OCTOBER 27, 2017
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892
Hyde Park Halloween Scaled Down
Zimmer Testifies on Free Speech BY KATHERINE VEGA DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR
University president Robert Zimmer spoke at a Senate hearing yesterday, titled “Exploring Free Speech on College Campuses.” The hearing was held by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and it featured testimonies from the Southern Poverty Law Center president and university professors. The event opened with a statement from committee chairman Senator Lamar Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee, regarding tensions on college campuses where event speakers had been interrupted by protesters. He expressed disapproval at the idea that controversial speakers might not be allowed to visit campuses or complete their talks due to opposition from students. A lexander stated in his opening remarks that Zimmer and other university leaders had “taken action to reaffirm their commitment to free speech.” “Universities should be the place where people of different views may speak, audiences can listen, and many contrasting
viewpoints are encouraged,” Alexander said. “There should be some sensible ways to allow that while still protecting freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment.” In his testimony, Zimmer stated that free speech on college campuses is at a crucial tipping point and has implications nationwide. He argued that critical thinking skills such as synthesizing different perspectives or understanding history and context— skills which rely on freedom of expression—are at the cornerstone of a good education. “If the education that we provide does not give students the opportunity to acquire these skills and abilities, they will be underprepared to make informed decisions in the complex and uncertain world they will confront upon entering the workplace,” Zimmer said. “Intrinsic to students attaining these skills is an environment of ongoing intellectual challenge of which free expression and open discourse is an essential part.” Zimmer discussed at length the “Chicago Principles,” which are included in the University’s Continued on page 3
BY CAROLINE KUBZANSKY NEWS REPORTER
PRESIDENT ZIMMER President Zimmer speaks at a Senate hearing hosted by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
PROFESSOR STANGER
SENATOR ALEXANDER
Allison Stanger, professor of international politics and Economics at Middlebury College, witnesses the Senate hearing.
Senator Lamar Alexander witnesses the Senate hearing early Thursday morning.
DNC Chair Talks Future of Democratic Party BY LUCIA GENG NEWS REPORTER
The Institute of Politics (IOP) hosted Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), in an event at International House on Wednesday. Perez, a former civil rights attorney who served as Labor Secretary under former President Barack Obama, spoke with
IOP Fellow and Washington Post correspondent Karen Tumulty about the current political climate and Democrats’ strategy going forward. He began by describing the responsibilities of his job, saying that the DNC’s mission is to “elect Democrats up and down the ticket…by making sure we have strong parties…and strong partnerships everywhere.” Responding to Tumulty’s comment that the Democrats
have been “absolutely decimated” in the past eight years, Perez said that he was aware that the Democratic Party “became all too frequently the party of the coasts” and emphasized a need for Democrats to make politics personal rather than transactional. He stressed the importance of consistent field organizing and said, “We have taken the term ‘off year’ out of our lexicon.” As Perez discussed the Democrats’ recent success in state leg-
Unionization Battle Continues Page 4
Professor Denis Hirschfeldt writes on behalf of the AAUP, urging the University administration to accept the unionization vote; The Maroon Editorial Board calls for the same.
Humanities Day Celebrates Curiosity and Creativity Across Disciplines Page 5 Celebrating its 38th year, Humanities Day this year was as eclectic as ever, inspiring more questions than answers.
VOL. 129, ISSUE 10
islature elections in Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Florida, Tumulty posed the question of whether or not it is appropriate for the DNC to support candidates that do not pass the “litmus test” on abortion. “Unity doesn’t mean unanimity…what we have to do as a party…is come together around our shared values,” Perez said in response. “When people ask about litmus tests, I say look at the Republican Party.” Continued on page 3
Crystal King-Smith, Wentworth district commander for the Chicago Police Department, has requested that community organizers of a “Hyde Park Halloween” for local teenagers scale down their original plans. There will no longer be a DJ, a spoken word exhibition, Nerf wars, or bubble soccer for teenagers coming to the event, as originally planned. Five-dollar movies will still be shown in Harper Theater, and over 60 adult volunteers will be present in the area on the nights of October 28 and October 31. There will also be a prisoner transport vehicle nearby as a visual deterrent for possible vandals. “That was at the request of the police officers who worked Halloween in Hyde Park last year…. This is what the officers need in order to do their job,” event organizer LaKeisha Hamilton said. Last Halloween, hundreds of teenagers converged on 53rd Street to “purge” the area, throwing eggs and shooting paintball guns, resulting in arrests. Hyde Park Halloween has been planned as a response to this unrest. “[The teenagers had] been there for years, but due to social media, the number of young people who were there last year increased,” Hamilton explained. The goal of Hyde Park Halloween was to distract teenagers who were planning on coming to “bust on Hyde Park,” in a similar vein to last year’s Continued on page 3
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
Events 10/27–10/30 Today
UChicago Law School Alumna Runs for Illinois Attorney General BY MADELEINE ZHOU
Off-Off Campus The Revival, 7:30 p.m. For their second show of the quarter, OffOff Campus invites you to dress up as Jersey Shore’s characters, to laugh off the stress of fifth week. $5. Boos N’ Ribs Ida Noyes Hall, 7 p.m. Boos N’ Ribs, COUP’s largest fall quarter event, presents free food, a capella performances, swing dancing, and live music! Dress to impress; the costume contest winner gets four tickets to an advance screening of Thor: Ragnarok. Free. Tomorrow Chicago Swing Dance Society’s Halloween Java Jive Ida Noyes Theater, 7:30 p.m. Trick or triple-step! Dance to jazz tunes and learn the Shim Sham at the Halloween Java Jive for free! Costumes are welcome! Free. CSO Chamber: All Access — Tononi Ensemble Logan Center, 3 p.m. Musicians from the CSO highlight the intimate nature of chamber music with a program of Beethoven, Bloch, Loeffler, and Poulenc. Reserve tickets at cso.org. Free. Sunday Spektral Quartet Fulton Hall, 3–5 p.m. Rediscover the 20th-century composer Arnold Schoenberg, with a special performance by Spektral Quartet. At 2 p.m. there will be a pre-concert talk with professors Berthold Hoeckner and Seth Brodsky, and a reception afterwards. Free. Día de los Muertos National Museum of Mexican Art, 3 p.m. Celebrate Día de los Muertos with an exciting programming of events including face painting, altar demonstrations, live musical performances, and traditional sweets. Monday Performing Black Masculinities Logan Center, 9 p.m.–12 a.m. Partnering with the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, a panel of professors and artists will examine the ways black masculinities are shaped by geography, generational divides, and nationality will be examined. See more at chicagomaroon.com/events. Submit your own events through our intuitive interface.
