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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 • VOLUME 122, ISSUE 17 • CHICAGOMAROON.COM
DISCOURSE
AWARDS
Zimmer talks openness, Beijing Five win Rhodes,
Marshall grants By Adam Janofsky Associate News Editor
President Robert Zimmer speaks to students on topics ranging from academic freedom to the University's investments during an open forum Monday evening at the McCormick Tribune Lounge. DARREN LEOW/MAROON
President Robert Zimmer took questions from community members on issues ranging from academic freedom to the University’s growing international role at a campus open forum yesterday and a talk Thursday
at the Gleacher Center. At the Student Government– sponsored forum, Zimmer said a commitment to open discourse is the central principle of how his administration shapes University policy. The University of Chicago weighs the free and open discourse of faculty and students above all other issues, he said. “Every university talks about
TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY
By Al Gaspari and Jonathan Lai News Staff
open discourse and free inquiry, but in reality, there are other interests that can be legitimate competing issues,” Zimmer said. That commitment to academic freedom means controversies will arise over the institution’s priorities, Zimmer said, such as inviting a potentially offensive speaker to
Fi v e U o f C s t u d e n t s w e r e named to this year’s class of Rhodes and Marshall Scholars over the past week. Th r e e w e r e n a m e d R h o d e s Scholars, the Rhodes Trust announced Sunday. Only Harvard and Stanford had as many students named to the scholarship this year. Prerna Nadathur (A.B. ’10) and fourth-years Anna Alekseyeva and John Scotti are the University’s 46th, 47th, and 48th recipients of the scholarship since 1904. “Chicago should be very proud to be one of the universities that had three great recipients,” said Elliot Gerson, the American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust. “It frankly seems that the applicant pool gets stronger every year.” Ben Umans (A.B. ’10) and fourthyear Matthew Jones were awarded Marshall Scholarships, according to a University statement released today. The Marshall Scholarship subsi-
dizes graduate study at any English university for two or three years. Jones said both he and Umans plan to attend Oxford. A biology major, Jones said he would study cancer genetics with his Marshall Scholarship. He credited the ethos of the University of Chicago for its good representation amongs the award recipients: “The curriculum here really instills a broad love of learning, and it really comes across,” Jones said. “The spirit of inquiry. That’s one of the reasons we’ve done so well this year.” The Rhodes Scholarship, which covers tuition, expenses, and a stipend, is awarded to 32 Americans annually for postgraduate study at Oxford University. In a Saturday press release, Gerson estimated that the scholarship is valued at $50,000 per year. The three Rhodes recipients are from varied backgrounds and fields, College Scholarship Adviser Jen Bess said. A history and public policy major, Alekseyeva said “[International]
SCHOLARSHIPS continued on page 2
ZIMMER continued on page 2
As SG vans near Petition brings forum approval, sports on SafeRide reliability teams keep waiting
Alleges unanswered calls, unpredictable arrival times
By Sam Levine News Staff Athletic clubs are getting impatient as they wait for Student Government (SG) to finalize leases on two vans that would be made available for a subsidized fee, cutting down on RSO transportation costs. Though the vans were to be made available for use at the beginning of this academic year, SG and University administrators have taken longer than expected to compare different leasing options to find the best deal for students. “I was really hoping we would have the vans so that we could start saving money,” said third-year and men’s crew captain Alexander Ostapenko in an e-mail. The crew team’s only transportation option is renting school buses for $200 a day to bring team members to and from practices, he added. Once the van-rental program begins, RSOs will enter a lottery to gain access to the vans. If an RSO is selected, it will pay between $25–$50 to per rental. “I’m holding out hope for a fall quarter delivery [of the vans], with
VANS continued on page 2
By Amy Myers Senior News Staff Over 500 students have signed a Facebook petition criticizing SafeRide’s unreliability, prompting Student Government (SG) to organize a discussion between students and Director of Transportation Rodney Morris to be held today. Alleging that service is unreliable at a time when security alerts about on-campus crimes are up, a form letter included in the petition asks that SafeRide answer any call made during operating hours within one minute and “to have SafeRide arrive when promised by the dispatcher.” Its authors, first-year graduate students Sarah Pinho, Lindsay Garlock, Emmi Gordon, and Abby Abisinito, suggest that other students send e-mails to University Police Department Chief Marlon Lynch through the form letter. “We had this conversation so many times about how we were having so many issues with SafeRide,” Abisinito said. They decided to reach out to other students, hoping that multiple
e-mails would garner a response. The petition cites the fact that students must wait outside for vans as a major safety concern. To prevent students from waiting in dangerous areas, SafeRide is supposed to issue arrival calls to waiting students. Yet many students never receive these calls and must wait outside for late-arriving vans, something flagged as a problem in the petition. Lynch said in a recent e-mail that his department “will provide a written response to the community after the Thanksgiving break regarding pending changes to SafeRide, both for day-to-day operations and governing policy.” Second-year Frank Alarcon, the undergraduate liaison to the Board of Trustees, reached out to the petitioners on behalf of SG, which organized a forum with Morris for Tuesday evening. Students and administrators will discuss the recent criticism of SafeRide and safety concerns. “It’s the best thing that could have happened,” Abisinto said of the upcoming discussion. The petition-
SAFERIDE continued on page 2
Fourth-years Matthew Jones and John Scotti, and Ben Umans (A.B. '10) will all study at Oxford University, courtesy of Marshall (Jones and Umans) and Rhodes (Scotti) scholarships. COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO NEWS OFFICE
COUNSELING
Rape victim demands a form of counseling SCRS is unable to give By Haru Coryne News Staff When a graduate student known as Becky posted fliers across campus with the heading “Sex & Violence,” she hoped to find other rape survivors who would be interested in forming a support group. Becky, who was raped while studying abroad as an undergraduate at another university, had gone through various U of C outlets to find resources. She posted the fliers last month in an effort to find people who shared her experience of feeling marginalized by the U of C’s slim offerings for those coping with the long-term repercus-
sions of sexual assault. In the fliers, Becky (a pseudonym) detailed her experience and condemned what she sees as the University’s failure to adequately address the needs of sexual assault victims in the community—in particular the Student Counseling and Resource Service (SCRS). “The only resources available on campus that are specifically for survivors are aimed at prevention (which I find extremely insulting) and the sexual assault dean-on-call for people that have recently been assaulted,” the fliers read. But according to Dana Regett, the service’s associate director, SCRS’s
SCRS continued on page 2
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CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | November 23, 2010
During Gleacher Center talk, Zimmer outlines University's rationale for Beijing Center ZIMMER continued from front page campus. “It’s one thing to prevent people [from speaking] in a formal and regulatory sense,” Zimmer said, “it’s another to have a culture in which people are willingly open and quality is not being judged by political content.” In October 2009, Zimmer wrote a letter to the community emphasizing much the same thing after an audience consistently and vehemently interrupted the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who was speaking at Mandel Hall. But Zimmer emphasized that a university that values scholarship should always ensure that its culture promotes the reasonable expression of opinion. “One should be very concerned about preserving an open tone.” He juxtaposed that
tone with “environments in which the discussion is chilled,” where people are unwilling to express differing opinions. Zimmer, who participated in a talk about academic freedom at the Law School this spring, sees the need for further discussions to examine the issue more fully. “These questions are not completely intuitive. It’d be good if we did more. There’s a lot to talk about,” Zimmer said. Zimmer also spoke Thursday in Gleacher Center’s Great Conversations series on the importance of liberal arts and the University’s response to increased globalization. With the University’s new center in Beijing opening this summer, Zimmer said different cultures are playing a role in academic globalization and the position of international students.
