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MAY 14, 2010
CHICAGO
AROON
VOLUME 121 ISSUE 45
CHICAGOMAROON.COM
The student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892
ADMINISTRATION
CAMPUS
Ad hoc committee to probe policy fixes after Reg arrest
Logan, Alper dig into Arts Center
By Asher Klein News Editor A committee charged with monitoring policy changes cre ated in the wake of the February arrest of fourth-year Mauriece Dawson will convene next week. The 17-person committee will provide oversight on policies being implemented in the wake of the arrest. It will involve students and administrators from the groups most involved in the protracted debate that has flared up at open forums and meetings in the two-and-a-half months since the arrest. Those groups are named in the committee’s official t i t l e : t h e Ad H o c C o m m i t t e e of Campus and Student Life, Student Government (SG), and the Alliance for Student and Community Rights (ASCR). “There’s a lot of things, to-dos that they’re going to provide input on,” said Vice President for Campus Life Kim Goff- Crews, who stressed the importance of student input. “They’ll have a much more integrated sense of what needs to be done.” All three groups have b een involved in resolving the issues raised by the arrest, in which Dawson was arrested with undue force by a UCPD officer in the Reg’s A-Level. SG and the Office
of Campus and Student Life sponsored a forum a week after the arrest; the ASC R formed in the aftermath of that forum, and has been vocal ever since. Administrators have consulted with ASCR members on policy changes and the group has vocalized a list of demands for the administration regarding more changes. “The Ad Hoc Committee...was established so that there would be one group, with an integrated understanding of the important issues related to this incident, working together to address these issues in a timely manner,” said Karen Warren Coleman, associate vice president for Campus Life and one of the committee’s cochairs, in an e-mail. The committee, also co-chaired by Graduate Liaison to the Board of Trustees Toussaint Losier, is slated to work over the course of a year to advise administrators on a slew of policy changes to prevent similar conditions to those that led to Dawson’s arrest. Changes to be imple mented include a new code of library conduct, new policies for the Dean-on- Call program, and retraining for staff on student interaction. In addition to Coleman and
AD HOC continued on page 2
David Logan (center right) shares a celebratory moment with his sons Jon (center left) and David (right) and Board of Trustees Chairman Andrew Alper (left) . MATT BOGEN/MAROON
By Al Gaspari News Staff Donors broke ground on the Logan Arts Center Wednesday evening in front of students, alumni, and faculty. The Center, on 60th Street and Ingleside Avenue, is expected to be finished in spring 2012 at a cost of $114 million. It will be two build-
ings—an 11-story tower and a surrounding complex—with a 450-seat auditorium and a 120-seat theater. The Center will have a seminar room, studios, and practice spaces for teaching and performances. “If you take the vibrant energy of the arts and you add the intellectual vigor of a core curriculum… and you whip it up, you will have the Logan Arts Center,”
said actress Marilu Henner (X ‘74), as part of a series of remarks from students, faculty, and alumni on what the Logan Center means to them. President Robert Zimmer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Andrew Alper (A.B. ‘80, M.B.A ‘81), and Daniel Logan, son of donors Reva and David Logan, for whom the Center is named, all
ARTS CENTER continued on page 2
ACADEMICS
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Yerkes to link up with world telescopes
Goff-Crews hears student complaints, all three of them
By Jonathan Lai News Staff T h e U n i v e r s i t y ’ s Ye r k e s Observatory plans to join a network of remotely controlled telescopes called Skynet next month, in an effort to expand its
educational outreach programs. Founded in 1897 in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, Yerkes has the largest refracting telescope in the world, but since radio telescopes overtook observatory research in the 1940s, its mission has shifted focus from scientific research to
The Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin, founded in 1897, has the world's largest refracting telescope. KYLE CUDWORTH/YERKES
OBSERVATORY
astronomy education. According to current and former Yerkes directors, Skynet will allow students and visitors at Yerkes to study the sky through other telescopes, which will further the educational mission of the observatory. “Skynet [has an] education outreach aspect, and that is what w e a t Ye r k e s a r e m o s t i n t e r ested in and what we are most i n v o l v e d i n , ” Ye r k e s D i r e c t o r Kyle Cudworth said, adding that Skynet’s use in American high schools reflects its educational value. “What is really nice about [Skynet] is that it’s a very easy system for teachers to use.” Skynet, an international network of robotic telescopes, was founded by University alumnus Dan Reichart (SM ’98, PhD ’00) four years ago at the University of North Carolina. In exchange for the viewing use of Skynet-associated telescopes, Yerkes’ telescopes will join the network. “There are other colleges and universities that we’re associated with and that come to Yerkes anyway to use our tele scopes,” said Vivian Hoette, point
YERKES continued on page 2
By Amy Myers News Staff Three may be a crowd, but not at yesterday’s Student Government (SG) open forum, which resembled office hours with Vice President for Campus Life Kim Goff-Crews. Students met with Goff-Crews, outgoing SG President and fourthyear Jarrod Wolf, and incoming Undergraduate Liaison to the Board of Trustees, first-year Frank Alarcon, to discuss student life issues. Th e t h r e e s t u d e n t s p r e s e n t voiced concerns over the limited services provided by CAPS for careers outside of business. Thirdyear Talia Barzel called for events geared toward educating students on careers in the non-profits and the arts, along with better publicity for CAPS events. CAPS will expand to serve students in a wider range of fields, Goff-Crews said, introducing the Chicago Careers in the Arts program, to begin next year. It will follow similar CAP S programs, already in place, like Chicago Careers in Business.
“We’ll see a lot of shifts with [the arts] in the next few years” GoffCrews said, pointing to the opening of the Logan Center as a catalyst for new arts initiatives on campus. Alarcon asked Goff- Crews to address faculty involvement in the sexual assault policy, a topic that has been addressed at a number of recent forums. “Our system isn’t that different from other research institutions like ours,” Goff-Crews said. She agreed with Alarcon that students should be involved in the disciplinary processes at the University, but did not specify if changes were underway. Second-year Edward James brought up new legislation banning ethnic studies in Arizona public schools, calling for the University to make a statement on the law, despite the Kalven Report, which establishes the University as a politically neutral entity. “As a leading research institution, we’ve been on the front lines. It’d be great if we could be on the front lines in opposing, in my opinion, this egregious piece of legislation,” James said. While Goff- Crews said the
FORUM continued on page 2
2
CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | May 14, 2010
MEDICAL CENTER
If the price is right, Provident Hospital could be "good investment" for UCMC By Ella Christoph and Adam Janofsky News Editor and Associate News Editor The University of Chicago Medical Center (UC MC) is considering a costefficient way to send doctors to nearby Provident Hospital, which faces closure due to financial struggles. A recent Cook County Health and Hospital Systems (CCHHS) study pegged the cost of keeping the hospital open at $38 to 52 million for full service under partnership with the UCMC. The study also suggested a second option of keeping Provident open solely as an outpatient facility, which would cost $18 to 27 million.
