120412 Chicago Maroon

TUESDAY • DECEMBER 4, 2012

CHICAGOMAROON.COM

ISSUE 17 • VOLUME 124

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892

INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

Part VI: Prevention and campus climate Joy Crane Associate News Editor & Hannah Nyhart Special Contributor This is the fifth installment of a quarterlong series on sexual assault, the fourth of which was published on November 20. It can be found at chicagomaroon.com.

New student initiatives and ongoing administration efforts have established a solid base of sexual assault education and prevention at UChicago. However, citing problems both unique to the UChicago community and systemic to societal rape culture, a diverse array of community members have emphasized that there remains room for growth.

O-Week Initiatives Fourth-year Linxi Chang basks in the sun during Monday’s unseasonably warm weather.

JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON

by Resources for Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) and Student Counseling Services (SCS), informs students about the importance, appearance, and function of consent during Orientation Week. Following the event, students attend a Chicago Life Meeting, “Uchoose,” led by a student Orientation leader and one of their Resident Assistants to discuss the issues posed by the presentation. Attendance is compulsory for all incoming students.

First-year Zoe Kauder Nalebuff said she felt that the meeting did not afford enough time to the issue. “The tone of the discussions felt very rushed; the RAs and orientation leader had far too much information to go through in a very short period of time,” she said.

“There was one peer response prompt that...claims something like, ‘he didn’t

Sex Signals, a performance presented

ASSAULT continued on page 4

UChicago and the fiscal cliff AEPi lands great latke debate Linda Qiu News Editor The University could be hit with as much as an eight percent average reduction in its annual $1.5 billion of federal funding for national labs Argonne and Fermi and research grants for graduate students and faculty, should the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) go into effect on January 2.

This depends on how quickly and effectively the newly elected 113th Congress will come to an agreement about the impending “fiscal cliff,” if at all, when over 1,000 government programs will experience automatic cuts under the BCA. “If the sequester occurs, defense and non-defense discretionary spending will be hit the hardest.

And what falls under that non-defense discretionary spending is higher education, student loans, research,” said Mark Hansen, a professor of political science and the department’s former chair.

Neither Hansen nor Matthew Greenwald, the University’s deputy director for federal relations, believe that the sequester will actually take effect.

Hansen predicts an agreement in the “11th hour” and a postponement period of three months.

Nonetheless, negotiations for other deficit reductions do not prioritize higher education and could have lasting impacts, according to Hansen.

Argonne and Fermi receive a total of around $1 billion of federal funding annually, while other research on campus receives about half a billion from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, NASA, the Defense Department, and others. Hansen emphasized that the eight percent “worst case scenario” in cuts is an average across research projects. Smaller projects are especially likely to experience difficulty in securing funding.

“Some super researchers may still be really sucBUDGET continued on page 3

Argonne launches alt. energy hub Jennifer Standish Associate News Editor Argonne National Laboratory was awarded $120 million by the U.S. Department of Energ y (DOE) to launch the Joint Center for Energ y Storage Research ( JCESR) “batteries and energ y storage hub,” Secretary of Energ y Steven Chu, Governor Pat Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and University President Robert Zimmer announced in a joint press conference last Friday.

The new center in Lemont, a suburb 27 miles southwest of Chicago, will establish Chicago and Illinois as the new epicenter for advanced battery technolog y.

JCESR will link energ y storage research and production and manufacturing, streamlining the production of alternative energ y, according to Argonne Director Eric Isaacs.

“We’re taking on very large-scale, wellcoordinated, mission-driven programs here that will lead to breakthroughs in energ y science and also at the same time train and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,” Isaacs said.

In the press conference, Isaacs outlined what he calls the 5:5:5 plan for the program. “We’re going to develop batteries that are five times more powerful, five times cheaper, in five years. That’s a very ARGONNE continued on page 5

Usually held in November, the annual Latke-Hamentash Debate was rescheduled to February this year.

DARREN LEOW| THE CHICAGO MAROON

Benjamin Pokross Associate News Editor Editor’s note: Eric Wessan is a former Maroon columnist.

The Latke-Hamantash Debate will be student-run for the first time this year, as a group from Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), a Jewish fraternity, has stepped in to organize the event.

This year’s debate will take place in Mandel Hall, with a post-debate nosh in Hutch Commons, around the time of Purim, the Jewish holiday when hamantashen are eaten, in midFebruary.

Third-year AEPi members Eric Wessan and Jacob Rabinowitz approached the Newberger Hillel at the University of Chicago, traditionally the organizer of the event, in

mid-October to express their interest in organizing the debate. They plan to reach out to other groups, Jewish and secular, and will also hold an open forum in the first week of winter quarter to assemble a team of student organizers for the AEPi-sponsored event.

While specific plans have not been made, Wessan said that they plan to maintain the current format of the debate, including the presence of moderator Ted Cohen, a professor of philosophy who has hosted the event for over 30 years. The only change will be the addition of a philanthropic element.

“We’re not sure exactly how we’re going to make this outreach, but we want to turn this event into a chance to raise money,” Wessan said. The exact charity has not been determined, although Wessan suggested that it LATKE continued on page 5

IN VIEWPOINTS

IN ARTS

IN SPORTS

Sexual assault disciplinary policy needs reform » Page 6

Top Five of 2012 » Page 9

Pyping hot: Second-year stars in victory over Kalamazoo » Back Page

‘Dialogue’ stands in way of justice in Palestine » Page 7

Winter Cocktails » Page 12

Student-athletes set example, find match in local elementary school » Page 15

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | December 4, 2012

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Four heads of the Fed lay out fiscal policy reservations Sean Graf News Contributor The presidents of Federal Reserve Banks in four different cities disagreed over the proper role of the Fed in setting the nation’s monetary policy on Saturday at an event organized by the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics.

Each of the three panelists runs a district of the Fed in order to implement policy set by the Federal Open Market Committee, which deals with the buying and selling of government bonds in the open market, the most important of the three tools the Fed uses to regulate the national economy.

The country’s monetary policy set by the Fed is based on a “dual mandate, by influencing money and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of full employment and stable prices,” according to the Fed website.

Charles Plosser (M.B.A. ’72, Ph.D. ’76), president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, criticized the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate, which requires that it promote both full employment and price stability. His criticism suggests that the Federal Reserve should not be responsible for keeping unemployment as low as possible.

“I would be comfortable with single

mandate or hierarchical mandate,” Plosser said. “It is impossible to know the long-term consequences of our policy decisions. If the Federal Reserve chooses to keep inflation rates very low to try to raise employment, this might result in negative long-term consequences.”

Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, on the other hand, favored the continuation of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate, arguing that a balance is necessary. With America’s current unemployment rate of 7.9 percent, Evans proposed keeping interest rates close to zero until the unemployment rate falls back into the stable range, so long as inflation does not rise above three percent.

“We need a balanced approach to reduce deviations from an unemployment rate [of 5.23 to 6 percent],” he said.

The many factors that can cause unemployment make it a difficult issue to tackle, according to Minneapolis Fed president Narayana Kocherlakota (Ph.D. ’87). Kocherlakota added that unemployment can be caused not only by a lack of demand in the market, but also by a fear of taxes on the part of businesses and by a lack of Americans with the skills necessary for the particular jobs available.

Despite the difficulty in determining the cause of our current state of unem-

From left: Federal Reserve Board Presidents Narayana Kocherlakota, Charles Plosser, and Charles Evans, along with fourth-year Asher Gabara, participated in a panel discussion last Saturday focusing on the role of the Federal Reserve in helping to spur economic recovery.

COURTESY OF JOE STERBENC

ployment, Kocherlakota agreed with Evans that interest rates should continue to be held at zero until unemployment returns to its natural rate.

“Over the past two years I have seen evidence that suggests I should put more focus on demand factors than I did even a year ago,” he said.

Although the Federal Reserve presidents disagreed on the dual mandate and how the unemployment crisis in America should be addressed, the panelists all agreed that they do not have all the answers to the country’s economic challenges.

“We have to be more humble about

A guard’s nine hours of standing and solitude

University of Chicago security guard, Jerome Carr, watches the entrance to the Quad near 58th and University.

SYDNEY COMBS | THE CHICAGO MAROON

Stephanie Xiao Senior News Staff In the face of Chicago winters, Jerome Carr and Matthew Maciej cannot take refuge indoors.

At 7 a.m., Carr begins his nine-hour shift as a security officer at the entrance of the main quad at East 58th Street and South University Avenue. Later in the day, Matthew Maciej takes his position for eight hours at the Apostolic Church parking lot on East 63rd Street and South Kenwood Avenue. They are on their feet for the entirety of their shift, and don’t always have daylight to keep them warm.

Both started out working the 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. shift that all new security officers are initially assigned. Especially in the wintertime, during what Carr refers to as “that brittle cold weather at 10 below,” the shift can be difficult to bear, though officers receive outerwear, pocket warmers, and may soon receive boots as parts of their uniforms.

“We look like criminals with a badge,” Carr said. “Face mask, warm boots, and plenty of layers.”

Both Carr and Maciej are employed by AlliedBarton Security Services, a privately owned security contractor. The private security force at the University of Chicago, which has been in place on campus since October 2010, currently stands at 125 officers and spans 20 exterior posts from East 57th to East 63rd Streets and South Blackstone Avenue to South Ellis Avenue.

According to Associate Vice President for Safety and Security and UCPD Chief Marlon Lynch, the UCPD saw a need for an increased security presence on campus in 2010, and decided to use the security officers to supplement their own activities. The security officers, distinct from UCPD, are not allowed to make arrests and generally do not physically intervene in situations. Instead, all officers carry portable radios, and their primary objectives are to observe and report.

“You teach people to be aware. You might have students from other countries who don’t know that you can’t just have electronics visible to the public. This actually is a nice neighborhood, but if you’re out there with your laptop open, that’s giving a meal to somebody who’s hungry,” Carr said.

According to Carl Reyes, an account manager at AlliedBarton who works primarily with Lynch and the University’s private security force, the presence of security guards alone can deter crime.

Both Maciej and Carr agreed that a potential assailant who saw security guards on the street would hesitate to commit a crime.

“When [criminals] see you, they think twice about doing something,” Maciej said.

“You’ll see two guys just walking along, then all of a sudden they see a security guard, and they’re like, ‘Oops,’ and they make a U-turn.

Even if you know something would have happened, there’s nothing you can do,” Carr added.

Since the implementation of the security guard network across campus more than two years ago, however, the security guards have taken on more interactive duties such as actively providing help and advice to students and visitors.

“When they first started, they were just there. Now they’re trained to provide directions, be familiar with campus, be more proactive,” Lynch said. “They’re a lot more involved in what they’re doing.”

According to Lynch, the program and the extra layer of familiarity and security it provides have received good input from the Hyde Park community.

“The ones that are assigned here are dedicated to the U of C. It’s a lot more consistent.

This is where they work,” Lynch said. “We’re pretty comfortable with the way it’s set up.”

Even so, the force and campus coverage are both still expanding. A new post at East 60th Street and South Dorchester Avenue was just added last Wednesday, and Reyes is enthusiastic about the possibility of increasing the number and density of officers.

“We hope to put more security officers in specific locations based on what we see and crime stats. Our goal is to keep on pushing them to the outer parts of campus.”

Ultimately, Carr hopes to rise through the ranks but for now, he enjoys being outside and helping the campus out as a security officer.

“It’s an area where you can help people that need that small help because of course, the police can’t do everything, so you can be the eyes and ears for the small crime that can be prevented before it even happens,” Carr said.

the state of our knowledge in this environment,” Plosser said.

First-year Tyler Kissinger said that the event made him realize “how complex the Federal Reserve policy is and the depth of its responsibilities responding to the mandates given to the Fed by Congress.”

Greenwald: “...not getting cut in this environment is a win” BUDGET continued from front

cessful getting funding, but the success rate will go down overall,” Greenwald said.

In addition, a sequester would result in $11 billion in cuts to Medicare. About $3 billion of current Medicare spending funds medical student residencies, including those at the University’s Medical Center (UCMC). In addition to the academic implications, one in three UCMC patients rely on Medicare and/or Medicaid.

“So these programs are crucial, especially for an underserved population on the South Side, and can be really impacted,” Greenwald said.

Regardless of what lawmakers decide in January, the appropriations capping under the BCA will not impact student loans, though Greenwald said a sequester may “put pressure” on other aid programs, such as work-study.

The BCA has already eliminated subsidized Stafford loans for graduate students as well as loan repayment incentives for debtors, effective for all loans signed after July 1, 2012.

Subsidized loan interest rates are also set to double to 6.8 percent in the 2013-2014 academic year, in a planned return to 2006-2007 rates unrelated to and not dependent on what happens with the BCA. This will affect onethird of the University’s undergraduates.

For the new Congress, the issue of the rising costs of higher education, which have increased faster than inflation rates in recent years, “is less about how [the government] can help the colleges be more affordable and instead telling colleges, ‘you will need to be more affordable,’” Hansen said.