Rape victim calls long-term counseling referrals by SCRS insufficient SCRS continued from front page offerings have been able to adequately address the needs of students seeking care. The SCRS provides short-term, one-on-one counseling for one quarter and referrals to other professionals and organizations catering to the needs of sexual assault survivors. Regett said SCRS is not only unequipped to offer a more comprehensive counseling program, but that there hasn’t been sufficient demand for any change in the first place, nor are plans in the works for adding long-term care. Regett is aware, however, of Becky’s campaign, and the two have been in contact. “It would be great if we could provide ongoing, long-term counseling or group counseling for [sexual assault survivors or] a number of other groups who are worthy and in need of mental health services,” Regett said, but added there aren’t enough of these people to be able to offer counseling on a regular basis. But Kevin Cherry, a second-year at the School of Social Service Administration and a representative of the student-led Working Group on Sexual Assault Policy, said others besides sexual assault victims want long-term counseling. “I think [students voicing such concerns] just goes to the general complaint that many people have with regards to the Student Counsel Center only offering shortterm counseling,” he said. According to Becky, the absence of both group therapy and long-term counseling directly available from the SCRS constitutes an “egregious lack of support.” She said that having a separate longterm counseling program is important because people who are coping with the extended effects of sexual assault experience symptoms different from those of immediate survivors. The SCRS sees a number of sexual violence survivors (though statistics are unavailable), including both recent victims and those still coping with the long-term effects of childhood abuse. However, there is no program that caters to the survivors.The SCRS may also refer the student either to a Chicago-based organization unaffiliated with the University or to one of a number of local counselors who accept University health insurance. Becky said she believed the practice of referring victims to other resources makes it difficult for the University to be aware of the victims’
progress in their treatment, and therefore unable to help them further. The various outlets for victims of sexual violence on campus are intended to complement each other and walk the student through every step of the process. Programs like the RSVP or Common Sense (a general safety guidebook for students) are aimed at prevention, and the Sexual Assault Deans-on-Call is intended to help students navigate the University’s resources, while the SCRS is the only organization geared toward counseling. But Becky said finding the appropriate program to address her needs was a labyrinthine task, and the offerings failed to fit her needs and only complicated the process. First she went to the SCRS, which referred her to the RSVP, “under the impression that they have some sort of counseling,” only to learn that the RSVP doesn’t offer counseling. They encouraged her to talk to the sexual assault deans-on-call, who said she could call the statewide organization Rape Victim Advocates or go back to the SCRS. Becky also sought out the YWCA, which offers free short- and long-term counseling as well as group therapy, but she was told that nothing was available at the time. The university Becky attended as an undergraduate, which she asked to remain undisclosed for privacy reasons, provided group- and longterm counseling for sexual assault survivors as part of a program called Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE), which she holds as the example of centralized support to which the University should aspire. Though she qualified that she is unsure of how widely held her complaints are, she has heard from other sexual assault victims who were similarly stymied by the University bureaucracy. Becky received fewer responses to her fliers than she expected, but said at least a “handful” of survivors have contacted her. She got “a lot of feedback” from prospective volunteers, and notes that rape is often underreported due to its being a stigmatizing crime for the victim. Regett maintained that, though there is little motivation for change, she would be openminded “if there was a groundswell of interest in a longer-term group.” “I can’t promise we could do anything,” Regett said. On the other hand, she said, “I’m hoping that we will get this conversation.”
“The value set to education in the United States is simply not that high” as compared to other countries, he said. The University decided to establish the center in Beijing in part because of global interest in Asia, though he said the move was not simply for its growing economic strength. “People see a kind of gold rush. They see basically two billion people in Asia pulling themselves out of poverty,” Zimmer said. “That’s not what we’re doing.” Another goal for the China Center is to increase the U of C’s appeal, Zimmer said. “The other motivation is actually understanding that faculty and students will appreciate being at a university that is global.” Other questions ranged from the future of the Seminary Co-Op Bookstore to the continued
Increase in U of C Rhodes Scholars coincided with greater Scholarship Office engagement with science majors SCHOLARSHIPS continued from front page development is something I’ve always been peripherally interested in.” She said she had one of her first hands-on experiences in the field this summer as an intern at the Brookings Institution. At Oxford, Alekseyeva plans to study the interface between development and migration, which she has pursued at the University of Chicago. For Nadathur, a math major with minors in linguistics and philosophy, her interest in semantics has deep roots that were also fed at the U of C. “I took my first linguistics class at Chicago. Being at Chicago was what made me want to pursue this field,” said Nadathur, who plans on researching semantics at Oxford. This year’s three recipients cement Chicago as a dominant force in college awards, according to the College scholarship office. “We’ve always been competitive with these things, but it suggests we’re becoming more competitive,” Bess said. This is the fourth year that Chicago has had three recipients, along with 2008, 2006, and 1999. The scholarship office may have also played
» The November 19 News article “Women In Math: A Complex Problem” misreported the number of female physics faculty. There are four in the Physics Department, and a fifth works part time. » The November Voices article“ Beats And Pieces Brings To Campus A Multicultural View Of Art” said “Origins” was created in 2008. It was created in 2009. The article also misreported that Marrissa Washington and Adama Wiltshire were responsible for organizing “Origins.” Washington, Wiltshire, along with Beats and Pieces’s former Vice President Ashtin Berry and current Vice President Shiraz Gallab all were involved in coordinating the exhibit. 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.
a part in that bump. It recently began reaching out to science students after it recognized that the Rhodes Trust awards a significant proportion of awards to those students, Bess said. Nineteen U of C students have been awarded Marshall Scholarships since 1987, according to a University press release. Nadathur, who graduated in the spring and is now at the University of Minnesota, credits the scholarship office for helping her get through the application process after she graduated. “They guide you through the process, setting deadlines that are earlier than the actual deadlines,” said Nadathur, who is a teaching assistant and takes math courses at Minnesota. “It was a really valuable resource for me. They do a really good job of being supportive.” The college endorsed nine students for the Rhodes Scholarship, five of whom went on to become finalists. Nadathur says the full process still isn’t over, though. “We actually have to apply to Oxford University now,” Nadathur said. “Apparently it’s possible to receive a Rhodes Scholarship but get denied from Oxford, but I’ve never heard of that happening to anyone.”
