Chicagomaroon010518

JANUARY 5, 2018

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892

VOL. 129, ISSUE 18

What You Missed Over Winter Break

BY TYRONE LOMAX AND KATIE AKIN DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR AND NEWS EDITOR

Welcome back!

The GOP tax bill was signed into law on December 22, but the controversial graduate student tuition waiver tax was eliminated from the final bill. The bill does include a tax on net investment income on university endowments exceeding a value of $500,000 per student.

Data from the Office of the Registrar reports that the University had 15,302 students enrolled

in August using the full-time equivalent metric and a $7.82 billion endowment, according to the University News Office.

That makes the ratio $511,044, just above the cutoff, but these numbers are fluid. A 1.4 percent tax may seem insignificant, but if it had taken effect in fiscal year 2017, it would have cost the University about $10 million. In an e-mail to campus, President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Daniel Diermeier also noted that the bill may decrease charitable contributions to the University, due to an increase in the stanContinued on page 3

Students will wake up early and brave the cold next week for Kuvia, one of the University’s more irrepressible and inexplicable traditions. Check out the Maroon’s near-exhaustive January calendar to learn more. Photo by Yao Xen Tan. See page 4.

U of C Medicine Emergency Department Begins Treating Patients

BY EMMA DYER NEWS REPORTER

The University of Chicago Medicine’s (UCM) new adult emergency department (ED) opened at 7 a.m. on Friday, bringing in nearly 200 patients in the first 24 hours.

The $39 million department replaces the previous ED located in Mitchell Hospital that was built in 1983, and acts as the newest, most advanced emergency department of its kind in Chicago.

During opening day, Medical Director for the Emergency Department Dr. Thomas Spiegel affirmed a smooth start to the new ED’s operations. “We’ve seen the typical patients that we see in an emergency department: a lot of shortness of breath, asthma exacerbations. And of course it’s a bad virus season so we’ve seen several of those as well,” Spiegel said in a statement to television crews Friday afternoon.

The new ED’s design allows caregivers to better direct patients to specialized care units. A “rapid assessment area” provides a space

to determine upon arrival the severity of the illness or injury and direct patients to proper, specialized care. This approach requires an increase in on-staff physicians but allows for a more systematic approach to providing individualized patient treatment. The ED also contains spaces specifically designed for obese patients, a room to assess and treat victims of sexual assault, an area for patients with mental health needs, and the ability to quarantine in the event of contact with highly contagious diseases.

UCM invested heavily in new medical technology for the ED. This includes a $2 million CT scanner and two new X-ray machines. “[The new CT scanner] creates a faster, quieter, more comfortable experience for patients,” a UCM press release said.

The decision to build the new ED further demonstrates UCM’s commitment to serving the people of the South Side, according to president of the University of Chicago Medical Center Sharon O’Keefe. “Certified minority and

women-owned businesses achieved nearly $5.8 million in economic benefit from this project, and minority and women trade workers earned $1.9 million in paid wages,” O’Keefe said in reference to South Side businesses.

The ED also serves as response to a growing need for accessible high-quality medical care, particularly for South Side residents.

According to a UCM press release, “The volume of patients in our emergency departments, inpatient services, operating rooms and intensive care units has increased substantially in the last years— more than any hospital in the Chicago area. More than 46 percent of our patients come from the South Side.”

The ED will be a major component of UCM’s Level I adult trauma care services, which will open in May 2018 pending approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health. After receiving state approval, the ED will serve as one of five Level I adult trauma centers located within the Chicago city limits.

A Long Time Ago in the Magic Kingdom Page 6 Two pieces reflect on the newest Star Wars iteration­, and its relationship with the relentless megacorp that owns the series.

Remembering Stephen Albert Page 6 Albert was the executive director of Court Theatre for almost a decade.

Hospital Launches Research Program for High Schoolers Page 3

Courtesy of University of Chicago Medicine

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

Remembering Stephen Albert

Dems to Host Attorney General Forum

BY OREN OPPENHEIM NEWS REPORTER

Courtesy of Court Theatre

BY KATHERINE VEGA DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Stephen Albert, executive director of Court Theatre, passed away on December 29. He was 66. According to a Court Theatre announcement and his obituary in the Chicago Tribune, Albert suffered from a long-term illness and died of complications from surgery.

Albert worked at Court Theatre for nearly eight years and became executive director in August 2010. He announced in November 2017 that he would be stepping down from his post at the start of the 2018–2019 season and that the University and Court Theatre would conduct a national search for his successor.

In a November 2017 Court Theatre blog post announcing his departure, Charles Newell, his longtime collaborator and artistic director, said, “Steve has been a gifted and visionary creative partner whose work has transformed Court The-

atre as an institution and myself as an artist...His tireless dedication to Court’s mission, and to our shared belief in theatre’s ability to change the world, will be greatly missed.”

“He believed in dreaming big and then figuring out how you could get even partially there. He became a dear, close friend, and I am the better man for that,” Newell said in a statement to the Chicago Tribune.

Albert also served as the founding partner of a nonprofit management consultancy, Albert Hall & Associates. In the post announcing his Court Theatre departure, he had written that he planned on returning to his company.

A public memorial service for Albert will be held in late January. The Chicago Tribune reported that the service was tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 27. Further details are forthcoming on the Court Theatre website.

University Announces New Mackauer Professorship

BY BRAD SUBRAMANIAM NEWS REPORTER

The University announced the establishment of the Mackauer Professorship, a title which honors former University professor Christian Mackauer, on December 29. The professorship was sponsored by a donation by Glenn Swogger Jr. (A.B. ’57) of the Redbud Foundation.

Mackauer was a William Rainey Harper Professor of History and taught from the 1940s until 1970. He developed the History of Western Civilization course in the late 1940s with a group of several other historians, and the sequence was eventually incorporated into the College’s Core Civilization Studies curriculum.

According to a University press release, Mackauer was very influential in the establishment of the Core. The news release said that “Mackauer...powerfully articulated the mission of general education and its connections and tensions with more specialized knowledge.” The Mackauer Professorship honors professors in the College and Division of Social Sciences who foster creative thought and promote an intellectual foundation in the Core.

John Kelly of the Department of Anthropology has been named the first

The University of Chicago Democrats and the College Democrats of Illinois will host a public forum Monday for Illinois attorney general candidates. All eight Democratic candidates for attorney general have confirmed their attendance or absentee representation—making this the first forum of the campaign where all Democratic candidates will be represented.