“These [issues] aren’t particularly partisan in origin. There’s not a lot of difference between parties when tuition has been rising higher than inflation,” he said, speaking about the expectation among lawmakers that colleges begin slashing their fees.

Sequester or not, the University recognizes that the current political climate is averse to increased government spending,ß and that developing relationships with Illinois legislators and collaborating with other institutions is necessary to further its federal agenda.

“We need to have good champions. If not ensuring significant increase, not getting cut in this environment is a win. Keeping the status quo is a win,” Greenwald said.

THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | December 4, 2012

4

Victims see a campus culture of perceived tolerance towards sexual assault crimes ASSAULT continued from front

rape her; she’s such a slut.’ While the discussion was supposed to be focused on how the accuser being a ‘slut’ is not a justification for disbelieving a rape claim, the conversation ended up being on how you shouldn’t believe gossip. Before the moderators really had a chance to push the conversation the way the prompt was supposed to pan out, we had to move onto the next topic for time’s sake.”

First-year Phillip Crean took issue with the discussion’s narrow range of consent-exchange situations, claiming that the meeting placed too large an emphasis on hook-up culture.

“O-Week sexual consent presentations and discussions focused a lot on getting and giving sexual consent in extreme situations, primarily when someone is clearly drunk. While a worthwhile discussion, it avoided the more muddled grey area of sexual consent in more moderate (and more everyday) situations. I did not leave knowing more than before in that regard,” Crean said.

Existing and emerging education Responding directly to this criticism, “Sex Week,” a new student initiative scheduled to launch fifth week of winter quarter 2013, will host an event to discuss consent in contexts other than heteronormative hook-up culture. The event Consent of all Flavors will emphasize consent as a dynamic process, and how it differs for different kinds of relationships.

“Usually, at least in the sort of orientation sexual assault context, you get a specific idea of what consent is. It’s a one-time transaction and the purpose of it is to make sure that assault doesn’t happen,” said fourth-year Lorca Sloan, one of the Consent of all Flavors panelists. “But it doesn’t approach consent as a dynamic process that happens within a relationship, and...it’s an ongoing process of communication.”

RSVP Peer Educators program offers workshops on acquaintance rape, rape culture, risk reduction,

gender in the media, communication, and the role of alcohol and other drugs in sexual assault. These workshops are not mandatory, and are available upon request of housing or individual student groups. But according to fourth-year Amy Bianca Lara, the RSVP Peer Educator Coordinator, the student-led workshops have limited uptake and irregular exposure.

“I’ve been working at RSVP for three years, and I can say that only a handful of RHs are interested in having RSVP workshops done,” Lara said.

“I’d have to say that 60 percent of people don’t respond, of the other 40 percent people are interested, but there are scheduling conflicts, and other times we do the workshop...Even the people that get to have access to this information are only people in the housing system, which are really freshmen. But even then they have only a certain amount of students that actually go to house meetings.”

Jane, who preferred to remain anonymous, was sexually assaulted by her then-boyfriend and called for a more regular dialogue about consent. She said she wanted “greater and more constant education for asking for consent. We get it as a first-year, but my boyfriend was a fourth-year.”

One of RSVP’s more visible attempts to reach the broader campus community was last year’s poster campaign, which featured pictures of men or couples and brief scenarios, including the tagline, “My strength is not for hurting.” RSVP Director Vickie Sides explained some of the reasoning behind the posters, which were borrowed from a national campaign.

“That campaign specifically targeted men. And that was really important to us because we want to be very intentional about reaching men through our programming, recruiting men and speaking to them as audience members, not as potential perpetrators but engaging them, as partners against violence.”

Despite the poster campaign and other initiatives, an oft-cited concern from students is the perception of sexual assault as a crime that is largely invisible on

campus. Fourth-year Patty Fernandez of Tea Time and Sex Chats and The Clothesline Project spoke to that lack of awareness, which she sees as intertwined with broad stereotypes about UChicago.

“There are a lot of people who seem to think that because we are UChicago students and we’re privileged and have money...and we’re mature, and less sexually aggressive, that that’s not something that happens on this campus, or to people who have come to this campus.”

The Clothesline Project, previously mentioned in the third installment of this series, is an art installation that features t-shirts decorated to represent anonymous stories of sexual assault.

Through public artistic displays, the group hopes to pierce through the silence that shrouds sexual assault.

“We can’t be there to help you legally navigate something that happened last year or 10 years ago, but we can be there to help give you a voice. There are so many people that have not spoken because they feel like they can’t.”

Campus culture One second-year student, who spoke to the Maroon on the condition of anonymity, named unsympathetic peer reactions as a factor in her decision to not pursue action against her rapist, who had assaulted her while she was intoxicated.

“The issue is a lot of the people who were with me that night don’t view it as rape. That’s the issue...They were like, well you were just drunk on the corner, you just had sex. Sex is sex.”

Fourth-year Molly Liu pointed to a limited understanding of rape within broader culture as the primary reason why she did not report an incident involving her then-boyfriend.

“Honestly, the thing that would’ve made the most difference is having the cultural framework that what had happened to me was rape.... This was someone that I knew and trusted, someone who purported to care about me. I was completely

unprepared to categorize this incident as rape even though it was in retrospect very obviously rape.”

Sides also emphasized the broader context that transcends University or individual sexual crimes; in addition to workshops about consent and violence prevention, RSVP also offers programs on rape culture.

“We feel that it’s important to go a step further and say, ‘These are the reasons violence exists.’ We want to address the root causes of violence, such as inequity and unequal access to power. We take a broader social justice approach to eliminating violence, and specifically gender-based violence.”

Speaking about UChicago’s ongoing efforts toward education and prevention, Sides offered a vision of the climate that RSVP works toward.

“We strive to create an environment that is supportive and empowering to those that have been impacted by sexual violence, either directly or indirectly. We also understand that if we get it right, we communicate the message to potential violators that those offending behaviors will not be tolerated here.”

But as of right now, many victims equate a lack of dialogue, an effect that is unique to sexual assault cases, with a perceived tolerance of the crime. The community intolerance of violators that Sides cites is sometimes lacking in survivors’ experiences, reflecting an oft-mentioned unwillingness to label the crime as rape and its perpetrators as rapists. The previously cited second-year victim reflected on responses to her account of being raped.

“Everyone was just like, ‘I’m sorry that happened,’ but apparently it’s just, like, a thing that happens, and it shouldn’t be a thing that happens.”

The Maroon is committed to achieving as thorough knowledge as possible of all aspects of this issue.

If you have information on the history of the University of Chicago’s policies in regard to sexual assault, or if you or someone you know has experiences relating to sexual assault and/or subsequent hearings, please contact us at hannah.nyhart@gmail.com or joycrane7@gmail.com.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | December 4, 2012

Law prof. makes Supreme case against “originalism”

Geoffrey R. Stone, Professor of Law at the University of Chicago discusses the history of the role of the United States Supreme Court in Swift Hall Sunday.

FRANK YAN | THE CHICAGO MAROON

Jon Catlin Senior News Staff Law professor Geoffrey Stone expressed strong reservations about whether the current Supreme Court is carrying out the vision of liberty imagined by America’s founding fathers in a talk about the Court’s place in American government in Swift Hall this Sunday.

“It is important to remember that the Constitution was first ratified without a Bill of Rights,” Stone said. “But Jefferson reminded Madison of the dangers of majoritarian abuse of power and the need for courts to protect basic guarantees from the majority…to police it.”

Stone noted that this “policing,” for which the Court was originally created, has not always happened

in practice, citing decisions like Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which allowed states to continue practicing slavery; Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which created the standard of “separate but equal”; and Korematsu v. U.S. (1944), which permitted the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II as failures of the Court.

Reflecting on today’s Court, Stone called it “the most polarized Supreme Court in history” for being divided at an “essentially unprecedented” level.

“The four to five very conservative justices who have been on the Court during the past 12 years have voted together as a bloc in 99 percent of cases—the one exception being [Chief Justice] John Roberts’s decision to uphold parts of the Affordable Care Act,” Stone said.

While the liberal side of the Court also constitutes a voting bloc, he described these justices as only “moderate-liberal.”

Stone criticized judges’ use of “originalism,” a method of legal reasoning which bases decisions on the deciphered initial meaning and intent of the legal text, calling it inconsistent, unprincipled, and often politically conservative.

“The truth is that there is no guiding legal principle that is consistent with the rulings of this conservative Court,” Stone said.

“So these decisions are being decided for personal reasons based

on personal values. It’s a major dilemma.”

Looking forward, Stone predicted that if President Obama is given the opportunity to appoint another justice, it would be “the most divisive nomination in American history” as a result of extreme polarization in the Court and in the Senate, which must approve the nomination. The nomination would also be contentious, Stone said, because the appointment could change the balance of power between liberals and conservatives on the Court.

“While other justices in this century have been approved by an average of 97 percent of the Senate, [Obama’s nominees] got an average of only 63 percent approval,” Stone said. “This shows just how polarized our political process has become.”

The talk was in conjunction with the Renaissance Society’s hosting of the art installment We the People, designed by DanishVietnamese artist Danh Vo. We the People consists of a scale reproduction of copper sheets from the Statue of Liberty left deliberately unassembled and installed separately in fifteen cities across the world. In September, fragments of the statue were installed at the Law School, the Booth School, and at the Oriental Institute, in part due to Stone’s advocacy of the project.

Illinois to commit additional $35 million to build Argonne’s JCESR ARGONNE continued from front

aggressive and very ambitious goal,” he said.

If the JCESR is successful in its first five years, it will be renewed for another five years, according to U.S. Secretary of Energ y Steven Chu. To accomplish its goals, Argonne will partner with four other research centers, four manufacturing companies, and four

academic institutions, including the University of Chicago.

The JCSER has been strongly endorsed by Emanuel and Quinn, who both emphasized the positive impact it will have on the economic and job growth of Chicago and Illinois.

The establishment of the JCSER promises a growth in automobile manufacturing jobs and new start-up companies drawn

to the economic prospects of the new energy storage technology, Emanuel said. “Chicago will be the center of [automobile and alternative energy research] and all the promise of jobs and economic opportunities that come from that.”

Quinn committed $35 million in state funding to build the Lemont campus.

According to Zimmer, Argonne

plays a fundamental role in the research enterprise of the University of Chicago.

“The University of Chicago is known for producing worldchanging ideas. The energ y partnership being announced today is one of the many ways that we are working to ensure that these ideas are pushed out into the world, so that they can have a powerful impact.”

CORRECTIONS The November 30 article “Doc files police report for missing cash” misstated which rooms volunteers now have to sign in to.

The November 30 article “UchiNOMgo: Where my food trucks @?” misstated his employer, which is College IT, due to an editing error. It also misnamed his B.A. degree from the University of Chicago.

Hillel will still remain involved with its 66-year-old culinary debate LATKE continued from front

might be one of the seven charities that the national AEPi organization is associated with, such as Save a Child’s Heart.

Since the group formed only a month and a half before the traditional date of the event on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, near the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah when latkes are eaten, the date of the debate is being moved to February 12, just 11 days before Purim.

But even before students got involved in running the debate, Hillel was already planning to take the event in a new, more studentfocused direction.

First held in 1946, the Latke-Hamantash Debate, a humorous event featuring arguments from professors about the respective merits of latkes

and hamantashen, was originally organized by faculty members with the Hillel rabbi in order to appeal to the Jewish population at UChicago.

Over the years the debate grew, moving from the Hillel building to Mandel Hall and attracting audiences from across the city.

Hillel took a larger role in planning the event as it got bigger, though the event is not solely identified with the Jewish organization but rather with the University as a whole, according to Ruth Fredman Cernea’s introduction in the essay collection The Great Latke-Hamantash Debate.

Interim Executive Director Andrea Hoffman, who was hired by Hillel in August, had been trying to encourage student input in the debate before it was taken over by

AEPi. “I was told that there weren’t students involved in the event, which I thought was strange because Hillel was about the students,” she said.

“We wanted to invite faculty that students wanted here.”

However, before Wessan and Rabinowitz proposed taking over the organization of the event, some faculty members expressed discomfort with participating in this year’s debate due to the controversy surrounding the firing of former Executive Director of Hillel Dan Libenson last spring.

“One or two faculty members in particular who made a link there, they were stirring the pot,” Hoffman said, adding that Hillel never heard from Cohen about taking part in this year’s debate.

Wessan said that AEPi did not have trouble attracting professors to participate and that Cohen has signed on to moderate.

While the debate is student-led, Hoffman said that she, as well as other Jewish leaders on campus, will still play a role in advising the students.

“Officially all of us are working behind the scene with no public recognition at all; we’re going to let the students take center stage,” Hoffman said.

Libenson, current director of jUChicago, a Jewish interest RSO, said that his organization was not involved in the event and had not been contacted, although he said that any members of the group would be free to participate in organizing the debate.