Petition authors claim SafeRide dispatchers let phones ring SAFERIDE continued from front page ers agreed that this marked a first step toward changing a system they believe to be flawed. SafeRide works on a “first-call, first-come” system, and the act of reaching the dispatcher is one of the petitioners’ central complaints. “They don’t answer their phones within business hours,” Gordon said, explaining that she has had to call the SafeRide number three or four times before the phone was answered. The group acknowledged that student misuse of the SafeRide system could be among the causes for the delays. Using SafeRide just for convenience rather than for safety is problematic,
Garlock said. “I wonder how well that expectation [of purpose] is set for everyone,” she said. The four initially invited 30 to 50 graduate students in a Facebook event on which the petition is posted, but by the next morning, it had been sent to 1,300 people. “It definitely hit a tone for people who are already frustrated. Pinho said. “Otherwise it wouldn’t have blown up like this.” Students have shared experiences with SafeRide on the event wall, despite the creators’ original intent of initiating a letter writing campaign.
SG estimates vans will cost $5,500 each VANS continued from front page
CORRECTIONS
tradition of the Kalven report. Though past speakers have focused on the history of the University and higher education, Zimmer spent most of his time focused on the future. “Where people may have thought he was going to be looking back, he was actually looking forward,” said Director of the M.L.A. program at the Graham School of General Studies Raymond Ciacci, who interviewed Zimmer throughout the talk. At yesterday’s open forum, Zimmer acknowledged that, despite overseeing all the day-to-day operations of the University, he can’t see every side of every issue. “A university is a big, complex place, and everyone sees only a piece of it. So when I talk about what I think needs to happen, it is not the full perspective,” Zimmer said.
a full launch in the winter quarter,” fourth-year and SG President Greg Nance wrote in an e-mail this week. It is estimated that each van will cost approximately $5,500 to lease each year in addition to maintenance and gas costs, Nance said. Access to the vans would save club sports teams thousands of dollars spent on transportation outof-pocket, but since Assistant Director of Athletics Brian Bock has not been given a specific start date, many are anxious. Without the University-organized transportation varsity teams use for games, club teams have to find ways of getting to practices and away games on their own. Jeremy Kane, a fourth-year and the captain of
the men’s club fencing team, is eager for the van program to start. “We rent vans from Enterprise and beg team members to volunteer their personal cars” for away tournaments, Kane wrote in an e-mail. “We certainly would use the vans if they were made available to us.” The vans, which will also be available to RSOs and community service organizations, were promised as part of Next Generation’s 10 goals for its first 30 days in office and were originally approved by Vice President for Campus Life Kim Goff-Crews in May. The van rental program is funded by $8,000 from the Student Activities Fee, and $3,000 from the SG budget. Nance said in an interview that the cost of the vans would not exceed the $11,000 budget.
CHICAGO MAROON
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| VIEWPOINTS | November 19, 2010
VIEWPOINTS
EDITORIAL & OP-ED NOVEMBER 23, 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 SABINA BREMNER, Artist SAALIKA ABBAS MELA, Copy Editor AMISHI BAJAJ, Copy Editor JANE BARTMAN, Copy Editor ALICE BLACKWOOD, Copy Editor RITODHI CHATTERJEE, Copy Editor MARCELLO DELGADO, Copy Editor DANIELLE GLAZER, Copy Editor DON HO, Copy Editor VICKY HO, Copy Editor JANE HUANG, Copy Editor ALISON HUNG, Copy Editor SAMANTHA LEE, Copy Editor TARA NOOTEBOOM, Copy Editor LANE SMITH, Copy Editor GABE VALLEY, Copy Editor ALEX WARBURTON, Copy Editor BELLA WU, Copy Editor LILY YE, Copy Editor
Counting our blessings Giving a shout-out to a few of the things that make life at UChicago worth living This time of the quarter, it can be tough to think of things you’re grateful for as you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal. Here’s a cheat sheet: Being done with the Core: Because we wouldn’t wish two more quarters of Phy Sci on our worst enemies. Dollar Shake Day: It only gets better when there’s cookies ‘n’ cream. Th e u p c o m i n g f o u r - d ay weekend: By the end of ninth week, who couldn’t use four days of vacation? Christmas lights on the Quad: Because the holiday spirit makes anywhere feel like home. Those padfolios you get for attending “Taking the Next S t e p ” : O t h e r w i s e w e ’d h a v e nothing to carry to interviews as fourth-years. $4 footlong baguette sandwiches at the Law School Café: A little taste of Paris, south of East 60th Street. Expanded pre-professional programs: Chicago Careers in L aw, Health Professions, and Arts. Maybe we can actually do
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 M AROON Editorial Board co n s i st s o f t h e Ed i to r - i n Chief and Viewpoints Editors.
A creative train of thought
“Women in mathematics” overstates impact of gender imbalance
Renaming CTA lines and stops could help the city’s budget crisis
The opinions expressed in the Viewpoints section
Editor-in-Chief Phone: (773) 834-1611 Newsroom Phone: (773) 702-1403 Business Phone: (773) 702-9555 Fax: (773) 702-3032
Pocket money from research studies: Scientific progress may not go “boink,” but it can be fun and profitable. U of C football: Back to the B i g Te n , a n y b o d y ? G r i d i r o n greatness awaits. John Frederick: His grace, charm, and overhead slides have made atmospheric science a pleasure for a generation of students. Blues ‘N’ Ribs, Mardi Gras, Summer Breeze: And all other opportunities to get buzzed on the University’s dime. The B-Level: For the times when anything short of absolute silence isn’t good enough. DOC Films: There’s just no easier way of becoming an expert on the Lithuanian cinema of the 1930s. Dennis Hutchinson: For laying down the law and leaving us in awe. Everyone and everything we forgot: We’re sorry. Happy Thanksgiving.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Circulation: 6,500
©2010 CHICAGO MAROON, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Burritos at South Campus Dining: Whether or not they’re “world famous,” they deserve to be. TransLo c shuttle and bus tracker: May not reduce wait times, but eases minds. Autumn: Everything’s so pretty, you forget how much winter will suck. Political activism on campus: But it would be nice if it persisted when Obama’s not around. Crescat Graffiti, Vita Excolatur: Some walls do talk, and Quinn Dombrowski is still listening. Fr i e n d s w i t h c a r s / e x t r a Flex: Hopefully you’re friends for other reasons too. A r t s Pa s s : I t ’ s n e v e r b e e n easier to feel more classy and cultured. Especially for free. M i d w ay c r o s s i n g g u a r d s : Much appreciated during late night walks around and across the Midway. Valois: It’s cheap, delicious, and a Hyde Park mainstay. R i c h a r d S t r i e r : Fo r h e l p ing students find the comedy in Shakespeare’s tragedies.