“As the highest legal officer in Illinois, the attorney general plays a key role in the state’s dealings with Illinoisans and the federal government,” the UC Democrats Executive Board wrote in a statement to T he M aroon. “It’s important that our next attorney general address the issues that matter to students and young people across Illinois.”

The event will feature questions chosen by the moderator as well as topics suggested by students across the state, according to the statement. The club added that it does not endorse candidates in the primaries but indicated that it will likely ultimately support the Democratic nominee.

The forum will be moderated by Mary Ann Ahern, an NBC 5 News political reporter. Last fall, Ahern moderated an Institute of Politics event and has previously moderated forums for the Illinois governor’s race, but this will be her first time working with the UChicago Democrats. “I think it’s fantastic that college students are involved with this election, and hopefully it’ll carry through to Elec-

Attorney general candidate Kwame Raoul, who represents Hyde Park in the Illinois State Senate

tion Day,” Ahern said.

Ahern said that it had been assumed current Attorney General Lisa Madigan would run again for the position, which made the current attorney general election a surprise to many. The candidates have “a very short time...to get their message out. So I think there’s going to be very keen interest in what they have to say.”

The forum will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Chicago (5650 South Woodlawn Avenue) on January 8 at 6 p.m. The event will also be streamed on Facebook by the College Democrats of Illinois.

Seventeen Special Professorships Awarded

BY FENG YE DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

Seventeen faculty members have been awarded named professorships or distinguished service professorships.

In a December announcement, Daniel Arber, Christopher Berry, Mark Courtney, Fred Donner, Steven Durlauf, Dwight Hopkins, Bana Jabri, John Kelly, Howard Nusbaum, Louis Philipson, James Robinson, Stuart Rowan, and Chad Syverson accepted named professorships.

Michael Foote, Sydney Hans, Heinrich Jaeger, and Carole Ober were named distinguished service professors.

Of the named professorships, three came from the Biological Sciences division. Meanwhile, the Harris School of Public Policy, the Social Sciences division, and the Divinity School each had two professors awarded named professorships. The Booth School of Business, the Institute for Molecular Engineering, the School of Social Service Administration, and the Humanities division each had one.

The service professorships were awarded to one professor from the Biological Sciences division, one from the School of Social Service Administration, and two from the Physical Sciences division.

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Anthropology professor John Kelly

Christian W. Mackauer Professor. Aside from teaching in the College, Kelly has done research in Fiji and India on a range of issues from historical rituals to capitalism. His most recent book, Represented Communities: Fiji and World Decolonization, co-written with Martha Kaplan, analyzes the formation of nation-states from empires.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

Winter Break Digest: While You Were Away Continued from front

dard deduction.

The University’s Fiscal Year 2016 tax returns show multimillion-dollar salaries and first-class flights for top administrators. Zimmer made $3.2 million in compensation and benefits; Mark A. Schmid, the University’s Chief Investment Officer, was not far behind, making just under $3 million. The returns also show that five University officers were approved for first-class air travel using University funds. (Harvard, in the prior fiscal year, allowed two of its officers to travel first class.)

They also show that several million dollars in management fees went to investment management and private equity firms founded and/or managed by several trustees.

Professor Richard Thaler met the King of Sweden during a commemoration ceremony in Stockholm last month, where he received his Nobel Prize in Economics. Thaler gave a lecture to other economists during the ceremony and was notably moved to tears when given the prize. The honor recognizes his work in behavioral economics, which counters the idea that human beings always act rationally. Instead, he suggests that human behavior is consistently irrational, allowing it to be modeled and applied to other fields.

Jonathan Smith, a religious studies professor who taught at the University of Chicago for more than 40 years, died at age 79 on Saturday, December 30. According to his obituary, “He is survived by his loving wife, Elaine Smith, his daughter, Siobhan Smith, son, Jason Smith ( Rachel Weaver), his granddaughter, Hazel van Wijk, and sister, Pamela Hanson.” In 2008, T he M aroon published a two-hour interview with Smith.

The University Admissions office released decisions for Early Action and Early Deci-

sion I applicants on December 18.

Early Decision II candidates will be notified of their acceptance decisions in mid-February, and Regular Decision in late March.

Former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett joined the Law School as a distinguished senior fellow. Before beginning her White House career in 2009, Jarrett was the chairwoman of the Medical Center Board of Trustees and the vice chairwoman of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees.

The Obama Foundation hosted a private event to discuss with community groups where a two-story parking garage for the Obama Presidential Center would be built. The Foundation proposed to construct alongside the Midway’s east side, but community groups claimed doing so would infringe on protected park lands. In a later statement the Foundation said the site will remain unchanged, but its original proposal was slightly adjusted.

Gretchen Crosby Sims was announced as the new Institute of Politics (IOP) executive director on December 19.

Before coming to the University, Sims worked at a London-based nonprofit consulting firm, which raised funds for social problems impacting the U.K. In an e-mail to The M aroon, IOP Director David Axelrod expressed confidence in Sims’s nomination, saying “Gretchen will bring great energy to the project of envisioning what the IOP can be.”

Eric Isaacs was named a National Academy of Inventors Fellow, an honor given to individuals with a commitment to supporting or creating innovations which improve society. Isaacs is the University Executive Vice President for Research, Innovation, and National Laboratories, overseeing projects that intersect school divisions and institutes.

The University of Chicago Medicine temporari-

Jsson Lalljee

Courtesy of Pete Souza New Law School fellow and former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett speaks with President Obama.

ly changed its visitor policies to be more restrictive due to a spike in severe cases of the flu.

Now, children under the age of 12 and those with a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or nasal

congestion cannot visit hospital patients.

UChicago Medicine Launches Cancer Research Program for High Schoolers

BY EMMA DYER AND MADELEINE ZHOU NEWS REPORTERS

The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) has received a $1.9 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to fund a new cancer research training program aimed at underrepresented high school and college students.

Applications for the program, called Chicago Educators and Youth Enjoy Science on Cancer (EYES on Cancer), are open until January 21. The program will also include training for high school science educators who teach minori-

ties or economically disadvantaged students.

