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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010 • VOLUME 122, ISSUE 11 • CHICAGOMAROON.COM

POLITICS

ADMINISTRATION

OBAMA RALLIES ON MIDWAY

Revised sexual offense policy diversifies committees

By Haru Coryne News Staff

ups and compromises on issues like economic reform and education.

“It’s up to you to remember that this election is a choice between the policies that got us into this mess and the policies that are going to get us out of this mess,” Obama said to a supportive crowd that included many U of C students.

Obama said the policies enacted over the past two years, including increased education funding, health care reform, and an economic stimulus package, are just the first steps to put America back on the right track. “We’ve still got a long way to go,” Obama said.

Incumbent governor Pat Quinn, battling to hold his seat against Republican candidate Bill Brady, applauded Obama for passing the stimulus package, which

In October, the University announced a series of changes to disciplinary procedure regarding sexual offense cases in response to suggestions from a committee formed last spring to review the existing policy.

Announced in an e-mail last month, the changes work toward clarifying the process for complainants to bring forth sexual assault cases, as well as improving sensitivity and clarifying rights once the cases have begun.

The changes, instituted over the summer, are the first modification to the sexual violation policy since 2007, when student complaints compelled the University to establish an official sexual assault policy offering avenues through which students can find help.

The revised policy states that disciplinary committees must consist of students and faculty members from several departments and schools.

This measure addresses the concerns of the Working Group on Sexual Assault Policy (WGSAP), which advocated for the past two years that the administration address problems of bias and inefficiency in sexual assault disciplinary committees.

“The fact that [cases are] not 100 percent exclusively within the unit [of the accused] anymore was probably most indicative of big change,” said Kevin Cherry, WGSAP’s student representative on the committee that drafted and submitted the final recommendations to University Provost Thomas Rosenbaum.

Another important change is in tone.

While the previous policy focused on the rights and responsibilities of the accused, the new policy explicitly acknowledges that, like the accused, the accuser also has rights and responsibilities.

The accuser is now entitled to see the written testimony of the accused and witnesses, permitting that the author gives consent. Nevertheless, Vice President of Campus Life Kimberly Goff-Crews added that the

OBAMA continued on page 2

POLICY continued on page 3

President Obama urged attendees to vote for Illinois Democrats at Saturday's rally, part of the party's final push to win seats in a number of close elections.

MATT BOGEN/MAROON

By Ella Christoph News Editor & Adam Janofsky Associate News Editor President Barack Obama rallied in Hyde Park for the first time Saturday, in an effort to win votes for Illinois Democrats in today’s elections.

“It is good to be home,” said Obama at his largest Chicago event since election night in 2008 in Grant Park.

The rally on the Midway Plaisance was one of the Democratic Party’s final efforts to get out the vote for the lagging campaigns of Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias (X ‘98), both of whom trailed their Republican rivals by a couple of points heading into today's elections.

Senator Dick Durbin, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Fourth Ward Alderman and candidate for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (A.B. ‘69, M.A.T. ‘77), and hip-hop artist Common also joined Obama in rallying his voter base from the 2008 presidential election.

The Democratic National Convention (DNC), which organized the “Moving America Forward” rally, estimated about 35,000 turned out for the rally, filling the fenced-off section of the Midway between South Woodlawn and South Dorchester Avenues, although the Chicago Sun-Times reported 20,000 attended the event.

Before Saturday’s rally, Obama’s closest involvement with the University of Chicago as president had been play-

ing basketball at the Lab Schools’ gym when staying in Hyde Park.

But the U of C, where Obama taught law, played a number of roles in getting the rally off the ground. Administrators helped coordinate security for the event; students from UCDems, the University’s Democrat RSO, volunteered before and during the event, helping to set up and direct rally-goers.

Lab Schools students recited the Pledge of Allegiance before the rally and the campus a capella group Ransom Notes sang the national anthem.

Obama and the other politicians reminded attendees about legislation Democrats had enacted since Obama took office—most notably the stimulus package and health care reform—and held Republicans responsible for hold-

DISCOURSE

Seven score & seven years later, Obama takes cue from Lincoln, prof says

By William Wilcox News Contributor Honest Abe and President Obama have more in common than their Illinois roots, said Eric Foner, a political historian at Columbia University, in a lecture in the Social Sciences Building Thursday.

The rhetoric of both men helped win them the hearts of citizens and eventually the presidency, said Foner, author of The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery.

“Both Lincoln and Obama came to prominence through oratory with speeches of elegance and power,” he said.

Obama may have taken a lesson or two from the Great Emancipator when he started his campaign for change, since Lincoln’s abolition movement has been a model for political change for the past century, Foner said. “A social movement and an enlightened leader together produce change,” he explained.

But the common perception of Lincoln as a fighter against racism is

misguided, according to Foner, because Lincoln did not see the “fight against slavery as the fight against racism.”

“Lincoln saw blacks as an alien group that had been uprooted from their native land and were not really part of society,” Foner said, noting that Lincoln advocated for black colonization in Africa or Haiti instead of integration.

Foner described Lincoln not as part of the abolitionist movement exclusively, but as part of a broader set of ideas. “Lincoln saw himself as part of

the broad historical movement toward abolition,” said Foner, who was the president of the American Historical Association in 2000. “On issue after issue, Lincoln came to support positions that had been staked out by abolitionists.”

About 80 people attended the lecture, which was hosted by University history professor Tom Holt, and many students said they were happy to hear a truly honest depiction of Honest Abe. “Professor Foner did a really compelling thing by putting Lincoln in histori-

cal context and looking at the evolution of his views instead of making him out to a be a perfect saint,” third-year Zach Conn said.

Melanie Cloghessy, project assistant at the Music Department, was encouraged by the fact that conversation on slavery and racism still continues.

“I’m 60 years old and I’m deeply discouraged to see over the course of my lifetime the unwillingness of white people to see the realities of slavery,” Cloghessy said. “So when people gather like this, it means a lot to me.”

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CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | November 2, 2010

U of C welcomes Obama home with song, top security

Hip-hop artist Common rapped for the 'crats at Saturday's rally. For more photos of the rally, log on to ChicagoMaroon.com.

DARREN LEOW/MAROON

The Democratic National Committee estimated that 35,000 attended the rally, which aimed to get out the vote for Illinois Democrats, including Governor Patt Quinn and Senatorial candidate Alexi Giannoulias.

DARREN LEOW/MAROON

OBAMA continued from front page

O say can you sing U of C a capella RSO Ransom Notes sang the national anthem in front of thousands at the “Moving America Forward” rally Saturday.

“To be entirely honest, it was a little terrifying,” said Meredith Herbst, a third-year and the Ransom Notes’ musical director. “We didn’t even remember what had happened.”

S t u d e n t D e m o c ra t R S O UCDems contacted all of the a cappella groups on campus in search of an act to sing at the rally, Herbst said in an email.

The DNC selected Ransom Notes at random from among the various a capella groups.

After they submitted a sample video—as well as the names of its members for background checks—the DNC slated them to perform before hip-hop artist Common, who took some time after the rally to sign autographs for them.

–Haru Coryne

he said gave Illinois federal money that helped keep people employed. “In 2008, we changed the guard, America. And in 2010 we’re going to guard the change,” Quinn said.

Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias accused the Republicans of “saying no” to reform. Crowds cheered when he countered Republican claims that Obama will be a “one-term” president.

“I’ve got news for them,” he said, adding, “They picked the wrong city, the wrong state, and the wrong time.”

Giannoulias, almost tied in the polls with Republican Mark Kirk for Obama’s old senate seat, gave his own speech to U of C students at I-House last Monday.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin encouraged attendees to call up five friends and remind them to vote. “Before the Republican party starts dancing in the end zone, let me tell you, here in the home of the Chicago Bears there’s 10 minutes left in this game, and we’re going to win it,” he said.

Fourth Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, who is expected to win the Cook County Board Presidency today, also spoke on the importance of getting the vote out. “No real effort to bring change has ever been easy,” Preckwinle said.

She shared her own experiences participating in democracy. “I started

out knocking on doors and licking envelopes,” she said. “The work that makes democracy strong is not always glamorous. It’s tedious, boring. But if we don’t do it, who will?”

Hip-hop artist and Chicago native Common got the audience singing with lyrics tailored for the event: “From one king’s dream he was able to Ba-rock us,” he rapped.