The UCMC already has $5 million set aside for funding Provident, but other funding sources have yet to be determined, according to a statement by the University. Another study may be commissioned to further examine the issue, according to UCMC spokesman John Easton. The study was optimistic about a partnership between Provident and the UCMC. Despite financial obstacles, “the consultants suggest that it could be a good investment,� the statement said. Last year, the UCMC had considered giving $20 million to Provident in order to keep the hospital afloat, but did not finalize any plans while the hospital was facing closure. County officials proposed closing Provident Hospital, currently operated by
CC H H S because of mounting financial troubles and infrastructure problems. In 2009, Provident lost $98 million in part because it serves many uninsured patients; according to a UCMC statement, hospitals on the South Side of Chicago serve nearly double the national rate of uninsured patients. Provident also faces deteriorating facilities that would need to be repaired in order for the hospital to continue operating. If the hospital were to continue operating under full service, it would need to pay for a new office building and purchase new diagnostic imaging equipment. Should UCMC partner with Provident, it would do so under the auspices of the University’s Urban Health Initiative.
Logan construction kickoff unveils three murals showcasing University and community strength ARTS CENTER continued from front page gave brief speeches. Zimmer discussed how the center will impact education at the University. “Art has been recognized as an important part of education for over two millennia,� he said. Although the first president of the University, William Rainey Harper, wanted the University to house the arts, campus visual and performance artists have worked without a comprehensive center since the University’s inception. While Zimmer discussed the near future of arts education, Alper focused on long-term significance of the building in Hyde Park. “It will be a wonderful and lasting legacy for the future generations of Chicagoans,� he said. Daniel Logan explained the reason for his family’s commitment, a $35 million dona-
tion. “As my dad says, ‘the building is only the beginning.’ He is interested in changing lives,� said Logan. Three new murals emphasizing the connection between the neighboring community and the University were unveiled at Wednesday’s ceremony, which included performances from the University Symphony Orchestra and videos about the Arts at the University. The ceremonies and speeches led up to members of the Logan family performing a ceremonial dig accompanied by the sounds of applause and the University’s Motet Choir while administrators stood behind them. More events took place all day; these included a faculty roundtable on arts at the University, a showcase of visual art, music and writing, and performances by various
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campus groups. According to Bill Michel, director of the Logan Arts Center, the process of planning the ceremony began in January and efforts began in earnest in March. He said the next major event will be the grand opening of the facility in two years. Something less grand, however, might happen before the completion. “We may do a topping off ceremony sometime next year,� he said. The ceremony will mark the completion of the tower and Michel expects that to happen in winter 2012. Other recent efforts by the University to increase student participation in the arts include the 60 Days of Arts celebration on campus and the Arts Pass, which provides students with discounts and special offers at arts organizations in Chicago.
Student forum draws CAPS criticism, request to buck Kalven Report FORUM continued from front page Kalven Report prevents it from making any statement, she assured James that, as a private institution, the curriculum at the University would remain faculty-led and designed. “That’s what I like about being here. That’s why it’s hard for me to imagine being in a position where the governor could change the curriculum,� she said, referring to the University’s diverse range of studies. Alarcon ended the small discussion with SG’s new initiatives, including the impending appointment of a community and government liaison and new talks to establish a liaison between SG and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
IRC report on Dawson arrest due out next month AD HOC continued from front page Losier, the committee will be composed of history professor Adam Green, four administrators, and 10 students who will return next fall, jointly appointed by SG and ASCR. Announced at an April 29 open forum by Goff- Crews, the ad hoc committee is one of two groups investigating the arrest; the other is the University Police Department’s (UC P D) Independent Review Committee (IRC), which annually reviews complaints brought against UCPD officers. Administrators have said the committee plans to release its findings in the Dawson case this spring, although results are normally published in the fall.
Skynet, a worldwide telescope linkup, helps keep Yerkes relevant YERKES continued from front page person for the project and Educational Outreach Coordinator at Yerkes. �This will make it so much easier for them to get mileage out of our telescopes.� Plans to join Skynet were initiated in September 2009. Although Yerkes describes itself as “the birthplace of modern astrophysics,� the observatory’s shift in focus from cuttingedge research to educational outreach prompted the formation of the Yerkes Study Group to outline the future for Yerkes. �[ Joining Skynet] is not a novel idea by any means; this is an idea we’ve been talking about for some time,� former Yerkes director Richard Kron said. “The
best future [for Yerkes] is as a science education center.� As for the impact on undergraduate students, Cudworth thinks joining Skynet will lead to increased interaction between the undergraduate population and the Observatory and expressed hope for strengthening ties between the two in the future. “We do have some classes come up for field trips...With the remote controlling capability and the Skynet, I would guess that there will be some changing around with [undergraduate classes] to take advantage of the Skynet access,� he said. “I think the Skynet access can have some significant impact on the courses for the College.�
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CHICAGO MAROON
| VIEWPOINTS | May 14, 2010
3
VIEWPOINTS
EDITORIAL & OP-ED MAY 14, 2010
EDITORIAL
CHICAGO MAROON
The student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892
JORDAN HOLLIDAY, Editor-in-Chief JAKE GRUBMAN, Managing Editor ASHER KLEIN, News Editor ELLA CHRISTOPH, News Editor PETER IANAKIEV, Viewpoints Editor HAYLEY LAMBERSON, Voices Editor BLAIR THORNBURGH, Voices Editor AUDREY HENKELS, Sports Editor WILL FALLON, Sports Editor A. G. GOODMAN, Sports Editor VICTORIA KRAFT, Head Copy Editor MONIKA LAGAARD, Head Copy Editor HOLLY LAWSON, Head Copy Editor CAMILLE VAN HORNE, Photo Editor MATT BOGEN, Photo Editor JACK DiMASSIMO, Head Designer ABRAHAM NEBEN, Web Editor ADAM JANOFSKY, Assoc. News Editor ALISON HOWARD, Assoc. Viewpoints Editor ILIYA GUTIN, Assoc. Voices Editor JORDAN LARSON, Assoc. Voices Editor JUDY MARCINIAK, Business Manager VINCENT McGILL, Delivery Coordinator
A more perfect union The only way to improve Student Government is to get involved A grand total of three students showed up for last night’s open forum with representatives of Student Government and Vice President for Campus Life Kim Goff-Crews, yet another sign of the problematic relationship many students have with SG. Simply put, the popular view is that SG is ineffective and lacks meaningful power. Every year, new candidates run on the promise of making SG more effectual and responsive to student opinion, and still the problems persist. The lack of trust in SG could also be seen in the most recent elections, in which all three candidates for Class of 2011 Representative who were officially on the ballot won by default, and a fourth writein candidate was elected with 33 votes. This relationship with SG ultimately has negative conse quences for the entire student body, and it is something that all U of C students should work to fix. Rather