Participants will spend eight weeks for two consecutive summers working with University of Chicago faculty on independent research projects. Based on the interests indicated in their applications, students will be paired with faculty in a number of fields, including clinical research, computational biology, and molecular mechanisms of cancer.

Students will also partake in ongoing academic research and career development training. At the end of the summer, the students will present their research to their peers. After the summer, students

will still take part in monthly workshops, career fairs, and book clubs throughout the school year.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school teachers will receive similar training.

Both students and teachers accepted into the program will receive compensation as full-time workers.

Funded primarily by a $1.9 million grant from the NCI, EYES is a collaboration between the University of Chicago, CPS, and the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI).

The program is an expansion of the Continuing Umbrella of Research Experience program. Chicago EYES on Cancer introduces the inclusion of high school teach-

ers and the new partnership with the MSI, adding to the museum’s existing student science programs, Science Minors Club and Science Achievers.

Although affiliation with CPS is not required for applicants, the University has focused on recruiting from the South Side and Chicagoland area, according to a Chicago Tribune interview with Kathy Goss, the director for strategic partnerships at UCCCC. “EYES gives an opportunity to students who otherwise wouldn’t have one to expose them to research and careers in science,” Goss told The M aroon. She is particularly excited about the opportunity for

this year’s participants to attend the annual conference hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research, as the next one will be hosted next April in Chicago.

Chicago EYES on Cancer has been in the works for the past year; UCCCC applied for a grant in January and received funding in June.

“Since then, we have been ramping up to get ready for this class of students,” Goss said.

UChicago college and graduate students pursuing biomedical careers can serve as Chicago EYES on Cancer peer mentors. Their responsibilities would include advising laboratory etiquette and offering career advice.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

THIS MONTH Friday, January 5 Organist of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral in Recital Rockefeller Chapel, 8–9 p.m., $10 for public, free to students.

Conductor and composer Simon Johnson will play Edward Elgar’s Organ Sonata, alongside pieces by Bach and Langlais.

Saturday, January 6 Doc Films: Blade Runner 2049 Max Palevsky Cinema, Ida Noyes Hall, 7 p.m., $5.

Ryan Gosling stars in this sequel to the 1982 blend of science fiction and noir. The movie, released in October 2017, is part of a quarter-long run of choice new releases curated by Doc Films. There is also a Sunday showing at 3 p.m.

Pajamapalooza!

Reynolds Club, 8–11 p.m., free.

Presented by the Inter-House Council, the largest on-campus pajama party is back!

Drop by Reynolds for breakfast food, the Roommate Game, karaoke, and more. Prizes will be awarded to best-dressed individuals, Roommate Game finalists, and the best-represented house.

jamin Lessing examines the dynamic between Latin American states and powerful drug cartels in his first book.

Thursday, January 11 Climate, Chemistry, Technology and Society: The University Responsibility Gordon Center for Integrative Research, Room W301/W303, 5:15–6:30 p.m., free.

2016 Benton Medal Recipient James G. Anderson will speak about the relationship between research done at the institutional level and the current state of technology and the environment. Anderson is the Philip S. Weld Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University.

Friday, January 12 Doc Films: A Separation Max Palevsky Cinema, Ida Noyes Hall, 7 p.m., 9 p.m., $5.

This acclaimed 2011 film, which follows the divorce of an Iranian couple, is part of Doc Films’s series of screenings this quarter grouped under the title “Marriages on the Verge of Collapse.” Also Sunday, January 14, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 13

Monday, January 8 Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko 2018 Henry Crown Athletic Center, 6 a.m., free.

This winter tradition calls on University affiliates to wake up early and suffer the cold for five days to earn bragging rights and a coveted T-shirt. Events continue through Friday, January 12.

MLK Day of Service Various Locations, 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m., free.

Join the UCSC, UChicago Lab Schools, UChicago Charter School, Rise Against Hunger, Kraft Heinz Company Foundation, and local community organizations to celebrate and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. All are welcome to volunteer to build a beloved community.

AACM: Eccentric Coincidental Configurations Performance Penthouse, Logan Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.

Performers randomly selected by the audience will give an improvised concert.

Tuesday, January 9

Sunday, January 14

Obama Library CBA Info and Discussion University Church, 5655 South University Avenue, 6–7:15 p.m., free.

Supporters of a community benefits agreement for the Obama Library gather to make their case, with a special focus on the relevance of the issues to people of faith.

Emancipation Proclamation Pageant First Unitarian Church, 5650 South Woodlawn Avenue, 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.

Hyde Park’s First Unitarian Church annually commemorates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in word and song.

On Revolution Every Day Seminary Co-Op Bookstore, 6–7:30 p.m., free.

Editors and curators Robert Bird, Zachary Cahill, and Christina Kiaer discuss Revolution Every Day, a Soviet tear-away calendar-inspired companion to the Smart Museum special exhibit of the same name. The booklet features 365 calendar pages with entries of short essays and images that explore the many facets of revolution.

MLK Celebration Commemoration Rockefeller Chapel, 6 p.m.

Dorothy Butler Gilliam, a trail-blazing journalist and advocate for journalism by young people in underserved communities, keynotes the University’s Martin Luther King Day Jr. celebration. A reception will follow.

Making Peace in Drug Wars Seminary Co-Op Bookstore, 6–7:30 p.m., free.

How can states effectively curb drug cartel violence? UChicago assistant professor Ben-

Friday, January 26

Chicago Shady Dealer Presents: A Nuclear Symposium 5706 South University Avenue, 6–7 p.m.

The Shady Dealer, Occam’s Razor, and OffOff Campus join together for a series of performances as part of the University’s 75th anniversary celebration of the CP-1 nuclear experiment. The event will be catered.

André Laks and Glenn Most: Early Greek Philosophy Seminary Co-Op, 6–7:30 p.m., free.

The editors of a nine-volume collection of early Greek philosophers discuss these thinkers, sometimes called the pre-Socratics. Glenn Most is a visiting professor at the Committee for Social Thought.

COUP Presents: Snow Ball Chicago Cultural Center, 7:30–11 p.m., $25 single ticket and $40 per pair.

Dance away winter quarter blues at the annual UChicago formal. Dress code is formal and transportation will be provided to and from the event. Tickets are sold online through the UChicago Box Office.

Saturday, January 27

The State of Religion in America University Club of Chicago, 76 East Monroe Street, 12–1:30 p.m., $60.

