FRIDAY • APRIL 11, 2014
CHICAGOMAROON.COM
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892
ISSUE 37 • VOLUME 125
Late Univ. janitor’s gun cache draws CPD action Isaac Stein Associate News Editor
Akroma Sahan Kourouma, owner of Sahan Motherland Salon and Spa on 53rd Street, threads a customer’s eyebrows on Tuesday. Due to a recent court ruling, Kourouma has two weeks to move from her current location. DOVE BARBANEL | THE CHICAGO MAROON
Local salon must relocate, court rules Christine Schmidt Associate News Editor Sahan Motherland Salon and Spa has two weeks to relocate from its current location in a building located at 1459 East 53rd Street, which is set to become part of the University of Chicago’s Chi-
cago Innovation Exchange (CIE) incubator, according to a verdict reached in court on Wednesday. “I have been frustrated, spending money for lawyers and everything, for [the University] to be there and stand on their power and want to kick me out,” Akroma Sahan Kourouma, who has
run the salon for 20 years in that location with her husband, said after the verdict was announced. She initiated the lawsuit in January against Lake Park Associates (LPA), which buys and sells real estate for the University, when it attempted to terminate her lease SALON continued on page 2
Richard D. Meland, an 80-yearold retired University janitor who passed away on January 25, was an avid collector. Rather than pursuing coins, antiques, or bottle caps, Meland was committed to his collection of guns. Meland owned several firearms and boxes of ammunition in his apartment on 5527 South University Avenue. Meland held all proper registration and permits for his guns. This did not save him, however, from catching the attention of authorities. On March 2, 1990, the Chicago Tribune reported that Meland, then 56, had been arrested by the police while loading more than 75 guns and several boxes of armor-piercing ammunition into his trunk—allegedly failing to provide proper documentation for the weapons. Kay Nelson, the chair of the board of the co-op in which Meland lived and Meland’s landlord in 1990, said that she knew of the incident, but said that the police were mistaken—Meland did, in fact, have all proper documentation for his weapons collection.
“It turned out that [Meland] was falsely arrested; he had all of his permits. He sued the City of Chicago for false imprisonment, and won that case,” Nelson said. After Meland’s death, his relatives decided to voluntarily turn these possessions over to authorities. According to a copy of an incident report, Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers arrived on the scene at approximately 1:30 p.m. on February 20 to collect “live rounds and spent cartridges.” Nelson, who said that she oversaw the entry and exit of the CPD from the apartment complex, also said that the CPD took several guns in addition to the ammunition. Officers hauled heavy boxes into an armored police truck parked in the middle of the 5500 block of University Avenue. UChicago second-year Blaize Gervais witnessed CPD officers carrying boxes from the apartment complex and loading them into the armored truck. Gervais asked the officers what was in the boxes and was told that the officers had found “3,000 pounds” of ammunition in the apartment. AMMO continued on page 3
SG amends rules on mid year vacancies
Nadler retiring after 50 years on job
Sarah Manhardt Associate News Editor
Judith Nadler, library director and University librarian, will retire on June 30, 2014, after almost five decades of employment with the University. Nadler’s day-to-day duties as director and University librarian include leading library budget discussions as well as organizing other library services while maintaining an open-door policy to allow collaborative work among different groups on campus. She also established a Student Advisory Committee, which advises the Library about students’ issues and needs regarding library services. Nadler expressed satisfaction with her 10 years as director. “I have set my goals to achieve a number of things, and I have achieved them,” she said. A landmark of her career was the planning and construction of the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library, which houses books and materials in one-seventh the space of open stacks, has conservation and digitization laboratories, and can retrieve works from the collec-
College Council (CC) passed three amendments Wednesday regarding its policies on vacancies after facing two unexpected vacancies this year. CC discussed an amendment addressing general vacancies, debating between holding a special election
with petitions or establishing some application or requirement, or preserving the current system. Currently, general vacancies are filled by interested students presenting their position to CC on a specified date. The CC then questions them and votes on candidates. Class of 2015 representative Ione Barrows and Class of 2016 representative Mark Sands supported COUNCIL continued on page 3
Mixed opinions on pilot laundry payment system Marta Bakula Maroon Contributor College Housing and Residential Services is piloting a new system of laundry payment in select dorm buildings that was launched Sunday, March 30, the first day of spring quarter. The Change Point laundry system allows students to pay for laundry cycles through a credit or debit card on
Change Point readers, removing the need to deposit money to student ID cards. The new system also provides students with an instant refund if a machine malfunctions and features an easier method for reporting issues directly through the reader. Residents of International House, Maclean, and Max Palevsky Central were selected to participate in the LAUNDRY continued on page 2
Victoria Rael Maroon Contributor
tion in minutes with its automated retrieval system of robotic cranes. “Mansueto is built programmatically and architecturally as the library of the future,” she said. Nadler recalled that when Mansueto opened, some students tried to climb the outside of the dome. She remembers thinking, “How could today’s children have such
ideas? Aren’t they afraid they might fall off ?” In addition to these developments, Nadler emphasized the importance of the bonds she made with students. She said the most memorable aspects of her time at UChicago were when students of years past would send her e-mails NADLER continued on page 2
After almost five decades with the school, Director of the University Library Judith Nadler (right) will retire at the end of this June. COURTESY OF JONATHAN LAI
IN VIEWPOINTS
IN ARTS
IN SPORTS
A new prospective on admissions » Page 4
Buying in bulk: Hyde Park’s new botiques » Page 7
Chicago returns to home court with threematch weekend » Back Page
Letter: Maroon Nation not so little » Page 5
Ménage à Trier » Page 9
Annual Chicagoland Championships beckon once more » Page 11
THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | April 11, 2014
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NEWS IN BRIEF IME website nominated for Webby UChicago’s Institute for Molecular Engineering (IME) website was nominated for a 2014 Webby’s People’s Voice award for the science category. The University’s official website won the 2013 Webby Award and the People’s Voice Award in the school/ university category. In its 18th year, the Webby’s is an annual award presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a group which consists of more than 1,000 past award winners as well as leading figures, visionaries, and celebrities of the web industry. The Academy selects the nominees for two award honor categories, the Webby Awards and the People’s Voice Awards, and chooses the winner of the Webby Awards, while the online community determines the winner of the People’s Voice Awards through an online voting poll. The University’s IME website is competing against Wired’s Wired Science, The Company of Others’ Space Center Houston, BBC’s How to Put a Human on Mars, and Code and Theory’s Nautilus websites for the People’s Voice Award in the science category. Online voting will conclude on April 24. —Carissa Eclarin
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New laundry system lets Kourouma: “So you’re just going to push people out and students pay with credit cards raise the price...so small businesses cannot afford it?� LAUNDRY continued from front
spring quarter pilot program. “These three communities vary in size and student demographic, and Residential Services felt these communities would be able to provide useful feedback about their user experience,� Director of Residential Services Jennifer Luttig-Komrosky said in an e-mail. Some residents have expressed positive feedback about the Change Point payment system. “I prefer the new payment system,� first-year and I-House resident Elikem Dorbu said. “It seems more advanced than the previous one, because it gives the ability to pick from available working washers and dryers and provides an immediate refund as soon as there’s a problem.� Other residents have reacted favorably to the ability to pay with a card. “I really like the simplicity of paying for laundry with the new system. It’s great to be able to use a credit card instead of having to transfer money onto an ID card,� said first-year and Max Palevsky resident Paul Lou. Other students expressed concerns with the system when the Change Point reader malfunctioned soon after installation in Max Palevsky Central.