5

NEWS IN BRIEF Cathey’s doors still shut Cathey Dining Commons remains closed four days after it failed two consecutive inspections Thursday.

UChicago Dining and Aramark performed a thorough cleaning over the weekend. Administrators suspected the third inspection would come early this week, but are still unsure of when the city will inspect and approve the new conditions, according to an e-mail from Ana Campos, interim director of Undergraduate Student Housing, and Richard Mason, executive director of UChicago Dining.

Students who would normally eat at Cathey will receive an additional 20 Maroon Dollars in compensation, after the initial 100 given last week. Pierce, Bartlett, and Hutch are also operating under extended hours until Cathey reopens. UChicago Dining and Aramark are also holding a continental breakfast for those who are assigned to Cathey from 8 to 10 a.m. this morning.

Pierce and Bartlett underwent cleaning over the weekend as a precaution, though they both passed recent inspection, the e-mail said.–Rebecca Guterman

CTA’s 170, 171, 172 have run their courses According to an announcement made to the Transportation and Security Advisory Board (TSAB), the University of Chicago will discontinue its partnership with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) this August.

In order to replace student transportation provided by the CTA 170, 171, and 172 routes, the University is in the process of searching for new transportation vendors.

Although specific reasons were not provided at the TSAB meeting, the discontinuation of the partnership is said to be due to financial concerns, according to one student TSAB member.

The TSAB is a student advisory board comprised of three students appointed by SG and three students appointed by the InterHouse Council (IHC). The board meets twice a quarter to discuss issues regarding transportation and security on campus. –Jennifer Standish

New UCMC center opens its doors The Center of Care and Discovery hospital pavilion, which is slated to open in early 2013, is hosting an open house for faculty and staff today from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. A second open house will be open to the community this Saturday, December 8 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Registration is required for tours during both open houses.

The faculty and staff open house features a 45-minute tour with stops on four floors and the seventh floor Sky Lobby, which will be open to the public after opening.

The community open house is geared toward celebrating the space.

Health screenings will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and NBC5 personnel will be in attendance. Several local restaurants and shops will have discounts for guests of the open house that Saturday, adding to the celebratory nature of the event. –Madhu Srikantha

VIEWPOINTS

Editorial & Op-Ed DECEMBER 4, 2012

Sexual assault disciplinary policy needs reform Revamping Dean’s role and increasing transparency would improve and balance disciplinary process

The student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892 JORDAN LARSON Editor-in-Chief SHARAN SHETTY Editor-in-Chief COLIN BRADLEY Managing Editor HARUNOBU CORYNE Senior Editor DOUGLAS EVERSON, JR Senior Editor SAM LEVINE Senior Editor CELIA BEVER News Editor REBECCA GUTERMAN News Editor LINDA QIU News Editor AJAY BATRA Viewpoints Editor DAVID KANER Viewpoints Editor EMILY WANG Viewpoints Editor EMMA BRODER Arts Editor HANNAH GOLD Arts Editor DANIEL RIVERA Arts Editor DANIEL LEWIS Sports Editor VICENTE FERNANDEZ Sports Editor MATTHEW SCHAEFER Sports Editor SONIA DHAWAN Head Designer BELLA WU Head Designer KEVIN WANG Online Editor ALICE BLACKWOOD Head Copy Editor DON HO Head Copy Editor BEN ZIGTERMAN Head Copy Editor JAMIE MANLEY Photo Editor SYDNEY COMBS Photo Editor JOY CRANE Assoc. News Editor MARINA FANG Assoc. News Editor BEN POKROSS Assoc. News Editor MADHU SRIKANTHA Assoc. News Editor JENNIFER STANDISH Assoc. News Editor EMMA THURBER STONE Assoc. Viewpoints Editor ALICE BUCKNELL Assoc. Arts Editor

Over the course of this quarter, the Maroon has published an investigative series on sexual assault at the University of Chicago. The six installments cover the University’s sexual assault policy, the disciplinary process for such incidents, counseling, when victims choose not to report, and the campus climate regarding sexual assault at the University.

A recurring theme throughout the series has been the issue of transparency around University procedures, particularly the disciplinary process and the role Deans of Students have within it. The University should make it a top priority to clarify the sexual assault portions of its disciplinary policy and rethink how sexual assault cases are referred to the disciplinary process.

As the Maroon reported in a November 2 installment (“Part II: Sexual Assault Hearing Process at U of C”), students who choose to begin the sexual assault disciplinary process meet with the Dean of Students of the College, or, in the case of graduate students, of his or her division. After the Dean of Students meets with the accused, the dean has full power to decide if the case will be sent forward through the disciplinary process. As cited in the University’s disciplinary policy, “Based on the inquiry and in con-

sultation with the Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services (or his/her designee), the Dean of Students has the discretion and authority to dismiss the complaint, to resolve the complaint informally with the parties, or to refer the complaint to the Academic Dean with a recommendation to convene an Area Disciplinary Committee.”

As reported in a November 20 installment (“Part IV: Sexual Assaults that Don’t Reach Hearings”), students are always encouraged, upon first contact with a Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call or other Campus Security Authority, to seek disciplinary action in cases of sexual assault.

The exact role of the Dean of Students, however, remains ambiguous, and he or she possesses an inordinate amount of power in being able to decide, at personal discretion, whether a complaint should be dealt with in the disciplinary process. The disciplinary policy also states that “mediation and/or informal resolution are not appropriate, even on a voluntary basis, in matters involving allegations of sexual assault.” This passage, part of the sexual assault section of the disciplinary policy, seems to contradict the previously quoted power of the Dean of Students “to resolve the complaint informally with the par-

ties.” This undermines disciplinary policy, as even an allegation of sexual assault precludes the possibility of mediation. As in one student’s case (“Part IV: Sexual Assaults that Don’t Reach Hearings”), if the incident is determined not to be sexual assault, the case is then opened up for the possibility of mediation.

Though it is not clearly defined in disciplinary policy, mediation most often entails the accused and accuser sitting in the same room discussing the allegation and coming to a resolution between them.

The ambiguity of the definition given for ‘mediation’ and the dean’s ability to decide unilaterally whether cases deserve disciplinary consideration are both flaws that need to be addressed in the University’s disciplinary policy. To resolve the former problem, the policy should explicitly articulate what administrators consider mediation, and precisely when it is allowed. The allowance of mediation should be confined to the few instances in which the disciplinary policy permits it, and never in the case of a sexual assault allegation. For the latter issue, the primary goal should be delegating the decision to more than one person, and preferably to a diverse group of administrators or faculty whose only purpose is to

make such decisions and who can do so more objectively. The default process should not hinge on the Dean of Students’s sole discretion, but could, rather, resemble the already extant option of convening an Area Disciplinary Committee to review the complaint.

The University’s sexual assault policy is by no means a failed one, but both anecdote and analysis have exposed its flaws, many of which are rooted in its fundamental lack of transparency. For example, the University annually releases a Clery Report and Daily Crime Logs in compliance with the Clery Act, as well as a voluntarily compiled Violent Crime Report, all of which include information about incidents of sexual assault. The University could consolidate such statistics and release a comprehensive, go-to report for students to consult. Similar efforts to increase transparency, such as clearly defining mediation and reevaluating the Dean of Student’s role in proceedings, could go a long way toward ensuring a more understandable, accessible, and productive sexual assault disciplinary process.

The Editorial Board consists of the Editors-in-Chief and the Viewpoints Editors.

SARAH LANGS Assoc. Sports Editor JAKE WALERIUS Assoc. Sports Editor JULIA REINITZ Assoc. Photo Editor

A deficit of good ideas

TYRONALD JORDAN Business Manager

Fix the Debt is more concerned with its wealthy donors than building a bright future

VIVIAN HUA Undergraduate Business Executive TAMER BARSBAY Director of Business Research QUERIDA Y. QIU External Director of Marketing IVY ZHANG Internal Director of Marketing VINCENT MCGILL Delivery Coordinator HYEONG-SUN CHO Designer CHELSEA FINE Designer ANDREW GREEN Designer SNEHA KASUGANTI Designer JANEY LEE Designer NICHOLAS ROUSE Designer CATIE ARBONA Copy Editor

By Luke Brinker Viewpoints Columnist

KEN ARMSTRONG Copy Editor AMISHI BAJAJ Copy Editor MARTIA BRADLEY Copy Editor SHANICE CASIMIRO Copy Editor CONNOR CUNNINGHAM Copy Editor LISA FAN Copy Editor ALAN HASSLER Copy Editor SHERRY HE Copy Editor NISHANTH IYENGAR Copy Editor CECILIA JIANG Copy Editor MICHELLE LEE Copy Editor JONAH RABB Copy Editor

Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles want you to know that they’re In It for the Children.

The co-chairmen of President Barack Obama’s 2010 fiscal commission recently launched Fix the Debt, a pressure group seeking deep cuts in federal spending and an overhaul of the nation’s tax code. On the organization’s Web

site, supporters of the campaign invariably link their project to the prosperity of “future generations.”

Without significant cuts now, we will imperil “the strength of our economy, our standard of living, and the prosperity of future generations,” according to former Senator Judd Gregg (R–NH).

Former Senator Sam Nunn (D– GA) calls for a grand, bipartisan bargain in order to “save future generations from an unbearable debt burden.”

Wall Street investor Steve Rattner inveighs against borrow-andspend politicians whose policies “are hurting future generations.”

Mark Bertollini, the chairman, CEO, and president of health insurance behemoth Aetna, urges

leaders to “fix” the nation’s “entitlement programs” (read: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid) in order to “meet the health needs of future generations.”

Tom Quinlan, the president and CEO of the Fortune 500 company R.R. Donnelly & Sons, pleads with politicians to come up with a “sustainable” fiscal policy, for “our country, our children, and future generations deserve no less.”

And so on. Scrolling through Fix the Debt’s Web site, you’d think that a cast of graying establishment politicians, elite investors and hedge funders, and CEOs of corporate giants were the best friends Millennials have. Never mind that they’re trying to sell us a bill of goods, one that includes

less support for an already pitifully weak welfare state, lower tax rates for the wealthy under the guise of “tax reform,” and counterproductive cuts that will likely grow the nation’s deficit.

Let’s first dispel the notion that investors see indebted America as a fiscal train wreck—and that today’s young people should therefore work longer and pay more for their education and health care. It’s difficult to see where the alarmists are coming from. The 10-year yield on U.S. Treasury bonds currently hovers at around 1.6 percent. When Simpson and Bowles warned in November 2010 that we needed to implement drastic cuts in spending lest investors lose faith in America, DEBT continued on page 7

LINDSEY SIMON Copy Editor ESTHER YU Copy Editor

Campus politics, then and now The Chicago Maroon is published twice weekly during autumn, winter, and spring quarters

Alum disagrees with Axelrod, reflects on vibrant political culture of ’70s UChicago

Circulation: 5,500.

The opinions expressed in the Viewpoints section are not necessarily those of the Maroon. © 2012 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

By Dr. Peter Draper Viewpoints Contributor Congratulations to David Axelrod (A.B. ’76), whom the Maroon featured on its front page last week, for the central role he played in President Obama’s reelection. The article was short, but Axelrod might have mentioned what was perhaps the most extraordinary (and, in my view, negative) aspect of the election:

the unprecedented expenditure of billions of dollars by interested parties to influence the outcome of the presidential and congressional races. Such spending, unbridled since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, will further undermine the democratic aspects of our inherently corrupt electoral system, in which candidates and elected officials give at least as much attention to donors as they do to voters, and further

degrade public discussion of issues. Unfortunately, Obama’s campaign said far too little about this.

Another critical issue about which the President and his surrogates said little was global warming.

‘Climate Silence’ was a bitter reality of the 2012 campaign.

Much was said, at least on the Republican side, about ‘Obamacare.’ Perhaps the main factor in its unpopularity (beyond its maligning by right-wing propagan-

dists), and one which did much to propel Republicans in the 2010 midterm elections (as Mr. Axelrod mentioned), is the requirement that uninsured Americans purchase private health insurance. An alternative to this mandate was the then-popular “public option.” It was abandoned by Obama, Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel, and others as they struggled to salvage the Affordable Care Act, POLITICS continued on page 8

THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | December 4, 2012

7

‘Dialogue’ stands in way of justice in Palestine Like civil rights and anti-apartheid activists before them, Palestine’s advocates must choose action over so-called moderation

By Samee Sulaiman and Sami Kishawi Viewpoints Contributors At one point in history, there was debate over the morality of slavery. At another, it was considered legitimate to discuss whether or not apartheid was an acceptable institution. And not long ago, segregation in the United States was considered reasonable. In each of these situations, there were those who peddled themselves as voices of reason in a tense discourse, who saw legitimacy in “both sides,” and who were thoughtful enough to take the middle ground. Stephen Lurie, who in his latest Viewpoints contribution (“A More Just Dialogue”) calls on pro-Palestine activists to dialogue with their pro-Israel counterparts, represents a historical archetype that stands in the way of any movement for justice.