The Lumen Christi Institute hosts a luncheon talk with New York Times op-ed columnist Ross Douthat on the challenges of religion in modern American society. Registration is required.

Tuesday, January 16

Wednesday, January 17 Offen Poetry Reading by Duriel Harris Seminar Terrace 801, Logan Center for the Arts, 6 a.m.

Duriel Harris selects a student from a group of anonymous submissions to read their original work. Harris will read her work as well.

Uchi-con 2017 Ida Noyes Hall, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., free The 17th annual gathering of anime fans at and around the University of Chicago is hosted by the University of Chicago Japanese Animation Society. Pre-register at uchi-con. com.

Memorial Service for Stephen Albert Court Theatre, 10 a.m., free.

Court Theatre will host a memorial service for executive director Stephen Albert, who passed away in late December. The date is tentative.

Sunday, January 28

Friday, January 19 People’s History of Chicago Group Poetry Show Performance Penthouse, Logan Center for the Arts, 6–8 p.m.

Kevin Coval of Young Chicago Voices and other local poets will perform their work.

Performers welcome; email chicagostudies@ uchicago.edu with your name and poem before January 10 to be considered.

Religion in the Frame: Elmer Gantry Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Avenue, 6 p.m., suggested donation $10 A six-day series of events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Martin Mary Center for the Public Understanding of Religion opens with a screening of Elmer Gantry, a 1960 film about a faux-devout preacher. Marty will discuss the film after the screening.

Monday, January 29

Sunday, January 21 Young Life South Side Seventh Annual Chili Cook-off Kennicott Park District Field House, 4434 S. Lake Park Avenue, 1–3 p.m., $20.

Funds raised at this annual competition go to send students to summer camp.

Monday, January 22 President Trump: Year One Cloister Club, Ida Noyes Hall, 5:30–6:45 p.m., free.

Five leading journalists gather to analyze the year since Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Tuesday, January 23

Democratic Attorney General Candidates Forum First Unitarian Church, 5650 S. Woodlawn Avenue, 6–7:15 p.m., free.

A slew of candidates to replace political scion Lisa Madigan as attorney general will attend this forum.

Wednesday, January 10

Thursday, January 18

William Josephson on the Electoral College Assembly Hall, International House, 5:30– 7:30 p.m., free.

A lawyer and decades-long spectator of American politics discusses the future of the electoral college.

Wednesday, January 24 Running for Congress as a Minister and a Democrat Common Room, Swift Hall, 12–1:15 p.m., $5.

Tabith Isner, a candidate for a Congressional seat encompassing most of the Montgomery, AL metropolitan area, will talk about her uphill climb to office. The event is part of the Divinity School’s Wednesday Lunch speaker series, and a vegetarian meal will be provided. Email divinitylunch@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Thursday, January 25 Opening Reception for Polluted Wildlife: Reconstructing the Anthropocene in the Museum Cochrane-Woods Art Center 157, 5 p.m., free.

Carl Fuldner and Shane DuBay will discuss their collaborative project, a presentation of striking photographs alongside time-series analysis which shows the findings from their investigation of bird specimen collections.

Nuclear Reactions 1942: A Safer or a More Dangerous World Room 122, Regenstein Library, 5:30–7:30 p.m., free Five University of Chicago professors gather to consider the security implications of the arsenals born of University’s seminal research into nuclear fission seventy-five years ago.

Ganesh Sitaraman: The Crisis of the Middle-Class Constitution Seminary Co-Op, 6–7:30 p.m., free.

A law professor advances the argument that America’s constitutional framework assumes a strong middle class, and the danger of increasing inequality to that constitutional settlement.

Tuesday, January 30 What Makes a School Great?

Kenwood Academy, 5015 S. Blackstone Avenue, 7 p.m., free.

Jack Schneider, a professor at College of the Holy Cross and the author of Beyond Test Scores will host this forum on the impact of school rating on Chicago schools, and the alternatives available.

Wednesday, January 31 How I Became a Renegade Philosopher Common Room, Swift Hall, 12–1:15 p.m., $5.

Anne Knafl, the bibliographer for religion, philosophy, and Jewish Studies at the University of Chicago Library, will discuss her attempts to reflect contemporary issues in her exhibitions at the Library. The event is part of the Divinity’s School’s Wednesday Lunch speaker series. A vegetarian meal will be provided. Email divinitylunch@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

See chicagomaroon.com/events for more and to post your own.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

VIEWPOINTS Monuments Matter

A Founder of the Monumental Women Project Reflects on the Legacy of Dr. Georgiana Rose Simpson

BY ASYA AKCA MAROON CONTRIBUTOR

Today, Dr. Georgiana Rose Simpson (A.B. 1911, A.M. ’20, Ph.D. ’21) will take her permanent place on campus in the form of a monument in the Reynolds Club, once a club only for men.

In 1921, Dr. Simpson became one of the first three black women to receive their Ph.D.s in the United States, along with Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander from the University of Pennsylvania and Eva Beatrice Dykes from Radcliffe College. Dr. Simpson’s bronze bust will be located in the hallway leading up to Mandel Hall, situated directly across from a bronze relief of Harry Pratt Judson, the University president who barred her from living in the dorm called Green Hall while she was pursuing her studies at the University. She will now stand face to face with the man who forbade her and other black students from living in University dorms.

When Simpson arrived at the University of Chicago in 1907, white students protested her presence in the dorms. Even though some administrators, like Dean of Women Marion Talbot and head of Green Hall Sophonisba Breckinridge, fought for Simpson’s right to live on campus comfortably, Judson interfered, forcing Simpson to leave campus housing.

Despite this setback, Simpson continued to complete her studies remotely, through correspondence and through summer coursework, ultimately receiving her historic doctorate degree in German philology from the University of

Sofia Garcia

Chicago in 1921.

In her persistent quest to pursue her research in German philology, Dr. Simpson traveled to Germany and ultimately wrote her dissertation on German Romanticism, entitled “Herder’s Conception of Das Volk.” She later moved back to her hometown of Washington, D.C., where she first worked as a teacher of modern languages at Dunbar High School before then serving as a professor at Howard University and the secretary-treasurer of the

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National Association of College Women. After an arduous journey into the predominantly white and male world of academia, Simpson passed away in 1944.