than expecting SG to improve on its own, or assuming it can’t ever improve, we should all take interest in SG, and thus empower it to bring about the changes we hope to see on campus. No organization on campus is better suited than SG to express student concerns and enact the reforms that we desire. Contrary to popular belief, SG can change things. They have the manpower, some control of funding, and most importantly, an official working relationship with the administration. But SG can only be effective in persuading the administration to do anything if it is seen as the authentic voice of the entire student body. If participation in student government is limited to a small group of representatives and the minority of students who vote in elections, why would the administration take SG’s decisions seriously? No matter how lightly adminis-
trators regard SG, their disregard can’t possibly be as severe as most students’. There is a widespread perception that SG is just another student group, and frequently students working for changes in the University choose not to seek SG’s assistance. This is categorically the wrong approach: SG is the chief mechanism the student body has to bring about change on campus. With enough student participation—be it running for a position or simply piping up at an open forum—SG will genuinely represent student opinion, and it will finally function as a bridge between our wishes and the realities of student life. The Maroon thus encourages students to become involved with SG. Virtually everyone has concerns and needs that SG can voice and potentially fulfill—whether it’s about the U-Pass, more options for fulfilling the art/music/drama requirement, or changing the rela-
tionship between the U of C police and the student body. But the onus is not on SG to seek us out, find out what we want, and work for those changes—it is on us to create a SG that represents us all, to put our full faith in our representatives, and to empower them to create the campus community that we want. Too many students see SG as mere résumé fodder for future politicians. But SG is created by our votes, by our involvement, and by our aspirations for it; if we only see SG as another line on a résumé, that’s all it will be. Addressing SG’s weaknesses is the duty not only of its elected members, but of all us as U of C students, and only when we take collective responsibility for SG’s successes and failures will it ever be the force we want. The M AROON Editorial Board includes the Editor-in-Chief and the Viewpoints Editors.
DOUGLAS EVERSON, Designer ANDREW GREEN, Designer IVY PEREZ, Designer
OP-ED
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
CHRISTINA SCHWARTZ, Designer JESSICA SHEFT-ASON, Designer MATT TYNDALE, Designer
An imminent truth
Editorial understates social changes at U of C
ATHENA JIN XIE, Designer ANNA AKERS-PECHT, Copy Editor ALICE BLACKWOOD, Copy Editor HUNTER BUCKWORTH, Copy Editor MARCELLO DELGADO, Copy Editor JORDAN FRANKLIN, Copy Editor DANIELLE GLAZER, Copy Editor LAUREN LARSON, Copy Editor SAALIKA ABBAS MELA, Copy Editor
Environmental concerns are pressing matters of life and death, not abstract, long-term considerations By Emily Kaiser Viewpoints Staff
GABE VALLEY, Copy Editor ALEX WARBURTON, Copy Editor LILY YE, Copy Editor WENJIA DOREEN ZHAO, Copy Editor
The CHICAGO MAROON is published twice weekly during autumn, winter, and spring quarters. Circulation: 6,500 The opinions expressed in the Viewpoints section are not necessarily those of the MAROON.
©2010 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
SUBMISSIONS The CHICAGO MAROON welcomes opinions and responses from its readers. Send op-ed submissions and letters to: Viewpoints CHICAGO MAROON 1212 East 59th Street Chicago, IL 60637 E-mail: Viewpoints@ChicagoMaroon.com The editors reserve the right to edit materials for clarity and space. Letters to the editor should be limited to 400 words. Op-ed submissions, 800 words.
CONTACT News: News@ChicagoMaroon.com Viewpoints: Viewpoints@ChicagoMaroon.com Voices: Voices@ChicagoMaroon.com Sports: Sports@ChicagoMaroon.com Photography: Photo@ChicagoMaroon.com Design: Design@ChicagoMaroon.com Copy Editing: Copy@ChicagoMaroon.com Advertising: jmarcini@uchicago.edu
Pa r t o f m e i s n o t s u r p r i s e d when an issue as globally resounding as environmentalism falls to the wayside time and time again. Today’s political climate seemingly requires about a decade of unfocused, mis-intentioned blather before any agreements are reached. Yet the painfully obvious grounds of popular environmentalism—our activities are clearly having an effect on the Earth and we should probably do something about it—are repeatedly lost in the logistical details of cap and trade, carbon footprints,
and the “exaggerated” science of global warming. The annual report of the President’s Cancer Panel, released last Thursday, should hopefully bring our divergence back home. The President’s Cancer Panel oversees the activities of the National Cancer Program and tends to render a snapshot of mainstream medical opinion. That’s why it’s especially significant when, for the first time, they warn in their report of the “unacceptable burden of cancer resulting from environmental and occupational exposures” to chemicals and other carcinogens. Research in these causes is shock-
I do.) After sitting through this somewhat vapid conversation, I was really excited to hear a comment from Lahiri that seemed really inspired and insightful. The interviewer asked her about her childhood as the daughter of a librarian, and this led to a tangent in the conversation in which Lahiri spoke about what she
In response to “Weird social science” (May 7): The University of Chicago is a great and prestigious institution, one of the top academic schools in the country. It has also been a distinctive institution, with a different conception of “college life” than other schools. The University of Chicago has been committed to the life of the mind, and to providing a place for students who are outside the norm. This does not in itself make us superior to other institutions of higher learning. But it has provided a difference from them—it is one of the things, along with our b eautiful neoGothic buildings and our dark, long winters, which has made the University of Chicago distinct. Times, however, seem to be changing; the texture of campus life and the nature and goals of the student body seem to be slowly shifting. There has been an increase in students dedicated more to a pre-professional education than to “learning for the sake of learning,” a new crop of people who are dedicated more to future careers than to learning qua learning, and a new emphasis on athletics and social life. I do not think these changes are necessarily bad. Certainly, I would never say that any new students coming to attend the University are somehow less intellectually able than their predecessors. Students will remain as intelligent, as hardworking, as creative, and in general as excellent as they have always been.
READING continued on page 4
LETTER TO THE EDITOR continued on page 4
ingly behind, as institutions such as the American Cancer Society tend to focus on preventable cancers from tobacco use, alcohol, and poor diet, and the genetic roots of cancers. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e Pa n e l believes the “true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated,” and the numbers are very much there. When the Environmental Protection Agency began testing chemicals for commercial use in 1976, the 62,000 chemicals on the market were exempt from such testing. In the years since, t h e E PA h a s g o n e b a c k a n d
CANCER continued on page 4
OP-ED
Putting down Aristotle Criticizing accessible literature alienates potential readers and does a disservice to book lovers By Charna Albert Viewpoints Contributor I saw Jhumpa Lahiri give a reading from her work at International House a few days ago. Lahiri, the author of the stunning novel The Namesake, is truly a lyrical genius. Her reading was great, but I have to say I was kind of disappointed with the interview portion of the talk.