Though Obama did not mention the U of C in particular, he reached out by addressing student issues like the rising price of a college education. “We poured tens of billions of dollars in student loans to make college more affordable for students across the country,” he said, noting that the U.S. has dropped from first to ninth place worldwide in college graduation rate.

“When we make decisions about deficits, we’re not going to make them on the backs of students,” he added.

Dozens of U of C students from UCDems were involved in coordinating the rally.

Around 80 student volunteers came to help raise voting numbers and campus political awareness, said UCDems’ third-year executive director Anna Zelenz.

Student volunteers made signs Friday directing attendees to entrances and posters encouraging people to vote. On Saturday, they held signs, ushered, and tabled to inform people about voting

locations, and asked attendees to sign Democratic petitions.

First-year UCDems volunteer Daniel Corneaux pointed to Obama’s presidential election, which reached out to youth voters, as a reason for the high turnout of student volunteers. “There’s no better way to energize college students,” Corneaux said. “President Obama has a lock on his brand and it is so much stronger than any other member of the party.”

Zelenz hopes that Obama’s appearance will spur apathetic U of C students to vote and help campus-wide political activity. “We don’t have as active student body as we would like, but [we] have Obama to come and inspire [students] to get out and be active,” Zelenz said.

“We have students who see Obama and will want to get active.”

The competition for Obama’s senate seat between Giannoulias and Kirk makes the Chicago elections particularly exciting, Zelenz said. “The Illinois senate race is the closest in the country and one of the closest midterm election races that has ever occurred,” she said.

“Chicago politics is always complicated but always exciting.”

Third-year Maritza Gomez said she was happy to see Obama back on campus, but wished he had acknowledged his U of C audience. “It was great that he [Obama] was right here at the University of Chicago, except that he didn’t mention us once,” she said.

The University of Chicago administration found out about the plans for the rally last Monday, one day before the event information was released to the public. While the Midway is owned by the City of Chicago, the University helped to coordinate security and sent out notifications about the rally, including traffic restrictions related to the event.

Obama spent Saturday night at his Kenwood home and bought breakfast for Giannoulias and Quinn at Valois Sunday morning, according to fourthyear Carolyn Wald, with patrons looking on.

–Additional reporting by Christina Pillsbury and Jonathan Lai

Halloween party gets the boo!

The Booth School’s Belgian Halloween Party got spooked this weekend for the first time since its inception in 1992.

The Halloween Party is an annual costume event thrown by the Belgian Business Students (BBS), a student-led group at the Booth School of Business.

The sold-out event, postponed until the winter, would have the group’s 19th.

Arjen Mackaay, co-chair of BBS, said that “there were just too many uncertainties” with hosting the party at I-House as was originally planned.

The group was approached by a representative from the school, Mackaay said, and the BBS held an emergency meeting to discuss the party. After consulting with the Booth School’s Academic Services, the BBS decided to cancel the party.

A statement was posted on the party’s Facebook event page: “Even though it was with pain in our hearts that we had to make this decision, we understand that the political rally on Saturday overrides our festivities. It’s hard to compete with the President of the United States of America.”

Mackaay cited transportation as the main reason for the cancellation, along with security concerns. The group will not have to pay for the I-House reservation.

“We started looking into some other locations,” Mackaay said.

“We really wanted to have the party on campus and not some place downtown, because it’s tradition. We looked into that, but it wasn’t possible on short notice.”

–Jonathan Lai

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CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | November 2, 2010

DISCOURSE

Director of Human Genome Institute speaks at first Watson lecture

By Crystal Tsoi News Staff Co-discoverer of DNA structure James D. Watson (S.B. ‘47) and his sister Betty attended the first annual Jean Mitchell Watson lecture, named after their mother, Friday at the Biological Sciences Learning Center.

The inaugural lecture, “Fulfilling the Promise of a Sequenced Human Genome,” featured the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Dr. Eric Green.

James Watson, who along with his sister endowed the lectureship, introduced Green and spoke briefly on his experiences at the U of C, noting that it took him a while to “get over how hard the University of Chicago was.”

Green delved into the potential for current and future research in the field of genomics. He outlined the increased relevance of genomic medicine, an approach to health care tailored to an individual’s unique

genetic blueprint.

“The Human Genome Project wasn’t the end but the beginning of everything,” Green said. “I firmly believe that the central mission for genomics is to establish the path to the realization of genomic medicine.”

“Roughly 5 percent of the 3 billion letters of the human genome are under very strong evolutionary selection, and therefore likely to be functionally important. Using this knowledge about the variants in the human genome can help in conferring risks for genetic disorders,” Green said.

Emphasizing the tremendous amount there still is to learn about the human genome, Green suggested the most wellpreserved parts of the genome can help scientists understand common diseases that are a great burden on the health care system.

Projects such as the 1000 Genomes Project and the ENCODE Project are cataloging all the functional DNA sequences in the human genome in an effort to determine how con-

servation of genes can give us information about the function of different sequences.

Green believes genomics has far-reaching implications in advancing our ability to diagnose and treat disease. “I think that is what we realistically have to regard in respect to genomic medicine. It is a marathon. It is a compelling marathon. It’s going to be a long run but an exciting run.”

Green said his priority in advancing the confluence of theoretical science and improvements to medicine is to break down the “bottlenecks” that occur throughout the process of scientific discovery.

Green began his position 11 months ago at NHGRI, which receives more funding directed to genomics from the government than any other organization in the United States.

“I was there on day one of the human genome project and I was there at the N H G R I on the last day of the human genome project. Genomics has been a major part of my life,” he said.

Dr. Eric Green speaks on the possibilities of genome sequencing at the Watson lecture.

MATT BOGEN/MAROON

Remembering Niyogi

CORRECTIONS » The October 29 article "Holy Rigamarole" misstated the year and misspelled the name of Paul Dueck. Dueck is a third-year in the College.

The MAROON is committed to correcting mistakes for the record. If you suspect the MAROON has made an error, please alert the newspaper by e-mailing

Editor@ChicagoMaroon.com.

i: l a w i D e Indian

th f o l a v i t s Fe

ht g i L

D

octoral student Ankan Saha delivers a eulogy for his mentor, Professor of Computer Scienes Partha Niyogi, at a memorial service Saturday afternoon in Bond Chapel.

DARREN LEOW/MAROON

Student referendum helps spur change to sexual offense policy POLICY continued from front page

Join members of the Hindu Student Sangam in an interfaith celebration of Diwali, with the offering of the puja and with Indian dance and music, Friday November 5 at 7 pm.

On Saturday November 6 from 9 am to 3 pm, attend the experiential workshop, Teaching the Basics of Meditation: to anyone, any time, any place.

Nayaswami Savitri, who leads this workshop, will also preach at the Rockefeller Sunday service on November 7 at 11 am, with music inspired by Indian tradition and dance by members of the South Asian Students Association.

Cosponsored by the Hindu Student Sangam, South Asian Student Association and the Spiritual Life Office.

November 5 - 7 For more information, call 773.702.2100 or http://spirit.uchicago.edu.

ROCKEFELLER MEMORIAL CHAPEL The University of Chicago • 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago • 773.702.2100 http://rockefeller.uchicago.edu

M ChicagoMaroon.com

accused has a level of discretion and right-toprivacy in this matter.

“As I understand it, the accused student really has to give permission for some things to be distributed... for privacy rights,” Goff-Crews said. “There is an effort to at least have the complainant be apprised of what information is available.”

The reforms offer a clear codification of what the accuser—i.e. the alleged victim of sexual offense—can expect from the case’s proceedings.

“The Dean of Students will explain the disciplinary procedures to the accused student and a representative of the Office of Campus and Student Life will explain these procedures to the complainant,” reads the Student Life and Conduct section of the Student Manual, which was updated with the new policy.

Sexual assault policy reform has been a topic of discussion for the past two years, since WGSAP formed as a result of the controversial handling of a sexual assault complaint. An alumna accused a graduate student of sexually assaulting her before she graduated. In the three months before her case was heard, the University misled her about her legal options, she said, and the disciplinary committee that heard the case--made up of faculty in the graduate student’s department--was unsympathetic.

But Goff-Crews said disciplinary processes more broadly tend to focus on the rights and responsibili-

ties of the accused. “If you think about disciplinary process in general, it’s really focused around providing the accused a very specific set of rights and responsibilities within that process,” she said.