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NEWS REPORTER
Sharon Fairley (J.D. ’06) recently announced her candidacy for Illinois attorney general, joining a growing list of Democratic candidates seeking nomination next March. Fairley said her wide range of experiences help make her the ideal next attorney general. Right after graduating from law school, she served as assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals section under the office of the current Illinois attorney general, Lisa Madigan. Fairley also worked for eight years as a federal pros-
ecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, where she focused on criminal justice. Most recently, she was the chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Fairley’s platform consists of three overarching themes. Building on her experience with criminal justice work, Fairley would like to reform the current criminal justice and police systems, citing lack of police accountability and overincarceration as two problems she would like to tackle. Additionally, she would like to fight Trump administration policies that she believes are harmful to Illinois residents, especially ones relating to DACA, voting rights, and
affirmative action. Finally, Fairley would like to address several issues surrounding sexual assault, women's reproductive rights, consumer protection, and more. After graduating from Princeton University with an S.B. in mechanical and aerospace engineering, Fairley decided that she wanted a career that would let her use both her creative and analytical skills, which led her to law school. “I wanted to dedicate my life to public service and working to deliver justice from the inside out,” Fairley told The M aroon. Fairley remembers her time at the Law School fondly, saying that the environment was very engaging and full of passion.
UCSC Senior Assistant Director Leaves to Start Consulting Agency BY ANANT MATAI NEWS REPORTER
Xavier Ramey, the senior assistant director at the University Community Service Center (UCSC), left his position in order to launch his consultancy, Justice Informed, on October 17. “ The overall goal is to bring a different way of thinking, but also a different type of leadership structure, into corporations, nonprofits, and foundations,” Ramey said in an interview with T he M a roon . Ramey grew up in Chicago in the North Lawndale neighborhood. He attended DePaul University, where he majored in economics. A fter college, he worked as a futures trader before going into nonprofit work in Chicago and Kenya. Reflecting on his time at the UCSC, which he joined in September 2014, Ramey said he has helped students think about the world around them and truly engage in social justice issues. “I think that I’ve grown in tremendous ways since I’ve been here,” he said. “Students at the University of Chicago—they challenge the heck out of me to stay on my toes.... And that’s why I think I’ve been pretty successful here at the UCSC.”
Ramey has worked with students in civic engagement during his time at the University by spearheading social justice–oriented programs like Chicago Bound, a pre-orientation program for first years, and Summer Links, an internship program. Ramey said his work at the UCSC encouraged the development of empathy and community. “ When people go out on a limb, and they’re willing to say, hey, someone else’s life matters, or this hurts, or that’s wrong, or we can do better than this—that’s intentional community building.” W hile claiming the UCSC is an “inclusive department,” Ramey was critical of the lack of support in others. “That [inclusivity] stands in stark contrast, stark contrast, to my peers that I’ve talked to in other parts of the University.” Ramey added that he wishes staff would sometimes make themselves more open to students to further develop an engaged community. “[I’m] proud of a lot of students for what they were able to accomplish, consider, and be,” he said. “I would want more space for adults who are over the age of 25 to do that, too. I know that I had an opportunity [because of where I worked] but I know that a lot of my
Courtesy of University Community Service Center
Xavier Ramey, former UCSC Senior Assistant Director.
peers don’t. And I don’t know that all of them want it, either.” Ramey will be speaking at TEDxChicago on November 9.
Journalists Discuss Role of Media Under Trump BY CINDY YAO NEWS REPORTER
The Institute of Politics (IOP) hosted four journalists from The Washington Post and CBS News at a panel on Tuesday titled “ The Press and the Pressure: Political Journalism in 2017.” The panelists were Karen Tumulty, IOP resident fellow and national political correspondent at The Washington Post; Dan Balz, chief correspondent at The Washington Post; and David Maraniss, associate editor at The Washington Post. John Dickerson, chief Washington correspondent at CBS News, led the discussion. The panelists spoke at length on the growing distrust of media, especially during Donald Trump’s presidency. “[Trump] obviously has the biggest megaphone in the country to delegitimize reporting with which he disagrees with,” Balz said. He also said that while every president has felt at times uneasy about coverage by the White House press corps, no previous
president has turned a significant part of the population against the press. Despite the number of fact-checkers that major news organizations have on staff, many people today only believe information from a network or publication of their choice, Tumulty said. She added that during the election, Trump recognized this and took advantage of people’s political biases. Maraniss spoke about the “degradation of the search of truth,” which he says is the biggest threat to journalism. “ The search for truth doesn’t mean that every story has two equal sides, it doesn’t mean that it’s, quote unquote, fair and balanced,” he said. “ It means that you’re trying to find the truth and using common sense and deep reporting to get there.” Maraniss noted that journalists are now under greater scrutiny by the public, and that it is important to realize that every reporter is vulnerable and human. The panelists agreed that although many people do not believe or trust the press, there is still a steady audience
that holds great appreciation for journalism. “For most of us, our hope is that over time, the collective body of the work we do at The Washington Post or other news organizations holds up for its rigor, accuracy, aggressiveness, and for its ability to call things as they are no matter who is in power,” Balz said. The event was dedicated in memory of David (A.B. ’47, A.M. ’51) and Ann Broder (AB ’48, A.M. ’51). David Broder, who served as editor of T h e M a roon during his time at the University, worked for over 40 years as a reporter and columnist at The Washington Post. Broder was well known among his colleag ues and protégés, including Balz and Maraniss, for his journalistic integrity and professionalism in the field. “ He was an inspiration to all of us.... His love of people [and] of the country was very profound in his reporting,” Maraniss said.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