STATE & MADISON
The CHICAGO MAROON is published twice weekly during autumn, winter, and spring quarters.
are not necessarily those of the MAROON.
something with our lives. The inside of Harper Library: It’s on of the three most stunning spots on a campus full of them. The University’s stance on aid for undo cumented students: Simply put, it’s the right thing to do. The service at the Pub: The guys at Jimmy’s could learn a thing or two from the always kind staff at the Pub in the basement of Ida Noyes. Flights out of Midway: So much better than O’Hare. David Bevington: A U of C institution, along with his tweed jackets and quarterly parties. Carillon bells: The Godfather t h e m e ? “ Pa i n t i t B l a ck ” ? O u r appreciation knows no bounds. That one aunt with the Ph.D. who smiles sympathetically when everyone else at Thanksgiving dinner asks how you like UIC. The Renaiss ance So ciety: Contemporary art for the half hour between Spanish and Sosc. Office hours: Try going! Your TA might have her cute baby with her. K u k o ’ s Wo r l d F a m o u s
By Jake Grubman MAROON Staff Harold’s Garfield is next. Doors open on the right at Harold’s Garfield. Fried chicken lovers’ fantasy, meet the City budget. On November 10, CTA president Richard Rodriguez announced that his agency would be soliciting naming rights to, well, basically everything it owns, including train lines and stations, bus routes, special events, the works. When I first read that, I laughed. Oh, Chicago. You would. If it actually happens, there’s no telling how dumb the names will turn out to be. The Tropicana Orange Line. The BP Green Line. The Victoria’s Secret Pink Line. And who’s going to be able to give the Brown Line a serious name? But, tradition be damned, this is one of the only prudent financial moves the City has made in a long time, because it will probably mean better maintenance and
upkeep for the El stations, comes at no cost to the public, and provides some important nutrients to an emaciated budget. Here are the facts: When Mayor Richard Daley’s budget passed through the City Council last week nearly untouched, it featured a deficit of almost $655 million. In another year (see: non-election), the City probably would have considered making budget cuts to make up the difference. Or maybe in another e c o n o m y. O r i n a n a l t e r n a t e dimension, or something. Instead, it’s the Year of the One-Time Fix in Chicago. Daley’s budget burns through almost $40 million in tax increment financing funds that were meant to go toward economic development along with almost all of what’s left from the City’s 75-year lease of the parking meter system. When Inspector General Joseph Ferguson came b efore the City Council with a list of possible fixes to the budget in late October, the response was less than friendly. For example, Alderman Ed Smith of the 28th Ward responded by saying, “If the inspector general would just go out and do his job, I think he would have enough on his hands without coming over and trying to, in effect, develop a budget that is going to work for the city
of Chicago. I think to try to usurp the mayor and the City Council is completely off-base.” Alderman Smith was defi nitely right that Ferguson is more than busy without having to think about the budget. But if Ferguson and other watchdogs didn’t involve themselves in the process, the City Council would keep passing budgets like chickens with their heads cut off. And trust me, chickens are the least fiscally responsible of all headless animals. With the politically cowardly City Council we have, long-term fixes are tough to come by. While restructuring the horribly inefficient garbage collection system would be smart (like Ferguson suggested in his IG report), it would also mean fewer patronage jobs for City Hall. While changes to senior benefits like free transit would make sense financially, it would probably mean fewer votes from that demographic in the February elections. And if you’re against the corporatization of the Second City, consider the last significant change that the City made to inject some new cash into its budget: Back in 2 00 8, Mayor Daley shoved a 75-year, $1.15-billion parking meter lease through City Council, supposedly to protect the City’s services. Two years later, this bud-
One of the claims made in the Maroon’s November 19 article, “ Wo m e n I n M a t h e m a t i c s : A Complex Problem,” is that the absence of women to talk to within the math department is a demotivating factor for women interested in pursuing mathematics. However, there are plenty of women, as well as plenty of mathematicians, to talk to, so the unresolved question is: What specific utility does a woman mathematician offer to another woman mathematician that cannot be offered by a combination of women and mathematicians? The article does not suggest or bring to light either discrimination in hiring and promotion processes, or statements made by faculty memb ers or others that suggest that women are incapable of doing mathematics. Nor is there evidence of social segregation along gender lines at any level (undergraduate, graduate, or post-doc). From what I’ve observed, study groups and discussion groups of students at all levels tend to be gender-mixed in the same proportions as the overall pool from which the study group is drawn (so in an algebra class with 2:1 male -to-female student ratio, a typical study group would have a 2:1 male to-female student ratio, rather than all-male or all-female study
CTA continued on page 4
LETTER TO THE EDITOR continued on page 4
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CHICAGO MAROON
| VIEWPOINTS | November 23, 2010
In weak economy, innovative solutions needed to balance Chicago’s budget CTA continued from page 3 get leaves less than $100 million of those funds, and the company who owns our parking meters is talking about selling the system for over $10 billion. Those are the kinds of “fixes” this city usually finds. Now, we have a deal that looks silly on the surface but is ultimately a smart move by the City. Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business put it like this: “If there’s an equivalent to free money in the transportation business, this is it.” When Rodriguez rolled out the plan two weeks back, he talked about creativ-
ity in finding a way to make the most of this plan; that’s what caught my eye. In an economy like this, solutions are going to have to be creative, and too many of Chicago’s elected officials are leaving their thinking caps at home when it comes to developing new financial models. So even if a Target Red Line seems ridiculous, at least it’s on the right track when it comes to fixing Chicago’s budget issues. Jake Grubman is a fourth-year in the College majoring in Law, Letters, and Society.
Addressing student needs more important than gender balance LETTER TO THE EDITOR continued from page 3 groups). At the graduate student level, segregation (in academic discussions) is more by discipline area than by anything else. Thus, there are abundant opportunities for females to learn from male role models, or vice versa. To the extent that people have inhibitions learning from or seeking role models in people who differ from them in terms
of gender (or other characteristics), counseling and outreach can be used to target such inhibitions. Moreover, this approach can yield immediate results, unlike the long-run goal of creating gender balance within the faculty. Vipul Naik Ph.D. Student Department of Mathematics
You have books, but do you have a
book collection? • Do you love searching for books on a particular topic?
• Are you interested in the physical features of books, such as illustrations or bindings? • Are you passionate about owning books by a favorite author or on a specific topic?