Under the new policy, she added, “it’s clear that there’s someone who’s responsible for working with the accused student and there’s someone who’s also responsible for working with the complainant.”

Most of the changes were agreed upon in a special committee convened by Provost Rosenbaum in spring quarter, following a WGSAP-led referendum in which almost 80 percent of the student body voted in favor of reevaluating disciplinary procedure in sexual assault cases.

WGSAP had taken special umbrage with the fact that sexual assault disciplinary committees were similar to that of academic integrity violations.

This complaint was addressed spring quarter when it became mandatory for committee members to undergo sensitivity training, educating members on facts about sexual assault, including that a victim might not immediately report being attacked, and other reactions victims might have.

Cherry said the administration has pledged that in five years another committee will convene to review the policy, but he said he was generally satisfied with the changes.

“It’s really just a matter of figuring out a way to maintain the energy and the interest in the issues so that people don’t forget them,” Cherry said.

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CHICAGO MAROON

| VIEWPOINTS | November 2, 2010

VIEWPOINTS

EDITORIAL & OP-ED NOVEMBER 2, 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 ALISON HOWARD, Viewpoints Editor HAYLEY LAMBERSON, Voices Editor JORDAN LARSON, Voices Editor WILL FALLON, Sports Editor NICK FORETEK, Sports Editor VICTORIA KRAFT, Head Copy Editor MONIKA LAGAARD, Head Copy Editor HOLLY LAWSON, Head Copy Editor MATT BOGEN, Photo Editor JACK DiMASSIMO, Head Designer JOSH SUNG, Web Editor BURKE FRANK, Assoc. News Editor ADAM JANOFSKY, Assoc. News Editor SHARAN SHETTY, Assoc. Viewpoints Editor ILIYA GUTIN, Assoc. Voices Editor JUDY MARCINIAK, Business Manager VINCENT McGILL, Delivery Coordinator JESSICA SHEFT-ASON, Senior Designer IVY PEREZ, Senior Designer DOUGLAS EVERSON, Designer ANDREW GREEN, Designer REBECCA GUTERMAN, Designer ALYSSA LAWTHER, Designer VINCENT YU, Designer SAALIKA ABBAS MELA, Copy Editor AMISHI BAJAJ, Copy Editor JANE BARTMAN, Copy Editor ALICE BLACKWOOD, Copy Editor MARCELLO DELGADO, Copy Editor SABINA BREMNER, Copy Editor DANIELLE GLAZER, Copy Editor DON HO, Copy Editor JANE HUANG, Copy Editor GABE VALLEY, Copy Editor ALEX WARBURTON, Copy Editor BELLA WU, Copy Editor LILY YE, Copy Editor SAMANTHA LEE, Copy Editor TARA NOOTEBOOM, Copy Editor LANE SMITH, Copy Editor RITOHDI CHATTERJEE, Copy Editor ALISON HUNG, Copy Editor VICKY HO, 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: jdimassimo@ChicagoMaroon.com Copy Editing: Copy@ChicagoMaroon.com Advertising: jmarcini@uchicago.edu

The capstone to an education Career planning should be central to the U of C experience A practical resource like Career Advising and Planning Services (CAPS) can be overlooked in a school that mostly embraces the intellectual and theoretical. After all, a meeting with a career advisor may not be a top priority when midterms and class meetings consume hours on end. Thus, the second and third floors of Ida Noyes, dedicated almost entirely to career preparation for undergraduates, remain underutilized and too often ignored.

This is a pity, because CAPS offers a legitimately comprehensive program.

More pitiful is the popular opinion that career exploration is a hobby to be indulged on occasion, rather than a fundamental aspect of our college education. It is an inconvenient fact, however, that putting long hours of research and preparation into your job and internship search is just as important as conquering

your nightly reading. In fact, it’s probably more important.

Nevertheless, the average undergraduate’s time at CAPS usually involves only the obligatory resume check to activate Chicago Career Connection, and attendance at Venture to Adventure or Taking the Next Step. This lack of participation may be predictable given the intensity of a UChicago schedule, but it’s unfortunate considering the breadth of available resources.

As students, we should keep some perspective. In pursuing the noble ideal that is the life of the mind, some of us forget about life, period. No matter how obscure your interests, whether they be Akkadian society or postmodern art, there is an internship or job out there that caters to them. All the latenight cram sessions, weekends spent

studying at the Reg, and time invested in respective RSOs are driven by an academic vigor or some enthusiasm for achievement.

This same vigor and enthusiasm must, after graduation, be translated into productive service for some broader community, whether it be the workplace or the world at large. Students must realize the importance of finding these opportunities so they can transition smoothly from higher education to their lives as contributing citizens.

Our short-term efforts in class must be coupled with long-term planning, and CAPS provides that crucial bridge.

The responsibility is not only that of the students; the University should likewise take initiative and facilitate more student involvement in CAPS. One idea would be instituting “CAPS czars” on House Councils, representatives

OP-ED SPECIAL

who would explain to their housemates the array of CAPS events held each week, and act as conduits for student feedback to CAPS. Just as Inter-House Council reps publicize dorm and dining issues and intramural reps keep their housemates informed about athletics, a CAPS czar would ensure that students hear about the office’s programs regularly and— since those living in housing are mostly underclassmen—early in their College careers. Active outreach of this sort could bring career planning to the center of student life and make it as much a part of the UChicago experience as HUM papers and all-night problem set marathons.

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

OBAMA-MANIA Keeping hope alive

By Youssef Kalad Viewpoints Contributor Attending your first major political rally is kind of like going to the first frat party of the quarter: You know what to expect and yet you can’t help but feel excited about the event. Fortunately, the Saturday afternoon Democratic rally came on one of the last beautiful days of autumn, before the persistent rain and pre-winter frost creep into Chicago life. With the unseasonable weather as a backdrop, Illinois’s finest assembled before an eager crowd of 35,000 people on Saturday night to provide the political theater we’ve all come to expect.

Senatorial hopeful Alexi Giannoulias did most of his work on an aesthetic level, wowing the crowd more with his all-American good looks–chants of “Sexy Lexi” came and went at various points–than with his predictable stump speech. Governor Pat Quinn did not resonate with attendees on a stylistic or substantive level; Mr. Quinn had to be called on-stage several times by the PA announcer, only to later forget the day of the election when asking the crowd, “Are you ready to get out there and vote tomorr…?” Current Mayor Richard Daley outdid both before uttering even a single word, welcomed by disappointed jeers and tongue-incheek applause when the crowd had learned that he would be speaking.

And yet, the event was neither about their blunders, nor about Common and Dot Dot Dot’s performances, nor any of the other sideshows. At about 7:15 pm, the crowd got what it came for when a former community organizer from years past shouted, “Hello, Chicago! It’s good to be home!” Until that point, however, I had watched the event unfold around me with sharp skepticism.

It is one thing to watch a crowd on

television do the whole political rally bit, waving American flags and political paraphernalia as they cheer politicians on. It is another to be in the midst of that crowd. And yet, until the moment President Obama’s name was called over the loudspeaker, I had been left to wonder what all the fuss was about.

I certainly understood the context of the event: Polls and projections around the nation predicted heavy Democratic losses in both the Senate and the House while reaffirming the very real presence of a GOP resurgence. I understood that the fruits of economic recovery had yet to ripen as quickly as many were hoping. I understood that struggles with the new healthcare reform bill’s implementation have left many grossly dissatisfied with the rate at which benefits are rolled out. And I understood that the man who had graced the covers of magazines around the world as celebrity, demigod, savior and the like two years ago, seemed to be wearing out his welcome in the minds of many of his supporters.

I understood all of that and thus found it odd that people of all ages were moved with such patriotism and political fervor so as to chant “USA” during programming pauses, and scream “NOs” of disapproval when anecdotes about loony Republican senators who wanted to gas dogs were rehashed, and echo resounding “YESses” when asked whether they wanted our kids to be the best engineers, doctors, mathematicians, and scientists in the world.

I understood the gravity of the moment for the Democratic Party and yet could not find myself responding with the genuine idealism and excitement that those around me–young and old–were displaying. I could only participate with little more than a hint of cynicism. And then 7:15 came.

From the moment President

HOPE continued on page 5

A shallow affair

Open meeting can’t allay concerns about CTS renovation

Saturday evening, I, like 35,000 others, waited patiently in line for a chance to breathe rarefied air. For 45 minutes, children attempted to sell me chocolate bars, strangers offered me five-dollar buttons, and American flags flew quietly against the stiff end-of-October wind.