“I placed two loads of laundry into two washers in the [Max Central] laundry room, only to realize that the Change Point reader wasn’t working,� first-year Max Palevsky resident Youngin Kim said. “I was forced to move all of my laundry to the Max Palevsky East laundry room and use the old payment system, which ended up taking an extra 30 minutes.� Residents affected by the new system were also urged to use all remaining laundry money on their ID cards prior to spring break, as a result of Change Point readers being unable to accept the old laundry payment method. While Change Point readers cannot accept money from the old payment method, all machines continue to accept quarters. Students participating in the pilot program will have an opportunity to comment on their experiences through a user survey in the coming weeks. “Getting quality student feedback is very important to Residential Services and College Housing. This feedback will help us decide if the Change Point program should be installed in the remaining [college dorm] communities in summer 2014,� Luttig-Komrosky said. “We want to make sure this is the right laundry program for UChicago.�
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SALON continued from front
early. Last year, LPA purchased the building where the salon is located. The University released a statement about the verdict, which read, “From the time the University purchased the building at 1459 East 53rd Street, we worked with tenants with long-term leases, including the Motherland Salon, to accommodate their needs.� The decision also called for several months’ rent— several thousand dollars and a major part of the dispute—to be returned to Kourouma by LPA. The conflict began in July 2013 when Kourouma was approached by her agent at LPA. The agent, to whom she pays rent, informed her that the University wanted her to move after her rent was late that month. “We were a little late on that one time and they come and say, ‘Oh, the University wants the place,’� Kourouma said. “I said, ‘What do you mean they want the place?’.... My lease is not to be broken until the complete end of 2015.� Kourouma alleges that the rent was late because LPA did not cash the check she and her husband sent. “They made it late, because when we gave them the check, they did not cash the check,� she said. Kourouma said that she and her husband arranged a cashier’s check to pay for the rent, which would ensure that they had the funds to pay for it. Kourouma said all the rent is currently paid in full. The University disputed those claims. This February, the University announced plans to host part of the CIE, a new venture for technology and commercial development, in the building where the salon is located. At a community meeting the day after these plans were an-
nounced, the executive director of the CIE, John Flavin, talked about the plans behind this “innovation campus.â€? He said it was to be located on the 11th floor of Harper Court Tower, above Harper Theater, and in the building where the salon is located. “The idea behind the space is to bring together different elements of innovation and entrepreneurship here on the South Side and to be a gathering spot for University faculty, students, and local entrepreneurs to start businesses,â€? he said. Calmetta Coleman, the director of communications at the Office of Civic Engagement, highlighted support for existing local businesses as one of the goals the University has for the development of Harper Court. “The University’s focus has really always been around supporting local businesses, either helping existing businesses stay in the neighborhood and be successful, helping new local business owners open in the corridor, or helping promote the whole district for the success of all the businesses,â€? she said. The Harper Court development, which officially opened in November 2013, is an asset to the community, Kourouma said. That, in large part, is why she wants to stay. “We love the development; we love that everything is growing—it’s beautiful,â€? she said. “The only frustrating thing is that as small business owners, we feel left out‌. They’re not giving a chance to the small businesses who have been here for years and have been a part of the community. Now that the community is growing, for us to be moved, that is really not pleasant at all.â€? Representatives from
the University met with Kourouma to address the situation in January. According to her account, she said that she would move if the University provided her with compensation or a space for her business to move into, since breaking her lease would have financial consequences. When she mentioned taking legal action, “they [the University] said, ‘Oh, you don’t have to get your lawyer; we have better lawyers than you,’� Kourouma said. “I’m like, ‘I understand I’m a small person; I know you have better lawyers—you make lawyers.’� When she asked for the University to relocate her business to one of the vacant storefronts in Hyde Park that LPA maintains, she said she was told that she wouldn’t be able to afford the rent. “So you’re just going to push people out and raise the price of the rent so small businesses cannot afford it?� Kourouma said. “It was not fair to me to hear that, telling me that I cannot afford it.� Support from the community and students at the University has been overwhelming, she said. People have offered to march for her and gather petitions. Colette Salemi, a first-year master’s student at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University and customer of Kourouma, has even created a Facebook group to monitor this issue. “Initially it was a shock: I didn’t understand why the University would treat a small business owner like this,� Salemi said in an email. “After all, you would think that an institution like the University of Chicago, which has also made efforts to support local entrepreneurs, would be more considerate towards a small business owner in our own direct community.�
Nadler greatly valued relationships with students NADLER continued from front
or postcards giving updates on their lives or thanking her for being a great mentor. Looking back on her time as library director, Nadler commented on the changing role of the libraries in the University due to the growing role of technology and online resources, which has enabled students to work outside of the library. Nadler and her colleagues spend more effort reaching out to students than in the past, informing them of the resources they have in the library as well as expanding the library’s online resources. Nadler commented that students tend to “rely on resources not sufficient for their needs and are too sure of using technology to find what they need.� She also commented on the importance of the many spaces and the University’s various libraries to fill students’ changing needs. “In your home you have different corners
[or rooms] for different days [of studying ] or for different types of activities. So this is
“
In your home you have different corners [or rooms] for different days [of studying] or for different types of activities. So this is true for the library‌the library should be your home
�
true for the library‌. The library should be your home,� she said. The search for her successor has begun with the formation of an official selection committee, comprised of faculty of all disciplines.
THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | April 11, 2014
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CPD called to remove former Univ. janitor’s gun collection from home on University Avenue AMMO continued from front
When Gervais posted the conversation to the “Overheard at UChicago” Facebook group, other students suggested that “3,000 rounds” was more probable. The CPD police report did not record the amount of ammunition seized; Nelson said that while Meland possessed a large amount of ammunition, it is impossible to put a metric on exactly how much it was. “I have no way of measuring something like weight; some of [the ammunition] was in boxes, some of it was just lying around the apartment,” Nelson said. Nelson explained that she was happy with the CPD seizure as a means of getting rid of the ammunition. “I’ve always been concerned about safety [regarding Meland’s guns and ammunition]. But it was all perfectly legal, so it was his right,” Nelson said. Nelson also suggested that fellow residents of the co-op held similar sentiments toward Meland’s collection. “Other people knew about this; it was not a secret. And I think
that nobody in the building likes the presence of guns or ammunition,” Nelson said. According to Nelson, the question of what to do with Meland’s gun collection arose immediately after his death, because he left no will. “[Meland] died intestate, so the ammunition didn’t belong to anybody. I’m involved in seeing that the apartment is emptied and sold, but I can’t touch someone else’s property. One of his cousins contacted the Cook County Office of the Public Administrator, and the case progressed from there,” Nelson said. The Cook County Office of the Public Administrator, according to its website, “provides estate administrative services for people who die intestate or for those decedents with no person or next of kin with the right or desire to administer the estate in Illinois.” According to Nelson, after the Office of the Public Administrator was contacted, it reached out to the CPD. The CPD then notified Nelson that it was going to take the guns and ammunition from Meland’s apartment.
Chicago Police Department removed an undisclosed amount of firearms and ammunition from former University Janitor Richard D. Meland’s appartment at 55th and University on February 20. FRANK YAN | THE CHICAGO MAROON
SG rep: Current system for electing fill-in reps “perpetuates apathy...in Student Government” COUNCIL continued from front
holding a special election, while Class of 2014 representatives Ben Hammer and Mark Reid, among others, opposed changing the current system. Barrows, who joined Student Government this year by filling a vacancy, supported a special election in order to better represent the student body. “The fact that the student body isn’t called to elect its own [representatives] just perpetuates
apathy and the lack of investment in Student Government on this campus,” she said. CC voted to preserve the current system, and, according to the resolution, imposed the additional requirement of filling out an application “remarking on their qualifications.” The requirements of the application are left to the discretion of the chair. Nine representatives voted in favor, one opposed, and one abstained. CC also passed an amendment regarding filling the vacancies left by the CC chair, who
presides over CC meetings. After spring quarter elections, CC votes on a chair from the elected members, leaving one vacancy. As with all other vacancies, interested students present to CC, which votes on candidates to fill the position. Current CC Chair Mike Viola proposed two resolutions, one to fill the position with the runner-up from the chosen CC Chair’s year in the spring quarter election and the other to fill the position with an open election. CC voted in favor of filling the vacancy with the runner-up,
with 11 votes in favor, one vote in opposition, and one vote in abstention. If the runner-up declines the position, CC will fill the position following the general vacancy policy. CC also changed the wording of a bylaw regarding its first meeting of the year, allowing the first meeting to be held no later than six days after first-year elections, rather than three, which would have been impossible because CC meetings must occur at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The measure passed unopposed.
Weekly Crime Report By Alex Hays
Since Mar. 31
Mar. 31 Apr. 9
Here are a few of this week’s incidents:
Type of Crime
8
8
Arrest (except traffic violation)
0
0
Assault (multiple types)
0
0
Attempted burglary
0
0
Attempted robbery
0
0
Battery (multiple types)
0
0
Criminal sexual assault
2
2
Burglary
0
0
Criminal trespass to vehicle
5
5
Damage to property (including vehicle)
16
16
Other report
0
0
Robbery (multiple types)
0
0
Traffic violation
4
4
Theft (including from motor vehicle)
0
0
Trespass to property (including residence)
» April 7, South Kimbark Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets, 5:14 a.m.— A UCPD officer arrested a suspect for possession of items taken from U.S.P.O parcels delivered to the apartment building vestibule.