It may have been the fault of the interviewer, because the interviewer’s questions were somewhat uninspired. She mainly pointed out overlying themes from Lahiri’s work and then asked Lahiri for affirmation that these themes were, in fact, what Lahiri was going for. (You have a lot of architectural symbols in your work, right? Why, yes,
4
CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | May 14, 2010
Reading shouldn’t be a dutiful struggle against the Western canon READING continued from page 3 thinks the purpose of books should be, and what kinds of relationships people should have with books. “Literature requires a certain sort of attention, which I can’t help but think is a good thing for us” she said. “I wouldn’t want writers to write in a way that was more easily digested. I never thought that was the point.” She said this in the context of the virtues of reading physical books over reading websites and comics and blogs and tweets and whatever other multimedia is flung at us every day as we go about our lives. At first I thought that was pretty cool and profound. Obviously, books are really great and I don’t know where I would be today if I hadn’t come from a family that encouraged me to read, and to love it. But after some reflection, I realized how much I actually completely disagree with Lahiri. The more I think about it, the more Lahiri’s comment actually seems to touch on a pivotal point of contention between book lovers and, well, people that think that books shouldn’t be “easily digested.” It’s a kind of pretentiousness or snobbery, a conservative reaction to a world where it does seem like people have shorter attention spans and require their literature to be in a format that’s easy to read, and preferably does not require so much commitment that they have to sign off of Facebook in order to concentrate on it. In a world where people have less time to read and Wikipedia and Sparknotes are rampant, it’s an understandable reaction to assert that “real” literature should use difficult vocabulary and be reviewed in the Sunday New York Times. But this attitude is not going to win over committed reality TV fans and bring them into the literature fold. In a time where it seems like even print journalism is becoming obsolete, we’re hard pressed to get people to read anything, much less read Finnegans Wake. We in the book appreciation fan club of the world cannot afford to alienate new converts by turning up our noses at less critically acclaimed pop literature. While much of what the general popu-
lace reads hasn’t made it into the classical canon, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own value. As a UChicago student, I know what it’s like to read “hard-to-digest” books. And now I need Tums. There has to be a division of reading material in between N i c o m a c h e a n E t h i c s a n d S a r a h Pa l i n ’ s Tw i t t e r f e e d . I ’ v e e n j o y e d m y s ch o o l readings—well, most of them, anyway. But I couldn’t only read books of that caliber. To maintain sanity, I think people need to read something a little lighter on the stomach now and then. Or else people really will give up on literature and spend all their time on FML.com. Personally, after I’ve finished my obligatory 300 pages a week of reading for school, I’m too exhausted to think of reading something a little lighter, or at least that’s how I felt all of fall and winter quarter. Recently, however, I went to the Reg, not to study, but to check out a book. (I know, it’s revolutionary.) I ended up with Catcher in the Rye. I’d never read it before, and I felt like it was necessary, not because it’s part of some classical canon, à la UChicago core class reading material, but because it’s something that’s mentioned a lot in popular culture and in regular conversation. There’s something to be said for being familiar with books typically mentioned in pop culture, not only because they’re usually famous for a reason, but because being familiar with such books brings you into the community of people who are well versed in a certain class of literature, even if it’s not Dante’s Inferno we’re talking about here. I’m not attacking Lahiri. I think she’s an incredible writer, and in fact, I think her books belong in the category of books that I consider somewhere in between Hum reading material and pop lit. But I also think that if we are serious about getting the public to read, we need to market books in such a way that they are a rewarding pleasure, not a duty or, at worst, a stomachache. Charna Albert is a first-year in the College.
U of C’s unique culture is worth worrying over LETTER TO THE EDITOR continued from page 3 The difference, as far as I can see, lies in attitude. These new students, although perfectly intellectually capable of doing so, do not tend to care deeply about “the life of the mind” or about learning for the sake of learning. This is not necessarily a bad thing; indeed, from any rational standpoint, their position probably makes more sense. But this process of change does represent a difference from what was and to some extent still is. We are becoming more like a traditional “top school.” No one would accuse students at a school like Stanford of being intellectually lax; indeed, the very opposite. But there are many institutions with excellent, top-tier academics and students without a commitment to “the life of the mind.” And that is the real danger here: that we are moving away from what has historically made this university distinct. Look at admissions figures. Historically, the College has had an extremely high admissions percentage as compared to peer institutions, going as high as 77% in 1993 (that statistic always astounded me). The explanation for this has always been that the College is self-selecting—that is, only a certain type of student really wants to come to the University, and that many students therefore simply do not apply to the University. However, in recent years, admissions percentages have dropped precipitously, this year falling below 20%
for the first time. Further, cross-admits are up—more students are choosing the University of Chicago over peer schools. If we accept the explanation for high admissions percentages, by extension this means that applicants to the College are no longer nearly as self-selective. That “certain type of student” is no longer the main profile of the applicant. Rather, our student body most likely bears more resemblance to the student bodies at peer schools. This is not a bad thing. In the long run, it is certainly better for the health of the college. More publicity and a better reputation, a more normal, enjoyable college experience, more alumni who can donate, a more balanced and healthy student body— all of these are unqualified good things. But they do run the risk of wiping away the distinctive qualities that have made this school what it is today. Things are changing at the University of Chicago, one way or another. It will be a more normal place, a healthier place, a more balanced place. But it likely will not retain those unique qualities which have distinguished it for so long—the dedication to learning for learning’s sake, the oddness, the weirdness. And they who care deeply about these qualities, they who were attracted here by them, are right to be worried about their imminent disappearance. D. D. Ryan Class of 2012