University of Chicago students are not easily lured from their cocoons, but for President Barack Obama many of us were. In my brief 18 years, I had never been in the presence of an American president and here was an opportunity, the sort that I just knew I would have coming to this school, in this city. So at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, I was incredibly excited, for I wanted a taste of Obama’s charisma, his intelligence, and his, well, magic—that same magic that won him the presidency two years ago.

When Obama finally spoke, three hours later, it was just as powerful as I had imagined it. His voice was magnetic, drawing in the energy of thousands as he implored the crowd to vote in Tuesday’s election for Governor Pat Quinn and Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias. He touched upon all the big issues of the day: healthcare, the stimulus, keeping jobs on home soil, taxes, and, knowing his audience, student loans. Even his chants of “Yes we can!” and “I need you to keep on

A so-called open meeting for “community input” on the renovation of 5757 South University Avenue was held at Ida Noyes Hall at noon on October 6. Strangely, the Maroon’s coverage (“5757 Building Meeting Tempers Concerns,” October 8) of this little-publicized event gave readers the erroneous impression that the fears of concerned people were assuaged and placated by the statements of University administrators and the chosen architect for conversion, Ann Beha of Massachusetts.

Contrary to the Maroon’s review of the meeting, those of us from the community and preservation groups that attended were sorely disillusioned by the proceedings, because we were informed that the decision had already been made for removal of most of the precious windows. We were later told that this was really a private property matter, and that both the U of C and CTS are at liberty to do whatever they want with the property. We believe that this decision should be overturned, lest a world-class landmark be destroyed.

Removal of the chapel features will violate the integrity of the structure and devalue the facility. The U of C and CTS need to get together and jointly agree to preserve these magnificent places intact. The chapels were donated as memorials. The Graham Taylor Chapel commemorates an important historic figure in Chicago history, who was involved in the beginnings of what became the School of Social Service Administration and the early social welfare movement in Chicago.

He worked closely with Jane Addams.

How shocking that these gifts are being broken up and dispersed after just a few decades. The U of C and CTS seem to treat such gifts as temporary assets, to be trashed as they see fit. Let this be fair warning to any and all aspiring donors that their gifts may suffer the same fate.

RALLY continued on page 5

LETTER continued on page 5

By Emily Wang Viewpoints Columnist

CHICAGO MAROON

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VIEWPOINTS | November 2, 2010

Obama inspires crowd, but speech ultimately lacks significance

Even a hardened cynic encouraged by Obama’s words

RALLY continued from page 4

HOPE continued from page 4

believing,” though entirely expected, seemed to be infused with an incredible depth of meaning.

Earlier, the crowd had been stirred by Senator Dick Durbin’s evocation of popular Democratic policies and policy goals opposed by the Republicans; repetitions of “but not the Republicans!” were always followed by hearty boos from the audience. These were the highlights of Obama’s first public appearance in Chicago since 2008. At one point, Obama noted his excitement at the prospect of sleeping in his own bed.

It was not, however, a wholly enjoyable rally experience. In just thirty minutes or so, the substance of the rally had come and passed. The other three hours leading up to Obama’s speech undeniably left a bad taste in my mouth. Things kicked off with the band Dot Dot Dot, which played for what seemed like an interminably long time, churning out one bad cover after another, while occasionally asking the disinterested crowd to sing along. I felt as though I had been stranded during the set of an unpopular band at a music festival while waiting for the main attraction. One would expect that what would follow would be perhaps two or three speakers—Daley, Quinn, and Giannoulias would be deserving—leading up to Obama himself. But instead, spectators were forced to endure another seven speakers, not including Common, who at the very least exercised restraint in performing just two songs. Afterward, no one wanted to admit that the majority of the rally had been less than satisfying, but every student I spoke to shared my sentiments about the band, complaining about this unnecessary musical “delight.”

Call me an inexperienced rally-goer, but at the end of those brutal three hours, I was a little tired, very cold, and hungry enough to eat one of the Dots from Dot Dot Dot. All the pomp and circumstance almost ruined the rally for me: As a voter, I wanted to hear from just a few significant speakers but instead I was treated to a buffet of forgettable acts. Perhaps there is a misconception that we, as

students representing the youngest voices in this generation’s voters, always need to be kept entertained (hence, Dot Dot Dot) but in reality, we only want to be a part of a community of enthusiastic, informed citizens. I appreciate that Obama connects to America, especially its youth, in ways that make full use of the revolution in communications technology, but there are times in which we only want the meat, not the appetizers or the dessert.

Unfortunately, I felt as though the rally worsened Obama’s particular image as a celebrity president and here, it was used as a crutch: A rally for Obama seemed to make very little use of the president himself, as if we would be satisfied just by his presence.

However, I cannot single out just this particular rally; I think it was an embodiment of the purely emotional nature, with a little bit of information sprinkled in, of political rallies in general.

My earlier sentiments on the highlights of the rally stand. Yet even those catchy slogans that stuck with me are indicative of a bigger problem: I cannot shake the feeling that Obama’s inspirational comments were just a bit too practiced, almost too masterful, and somehow, altogether ephemeral. In the moment, they were profound, but in hindsight there is not much I can recall that I had not already heard before. Instead of breaking out the well-worn, reliable comments, I wish Obama had risked some brutal honesty for his audience. I wanted—we wanted—to hear the president speak of the reality of our current political climate and the fundamental issues that still have to be faced, and eventually, resolved. A rally can still have a positive tone while keeping a critical voice, and ultimately, Obama could have done so much more with his brief time with his hometown crowd. On the whole, I believe the rally was worth it, if only for Obama alone, but next time, I have high hopes that I will be attending a political rally, not a concert.

Emily Wang is a first-year in the College majoring in English.

Obama’s name was announced, I not only sensed a more intense spirit of invigoration in the already raucous crowd around me, but I felt myself moved in an unexpected way, something like the collective feeling the Chicago Bulls’ faithful had in the ’90s when Michael Jordan’s name was introduced to the crowd in the opening lineup.

You got the sense throughout the evening, as the speakers and performances wore on, and as the intensity of people’s expectations heightened, that the city and the community were welcoming back both a native son and a distant man of royalty. He approached the stage with the same swagger and youthful gait that caught the nation’s eye at the 2004 Democratic Convention. Amid Washington whispers about his sinking morale behind closed doors and a New York Times Magazine piece that paints a portrait of a miserably unhappy president, the man was all smiles Saturday evening.

When he opened his speech, he thanked the crowd and the political staff for “organizing [him] some good weather.” He likened the Republicanled Bush years to a time when the GOP drove the American economy into a steep ditch, only to sit idly by and sip “Slurpees” while the Democrats worked to get that car back on level ground. And, after thanking the headlining artist for his performance, Mr. Obama affectionately called Common “Chicago boy.” His personality shone through throughout the evening in a way that disarmed the cynicism within me.

The substance of Mr. Obama’s words meant less than the spirit of those words. It was a spirit that transcended the similarly political, partisan stump speeches before him. It was a spirit that not only energized the heterogeneous crowd of Chicago students, downtown professionals, and South Side residents, but also a pessimist like me, because he made me want to believe him.

After he finished his speech and the crowd began to pour out of the Midway onto 59 Street, I really didn’t want to leave. Zooming past parents and security, and hurdling one of the dividers separating sections of the crowd, I found myself less than a hundred feet away from the podium. He was somewhere, drowning within a crowd of 50, and I never got to see him up close. As I walked back to meet a friend, I suddenly felt the harshness of a cold Chicago night that inevitably follows an unseasonably warm day. It had gotten dark fast, and the now empty Midway was littered with remnants of the event, posters and buttons and flags scattered on the grass. Without the collective chaos and excitement of the event’s proceedings surrounding me, without chants of “Yes We Can” and political clichés ringing in my eardrums, still questioning how much of what I heard that night could really be done, I walked home encouraged by the spirit of a former community organizer’s words.

Youssef Kalad is a third-year in the College majoring in Public Policy and Political Science.

Repurposing CTS facilities dishonors donor’s legacy LETTER continued from page 4 We call on the U of C and CTS to reconsider their decision. We ask that faculty and students learn more about this historic preservation issue and join us in speaking out. Graham Taylor’s grandson and granddaughter have

already protested to the University and CTS about this disrespect for their grandfather’s legacy, and the artistic value for both chapels.