S. Lake Shore
Ellis
Cottage Grove
47th
55th
Blackstone
53rd
S. Hyde Park
51st
» April 5, 4900 South Ellis Avenue, noon— A UCPD officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. Driver then fled on foot. Vehicle was recovered and returned to the owner. » April 4, East 54th Place between Ingleside and Ellis Avenues, noon— An individual reported being struck with a beer bottle during an altercation at an off-campus party. Victim declined to file a CPD report. » April 3, 1130 East 57th Street, 8:45 a.m.— An unknown motorist struck a University-owned vehicle and fled. Source: UCPD Incident Reports Arrest Assault Attempted burglary Attempted robbery Battery
57th Cornell
Burglary
Stony Island
60th
University
59th
Criminal sexual assault
62nd *Locations of reports approximate
Criminal trespass to vehicle Damage to property Other report Robbery Traffic violation Theft
Holy Week 2014 Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass: April 17th, 8pm, Bond Chapel (followed by Eucharistic Adoration at Calvert House until 10:30pm)
Friday of the Passion of the Lord: April 18th, 5pm, Bond Chapel The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night: April 19th, 8pm, Bond Chapel Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord: April 20th, 11am, Bond Chapel and 5pm, Calvert House
[ 5735 S University Ave | (773) 288-2311 | uofccatholic.com ]
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | April 11, 2014
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial & Op-Ed APRIL 11, 2014
A new prospective on admissions As the University rises in public profile, it’s time to reconsider how the College is presented to applicants Part of the ongoing narrative of the College’s precipitous rise in profile and national rankings is an accompanying fall in admissions rates, the release of which never fails to attract attention from University students. As the Maroon reported last week, the College acceptance rate for the Class of 2018 dropped—yet again, though only slightly—to a new low of 8.38 percent. However, as the first signs of a plateau in the acceptance rate start to appear, now may be a good time for us, as current students who exist behind the College’s nominal reputation, to consider the precise way in which the image of our College has been and is being presented to its prospective applicants. For its past six admissions cycles, the College has employed the Com-
mon Application, which is currently used by over 500 schools worldwide. The move, which was met by vocal opposition on campus when it was first proposed, had the effect of making the College an attractive and viable option for a larger number of talented students. In spite of this, admissions materials for the College still choose to market a vague, oddly exclusive idea of life on campus. Through curious and often lighthearted mailings and e-mails, prospective students are presented with detailed breakdowns of our University’s scrupulous devotion to coffee and its campus vendors, cartoonish missives that liken our professors to superheroes, and cute postcards with unorthodox questions. It is clear, if the numbers are anything to go by,
that this strategy works. However, students who are marketed this version of a UChicago education are not necessarily getting an appropriate picture of all that is meaningful and unique about this University. While there are certainly individual and distinctive aspects of our intellectual and campus life, successful UChicago students are not necessarily those who have the most unorthodox interests. Rather, they are those who are rigorous and open-minded thinkers. This is easily forgotten in the deluge of admissions quirk. We understand, to an extent, the necessity of offering prospective applicants a catchy, attractive, and easily digestible image of the lifestyle and ethos that await them on this
campus. A certain level of salesmanship in higher education is inevitable in a crowded market. Yet it seems excessive to persist with a marketing strategy that is so relentlessly reductive, especially when it may be to the detriment of prospective students trying to attain an understanding of what their education here will be like. It is worthwhile to remember that admission to this University is valuable not because it provides access to an exclusive and quirky club, but because it provides an opportunity for an education that is challenging and often uncomfortable. The University’s vigilant marketing of its offbeat individuality has definitely played an integral role in the promotion of the school’s public image, and its increase in visibility. But, given
this rapid rise, the time is approaching when we needn’t sell ourselves so hard and so brazenly in order to attract exceptional students—and risk alienating those who don’t identify wholly with our overwhelmingly advertised image of quirk. Our reputation as a stronghold of academic rigor and quality, rather than our current trademark uniqueness, ought to be our distinguishing element as an institution. Given the remarkable recent success of our admissions marketing, we can now afford to do away with the gimmicks we use to represent ourselves to those who may well like to join our community.
The Editorial Board consists of the Editors-in-Chief and the Viewpoints Editors.
Mentally taxing: an open letter to the IRS Lawmakers’ failure to simplify tax code reveals disconnect with their past college selves and all of America
Patrick Reilly
Fresh Eyes To Whom It May Concern: Enclosed, please find my income tax return for the year ending December 31, 2013. As requested on the bottom of Form 1040, “I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete.” Sincerel—wait a minute. I didn’t see a “comments” section on the
1040. To avoid those “penalties of perjur y,” I had better share my thoughts here. Bear with me, Mr. or Ms. IRS Employee; I’m sure you have a tall stack of 1040s to process by April 15, but as a University of Chicago student, I wouldn’t badger someone facing a crushing workload and too-soon deadline unless there’s something that really needs to be said. Like how filling out a Federal Income Tax Return is beyond the
brains of this spring break-ing college student. The 1040 seemed easy enough—nice, neat boxes, only two pages!—but when I opened the instruction book, flipping through 10 Maroons’ worth of recycled newsprint, things got hairy. The trouble started on Line Nine: “ordinary” versus “qualified” dividends. Time to add up and allocate every dime that my grandparents had lovingly saved and invested over 19 years to support me through this fine institution. The warm familial glow of their generosity began to fade as I sorted through one cold, confusing tax category after another: “Coverdell ESA”? “QTP Distribution”? Was I on the hook for the en-
tire pot of money in those bonds and accounts?! Yup, I decided wearily after a half-hour poring over Publication 970. As I factored nearly two decades’ worth of patriarchal love into my “Qualified Higher Education Expenses,” the taxes started adding up. Thanks anyway, Grandpa. Before you have the IRS check my home address to verify that Wilmington isn’t in Texas or Idaho, relax. I’m a friend, a registered Democrat from Biden Central. This made turning to my graying Reaganite dad for help, braving his smug smile and question, “Do you see what dealing with the federal government is really like?” all the more painful. As it turned out, only the 2013 interest
counted as “income.” At least I had someone to set my figures straight; not every 19-year-old lives under the same roof as a Harvard-educated corporate counsel. Can’t your higher-ups on Capitol Hill find a way to make this easier? Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell may disagree on the numbers that I should be penciling in to those 1040 boxes, but can’t they make it a little easier for me to fulfill this basic civic duty? Voting is no longer a guarantee, and airport security can be shirked for $85, but you would think that this age of austerity could unite our elected leaders around a saner tax code. After all, most of their votTAXES continued on page 8
A true Chicago education The student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892 Emma Broder, Editor-in-Chief Joy Crane, Editor-in-Chief Jonah Rabb, Managing Editor Daniel Rivera, Grey City Editor Harini Jaganathan, News Editor Ankit Jain, News Editor Eleanor Hyun, Viewpoints Editor Liam Leddy, Viewpoints Editor Will Dart, Arts Editor Tatiana Fields, Sports Editor Sam Zacher, Sports Editor Nicholas Rouse, Head Designer Alexander Bake, Online Editor Ajay Batra, Senior Viewpoints Editor Emma Thurber Stone, Senior Viewpoints Editor Sarah Langs, Senior Sports Editor Matthew Schaffer, Senior Sports Editor Jake Walerius, Senior Sports Editor Isaac Stein, Associate News Editor Sarah Manhardt, Associate News Editor Christine Schmidt, Associate News Editor Sindhu Gnanasambandan, Associate News Editor Clair Fuller, Associate Viewpoints Editor Andrew Young, Associate Viewpoints Editor Robert Sorrell, Associate Arts Editor James Mackenzie, Associate Arts Editor Tori Borengässer, Associate Arts Editor Angela Qian, Associate Arts Editor Jamie Manley, Senior Photo Editor Sydney Combs, Photo Editor Peter Tang, Photo Editor Frank Yan, Photo Editor Frank Wang, Associate Photo Editor Alan Hassler, Head Copy Editor Sherry He, Head Copy Editor Katarina Mentzelopoulos, Head Copy Editor Ben Zigterman, Head Copy Editor
William Rhee, Social Media Editor Ingrid Sydenstricker, Multimedia Editor Dove Barnabel, Video Editor