Halloween Scaled Back Due to Police Protesters Escorted from DNC Chair Talk Shortage, Lack of Political Support Continued from front
“purge,” Hamilton said. Organizers believe that King-Smith asked them to scale down their plans due to a lack of backing from local politicians and a shortage of police officers to station at the event. “Due to the commander’s budget of limited officers for this year, she asked us to scale back,” Hamilton said. “I think she got the sense that it wasn’t supported correctly, because she said go ahead and do it next year.” Hamilton went on to say that the aldermen could have assisted the event by getting the necessary permits and insurance. She and other organizers cite lack of involvement in the project on the part of Fourth Ward Alderman Sophia King and Fifth Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston as one of the main reasons that King-Smith pulled her support from the project. “ The alderwomen didn’t ask and didn’t offer anything. They didn’t offer to give us any donations, they didn’t offer to assist in the insurance or permits…. None of those offers were made,” Hamilton said. Hairston’s office declined to comment, and K ing’s and K ing-Smith’s offices did not respond to requests for comment by press time. Community member Gabriel Piemonte, who runs programs for local youth, thinks that Hyde Park Halloween has brought racial tensions to the surface. “Something that the community has deliberately made an important charac-
teristic of the neighborhood is that it is a safe space for people of color, and a safe space for mixed-race gatherings, more so than anywhere on the South Side of Chicago,” Piemonte said of Hyde Park. He added that despite this, prejudice still exists. Hamilton’s fellow volunteer Randy Wright emphasized that most of the teenagers coming on Halloween are not looking for confrontation, but that they may be coerced by others. “What became clear to me was that [the aldermen] weren’t interested in entertaining other people’s children in Hyde Park and that if something went wrong, they would get the blame,” volunteer coordinator Rachel Cane said. “I think their main interest is staying in office and complaints and pressure speak a lot to them.... If they wanted to help host the activities, they could.” Piemonte attributed the aldermen’s silence in part to concern about angering local voters worried about the large groups of young people coming to Hyde Park. “Politicians don’t want to directly contradict or do something that makes the people who are voting for them angry by giving the appearance that they’re welcoming or drawing into the neighborhood these kids—even though they’re coming either way,” he said. However, Cane and Hamilton made clear that Hyde Park Halloween, though scaled down, is still on. They hope to organize a more robust celebration in 2018.
Defne Anlas
Tom Perez, DNC Chairman, speaks with Karen Tumulty from The Washington Post about the future of the Democratic Party. Continued from front
Photo: Casey Kelbaugh
Perez was referring to what he called “the appalling silence of so many good people,” or the tendency of Republicans to vote with the President a large percentage of the time. Perez was critical of President Donald Trump, saying that his “infantile behavior…has put alliances with our closest allies at risk.” He defended the DNC’s and the Clinton campaign’s funding of a dossier detailing Trump’s connections with Russia, saying, “To not [conduct research on one’s opponents] is political malpractice.” “The Russians hacked the DNC…with the purpose of helping Trump out,” Perez said. As Perez wrapped up his comments on Russia and a microphone was placed on the floor for audience members’ questions, two audience members stood up in front of the stage and faced the audience, holding
up signs that read “It’s Dem Corruption NOT Russia Collusion” and “Does Not Care.” They were quickly escorted out by a security guard, and the event continued. In the question and answer session, several audience members questioned the fairness of the superdelegate system. In response, Perez noted the DNC is forming a “Unity Commission” that will return recommendations for the system by the end of the year. Looking forward, Perez stated he was “thrilled” with the work of organizations like Indivisible Chicago, a progressive advocacy group. He noted that by supporting smaller organizations, the DNC builds a “political ecosystem” to its advantage. “We can’t just be against something… we have to demonstrate what we stand for,” Perez said. “And when we put hope on the ballot, that’s when we’re at our best.”
University Professors Reflect on Free Expression Continued from front
statement on free expression that was formalized by Law School professor Geoffrey Stone in 2014. One of those three principles directly addresses disruptive protests. “Disruptive protests, or other means of limiting the rights of others to engage in free expression, listening, and open discourse is not acceptable and is a violation of the University’s commitment to free expression,” Zimmer said. Zimmer concluded his five-minute ad-
dress by asserting, with a sense of urgency, that university leadership should take charge on this issue. “[I]t will [be] up to the faculty, university leaders, and trustees, who together help to define institutional culture over time, to forcefully embrace freedom of expression.” Zimmer said. “For the sake of our students...we must embrace freedom of expression and resist the suppression that we are seeing on college and university campuses.”
University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra with the Hyde Park School of Dance
MA and PhD in Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture Students at Bard Graduate Center in New York City study the cultural history of the material world from the arts of antiquity to the twenty-first century. Learn more at one of our fall open houses.
WITCHES, WINDS, AND WHIRLS
Saturday, October 28 Two shows: 7 & 9 PM Mandel Hall, 1131 East 57th Street
Address 38 West 86th Street, NYC
Open Houses October 29, 11 am November 6, 6 pm
For more information admissions@bgc.bard.edu bgc.bard.edu/admissions
The Witches Ride, The Storm, The Noonday Witch, Salome’s Dance, music from WICKED, and more. Costumes, story-telling, and dancing. FREE Admission | music.uchicago.edu @uchicagomusic
Annual Halloween Concert Come in Costume!