If so, you may be eligible to win the…
T. Kimball Brooker Prize For Undergraduate Book Collecting Prizes awarded: $1,000 to a fourth-year student $500 to a second-year student Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, January 19, 2011 to brookerprize@lib.uchicago.edu www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/alumnifriends/brooker
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VOICES
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 23, 2010
THEATER
DANCE
Court shows there's no place like Home
A day in the life of Rhythmic Bodies in Motion
(From left to right) Ashley Honore, Kamal Angelo Bolden, and Tracey N. Bonner give each other the cold shoulder in Court Theatre's Home. MICHAEL BROSILOW/CATHY TAYLOR PR
By Ben Sigrist Voices Is Where The Heart Is The subject suggested by the title Home is a tricky one, especially for a play set against the historical backdrop of the Vietnam War and the Second Great Migration, when millions of African Americans moved to Northern cities. With such a massive movement of people, the ideas of home, family, and tradition necessarily underwent radical changes for both mobilized soldiers and migrating families. While many hoped to find fairer fortunes in their new surroundings, Court Theatre’s production of Samm-Art Williams’s play emphasizes the brutal struggle that emerges when a movement toward opportunity becomes a vicious displacement. This is the experience of Cephus Miles (Kamal Angelo Bolden), a young black farmer
who loves his farmland and its history so much that he refuses to be drafted into Vietnam War. He isn’t a draft-dodger or a coward, so much as he is the most apolitical war-dissenter you will ever see. When harassed about his decision to stay, he simply repeats the words of his Sunday School teacher: “Thou shall not kill.” Unfortunately for Cephus, Uncle Sam’s laws must come before God’s, and he is stuck in prison for five years. After he gets out, he decides that there is only one place left for him to go: the city. But the staging of Home never really makes it seem like Cephus actually left his beloved farm. The large wooden frame of a farmhouse front stands perpetually in the background with its ancient, worn wooden porch collecting dirt stains and dried leaves. The bare structure appropriately indicates that the play is situated more in memories and dreams than
in reality. The only other two cast members—Ashley Honore and Tracey N. Bonner—take on the roles of the various people who have passed through Cephus’s life. The two actresses display impressive versatility as they portray a wide range of characters including a cruel jailor, a dancing preacher, and the woman who stole Cephus’s heart. At other times, Honore and Bonner play the role of a theatrical chorus lyrically commenting on Cephus’s life and accenting the emotions his memories awaken. The play is at its best in these moments, when it recreates Cephus’s memories. Full to the brim with anecdotes, Cephus is a born storyteller who revels in recalling local legends. Like Honore and Bonner, Bolden smoothly transitions into other characters according to the needs of Cephus’s stories. During these engaging and frequently hilarious anecdotes, Cephus’s vivid relationship with his home is more tangible than at any other time in the play. Although Cephus does come across better fortune in the city, it doesn’t last, and he soon finds himself subject to the cruelty of unemployment and homelessness. As he wanders
Witch, Taylor channels a more vicious Lady GaGa with a gown made of black sequins, glitter, and a gigantic gossamer neckpiece. Some of the story’s specifics have been changed due to the small cast size and a shorter run-time of only 60 minutes. Post-cyclone, Toto
It is a cold and dreary Saturday morning, the kind where the air feels clammy with mist and lethargy. Daybreak has somehow managed to make itself even gloomier and tiring than nighttime. For most of us, waking up before noon on Saturday—especially one like this—is almost impossible. But this morning there are actually students up and around. At the Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Space, the executive members of Rhythmic Bodies in Motion (RBIM) are buzzing around busily. Today is the first audition for new members, and there are registration sheets and other forms to prepare. The group has set up a table beside the plastic ballet bar, where six laptops, stacks of paperwork, and signs lay at the ready. Nadja Otikor, the administrative director of RBIM, looks around to see if anything else is needed. She turns to consult fourth-year Liadan Donelly, the artistic director, about the set-up. So far so good. Punctual at 10 a.m., several dozen dancers stream into the small studio. They come trudging in with rain boots and winter coats, but soon swap their winter gear for colorful tank tops, leotards, gym shorts, sweat pants, and leg warmers. “Remember to sign in at the table and grab a number!” Otikor calls out. A few stream to the tables. The others, having received their number tags, sit down in groups on the floor and begin to stretch and chat. Emily Greenwood, a first-year hopeful RBIM member, is excited about her audition. “I’ve done ballet and a bit of tap in high school,” she says, “and now I just want to get back to dancing.” Third-year Alice Hur, a hip-hop choreographer and RBIM veteran, glances around the quickly filling room. She frowns. “There are not many people,” she mutters. “We had to put 150 people in this room once.” Around 40 people sign up for today. Still, they shrug: It is Saturday morning. More people will likely come to the audition tomorrow. At 20 minutes past 10 a.m., Otikor calls the studio to order. She and second-year Shir Yehoshua, the publicity director and lyrical choreographer, briefly run through the rules. Each dance practice runs for an hour a week, extending a bit longer just before shows. Those who are in the RBIM Performance Company, a semi-professional performance team, have to commit more time. Members are responsible for attending practices, as well as selling tickets for the shows. RBIM as a whole performs only one large-scale show each year in May, in which they try to incorporate a variety of different dance styles. (The smaller RBIM Performance Company division, though, has several smaller gigs throughout the year.) This year’s show will feature the theme of “renewal” and will include a step dance piece, the first in RBIM’s history. The choreography is still in its early stages, so how the introduction of tap shoes will play out in a repertoire that has historically been mostly lyrical, jazz, and hip-hop still remains to be seen. As the choreographers are preparing to teach the auditioners, the executive committee is keeping the new dancers on their feet. A quick warm-up led by Yehoshua to tunes like Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music,” brings the multi-colored hoards onto the dance floor.
OZ continued on page 6
RBIM continued on page 6
HOME Court Theatre Through December 12
through the streets in oppressive solitude, the social critique of Williams’s script rises to the surface. While he is marked by fellow African-Americans as a discredit to his race, Cephus encounters an uncaring social welfare apparatus and unhelpful, single-minded agents of religion. His pain is heart-wrenching and establishes a poignant criticism of a political and social system that ignores those most in need.
HOME continued on page 6
THEATER
Emerald City gives the Wizard a modern makeover By Matthew Sellman If Only Voices Had A Brain Wicked may dominate the stage, but Emerald City Theatre Compaby’s production of The Wizard of Oz reminds us of the story that stole our hearts years ago. This charming trip through Oz makes up for its modest production level with zany costuming, a variety of humor, and unabashed performers, making it a treat for adults and children alike. While this production stays true to The
THE WIZARD OF OZ Apollo Theater Through January 2
Wizard of Oz’s well-known plot, it gives its characters a contemporary makeover. Dorothy Gale (Missy Karle) dons jeggings and a bomber jacket. With KISS-like makeup, a leather jacket, and an ’80s-glam wig, the Cowardly Lion (Shea Coffman) is transformed from a wimpy creature into a washed-up rock star, while the Tin Man (James Nedrud) pays homage to hipsters with stylish glasses, a skinny tie, and an ax made not of metal, but of a Guitar Hero controller. The entire cast also wears Converse tennis shoes, save for Dorothy and her ruby-red ankle boots.
Toto (Raymond Havey) and Dorothy (Missy Karle) do a little bit of line dancing before embarking on their journey to see the Wizard of Oz. COURTESY OF EMERALD CITY THEATRE COMPANY
Danny Lee Taylor puts on a particularly hilarious gender-bending performance as both Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West. Dressed in tight pants, a trendy camo jacket, and a short gray wig, Taylor transforms the film’s archetypal crotchety old woman into a vindictive, suburban cougar. Later, as the Wicked
By Wenjia Zhao Voices So You Think You Can Dance?
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CHICAGO MAROON | VOICES | November 23, 2010
You do the review: A Foodents Mad Lib Hello, reader. Have you had a good autumn? We really hope so. But the leaves have fallen, and the quarter is almost over. And guess what? This is our last column of the year. I hope you had fun. We sure did! So, to leave you with a reminder that UChicago can just as soon be the place where fun goes to dine as where it goes to die, we wrote this review of San Soo Gab San as a Mad Lib. That means that, today, you get to be the reviewer! But just for today. At midnight the spell will be broken, and your critical abilities will evaporate like water on a floor. Now without further ado, your Foodents mad lib: On (day of the week) we went to San Soo Gab San, a really (adjective) Korean restaurant in the (cardinal direction) side of (large Midwestern city on a lake). We went in a (noun) the (noun) of a (noun) that traveled faster than an angry (noun) in heat. We were listening to “She Will Be Loved” by (band with a color that is also a mascot) (a prime number less than ten). When we got to the restaurant, we thought, “(exclamation of surprise and slight disappointment)! We’ve been here
before!” That has never happened to us before, since we (adverb) (verb) (noun) (adverb of time), (interjection)! The restaurant was bright (the color of the spine of Wheelock’s L atin, 6th Edition) mixed with a little hint of (the color of a “den” c. 1982). The other diners were mostly of (Asian ethnicity) descent (conjunction) were frequently in large (term for a group of people you are forced
SAN SOO GAB SAN 5247 North Western Avenue (773) 334-1589
FOODENTS RATING: (5, -3)*
to endure during the holidays). We got between (big number) and thirty complimentary appetizers in tiny, kelp-colored bowls. Some were (name of a white rapper’s on-and-off again wife + ‘chi’). One was just steamed broccoli and cauliflower. (participle of sadness). Another was (the exact color and consistency of the pubic hair of a spicy merperson). Great.