Please join us.

Charles G. Staples (S.S.A. ‘61)

VOICES Weekend workshops

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 2, 2010 THEATER

Modern, yet misguided: Don't flock to Goodman's Seagull

By Gabriel Kalcheim Voices Ennui

T

hird-year Bryn Adams (left), second-year Carolyn Hoke (middle) and second-year Jose Medina (right) performed in Edward Albee's "Listening", directed by third-year Will Bishop for this year's UT workshop Saturday afternoon.

CLAIRE HUNGERFORD/MAROON

So much emphasis is placed on finding one’s sole purpose in life that it is easy to forget that humans are capable of more than a single occupation or role. Society’s repressive power to confine individuals to a single role and to define them only in terms of that role is the heart-wrenching theme of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, re-imagined for the Owen Stage of the Goodman Theatre in an excessively modern production by artistic director Robert Falls.

The setting is the country estate of Arkadina (Mary Beth Fisher), a well known Russian stage actress, and her declining brother Sorin (Francis Guinan), a retired civil servant. The estate is managed by Shamrayev (Steve Pickering), a retired lieutenant, and Dorn (Scott Jaeck) is a local doctor and family friend. These characters form the discontented older generation.

Though they have all led reasonably comfortable lives, the older generation confesses, in one way or another, to thwarted dreams they held in their youths. In the free and vibrant time of their youth, they could have aimed for such dreams, and now the characters experience regret at having abandoned these hopes. Sorin, confined to a wheelchair for most of the play,

admits, “I stagnated for 28 years in a government office, but I never lived.” Dorn says that he had two aspirations as a young man, to be a famous actor or a famous writer, and neither of them were realized.

The younger generation is repre-

THE SEAGULL Through November 21 Goodman Theatre

sented by Shamarayev and Polina’s daughter Masha (Kelly O’Sullivan), Arkadina’s son Konstantin (Stephen Louis Fischer), and Nina (Heather Wood), a local village girl, all of whom are just beginning to confront society’s power to confine and control their spirited individuality and romanticism. The clash between these two generations— the socially indoctrinated elders and the young eccentrics—begins when Konstantin presents a play he has written to all the members of the household.

The play is an absurdist, quasiPlatonist monologue, set 200,000 years from now, after every single living thing has ceased to dwell on Earth, and “the brutal, material struggle of individuals has ended.” And though the play seems ridiculous, we sympathize with Konstantin’s youthful romanticism and liberality of thought.

Things get complicated when Trigorin, an extremely successful novelist to whom Arkadina has taken a fancy, arrives and entraps young Nina with the allure of being a famous writer. However, he himself admits that, “important and famous is a completely stupid light” to him, and that he only carries on because his “single, obsessive thought is writing.”

In one of the most poignant lines of the play, Trigorin summarizes the plight of all those who are expected to define themselves in the world merely through the guise of their profession. He confesses to Nina, “on my gravestone it will say, here lies Trigorin, a fine writer, but no Turgenev,” as if Trigorin, the man, were not anything other than a fine writer.

For a play with such a haunting message, it is a marvel that Robert Falls could have created something so lifeless as this insipid, overly minimalist production. This translation by George Calderon, adapted by Mr. Falls, presents the younger generation as a group of bored, petulant youth with too much time on their hands. Such shallow rejoinders as, “you’re boring”, “why can’t you keep your mouth shut, or even “I wish you’d just go **** off,” are ubiquitous in this production. But the trouble is not the idea of mounting a con-

SEAGULL continued on page 8

THEATER

With sinister wit, The North Plan examines post-9/11 paranoia

By Taylor Ehlis Voices Freedom Fries It seems astounding that less than a decade ago, wire-tapping and fears of anthrax were everyday occurrences. While it seems this dark time has passed, the spectre of the Bush administration security policy haunts Jason Wells’ new play The North Plan, a dark comedy currently playing at Steppenwolf ’s Garage Theater. While phone-taps and mass paranoia don’t seem like obvious subjects to induce laughter, Wells’ script is as uproarious as it is unsettling.

THE NORTH PLAN Through November 14 Steppenwolf Theatre's Garage Theatre

Th e p l a y i s s e t i n t h e n e a r future, in a United States where mass confusion rules, but a military junta threatens to take over, and the Department of Homeland Security plans to start rounding up whomever they deem an enemy of the state. Basic human rights such as the freedom of speech exist

only in memory. Amidst this madness, a former State Department employee named Carlton Berg has access to a list of innocent people that the DHS plans to put away—a list that, if made public, could reverse the path that the country is on. Unfortunately for him, he’s locked up in a small-town Missouri jailhouse and can’t do much about it. He’s forced to rely upon fellow inmate Tanya, an acerbic drunk driver, and administrative assistant Shonda, who only wants to stay out of trouble.

Carlton’s attempts to form alliances with both Tanya and Shonda form the narrative thrust of the first act. By the second act, he’s forced to contend with much larger problems in the form of two DHS cronies and their ‘enhanced interrogation techniques.’ The play’s laughs become increasingly uncomfortable as the audience slowly starts to realize just what this version of America has devolved into.

The play’s cast does an excellent job of bringing humanity to what could otherwise have been a very cold and cynical production.

Timothy Edward Kane, in the

(From left to right) Tom Hickey, Brian King, Timothy Edward Kane and Jennifer Engstrom do something funny in The North Plan.

COURTESY OF STEPPENWOLF THEATRE

role of Carlton, could have easily veered into the murky territory of preachy moralizing. Instead, he is the production’s emotional core.

Carlton is not quite yet consigned to the role of martyr, but at the

same time he will sacrifice himself if it will bring freedom to the masses. Kane walks the tightrope between these two roles deftly, illuminating Carlton’s inner fire.

Jennifer Engstrom, however,

steals the show in the role of Tanya. Her foul mouth and devilmay-care attitude easily elicit the most laughs from the audience.

Engstrom’s pitch-perfect comedic

NORTH PLAN continued on page 8

7

CHICAGO MAROON | VOICES | November 2, 2010

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The Conversion: A play in one act THE CHARACTERS: BEN, a boy.

EVAN, a boy.

THE HOST, a host.

MEPHISTOPHELES, a demon.

THE SETTING: Top Notch Beefburgers, an 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-style diner nestled deep in the heart of Beverly, on the South Side of Chicago. BEN and EVAN are sitting in a booth. They look sleepy and comfortable. Between them sit two milkshakes, two halves of an enormous Western cheeseburger, and a turkey patty melt. There is a large painting of an Alpine scene on the wall beside them. BENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medium-sized strawberry milkshake is almost full. EVANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smallsized chocolate malt is nearly empty. The cry of a fishmonger can be heard. It is growing dark outside.

A long truck passes.

There is a long silence before either of them speaks. BEN is looking down at his milkshake.

EVAN is looking at the painting.

TOP NOTCH BEEFBURGERS 2116 West 95th Street (773) 445-7218

nearly enough diners that make me feel like I was born in 1963 (referring to the ubiquitous wood paneling and Tiffany lamp dimness Ă la â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Family Denâ&#x20AC;?).

sheer distance for the average Chicagoan to be a downright offense to the senses.

BEN: I completely agree. The atmosphere here is really quite strange. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure I understand anything about it, but it really is quite immersive.

Almost surreal, you know? The plants, the lights, the signs, the neighborhood, the clienteleâ&#x20AC;Ś

EVAN: Now see here, Mephistopheles, I think you are being far too critical! This restaurant has a lot to offer. The food may not be high cuisine, but it is delicious, soulful, and quite reasonably priced. The experience alone is really worth the cost!

EVAN: (nodding in agreement) I know.

BEN: (glancing down to the cup of sauce he has been dipping his fries in) And this sauce!

BEN: (glancing down at the Western cheeseburger he has been eating) And this burger!

EVAN: (nodding in agreement) Extraordinary. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know you could put that much cheese on anything.

Physically, I mean.

BEN: I should have gotten a small.

MEPHISTOPHELES appears with a clap of thunder.

EVAN: I really like it. Chicago really doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have

BEN: (glancing down at the patty melt, in awe) And these portions!

EVAN: (nodding in agreement) Immense!

EVAN: (nodding in agreement, and with a Bette Midler-ish intonation) Divine.