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
VIEWPOINTS Letter: AAUP Urges Administration to Accept Results of Unionization Vote In several e-mails, University administrators urged graduate students to participate in last week’s unionization vote. Students heeded that call and overwhelmingly voted in favor of being represented as workers by Graduate Students United. It is now incumbent upon our administration to forego any further legal maneuvers, recognize the union, and enter into negotiations with it as soon as possible. It is the only course of action compatible with our university’s stated commitments to open discourse and diversity of perspectives. It is also the responsible course of action. Our administrators have argued ex-
tensively about the possible dangers of unionization. Even if we were to concede that these exist, they would pale in comparison to the danger that would come to our institution from further attempts to deny graduate student workers their right to a legally protected voice following last week’s vote, which was supported by so many voices, including those of both of the U.S. senators from Illinois. —Professor Denis Hirschfeldt, on behalf of the University of Chicago Advocacy Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Jessica Xia
In Grad Students We Trust The Editorial Board Again Calls for the University to Honor Unionization Vote Last week, graduate students at the University voted to unionize. Messages from administrators over the course of the unionization campaign urged students to make their voices heard in the election—and they clearly did so. The administration has decided not to listen. The result was overwhelming: Almost 70 percent of votes counted were in favor of unionization, and more than 70 percent of students voted. The margin of challenged and uncounted ballots puts the pro-union camp within range of an absolute majority of all eligible voters. Immediately in the wake of that result, the University announced that
it would continue its attempt to bar graduate assistant unionization categorically through a legal appeal. Several other institutions have adopted the opposite approach. Four of the nine private universities (The New School, American, Tufts, and Brandeis), whose graduate students voted in favor of unionization have agreed to respect the result and begin contract negotiations. Tufts did so in face of a result substantially less resounding than the result at the University of Chicago. Cornell’s administration has twice promised to respect an affirmative result instead of challenging it in the courts, a strategy first
adopted due to a concern that such litigation would divide the school. Reassured that their democratic choice to unionize would be allowed to stand, graduate students at Cornell twice opted not to do so—a result a Cornell administrator attributed, in part, to their commitment to trust graduate students to make their choice. The administrations at every one of these universities expressed similar concerns about the prospect of unionization. They have evidently decided that those costs are not greater than the cost of countermanding the choice of their graduate students. The University of Chicago should make the same call.
The result of this vote may still stand, even in the face of a Republican majority on the National Labor Relations Board. Even if it does not, a concerted attempt to stifle this collective voice in favor of bargaining will imperil the trust graduate students have in the institution where they work and learn. —The Maroon Editorial Board Sonia Schlesinger, Peter Grieve, Lee Harris, Deepti Sailappan, and Eugenia Ko have recused themselves from this editorial due to their previous involvement in unionization coverage.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger The University Should Be Celebrating Student Activists, Not Disciplining Them BY MATTHEW ANDERSSON MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
While most casual observers would agree with UChicago’s longstanding support of free speech and inclusivity, the actual impact of these institutional beliefs is much more complicated. In particular, the University’s commitment to open discourse has led it to unjustifiably punish those who interfere with the implementation of free speech policies. UChicago has utilized various grada-
tions of punishment for violating its particular judgments of acceptable behavior and reserves the latitude to invent new forms of responses at its discretion. But punishment needlessly intimidates students, potentially impeding their academic journeys at the University. It also threatens legal interference with students’ future employment and educational relationships, such as by putting disciplinary letters in their permanent files, revoking financial aid, ordering probation, and even expelling them. Such harsh responses are not only morally questionable,
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but legally dubious. For those reasons among others, the institution’s speech conduct codes and contracts, actual or implied, should be rejected. While recent coverage of campus protests and administrative responses portrays this as a First Amendment issue, it is really more of a liability issue for the administration, revealing much about the nature of the modern university. The university is not a medieval monastery of learned monks clutching copies of Plato’s Republic, but rather a multibillion-dollar asset corporation of employees and executives identical in hierarchy, incentives, and risk aversion to a modern corporation. While many universities assert a focus on students and their education, as UChicago’s communications certainly do, colleges are also largely concerned with their own economic well-being. Universities are in the business of education, but they are also in the business of their own business, and in that regard, times are good: UChicago senior professors are currently among the highest paid in the country, along with those from Harvard and Stanford, and the president of the University recently purchased a $3.25 million residence. I do not mean to criticize those achievements, but merely to underscore what motivations are in play when student protesting and campus unrest are seen as a growing threat and disruption to the administration’s corporate regularity. This is especially important when such protests threaten to stem the flow of corporate dollars to the University.
So, while protests might be potentially destabilizing to the University’s priorities, historically, real risks were taken by student protesters, and real change resulted from their efforts. Where would we be today without protests of the Civil Rights Movement, the Solidarity protests in Poland, protests against the Vietnam War, numerous environmental protests, those at the Berlin Wall, and currently, the Black Lives Matter movement? In business, we say there is no such thing as a free lunch. In civic leadership, there’s no such thing as free speech: Students have to decide what is worth fighting for and be willing to pay for it. Free speech isn’t a privilege that is granted, but a right that is asserted, even if that right results in repercussions. The famous legal cases of Dickey v. Alabama and Dixon v. Alabama brought on by students in the 1960s ratified Constitutional rights on America’s public campuses. The late Robert Hunter, journalist and founder of Greenpeace, gives students the most effective advice: “Put your body where your mouth is.” His advice serves as a reminder of what lies at stake over freedom, speech, and social change, as well as the seeds of civic courage that reside in student protest. Student activists aren’t malicious figures deserving of punishment, but rather models for potentially transformative leadership. Matthew Andersson is an alumnus of the Booth School (M.B.A. ’96).