Krysten Bray, Copy Editor Katie Day, Copy Editor Sophie Downes, Copy Editor Joe Joseph, Copy Editor Chelsea Leu, Copy Editor Katie Leu, Copy Editor John Lotus, Copy Editor Victoria Rael, Copy Editor Hannah Rausch, Copy Editor Christine Schmidt, Copy Editor Olivia Stovicek, Copy Editor Andy Tybout, Copy Editor Amy Wang, Copy Editor Annie Cantara, Designer Carissa Eclarin, Designer Wei Yi Ow, Designer Molly Sevcik, Designer Tyronald Jordan, Business Manager Nathan Peereboom, Chief Financial Officer Annie Zhu, Director of External Marketing Vincent McGill, Delivery Coordinator Editor-in-Chief Phone: 773.834.1611 Newsroom Phone: 773.702.1403 Business Phone: 773.702.9555 Fax: 773.702.3032 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 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
Students need to be challenged by experiences in surrounding city Kiran Misra Viewpoints Staff When my parents left me on the doorstep of I-House the week before O-Week, I was armed with everything I needed: notebooks, clothes hangers, and a healthy fear of any locale south of the Midway. Tales of children who dared to enter the South Side getting assaulted and robbed bounced around in my head like pinballs. So when my parents made me promise not to leave Hyde Park, the agreement took off from my lips without any coaxing or convincing necessary on their part. That conviction lasted all of one day before I headed out all over the city during Chicago Bound, a preorientation community education program. After passing the colorful murals that line the streets of Humboldt Park, murals which declare the neighborhood to be owned by the residents and artists who painted them—the people, not politicians and aldermen—and after listening to the Spanish and English syllables that exploded from the lips of the
resident poetess in the neighborhood cultural center, it seemed to me that I was a world away from the shiny glass skyscrapers and commercial opulence that had enticed me into coming to Chicago in the first place. And to my own great surprise, I loved it. Chicago is a whole world of experiences and culture packed into one city. Several blocks north of campus you can find Diasporal Rhythms, an organization in Kenwood collecting thousands of works of art done entirely by black Chicagoans depicting the multifaceted experiences and history of the diaspora, and a short bus ride further north will take you to Café Trinidad, an African comfort food experience in Oakland that you don’t have to book a flight to enjoy. In West Lawn, you can speak Spanish with bakers while purchasing pan dulce for less than a dollar, just steps away from the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture. A quick trip on the #15 bus will take you to Bronzeville, where you can enjoy the chicken and waffles and discover the history of jazz, blues,
and racial revolution in the city on a Harold Lucas bus tour. Visiting a culturally unfamiliar area forces you to get out of your comfort zone and experience people and cities in a new way—an extremely informative and worthwhile, though occasionally difficult, endeavor. It’s easily apparent that locations across the 77 neighborhoods in Chicago would benefit from increased commercial interaction and awareness, even from the small pool of students at our University, but students are also suffering from a lack of interaction with the resources and diverse perspectives and opportunities these areas have to provide. Time and time again, the strong and simple convictions I’ve held have revealed themselves to be much more complicated after an interaction with the community. A talk with a pastor in Oakland showed me that those who live there take immense pride in their mix of history and innovation. Sidewalk talk with a nonprofit manager in Little Village about trash on the street corners revealed to me that EXPLORE continued on page 8
THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | April 11, 2014
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Letter: Maroon Nation not so little I was appalled to read that an established Viewpoints columnist had chosen to use her allotted space to laud the DI college sports in the town she comes from, when she makes no reference to ever attending a Maroon sporting event in her life. I’ve had the pleasure of reading other installments by Jenny Lee on previous occasions, and I’m not attacking her entire writing repertoire. However, “Little Maroon Nation” (4/8/14) is misinformed and misdirected. Let me be clear, I agree with the subhead of the article, that “Sports teams should engender communal spirit, not dismissal.” However, as a former Maroon sports editor, I’ve found myself living and dying with some of the squads I’ve covered (even though there’s no cheering in the press box). I don’t think these athletes would agree with, or appreciate, the author’s characterization of the student body’s apathy toward athletics. As someone who watches the tournament intently year after year, and chose this school over a DI school with a high-level athletics program, I can tell you that we aren’t missing out on too much. Sure, it would be fun to go the Rose Bowl sometime or travel to North Texas for the Final Four. But we are in college to learn, and whether or not people become huge fans—of DI or DIII
athletics—is entirely within their own individual agency. I don’t think it’s a problem that we have Mike McGrath coaching our men’s basketball squad instead of John Calipari, or that our gym has fewer seats. I don’t think we have a lower quantity of athletic school spirit because we are DIII; I think we have a lower quantity because there are people who approach the teams the way this columnist does. Jenny Lee is a second-year, and so was not on campus for the excitement that surrounded the women’s basketball team, which went undefeated until partway through the DIII NCAA tournament in the 2011–12 season. People went to the games and were actively talking about the team. That’s school spirit, over the athletics that she deems to be of a lesser “caliber.” A friend of mine still mentions the excitement over Matt Johnson’s buzzer beater for the men’s team in a close game that same year. That highlight made SportsCenter. The issue that Jenny Lee fails to notice is that the lack of school spirit, as she defines it, has nothing to do here with the level or type of sports we have; it has to do with the actual personality structure of most of the student body. People do make the joke she mentioned, the one about not having a
football team, but to be honest, the same people who make that joke would be nowhere near tailgates or games if we had DI athletics. And I say “lack of school spirit, as she defines it,” because I do think we have school spirit; I just think it’s a more malleable entity than she is giving it room to be. Just as the “Letter from the Editors” (4/4/14) from last week improperly noted a dormant campus culture, this seems to be an incorrect definition of terms. School spirit doesn’t have to be people painting their chests in support of a DI sports team; it can be something as simple as being proud of the University one attends and speaking highly of it. Though we do have a highly developed sense of pessimism inherent in our student body, I’d say that, on the whole, people are glad they’re here and knew what they were getting into. I can’t even count how many people I see daily, on the quads and in my classes, in UChicago apparel. That’s school spirit. I even think the self-deprecating jokes we all make with respect to the school are spirit, too. Under this broadened definition, we do have school spirit. We aren’t “Little Maroon Nation,” we are just Maroon Nation. —Sarah Langs Class of 2015
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | April 11, 2014
Failure to encourage students to explore city exemplifies historic separation EXPLORE continued from page 6 the problem was much more complicated than a simple lack of community pride, but rather also involved questions about zoning ordinances and community ownership. Over and over, I was reminded in the true Socratic manner that I actually didn’t know anything. And with such an opportunity at our doorstep, the question of why we don’t take advantage of it is significant. It starts as early as orientation, when we are taught to fear the city—taught that the South Side has its fair share of threatening criminals and, implicitly, less than its fair share of attractions, which makes visiting pointless. We are told by upperclassmen and in the Chicago Life Meetings not to travel on certain CTA lines and, in extreme cases, not to go south of the South Campus Residence Hall. When asked where to go for Saturday night dinner when the dining hall is closed, students say, “Go into the Loop or explore Hyde Park.” Institutionally, the University too hinders student interaction with the community by not offering students UPasses, which allow students to traverse the city for free. The University of Chicago is the only major university
in this city that doesn’t give students this advantage, citing expense as the main concern. However, in a school with one of the highest tuitions in the country and the resources to match, this doesn’t add up. Rather, it perfectly reflects the University’s reluctance to send students out into the city and the history of the University’s separation from the community. As far back as the ’40s and ’50s, the University used its influence as a pivotal social and economic force to control urban planning and development, creating a primarily white, affluent Hyde Park that starkly contrasted with the surrounding neighborhoods. Programs like MAPSCorps and Chicago Bound have been working to change this separation, but there is still a long way to go, starting with helping all students—not just those in these small programs—realize that there are exciting things to see and do in each one of the defined community areas in the city. Because as students flock downtown to get dinner on Saturday night, both these students and the city are suffering from a lack of holistic interaction. Kiran Misra is a first-year in the College.