The Simpson bust is an important addition to the University of Chicago’s campus as the first monument honoring a woman for her own unique accomplishments. The Monumental Women Project’s primary goal has been to bring to life a part of the University’s history whose stories were previously untold. For the first time, the University of Chicago will rightfully honor the historic contributions of a woman of color, and, importantly, a woman of color who persisted despite a University president’s efforts to distance her from her education.

As the co-founders of the Monumental Women Project, Shae Omonijo and I came to the agreement that women’s history was unrightfully underrepresented in public art and monuments on campus.

There are dozens of busts and sculptures around campus honoring historic male figures, including past University presidents and chairmen of the Board of Trustees, but we kept asking: Where are the stories of influential women? Why were they not being told? There was no doubt that there had been women who made notable and groundbreaking contributions to the UChicago community, but their stories were simply not represented on campus.

Public acknowledgement of the accomplishments of black women were even harder to find. With the Monumental Women Project, we wanted to find and share these

stories.

Where would the monument be placed? Who would create the piece? How could we, two students who are not familiar with the arts community, go about making this happen? After multiple conversations with Richard Bumstead from the University of Chicago’s Facilities Services, we decided to select Reynolds Club as the appropriate building for the piece. Following a walk-through of the space, we were able to choose the exact permanent location as well—in front of an empty wall between two windows.

The artist selection phase was also challenging, as there are not too many sculptors in the nation who specialize in creating these kinds of bronze pieces. After speaking with some artists over the phone to ask for price quotes for a bronze bust, we began to realize that our initial $9,500 grant from Student Government’s Uncommon Fund would not be sufficient. We then went back to the drawing board and started applying to more grants. Ultimately, we fundraised $50,000 through grants received from the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture, the Office of the Provost, UChicago Arts, the Center for Leadership and Involvement’s Student Engagement Fund, and Student Government. In addition, we received individual donations from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. members and an online crowd-funding page. Our increased budget made it possible for us to move forward with our artist, a Chicago-based black sculptor, Preston Jackson. In addition, these funds supported the creation of a wooden pedestal

and wall plaque to accompany the piece and the unveiling ceremony event.

This recent national attention on monuments is valuable in that it affirms that public pieces of art have tremendous symbolic influence and importance, but too often, we focus on the drawbacks of bad monuments and not the affirmational possibilities of good ones. Most modern debates about public art of this kind involve the often harmful power of monuments, especially those that glorify figures who achieved historical relevance through bigotry and violence. In an age where we are debating whether or not to remove monuments honoring historic figures who committed heinous acts, we must not forget to fill those same spaces with new monuments that belong.

Dr. Georgiana Rose Simpson belongs.

Ultimately, I hope that Dr. Simpson’s bronze bust is the first of many in a wave of public art pieces that honor women and people of color on our campus. I hope the University of Chicago and other university campuses across the nation will pursue initiatives like this one that work to illuminate the accomplishments of underrepresented groups.

Asya Akca is a fourth-year in the College majoring in political science and pursuing a dual Master’s in international relations. She founded the Monumental Women Project with fourth-year political science major Shae Omonijo.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published online on November 28, 2017.

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

ARTS The Last Jedi Swings at the Past, But Strikes Out

BY IVAN OST ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR

Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers.

It was difficult to miss the parallels between J.J. Abrams’s The Force Awakens and George Lucas’s A New Hope.

Spunky kids from a desert planet unite with unlikely allies (including Han Solo and Chewbacca!) to destroy the biggest, most evil sphere in the universe—but at the expense of a veteran advisor. Similar parallels connect Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi and Lucas’s The Empire Strikes Back; a rebel base is destroyed (twice, actually, in The Last Jedi), there’s a Jedi master somewhere remote, a spooky cave offers our hero meaningful visions, and a final defeat turns around when our heroes are whisked to the safety of the Millennium Falcon. But The Last Jedi mismatched with The Empire Strikes Back in two critical ways: It isn’t as dark, and it isn’t as good.

Empire ends on a grim note, with Han Solo frozen in a carbonite cube, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) losing a fight and his right hand in a battle with Vader and the Rebellion, exiled from its Hoth stronghold, in dire straits. In a world defined primarily by the people in it, the jeopardy of its characters matters. Empire ended with an uncertainty and anxiety unique in the Star Wars universe.

The Last Jedi motions to these discomforts without recreating them. The rebellion loses the battle, but everyone on their ship yammers so insistently about the value of hope that one starts to wonder where the line between hope and delusion really lies. The rebels don’t act like they’ve lost, and in a galaxy that rewards spunk more than military might, this is enormously important. Rey (Daisy Ridley) faces a moment of Luke-like temptation, contemplating a quintessentially Star Wars offer to rule the universe for long enough that I wondered whether the film’s twist might be that she takes it—but she doesn’t, and by the end, her commitment to the good guys is unquestionable. Our heroes lose some battles, but never falter in the attitude war. The Last Jedi does not conclude with The Empire Strikes Back’s sense of real, grim desperation. It’s a movie where the good guys

do alright, and after The Force Awakens, I was hoping for a properly miserable coda.

Technical issues in the film don’t help its case, either. Johnson spends a great deal of screen time bouncing across settings: During the first hour-ish of the movie, we have three distinct plots in three distinct places working toward three distinct goals.

There’s nothing wrong with this intrinsically, but the plotlines often feel like they’re working to achieve something else, rather than being valuable in their own right. We want Rey to finish training so she can get back into action. We want the Rebel fleet to escape the First Order so it can keep, uh, rebelling. We want Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) to get the heck off the casino planet and realize that they’re both just too damn cute not to have romantic interests—and what a felicitous coincidence that they’re both single! Some critics argue that the point of these scattered storylines was for a payoff at the end of the film, but a movie that is two-thirds cluttered setup is two-thirds a bad movie.

Just because The Last Jedi is eventually rewarding does not mean it is well made.

Part of my frustration with the branched storyline of The Last Jedi might have to do with the forced quality of its central conflicts. An extensive disagreement between a hotshot, loose-cannon pilot and a stodgy, rule-abiding admiral should have been explained in two minutes. Instead, it was blown up into a lengthy, frustrating internal division that kept allies from working together and stalled the movie for nearly a half hour. That is not a satisfying resolution; that is watching a bureaucracy malfunction. Maybe that’s suitable material for The West Wing, but not for rip-roaring Star Wars.

