on Friday that it has decided to suspend AEPi from 2016 Greek Week. A c c or d i n g t o t he st at e ment, the fraternity’s e-mails are contrary to the mission of Greek Week, a week-long competition that takes place in May and aims to “promote inclusiveness…and to foster unity between all Greek affiliated organizations within our community.” Panhellenic Council President third-year Saachi Gupta declined to comment on the council’s decision to exclude AEPi from the event. T he Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), which includes the Latino, African-American, and Asian interest fraternities and sororities, will hold a discussion this Thursday on diversity in Greek life. The MGC ’s event description explains that while some students of color hope t o ban Greek life from campus, “this ignores both the legacy and contributions of Multicultural Greek Organizations formed to counter hateful and exclusionary practices.” Participants in the event will discuss the role of Multicultural Greek Organizations on campus in the midst of racial tensions. In addition to the Greek Organizations’ responses, The Leaders of Color Initiative, an Institute of Politics program that aims to address racial and ethnic disparities on campus, Continued on page 2
Squad Defeats Two Ranked Opponents Over the Weekend
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In Defense of Frat-ricide
VOL. 127, ISSUE 27
The women’s team traveled to Milwaukee while the men stayed home.
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