“The typical Senator doesn’t have to spend hours puzzling over a 1040...” TAXES continued from page 6 ers didn’t even have the luxury of a week off this time of year, and haven’t the power brokers themselves struggled to make sense of their tax returns? I suppose not. Members of the most affluent Congress in history probably have to fill more than two pages’ worth of boxes, but those poli sci and history majors can at least pay someone else to do their taxes. I think we’re onto something here: Pundits have hemmed and hawed about gerrymandering, horse-race political coverage, and the exploits of the Koch brothers, but give me a break. The real problem with our Senators
and Representatives is that they’ve forgotten life as a college student. The evidence is everywhere. The typical Senator doesn’t have to spend hours of precious spring break at her dining room table, puzzling over a 1040, so she never thinks to make it easier. House members are even worse: They can shout, “You lie!” mid-lecture with no more than a glare from the “professor.” They can buy $250 worth of crack cocaine without fearing that the campus police will haul them off to prison for 20 years. They can shrug off all the inconveniences they faced on campus, and give in to the
same temptations with impunity. Well, not always. Thanks to Representative Todd Akin, we can rest assured that, from college to Congress, American society still deals swift and terrible justice to anyone with notions of “legitimate rape.” Not only does Akin have someone else do his taxes; he clearly skipped the House’s “sex signals” talk. Anyway, those are the “comments” that I didn’t find space for on the 1040 itself. Now that I can truthfully state that my tax return is “complete,” would you mind passing this along to your elected reps? Ask them to visit their kids in college, and
DESIGN.
DRAW.
remind themselves what it’s like to navigate adult life with all of its impulses, and none of the impunity. Perhaps they’ll recall that college students, like most of the American electorate, can’t skirt the system so easily. Oh, and tell them I said thanks: When the eraser dust settled, that little box marked “Refund” held a whopping $11. As your former boss was fond of saying, ’merica! Sincerely, Patrick Reilly Patrick Reilly is a first-year in the College majoring in history.
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The Order of the PhiNix reunites in Mandel Hall Angela Qian Associate Arts Editor “I’m just stressed,” fourth-year Jungeun Choi says with a short laugh, sitting on the floor of Ratner’s practice room after an hour-long rehearsal. It’s Wednesday night, just days before PhiNix Dance Crew’s big annual spring performance, and the clock is inching toward midnight. But despite her words, Choi looks and moves as though relaxed, still smiling from practice. PhiNix has come a long way since the group’s inception in 2009. Fourth-year Charlie Sun, president of PhiNix, recalls that when he joined the hip-hop dance RSO in his first year, there were around 14 people on the choreography team. Now, PhiNix is comprised of 52 active members in the freestyle and choreography teams, an expansion not only in the size of the group but also in its artistic capability. “I remember fall quarter we were holding auditions, and we were just blown away by the talent and got really excited for the rest of the year,” Sun said. The theme for this year’s annual showcase is “reunion.” It will be exhibiting not only the culmination of a year’s hard work for PhiNix, but also guest performances from five collegiate dance crews around Chicago. Describing the concept behind the theme, Sun said that they wanted to do “something simple and happy”; the theme of reunion embodies the idea of “friendship
and love as something that keeps us grounded.” While this can take the form of nostalgia, as in a piece set to the elegiac melody of Scott Alan’s “It’s Good To See You Again,” the intrinsic happiness of togetherness and friendship comes out in, for example, the lively dance accompanying Whitney Houston crooning, “Oh! I wanna dance with somebody…” These themes are important to the culture of street/hip-hop dance, which emphasizes community. Indeed, Sun describes a culture of family within dance crews; the concept of a reunion, he says, “applies not just to our friends at school but also to our dance friends whom we might be meeting for the first time.” By a happy coincidence showing the strength of these ties, six of PhiNix’s original founders will be back in Chicago to see the performance. Though PhiNix is hosting the showcase, it will not take up the entirety of the performance. There will be an eclectic mix of dance styles and forms, including dancers from UChicago dance team Maya, whose modern dance forms provide a contrast to the urban street dance that is more PhiNix’s style. The showcase will also feature dance crews Kapwa Modern from Loyola University, FIA Modern from UIC, ReFresH from Northwestern, and a tricking crew, the Windy City Trickers. There will also be an open dance battle. As PhiNix’s first year with corporate sponsorship—the RSO
PhiNix Dance Crew, pictured here at its Revival last year. Dance groups from all over Chicago will join the crew this Sunday for its annual spring showcase, where they will dance, dance, dance the night away, in a variety of styles. COURTESY OF EMILY BISHOP
managed to partner with Zipcar— prizes this year include two coveted tickets to Red Bull’s Flying Bach, which puts together a German break-dancing team with classical music as a background. Diversity seems to be key here, with first-year Toby Kang commenting on how the varying backgrounds and styles of the freestyle
members have influenced him as a dancer. “Not all of us are classically hip-hop trained,” he said. As a result, “I’ve found myself becoming more stylistically different.” Musing on PhiNix’s rise and its outlook from here on out, Sun said, “I think it’s only going up. The dancing has gotten better; the choreography has gotten better; the dancers
Buying in bulk: Hyde Park’s new boutiques Alexandra McInnis Maroon Contributor As a result of encouragement from the University, the Harper Court area has become a new location for highquality enterprises. Three new boutiques—The Silver Umbrella, Independence, and Sir & Madam—seek to bring an elevated shopping experience to Hyde Park. While browsing around in the neighborhood may never replace spending a much-needed day downtown, 53rd Street’s burgeoning retail scene gives students the opportunity to find great clothes in a pinch, or simply to make the most of a few extra hours. The Silver Umbrella As vintage fashion has gained prominence in the past few decades, the word vintage has been stretched to entail quite a lot, and often ends up meaning less André Courrèges and more last season’s Ann Taylor. Neither a couture consignment store nor a chaotic depository of old clothes, The Silver Umbrella hits a certain middle ground. The newest addition to Hyde Park’s clothing scene, The Silver Umbrella
hails as the first neighborhood vintage store. Small, well-organized, and immaculately clean, the store provides bargain prices in the environment of a more upscale boutique. The brands range from Aldo to Cole Haan, and the clothing is priced accordingly, all in good condition and often with original tags. A black London Fog trench coat goes for $29, while a pair of highwaisted Elizabeth and James boot-cut jeans sells for $69. On the men’s side, I found a vintage navy pinstripe blazer from Burberry (back from when Burberry was Burberry’s) for $42. In true vintage store fashion, The Silver Umbrella isn’t defined by a single aesthetic, but instead displays Nike dunks next to cap-toe loafers and bright, floral shifts alongside more conservative work clothes. Emblematic of its unpretentious ambience, The Silver Umbrella is a boutique that won’t dazzle you with high-fashion names, but shows the potential for some unexpected great finds at student-friendly prices. Independence The Hyde Park Independence boutique is the store’s second outlet in Chicago,
with the original located all the way north on Oak Street. The airy space is a homage to the rustic-chic aesthetic prevalent in contemporary design, complete with unpolished wood and shirts tied with twine. Accordingly, the stock is composed of items with rural origins that have now filtered into urban life. The anoraks, flannels, and leather lace-up boots aren’t quite intended for the great outdoors, but will suffice for a walk in the park or perhaps a bike ride on a rainy day. The store also specializes in American brands, an integrity that we can all appreciate, but admittedly entails made-in-America prices. Lightweight jackets by Engineered Garments go for $350, and hand-stitched, leather-soled Oak Street loafers sell for $328. The women’s section is fairly minimal, though I found a pair of jaunty seersucker shorts made by Gitman Brothers for $180, and there’s a unisex appeal in the smattering of random cool items on sale, such as handmade leather sporting goods and Field Notes notebooks. Quality clothing comes with a price at Independence, but if you’re looking to invest in one great item
this spring, look no further. Sir & Madame Sir & Madame, the second installment of the boutique with Wicker Park origins, is an unabashed mash-up of different styles. It’s a place where a minimalist Scandinavian raincoat from Stutterheim ($368) hangs on a rack next to Sir & Madame–brand sweatpants with leather detailing ($89). The store does lean somewhat toward more athletic-inspired garments, as emphasized by the vintage sneaker ads plastered on the walls—think varsity jackets, tees, and sneakers. However, one can just as easily find metallic snakeskin-print pants from Line & Dot ($120), or Cheap Monday black jeans ($70), as well as an extensive selection of Levi’s jeans for men. True to its name, there’s a balance in the selection of men and women’s clothing, with a significant portion of the items being the brand’s own. Meanwhile, club music blasts on the speakers, indicative of the store’s upbeat, sometimes flashy selection. Whether it’s updated athletic wear or blazers with sequin detailing, Sir & Madame has an eclectic stock designed to craft a unique look.