Deadly environmental issues demand dramatic, urgent action CANCER continued from page 3 tested only 200 of those chemicals, and of the chemicals tested, banned just five. The report outlines just how widespread our exposure to potential environmental carcinogens is. Americans are chronically exposed to 124 airborne toxins, 80 of which are known carcinogens. About two million Americans have elevated cancer risks just from living in known “hotspots”, the largest of which are, not surprisingly, in our major urban centers – Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. An investigation of the US water supply identified 260 different contaminants in samples taken from all over the country; 141 of those have no safety regulations at all, while 40 of them are found in samples from water sources that serve at least one million people. The Panel tops it all off by noting researches have found up to 300 contaminants – everything from industrial chemicals and pesticides to consumer product ingredients and fossil fuel pollutants – in the umbilical cord blood of new born babies. Despite these astonishing facts, environmentalism as a movement stays lodged in an abstract ideology primed for our political prattle. The narrow focus of climate change and carbon emissions justify “going green” in order to save the planet for future generations. Think of the polar bears, the ice caps, New Orleans. When faced with massive global debt and the immediate need for cheap and efficient energy, however, the future generations inevitably lose out. Ever-escalating hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes remain isolated in our minds from the “first causes” like driving a car and buying bottled water, and it’s unsettling to hear beliefs that the “natural” cycle of these phenomena, even rising global temperatures, stymies any worthwhile efforts we could make to stop it. Good thing we have reusable grocery bags, “green” light bulbs, and the organic label to conveniently market moral goodfeelings without the annoying burdens of actual, effortful change. Our effect on the environment is far from a back-burner consequence we can easily avoid or abide by at our convenience. 1.5 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer last year and it is the second largest cause of death in the United States after heart disease. Yet while we’re getting better at curing it - death rates have seen decline with new treatments and earlier detections - we’re most certainly getting better at causing it as well. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer at some point in his or her lifetime. These numbers go far beyond smokers, the obese, or defenseless victims of their own DNA. In fact, cancer-risk for immigrants of all races skyrocket upon arrival to the United States, merely because of how we live. It
is so alarmingly clear that the chemicals and emissions we add to our environment are killing us – not the ozone layer, not the polar bears, not the rainforests – but our mothers, our fathers, our children, our friends, ourselves. The scale of the problem intimidates most individual environmental action. We may filter drinking water into glass containers, but we can’t shower and wash our dishes with a Brita pitcher. One of the foremost recommendations to prevent cancer is to avoid foods that are exposed to pesticides, fertilizers, and hormones, yet inaccurate or nonexistent labels make even honest attempts nearly futile. The high expense of organic-chic makes abiding by such a diet wholly impossible for the majority of poor Americans, and cancer is dangerously close to becoming a classbased killer. Part of the reason for such severity of the problem is an outdated law – the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 – which puts the burden of proof on the EPA to show a chemical is hazardous rather than on the production company to prove that it is safe. The Safe Chemicals Act of 2010, introduced by Sen. Frank L autenb erg (D-NJ), seeks to reverse this relationship appropriately, and will hopefully find encouragement in the Panel’s report. This bill is not seen as a progressive green initiative, however, and mainly receives criticisms for its limits on productivity and blows to technological innovations that would result from the new testing burdens. But when we’re spending $118 billion to clean up oil spills that continue to leak, and billions upon billions to provide healthcare for those inflicted with the diseases of our modern lifestyles, cheap manufacturing, energy, and consumer product innovations are not as evidently worthwhile or efficient. In fact we’ve proved ourselves outlandishly innovative time and time again, but it’s time to reconsider why we’re being innovative in the first place. We’ve made our world bigger, stronger, faster, more portable, more disposable, in mere decades. For the technologically innovative generation emerging, let’s redefine “better” as safer, not for the sake of the environment that exists somewhere else, but for the one that is very much lived, breathed, and consumed by us on a daily basis, and is very much affecting the health of those we love. Environmentalism needs to move out of the scope of morally proprietary actions for a better tomorrow and a philosophical ethos of a natural world. It needs to, quite literally, be seen as urgent and drastic combat against the second largest killer of Americans today. Emily Kaiser is a fourth-year in the College majoring in Sociology.
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CHICAGO CHICAGO MAROON MAROON | VOICES | VOICES | November | May 14,20, 2010 2009
VOICES
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MAY 14, 2010
THEATER
Suiting up
Neverwhere weaves an elaborate urban fantasy By Will Sims Voices American God The first thing you notice about Lifeline Theatre’s stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel Neverwhere is the stage itself. This dark fantasy inhabits a set reminiscent of an eerie underground sewer system, with the characters entering and exiting through pipes or revolving brick doors. The stage is frequently obscured by fog or illuminated by a colorful collage of light, giving the tale a gloomy yet magical feel.
NEVERWHERE Lifeline Theatre Through June 20
P
resident Robert Zimmer talks with David Logan after Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony for the Reva and David Logan Arts Center. In 2007, Logan donated $35 million—one of the largest gifts in University history—to fund the new Center. CLAIRE HUNGERFORD/MAROON
Neverwhere tracks the journey of Richard Mayhew, who is dragged from his normal—albeit dull—life in London Above into the magical world of London Below, home to beasts, angels, and vicious assassins. The tale is completely predictable, but it is comfortable and well executed. There is a reason why this fish-
out-of-water formula has been used for stories since time immemorial: It manages to be enjoyable throughout, with a heartwarmingly satisfying ending. All the residents of London Below are outfitted in elaborate yet motley costumes, which makes their rapid changes even more impressive. All but a few of the actors play multiple roles, giving this play the feel of a much larger production. Though the flamboyant outfits, along with flashy production elements, threaten to distract from the story itself, the work is grounded by several superb acting performances. Chris Hainsworth gives a delightfully wicked portrayal of the unscrupulous and roguish Marquis de Carabas. Boldly swaggering across the stage, Hainsworth manages to steal the show from any of the main protagonists, despite his moral ambiguity. Adaptor Robert Kauzlaric has his strong moments as the perpetually confused Richard Mayhew, but for the most part, his storybook personality simply serves as a backdrop to the much more engaging performances
NEVERWHERE continued on page 6
THEATER
The Good Negro shows the personal side of political struggle By Monika Lagaard Voices Son of a Preacher Man Everyone learns about the civil rights movement at some point—usually in an unenthusiastic high school American History class. But what we are often taught are simple dates, names, and heroic deeds. In Tracy Scott Wilson’s new play, The Good Negro, playing at Goodman Theatre, Wilson goes beyond these basic facts to depict the humanity in the flawed heroes of the movement, reminding the audience that these people who changed the very
a willingness to speak out, despite the misgivings of her husband, Pelzie. What ensues is a struggle to maintain good press and organization, working against FBI agents Steve Lane and Paul Moore who are intent on keeping