Home takes a daring, if incomplete, look at the perils of the city HOME continued from page 5 And then, almost inexplicably, his suffering ends. In a desperate, textbook example of deus ex machina, Cephus rediscovers everything that he ever wanted. The play ends with a comedic structure that does little justice to the unsettling problems it engages. It is somewhat comforting to see Cephus finally find his real home, but there is a nagging in the back of the brain that remembers the aimless struggle the final scenes of the play seem to forget. Court Theatre’s production, directed by Ron OJ Parson, is well-planned and deliberate. The disciplined actors, fine-tuned lighting, and subtle set design allow the story to
(Raymond Havy) becomes a human-sized travel companion that cannot speak, but sings in perfect English when it comes time to dance. And once in Munchkinland, Dorothy finds not little people, but little puppets. Operated by ensemble members, these Munchkins sing and dance and hysterically fling from side to side during musical numbers. The film’s original score also receives some reductions because of the small size of the production, but that doesn’t deter the cast from giving it a simple yet earnest delivery. While none of the songs are cut, they are watered down in terms of orchestration. Some of these renditions verge on sounding like elevator music, but others offer a comical take on the familiar tunes, such as the Scarecrow’s (Bret Beaudry) silly bluegrass rendition of “If I Only Had a Brain.” The humor delivered by this cast is undeniable, though it’s primarily slapstick in order to appeal to children. Trumpet fanfare and cheesy grins accompany each mention of
where fun happens and there is music and dancing and girls(!!)), so we (verb in the past tense) the (color, first part of Hyde Park street ending in ‘-stone’) & (adjective describing the least spicy Taco Bell hot sauce)s on a beach and went home and played (name of the old video game console with strange controllers). It was a s ad night. But not so s ad, because we got to eat good food. And good food is a bandage for all of life’s (abstract noun describing terrible, terrible things), or emotional boo-boos. It really is. See you in 2011. (motto). *Our ranking system: Some astute readers will notice a new addition to the Foodents family. This is our Rating System®, a mult-eye-dimensional modular restaurant system based around two axes: the self-explanatory “unexcellence/excellence” x-axis and the similarly self-explanatory “unfancypantsness/fancypantsness” y-axis. A coordinate pair will be assigned to each restaurant based on its rating on each of these axes. You’ll figure it out.
RBIM aspirants can audition in three formats: hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical glide through the sporadic recollections of Cephus’s past. But, although this play was first staged back in 1979 by New York’s famed Negro Ensemble Company, the text still feels incomplete. It isn’t too short by any means. In fact, the pacing would significantly benefit from the trimming of a few scenes. No, the real problem is that the script takes a long, hard look at the ugliness and horror of poverty, drug addiction, and institutional violence supported by systemic racism, and then turns away. Cephus has every right in the world to find his happy ending, but it is too difficult to discard the morbid curiosity about all those who didn’t.
Puppet shows and talking Totos are Emerald's additions to the classic OZ continued from page 5
Finally the main courses (verb in the past tense). The first was a classic, Bim (same as last word) (generic American f a r m b o y n a m e [ N OT ‘ S i l a s ’ ] ) . I t w a s served in a stone bowl. It was very good, and quite reasonably priced. And finally, the dish that put Korea on the map, the barbequed (relative height of most five year-olds) ribs. They were also very good. They were not (adjective describing the cheek of an average five year-old, post-pinch), but chewing them really brought out their flavor. Kind of like meat gum, but way better than “meat gum” sounds. We walked away satisfied, and filled with good (subject of this column). We then bought some Middle Eastern pastries and drove to (college that is similar to ours, but purple and still in the Big 10). “We’re going to go find us a (place where fun happens and there is music and dancing and girls(!!))!” So we drove to (pharmacy). We bought four (color, first part of Hyde Park street ending in ‘-stone’) & (adjective describing the least spicy Taco Bell hot sauce)s. But we couldn’t find the (place
the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” and there is an unexpected duel between Toto and the Cowardly Lion, à la The Matrix, poking fun at over-dramatized fantasy battles. However, most appreciated is Taylor’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch’s less serious side. She whines about her slipper-stealing nemesis, exclaiming,“I hate her!” yet in a swift aside, notes, “but I love her skirt.” Also unique to this rendition is a breaking down of the fourth wall. The Emerald City Theatre Company has created an interactive Wizard of Oz. Much of the acting occurs in the aisles or, in the case of the Munchkins, sitting next to unsuspecting children. In a very “clap your hands if you believe” moment, children even have the chance to wake Dorothy and her crew from their poppy-spell by making it snow with jazz-hands. This adorable production of a classic stands as a perfect complement to the holiday season. Many people will be traveling back home and will discover firsthand the Wizard of Oz’s timeless message that there’s no place like home.
RBIM continued from page 5 Yehoshua faces the large mirror in the front of the studio and runs at a frantic speed through several routine leg stretches, quick jumping jacks, and squats. The crowded dancers follow her in a flurry of arms, legs, heads, shoes, and flying shirt sleeves. The morning lag is evident in a few stragglers, and the energy level seems to have ebbed. After a relatively quiet, on-the-spot jog, Yehoshua spins around and jokingly asks, “Is it early or something, or are you guys just really tired?” The crowd laughs, and seems to be restored. By now, the actual audition is starting. There are three separate categories for the audition today: Hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical. Most of the dancers are auditioning for hip-hop, so when the main hip-hop choreographer, thirdyear Kevin Lee, motions for them to step onto the floor, only a few leotard-clad dancers are left behind. Wearing a baseball cap and a loose jersey, Lee looks the part. He and his dance mate perform a short hip-hop segment that involves a few locking movements and a high kick at the end. The sequence lasts for about half a minute. It looks doable, even easy. The dancers appear confident. But learning it is slightly trickier. Lee and his dance mate run through each movement slowly. As with most dances, the difficulties lie in the transitions: how to make
the foot crossover look fluid, and not like a scarecrow trying to walk with too many feet (though sometimes that is the point). The dancers seem to be coping well so far. Once satisfied with what he has taught them, Lee leaves the dancers to dance to the music on their own. The first part of the music is “empty”—that is, it has no steps choreographed in, and the dancer has to improvise. There are some stiff, uncertain attempts. “Dance around. Don’t just stand there!” Lee shouts. The dancers respond, and seem to move around more energetically. The segment finished, Lee looks around and then turns back to face the mirror in front of the class. Many of the dancers have sweat dripping down their faces at this point. The spotlight above the studio floor is shining hard on them. After another attempt, Otikor, who is watching from the side, pulls up her sheets and shouts, “Okay! Numbers one through 10, step up!” Another call to cue the music and another round of auditions. All those who audition for the general RBIM team will be offered a chance to join, as will many who try out for the Performance Company. And provided they regularly practice, they will have their chance to shine this spring quarter in the massive orchestration that is the RBIM spring show.