BEN: It does seem to violate a law of nature or two.

EVAN: I should have gotten a medium.

(Pause) BEN: So what do you think of this place?

EVAN AND BEN: (chidingly) Mephistopheles!

MEPHISTOPHELES: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to have to disagree with you there, Ben. I found the food to be merely passable, the atmosphere gaudy, and the

BEN: (looks up, meets MEPHISTOPHELESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes) And besides, Beverly is hardly an ordinary neighborhood. Why, the other shops around here seem to be almost as strange as this restaurant here!

Certainly there would be value in coming down here for a day, even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just going to explore!

Do you remember that strange little antique store?

Or that extra-large to extra-extra-extra large clothing depot?

EVAN: I do indeed. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know you could make vests that large. Physically, I mean.

MEPHISTOPHELES: (with hesitance) It does seem to violate a law of nature or two.

BEN: (chidingly) Quality is more than proximity, Mephistopheles.

MEPHISTOPHELES: I suppose you may be right, boys. This all really does sound quite interesting. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t suppose youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d let me have some of your milkshake?

BEN: Help yourself! I should have gotten a small anyways.

EVAN: (ruefully) I should have gotten a medium.

MEPHISTOPHELES takes a sloppy spoonful of BENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milkshake and disappears with a clap of thunder and a bevy of quails. The boys chat for a few more minutes, then finally get up and drift over to the far counter where they meet THE HOST and pay for their meal. Money is exchanged. A door opens behind them, and a gust of cold air sneaks in.

THE HOST: (offhand, but sincere) Have a good evening.

BEN AND EVAN: (in unison) Farewell, stay well, eat well!

Somewhere, a door opens. Somewhere another one closes. BEN and EVAN, two boys, step out into the cold night. A siren bleats in the distance.

They step into their car and start driving the wrong way to get back home. Nobody knows where they are going, and nobody knows why. Their car slides away into the darkness, and we are left behind.

The siren keeps on bleating, getting fainter now, and Top Notch Beefburgers is left perspiring in the evening dew. A cat dies, the curtain falls.

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CHICAGO MAROON | VOICES | November 2, 2010

Life mirrors art as young actors' inexperience shows through in Seagull SEAGULL continued from page 6 temporary version of The Seagull. Chekhov’s theme of individual estrangement is every bit as relevant today as it was when the play premiered in 1897.

The spare, modern set and the decision to have characters sitting on a bench at the rear of the stage when not in the scene, as if just waiting for something to happen, are all thematically sound. However, in literature, whenever we find brooding malcontents such as these, there is always the expectation that they will look beyond their state of disenchantment for just a moment and remind us of what they might one day become.

However, with this brutish translation, many of these young actors can find no middle ground between absolute desolation and absolute rage—there is only disenchantment.

Stephen Louis Grush’s performance as Konstantin and Kelly O’Sullivan’s as Masha epitomize what too often strikes me as paint-by-numbers acting. Cliff Chamberlain as Trigorin lacks the requisite charm of one who would seem to be enjoying the wit, fame, and society of a man of letters, but who, deep within himself, feels despondent and enslaved. He appears uncultivated and thoroughly unsympathetic.

Th e o l d e r a c t o r s c o u l d t e a ch t h e i r younger colleagues a thing or two aboutsubtlety in stage acting. Instead of shouting every line past her interlocutors, Mary Beth Fisher deploys every appropriate feature of a modern Arkadina with great color. Francis Guinan is perfect as the pathetic (in the older sense of the term, not as used in this production), lamenting Sorin. Scott Jaeck as Dorn and Steve Pickering as Shamrayev also come off rather well, and Heather Wood, not exactly a shining young heroine, has a great deal more personality than her fellows.

The effect of this real-life generational divide is that, although we may feel inclined to sympathize with Konstantin and what he represents, we are more likely to respond, in words very much appropriate to the contemporary lexicon of Fall’s Seagull: “Grow up!”

Wells brings Bush-era scare tactics to dystopian future

Konstantin (Stephen Louis Grush) and his mother, Arkadina (Mary Beth Fisher), talk to each other about their acting skills.

COURTESY OF GOODMAN THEATRE

TOWARDS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AMARNA Recent Research in the City and Its Main Cemetery

Dr. Barry Kemp WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 7 PM - ORIENTAL INSTITUTE

Free and Open to the Public

NORTH PLAN continued from page 6 timing keeps The North Plan balanced during its darkest moments. At the same time, Tanya is more than a caricature of redneck America, which becomes apparent in the second act. Although she initially agrees to help Carlton for superficial reasons, we see her fear as well as her determination when she becomes increasingly aware of the plight of the nation. Her final outburst at the play’s conclusion will stick in the minds of all who see it.

Props must also be given to the supporting players. Dorcas Sowunmi in the role of Shonda displays a middle ground between the activism of Carlton and the blindness of Tanya. Even as her palpable fear suppresses her empathetic instincts, the audience nonetheless can place themselves in her shoes.

Will Zahrn as the town sheriff brings a charming naïveté to an unkind system, and Brian King and Tom Hickey as the duo of DHS agents are appropriately chilling villains.

Now, during the Obama administration, there are many who would like to pre tend the Bush years are a distant dream.

Although Wells sets The North Plan in the future, he does an excellent job of capturing the worst fears from that era and realizing them in this blackest of comedies. Anyone who remembers the past decade will recognize allusions to “Orange Level Threat Alerts” and the Department of Homeland Security. Wells appropriates these touchstones into a play that is as terrifically entertaining as it is thought—provoking.

OIM 19477

Amarna, the city of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, is one of the most complete examples of an ancient Egyptian city. For almost four decades, Barr y Kemp has overseen excavations at Amarna and studied the material excavated f rom the city ’s houses and main cemeter y.

In this lecture, Kemp demonstrates how recent work, including the study of human remains, has helped to bring about a better understanding of this important city and its residents.

Dr. Barry Kemp is a Professor of Egyptology in the

Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Egypt Exploration Society Excavations at Amarna.

This lecture is co-sponsored by the American Research Center in Egypt

The Oriental Institute

ǺǺǾǾ &ĒĤĥ Ǿȁĥę 4ĥģĖĖĥ t oi.uchicago.edu

9

CHICAGO MAROON | VOICES | November 2, 2010

The Fun Corner.

Tips and hints from your fellow students. Submit to grind@ChicagoMaroon.com and see yours published in next Tuesday's MAROON.

B63

:T

W S

To AndrĂŠ 3000: Meet me in Mandel Hall November 13. From: Your friend, Big Boi. Dear Stevanovich Center for Financial Mathematics: Karma'll burn you sometimes.

5`\2 ]T bVS

Dear Dems: Sky-high unemployment, two wars, no progress on climate change, and watered-down health care.

Did you have to give us Dot Dot Dot, too?

Dear Dan, who has probably moved out of my apartment building already: Please pick up your package from the Vitamin Store. It's been sitting in the foyer four full days now.

To alarmist media: Thank you for introducing me to the miracle that is Four Loko.

To D Briz: The Case secondary called, they'd like their dignity back.

To EmiLemur: Keep hanging in there!

W

To That Guy On A Razor Scooter: Your sweet ride takes me back to my childhood. Take me back to your place?

Solution for 10/29 puzzle

Dear UCPD: Sorry, we thought those were really authentic-looking costumes.

Otherwise we would never have chanted "keg stand" at you.

Solution for 10/29 puzzle

Sudoku is provided by Laura Taalman (A.B. '94) and Philip Riley (A.B. '94).

Calling future Peace Corps Volunteers!

Life is calling.

Thousands of new volunteer How far will you go? positions are available for 2011.

Apply now!

El DĂ­a de los Muertos remembering those who have gone before Life is calling.

How far will you go?

Learn more about the benefits of Peace Corps service.

Information Session Thursday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m.

Ida Noyes Hall, West Lounge Apply by year-end for added programs leaving in 2011 -- Peace Corpsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 50th Anniversary Year!

Become a Fan of Peace Corps on Facebook: facebook.com/peacecorps 800.424.8580 | peacecorps.gov/application

M

This evening we will share a meal and celebrate those in our lives who have gone before us. Feel free to bring something for our altar that represents a loved one(s) who has died.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ 6:00 pm A vegetarian meal is served. Bring your friends!