In response to a statement condemning Israel’s recent assault on Gaza writ-

ten by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and endorsed by other RSOs and SJP chapters across the city, Lurie presents what is supposed to be the enlightened and responsible position of promoting dialogue between two squabbling foes.

Lurie brands SJP’s activity as a “counterproductive” radicalization of the greater Palestine-Israel issue, and urges the group to converse and sympathize with those who condone Israel’s discriminatory policies toward Palestinians. But this dialogue—this moderation and compromise, this conversation over coffee— actually inhibits the advancement of justice. Conversation with those who cannot see the occupation as an oppressive system inevitably occurs under their terms. Meaningful changes in history have only ever come from the voices of the discursive edge, while ‘dialogue’ only succeeds in restraining legitimate critique of oppressive structures like

the Israeli occupation.

Lurie’s idea of “justice in dialogue” asks us to pretend that we are operating on a level playing field with equal blame to share. But we are not dealing with a twosided war, a cultural clash, or a religious conflict. We are dealing exclusively with an oppressor—the occupier—and the oppressed—the occupied. Palestinians are routinely physically and sexually harassed at Israeli military checkpoints, activists and children are frequently imprisoned without trial or charge (nearly half of the male population of Palestine has been imprisoned), and Israel continues to displace Palestinian families to make room for settlements in the West Bank. Though both sides undoubtedly suffer from Israel’s decades-old occupation, Palestinians endure an exponentially greater loss of life, limb, infrastructure, and mental stability. There are no “two sides.”

Dialogue would only serve to sanitize the oppressive

nature of the occupation.

Instead, we seek to build the growing movement of people that will bring an end to the occupation, that will help restore human and civil rights to the Palestinian people, and that will make sure we are never left wondering how we allowed such a violation of human dignity and autonomy to continue under our noses. Any other strategy will dilute the action needed to see real peace and justice.

Furthermore, Lurie’s concern that SJP’s presentation of the conflict is an unfair and skewed “rail” is as problematic as his call for dialogue. One specific issue he cites in the SJP op-ed is the absence of the word ‘Hamas,’ as if Israel’s human rights abuses and international law violations are dictated

by Hamas. Although Lurie stresses the importance of context, he fails to contextualize the most recent war on Gaza within the wider history of the occupation.

Lurie also criticizes SJP

for not recognizing the alleged existential threat posed to Israelis. By this, we assume he is referring to the demographic threat posed by the existence of free Palestinians. But the reality is that Israel has the arms to threaten Palestinian life en masse—it does so regularly—and the military capacity for mass murder, as it has shown most recently in the last two invasions of Gaza.

On the other hand, indigenous Palestinians do not have an army or any advanced weaponry, and the rockets that Lurie implicitly alludes to pose a mere fraction of the risk posed

by Israel’s almost nightly air raids over Gaza. So it is not that SJP refuses to recognize Israeli concerns; it is that, all things considered, Israeli occupation and apartheid pose an existential threat to Palestinians.

And the more unaware our community and student body is of this very real development, the greater this existential threat becomes.

In shedding light on the power dynamics that fuel a globally condemned occupation and in demanding a restoration of Palestinian human rights, SJP does not radicalize the discourse.

‘Dialoguing,’ conceding Palestinian rights, and normalizing oppression does.

Segregation did not end because of dialogue. Apartheid did not end because of criticism that was gentle on the consciences of those who benefited from it. Words were not used to make the supporters of these systems feel comfortable with the status quo.

Words were used to shame them, and to provoke the action that was needed to break down oppressive structures. This remains our greatest tactic.

Samee Sulaiman is a graduate student in Middle Eastern studies and Sami Kishawi is a fourth-year in the College. Both are members of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Israel has right to defend itself from extremism Hamas, driven by an aggressive ideology, threatens Israel with rocket attacks and places innocent Palestinians in danger

By Benjamin Dauber, Jonathan Gutman, Benjamin Hammer, and Eric Wessan Viewpoints Contributors Why was there armed conflict recently between Gaza and Israel? Hamas, the ruling organization in the Gaza Strip, argues that its violent actions stem from resistance to the Israeli occupation.

What Israeli occupation?

In 2005, Israel renounced any claim to the Gaza Strip, giving the Palestinians complete control over the area in the hope of advancing prospects for peace. Israel gave the land and got no peace: It has seen more than 9,000 rockets and mortars fired at

its population centers since that disengagement.

These rockets are fired not because of a blockade or an Israeli occupation but because of a radical, hateful, and genocidal ideology. As classified by the U.S., Japan, Israel, Canada, and the European Union, Hamas is a terrorist organization. The charter of Hamas explicitly calls for the absolute annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people. It is this aspiration to genocide that has caused so much conflict between Gaza and Israel. It is also why Hamas will never accept a peace accord with Israel, no matter how much land is given to them.

The events leading up to the recent round of violence between Israel and Gaza follow a pattern that has been seen quite frequently since Israel renounced any claim to the Gaza Strip. Israel withstands rocket attacks in southern Israel from Gaza for as long as possible, certainly longer than any other nation would or could.

Eventually, Hamas escalates the attacks and Israel is forced to defend itself.

However, the recent violence is different in that Israeli citizens living in southern Israel are now not the only ones who must live in constant fear. Hamas has smuggled in from Iran new

rocketry, such as the Fajr 5, that can reach Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Take a moment to imagine what it would be like to live in Israel. You would spend your life constantly anticipating those warning sirens, convinced a rocket is on its way every time you hear an ambulance. You would have only 15 seconds after hearing the sirens to take cover and seek out a bomb shelter. This is an everyday reality that Israelis must face.

Israel not only has the right to defend its citizens from these rockets; it has an obligation to do so.

Furthermore, even when forced to act, Israel does

everything in its power to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians. In the words of Colonel Richard Kemp, the former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, Israel does “more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.” This draws a sharp contrast to Hamas, which breaks international law by placing its launching pads and weapons depots near civilian populations in order to deter Israeli strikes.

Very often they succeed, and Israel is forced to call off a strike due to the target’s proximity to civilians.

When Israel is not deterred,

any harm done to innocent Palestinians ultimately still benefits Hamas by fueling its anti-Israeli propaganda machine.

Hamas desires death more than life, the destruction of Israel more than the creation of a Palestine. To have any chance at peace, Hamas must change its hateful ideology or be overthrown. In the interim, Israel has the right to defend itself from rocket attacks, and we at the University of Chicago must support its ability to do so.

Benjamin Dauber, Jonathan Gutman, Benjamin Hammer, and Eric Wessan are students in the College.

Simpson and Bowles’s proposals would help the rich at the expense of the poor and middle class DEBT continued from page 6 the rate was about 3.5 percent. In September 2008, at the dawn of the financial crisis, the rate was 3.7 percent.

Investors have grown more confident, not less, in the nation’s ability to pay its bills.

Perhaps there’s no demand for deficit reduction now. But as they negotiate to avert the “fiscal cliff ” this January, wouldn’t President Obama and Congress be well-advised to provide markets with some certainty via a grand bargain of spending cuts and revenue increases?

Not if such a deal resembles anything along the lines of Simpson and Bowles’s 2010 proposal. These self-appoint-

ed guardians of future generations called for further increases in the retirement age, asserting that longer life expectancies would strain Social Security and Medicare.

The problem, as economist Paul Krugman points out, is that life expectancy has risen for the affluent but generally stalled among members of the working class, who most rely on those programs.

The Simpson-Bowles commission’s pie-in-the-sky tax plan includes lower rates for the wealthy and for corporations. How, precisely, does one square this with the goal of deficit reduction? The commission called for the elimination of loop-

holes and subsidies in the tax code—some of which, like the mortgage interest deduction, are indeed skewed toward the wealthy. There are two problems with this, however, one pragmatic, the other moral.

It’s wildly unrealistic to expect to make up for lower tax rates by eliminating loopholes. Behind each of those loopholes is a lobbyist—and a constituency. Call me a cynic. But I have a hard time seeing a majority of congressmen giving the finger to the National Association of Realtors and all their affluent mortgage-holding constituents—who turn out to the polls much more often than

do the poor.

What’s most troubling about Simpson-Bowles, however, is the pernicious discourse in which it operates. Some wealthy citizens would pay more under their proposal, but the principle of lowering corporate and individual tax rates on the affluent is antithetical to the notion of an egalitarian society.

If the nation wishes to live up to its ethos of equality, then both the wealthy and the middle class will need to pay more in taxes. And since a complete revamp of the tax code isn’t going to happen, that’s going to require higher rates. It also demands that policymakers redress the

stupidity of a Social Security system in which only the first $106,000 of income is subject to payroll tax. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard fellow Millennials say they doubt Social Security will be around for them. But extending the cap to income over $250,000 would guarantee the program’s solvency until I’m 99.

Simpson and Bowles may present themselves as saviors of Americans born and unborn, old and young, but their policy proposals represent the preferences of the rarified Beltway and corporate elite to which they and their supporters belong.

Bowles earned $335,000 in

2009 as a board member of banking firm Morgan Stanley. As economist Dean Baker asked, is it any wonder that Bowles never proposed a tax on financial speculation?

But that plum position may not have been quite as lucrative as Simpson and Bowles’s Fix the Debt gig. In an otherwise laudatory profile, The New York Times revealed last week that the two men often receive $40,000 each for their appearances on behalf of the group.

Just remember, though: It’s all about the kids.

Luke Brinker is a graduate student in the MAPSS program.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | December 4, 2012

Hard to stomach Problems with health-care services at UChicago reflect broader national issues

By Anastasia Golovashkina Viewpoints Columnist During last week’s SG meeting, University administrators finally revealed where undergraduates’ $331 per quarter (that’s $993 per year, or $3,972 for four years) Student Life Fee goes. $13.24, or about four percent, goes towards supporting campus-wide activities. $82.75, or about 1/4, is redistributed to “student activities” by ORCSA (this section also goes toward smaller fees, like the one that funds the Dean-on-Call program). Both these fees seem reasonable—our campus and student activities are, by and large, fantastic, and the need for their primary users to support them financially makes perfect sense.

It’s the remaining 70 percent that goes toward “health and wellness”—a questionable category that administrators insisted at the meeting gets us access to “a lot” of services, including “physicals, acute and chronic care, flu vaccines, Pap smears, travel consultations, counseling, and workshops”—that students have a problem with.

First, there’s the cost. Even if we subtract the 30 percent of non–health-related expenses from the entire student life fee, we’re still left with a hefty $231.70 quarterly payment ($695.10 per year).

This amount is higher than any other fee that undergraduates pay, save for the required, one-time first-year fee or that for late registration (and tuition, as we are all painfully aware).

Moreover, there are the incessant inconveniences. As of now, Health Services allows absolutely no walk-ins. Though appointment hours are limited to 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on Fridays, we do

have an urgent care clinic to tend to students who take ill during off-hours.

Or, it would, except that our “Urgent” Care Clinic’s hours are practically painful—8–11 a.m. on Saturdays—and are, almost nonsensically, appointment-based. How, pray tell, did anyone decide to call that nonsense “urgent?”

A number of questions were raised at the recent SG meeting. “Can you book an appointment at any time?” No. “Is there a way to allow walk-ins?” No. “Is there a way to do this online to make it more efficient?” Maybe. “But, it would involve a lot of work. It is important to talk to students first thing in the morning so we can determine how ill [they are].” Because, you know, it’s impossible to get sick after 11 a.m. on a Saturday. Imagine getting gastrointestinal distress at noon on a Saturday. Ha! But fret not: “Later this year” they’ll start staying open on Saturdays until noon. Maybe even till 1 p.m.!

Do you think you can hold that stomach issue for a couple of months? (It would also be nice if you could remember to make an appointment by phone before it happens.)

Then there’s the fact that, for countless students, these services haven’t been helpful in the slightest. No diagnosis, no help, and no referral to someone who could diagnose or help. This is a particularly alarming reality given the number of health-related frustrations that have recently surfaced across campus, such as the norovirus outbreak and the prospect that students could be getting sick at our vermin-infested dining halls.

Let me clarify: The problem, I think, is not the existence of the Student Life Fee. Nor is it that all students are required to have health insurance. Though only about 55 to 70 percent of students use on-campus health services, no one knows whether or not they’ll ultimately fall into that group. It’s important for everyone to be insured against the unexpected bug, bleed, or fall.

But it’s even more important for that protection mechanism to function, and to function well. It’s evident, however, that the services we’re being provided with are inadequate for our needs.

I posit that this problem isn’t unique to our

IOP should work on present-day challenges POLITICS continued from page 6 after having squandered their momentum in 2009–10 looking for 60 votes in the Senate that they later concluded they didn’t need after all. But now that the watered-down ACA is the acknowledged law of the land, let us hope that it can be made to work towards its stated and laudable goals of making health care available and affordable for most, if not all, Americans.