themselves are growing. Just keep improving, right? ‘Stay hungry’ is what they say.” Kang put it more simply: “I think everything’s going to be dope.” PhiNix REVIVAL: Reunion will be held at Mandel Hall on Sunday, April 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance or $8 at the door.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | April 11, 2014
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Ménage à Trier: Nympho weds mainstream film and porno Russell Namalata Maroon Contributor When there is no dividing line between the porn industry and cinema, you know the latter is in trouble. Pornography is a billion-dollar industry based entirely around the unquenchable human fervor, if not flaw, to fuck. Lars von Trier’s fourhour, two-part Nymphomaniac will tend to arouse similar feelings, stemming both from its lurid content and the strange, genre-bending nature of its production. Is this cinema, or just very well-produced porno? Even as we flock to theater houses to satisfy this basic human urge in a more wholesome context (look to quasi–soft-core teen slasher films), Nymphomaniac presents us with a very real problem. We may consume sex on screen eagerly and praise it (Blue Is the Warmest Color, anyone?) with the horny devil on our shoulder laughing all the while, but the angel on our other side must ask: Has Lars von Trier finally gone too far? But before we classify the film as pornographic material and add it to the stack in the attic, we first must understand and approach the showmanship of von Trier as mature adults. Obviously we don’t have to look very far to assume that in a film called “Nymphomaniac,” there’s going to be a lot of fucking. The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal identifies nymphomania as a serious disease, originating speculatively from psychological and hormonal
imbalances. Such medical and psychosexual annotations, however, tend to disinterest the general public—few of us have experienced or know someone who has experienced such symptoms firsthand, and often find it difficult to understand it as a “real” disease, one with very real effects and consequences. We joke and judge instead. Still, we all possess the ability to feel for someone in suffering, to empathize as though dealing with a patient whose pain is more readily visible. For evidence, see 2012’s risqué yet revealing Thanks for Sharing, a film that makes Nymphomaniac look tame by comparison. Stuart Blumberg managed to make us care about his sex addicts, and von Trier does the same here. Joe, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg, is the primary nymphomaniac, whose bare-all, see-all eidetic recounting of her life constitutes the film. To a prudish or conservative viewer, her retelling would seem indecent and overly invective. But she still has a rather likable vibe. Uninfluenced by bodily hormones or post-viewing horniness, I can say with full confidence and lucidity that Gainsbourg’s portrayal of an admittedly flawed character is powerful, poignant, and poetic. And the contrast produced by von Trier’s cutaways from Joe’s sexploits to the extensive academic pursuits of a sophisticated, albeit virginal, older male figure (Stellan Skarsgård) were particularly well done. As for the controversy of Shia LaBeouf ’s method acting gone hor-
Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård) share a cup of tea whilst recounting Joe’s strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk. The film chronicles Joe’s sexual conquests from birth to age 50, in real time. COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES
ribly awry, all I can say is: There’s no such thing as bad publicity, and the film doesn’t suffer from his antics. LaBeouf is a sensational actor with a penchant for decidedly strange dramatic decisions and even stranger “artistic” ones. The choices he has made (and is inevitably going to make) have consequences, and so far he’s had his share of criticism. Still, he seems impenetrable. Nymphomaniac is a breakout role of sorts for the 27-year-old former child star, who has successfully deviated from his first mainstream persona as “that Transformers guy.” If the film succeeds, though (and
it does), it is chiefly an effect of its masterful screenwriting and von Trier’s steady hand behind the camera. There was sex, and it was meaningless, both to Joe and in the broader context of the film’s narrative, but just as with two madly smitten lovers, after a night of wild, steamy, aching lovemaking, laying together stark naked under white sheets, the sex in Nymphomaniac brings with it a new sense of perspective; parts of the film are almost existential, in a weird, post-coital kind of way. And unlike Steve McQueen’s Shame, where the associative nature of sex is predominantly masculine, this is a
woman’s manifesto. If the problems the film tackles are more distinctly feminine, they are no less real or complex, and von Trier does not treat them as such. For better or for worse, Lars von Trier has irreparably blurred the line between mainstream film and pornography with this latest outing. But, then again, that’s not really the point. For von Trier, sexuality, however explicit, is auxiliary, just another way for him to tell the dark tales he wants to tell. Nymphomaniac isn’t about explicit, on-screen sex—well, it isn’t just about that. It’s a story of human struggle. Explicitly.
MAROON Crossword By Kyle Dolan
Difficulty:
Across 1.Bachelorette party feature, perhaps 5. Huff and puff 9. Broke (up) 14. [Aha!] 15. One with whom to share a French kiss? 16. “Arrested Development” character 17. Opening on Broadway 18. 1964 Sean Connery film 20. He governed between two Williams 22. Tacks on 23. Affirmative action? 24. Georgia capital, in slang 25. 2013 Cate Blanchett film 30. Chicago or New York, for short 33. Leonardo portrayed him as a young man 34. Pie relative 35. Pie place 36. Biology lab supply 37. Crosswords, e.g. 38. Melville novel
1
39. The ___ (old computer game) 40. Utah city 41. Mishmashes 42. Comp ___ 43. 2004 Wayans Brothers film 45. Subatomic particle 46. Help 47. Preserve, in a way 50. Naval vessel of old 55. 1984 Prince film 57. River to the Seine 58. Tale involving much spearthrowing 59. He has a friend named Zoe 60. Likeliest to be drafted 61. He’s no stranger to Danger 62. Valley 63. See 54-Down Down 1. Exam for which 180 is a perfect score: Abbr. 2. Foot part 3. Friend in Oz
2
3
4
5
4. First part of the “Great Plains Trilogy” 5. Decoration for a rock garden, perhaps 6. God of love 7. Egyptian flower? 8. ___ Talks 9. Tiny bit 10. Kung Fu ___ (title character in a 2008 film) 11. Momentum 12. “Yeah, right” 13. Beginner 19. Has a spell, say 21. Sensei’s school 24. Naval vessel of old 25. Military band, mostly 26. It has many gates 27. Taste activated by glutamate receptors 28. Play the lead 29. Zosia of “Girls” 30. Copycat 31. “Have ___!” 32. Guard against
cracking 35. Newborns don’t have it 37. Call it a day...or a night 41. Frequent subject of election news coverage 43“. I’m on it” 44. Fastball specialist’s asset 45. Like some bulls 47. Beyond awesome 48. Stubborn sort 49. Something to put on the Ritz? 50. ___ of America 51. “Je t’___” (something to say to 15-Across) 52. It’s often listed by color 53. In the Black? 54. With 63-Across, genuine artifact 56. U. of C. landmark, with “the”
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | April 11, 2014
South Siders having trouble finding footing this season Baseball Eirene Kim Maroon Contributor
First-year pitcher Thomas Prescott breaks for a base in a game at home against Hope College on April 1. COURTESY OF UCHICAGO ATHLETICS
Chicago (4–15) fell to Illinois Tech (8–9) 8–5 on Wednesday after a close loss to Dominican (16–8) the day before. Despite the losses, the Maroons remain optimistic heading into an important weekend featuring games against Beloit (11–7) and Carthage (10–10). In their Tuesday match, the Maroons fought a long, 14-inning battle with Dominican. Things started off well for Chicago as fourthyear outfielder Brett Huff hit an RBI single to put the Maroons on the board. Despite their promising start, the Maroons trailed 1–2 after the second inning. The score remained 1–2 until the top of the seventh, when first-year infielder Ryan Krob singled to left field, scoring third-year outfielder Edward Akers and evening the score at 2–2. Neither team was able to generate any notable offense until the top of the 13th, when fourth-year infielder Ricky Troncelliti hit a leadoff double. In an attempt to advance Troncelliti to third, Akers turned for a sacrifice bunt. He would end up reaching second base on a throwing error, allowing Troncelliti to score, and giving Chicago the go-ahead run, 3–2. The Maroons’ celebrations were short-lived as Dominican answered back with one run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Solid pitching performances by first-year Thomas Prescott and fourth-year Ray Kim were not enough to prevent Dominican from scoring the winning run off of a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the 14th. The Maroons were pleased with the fight they demonstrated in the close loss. “I felt that we were very resilient and never gave up throughout the whole game [against
Dominican],” Kim said. The Maroons were back in action the following day, this time against Illinois Tech. Again, Chicago’s pitching was strong, with third-year Simon Swanson standing out in his inning of relief. “Today [against Illinois Tech] and throughout the entire season, Simon Swanson has pitched excellently, and he’s turned himself into one of our most dependable guys,” said third-year pitcher and designated hitter Andrew VanWazer. However, Chicago’s defense was not able to prevent Illinois Tech’s four runs, all unearned, in the top of the fourth. VanWazer impressed on offense, recording four hits against the Scarlet Hawks, while Huff drove in two runs. Unfortunately for the Maroons, they were left ruing the defensive errors—five in total— that ultimately cost them victory. “We’ve obviously been struggling,” VanWazer said. “As a team, we’re just not playing up to our capabilities.” The Maroons are now looking ahead to their games against Beloit and Carthage this weekend. Kim was clear about what the team needs to do to be successful. “Offensively, we need to string quality atbats together and produce runs,” Kim said. “Defensively, our pitching needs to continue getting groundballs and have purpose to every pitch. Also, we have to improve on the field and limit ourselves to simple errors. This is a very important weekend for us [against Beloit and Carthage] and we need to collectively come together as a team and turn it around.” The Maroons begin their weekend slate with a doubleheader against Beloit on Saturday. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Stagg Field. Sunday’s game against Carthage is set to begin at the same time in the same place.
