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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS P. 4
University Basics
P. 28
Campus Culture
P. 41
University history • Campus traditions • While you were out • Who’s who: adminstrators, trustees, and alumni • Non-academic institutions • Career Advancement • Student Government • Graduate/Professional schools
P. 13
The Core • Professors • Majors/Minors • Libraries • Bookstores • Managing money • Study abroad
Dorms • Roommates • Dining Hall Hacks • Spiritual Life • Hyde Park Eats • Student Publications • LGBTQ Resources/Dating • Student Activism • Greek Life
P. 20
Get Schooled
South Side & Chicago
Public transportation • South Side • UChicago & community history • Chicago politics • Chicago eats • Neighborhoods 101
Arts & Crafts
Campus cinema, theater, music & arts • Chicago art
P. 25
Work it Out
UChicago sports history • Varsity sports • Intramurals • General fitness • Chicago sports
Editors’ Note The student newspaper of the University of Chicago since 1892.
Editor-in-Chief
Eleanor Hyun Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Sarah Manhardt Managing Editor
Stephen Moreland
Design
Annie Cantara Editing
Marta Bakula Maggie Loughran Andrew McVea Zachary Themer Sarah Zimmerman Copy Editing
Morganne Ramsey Hannah Rausch Michelle Zhao
Chief Financial Officer
Nicolas Lukac Vice Chief Financial Officer
Ananya Pillutla Co-Directors of Marketing
Andrew Ahn Eitan Rude
Welcome home. Over its 125-year history the University has been many things to many people, and this year it will be home for you. Note that this doesn’t imply that place will immediately feel like home--it will likely take you some time to adjust to life here and get your bearings about you. After all, your new home is not just the campus; it extends beyond the quadrangles to the streets of Hyde Park and the many neighborhoods of Chicago. The University’s influence touches many different arenas, and it is an important member of the surrounding community; the same could be said of us students. Wow, maybe that kind of sounds like a lot. After all, you’ve only been here for what--a couple days? And maybe you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed by everything new and exciting. Luckily, you’ll get all kinds of advice and guidance on navigating this University from RHs, advisors, upperclassmen, and also this first issue of The Chicago Maroon. In these 48 pages we’ve complied some of our favorite surprises and secrets we’ve learned from our time here to share with you. You’ll find articles that cover the history of the University, politics in Chicago, the art scene on campus, our recommendations for where you should buy books around the city, and much more.
Cover Photograph
Meera garriga
Read our articles, then put them to the test: explore the campus libraries, read more about the history of Hyde Park, and find your own favorite routes out of Hyde Park. Our experiences certainly don’t define yours, but we hope they give you the information you need to start making your own. XOXO, Eleanor Hyun editor-in-chief Sarah Manhardt deputy editor-in-chief
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
UNIVERSITY BASICS
SYDNEY COMBS||CHICAGO CHICAGOMAROON MAROON GARRIGA MEERA
A HISTORY LESSON The history of the University of Chicago is relatively short for an elite research institution, but the University’s history is crowded with new discoveries and academic innovation. While you’ve no doubt heard of achievements like the first sustained nuclear reaction and the high number of Nobel prize-winning economists, what’s truly astounding is how the University has equaled other institutions’ accomplishments and prestige in a fraction of the time. The University is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, through its origins date back even further. In light of this anniversary the idiom “know your past so that you may build your future” is perhaps more applicable to this university than any other. Why? In contrast to peer institutions, which were founded as either entirely secular public land grant colleges or predominantly religious private seminaries, our university was founded as a German research institution with Baptist oil money. That meant religious funds for secular scholarship; a revolutionary concept. This, coupled with the many great minds that have passed through our grey citadel, has led to a history of ferocious debate about what a preeminent Midwestern institution should look like. Dean of the College John W. Boyer, in his newly published book, The University of Chicago: A History, breaks the history of the University’s administration into six distinct epochs. The history of the student body can perhaps be divided into five epochs— five distinct phases in which the culture of the University’s campus has adopted a specific tone. What has remained constant across all of these periods for the student body is, perhaps unsurprisingly, its intense academicism. So let’s start in the beginning. The first epoch was one of pure, hardcore academics at the “Old” University of Chicago. In 1857 Stephen A. Douglas, of Lincoln–Douglas debate fame, founded an institution called University of Chicago in what is now Brownsville. He created it as a Baptist institution to honor his dead wife. In this era a competitive intellectual culture was nothing short of rampant. Social life revolved around student oratorical contests.