As a University of Chicago alumnus who graduated from the College one year before Axelrod, I was surprised to read that he thought that political opportunities weren’t available to our generation of U of C students. I recall protesting against the war in Vietnam, which finally ended in the spring of 1975, just before my graduation. I remember listening to prominent anti-war intellectual Staughton Lynd speaking to us outside Cobb Hall, urging us not only to read Aristotle’s Politics, but also to continue our active involvement in current politics.

I recollect organizing student support for striking University tradespeople and maintenance workers. On the electoral front, I remember working on the Fifth Ward aldermanic campaign of progressive activist Al Raby and on the ill-fated but worthwhile presidential campaign of the late George McGovern, as well as fighting against the corruption and brutality of Richard J. Daley’s mayoral administration.

And I recall September 11, 1973, when the Salvador Allende government in Chile was violently overthrown with U.S. support and overhearing an argument about this on campus involving a student who was the son of the U.S. ambassador to that country.

(Years later we learned that famed University economist Milton Friedman was involved in helping the bloody military regime which replaced the elected Allende.) I also recollect, during the Watergate scandal, listening to Friedman speak at our dorm, when he said that he saw no reason to believe that there had been wrongdoing by thenPresident Nixon. Certainly, there were not only political opportunities but political imperatives for those of us who were college students back then, and there were plenty of people at the University who wanted to talk about events which occurred “after the year 1800,” in contrast to Axelrod’s quip.

I wish Axelrod well on the ‘Institute of Politics.’ I hope that it will go beyond electoral politics, and that it will not further Chicago’s reputation as “the Windy City” (a nickname owed to its politicians, not its weather). Rather, I hope the Institute will play an active and significant role in grasping the critical tasks of our time: building true democracy and fostering economic prosperity with fairness, combating the impending environmental catastrophe, reducing the bloated U.S. military budget and promoting peace in the Middle East and elsewhere, and redirecting our resources toward housing, health care, education, and other human needs, including, in many parts of the world, basic necessities such as food and clean water. These are the daunting but unavoidable challenges that face us all, as members of a community that is not only national, but international.

Dr. Peter Draper is a graduate of the College in the Class of 1975.

BENJAMIN LANGE

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THE CHICAGO MAROON

university. Rather, our experience is but a smaller, less severe symptom of a greater national problem.

Let’s backtrack a little. First, those costs: To refer to some peer institutions, Brown’s yearly health services fee is $672 ($336 per semester)— not so different from ours, were it not for the fact that their health services are open all week long, for longer hours, and offer more diverse services.

Stanford’s is $537 ($179 per quarter), for which students may make and cancel appointments online and schedule weekend appointments between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Plus, you know, Brown and Stanford’s dining halls don’t pose potentially critical health risks.

In other words, it’s clear that there are ways to make a similar (even lesser) amount of funding go towards far better services. But our University fees are nothing compared to the rates patients across the United States continue to pay in comparison to our first-world peers—costs that, despite being more than twice as high as any other developed country’s, still leave us with the 51st–highest life expectancy in the world, behind the likes of Bos-

nia and Herzegovina (#45), Jordan (#29), and Israel (#18), and dead last among wealthy nations.

Second, there are those inconveniences I mentioned earlier, which Health Services attributes to an understaffing problem that parallels our country’s shortage of doctors. In terms of doctors per capita, we are ranked at an even more dismal 52nd, behind our good friends Jordan (#51), Egypt (#39), and Israel (#20).

But aside from the issues of cost and inaccessibility, there is the greater issue of incompetence. Our “services” aren’t actually serving anyone. On both a national and campus level, it’s clear that the state of health services needs critical examination. But University administrators must recognize that although their problems are not unique, they have both the means and the responsibility to provide the quality of care their students desperately need.

Anastasia Golovashkina is a secondyear in the College majoring in economics.

Letter: Transloc responds A November 15 editorial entitled “Bump in the NightRide” shared some interesting and provocative feedback about TransLoc’s transit visualization service (uchicago.transloc.com).

We were very pleased to read that the Maroon Editorial Board finds the TransLoc site and mobile apps “indispensable.” Our purpose is to make mass transit an easy option for riders, in large part by reducing the uncertainty described in the editorial. We were less pleased to read that the Editorial Board finds the TransLoc site and apps “frequently unreliable” and would like to take a moment to explain why service at the U of C may at times be problematic.

One thing that makes TransLoc unique is our willingness to utilize existing equipment that a customer already owns. Such is the case at UChicago: The location data coming from some of the vehicles is provided by another vendor of tracking hardware. As a result, there are times the data feed experiences interruptions, causing inaccurate informa-

tion to appear on TransLoc’s site and apps.

We sincerely apologize for these instances, and are working with the CTA and the thirdparty hardware provider to do everything we can to minimize their occurrences.

We take quality, reliability and customer service very seriously, and we welcome feedback from our riders. We are always available and listening on Twitter (@Transloc) and at support@transloc.com. Please let us know if the TransLoc site or apps ever display incorrect or untimely information so that we may continue to improve the service.

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ARTS Movies The Underdog: The Cabin in the Woods (Drew Goddard) Forget The Avengers. If we’re going to assign a singular achievement to Joss Whedon, who’s been having one hell of a year, then it’s going to be 2012’s instant cult classic, The Cabin in the Woods, which he co-wrote with first-time director Drew Goddard. Part meta-horror, part sci-fi free-for-all, The Cabin in the Woods stands as one of the year’s smartest, most indulgent offerings, made only sweeter by the fact that basically no one saw it. Pick it up from Redbox with zero expectations: The less you know going in, the better. You’re welcome.

Runner-up: ParaNorman (Chris Butler, Sam Fell) The Chronovisor: Sound of My Voice (Zal Batmanglij) From the same people behind last year’s stunning Another Earth, Sound of my Voice is one of the year’s brightest achievements: an incredibly tense, understated psychological thriller that operates almost entirely within a claustrophobic white basement. No CGI, no big name actors, no multi-million dollar budget.

Somewhere in the suburbs of LA, a cult’s gaining traction around a woman who claims she’s from the future. Two documentary filmmakers manage to join, intending to expose the cult’s leader as the fraud they know her to be. Or do they?

Runner-up: Looper (Rian Johnson) The Auteur: The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson) 2012 seemed promising at the start if only for the unprecedented number of movies slated for release by acclaimed directors: After all, there was Wes Anderson and Paul Thomas Anderson, David Cronenberg and Steven Soderbergh, Kathryn Bigelow and Steven Spielberg. And yet, so far, it’s largely been a series of good movies trying to, for lack of a better turn of phrase, out-good themselves.

Trivial Pursuits DECEMBER 4, 2012

TOP FIVE OF 2012 Such was the case with Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, which felt strangely self-aggrandizing and yet inexplicably too Paul Thomas Anderson-y.

Nonetheless, it boasted a number of Oscar-worthy performances and a flawless first scene.

Runner-up: Moonrise Kingdom (Wes Anderson) The Heartbreaker: Beasts of the Southern Wild (Benh Zeitlin) Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) is a six-year-old living with her father in a flooded bayou community called the Bathtub. A giant storm is coming, and the government, safely tucked away on dry land past the levies that form the Bathtub’s border, wants Hushpuppy and her community to move inland.

They refuse. Such is the basis of Beast’s simple, fantastical premise; from there, it’s layered with lush Louisiana wildlife, giant monsters called Aurochs, and Wallis’s unforgettable debut performance. My money is on her becoming the youngest Oscar nominee in the ceremony’s history.

Runner-up: Celeste & Jesse Forever (Lee Toland Krieger)

COURTESY OF DIYAH PERA

The Joker: Pitch Perfect (Jason Moore) And just when you thought the whole high school singing shtick was over, too. However, leave all your preconceived Glee notions at the door: Pitch Perfect, based on the novel of the same name, trades high school for college, and underdeveloped token minority characters for genuine laughs. Oscar-nominated Anna Kendrick leads a great cast, but the real scene-stealer is Rebel Wilson, who continues to be the best thing to come out of Australia since Vegemite (if Vegemite was really, really good).

Runner-up: 21 Jump Street (Phil Lord, Chris Miller) —Daniel Rivera

COURTESY OF JESS PINKHAM

Albums Crystal Castles, (III) Canadian duo Alice Glass and Ethan Kath are back for a third round of catchy low-res electronica—a bleak, melancholy record that may be their best yet.

It’s a departure from their first and second albums— gone are the Namco samples of “Alice Practice” and gravel gnawing of “I am Made of Chalk;” so, too, is the duo’s formerly equal distribution between anger and violence, which (III) replaces with grave danger and depression. Back, however, are Kath’s staggered synths, Glass’s gracefully somber vocals, and the enjoyably uncanny catchiness of it all that made it so unforgettable.

Tracks to start with: “Affection,” “Kerosene,” “Sad Eyes.”

COURTESY OF MOM+POP RECORDS

COURTESY OF ARBUTUS RECORDS/4AD

Taylor Swift, Red Though her previous releases imparted a Twilightof-music kind of feel, Swift’s latest release is shockingly diverse and…enjoyable. (No, really.) Red is a collection of good to great pop songs with country and dubstep (!) influences, tied up with the big bow that is Swift’s consistently terrible love life. “I Knew You Were Trouble” has a great chorus. “All Too Well” has great lyrics. “Treacherous” is a song about sex—and oh-em-gee y’all, Swift’s only 22. In a word, Red is for Taylor what Good Girl Gone Bad was for Rihanna—a huge, dare we say “treacherous,” step forward.

Tracks to start with: “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “Red.” Frank Ocean, channel ORANGE Frank Ocean’s 55-minute, 17-track serenade tackles love, sex, drugs, money, and religion in a fearless yet vulnerable way, in a thought-provoking yet relatable manner. Its enigmatic qualities make the album very different from other contemporary R&B, including this year’s releases as a whole. “Not Just Money”—

an interlude that tells us, “It’s not just money, it’s happiness”—is followed by none other than “Super Rich Kids,” a track that yearns for a candor above cash. “Bad Religion” sees Ocean pour his heart out to a taxi driver—“It’s a bad religion,” he sings, “To be in love with someone who could never love you.”

Tracks to start with: listen to it in its entirety, in order. It’s that kind of album.

Grimes, Visions Visions, the third studio album by Grimes (pseudonym of Claire Boucher), finally finds a happy medium between inaccessible experimental music and catchy pop. Recorded in just three weeks in Boucher’s apartment using the software GarageBand, it also happens to be the first album that the babyvoiced singer isn’t releasing on cassette tape/free download. Mixing lo-fi, electronica, dream pop, and “grave wave” with Boucher’s uniquely soft, slightlylisped voice, Visions delivers a combination that, though definitely unprecedented, is remarkably enjoyable. Try listening to the songs a couple of times and then looking up the lyrics—they’re brief, poignant, and very good.

Tracks to start with: “Oblivion,” “Be a Body.”

Sleigh Bells, Reign of Terror Remember Sleigh Bells’s fantastic show at Mandel Hall last month? Their 2012 release Reign of Terror is kind of like that—loud, dynamic, and unapologetic, with the added bonus of instantaneous availability.

Though it brings the same noise-pop punch as the duo’s first album, Treats, Terror adds the possibly more important quality of emotional presence and vulnerability. In Treats, lyrics were practically vocal placeholders; in Reign of Terror, they matter.

Tracks to start with: “Demons,” “Born to Lose.”

—Anastasia Golovashkina

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | December 4, 2012

VISUAL ARTS HEADACHES Call Me Dada?

This past summer, in Borjas, Spain, 80-year-old Celia Giménez took it upon herself to restore a 1930s fresco by Elías García, which belongs to the local Misericordia church. The fresco, titled “Ecce Homo” (“Behold The Man”), was a typical religious rendering of Christ’s face. As a result of Giménez’s efforts, however, the subject now looks like a man-owl hybrid drawn hastily with Crayolas. Once the botched job became an internet sensation this past summer, tourists started paying to see “beast Jesus” in the flesh—apocalyptic airline Ryanair even arranged special flights to Zaragoza airport to facilitate this holy art pilgrimage. The travesty prompted art snobs everywhere to give the piece a series of facetious names, including “Ecce Mono” (“Behold the Monkey”), because, you know, it’s poorly done.

However, if you’re cool with Ai Weiwei painting over Neolithic vases in pretty pastels, I don’t see why this self-appointed art restorer can’t give Jesus an impressionistic neck-beard.

Teetering On The Precipice of Moroseness This chick named Angela once said of her photography, “It’s really just teetering on the precipice of moroseness,” and that’s probably also how extremely generous critics would describe the show she said it on—Bravo TV’s Gallery Girls, which premiered this past August. This is the story of seven girls who are hired by a “brand-new” gallery in Manhattan called End of Century (a real gallery, which opened years ago). While there, they do super artsy things like live in Williamsburg, despise each other, and not show up for work. All this whilst turning out quotable gold, for example, Angela’s, “Like, don’t get béchamel sauce all over my clothes.” Watching these girls watch their iPhones for an hour is kind of like watching the same spot on a blank gallery wall for an hour.