How can we compensate student-athletes? College athletes drive a billion-dollar industry, and how to compensate them is a hotly debated issue. Here’s one solution. Samuel Zacher Sports Editor Imagine 100,000 fans screaming their heads off, brandishing jerseys of their favorite college’s athletes, and munching on stadium food, with the whole scene captured on national TV. As students at the University of Chicago, we’re about as disconnected from big-time college sports as you can be. We compete in DIII, rarely see home stands filled up, and attend an institution that prides itself on the liberal arts, serious thought, breakthroughs in economics and science research, and a quirky student image—none of which involves athletics. Nonetheless, the ongoing debate about whether or not to pay student-athletes is gaining traction, particularly in a month like this, during which everyone’s going mad during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The scene described above portrays many top DI football games, which bring in unfathomable amounts of revenue. Many people argue that the athletes (primarily football and basketball players, those in moneymaking sports), without whom universities would not make millions of dollars, should be paid for their work on the field and court. Student-athletes are increasingly incentivized to depart from college early for the pros, where they can make millions, especially if they come from disadvantaged backgrounds, in which case the instant cash can boost them and their families out of poverty. All of this clouds the primary reason for college: education. Right now, especially for young, talented basketball players, college is a one-year pit stop on the path to the NBA—we’re in the “one and done” era. Athletes like Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and John Wall played college ball for about five months and attended college for less than one year before bouncing to the prom-
ise land. Many are calling for college student-athletes to somehow be paid: A recent Washington Post poll reports that 33 percent of Americans support such compensation (64 percent of Americans oppose). On the March 23 episode of NBC’s Meet the Press, NCAA President Mark Emmert stated that this issue is being “aggressively debated,” although the decision is ultimately up to university representatives, not NCAA officials. Emmert claims that professionalizing student-athletes through financial compensation transforms them into “unionized employees,” which is not the correct response in the current situation. Coincidentally, the National Labor Relations Board recently ruled that Northwestern football players are, in fact, employees of the university and have the right to unionize. All this does right now is allow the players to collectively bargain with the university, but it could certainly spark a change in the world of college athletics. Emmert does believe that the solution is NCAA-sanctioned “miscellaneous expensive allowances” for athletic programs, to be used for everything from helping student-athletes with family emergencies to flying close relatives to watch the athletes’ games. Arne Duncan, U.S. secretary of education and a former Harvard basketball player, also appeared on the Meet the Press episode. He opined that incentives for coaches aren’t consistent with the educational mission of college. According to him, incentives for winning are 11 times as large as they are for student-athletes’ performance in the classroom. Duncan believes the general system needs to be changed so that sports are thought of as a “vehicle for education” instead of the converse. Reggie Love, former Duke basketball and football player and former personal aide to
President Obama, also believes that increased educational incentives need to be implemented. He believes student-athletes should also have access to free graduate education in addition to the opportunity to return to complete a college education after a professional sports career. Duncan and Love’s ideas are just what are needed: stronger incentives for students to stay in college longer. I don’t believe that basketball players should be required to stay at least two years in college as opposed to one, which is the current rule, before entering the NBA draft, but more years in college is obviously better educationally. Extended time in the NCAA game would also exponentially increase the talent in a sport like college basketball, which loses many of its stars after just one season. I completely disagree with the 33 percent of Americans who believe college athletes should be paid (in addition to scholarships), at least while they’re in school—giving any more power and influence to 18- to 21-year-olds, who should be obtaining a college education, while lifting them onto an even higher celebrity platform at their respective schools, would be detrimental to college atmospheres, in which student-athletes should be equals with their peers. That’s why I believe the NCAA should allow institutions to set aside money for players to collect upon graduation. This amount would be standardized across divisions (to avoid increased recruiting advantages within divisions and subdivisions) based on total revenue brought in by that sport. It could only be collected upon graduation, so student-athletes who leave college early for the exorbitant cash-out in the pros wouldn’t receive said funds. Additionally, players’ families in need could apply to the school to receive any portion of this amount while the student-athlete is in college, so that players wouldn’t feel forced to go to the pros early because of a disadvantaged family fi-
nancial situation. Moreover, Love’s idea has lots of merit: A second scholarship at that same school would also be available for any student-athlete, which could be a graduate school scholarship for that same student-athlete or a college scholarship for a family member. This potential solution financially incentivizes players to graduate and complete a college education, and allows them to not worry about their families while they compete in collegiate athletics. An even bigger incentive is the opportunity for a student-athlete to pursue a career outside sports, or for a relative to attain a college education, which would certainly make many players of football, basketball, and baseball (sports with the most athletes leaving early) seriously consider staying in college for a couple extra years. But remember, this would all only be available if the student-athlete graduates college. There will always be players like Duke’s Jabari Parker, one of four player-of-the-year candidates this season, who enter college knowing they’re highly likely to be drafted in a couple years and make millions, barring injury. However, there are not many of them. The purpose of this policy is to catch the sizable group of players who consider leaving college early. It also addresses the principal problem, namely, that studentathletes are at the center of college sports, a monstrous moneymaking business, but aren’t receiving any sort of compensation outside of scholarships. Schools won’t be able to pay athletes nearly enough to level with the incoming revenue, but it’s still some compensation, which addresses the issue. Radical changes could be coming, and this situation provides an opportunity for a winwin: Student-athletes could receive “what they deserve,” according to some, along with incentives for continued education, the primary purpose of college.
THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | April 11, 2014
Annual Chicagoland Championships beckon once more Track & Field Zachary Themer Maroon Contributor The winter track and field competition for the Maroons was one of records, accomplishments, and overwhelming success, and the men’s and women’s teams look to keep their momentum as they come off their indoor season and head further into the outdoor season. The South Siders are coming off a winter that featured a women’s championship and men’s sixth-place finish at UAAs, as well as an individual national championship in the pole vault by second-year Michael Bennett. Chicago was able to remain unfazed, as it claimed the title in both the men’s and women’s competitions at its first outdoor meet of the year, the Ted Haydon Invitational at home. “Transitioning from winter to spring wasn’t too hard,” said first-year sprinter Temisan Osowa. “We just changed a bit of our workouts in the weight room and focused more on technique, relays, and maximizing our times.” In its victorious showing this past weekend—the first of all the outdoor meets—the women’s squad topped eight other teams, as it amassed 248 points. This total, a mindboggling 148 points more than the runnerup UIC, was aided by victories in nine separate events. Notably, second-year Nkemdilim Nwaokolo put on an impressive showing, as she not only won the discus and hammer throw but beat her opponents by over 3 meters in the former. Likewise, fourth-year Jennie Porter was a two-time winner on the day, as she claimed victories in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay with her teammates, second-years Alison Pildner, Mikaela Hammel, and Rebecca Askins-Gast. This weekend, both squads take their training and talents to Romeoville, IL for the annual Chicagoland outdoor meet. In addition to momentum from the indoor season, both teams have chemistry on their side. “Our team was pretty tight-knit after first quarter, but now we’re even more tightly knit and know more of each other. Track has overall good people,” Osowa said. Osowa competes in the 4x100-meter relay. Elsewhere at the Ted Haydon Invite, the women were victorious in the 800-meter with fourth-year Elise Wummer, 3,000-meter with second-year Brianna Hickey, 100-meter hurdles with second-year Theo Kassebaum, and pole vault with first-year Jadylin Tolda—signs that bode well for this weekend in Romeoville. Following their decisive victory this past weekend, the Maroons look to continue their success this Friday and Saturday at the Chicagoland Championships. Competition begins at noon Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.