That’s not to say the movie was all bad, though. Disney has done astonishingly well with its casting. Daisy Ridley is dynamic and focused but never excessive; Mark Hamill is sturdy and has the look of a mentor (though I wish someone would have told Rian that the man just isn’t funny!). A diverse and unbelievably charming cast contributes nuance and emotional detail left implicit in dialogue: Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), for instance, is insecure but powerful, gangly, and menacing all at once. And like all Star Wars movies before it, The Last

Courtesy of Lucasfilm/Disney

Courtesy of Wired

Jedi is beautiful to behold. Production is excellent: Armor and costumes are worn and detailed, the spaceships intricate, the battles choreographed and flamboyant. The concluding scenes on a planet that is gore red underneath a layer of salt is particularly memorable: In Johnson’s sweeping panoramas, you get the sense that the ground itself is bleeding.

But the film, ultimately, rings hollow. It didn’t have to be The Empire Strikes Back to be a good film, but it was channeling that film and missed the mark. Its other elements weren’t enough to pull it through:

A bunch of half-hearted monologues about the hope and joy of rebellion that seem especially strange coming from Disney, the exact kind of company you’d rebel against— and a personable, talented cast that could do only so much with a wilting script. The Last Jedi is unmistakably Star Wars and a half-decent film—but in the eyes of this critic, it’s not so much an Empire Strikes Back as it is a shinier Return of the Jedi.

The Money Behind the Magic: Dramatic Irony in Disney’s The Last Jedi

BY ERIC-ANTONIO GUZMAN ARTS STAFF

When the Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm in 2012, a new hope resurged to relive that breathtaking, magical sensation felt by audiences worldwide when the force first awakened in 1977. Attempting to recreate that initial ecstasy of space-filled self-discovery, Disney has in just five years released three new Star Wars films, with plans to produce new films indefinitely. Or at least until the average wealthy 46-year-old male becomes fatigued with the notion of an all-powerful laser sword.

While this second coming of Luke Skywalker has so far generated a “certified fresh” reception, Disney’s buyout of Lucasfilm itself is generating billions in profit from box office and merchandise sales, putting the company in an unprecedented position of power. Wielding its laser sword of monetary might with both hands, Disney is tightening its control over new, well-endowed intellectual property. With the recent purchase of

a majority of 21st Century Fox, Disney now stands to overtake the entire film industry, despite just releasing a new Star Wars film whose political stance condemns avarice-fueled ambitions of restoring past glory.

Disney’s policy of horizontal integration first began with the installation of Bob Iger.

Replacing Michael Eisner as CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, Iger has since been on an expedition of acquisition, spearheading the company’s purchases of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and now 21st Century Fox. Disney’s catalog of characters is now as broad and as insurmountable as Kylo Ren’s bare chest. Having previously relied on animated and live-action hits such as Chicken Little and The Pacifier, Disney’s yearly production slate is nowadays composed of roughly three Marvel films, one Pixar film, one Star Wars film, one original animated film, one live-action film, a sequel or two, and one live-action remake of a Disney classic (more on Disney’s unhealthy obsession with nostalgia later).

As a result, Disney has risen to the top of

the film industry food chain. In 2016 alone, Disney earned $2.5 billion in gross profits, outperforming its next rival competitor by nearly $1 billion. As if being the No. 1 giant enchilada for the third year in a row wasn’t enough, Disney’s merger with Fox will combine the first and third most profitable movie studios to create a Super Fiery Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Enchilada Supreme straight out of Taco Bell. While Iger’s extended tenure is most likely to ensure a smooth transition between the consolidation of both companies, I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled out another “one more thing…” at the end of 2021.

Acting in accordance with the writing on the opening crawl, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” Disney bought 21st Century Fox to kickstart its own new streaming service, which will bring Fox’s formidable film franchises such as Avatar and Alien, as well as major TV programming like The Simpsons and Modern Family, into Disney’s aforementioned inventory of intellectual properties. Because Fox owns the rights to the X-Men franchise, there has even been much anticipation for an

Avengers/X-Men crossover. Slated to debut in 2019, this new streaming service (which serves as the first sizable threat to Netflix) and Disney’s already-established dominance at the box office makes it arguably the most powerful movie studio of all time. As seen by its harsh handling of The Last Jedi’s theater distribution, Disney is already starting to recognize its indisputable supremacy.

Living lavishly at the corner of supply and demand, Disney supplied perhaps the most anticipated blockbuster of 2017 and, knowing full well that it had the last word on The Last Jedi, demanded that theater operators nationwide comply with their highly restrictive regulations regarding the film’s exhibition and revenue distribution. Issuing its own form of Order 66 against theater operators, Disney imposed a now-exposed set of terms exhibitors had to agree to in order to even screen The Last Jedi. These terms and conditions included, but were not limited to: 65 percent stake in ticket sales, four-week exclusivity in the theater’s largest auditoContinued on page 7

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

From U of C to Sea Oak, Alumna Lands Role in Amazon Pilot

BY JULIA PAZ ARTS STAFF

“You know the famous saying, ‘It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something?’ Well, it takes 20,000 hours to become completely confident in that something,” said actress and University alumna Rae Gray.

A recent graduate from the University of Chicago, Rae Gray (A.B. ’14) has pursued her passion for acting by branching out from theatre into movies and series. Her newest project is Sea Oak, based on George Saunders’s short story of the same name.

The comedy pilot, which premiered on November 10 during Amazon’s pilot season along with The Climb and Love You More, stars Glenn Close as Aunt Bernie, a mid-

dle-class woman who comes back from the dead. The show deals with real-life issues while mixing in comedy and supernatural elements to create a special genre-bending experience.

“We worked on the pilot for three weeks but only filmed for six days,” Gray said about the filming timeline. “The first two weeks of the process, the cast met up with George and Hiro Murai (our director) to discuss our characters, their backstories, and the world of the pilot.” Gray explained. “We formed an instantaneous bond and creative rapport. It was magical. In the final week, we shot the pilot in various locations around New York. George and Hiro’s vision was so clear that it felt like the easiest thing I had ever done, and the most special thing I had ever been a part of.”