Monet, Monet, Monet Picasso, Monet, Gaugin, and Matisse walk into a bar. The bartender asks what they’ll be having, and the crazy Dutch art thieves who just stole a shit-ton of priceless paintings order their celebratory drinks. The Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam experienced a heavy lift this past October when several pieces from its 20th anniversary exhibit, including Claude

Monet’s “Waterloo Bridge, London” (1901) and Pablo Picasso’s “Harlequin Head” (1971), were taken in the middle of the night.

The gallery’s security was state of the art and completely automated (I’m thinking complex matrix of laser beam trip wires?). It’s difficult to know exactly what the thieves were after—the paintings can be sold on the black market, but only at a greatly depreciated price.

A Tale Of Two Christie’s Ever looked at a price tag and had to stifle a piercing scream?

Apparently some super rich person didn’t. A pastel version of Edvard Munch’s expressionist painting “The Scream” (first painted in 1893) was sold through Sotheby’s for nearly $120 million in May, making it the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction. The painting is the iconic image of a hairless human figure standing on a bridge in front of a rippling sky, clutching at its face in agony, or, as experts in the field of visual arts refer to it, “the face that launched 1,000 therapists.” Days later, Sotheby’s biggest auction house competitor, Christie’s, struck back with their own record-breaking sale of Rothko’s “Orange Red Yellow” (1961), which fetched a cool $87 million, making it the most expensive post-war work to be sold in an auction.

It’s My Marnie, And She’ll Cry If She Wants To The verdict is in—no character on HBO’s Girls has been more antagonizing than Marnie. Juli Wiener of Vanity Fair called her, “a gallerina with overbearing mothering tendencies,” and not without reason. Just like Charlotte in the hit HBO series that came before her, Marnie is an assistant at an incredibly clean art gallery in New York. Also like her Sex and the City predecessor, she is gorgeous and confident on the outside, yet toxically insecure and neurotic within. When we first meet Marnie she is a fairly sympathetic character—a recent college graduate still dating her college boyfriend, Charlie. After a few bouts of hilariously awful sex, the two break up and Marnie spends the rest of the season wrapped up in her bitterness and destructive, perfectionist drives. Here’s hoping that Season Two helps smooth over Marnie’s uppity Chelsea girl reputation.

—Hannah Gold

TV SHOWS Game of Thrones This year, Game of Thrones returned for its second season on HBO, and proved itself as one of the best shows on TV. The first season faced the daunting task of condensing 700 pages of novel into 10 hours of television, and the second season is able to build on this foundation. The show features a strong cast that includes Emmy-winner Peter Dinklage as the shrewd Tyrion Lannister. Thrones presents many morally ambiguous characters, all of whom build the suspense of the series, and make it one of TV’s best dramas. All in all, this show is a captivating medieval fantasy that also tests human nature—it’s a game not to be missed.

Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation is back and better than ever for its fifth season on NBC. Amy Poehler stars and carries the comedy show as Leslie Knope, a public official in the parks department of a fictional town in Indiana.

While Parks was initially criticized for its similarity to The Office, it has distinguished itself through its characterization of the town of Pawnee. The show uses a mockumentary filming style, making it relatable and downto-earth. The cast of supporting characters is both intelligent and surprisingly real, and captures the self-deprecating nature of a small town. Parks sets itself apart with its sense of optimism, because while the characters often make fun of Pawnee, it is their home, and that’s where the show’s heart is.

Breaking Bad Breaking Bad tells the story of high school chemistry teacher Walter White, who, upon discovering he has lung cancer, begins producing crystal meth with a former student. White, played by Bryan Cranston, embodies the role of an antihero completely, as he struggles to hold onto his identity while making questionable

moral choices. As the show progresses through its fifth season, White continues his downward spiral, and can now be classified as a villain. The supporting actors of the show keep it from completely degenerating morally; Aaron Paul is especially notable for giving the drug dealer stereotype another dimension.

Breaking Bad questions traditional moral standards, and maintains its iron hold on viewers even as the characters become more and more corrupt.

The Voice This NBC show is a singing competition reminiscent of American Idol, except for one thing: opening auditions are blind so that contestants are judged on singing talent alone. In an industry where aesthetics are everything, The Voice introduces the novel idea that it is possible to judge on talent alone, and forget about appearances. Judges Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, and Christina Aguilera, all seasoned artists, bring different views to the show, and their interactions keep the audience laughing.

The Voice is a fresh take on a genre of TV show that was quickly becoming tired and predictable.

New Girl Zooey Deschanel stars as quirky elementary school teacher “Jess” Day, who suffers a bad breakup and moves into an apartment with three men. The show finds humor in real-world problems and the transition from mid-20s to true adulthood.

Supporting actors Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, and Hannah Simone move into the spotlight in the second season, which only makes the show more hilarious in its satirical presentation of late-20s life.

New Girl brings us relatable stories with a quirky spin, and just keeps getting better.

—Tatiana Fields

TO

OP

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | December 4, 2012

FICTION “Cold Pastoral,” Marina Keegan Marina Keegan, the young writer who tragically died days after her graduation from Yale University last spring, isn’t even the saddest part of this story. Previously unpublished until The New Yorker posted it online this past October, “Cold Pastoral” is a short story told from the perspective of a girl whose sorta-hookup has just died. She tries to navigate her way among numbness, grief, and the emotions that come with being someone’s not-really girlfriend, as well as having awkward encounters with his parents and ex-girlfriend (with whom he was still in love). In addition to a harrowing plot, Keegan uncannily captures the limbo of those notquite relationships we’re all familiar with: “I think we took a certain pride in our ambiguity. As if the tribulations of it all were somehow beneath us. Secretly, of course, the pauses in our correspondence were as calculated as our casualness—and we’d wait for those drunken moments when we might admit a ‘hey,’ pause, ‘I like you.’”

NW, Zadie Smith Though NW, Zadie Smith’s much-awaited fourth novel, received mixed reviews, it still crept its way into the few best-of lists that have already come out (like The New York Times’s “Top 10 Books of the Year”). This is due, I think, to the fact that it is not at all like her much-touted debut novel White Teeth, which was published when she was 25—and this is both a good and bad thing.

NW starts slowly. Split into five sections, each roughly following a different character, time period, or using a different style, the novel opens with a chance interaction between Leah and another woman in Willesden, a northwest neighborhood of London. The random interaction leads to paranoia, death, and a dramatic scene outside a drug store. From here we get mercurial leaps and bounds from one Londoner to another, regardless of their connections. Even though NW didn’t quite come together, it was engaging and promising enough that you couldn’t mind that it was less than perfect. In the end, I don’t know what’s more surprising, the uncanny ending or the fact that a novel of NW’s caliber doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page yet.

“Permission to Enter,” Zadie Smith This pick may or may not be an excuse to talk about Zadie Smith some more. Published in the July 30 edition of The New Yorker,

“Permission to Enter” is actually a snippet from NW. With part of the story structured as the responses of two girls (Leah and Natalie) to unknown questions, the story shows their divergent paths as they grow up and out of their London school. Easily the strongest and most engaging part of NW, this section makes us care about Leah’s numb life, Natalie’s strange psychology, and how these characters can all relate to one another in a meaningful way.

How Should a Person Be?, Sheila Heti Canadian writer Sheila Heti’s novel is a spin on recent events in Heti’s life—her divorce, friendship with the painter Margaux Williamson, and eventual writing of the book itself. Aside from the fact that it’s almost an entirely autobiographical novel, HSAPB is notable because of its focus on the ugly, obsessive, and embarrassing parts of Heti’s life. The underlying current isn’t so different from that of HBO’s Girls. Take out the parental dependence, add in a failed marriage, keep the e-mails and awkward sex. What was so interesting was that this same woman—who writes about getting fired from a beauty salon and drinking for eight hours straight—is also the author of four books, and has written for n+1, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

And these intense differences between personal and professional life aren’t irreconcilable, paradoxical, or abnormal—they’re just not talked about, or, really, separate at all.

Three Strong Women, Marie NDiaye Before you even learn that much about the book itself, you know it has a lot going for it. Three Strong Women earned its French-Senegalese author Marie NDiaye the prestigious Prix Goncourt—the first time it’s ever been won by a black woman.

NDiaye also co-wrote the screenplay for Claire Denis’s 2009 White Material, which won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. As if her credentials weren’t enough, there’s the allure of the book itself. Despite its title, Three Strong Women avoids the pitfalls of didacticism and sentimentality. The women portrayed in the novel’s three sections are rooted in specificity and a sense of reality so that their stories evade bland, inconclusive and pointless sadness.

—Jordan Larson

FASHION: BEST & WORST Best: Androgynous fashion Dude looks like a lady (and lady looks like a dude). My favorite styles of 2012 have been those that get creative with gendered fashion, rendering womenswear and menswear less than mutually exclusive. Such common pieces as button-downs, tailored jackets, and cuffed trousers blur the line between “masculine” and “feminine” fashion, and bolder choices—dresslike tunics for men, pants suits with pixie cuts for women—further challenge the stereotypes of dressing. Some new styles even ignore gender altogether—I’m thinking of the more shapeless jumpsuits that rely on exciting prints rather than body-shaping silhouettes. 2013 just might be the year of the unisex onesie.

Worst: Cheekies My disdain for cheeky shorts can be traced to one moment. The setting was Lollapalooza 2012. As I waited in line to have my water bottle filled, I suddenly became aware of an uncomfortable presence. Glancing from one sweaty concert-goer to another, my vision was clouded by something wholly unwelcome: butts. Butts everywhere. Not fully exposed butts, which almost would have been better; just glimpses. The cheeky short—antithesis of modesty, architect of the half-rump (insert shudder here)—had invaded. Even now, removed from the scorching heat of that day, I cannot for the life of me understand the concept behind cheekies. Are they pants? Denim underwear?

Amped-up short shorts? Was it really so hot outside that you needed to sacrifice those last several inches of material? Ladies, you might have the most rocking donk the world has ever seen, but I don’t want to see it peeking out from beneath the hems of a glorified belt. I can only hope that the life of the cheeky is as short as its inseam.

Best: Asymmetry From one-shouldered dresses to mullet hemlines to bold cutouts, fashion took a turn this year for the asymmetrical. Hairstyles went lopsided as the half-shaved, half-long look

bloomed on heads everywhere, and so did prints (bold colorblocking and abstract designs abounded). The looks themselves might have been off-kilter, but the styles were perfectly balanced.

Worst: Animal hats Apologies to the animal hat community, which has a strong presence here at UChicago, but I can’t get behind this one. I think it’s great that you’re comfortable enough to slap a wolf on your head. But I have to ask—why? I once tried to have a serious conversation with a creaturecapped individual while working on a group project, and I’m pretty sure I made more eye contact with the fox than the human. I’m not suggesting that you toss out your bear bonnets altogether, because they’re really great, in a way, but give a bit of thought to context before you take the furry plunge.

Best: Anything unique enough to garner a double-take Though fashion often centers around trends, concerning itself with fitting in rather than standing out, I think that style in 2012 was best served weird. That is, the most “fashionable” looks I’ve seen this year have been the strangest, the most resistant to norms, and therefore the most memorable. A girl wearing a pink bun the size of a softball, for example. Or a man in a crisp, tailored suit, paired with running shoes. Or an old woman donning all black, with a shock of blue lipstick. The best looks of the year were the ones that stuck out and changed my own perception of style. Unique was always a good thing.

—Anna Hill INSIDE THE

5: PHOTO COURTESY OF ANITA TO

LEFT OF THE FOLD (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAVO TV, COURTESY OF CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS/ BORJANOS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF NBC UNIVERSAL MEDIA, COURTESY OF HBO RIGHT OF THE FOLD (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOPF, COURTESY OF HENRY HOLT AND CO., COURTESY OF SCOTT SCHUMAN

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | December 4, 2012

Winter Cocktails Three drinks to keep you toasty (fo’ chaud) Andrew Green Arts Contributor Thanksgiving Apple Pie (Inspired by Bon Appetit’s “Fall Classic,” November 2012 issue) Prep time: about 10 minutes ¼ cup bourbon ¼ cup apple cider 2 tablespoon simple syrup (can be made in advance) 2 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ cup brandy (optional) Dash of bitters Yields one drink.

Instead of adding spoonfuls of white sugar to a drink, which can end up as a grainy, syrupy mess on the bottom of a glass, try making your own simple syrup in advance.

It’s easy—just mix equal parts sugar and water in a pot until dissolved and bring to a boil. This method of sweetening a drink brings an added benefit, as you can add a wide variety of ingredients to the syrup at the end to make an infusion. This recipe calls for an infusion of fresh thyme leaves, but the possibilities are endless. You can use anything from herbs like basil or cinnamon to citrus rinds, and everything in between.

Plain simple syrup will keep indefinitely in the fridge, but if you’ve added an infusion, be

sure to change your stock every few weeks or so, as there’s a small chance the infused oils can get funky.