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
ARTS Humanities Day Celebrates Curiosity and Creativity Across Disciplines BY JAD DAHSHAN AND PERRY WILSON MAROON CONTRIBUTORS
An ethereal air pervaded the quad on the morning of Humanities Day. Margareta Ingrid Christian, an assistant professor from the Department of Germanic Studies, had just delivered one of the first presentations of the day: “Aerial Aesthetics: Artworks and Their Environments Around 1900.” University visitors bubbled out of different sessions in Stuart Hall and Harper Memorial Library, filtering into Mandel Hall for the keynote address of the event. Wind-blown and mind-blown, they would spend the rest of the day finding inspiration in topics ranging from fake news to forgeries, media to murder, and civil war to sculpture. Anne Walters Robertson, dean of the Humanities Division, prefaced the keynote address of Humanities Day by introducing the 38-year-old University of Chicago tradition—which originally began as a recruitment tool for drawing students to the University—as a pursuit of questions rather than answers. She expounded the importance of curiosity in fueling not only the day’s speakers, or even the Division of the Humanities itself, but also the continued displays of interest by audience members in the creative and cultural productions of their fellow human beings. A specialist in 17th- and 18th-century literature, this year’s keynote speaker, Larry Norman, hails from the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. He delivered a compelling presentation exploring the historical connotations of the term “classicism”
and questioned its multicultural capacities and ideological implications. Having contributed to the catalog accompanying the Smart Museum’s Classicisms exhibition, Norman drew upon the multidisciplinary research that produced the book, referencing different media as vehicles through which he has traced the varying definitions of classicism over the centuries. By indulging audience members in Ingres’s “The Apotheosis of Homer,” Dupré’s “Portrait of M. Fauvel, the French Consul, with View of the Acropolis,” and the diverse reincarnations of “Venus of Arles,” Norman managed to break through classicism’s association with authoritative models of exterior perfection and grand simplicity to reveal University of Chicago Division of the Humanities the cross-cultural nuances of the term, allowing for more open inquiry into its Humanities Day has been a University of Chicago tradition since 1980. potential. While the keynote was the most at- that betrayed the penal colony cruelties successes in New York, and his discovery tended talk of the day, there were numer- endured by French soldiers and convicts. of Chicago (where one can find over 30 of ous lectures whose spots filled up faster Numerous talks also took place at his pieces). than others. William Nickell took listen- the Seminary Co-Op. One such presenWhen asked about public art as a meers across continents and back again in tation was “Virginio Ferrari: Full Circle, dium, he remarked that the public’s first “Media and Power in The Age of Trump 1957–2017,” a panel composed of Laura response is always “What is this thing?” and Putin,” a historical examination of Steward, the University’s Curator of Pub- to which he responds, “It’s your interprethe development of fake news and its no- lic Art, Virginio Ferrari himself, and his tation.” toriety over the past few decades in Rus- son, Marco Ferrari. Although the event Marco Ferrari then took over to talk sia and the United States. His conclusion ostensibly aimed to publicize Ferrari’s about his new collaboration with his facaptured the core of Humanities Day as newly published catalog, it felt more ther, a 600-page volume featuring photos he stressed the need “to search for truth casual than a formal lecture. Virginio of Virginio Ferrari’s work from over the together and just question endlessly.” In Ferrari, an Italian artist famous for his years. Much like his life and career, the a more intimate setting, Jennifer Wild, a abstract sculptures and public installa- book was a product of familial involvebridge-builder between studies in gender tions (including “Dialogo” in front of Pick ment and a deep connection to Verona. and sexuality and those in cinema and Hall), seemed to know half of the people Prompted by Steward to address the media, used the 1934 French film L’Ata- in the tightly-packed room. There was a (few) students in the room, Ferrari said, lante to launch a meticulous exploration palpable sense of youthful excitement in “If you’re a young student…don’t listen to into the human body’s capacity to express Ferrari’s tales of his early career in Ita- anybody. You listen to this, you listen to repressed histories. She cited the tattoos ly, his absurd misadventures and early Continued on page 6
Lysistrata Jones Slam Dunks the Patriarchy Through Song BY ZOE BEAN MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
Closing out the Refuge Theatre Project’s 2016–17 season is Lysistrata Jones, Douglas Carter Beane’s Broadway musical that puts a modern, mirthful spin on the ancient Greek tale by transporting it to an American college. Aristophanes’s comedy Lysistrata follows a woman named Lysistrata who endeavors to end the Peloponnesian War by denying the men of Greece sex and persuading other women to follow suit; in Beane’s version, Lysistrata Jones is a transfer student who, disappointed by a basketball team with a 30-year losing streak, convinces other girls involved with the basketball players to stop “giving it up” until their counterparts stop giving up on the game. The show debuted in 2011, but still feels completely relevant in 2017. At Unity Lutheran Church on Balmoral Avenue, Refuge Theatre Project’s chosen venue maintains the original setting: a gymnasium. The show is clearly made for such a place; Lysistrata Jones, which would be thrilling from any distance, is positively face-melting at such close proximity. Any show that allows the audience such a privileged perspective runs the risk of being, à la Cher Horowitz of Clueless, a “full-on Monet” (okay from far away, but blurry and unclear up close). But Beane’s production delivered. Directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran couple Justin Brill and Shanna VanDerwerker, the musical’s outrageous choreography and boisterous antics are thrilling in such an intimate venue, and it keeps with the practice of staging in site-specific venues typical of its three-year-old production company, the Refuge Theater Project.
The vibrant orange and blue set employs a not-so-subtle Greek motif and humorous faux championship banners illustrating the team’s saga of defeat: “participated, 2015.” The small but high-spirited four-piece band also coordinated with the set color scheme, making the production feel cohesive and deliberate even before the opening number. Admittedly, the small venue and High School Musical-esque premise could lead someone unfamiliar with the Refuge Theater Project to anticipate an amateur production, but that is far from the truth. VanDerwerker’s choreography is audacious, spunky, and expertly carried out by the company. The casting is excellent, and every single performer contributes bountiful energy and character to their roles. Mary-Margaret Roberts is a knockout as the plucky Lysistrata Jones, delivering stunning vocals in “Where Am I Now?” and leaving the audience with goosebumps at the end of the first act. Collin Sanderson is hilarious and hunky as Michelangelo “Mick” Jackson, Lysistrata’s boyfriend. Jayla Williams-Craig stuns as Myhrrine Moore, delivering perhaps one of the most fiery and vivacious solo performances in “Don’t Judge a Book.” Although every performer was memorable and animated, Gina Francesca stole the show as Hetaira, the mystical goddess narrator who also appears as a local prostitute. Francesca was hilarious and brilliant, delivering every punchline with a raised eyebrow and a knowing, wry smile. From the outset of the opening number, “Right Now,” she was both a mesmerizing ringleader and a casual observer, somehow breaking the fourth wall while simultaneously sustaining the illusion of this romp of a tale. Lysistrata Jones is delicious and invigorating. Like other teen musicals such as
Grease and Hairspray, the show portrays young people as sometimes lively and peppy and other times sweet and bumbling, rather than serving up the brooding pensioners-in-disguise image that Hollywood seems inclined to depict these days. The savory junk-food quality of its raunchy jabs and irresistible soundtrack are sure to satisfy a craving you might not know you had. Aristophanes wrote Lysistrata as a comedy, but it presents a salient point about the
power of female sexuality. Lysistrata Jones modernizes the story, but we still see a young woman who takes back her sexuality and inspires other women to wield their own power. But forget the deep stuff. Refuge Theatre Project’s Lysistrata Jones is delightful, provocative, and masterfully performed. The Refugee Theatre Project will be showing Lysistrata Jones at the Unity Lutheran Church gymnasium at 1212 West Balmoral Avenue through November 19.