Voices on TV, on the internet. For the latest TV talk, log on to ChicagoMaroon.com/Voices-blog.
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CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | November 23, 2010
SWIMMING
Chicago playing without fourth-years Lakeland jumped ahead early
Maroons drown competition at Phoenix Fall Classic By David Kates Sports Staff Men’s and women’s swimming and diving swamped the competition at the Phoenix Fall Classic, a three-day, nine-team meet that ended yesterday at the Myers-McLoraine pool. The women’s team racked up 1252 points, almost 800 more than Lake Forest, the second-place finisher. The men’s team accumulated 898 points and beat second-place Lincoln College by a little over 200. “This weekend everyone did absolutely amazing,” commented second-year Andrea McPike: “Individually we had a lot of people going best times, breaking school records, and making qualifying cuts.” In fact, the Maroons now boast five national qualifying performances and two new school records. In every event, the women’s team had at least one athlete who finished in the top three spots. The eleven individual event wins went to thirdyears Laura Biery (100- and 200-yard breaststrokes, 400-yard IM) and Tara Levens (50- and 200-yard freestyles, 100 yard butterfly); first-years Kate Taylor (500- and 1650-yard freestyles) and Vivian Yuen (200-yard IM, 100- and 200-yard backstrokes). The women’s relay teams were also phenomenal. They won the 200-yard freestyle (Levens and second-years Grete Grubelich, Tatum Stewart, and Andrea McPike), the 200-yard medley (fourthyears Ellie Elgamal, Levens, McPike and first-year Karen Chen), and the 400-yard medley (Chen, Levens, McPike, and first-year Wini Lau). As for diving, second-year Becky Schmidt swept the 1- and 3-meter events. Both scores qualify her for the NCAAs, and her 1 meter score (430.05) is the new school record. With seven individual event wins and three
first-place relays, the men’s team also had much to celebrate. The individual winners were: third-years Nick Santoro (100- and 200-yard breaststroke) and Erick Widestrom (400-yard IM), second-years Denver Barrows (200-yard IM) and Charles Du (200-yard butterfly); and first-years Eric Hallman (100-yard butterfly) and Eamon Ford (1650-yard freestyle). To top it off, second-year Bobby Morales set a new school record for 3-meter diving at 395.70. “The other teams had some great individual talent here and there, but overall we are a team with depth in most events. There weren’t very many final heats without multiple UC swimmers scoring points,” McPike said. “In comparison to the other teams, we have the numbers in our favor. We are an extremely deep team, so we were able to sweep a lot of events,” Tara Levens added. Kate Taylor also remarked on the team’s ability to sustain a positive attitude over three long days. “It really helped keep the morale up and help put people in racing mode,” she said. Sunday’s performance is more than a litany of wins. It is a reflection of the training both teams have undergone this season, and helps gauge where the team hopes to be in the future. “This is our only meet in the season that compares at all to end-of-season championships, so it’s a great sign that we were able to keep the intensity up throughout the meet,” Levens said. According to Becky Schmidt, “The entire team’s performance in this meet...bodes extremely well for UAAs!” The Maroons’ next meet is in January and the UAAs are in mid-February, so the swimming and diving teams have a little over a month to lay back on their laurels and prepare for the second half of the season.
M. BASKETBALL continued from front page
W. BASKETBALL continued from front page
to develop leadership in younger players. “We have a lot of experience. A lot of our juniors have played a lot, so some of those guys have stepped up and filled a leadership role,” continued McGrath. “We’d like to have a lot of presence from seniors, but we just have to find leaders in the group no matter if they are seniors, juniors, sophomores, or freshmen.” “It changes the mentality behind the leadership. He was our senior captain, and we turned to him for energy. With him gone, it’s much more leadership by committee,” Sotos added. “We have different guys stepping up during practice and on the floor. There’s no go-to guy.” Despite the dearth of fourth-years, the team is still looking for a successful season. “Our team expects nothing less than a very successful season, and our main goal is winning a UAA championship,” said Johnson. “I think the easy thing to do is to say that without any seniors on our team, this season is a step towards a championship campaign next year. But we are determined to make it happen now and, as long as we can continue to work hard and improve, anticipate a great year.” “[Our] expectations are to work hard every day and get better,” McGrath reiterated. “Our goal in the end is to win the UAA championship. We have a group that is capable of that.” The balance and work ethic that the team has displayed so far bodes well for a strong finish in what looks to be an even league. “It seems up in the air. There are a lot of teams that lost a lot from last year, and I think it is going to be interesting to see how teams do early,” said McGrath. “It’s one of those years where you have no idea how it is going to play out. The teams that were picked to do well have a lot of holes and the teams that weren’t picked have a chance to do really well. Anybody can beat anybody. It’s going to be very competitive.”
who tallied 16, 15, and 15 points, respectively. The Maroons stand 2–1 for the early season, and these weekend games served as a wake-up call for a very talented and athletic team that has not yet played at its best level. “We are only three games into our season so we are not quite at mid-season form yet,” said third-year Morgan Herrick. “However, I have no doubt in my mind we will reach our potential.” Fourth-year Dana Kaplan said for the team to have success they need “to learn to channel that talent and athleticism together [as a team].” Third-year Meghan Herrick noted one area to improve, stating that the loss “highlighted what we needed to work on in order to succeed this season—specifically defense.” Lillemoe acknowledged that the team must be “ready and willing to put our best efforts to get to where we want to be.”
More MAROON Sports online. Log on to ChicagoMaroon.com/Sports for coverage of last week’s wrestling action.
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Once again Tim Gant lights up the keyboards for 55th Street Jazz at the Cove. He will be joined by the sultry stylings of songstress Jocelyn Winston on Sunday, November 28th from 6-9pm. Seats go waaaaay fast, so you might want to get there early. The Cove is located at 1750 E. 55th Street. As always — no cover, and raffle trip giveaways abound. 773.684.1013 or www.thecovelounge. com for more info.
Thanksgiving Hours Wed, Nov. 24
Regenstein Closes early at 10 p.m.