the peace and discrediting Lawrence. The two even go so far as to hire Gary Thomas Rowe, Jr., the stereotypical ignorant white supremacist, to infiltrate the KKK. Many challenges arise in the campaign, including discovery
of Lawrence’s penchant for infidelity, rising tensions between Evans and Rutherford, and Pelzie’s gradual drift toward madness. The performances of the entire cast were astounding in their lucid-
ity. Though the events of the play are fictionalized, some of the characters are based on historical figures—most notably, Lawrence resembles Martin Luther King, Jr. in his rhetoric and
GOOD NEGRO continued on page 6
THE GOOD NEGRO Goodman Theatre Through June 6
course of history were, in fact, human. The play is set in early-6 0s Birmingham, Alabama. The South is alive with civic unrest, and Reverend James L awrence has come to Birmingham with wife Corinne, friend Reverend Henry Evans, and newly hired European businessman Bill Rutherford, intent on exploring the possibility of organizing a movement. Lawrence, Evans, and Rutherford assess the situation politically, attempting to sort out which incidents of segregation could prove useful to their cause. Enter Claudette Sullivan, beaten for allowing her four-year-old daughter to use the white restroom. Sullivan ends up being what Lawrence is so desperately looking for: a “good negro,” with a respectable past, sweet disposition, and
Henry (Teagle F. Bougere) tries to comfort James (Billy Eugene Jones) after learning that they lost the Mad Men costume contest. COURTESY OF GOODMAN THEATRE
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CHICAGO MAROON | VOICES | May 14, 2010
H U N G E R
S T R I K E
By Iliya Gutin
Where's the beef? Not at the Green Zebra My best meal in Chicago was at a vegetarian restaurant. It’s something I never thought I would say, or even think. I had never even seen a vegetarian establishment that did not double as an artisanal coffeehouse. Plus, the very notion of vegetarianism is lost to me, for a world without meat, or animal products for that matter, was a world without hope. My thoughts were most eloquently summarized by none other than chef, author, personal hero, and all-around badass Anthony Bourdain: “Life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.” Amen to that. So how did I, an adamant carnivore, end up at The Green Zebra? The restaurant, up in Goose Island, isn’t exactly a foodie secret. In my constant hunt for Chicago’s culinary finest, the name certainly kept reappearing, as did Chef Shawn McClain, winner of the 2006 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Midwest. It is certainly a Chicago gastronomic landmark. But I was naïve. I was ignorant. Perhaps in an overly masculine display of machismo and bravado, the notion of enjoying a vegetarian meal struck me as sacrilegious and, dare I say, evil. Thus I kept pushing The Green Zebra away, subsiding instead on fine ham and Double Downs. But this charade could only go on for so long--my curiosity was ultimately my demise. All these awards, all these rave reviews. What was all the fuss about?! It was my sworn duty, as a self-proclaimed foodie, to investigate.
Though I entered the restaurant with a not- for. The traditional bread and cheese ensemble so-subtle air of skepticism, which was only was replaced by a baguette topped with goat magnified by the extreme minimalist design of cheese, placed inside the bowl. By the time you the restaurant (I find that “trendy” and “vegetar- had finished the soup, the bread had absorbed ian” overlap way too often), the food quickly an ample amount of the onion broth, which, pacified my inner blood-thirsty caveman. The coupled with the tartness of the goat cheese, menu is one page, cleanly divided among start- lead to a very satisfying finale. The ensuing poached duck egg in potato ers, entrees, and desserts, and the waiter recommended about three dishes as a full meal. I glad- puree is probably the best single dish I have ly complied. Scanning the options, I saw some had in recent memory. What struck me was the Maine scallops, the only non-vegetarian option absolutely ridiculous simplicity of the dish. It that day, and temptation did rear its ugly head, was literally just the duck egg nestled in some but I decided to stay true to my mission, instead potato puree. Where was the saffron-infused olive oil? The seared ordering a variation on foie gras? Not even French onion soup and some shaved truffle? a poached duck egg. If this is what The power of fresh, In the meantime vegetarianism entails, quality ingredients will I enjoyed a pepperthen sign me up. never fail to astound corn soda, part of a me. All I had to do was few “unusual” soda offerings they had, whose flavor remarkably break open the white, and unleash the delicious changed from peppermint-sweet, to subtly- cascade of runny yolk. Each forkful was rich, licorice, and finally to intensely bitter as the warm, and insanely yummy. The finale was a playful twist on a root-beer meal progressed. But on to the actual food itself—honestly, I float, complete with a freshly baked pretzel and could probably wax poetic on the beauty of chocolate dipping sauce. A fusion of crystallized these dishes until kingdom come. They truly ginger in the ice cream mixed with the soothwere amazing, and I will keep my account ing root beer flavor was creative and a very brief, as my words truly do not do the food appropriate way to end an equally balanced justice. The onion soup, built on a three-onion meal. As for the dishes of my fellow diners—a base, was actually surprisingly light and refined, creamed spinach-filled crepe, forbidden black choosing to focus on the actual flavor of the rice, cauliflower pots de crème, an amazing onions rather than the “cheese-overflowing- chocolate pave—I will only say that they were the-cup” effect that so many restaurants go all delicious in their own right, with that same
Gaiman's novel adapts well from page to stage
Nothing is as it seems in the civil rights movement
NEVERWHERE continued from page 5 from the citizens of London Below that he meets along his journey. Kyra Morris dominates the thrilling fight scenes as the mysterious Hunter, especially in a creatively choreographed battle with the Great Beast of London. Katie McLean also does a superb job as Door, who alternates between a damsel-in-distress and take-charge heroine with flawless ease. The play has comic moments, which do much to lighten what would otherwise be a fairly dark production. This contrast between humor and danger is exemplified in the duo of Sean Sinitski and Christopher M. Walsh, who bring the fun to villainy as the coldhearted assassins Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar. Both actors are able to remain ominous and disquieting, despite their condescending smirks, outlandish costumes, and deadpan humor. The play thrives on the accuracy of its adaptation, which gives it a strong storyline and satisfies Gaiman’s fans, even though it does tend to run a bit long. The production drags in the middle, barely strung along by a series of wisecracks and fights. The viewer is shuffled from one underworld location to another, with an omnipresent sense of danger that soon becomes stale. The plot manages to pull together for a gratifying dénouement, but only narrowly avoids overstaying its welcome. The production is also subject to Mikhail Fiskel’s relentless and constant score, which sets the tone for the events unfolding onstage. While it succeeds in creating an ominous atmosphere that pervades the play, its ubiquitous presence does more to detract from than enhance the overall feel of the work. It forces a tone, rather than trusting the actors to create the mood through their portrayals, which feels like overkill with such a talented cast. Don't see Neverwhere for its inventive plot, but if you're simply looking for a fun romp through a convincing fantasy world, this is your play.