Your RSVP is appreciated: 773-947-8744 or ofďŹ ce@brenthouse.org

BRENT The Episcopal Center at the University of Chicago House www.brenthouse.org

5540 South Woodlawn Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Chicago, IL 60637 â&#x20AC;˘ 773/947-8744

More Voices, but on the computer.

For a round-up of the best television programs on television, head to ChicagoMaroon.com/Voices-Blog.

10

CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Team goals come into focus as Midwest Regional Championships approach W. CROSS COUNTRY continued from back page especially considering the vast differences between Chicago ‘hills’ and actual hills,” said Sizek. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to run on a real cross country course.”

In spite of the difficulty, Lawton used the hills to gain an advantage. Finishing first out of a field of 74 runners, she attributed her success to preparation and strategy.

“I’ve been starting to feel like my old self, and I told myself I was going to win the race. I was planning on doing everything I could to win it,” she said.

“I had to hold back the first mile,” Lawton added, “but because a lot of girls don’t know how to run the downhill portion of a course well, I gained momentum and speed while others weren’t able to.

When you have to change pace and fight through all the change in pace, it can get really hard mentally. The downhills are what separated me from the field.”

The solid finish at the UAA Championship bodes well for a strong finish at the upcoming Midwest Regional Championship in

Rock Island, Illinois on November 13.

“I think the UAA Championship really helped us focus on our goals as a team,” said Sizek. “This race helped us see some nationally ranked competition, and think about what we have to do in the coming weeks to perform well at the national meet.”

“We’ve seen everyone in our region. We are one of the best teams there,” said Hall.

“We know where we fit in. It’s going to be tough since our region is one of the best in the country, but I believe we will be ready to go.”

Lawton feels that the team’s training habits throughout the entire season will pay off in the regional meet.

“I don’t see why, if we all are feeling the way we should, we shouldn’t win the regional meet,” Lawton said. “If this weekend was any indication of how things are turning around in our training cycles, we’re starting to feel fresher. We’re supposed to peak at the end of the season. There’s just no reason why we shouldn’t win this race.”

MEN’S SOCCER

After Friday loss, a Senior Day win

Second-year Steven Chase pushes forward during Sunday’s home game against Brandeis. The Maroons celebrated Senior Day with a 1–0 win against Brandeis in the team’s final home game.

LLOYD LEE/MAROON

By Liane Rousseau Sports Staff

Fourth-year Liz Lawton leads the pack at the 2010 UAA Women’s Cross Country Championship in New York on Saturday. Lawton took top individual honors and led the Maroons to a secondplace finish overall.

COURTESY OF LAURA SULLIVAN

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Men’s soccer split against UAA competition this weekend, losing to NYU 1-0 before bouncing back on Sunday against Brandeis University, winning 1–0 in the team’s final home game. The win on Senior Day left the Maroons 8-7-1 and 2-3-1 in league play.

On Friday night, the Maroons were u n a b l e t o c o m e t h r o u g h o f f e n s i v e l y.

Third-year goalkeeper Chris Giusto made six saves and allowed only one goal, but received little assistance from an offense unable to convert any of their nine shots into a goal.

“The major problem was not finishing our chances. We had so many great chances on goal and we failed to put them away, so we put a lot of pressure on our defense,” said third-year Stanton Coville.

That pressure proved to be too much when NYU’s Paolo Luciano scored the game’s only goal in the 65th minute, marking the sixth time that the Maroons have lost a game 1–0.

“We have been really unlucky this year.

This was another unfortunate case of that,” Coville added.

Wi t h t h e c l o s e l o s s o n Fr i d a y , t h e Maroons were forced to refocus for Sunday’s game against Brandeis. The game, which fell on Senior Day, celebrated the final home game for the team’s fourthyears.

“The team came into the game with the

mentality of playing hard and well for our seniors. Also, Brandeis is another UAA rival so we knew it was going to be an intense game,” Coville said.

The Maroons celebrated four seniors— Andy Dallos, Alex Clifford, Kenzo Manners, and Eric Floyd—at the game. Coville scored the winning goal in the 58th minute off an assist from third-year Alan Pikna. First-year goalkeeper Mason Harless made two saves in his first shutout.

“Our team has deserved more from this season, so it’s nice to at least put one away and give us a win,” explained Coville. The win on Sunday snapped the Maroons’ fivegame losing streak and energized the team, who will close out the regular season on November 6th against UAA rival Wash U. The game is one of the more important and anticipated of the season.

The Maroons will have the chance to end Wash U’s winning streak and gain odds at the UAA championship and seeding for the national tournament. This situation is giving the Maroons an added incentive to win.

“We would love to personally dash those aspirations as much as we can,” said Coville.

“They’re a big rival and a game we all relish having at the end of the season.”

In order to win this weekend, the Maroons will have to maintain their tough defense and finish stronger. Ending the season with a win will not only boost the Maroons’ standings in the UAA but also help their chances of being seeded into the national tournament.

Defense denies talented Brandeis attack W. SOCCER continued from back page Chicago’s Senior Day. The Judges from Waltham remained unable to match the pace and tenacity of their Midwest counterparts.

Three and a half minutes in, Kragie received a through pass on the left side that she slotted inside the far post for the first score. Three minutes later, the ball was deflected on a send-in, resulting in a heady finish by first-year Liz Doman. The Maroons controlled possession throughout the half with superb touches and sustained passing triangles.

Equally as efficient, the Maroons’ defense played exceptionally well, stifling the Judges with stout play in the back line.

The Judges were barely able to muster any runs at goal and the Maroon center backs were brilliant in denying all crosses into the goalmouth. The second half saw more

balanced play and no scoring, giving the Maroons a 2-0 victory.

“We tried to limit the number of chances that each of the Brandeis strikers had to look at the goal,” explained Reifert. “We tried to not allow them to turn with the ball and to provide good cover so that they could not get shots off. [Brandeis’s Sofia Vallone and Tiffany Pacheco] are both very talented and we were thrilled with the work of our defenders.”

“Our win against NYU on Friday, playing on our home field, the fact that it was Senior Day, and the opportunity to clinch the UAA title were all sources of motivation,” said fourth-year Emily Benoit.

With the UAA championship in hand, the Maroons will look forward to the NCAA tournament. Before the tournament commences, the Maroons will finish their season against Wash U on November 6.

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CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Brizzolara, Oium connect on majestic 48-yard catch-and-run to capture late victory FOOTBALL continued from back page

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victories this weekend, it would set up a winnertakes-all showdown November 13 at Stagg Field.

As Oium said, “Playing for the Founder’s Cup, the UAA Title, and a shot at making it to [the Division III] playoffs for the first time in school history is going to make that possible game very difficult.”

The game-winning touchdown 1. The Maroons start the play facing a 4th-and-8 from the 48-yard yard-line.

2. Fourth-year Marshall Oium connects with second-year Dee Brizzolara at the 31-yard-line.

3. Brizzolara jukes around one defender along the sideline.

4. After sliding past another defender, Brizzolara cuts inside.

5. Brizzolara breaks another tackle and escapes a group of Case tacklers near the 15-yard-line before running in for the touchdown.

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eral more Spartan defenders. At the 15-yard line, Case safety Lucas Sasala attempted a diving tackle.

He grabbed Brizzolara around the thigh, but only succeeded in changing the receiver’s direction and setting a roadblock that gave Brizzolara a free path to the winning touchdown.

“We knew what defense they were running and Marshall made a great read and throw to get me the ball,” Brizzolara said. “At first it was relief because we had the first down, so at the very least the drive was still alive, but after I made the safety miss, I told myself I was scoring.”

Case still had 1:18 to stage a comeback and managed to reach the Maroons’ 39-yard line. But third-year linebacker Danny Polaneczky sacked Baum for his 13th tackle, effectively ending the game and putting himself in contention for his third UAA player of the week title.

With the UAA season consisting of just three games, one result can decide the conference championship. Despite knocking off the favorite, the Maroons still have difficult games ahead.

“Wash U is 6–2 just like us, so they have a real shot next week when they play Case,” Maloney said. “And though Carnegie Mellon is 4–4, they lost their last two games in overtime, so with a bit of luck they also could be 6–2, so we’re expecting a very evenly matched game at their place Saturday.”

Should Chicago and Wash U. both claim

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MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Maroons take sixth in deep UAA field

By Will Fallon Sports Editor Last weekend the Maroons placed sixth in a tough field at the UAA championship at Van Cortlandt Park in New York.