This drink captures the flavors of Thanksgiving and is great for a lateafternoon cocktail break. Begin by making the simple syrup. When the mixture just begins to boil, turn off the heat and add a handful of thyme leaves. If you’re not able to find fresh thyme, a sweet Thai basil will work, as will a few sticks of cinnamon or even lemon rinds. Wait for the mixture to cool completely, then strain.

In a glass, mix two parts bourbon with two parts apple cider, one part simple syrup, and one part lemon juice. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also throw in two parts brandy or any other fermented fruit brandy (like Calvados, made from apples, Poire Williams, made from pears, or Kirschwasser, made from cherries). Top with a few dashes of angostura bitters and stir. You can garnish with a slice of apple, pear, or another fall fruit. You’ll really taste the bourbon, so you might want to splurge on a nice one, or just drink it quickly.

Vin Chaud (All the way from France, y’all!)

Prep time: 25 minutes 3 clementines, small oranges, or tangerines 20 whole cloves 1.5 L bottle red wine or 2 normal-sized

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bottles Apple cider (for sweetness) 5 cinnamon sticks Brandy, port, or bourbon (optional but recommended) Yields 8–10 glasses of wine.

Shoutout to anyone who has studied abroad in Europe during the winter—you may remember that this mulled wine can be found in plastic kettles in the backs of small bars all over Europe. Given the additions you’ll be making, it’s safe to start with a pretty cheap, basic red wine. This is the perfect moment for those awkward half-magnums of Yellow Tail one always has sitting around. You’ll just need one big pot and a spoon, which means cleanup will be super easy. Start by piercing the skin of a few clementines or other small oranges with cloves—no more than 20—and adding them to the pot along with a full magnum (the proper term for a 1.5-liter bottle of domestic wine) of a sweeter red, like merlot, shiraz, or a cabernet sauvignon from California. The wine should fully cover the oranges. Add a few cups of apple cider (tailor the amount to your personal preference) and 5 sticks of cinnamon. Do not use powdered cinnamon.

Set the pot on low heat. In about 20 minutes, or when a spoonful of wine will produce robust, thick steam, turn the heat off and ladle into a mug or glass. Top with

1/4 cup of brandy, port, or bourbon. If you want to get all fancy, garnish with a cinnamon stick or even an orange slice, but this is great on its own in a mug by the fire, or in a travel mug for your icy-cold morning walk to class.

You can keep everything in the pot for a few hours and reheat it when you’re ready.

Just be sure to keep the mixture cool until you’re ready to drink, or the alcohol could cook out. If you want to get adventurous, you can add whole small apples, lemons, or any other interesting ingredients to the pot before cooking. Even though you’re making a large batch, don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations of autumnal ingredients.

Eggnog 2.0 (Did you know that on Christmas day in 1826, an event known as the “eggnog riot” broke out at West Point and led to the courtmartialing of 20 cadets? Among the rioters was Jefferson Davis, the future president of the Confederate States of America.)

Prep time: 15 minutes 4 cups (1 quart) whole milk 1 cup bourbon 1 cup Bailey’s ½ cup Goldschläger or fireball whiskey (optional) 1 packet (3 oz.) Jello Vanilla Pudding mix COCKTAILS continued on page 13

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | December 4, 2012

Novel nog packs a punch COCKTAILS continued from page 12 ½ teaspoon nutmeg Yields 4-6 drinks.

If you’ve ever had a hand-whipped cup of piping hot eggnog with high-quality bourbon and just a dash of cinnamon on top, you know how delicious this drink can be. The problem is that eggnog is annoyingly difficult to make, contains raw eggs, and has the nutritional value of three candy bars. That’s right, an 8 oz. cup of eggnog averages around 350 calories and 21 grams of sugar. That’s just not going to fly—even if you’re not concerned about calories and sugar, drinking such a heavy, sugary drink, especially in larger quantities, is a quick way to make yourself feel really gross. So the challenge, then, is to make an novel nog that captures the essence of traditional eggnog— the creamy richness, warmth, and touch of spice that make it so irresistible.

Consider this quick and dirty eggnog alternative. Recently, Silk (bless them!) has released a “Soy Nog” made from soymilk, cane sugar, and natural flavors that has way less fat and sugar than regular eggnog. It is also lactose-free and vegan-friendly. If you’re using pre-made eggnog mix, heat it up in a saucepan and add between 1/4–1/2 cup of bourbon per serving, depending on how strong you would like the drinks to be.

Ladle into glasses and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

If you want to deconstruct the drink even further, I’ve come up with this eggnoginspired, warm Christmas treat. First, you will need to decide which type of milk to use. The lower the fat content of the milk the more likely it will be to curdle when liquor is added to it. Milk has protein solids called caseins that will bind to one another and become lumps if the milk becomes too acidic. Alcohol is a weak acid, so it’s difficult to mix the two together without ending up with something that looks like cottage cheese. In this recipe, skim milk is guaranteed to give you a lumpy, curd-y mess, so forget that. Using heavy whipping cream instead would land you in the same fatty mess as regular eggnog, so that doesn’t make much sense either. Your best bet is to use whole milk, though half-and-half is acceptable and 2% will work if you’re careful and attentive.

Pour 1 quart of milk into the saucepan and heat on low until it is at your desired temperature. It should be more than warm and less than hot. Add the packet of Jello pudding mix to the milk. If you can’t find that, be adventurous and add one teaspoon of vanilla extract with two of your favorite hot cocoa packets. Once that has dissolved, add one cup of Bailey’s (any variety is fine, but avoid the biscotti flavor) in small increments, stirring until fully incorporated.

Then add one cup of bourbon in the exact same way, allowing for a bit of time between each addition to let the mixture sort itself out chemically. Finally, add 1/2 cup cinnamon liqueur, like Goldschläger or Fireball whiskey. The bourbon contributes the warmth we know and love from eggnog, while the Bailey’s brings a rich creaminess that allows us to reduce the milk and eliminate the eggs. The cinnamon liqueur is optional, and be aware it will make the drink taste faintly like Big Red gum. It can be replaced with a very small amount of cinnamon extract, a cinnamon simple syrup (see above), or even real cinnamon sticks.

Top this off with a small amount of nutmeg.

When finished, you will have before you a decent approximation of eggnog that is drinkable, less sweet (though sugar can be added to taste) and, though strong, not as heavy as a regular glass of eggnog. Serve in a glass or mug with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Whichever option you choose—a storebought mixture, the fully homemade version, or this alternative—it is sure to be delicious.

ALICE BUCKNELL

| THE CHICAGO MAROON

Become a

Resident Head In the University House System

Resident Heads live in the College Houses to provide guidance, advice and direction to members of the undergraduate House communities. Advanced graduate students are encouraged to apply. Single, domestic-partnered, or married persons who are at least 25 years of age can apply. Children are welcome.

Compensation is valued at approximately $18,000 for a single person.

For married persons, the value is increased by the meals and health benefits provided for spouses and children and has been estimated to be as high as $32,000.

Compensation consists of a cash stipend, furnished apartment for 12 months of the year, meals when the College is in session, and University student medical insurance for full-time registered students and their dependents.

Application materials and additional information are available on the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing website at http://housing.uchicago.edu

[ Information Sessions \ Information Sessions about this position and the selection process will be held on: Wednesday, November 28, at 7:00pm – Burton-Judson Courts (1005 E. 60th St.) Thursday, December 6, at 7:00pm – Burton-Judson Courts (1005 E. 60th St.) Wednesday, January 9, at 7:00pm – Burton-Judson Courts (1005 E. 60th St.) Saturday, January 12, at 10:00am – Fairfax (1369 E. Hyde Park Blvd.)

Attendance at one of these sessions is required for all applicants.

[ APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2013 \

13

THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | December 4, 2012

14

First time’s the charm: Rookies leading way in promising season Men’s Swimming Anastasia Kaiser Sports Contributor After finishing first of 11 teams at the Phoenix Fall Classic, the South Siders are poised to dominate once they return to the pool in the winter. Powered by a squad of determined freshmen, the Maroons are in a strong position to capture first place at the UAA Conference Championships on February 13–16.

The men’s team is currently ranked sixth in the NCAA, according to national rankings. Co-captain Kevin Chen believes this early success is partly attributable to an unusually gifted group of first-years.

First-years James Taylor, Brian Bunning, and Matthew Veldman all set school records at the Phoenix Fall Classic held November 16–18. Taylor, who set a record in the men’s 100-yard breaststroke, believes strong team dynamics will contribute to their success. “The team gets along together really well both in and out of the pool, and there’s enough friendly competition that everyone stays motivated,� Taylor said.

The Maroons will not rest over winter break. The men are heading to Puerto Rico for a week of training that includes 4-6 hours of swimming, lifting, and plyometric exercises every day. The South Sid-

ers will have a chance to prove themselves at the Chicago Invitational on January 11–12 and against DI University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee the following weekend.

The UW–Milwaukee team boasts several Olympic trial qualifiers, so the match-up will be good preparation for the rest of the season.

The Maroons will face an early test when they head to Greencastle, Indiana to compete against DePauw University on January 26. The last time the Maroons swam against the Tigers in an away meet, they were handed their worst defeat from a DIII rival in the past four years.

Co-captain Denver Barrows says this

year “is about paying that favor back to them.� He believes the Maroons will dominate the strokes, but will need to stay competitive in freestyle events in order to give the Maroons a chance of defeating a team that has consistently thwarted Chicago in the past.

According to Barrows, this is a season to watch. “There is an intense belief in each other’s abilities this year; you can feel it on the pool deck, in practice, and every time we are competing. The desire is unmatched, and every practice demonstrates that. I just can’t wait to see what we are going to do in February.�

Neither can we.

Sixth-ranked South Siders enter new year with high expectations Women’s Swimming Maira Khwaja Sports Contributor The Maroons will head into UAAs and NCAAs after winter break with a solid team atmosphere and higher expectations than in past years. They are ranked sixth in the nation.

The women have had a strong showing so far, as they won their meets against Wheaton (192– 47) and Washington–St. Louis (166–122).

The biggest indicator of how they will perform the rest of the season was the Phoenix Fall Classic. The women were narrowly defeated and were stuck with second place, but had great individual predictors of strong performance for the upcoming season. The team had several NCAA time cuts and five first-place finishes.

The swimmers are confident that, because they

will be hosting the UAA conference, the team will have extra motivation to set pool records. “What you saw at our fall invite is a really good indicator for how strong we’re going to be at UAAs this year,� fourth-year swimmer Julie Pendleton said.

The Fall Classic shone a light on first-year Ciara Hu and fourth-year Kathleen Taylor, who can be expected to stand out in the upcoming invitational meets. Hu set a pool record in the prelims for the 200-yard butterfly, earning her an NCAA B-cut with a time of 2:05.78. Taylor finished first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:04.06 and a narrow win by 1.5 seconds in the 1,650-yard freestyle with in a time of 17:24.27.

Looking ahead, Pendleton said she and her teammates feel that the team seems stronger

than in seasons past because of an unprecedented team dynamic and atmosphere that leads to better performances. “People have bounced back really well after tough meets and tough swims. For example, during the Fall Classic one day we had a really tough morning. [Because of the team support], we got our head back in the game and we really pulled it out for finals at night. We made back nearly 50 points. That’s going to be extremely important come the championship season, with the UAA conference meet and NCAAs.�

Pendleton added that this season has been the fastest practicing she’s ever experienced, but that her teammates are all willing to work together at this new pace. “This year is the most supportive, by far, and it’s really helping our swimming,� she said.

The Maroons will look to improve on their weaknesses as their practices become more individualized in the upcoming season and in their training trip in Puerto Rico over winter break.

The women have high hopes for a shot at beating their only DI opponent this season, UW– Milwaukee, on January 19 at home. “Every year we’ve been getting closer and closer to getting them, so this year it looks like we might actually have a shot at getting them,� Pendleton said. “If we could do that, it would give us a huge surge of confidence going into UAAs.�

Before the UAA Championship at home from February 13 to 16, the women will also host the Chicago Invitational on January 11 and 12. They will swim at DePauw on January 26, and the Midwest Invitational on February 22 and 23.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | December 4, 2012

15

Student-athletes set example, find match in local elementary school

By Vicente Fernandez Sports Editor On most days, Maroon studentathletes wake up hours before class.

They head to a morning practice or meeting or film review. They walk to Ratner with their book bags thrown over their shoulders and Chicago’s cold wind kicking in their faces, in order to learn about their sports, which is what drew them to Hyde Park in the first place, what partially gave them the opportunity for this education.

But on mornings this fall, the University of Chicago men’s and women’s tennis teams have woken up to a different type of learning, one in which they aren’t behind desks, listening to lectures, but in front of students, doing the teaching.

The tennis teams have made the trek to Andrew Carnegie Elementary School on the South Side of Chicago the past few weeks, volunteering in classrooms that could use the help.

“I’m sure that after a couple of more weeks we’ll be able to see that it’s really, really profiting our students,” Andrew Carnegie Elementary School Assistant Principal Juanita Stem said.