GOOD NEGRO continued from page 5 style of preaching. Played by Billy Eugene Jones, Lawrence’s character comes alive, complete with his human failings. He spends a good deal of the play preaching freedom, specifically freedom from segregation. Yet we quickly discover that his life is rife with infidelity, ironically justifying his actions by saying, “It's the only time I feel free.” However, I found the character of Corinne Lawrence, played by Karen Aldridge, to be the most unquestionably compelling. She plays the supportive wife to a T, comforting and reassuring her worry-wrought husband at every turn. When a tape recording of Lawrence with another woman is sent to her home, Aldridge pushes her character to the brink, confronting Lawrence with passionate hurt and dismissing his excuses of loneliness: “I got lonely too. All the time. But there’s no tape of me out there,” she tells him coldly before walking out of the scene. Despite such heavy subject material, Wilson does remarkably well at including a healthy amount of comic relief. The character of Rowe, played by Dan Waller, is especially apt at making the audience laugh. With a thick southern accent and an even thicker head, Rowe bumbles through his KKK recon, calling himself a Fed in order to pick up women. His over-dramatic attitude, coupled with Rutherford’s social ineptitude and Evans’s wit, provide enough laughter to carry the play through its darkness. Walking into the theater to see The Good Negro, I didn’t know what to expect. My memories of American History class are fuzzy at best, and I was afraid my lack of knowledge would greatly hamper my enjoyment of the play. But it didn’t. Wilson successfully illustrates the complexity of the civil rights movement—the politics, the relationships, the tragedy, the humor—and its emphasis on individuals, not necessarily the great motherboard of history. Even when faced with his own frailty, Lawrence does his best to rise above it, remarking, “I’m not the issue here. Segregation is the issue,” and proving that his heroism is ultimately intertwined with his own flawed humanity.
ingredient-focused philosophy dominating the taste. All-in-all, it really was a perfect meal on every level; tastefully, technically, and, most importantly, tastily. If this is what vegetarianism entails, then sign me up. And that brings me to my final point: How is vegetarianism really any different than regional cuisine? If anything, it is substantially more encompassing. Of course you have your stages of vegetarianism—raw vegans, lacto-vegetarians, fruitarians (which is apparently not some mystic cult), and the ever present pseudo-fauxquasi-it’s-just-for-Lent-I’m-trying-to-lower-mycholesterol-ok-I-still-eat-pork vegetarians, all of which act to limit your food intake in some way or another. But for the most part, if we remove the ethical underpinnings of vegetarianism, we are left with a perfectly adequate set of ingredients and cooking techniques for creating culinary brilliance. It’s not just salads and grilled eggplant. Just as any culinary form has its failures when it tries to be something it is not—think Thaiflavored pizza or any other nightmarish fusion (Philadelphia roll anyone?)—vegetarianism fails precisely when it tries to create substitutes for that which it specifically sets out to avoid. Chicken and beef flavored tofu, veggie burgers: They only serve to give vegetarianism a bad name. If you make the conscious decision to be a vegetarian, don’t let that be an excuse to stop respecting food. Maybe then everyone will stop hating on you so much. Even Anthony Bourdain.
Mmm... cupcakes.
Stop by the MAROON's table at Summer Breeze tomorrow for very free, very delicious, very free cupcakes.
7
CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | May 14, 2010
Q&A
Recent successes have brought out the spectators
Q&A: Covering the beat with Law alum Lester Munson
W. TENNIS continued from back page The Maroons are hosting regionals for the first time in program history, playing in front of their home crowd for just the third time this spring. “I think it’s huge,” Higgins said. “We were talking about it at dinner [last night] and we’re so excited to actually have spectators coming out to watch us. We never
had the support last year that we have this year, and just because we’re given opportunity to play by our school, that’s the one thing we wanted to do—we wanted to show what we can do. It’s a good opportunity to show what we’re made of. “We’re pumped up for the match tomorrow,” she said. “We’re pumped up for the whole weekend.”
For some, Penultimate provides chance to set personal records TRACK AND FIELD continued from back page conditions on Saturday to meet standards.” There are other competitors with little prospects of a national bid. For them, these next two meets will be their last of the season, and possibly of their track careers. “We are trying to add to our list of NCAA qualifiers,” Hall said. “But also for athletes that are not at the national caliber to be setting lifetime best performances.” At this point, all athletes are preparing for these last few performances regardless of goals. Whether they are going to nationals or have no chance of competing, all the ath-
letes are tapering to reach their top times in the next weeks. “[We’ve been having] much shorter practices and more fine tuning than what we were doing a few weeks back,” Hall said. The Penultimate will come at a particular cost for the athletes this weekend. Unfortunately, it coincides with Summer B r e e z e . “ S u ck s t h e y a r e o n t h e s a m e weekend but maybe we can still make the concert,” Ray said. “Man, it would be penultimate if I could go to Summer Breeze.” The Maroons will compete at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Stagg Field.
CLASSIFIEDS ESPN investigative journalist Lester Munson (J.D. ‘67) spoke about his unique career path at the Gordon Center for Integrative Sciences yesterday evening. MATT BOGEN/MAROON
By Audrey Henkels Sports Editor Legal analyst, writer, and ESPN producer Lester Munson (J.D. ‘67) has covered such high-profile cases as the investigations of Roger Clemens’s purported steroid use, the Michael Vick dog fighting prosecution, and the O.J. Simpson robbery trial. Munson has a soft spot for the city of Chicago, the midway where he spent hours playing intramural touch football, and the Maroon. “I worked for the college paper [at Princeton, where he obtained his undergraduate degree], and I’ve been sliding downhill ever since,” Munson said before the interview even began. When he came to Chicago, he became involved in crime reporting for the Chicago Daily News, an afternoon paper that is since “long gone.” Munson was on the staff of Sports Illustrated from 1991 to 2007, when he started working for ESPN. “Now I work on current issues in sports off the field: money, crime, and power,” he continued. “I do all the stories about athletes that are in trouble. I’m now kind of a glorified crime reporter in the world of sports.” CHICAGO MAROON: What was your favorite case that you covered? Lester Munson: The rape prosecution of Mike Tyson the fighter. There were 400 news organizations there at the trial; I was at Sports Illustrated at the time, and we had three people and a photographer. The trial lasted four weeks, and it came out with the correct result. Justice was done, which does not usually happen. In the beginning, people thought that the woman [who had made rape allegations] was lying to try to get some of his money, his celebrity status. But she was telling the truth, and the prosecutor, Greg Garrison, was brilliant, and he convicted him in a very challenging case where other prosecutors would have walked away. CM: Can you talk a little bit about your experience here at the Law School? LM: Well, the most important thing is that I met my wife my first year here. CM: How did you meet? LM: A blind date. A classmate from Princeton
knew her from working at the [Booth] Graduate School of Business, and set us up. We met at the beginning of the year and got married just before exams. CM: What else stands out from your time here at U of C? LM: I did enjoy law school—there were wonderful people in my class. Also, I played lots of intramural basketball and touch football on the Midway with the guys. CM: Did you always know you wanted to use your law degree in a sports setting? LM: I went to law school under parental pressure. After graduation, I worked briefly at a law firm and in other few law-related jobs, finally left in 1989 to go into journalism, and have been in that field ever since. CM: What advice would you give to people interested in sports journalism? LM: People shouldn’t be discouraged; very good things are happening despite what’s happening in print journalism. There are so many more ways people can get involved than when I started the profession: You can work on the web, radio, or television—you don’t have to choose. It’s so much fun [to work at ESPN]. It’s wonderful for me to be able to do some reporting, put it up on the web, and have people see it and comment within a number of hours. The web has worked out very well for us—we have an enormous following. CM: Will you go to the World Cup? LM: The only way I would go is if someone [an athlete] gets murdered. CM: I have to ask—I’m from Cooperstown— have you ever visited and been to the Baseball Hall of Fame? LM: I have! I can’t wait to bring my [four] grandchildren. CM: Any advice for students interested in law school? LM: There are a lot of lawyers in sports journalism, and I’ll expect we’ll see more in the upcoming years. [Working in this field] is a lot more fun than going to court every day; it’s a wonderful way to make a living.