Sun: “catch the final few home matches” MTENNIS continued from back
focusing on something more personal. “I am really trying to improve my ability to win the big points and close out matches when I have the opportunity and not allow my opponent any chance to get back into the match,” Bhargava said. Overall, the team hopes to have a strong support network as it prepares intensely for its matches. “For the students, faculty, and fans, you should all come out if you get the chance to catch the final few home matches of our season,” first-year Brian Sun said. The Case Western match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, followed by a game against Coe College at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and against Wash U at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Third-year Ben Nickerson competes in a distance event last season. COURTESY OF UCHICAGO ATHLETICS
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SPORTS
IN QUOTES “Dear Jesus, Why did you make the Mets so bad? Love, Charlie.” —Young, disappointed NY Mets fan searches for answers through religion
Chicago returns to home court with three-match weekend Women’s Tennis Helen Petersen Maroon Contributor
Second-year Stephanie Lee readies for a backhand in a match this year. COURTESY OF NICOLE MURPHY
If the promising change in the weather is any indication of where the women’s tennis season is headed, the Maroons are in for sunny with a chance of a hat trick. After a strong third-place showing at the Midwest Invitational last weekend, the No. 12 Maroons (7–7) are looking for a strong finish to the regular season on their own home court. Case, Coe, and Wash U are making the trek to Hyde Park to compete against Chicago. Last weekend saw the South Siders winning two of their three matches, despite some hiccups in their doubles play. “We definitely did not play to our potential last weekend in terms of doubles,” third-year Maggie Schumann—who plays No. 3 doubles—said. “One of the main things we struggled with was consistently playing aggressively and proactively acting on the first ball, especially at the net.” Head coach Jay Tee and his team recognized the challenge and responded accordingly.
“This past week in practice, we’ve put an intense emphasis on doubles, focusing on constantly moving forward and putting the ball away,” Schumann said. Consistency in doubles play is going to be vital for the Maroons this weekend, given the caliber of the teams against which they will be competing. They begin with Case (8–7) on Friday. Currently ranked No. 27, the Spartans are also coming off a strong 2–1 showing last weekend. The outcome of this match will likely come down to the two teams’ abilities to adjust and improve on their weaknesses, as Case also dropped multiple doubles games last weekend. On Saturday, the Maroons will face Coe (16–3). Despite its stronger record, Coe has yet to face a team as highly ranked as Chicago, and the Maroons have yet to lose against an unranked team this season. Unlike the other two teams competing this weekend, Coe is an unfamiliar face. “We’ve never played them in the past, so we’re excited to play someone with a blank slate. We are familiar with girls on teams
that we play consistently, so it will be refreshing to play against a new team without any record or preestablished expectations,” Schumann said. This taste of the unknown is important as the team heads into postseason play. The final match of the regular season comes against cross-sport rival, No. 10 Wash U (13–3), on Sunday. “We definitely have a bit of a rivalry with Wash U since we’ve always been very competitive with them in the past. Last year we went 2–1 against them, so we’re looking forward to competing with them on Sunday, especially at our home courts,” Schumann said. The Bears will prove to be a fierce challenge for the Maroons, as Wash U defeated DePauw 7–2 last weekend, while the Maroons lost 7–2 to DePauw in their previous match. This weekend is an important one as the momentum gained or lost by any team is going to carry it into the UAA Championships. Chicago faces off against Case at 3 p.m. on Friday, Coe at 9 a.m. on Saturday, and Wash U at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Comeback victory fuels two No. 17 squad to take on more wins for 15–1 Maroons Case, Coe, and Wash U Softball Charlotte Franklin Sports Staff The only thing better than a win on game day is two wins on game day. In a home doubleheader against North Park (8–10) on Tuesday, the Maroons took two victories by scores of 11–9 and 5–0. The first game did not begin auspiciously, as the North Park Vikings jumped out to a 7–0 lead. It wasn’t until the third inning that the game started to turn around, with first-year infielder Anna Woolery initiating the Maroons’ comeback by scoring and then batting in Chicago’s second run in the fourth. Several fourth-years contributed, including outfielder Kaitlyn Carpenter, who followed Woolery’s RBI with a tworun double to add more fuel to the South Siders’ comeback. After four innings, North Park still led 7–4. Fourth-year third baseman Maddie McManus hit a two-run double in the sixth
Men’s Tennis that ignited a seven-run inning. McManus scored on second-year pitcher Jordan Poole’s double. Fourth-year catcher Zoe Oliver-Grey gave the Maroons the boost they needed to take the lead for the first time, as she smashed a three-run homer to give Chicago a 10–8 head. First-year outfielder Maggie O’Hara then added an insurance run in the final inning. The Maroons tallied 11 hits and committed only one error in the game. Despite a North Park home run in the seventh inning, Poole was able to close the game and move to 8–0. Both Poole and O’Hara went two for three at the plate, each with an RBI. “It was a good win and good to see how we played from behind, and we were able to keep our heads in it and come back,” McManus said. “It’s been great to see the team come together and see everyone’s hard work in the offseason come together on the field.”
In the second game against the Vikings, Poole shut out North Park, allowing only a single walk, three hits, and no runs. She now has 63 strikeouts on the year, a team best. The Maroons needed only six hits to secure the doubleheader sweep. The scoring began when third-year outfielder Raechel Cloud delivered a single and then stole second. O’Hara singled, scoring Cloud. Other crucial hits came from Carpenter, Oliver-Grey, and secondyears Devan Parkison and Kathleen Kohm. McManus closed the scoring with an RBI single. The Maroons now boast an impressive 15–1 record and will play another fourgame weekend, taking on North Central (20–3) at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and UW–Whitewater (16– 3) on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Both competitors will surely be tough competition, putting Chicago’s 15–1 record to the test.
Bronagh Daly Maroon Contributor Chicago appears to have picked up momentum as it heads into its final few matches of the regular season. After winning its past few matches against Cal Lutheran and Kalamazoo, the team hopes to keep this momentum going all the way up to the NCAA tournament. But it must first focus on its imminent match against the Case Western Spartans. “After a big win over Cal Lu during spring break and a win against Kalamazoo, we have a lot of momentum and positive energy going into this big weekend, where we will play two tough UAA rivals, Case and Wash U, along with Coe College,” secondyear Gordon Zhang said. As its regular season nears its end, Chicago has begun to recognize the important aspects of its game more and more. “This weekend, as a team, we plan on really focusing on what we can control; in other
words, we don’t know how windy it will be, how well our opponents might play, etc., but what we can do is try to play our best under whatever circumstances may arise,” third-year Ankur Bhargava said. The squad has been preparing hard for the coming matches, and believes it has found exactly what it needs to focus on in order to continue its winning streak: improving its doubles. “I think the biggest thing we took out from the Kalamazoo match is how important the doubles points are,” Zhang said. “After going up 3–0 in doubles, it allowed everyone on our team to play loose and filled with confidence going into singles.” The team intends to continue to ignite such confidence during its match this weekend. “We have been working a lot on doubles and movement on the court to prepare for this weekend,” Zhang said. “The team has been going to the training room a lot
to feel as best as possible for this weekend, and it is important that we continue to prepare our bodies as best as possible.” Even with this group improvement in its sights, Chicago has also been focusing on each member’s individual goals. Zhang himself wants to focus mainly on doubles in order to improve his overall game. “Ever since I walked on campus as [a] freshman, I believe I have made great strides in my doubles game, and I want to be the best doubles player I can be when I walk onto court on Friday against Case,” Zhang said. “For singles, this season I have been pretty inconsistent. I have had some solid wins and some bad losses, but I have learned a lot from my losses. I will continue to grind on the court and play smart, solid tennis, which will be the factors to my success for the rest of the season.” Bhargava, alternatively, is MTENNIS continued on page 11