Zeke Dolezalek
Lysistrata Jones (Mary-Margaret Roberts) addresses a group of basketball players.
Zeke Dolezalek
Performers don the famous pussyhats worn during the Women’s March in January.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
“If you’re a young student. . . don’t listen to anybody. . . [Otherwise] you never materialize what you want to do” Continued from page 5
that, and you never materialize what you want to do.” Directly after Virginio Ferrari’s discussion was a panel titled “New Publications in Creative Writing,” led by the head of the creative writing department, Vu Tran, along with authors and professors Rachel DeWoskin, Rachel Galvin,
and Augustus Rose. The panelists read their own work; DeWoskin began with a passage from her book Second Circus, which traces a young Jewish refugee’s tumultuous thoughts in 1940s Shanghai. Next was Galvin, who read from her latest poetry collection After the War, a book of sonnets, one-line poems, and sentences written in the style
of news headlines. Rose then followed with the prologue from The Readymade Thief, his mysterious first novel about secret societies and intrigue, set in Philadelphia. The authors’ thought-provoking works reflected their ability to juggle teaching and creative careers, and each maintained a commitment to the very “wonder,” as DeWoskin put it, that
encourages their students to explore in the classroom. DeWoskin likes to think of writing as a “way to ask questions,” and she encourages her students to do the same. This value of curiosity ran throughout Humanities Day, captivating the audiences of each individual discussion.
Alumni Filmmakers Document Music Across Time and Space BY ERIC GUZMAN MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
In celebration of the Voyager Golden Record’s 40th anniversary, sister filmmakers Biliana (A.M. ’11) and Marina Grozdanova (A.B. ’13) launched a documentary series exploring the musical cultures of the 27 tracks featured on the record. Sent into space aboard both Voyager spacecrafts in 1977, the Voyager Golden Record contained various sounds and images intended to display the diversity of life and culture on Earth. Featuring music from around the world and across time, the 27 songs on the record are meant to serve as “musical representations” of human civilization for any potential extraterrestrials to discover. The musical selections included classical music, folk music, and—most memorably for the Grozdanova sisters—a folk song from Bulgarian artist Valya Balkanska, a song that the sisters often heard as children growing up in Bulgaria. “It’s a story that every Bulgarian knows,” Biliana Grozdanova explained. “There’s a great sense of national pride in knowing that your country’s music was chosen to be sent into outer space. In fact, a lot of the smaller countries showcased know about the Golden Record, but most people in America aren’t even aware of its existence. It just goes to show the saturation of pop culture here.” The Grozdanova sisters’ documentary series, entitled Golden Tracks: Music Aboard the Voyager, will be produced by El Jinete Films, the independent production company the sisters founded in 2012. The series aims to demonstrate the importance of preserving and investing in our planet’s culture. It will be divided into eight episodes, starting with The Old New World (featuring Native American music, blues, jazz, and rock ’n’ roll) and concluding with Eurasia and Eastern Europe (featuring Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Bulgaria). With the Golden Record functioning as a musical gesture to other life forms
and connecting us to our cosmic neighbors, the Grozdanova sisters hope their series will function as a cinematic gesture, prompting viewers to become cognizant of the global issues concerning the cultural regions represented on the record, and to thus become better neighbors to one another here on Earth. “Twenty-seven songs from very distinct cultural backgrounds are grouped together almost randomly on a disc—but it is not random, because we are not living randomly together on this Earth,” Marina Grozdanova said. “We are all neighbors, and our stories link to form a very long chain—or track list, if you will—and we have to remember to engage as global neighbors every day by listening to one another as a collective human race.” Exploring the musical cultures associated with each of the 27 songs on the Golden Record, the sisters will travel to various locations around the world to film and record original renditions of the songs with local musicians. During this process, they will learn about the musicians’ respective customs, cultures, and homes in order to document the lives and struggles of the people behind the music. Although the campaign for the documentary series only recently launched in September, the sisters have been working on this project for over two years now and have already developed storylines for five of the 27 songs. This year alone, the sisters have recorded the Preservation Hall Legacy Band performing Louis Armstrong’s “Melancholy Blues” in New Orleans, filmed Tony Redhouse performing his variation of the “Navajo Night Chant” in Arizona, and even interviewed Balkanska in Bulgaria. To make further progress on the project, Marina Grozdanova recently moved to Tokyo to conduct research on the songs from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania that are on the record and will be featured on the fifth episode of the series. “Moving to Japan was a bold move, but I knew it was right for me personally, as well
as for the project,” Marina Grozdanova said. “How in the world are we to find local musicians if we are not going to all these places? One thing is to write e-mails and to try and envision the international scope of the project in your mind, but once you make a move, a big move, you really feel like maybe you can do this, because you have expanded your mind, your body, and your possibility for experience.” Campaigning under the pledge “$1 in the name of science, music and preserving our culture,” the Grozdanova sisters launched a Kickstarter campaign in conjunction with Kickstarter’s Projects of Earth Initiative to try to achieve the $175,000 budget required to properly complete the project. Proceeds from the Kickstarter campaign will primarily go toward funding travel expenses such as airfare, visas, and vaccines, but also toward financing additional equipment, location
rentals, and compensation for the crew and performers. Principal photography for the series will begin in early 2018 for approximately 15 months. “We want to spend three to four weeks at every location in order to really get to know the place and follow the characters in depth. We’re trying to develop this project as holistically as possible,” Biliana Grozdanova said. “Most of all, we just want the series to do absolute justice to Carl Sagan and the entire Golden Record selection committee. We’ve done music documentaries before, but this one hits close to home, and as such, it is our most ambitious project yet. Like Sagan, we’re setting our bar high and reaching for the stars.” For more information about the Golden Tracks project or to donate, visit eljinetefilms. com.