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IN QUOTES “Just a hamster chasing a peanut.”
SPORTS
—Anaheim Angels catcher Bobby Wilson, discussing what doctors found when they examined his head following a collision with his teammate.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Maroons ready for NCAA play on home courts By Jake Grubman MAROON Staff When the women’s tennis team entered the 2010 season, they had two goals: beat Emory and win the NCAA Championship. Part one? Check. Part two? That starts today. After finishing fourth in last year’s N CA A tournament, the third-ranked Maroons (20–3) will begin their quest for a national title this afternoon against Grove City (12–2). “Last year they were all new for the most part,” head coach Marty Perry said. “They feel like they’ve been around.... The girls are confident. Their sights are set on winning it all, and we can’t control that, but I get the sense that that’s what they’re about. They really believe that; they’re not just saying that.” Ne w c o m e r s t o t h e n a t i o n a l stage a year ago, with a roster chock-full of first-years streaking to the program’s first Final Four appearance, the Maroons returned with all but one player this season, giving the team a level of experience that has changed their approach to the tournament. “The tournament’s really big,” second-year Kendra Higgins said. “Last year, we had nothing to lose. This year we’ve shown that
we’re really big contenders, so people are obviously going to be gunning for us this time.” So far this season, the team has proventhat the potential they showed at the end of last season was real. A strong showing from several individuals in the ITA Small College Championship served as a prelude to a strong spring season, in which the Maroons placed second in the Indoor Championships, first in the Midwest Invitational, and won their first UAA title. Along with another piece of hardware to add to the team’s collection, the UAA Championship meant the Maroons could finally lift the Emory monkey off their backs in time for the postseason. Wi t h a l o n g b r e a k s i n c e t h a t victory, Chicago hopes to carry some of those good vibes into the NCAA tournament. “I think the win against Emory was huge, mainly because they had not had an upset all season,” assistant coach Taka Bertrand said. “For [the Maroons] to do that was just a big hurdle for them, mentally, to beat one of the teams ranked inside the top three.” Chicago has had four weeks to think about the NCAA tournament, a longer break than they had last season because the UAA tournament was a week earlier
and the NCAA tournament is a week later this year. When the Maroons gathered for their team dinner last night, Higgins said she saw a more focused team than the one that reached the national semifinals a year ago. “From last year, I feel like we all were just focusing on making a name for ourselves,” she said. “This year, we’ve been focusing on our weaknesses and trying to capitalize on our strengths.... I think we have a deeper understanding of how each match counts, each person has the same responsibility, and when we go out on the court, we’re playing for each other, not just for ourselves. “We’re much more of a solid team unit because we have a big common goal in mind. I think we’re thinking of a team national title, and that’s it,” she continued. Chicago has a strong draw for regionals, playing unranked Grove City today and most likely facing off against 21st-ranked Wash U (12–5) on Saturday. Chicago has yet to play the Wolverines, but the Maroons boast an 8–1 win over the Bears already this year, giving the team plenty of confidence that a trip to the semifinals in Virginia will be in store. Adding to the team’s confidence is the fact that the road to the NCAA title begins at home.
W. TENNIS continued on page 7
Second-year Jennifer Kung, shown last season, begins her second NCAA run today. She went 3–2 in singles and 4–1 in doubles in the 2009 tournament. FILE PHOTO BY CAMILLE VAN HORNE/MAROON
TRACK AND FIELD
Chicago’s top athletes look to secure nationals bids at Penultimate
Fourth-year Bill Cheng hopes to qualify in the 100-meter dash at this weekend’s Chicago Penultimate. FILE PHOTO BY ERIC GUO/MAROON
By Will Fallon Sports Editor At this point in the season, track is a lot like a middle school dance. You struggle to find a partner for the slow songs you know are
approaching. Knowing the night must come to a close, you would desperately like to extend it. With two songs left, it’s time to ask the little red-haired girl to dance and proceed to sweep her off her feet. In this terrible mixed metaphor,
songs are grueling track meets, and the girl is an invitation to nationals. Within the next week, Chicago has its last two meets. First up is tomorrow’s final home meet, the Chicago Penultimate. Next
Thursday and Friday will be the North Central Last Chance. With just two meets left to show their stuff, the Maroons are ready to go. Although some athletes already have provisional bids, they are not resting on their laurels. Everyone wants to do better in the events. “At this point in the season we are just looking to improve our marks,” fourth-year Claire Ray said. “I still need to throw discus farther which I really hope will happen this weekend. I am also hoping to have the penultimate performance.” Ray has already achieved provisional qualifi cation in hammer throw as well as shot put, but is hoping to put up an automatic qualifying performance. Third-year Liz Lawton is also looking to gain an automatic bid this weekend. “I’m hoping to run sub 16:55 and hit the automatic standard for the 5k.” “It’s a big benchmark in distance running and it’s been a lifetime goal of mine to break 17 [minutes], so it should be a good race.” She has already gained provisional bids in both the 10,000 and the 5,000 runs. Beyond Ray and Lawton, a slew of other competitors have yet to earn their invitations to nationals. One factor that has hampered their success has been the weather dur-
ing the past few weeks. At UAAs a tornado watch with gusting winds seriously inhibited performances. The conditions became so terrible at one point that the meet was evacuated to the basement of the Wash U gym. The Benedictine Twilight meet occurred two weeks ago under less severe conditions. Fourth-year Bill Cheng actually posted a time in the 100 meter dash which should have been good enough for a provisional bid to nationals. However, since the wind was working in his favor, his time was not accepted. “We are certainly looking to get a number of athletes on the national lists that have not yet hit standards,” head coach Hall said. “Weather has been an issue this season and it appears as though it will be decent enough
TRACK AND FIELD continued on page 7
CA LEN DA R Friday
5/14
• Softball @ NCAA Regional vs. Central, noon • Women’s Tennis hosts NCAA Regional vs. Grove City, 2 p.m.
Saturday
5/15
• Men’s and Women’s Track host Chicago Penultimate, 2 p.m.