For Gray, the opportunity to be part of this project seemed to come at just the right time. It was almost like fate. “‘Sea Oak,’ the short story, was in my high school creative writing textbook—The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction—so I was familiar with it and its author, George Saunders,” Gray said. “Coincidentally, the day I found out about the audition for the TV pilot, I finished George’s first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. It was thrilling to have a script come across my desk that was written by one of the best writers alive who also happens to be, as I would soon find out, one of the kindest people alive. Sea Oak makes you laugh and also moves you to tears. I look for that combo in everything I do.”

Gray’s acting career began long be-

Courtesy of Decider

fore her time at UChicago, and continued throughout her college experience. At age four, she was featured in an auto safety commercial and she did over a hundred voiceovers in her teenage years. As a college student, she spent half her time on her studies and the other half onstage. Throughout her career, she has acted alongside the likes of John Malkovich, performed in Steppenwolf and Goodman productions, and even appeared on The Walking Dead.

“Time management was key,” Gray said about her time at UChicago, echoing a familiar sentiment. “I was attempting to juggle eight shows a week, a full course load, a social life, and decent sleep. I often had five-show weekends and would miss out on campus events or wouldn’t want to hang out late because I had to get up early the next morning.”

Balancing her academics while filming other projects was no easy feat. “I finished my last two quarters remotely from New York and Los Angeles by doing independent studies with Heidi Coleman, Dan Raeburn, and Garin Cycholl,” she explained. “Former Dean of Students Susan Art was very helpful, too.”

She also credits the University for helping her hone her acting skills. “Life experience, perspective, and critical thinking skills are vital to this craft,” Gray explained. “In my mind, the best actors are masters of text comprehension…emotional connection, and imagination. UChicago nurtured all three of those in me.”

When giving advice to aspiring students pursuing a creative career, Gray believes that practice mixed with confidence makes perfect. “There is no such thing as ‘making it,’” she clarified, also comparing achieving success in the arts world to climbing to the top of a mountain with an ever-growing peak. “What pushes you to keep going is passion and confidence…. You need to believe that you’re the best at what you’re doing and that your only competition is yourself. Be better today than you were yesterday. Hard work is confidence is success.

Oh, and also, have fun.”

Rae Gray, center, plays Jade in Amazon’s Sea Oak.

“Disney thrives on history for its programming, with enough planned live-action remakes and sequels to launch its own nostalgia Pornhub.”

Continued from page 6

rium, and an additional 5 percent penalty should the exhibitor be caught violating any conditions.

As the split of ticket revenue between theater operators and movie studios has usually been 50/50, this order seems like the final dagger in a dying business. Struggling to survive against the cost and convenience of streaming services, theater chains across America desperately rely on tent-pole films such as The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi to attract audiences back into theaters.

As a result, theater chains and smaller cinemas, which may have only a few screens available, have their hands tied as their pockets are emptied. Disney is suffocating theaters who can’t afford to spend their last breath acquiescing to the demands of a power-hungry mouse.

Ironically, however, Disney’s latest film disavows all that defines the company’s current trajectory. Continuing Star Wars’s history of political protest, The Last Jedi comments on the current political obsession with nostalgia as well as the corruptibility of capitalism. At the center of The Last Jedi is the conceit to “Let the past die.” This is muttered by Kylo Ren, who becomes disillusioned by the systems of power which constantly differentiate between the light and the dark, the Jedi and the Sith. After three Death Stars, two Jedi Skywalkers, and Rogue One, the galaxy is still in “a period of civil unrest.”

Time and time again, systems in play continue to fail. And yet, many still believe the path of salvation lies toward a restoration of the past.

Numerous main characters in the film are defined by their inability to let the past die: Rey cannot come to terms with the disreputability of her lineage, Luke is marred by the image of himself as a failed legend, and Snoke is determined to restore the past glory of the Sith. Snoke, in fact, is my favorite political symbol. Modeled after Hugh Hefner, he is a figure of opulence whose ascension to power is never explained because his motivations are as empty as they are simple.

He merely wants to make the galaxy great again. Likewise, this damning image of wealth is also displayed in the Canto Bight sequences, which illustrate the inherent immorality present in unrestrained capitalism. In this war between the Jedi and the Sith, the good and the bad, only the affluent succeed. And while it might seem strange to compare a company with a country’s political agenda, the parallels are uncanny.

Rather than letting the past die, Disney thrives on history for its programming, with enough planned live-action remakes and sequels to launch its own nostalgia Pornhub.

With Star Wars, Disney centers anthology films around the original trilogy, following a larger trend in Hollywood and among consumers for reboots of franchises many already cherish. When Disney finally an-

nounced plans for a new Star Wars trilogy, the first responses from fans were anticipatory rumors hoping it would be based on the Old Republic storyline. With the fandom menace stuck worshipping “A long time ago,” The Last Jedi does the exact opposite of what fans expected. It denounces the past, rather than deifying it. In turn, the film inadvertently bites the hand that feeds it—Disney as well as the fans.

Rather than attempting to hide The Last

Jedi from Star Wars canon, the fans need to accept the truths the film presents. Rather than being seen as the Scrooge it is, Disney has managed to present a Disney-fied image of its gluttonous self, one that is still obsessed with bills. And their obsession with the past is futile; no matter how hard Disney tries to reawaken the Force, you can’t lose your virginity twice.

Courtesy of LA Times

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THE CHICAGO MAROON - JANUARY 5, 2018

SPORTS Maroon Women Continue to Dunk Their Competition WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BY ALYSSA RUDIN SPORTS STAFF

The Maroon women’s basketball team sacrificed their winter breaks to train and play, and their hard work has paid off. The Maroons improved to 9–2 heading into conference play.

Highlights from winter break include Chicago thrashing North Park and Earlham 78–36 and 93–64, respectively. In the first half against Earlham, the score remained close, but the Maroons ran away with the game in the second half, scoring 26 points in the third quarter and 25 in the fourth. Multiple players contributed to these high numbers. Second-year Mia Farrell led the team with 16 points, followed closely by first-year Meaghan O’Hara at 14 points and second-year Miranda Burt at 13 points. Against North Park, Burt led the offense with 21 points and first-year Marissa Igunbor earned 15 points. Second-year Taylor Lake led the team with 13 rebounds and fourth-year Elizabeth Nye chipped in with three assists.

The Maroons faced their fair share of close games, however. They defeated Elmhurst College 74–70 in an absolute thriller. At the half, Chicago was down by just a

point, 29–28. After the half, the Maroons were boosted briefly to a lead by scoring sprees by Farrell and Burt. Elmhurst leveled the score again, however, at 65–65.