Biliana and Marina Grozdanova
A panel at Cal Tech commemorates the Golden Record with speakers such as the project scientist Ed Stone (left) and Interstellar producer Lynda Obst (third from right).
The Smiths Revive The Queen Is Dead for 30th Anniversary BY JULIA PAZ MAROON CONTRIBUTOR
Since 1987, English rock band The Smiths has been mostly inactive. They refuse to organize a full reunion and rarely appear together, leaving a dedicated and multigenerational fanbase awaiting updates from their favorite band. But last summer, the band announced that they would be rereleasing their seminal third album, The Queen Is Dead. On October 20, the album—famous for its shocking title and groundbreaking music—was reissued, marking the 30th anniversary of its original debut. The cover photo on this reissue is a remake of its original iconic look. The original pink font is now white, and the new album art features actor Alain Delon from a different, more intimate angle. The Smiths are popular not just for their music, but also for their aesthet-
ic. They are an English alternative rock band from the eighties featuring Steven Morrissey (known simply as “Morrissey”) on vocals, Johnny Marr on guitar, Andy Rourke on bass guitar, and Mike Joyce on drums. They never made it into the American mainstream, but topped music charts back in the United Kingdom. Along with a new cover, this reissue boxset contains unreleased demos, live recordings, and remastered versions of old classics. The remastering, which gives the songs a fuller sound, doesn’t stray too far from the beloved classics except for a couple of small difference in the lyrics and verses. The reissue continues with the transition of Morrissey’s painfully realistic and morbid descriptions of ordinary life and feelings. With lyrics like, “It’s so easy to laugh, it’so easy to hate, it takes strength to be kind,” their messages have remained universal. The album mixes brutally honest
lyrics and metaphors in a melodic blend. Lead singer Morrissey spares no details in his raw outpouring of emotions while guitarist Johnny Marr connects the mournful lyrics with a gentle yet driving guitar. Morrissey’s criticisms are beauti-
fully poetic, and his complaints resemble deep realizations. With this combination, the album weaves its way around concepts of love, death, politics, and social criticism, topics that are timeless to this day.
Pitchfork
Left to Right: The original and reissued versions of The Queen is Dead both feature actor Alain Delon on the cover, but with slight alterations.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
Maroons Get Refocused for Weekend SPORTS STAFF
The Chicago volleyball squad is looking to bounce back and make a name for themselves. This past weekend the Maroons (19 –5) went (2–2) at the UA A Round Robin #2, winning over NYU and Case Western Reserve, but falling short to Carnegie Mellon and conference rival Wash U. The squad came out strong for their final match against the Wash U Bears, winning the first set 25 –23. However, the Maroons were unable to retaliate when the Bears responded with three straight wins to take the match. The Maroons are not hanging their heads. In fact, they are using the experience as incentive to improve looking forward to the Aurora Invite this upcoming weekend. “We were a little disappointed with the outcome last weekend, but now we’re using it as motivation for this weekend and next weekend’s UA A Championships,” said second-year libero Anne Marie Stifter. “We know what we need to improve on in order to get back to our style of play.” The South-Siders definitely have a big weekend ahead of them, as they will take on the University of Dubuque (26 –2) at 6 p.m. and Aurora University (21– 6) at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 27, and Concordia University Chicago (18 –11) and North Park University (13 –12) on Saturday, October 28. In preparation for this weekend’s games,
WOMEN’S SOCCER
BY DIESTEFANO LOMA
VOLLEYBALL
BY ANNA ROSE
Undefeated in the Big City SPORTS STAFF
the Maroons are focusing on themselves, rather than their opponents. “Preparing for this weekend has really been about going back to basics. We’ve always done all the little things well, so we need to return to that”, Stifter said. “We really want to focus on ourselves as a team and not worry about who we are playing because we know that if we play to our potential, we can beat anyone.” Second-year middle hitter, Madison Pearson echoes her teammate’s sentiments. “We are focusing on what we need to do as a team: mostly strong serving and passing. As long as we play our game, we have a great chance against anybody across the net from us.” Friday’s matches will likely be nail-biters. With University of Dubuque also coming into the match off of a loss, both teams will be looking to redeem themselves. And with their impressive 21– 6 record, 5 – 0 at home, and two game winning streak, Aurora University will likely be a challenge for the Maroons as well. Regardless, the squad is excited for what’s to come. “ This weekend is an incredible opportunity for us to play fantastic regional teams and to continue pressing on toward our UA A tournament next weekend,” Pearson said. “All of us want to work hard and play for each other, and for that reason I can’t wait to see what we achieve the rest of the season.”
With only three games left in the regular season, the University of Chicago women’s soccer team looks to show no mercy as they face off against New York University on October 27th. They remain ranked No. 1 with a 15– 0 record and are looking to complete the season undefeated. In a poll created by D3soccer.com, UChicago currently leads the votes of having the best combined men’s and women’s soccer program at the present time with 25 percent. The Violets (10–3–2) are coming off of a three-win streak and are determined to finish the season strong, as they look to take advantage of this momentum to try to upset the Maroons. Doing so would be a monumental victory psychologically and increase team morale. The NYU women’s soccer team has the skill and the stamina to do so. They have led most of the statistical categories as opposed to their opponents. NYU has outscored their opponents on a 28-6 margin, as well as in terms of shots, with a 184–85 margin since the beginning of October. It is clear that they are able to find the opportunities and effectively move the soccer ball with ease. Not only that, but they have never been the recipients of a blowout defeat, since they rarely concede goals. They have gone on beyond the regular start time to play two straight overtimes in one game. This demonstrates the determination they have to continue playing at a high level. Despite the ambitions of the Violets, they face their biggest challenge yet. The Maroons are not only skilled and lethal on both sides of the pitch, but are filled with depth. This was shown in yet another blowout victory on October 19, where they defeated the IIT Hawks 8– 0. They managed to outshoot their opponents by a 45–2 margin, with 20 shots being
on goal. Whether it’s their starting lineup or the bench, the Maroons are still dominant and have players who know how to score. The Violets not only have to worry about established experts of the game like thirdyear Jenna McKinney, who leads the on the offensive side with 10 goals, but also fourthyear Mia Calamari, who has 14 assists and is a candidate for being the “Best at the Assist” in DIII Women’s Soccer. The first-years have also arrived to display the same prowess. First-years like Katie Jasminski and Maddie DeVoe have come in to start several games, with fellow first-year Charlotte Waechter starting in all games. Their impact is felt immensely, with Jasminski already having five goals and three assists for this season. When asked about the feeling of being on an undefeated team and the impact it has had on her, Jasminski says, “Being on this strong of a team is so exciting, not only because of our record but also because it means I get to play with and learn from some of the strongest players in our league. Playing with them has allowed me to improve so much by learning from their example and experience.” Jasminski spoke of the opportunity to play and learn from the upperclassmen, adding, “I love being able to play with them. They are all such amazing players that it has allowed the other first-years and I to learn from them and continually improve as well. Everyone is encouraging and supportive which has made our team chemistry better than any team I’ve ever been on before, and the advice I took to heart the most was to not be afraid to make mistakes, to try new things in games, and I think everyone on the team taking that advice to heart is one of the main reasons for our success.” The Maroons will next face off against Brandeis University on October 29 at 12:30 p.m.