The idea for the tennis teams to volunteer at a local elementary school came from first-year men’s and women’s tennis head coach, Jay Tee. Aside from tennis expertise and a winning background, Tee brings with him a tradition of doing good to the University of Chicago tennis program.

“It’s something when I was in college, at Cleveland State, my head coach had us do, and when I was an assistant at Cleveland State, we did it then too,” Tee said. “I believe very strongly in it.”

In coming to the University of Chicago, Tee took over one of the finest tennis programs in the country. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason poll ranked the women’s team third in the nation and first in the Central Region. The men’s team was ranked seventh in the Central Region. But to Tee, collegiate tennis is about more than just trophies and a high GPA. “We’re given so much as studentathletes that we should give back to the community,” Tee said.

With backed-up schedules since high school, full of the training and study sessions that got them to Chicago, rarely

First-year William Leddy helps fourth-grader Grace Nwankwo during computer class. Members of the UChicago men’s and women’s tennis teams are volunteering at Carnegie Elementary on 61st Street and Blackstone Avenue.

JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON

do student-athletes take time from their weeks to give back. But as Tee and his team are proving, it’s well worth it.

“This is the first time I’ve ever done outreach to community schools, so it’s definitely a new experience and definitely unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” second-year Maggie Schumann said. “I actually feel like I’m making a direct impact. I’m donating my time, my attention, and my care to kids.”

Schumann and her teammates have all spent time at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School this month. They are in the classroom during school hours.

They help students with homework and teachers with grading papers; it all involves student learning.

Andrew Carnegie Elementary School knows them now; the tennis team is in classes from kindergarten all the way through eighth grade. Most assist with older students, but some even help special education resource teachers.

“The children are just the sweetest kids I’ve ever met. Every time I come in, they give me a hug,” Schumann said.

When Tee called Assistant Principal Stem about his proposal, Stem and the Andrew Carnegie Elementary School principal reached out to their teachers, many of which were interested in having the additional student help.

“The teachers absolutely love us,” Tee said. “Instead of being one teacher and 35 kids, they have five teachers

now, and we break them up into four and help them with their math and spelling and government.”

Having student-athletes, and extra help, in the classroom goes beyond academics, however. Many of the kids at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School look up to the tennis team because they are University of Chicago students.

“Kids can always use a strong role model or inspiration to become something,” Tee said. “They see successful student-athletes coming from our school to help them, and they get to ask questions, see what’s possible. Hopefully it inspires somebody somewhere to start thinking about something bigger than just where they’re at.”

One of those inspirations is right in these students’ backyards—attending college. This goal makes it all the more fitting that it is Chicago students alongside teachers. Having achieved their dreams of attending a top-tier university and playing a sport, student-athletes offer the sort of advice that can help kids from Andrew Carnegie Elementary School achieve their aspirations.

“They really want to talk to me, because I’m a college student, and that’s cool,” first-year Gordon Zhang said. “I think that’s definitely a primary goal for all of these students—to obtain a college degree. I just want to tell them it starts right here. This is where you have to put in time for your work.”

Helping at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School has definitely been a two-way street for Maroon tennis players. They are gaining as much from their weekdays at the school as the students are, if not more.

“I think it gives them a good sense of accomplishment, a sense of purpose, and when they come back they all feel like they’ve done something other than just go to class or just play tennis. They feel like they’re part of something bigger,” Tee said.

Volunteering has helped the teams on the court because it has given them a project to bond over. Incoming firstyears are no longer new faces, but partners in a project bigger than themselves.

Teammates are more than friends, or tennis players, or even students during their time at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School. They are role models. But it is the combination of all these factors that makes their impact so powerful.

Assistant Principal Stem told me over the phone that teachers were familiar with extra bodies in the classroom, as they’ve received help from studentteachers in the past, including some from UChicago, but when I asked if the Maroon tennis teams were the first athletic program to help, her voice lit up.

“It is the very first athletic team. I think it’s great because their experience is just totally different from the realm of the educational major,” Assistant Princi-

pal Stem said. “Academics and sports go together really well, and it helps make well-rounded students, so the fact that they are bringing in their athletic intelligence and fusing that in with the academics, I think is working great.”

With only good coming from volunteering at the local elementary school one thing is clear to Tee: this community program is here to stay. And if he can help, it’s here to grow, too.

“I want this to last years and years, as long as I’m here; and I want it to expand so that it’s not just the tennis teams. Hopefully other teams in the department start taking notice and we can have a really good relationship with not just one elementary school, but four or five around here,” Coach Tee said. “That way we can really start doing some good on a larger scale.”

Schumann agrees with her coach, “I highly recommend that other teams do it. I know that some kids are like, ‘Oh, we’re so busy with athletics and academics,’ but, honestly, it’s really not a big time commitment, and you really feel it.”

Even with grades, wins, and of course training at the top of every athlete’s agenda, a little help to those who need it can go a long way. And it is precisely their experience as studentathletes that makes mentorship from UChicago men’s and women’s tennis players that much more meaningful.

Maroons look to recapture conference crown Wrestling Thomas Choi Sports Contributor After a strong start to their season, the Maroons will look to continue their success when they return from winter break.

The South Siders are currently 2–1, having defeated Wheaton and North Central but fallen short to Elmhurst College, which is the third strongest team in DIII. They also performed strongly at the Concordia Open, where many

of the teams, including the winner of consecutive national championships, were ranked higher than Chicago.

“I thought the team improved every time out,” head coach Leo Kocer, now in his 35th season, said. “At Concordia, Chicago wrestlers placed in five different weight classes in a pretty competitive tournament.”

With a fresh new group of wrestlers from the incoming class of first-years, they are ready

to take the UAA Championship once again. They have won it in nine of the past 12 years.

“The freshmen are looking good. They have filled eight of the 30 starting spots in our three dual meets and they have been very competitive,” Kocher said.

Kocher has high hopes for the team this year and is hoping for the improvement of each individual.

“We just want each wrestler to focus on doing his best to

help the team succeed—making the optimal choices that will make him and his teammates better,” he said.

The Maroons are currently ranked 28th in DIII. However, they believe they will be able to climb higher on the list this season.

Fourth-year Joeie Ruettiger leads the team with a 9–2 record this season and is currently ranked ninth in the nation in the 149 lb. weight class. However, many other members of

the team will also be worth watching.

“I think every weight class is capable of impressive performances,” Kocher said.

The next stop on Chicago’s journey is Colorado Springs, where the team will spend six days of winter break on a training trip. There, the Maroons will continue to work on their solid foundation.

“I look forward to building on where we are right now in the next four weeks.”

Kocher said.

When they return, the season will resume with the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships at Northwestern on December 29 and 30. Meets at Knox, Elmhurst, and Wheaton will round out their winter road schedule.

The Maroons will have two meets at home in February, one of which will be the UAA Championship on February 16 against NYU and Case Western.

SPORTS

IN QUOTES

“He took the game by the balls and squeezed.”

—Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh reflects on LeBron James’ Game 4 performance against the Indiana Pacers last season.

Pyping hot: Second-year stars in victory over Kalamazoo Men’s Basketball

First-year Jordan Smith charges towards the opposing basket during a home game against Southwestern earlier this year.

JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON

Alexander Sotiropoulos Senior Sports Staff Chicago head coach Mike McGrath has said that second-year guard Alex Pyper is the best shooter on this year’s Maroon team.

Then Pyper missed the

first five games of the season.

In his return games against Augustana and Wheaton, he failed to break double digits: he scored eight in each game, and made only two-three pointers total in those two Maroon losses.

But that all changed on Sat-

urday at Kalamazoo (2–3).

Pyper shot 11–19 from the field and 7–14 from beyond the arc for 32 points. His scoring surge sparked a comeback for the Maroons (4–2), who were down by 17 points in the first half and ended up winning 76–73.

“My teammates kept finding me, and I was able to keep getting myself a little space between me and the defenders, so I was able to get good looks and shots that I can make,” Pyper said. “When you hit a few shots you kind of stop thinking; you just fo-

cus on the next one and try to get the ball back where you can shoot it again.”

Although the Chicago second-year scored 13 points in the first half, his first-half performance was outshined by the Hornets.

Kalamazoo shot 70 percent from beyond the arc and 59.3 percent from the field.

Third-year guard Mark Ghafari led the Hornets’ offense with 16 first-half points.

Even though the Maroons were down by 10 at halftime, 39–29, Pyper said he felt he was going to have an explosive second half just seconds into it.

“I’d say that I knew I had it going when the first play of the second half I got a nearly wide open look and knocked it down,” Pyper said. “After that, I felt like we could really put together a run and get back in the game, and that I could have a lot to do with that.”

Having had no leads the entire game, a Pyper threepointer put Chicago within one with 7:47 left in the contest.

Then, with 3:34 remaining, Pyper’s three free throws gave the Maroons the lead at 64–63.

Chicago never lost that lead.

Even with Pyper healthy, the second-year said not to expect 30-point performances every game from now on.

“I would say that the expectations can’t be too high,” Pyper said. “I doubt I’m going to go out there and score 30-plus every game, and I’m not the kind of guy to go out there and try. I would say that you can expect me to continue to shoot and hopefully make open shots and to try to do everything I can to help my team win, whatever that may be in each particular game.”

The Maroons will need their shooters in top form on Saturday at Lake Forest (1–4). Chicago is 0–2 on the season against regional opponents and will need to defeat Lake Forest and Illinois Wesleyan (5–2) for a chance at an at-large NCAA tournament bid if they do not win the UAA. Two days before the start of winter quarter on Saturday, January 5, Chicago opens up its UAA season at home against Wash U. The Bears, who are 7–0 on the season, are the favorites to win the UAA, according to the UAA preseason poll.

Chicago looks to be in better form next quarter with the return of third-year guard Derrick Davis. Davis has sustained an injury but will likely be back in January.

With a healthy lineup, the Maroons look to contend for the UAA title.

Reigning champs dominate second half , hand Chicago fourth straight loss Women’s Basketball Sam Zacher Sports Contributor Although the Maroons (1–4) had been struggling offensively this season, they made major improvements shooting the ball on Saturday against no. 14 Illinois Wesleyan (4–2). However, Chicago couldn’t quite hold onto the rock as the home Titans pressured Chicago into a 67–57 loss. “[Illinois Wesleyan] won the national championship last year and so we knew that they would be a tough match-up,” fourth-year Jenna Lillimoe said.

Although the Maroons knew they were the David to Illinois Wesleyan’s Goliath, they came out strong, sinking five three-pointers early to grab a 21–9 lead. The Titans chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to 32–28 at half.

Chicago’s 12–22 shooting from the field and 5–9 from three-point range helped them gain this first half lead—it also helped that IWU shot only 10–30 from the field.

The Titans picked up their defense in the second half, forcing a number of Maroon turnovers.

“They play a full court, run and jump press that we tried to limit by controlling the pace of the game, but had too many turnovers to be successful in this

strategy,” Lillemoe said.

Wesleyan took control of the game, going on an immediate 10–0 run— bringing the score to 38–32. The Maroons hung around but never took the lead again.

The Titans were led by fourth-year guard Melissa Garder (18 points, 3 steals) and third-year guard Lexi Baltes (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists).

IWU forced Chicago into a total of 34 turnovers, highlighting an issue that the Maroons have had throughout the season, now averaging 21.8 per game.

However, it’s a good sign for the Maroons that their offensive efficiency has picked up. Chicago’s previous best field goal percentage was 44 percent in their opening game against Benedictine. On Saturday, the Maroons shot 55.3 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range, led by secondyear guard Morgan Donovan.

“Morgan has been playing exceptionally well for us,” Lillemoe said. “She has been very solid defensively and has been a ‘go-to’ player for us offensively.”

Donovan finished with 21 points and 5 assists, and first-year guard Paige Womack added 10 points, each on 66.7 percent shooting.

It should be a different story when third-year guard Julie Muguira returns, bringing back more experience to the

guard position, along with second-year forward Hannah Ballard, who should contribute to the already-improving offensive game. Both are out with injuries.

Chicago sits at 1–4, but there’s more to tell than their record. In addition to having the defending national champs and current no. 14 team on the ropes, they’ve also had to take on 23rd-ranked Carthage and made 4–1 Wheaton fight hard for their win last week.

Lillemoe is looking on the bright side about the Wesleyan game but also staying realistic about the team’s execution down the stretch. “[Saturday’s] game was good for us in that we realized that we can compete with top-tier teams, we just need to put two halves together and execute better if we want to come out with wins.”

UAA play begins on January 5, but the Maroons have six remaining games before then. Lillemoe believes the month of December will bode well for Chicago.

“It will be a good chance for us to focus on ourselves and our individual contributions so that we are at full strength and executing better going into conference season.”

The Maroons fight for their second win of the season tonight at Ratner against North Park at 7 p.m.

First-year Paige Womack takes a shot during a home game against Wheaton late last month.

COURTESY OF HANS GLICK