Thur, Nov. 25
All Libraries Closed in observance of Thanksgiving holiday
Fri, Nov. 26
Crerar & Regenstein Open normal building hours D’Angelo Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eckhart & SSA Closed
Regenstein All-Night Study Closes 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Reopens 1 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28.
hours.lib.uchicago.edu
SPORTS
IN QUOTES “I’ve tasted the caviar now, so eating out of the garbage is not where I want to be.” —Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, discussing the team’s quarterback problems after Kurt Warner’s depature.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Maroons place 10th at NCAAs By Gracie Sonnabend Sports Staff Fourth-year Liz Lawton finished sixth as the Maroons finished tenth overall in their final race of the season at last Saturday’s NCAA D-III championships. “Our goal from the beginning of the season was to be a top-ten team in the country,” said Lawton. “I am so proud of our team. Obviously, some of us didn’t have our best days, but that is going to happen in this sport.” Though Lawton did not take the individual title as she had hoped, she did finish sixth out of a field of 279 with a time of 21:22. The day’s winner, Wendy Pavlus of St. Lawrence, ran 20:49. “ Pe r s o n a l l y , I d i d n o t h a v e my best performance,” Lawton
explained. “We aren’t machines, and it is just not physically possible to have a “best day” performance every day. Races can be broken down into best races, okay races, and bad races. In the first mile I realized that it was just not in my legs, but I tried to stay as mentally focused as possible and really gave all I could. Obviously the goal was to win, but it was not in the cards and if anything, it’ll make me that much more hungry when it comes to track titles.” Third-year Rachel Ohman was Chicago’s second finisher, placing 51st with her time of 22:01. Second-year Julia Sizek (22:35), fourth-year Molly Peverada (22:42), and first-year Michaela Whitelaw (2 3:0 9) brought the overall score to 366 points. Fourthyear Elizabeth Bright and third-
year Sonia Kahn also competed for the Maroons. “I think as a whole we were hoping for a slightly better performance at nationals, but by no means were we disappointed with our place as a team. Even though it would’ve been really cool to trophy as a team, being the tenth in the nation is not something to be disappointed with,” said Sizek. The Middlebury Panthers earned their sixth national title with a total of 183 points, edging out Wash U by just eight points. MIT and UW-Eau Claire rounded out the four trophy finishers with 214 and 218, points respectively. “Walking away from the meet, I don’t think anyone had any regrets. Even though not every individual had a personal best performance, we all gave it our best effort that
we could, and we did have some outstanding individual performances,” Sizek continued. “I think the experience was important for our growth as runners individually and as a team. Going to nationals was the best experience I could ever have with my teammates and friends.” After finishing fifth at regionals and 10th at nationals, the outlook for next year is optimistic. “It’s hard to make predictions for next
year but I know that if we stay on the same road we were [on] this season, this team has a big future. This team is a really remarkable group of individuals, and while everything has its time, it breaks my heart that next year I will have to miss out on an experience like I had this fall,” said Lawton. “I can walk away from this season proud of what I accomplished and what my team accomplished,” Lawton added.
Placing in the Record Books Top NCAA Team Finishes
Top NCAA Individual Finishes
1998: 4th Place 2010: 10th Place 1993: 14th Place 2000: 17th Place 2003: 18th Place
1999: Rhaina Echols, 1st 1998: Echols, 3rd 1993: Jessica Millar, 3rd 2010: Liz Lawton, 6th 2000: Wendy Sullivan, 6th
Saturday’s results First Place 20:49.3
Liz Lawton Sixth 21:22.0
Rachel Ohman 51st 22:01.7
Julia Sizek 124th 22:35.2
Molly Peverada Michaela Whitelaw 137th 204th 22:42.6 23:09.0
Lizzie Bright 223rd 23:16.4
Sonia Khan 249th 23:42.7
279th 26:32.9
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Chicago splits games at Lakeland Tourney
Denison hands Maroons another late loss
By Charles Fang Sports Staff The women’s basketball team won one and lost one in the L akeland College Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament over the weekend, but for a team that views every game as a mark on their record, the loss weighs heavily on their minds. The Maroons pulled out a win on Friday with a rally in the second half against Loras. However, they failed to do so again in a close loss to host Lakeland for the tournament championship on Saturday. “We did not play at all to our potential this past weekend,” said third-year Joann Torres. “It is one of those weekends that won’t be forgotten but will stand as a [learning]
Third-year guard Joann Torres drains a shot against North Central last Monday. The Maroons beat Loras and lost to Lakeland over the weekend. MATT BOGEN/MAROON
point in our season.” “We had a great game Monday and after that, we became complacent,” explained first-year Corey Mulder, referring to the Maroons’ opening win against North Central. Friday’s game against Loras was hotly contested with several lead changes throughout the game. The Maroons went on a 14–3 run to build up a lead of 10 points, their largest in the game, before a Loras surge brought the Duhawks within three at the half to 33-30. Loras would burst ahead and hold onto the lead for much of the second half until a flurry of Chicago baskets led a rally to a 74-65 victory. Third-year Bryanne Halfhill led the Maroons with 17 points and nine rebounds while second-year Jenna Lillemoe came off the bench with a phenomenal 15 points on four-of-seven shooting from behind the arch. For the Duhawks, Lindsey LaBadie and Brittany Kent had 18 and 16 points, respectively. With a 2–0 record going into Saturday’s game, the Maroons were ready for the championship against Lakeland. After Lakeland took an early lead, however, the women found themselves struggling to catch up for the rest of the game. They kept it close against Lakeland throughout the game, pulling within four of the Muskies with 1:12 left in the game but were unable to surmount the deficit. Bryanne Halfhill, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the Maroons with 13 points and Taylor Simpson had a double-double with 10 and 12 points but they were no match for the Lakeland trio Alyssa Schuttenhelm, tournament MVP Mary Dennewitz, and Erin Cepa
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First-year Derrick Davis powers through Denison’s defense during Sunday’s non-conference home game. Chicago fell to Denison 66–65, their second one-point loss this season. JAMIE MANLEY/MAROON
By Noah Weiland Sports Staff Coming off a one-point loss against Dominican on November 15, the men’s basketball team split a pair of non-conference games at home over the weekend against Hanover on Friday and Denison on Sunday. The 84–66 victory Friday was a credit to the team’s balance. Third-year guard Tommy Sotos led the team with 20 points, while every other player scored at least two. The team lost 66–65 to Denison in an incredibly close showing. “[The game] showed that we focused on mistakes and fixed them,” third-year forward Steve Stefanou said. “Top to bottom everyone contributed, which is something we will need down
the road. It will be important to get contributions from everybody.” On Sunday, the unrestrained dancing from the Chicago phoenix mascot did not rally the modest crowd enough to root the team to victory. A down-tothe-wire finish saw Denison make six late free-throws and pull out the win by one point. Third-year Matt Johnson led the team with 14 points, and every player scored for the second straight game. “We played really hard, and guys have been shooting it really well,” said Sotos. “In the long run, it could be good for us. Some guys may have thought we were better than we were. We have to treat it as a building block.” In spite of the rather lackluster start to the season, the team is still opti-
mistic. “We don’t have a lot of depth, but every guy that we have can play,” said coach Mike McGrath. “They’re playing hard, and as a team I feel very good about the season.” “Despite a 1–2 record, our first three games have reflected that we have the potential to be a great team,” said Johnson. “Right now, our effort in practice and for parts of games is outstanding, but in our two losses we have had lapses in our focus and intensity. We realize we are just two points away from being 3–0, and understand that we still have a lot of games left to play.” The team’s sole fourth-year, Paul Riskus, has been unable to play this year. His absence has forced the team
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