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THE CHICAGO MAROON - OCTOBER 27, 2017
SPORTS Chicago Looks to Bounce Back in New York MEN’S SOCCER
BY JOEY GUTBROD SPORTS STAFF
The University of Chicago men’s soccer team has been nothing short of dominant so far this year. With a record of 13 –2, the No. 3 ranked Maroons have established themselves as serious competitors in not just the conference, but in the entire country. There will be large expectations for this team going into the NCA A tournament. However, right now, the Maroons must focus on their last two regular season games and winning the UA A conference. Losing only one conference game the entire year, the Maroons are well set to finish on top. Still, they need to have a strong season finisher, starting with this Friday’s game versus the NYU Violets. NYU is 8 –5 –1 overall with an 0 –4 conference record. They have had serious struggles with UA A teams all year. The Violets have lost three of their past five games, with every loss being at the hands of an in-conference team. The Maroons do not plan to change that pattern. The Maroons are preparing for this game by improving on their recent mistakes. A large problem in the previous loss versus North Park was a lack of offensive momentum. Although holding the Vikings to only one goal, the Maroons could not take advantage of their offensive opportunities. They came excruciatingly close to tying the game with a header by thirdyear striker Max Lopez, who narrowly
Alexandra Davis
Josh Scofield dribbles the ball down the field as his teammates look along.
missed the back of the net. Yet, the opportunity wasn’t converted and the final score ended up being 1– 0 in North Park’s favor. After that match, Chicago will undoubtedly be aiming for a stronger offensive start this Friday, which will hopefully propel them into a great final stretch for the year. The players are ready and excited to end the season with a bang. “We’re coming off a tough loss against North Park,” said first year goalie Aaron Katsimpalis.“We’ve been training hard since our recent rough patch. Going into our final three confer-
ence games, we want to maximize our points and win the UA A conference. After that, it’s all about being ready and prepared for the NCA A tournament.” After the match versus NYU, the Maroons will be playing Brandeis University this Sunday and will wrap up the regular season next Saturday against Washington University. Brandeis is a force to be reckoned with. They are ranked 21st in DIII, with an 11–3 overall record and a 3 –1 conference record. The Judges have won six of their past seven games and will be
eager to displace the Maroons as conference champions. The match against Wash U is slightly less daunting, with the opponent’s record at 7–5 –1 overall and 1–3 in conference. However, the University of Chicago must treat each match like it’s the most important one of the year. These next three games can give the Maroons the momentum to finish off a historic season. If these next few weeks go well, the title of NCA A Champion could be more than just a dream.
South Siders Return to the Pool SWIM & DIVE
BY MIRANDA BURT SPORTS STAFF
The University of Chicago men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams open up the season this Saturday at home against a stacked field of Division I and III opponents. The teams will face off against Rutgers, UIC, Northwestern, and Wheaton. The Northwestern men are coming off losses to Georgia and Georgia Tech, while the women picked up some individual victories but lost their two contests as well. The Rutgers women are 0 –1, and do not have a men’s team. The UIC men have started off 1–1, beating Valparaiso but losing
to Green Bay. The Flames are 3 – 0, winning their first three meets by no less than 50 points. The only other DIII team in the field, Wheaton, has not yet swam in a meet this year. This meet will also be the first of the season for the South Siders. Last year, UChicago men had a successful season, finishing fourth out of eight in the University Athletic Association ( UA A) Championships, and accruing an 11th place finish at the DIII NCA A Championships. The Maroons totaled 40 All-Americans in 21 events on the men’s and women’s sides. W hile the men relied on many fourth-years, underclassman also powered last year’s
squad to NCA A success. The Maroons will rely heavily on third-year Alexander Farrell, second-year Reona Yamaguchi, second-year Lance Culjat, and second-year Aaron Guo. The women also experienced success last year, finishing third in the UA A and 11th overall in the DIII championships. The women will look to replace top graduates Alison Wall, Cara LoPiano, and Maya Scheidl. Coming up to fill the voids left are second-year diver Agnes Lo and third-year Hannah Eastman. “So far the team has been working very hard in preparation for the new season with four 6 a.m. practices
a week, but also [having] lots of fun with intrasquad competition,” said second-year Sedef Ishaque. The men’s squad, which is No. 7 in preseason rankings, and the women’s squad, which is #9 in preseason rankings, will look to start off the season strong this Saturday at Ratner Athletics Center at 10 a.m. The Maroons will then compete in a series of other meets before taking on a loaded UAA competition. Six of the eight UA A men’s swimming and diving teams are ranked in the preseason top 25. The women’s side is extremely competitive as well.
UPCOMING GAMES SPORT
DAY
Opponent
TIME
Women’s Soccer
Friday
NYU
11 a.m.
Men’s Soccer
Friday
NYU
1:30 p.m.
Volleyball
Friday
Dubuque
6 p.m.
Volleyball
Friday
Aurora
8 p.m.