It didn’t matter, as Farrell made four free throws to give the Maroons the win. Thirdyear Olariche Obi had a fantastic game with 21 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks. The University Athletic Association (UAA) awarded her with Athlete of the Week honors for her effort. In another tight game, the Maroons earned their seventh straight victory, defeating Wilmington 71–55 and winning the Fred Raizk Memorial Classic in the process.

The first half was close, with Chicago barely holding onto a lead at 23–21 before points from O’Hara, third-year Jamie Kockenmeister, and Nye put the Maroons up 34–27 at the half. With the momentum in their favor, the Maroons put the pedal to the metal in the second half, building a big lead with a 22-point scoring spree. Farrell once again led the team in points with 16, earning the Most Valuable Player award of the tournament.

After a very successful run, the Maroons now head into conference play. According to Burt, the team has built up their confidence pre-conference thanks to the

Men’s Basketball Experiences Rocky Start

University of Chicago Athletics Dept.

Second-year Mia Farrell brings the ball up the court. strength of their schedule. “We have played a very tough non-conference schedule up to this point, and that gives our team a lot of confidence heading into UAA play as the teams we beat are very successful. We believe the UAA is the toughest conference in the country, so our non-conference schedule

UChicago Wrestling on the Rise

MEN’S BASKETBALL

BY THOMAS GORDON SPORTS STAFF

While the majority of University of Chicago students were at home enjoying their winter breaks, the UChicago men’s basketball team was at work. They played five games over the break but were disappointed to finish 1–4 during the stretch.

Their main struggles occurred away from home, with the Maroons still remaining winless on their travels. They appear to enjoy the comforts of Ratner with a 4–2 record at home.

In their most recent game, UChicago was well beaten by Denison University.

Denison controlled the game for the vast majority of the time while the Maroons struggled with their shots out of the gate.

The team only shot 10 of 31 in the first half, which resulted in a 15-point deficit at halftime. However, the Maroons did attempt a comeback, cutting the deficit back to seven points with eight minutes to play, but they were unable to take advantage of the momentum with Denison executing a 9–0 run in response, putting Denison in a position to comfortably win the game.

The cold shooting in the first half is what ended up costing the team, as the Maroons finished with a respectable

WRESTLING

shooting percentage of 43.9 percent, which is above their season average.

Fourth-year Collin Barthel led the way with a team-high 17 points and a teamhigh 7 rebounds. This loss concluded the non-conference schedule with a disappointing record of 4–7.

The team is looking forward to the upcoming conference schedule as a chance to restart this season. Second-year forward Sam Sustacek admits that “the start to the season has been unfortunate,” but he is looking forward to the opportunity to “start the season over again with the conference schedule.”

The Maroons face a difficult battle in their first game of the conference season against rival Wash U. Wash U is coming into conference play with a 9–2 record and a top 10 ranking. UChicago’s defense will have their hands full with Wash U’s blistering offense that is averaging 83.3 points per game. The key to slowing down this attack lies in stopping the Bears’ fourth-year forward Andrew Sanders.

Sanders, team captain, is averaging 19 points per game on an extremely efficient shooting percentage of 55.9 percent. It’ll be a difficult defensive assignment for the Maroons to deal with. Hopefully UChicago is able to hang in tough and claim an upset win.

M AROON

SPORT Wrestling Wrestling Wrestling Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball

SCORE BOARD

adds to our sense of preparation.” After a bit of a slow start to the season, “the team has learned that we need to focus on every single possession as well as finishing games. Once we realized this, we were able to turn close games into comfortable wins.” The Maroons will face Wash U this Saturday.

W/L

Opponent

Score

W W L L W

Wilkes Heidelberg Centenary Denison Wilmington (Ohio)

24–17 23–18 15–27 69–82 71–55

BY KEVIN JOHNSTON SPORTS STAFF

The UChicago wrestling team continued its season by participating in the Chicago Duals, a six-team, one-day meet on December 30. Chicago faced three difficult opponents: Alma College, Marian University, and Harper College. The competition was no match for the Maroons, as they decimated all three schools. An incredible group effort of individual wrestlers ensured that the Maroons as a team would not be beaten.

The Maroons started out the day slowly—their first opponent, Alma College, managed to take three of the first four matches. Unfortunately for Alma, the 12 points gained would be the only points they would get for the remainder of the dual, as the Maroons systematically defeated their opponents in the final six matches, giving them a 37–12 win. Second-year Matt Shoub won at 174 pounds with a 9–0 score, which largely summarized the margin of victory that the Maroons had in those six matches against Alma.

Against Marian, the Maroons took the lead and never looked back. Second-years Steve Bonsall and Kyle Peisker followed up the first three forfeits in the dual by winning big, with Bonsall crushing his 157-pound match, while Peisker came away in his 174-pound match with a 21–5 technical fall victory. Another standout performance was a fierce defensive effort by second-year Kahlan Lee-Lermer at 165

pounds, shutting out his opponent in a 3–0 victory. The Maroons would end up victorious by a score of 40–12.

The final match was the biggest blowout of the day, as the Maroons won by 30 points against Harper. Third-year Louis Demarco came away with a 12–0 major decision at 133 pounds, while Peisker won 15–0 with another technical fall. Both fourth-year Nick Ferraro and first-year Will Britain pinned their opponents, leading the way for a 37–7 victory and a final 3–0 record for the day.

The Chicago Duals marks the beginning of a period of heavy action for the Maroons. The competition was the first match for the Maroons since the beginning of December, with the team having had most of the month off. The Maroons will not have the luxury of such a long break anymore. In January alone, the Maroons host two home duals against Wheaton and North Central and also participate in the Elmhurst Invitational, the Wheaton Pete Wilson Invitational, and the National Division III Duals. The Maroons, in fact, just finished competing at the National Division III Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on January 4. The team defeated its first opponent Heidelberg 23–18 before being blown out by UW–Whitewater 56–0. The Maroons ended the day with a 24–17 victory against Wilkes in their final match of the competition.

The next home competition for the Maroons wrestling team will be January 10 against Wheaton at 7 p.m.

UPCOMING GAMES SPORT

DAY

Opponent

TIME

Wrestling Women’s Basketball

Friday Saturday

National DIII Duals Wash U

9 a.m.

1 p.m.