Second-year Bill Whitmore and third-year Moe Bahrani each earned All-UAA honors for their performances at the championship.

Whitmore came in 11th place with a time of 26:03.6, while Bahrani finished a mere two seconds behind for a 13th place finish.

“You know our conference is just tough.

We knocked off a team that’s ranked [30th, Case Western] in the country, but we still didn’t make the cut,” head coach Chris Hall said. “Unfortunately, you have to have your best day. You can’t go out there and have anything less than a meet that was the best I could have run.”

“I was very pleased with the way that Billy and Moe ran, but most of our guys were pretty disappointed in the day,” he added.

The Maroons encountered the problem they have been facing throughout the season, that although individual performances are great, they do not determine a win.

Despite all of the men having good race days, they have faced difficulty doing so en masse. In a conference like the UAAs, that is essential.

“We ran at the tail end of the lead pack but could not maintain through the backhills, which hurt us in the end,” Whitmore said. “Teams like Rochester and Brandeis were able to score several runners between Moe [Bahrani] and Dan [Povitsky].”

The team was quick to dismiss one factor as a possibility: the hills. Van Cortlandt is an extremely hilly course, culminating in the aptly named cemetery hill.

“I don’t think we’ve ever been affected negatively by hills,” Hall continued. “I think we lost contact in the hills. I think in general we liked the course. It may have played a factor but we certainly can’t use that as an excuse.”

With that in mind all there is for the team to do is shake it off and prepare for the regional competition.

But they are not just looking forward to going to regionals; they are looking to place there.

“For us to qualify to nationals we have to adopt a ‘race for place’ mentality,” said Whitmore. “The competition will be fierce, but we can’t be afraid to challenge ourselves after all the hard miles we’ve put into this season.”

“Our kids have every intention of lacing up their spikes and fighting the good fight.

We’ve got great talent and work ethic and I think our kids have heart,” Hall agreed. “ I think that will put us in a position to have a great regional meet.”

The men will race at the regional meet on November 13.

M

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IN QUOTES

SPORTS

“The tendency in football at the moment is that as long as you’re not a prostitute shagger then it’s okay, it’s no big deal.”

—Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto. explaining the licentious nature of England’s professional footballers.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Maroons take UAA title with two-win weekend

By Charles Fang Sports Staff Wo m e n ’ s s o c c e r d e f e a t e d N Y U o n Friday and perennial rival Brandeis for Senior Day on Sunday in the Maroons’ last regular season home games, clinching their first UAA championship since 1999.

In winning their conference, Chicago is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA tournament this November.

Ninth time’s a charm The Maroons have finished second or third in the UAA every season since 2002. NCAA tournament appearances are shown in bold. *Chicago plays its last UAA game Saturday at Wash U.

Against a crafty NYU squad the Maroons played strong soccer to pull out the win.

Issues including poor field conditions, emanating from artificial turf malfunctions, hindered both teams’ efforts.

Nevertheless, first-year Natalia Jovanovic scored in the 5 2nd minute on a magnificent midfield pass from fourth-year Claire Denz, putting the Maroons on the head, 1-0. The robust defensive line of the Maroons was then able to turn aside all

2002 UAA Finish UAA Record

2003

2004

attacks from the withering Violets to preserve the victory.

Chicago saw advantages in shots on goal (20-10) and in set pieces, while third-year goalkeeper Emma Gormley notched her third consecutive clean sheet.

“The game [against NYU] was a physical one,” Gormley said. “NYU didn’t give us anything easy, and we had to work hard all game.”

H e a d c o a ch A m y Re i f e r t d e s c r i b e d

2005

2006

2007

W. SOCCER continued on page 10 2008

2009

2010

2nd 2nd 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd 3rd 3rd 1st 5–1–1 4–1–2 5–1–1 5–1–1 4–3 4–1–2 5–2 4–2–1 5–1* FOOTBALL

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Case closed

Maroons snap Case’s 38-game regular season win streak

By Matt Luchins Sports Staff It has been 71 years since the Maroons played Big Ten football, but second-year Dee Brizzolara’s stunning 48-yard touchdown catch-and-run brought back memories of the glory years as the Maroons upset undefeated and 23-ranked Case Western 24–20, ending the Spartans’ 38-game regular-season winning streak.

Without fourth-year Clay Wolff, half of the receiving corps dynamic duo, the Maroons (6–2, 1–0) struggled to complete passes in their opening game of conference play and looked overwhelmed in the first quarter.

The offense went three and out on the game’s first possession before Case’s star quarterback Joey Baum finished off a 45-yard scoring drive with a six-yard run. The Spartans (7–1, 0–1) could have put the game away after intercepting fourth-year quarterback Marshall Oium at Chicago’s 24-yard line, but the Maroons defense made a stand at fourth and one, foreshadowing an excellent performance in which Baum was picked thrice and sacked six times.

“I don’t know exactly where we rank in tackles for a loss, but I know it’s up there. Our defensive front has been outstanding this season and they kept at it against Case,” coach Dick Maloney said.

“They put pressure on the quarterback throughout the game. Besides the sacks, there were a number of times he was hurried or hit just after the throw.

That allowed our cornerbacks and safeties to hold coverage and make some big plays.”

None was bigger than third-year cornerback Emmett Carrier’s interception and 43-yard touchdown return early in the fourth quarter. After the pick-six, second-year Jeff Sauer missed his second extra point of the day, leaving the Maroons trailing by a point, 13–12.

As the game progressed, the defenses soon gave way. Case scored after driving 65 yards to go ahead 20–12. The Maroons responded immediately, as Oium overcame windy conditions and a packed Spartans secondary to find Brizzolara for a 52-yard touchdown pass with 7:13 on the clock. But Oium was stopped on the goal line trying to make a 2-point conversion and Case kept the lead.

Four possessions later, the Maroons found themselves facing fourth and eight near midfield with less than two minutes remaining. As Oium said, “With time running out and needing to

NYU’s style as a combination of an intractable “low-pressure defense” and an offense reliant upon continual counterattacks.

“Thankfully our team is skillful enough to adapt to any team or field,” responded second-year Brigette Kragie, noting the field conditions.

Following Friday’s win, the Maroons continued their winning ways, beguiling Brandeis in the opening minutes of

Led by Lawton’s win, Chicago takes second at UAAs

By Noah Weiland Sports Contributor

the right sideline just past Case’s 30-yard line.

The Maroons’ top kick and punt-returner quickly broke a tackle before cutting infield to evade sev-

Spearheaded by an incredible first-place performance by fourth-year Liz Lawton, the women’s cross country team placed second at the UAA Women’s Cross Country Championship behind Wash U in New York City last Saturday.

Coming off two wins and four straight top-ten finishes, the Maroons entered the event ranked seventh in the country and were expected to finish in one of the top spots.

“We were expecting to win. Two runners have had injury problems in the past week or two and the course was extremely difficult,” explained Lawton. “We could have raced a lot better, but we performed well.

Wash U is a great opponent, so it was a toss-up.”

In addition to Lawton’s first-place finish with a time of 21:16 minutes, second-year Julia Sizek finished ninth with a time of 22:27 minutes. The two top-ten finishes were supplemented by a 12th place finish by third-year Rachel Ohman with a time of 22:30 minutes and an 18th place finish by fourth-year Molly Peverada with a time of 22:48.

Coach Chris Hall was happy with the team’s performance, pointing out that the additional stress of midterms worked against them. “I thought our kids competed pretty darn well, but it’s always been a challenging meet for us because of midterms,” he said. “Some lack of sleep this past week and the mental strain of getting ready for midterm exams traditionally has taken a toll on our teams at the UAA conference meet.”

The course, Van Cortlandt Park, has held numerous big cross-country championships. Its hilliness, punctuated by the deadly graveyard hill, proved to be challenging for the runners.

“The first mile was flat, and then it leads to back hills that are extremely steep. It was a big change from the Midwest,” Lawton said.

“It was a pretty challenging course,

FOOTBALL continued on page 11

W. CROSS COUNTRY continued on page 10

Fourth-year cornerback Steve Tsilimos intercepts a pass in Case’s end zone during Chicago’s spectacular 24–20 upset of Case on Saturday.

DARREN LEOW/MAROON

score, I figured I would throw the ball to the best receiver on the field and see if he could make a play to get us back in the game.”

His quick pass to Brizzolara was caught on