These contests were notoriously cutthroat, with one disgruntled senior going so far as to hold a trustee member at gunpoint for not giving him first place. Notwithstanding the vitality of these oratorical contests, the university could not keep itself afloat and shuttered its doors in 1886. In 1890, after much petitioning on the part of university trustees Thomas Goodspeed and Fredrick Gates, John D. Rockefeller donated the funds to create the new University of Chicago. The president was visionary William Rainey Harper, a serious scholar of the classical and semitic languages, who came to the University from a Baptist seminary by way of Yale. Although Rockefeller and others were determined to make this university a Baptist one, Harper decided to take a different route—following “the German model.” Historically, a German research institution is a place where knowledge is pursued for its own sake and where those pursuing it have the freedom to follow it to whatever conclusion. And thus we enter the second epoch of the University: the school spirit days. Notwithstanding Harper’s sobriety, he allowed and even encouraged social organizations like fraternities and sports teams to set up shop on campus. Harper went so far as to hope that if his son did join a Greek organization, that it would be “the Alpha Delts” (Bar Night has never meant so much). He also was a large supporter of the University’s football program, and became, in Robert Lester’s words, an “evangelist of the gridiron gospel.” He defended the coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg, from faculty members who wanted to see their students hitting the books instead of each other. The University of Chicago’s athleticism peaked long after Harper’s tenure came to a close, in 1935 when Jay Berwanger won the first Heismann Trophy. Six years before this momentous occasion, however, the young Robert Maynard Hutchins was elected president of the University. At this point, we see the University enter its most radical phase. Almost immediately after Hutchins came into office he started making changes. He reorganized the University into four research divisions plus a college of liberal
arts. He then implemented the “New Plan,” which would provide general education for all students and eliminate grades. (The New Plan evolved into our Core, but unfortunately the grades are back.) At the same time students became more ideologically left, inviting members of the Communist Party to speak on campus. Amos Alonzo Stagg also agreed to allow a socialist-sponsored Counter Olympics— the International Workers Athletic Meet— to be staged on the field bearing his name. Hutchins was compelled to defend both the students and Stagg from the attacks of angry alumni. In the late ’40s, Hutchins’ radical nature and his defense of the radicals on his campus set in motion an era of radicalism that lasted until the late ’60s. The most notable alumni of this era are famed organizing theorist Saul D. Alinsky and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The next era is characterized by an intense, if not Spartan, emphasis on academics. Symbolically, this era is recognized by the building of the Regenstein Library on top of what was once Stagg Field. This was UChicago in the ’80s. People came to school here then because they really wanted to learn things. The depressed attitude that characterized this period at the school left alumni saying that although they received a first-rate education, they wouldn’t want to send their children here. Then College President Donald Levine responded to this by instituting now long-time University traditions like Kuvia and parents visiting weekend in the fall. Fast-forward a few more years and we are where we are at now. Dorm-building has resumed and satellite dorms are shuttered to center undergraduates on campus. The University is becoming increasingly preprofessional with an emphasis on expanding post-graduation opportunities for students. A new relationship with the city has allowed the University to launch large-scale projects in the surrounding neighborhoods. It’s an exciting time to be a UChicago student. –Isaac Easton
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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CAMPUS TRADITIONS Scav You know what Scav is. You have presumably received at least one promotional brochure during the admissions process that mentioned it. You may have read the 2012 New Yorker article profiling the hunt. You might have heard about how Scav officially took the Guinness World Record in 2011 for the world’s largest scavenger hunt. Depending on your team allegiance, which is typically comprised of houses banded together, Scav is either the Super Bowl of collective effervescence or a blip on your radar. Hardcore Scavvies are known to forgo classes, sleeping, and eating in pursuit of victory and eternal glory. For the rest of the student body, abnormal sleeping and eating patterns continue as per usual. Breaking down the quarter week by week Welcome to the quarter system. Each quarter is 10 weeks. The end of 10th week is reading period. Finals are technically 11th week. Your whole life for the next four years is going to be organized around whichever week it is in the quarter (first week, second week, third week, etc.). There is no scientific or empirical proof that certain weeks are universally more difficult, but that shouldn’t stop you from using the blanket excuse and/ or gripe, “Ughh, X week.” We understand X week is always the hardest, even if last week was previously the hardest. Bar Night Wednesday nights in the Alpha Delt basement. Buy drinks for less than $5, see random people from your Hum class, spend the rest of the night double-shampooing your hair to get rid of the smell of cigarettes. Ah, the sweet nostalgic stench of post-adolescence! Overheard at Bar Night: “Was that my TA?” Shake Day Legend has it that Einstein Bros. Bagels could move into the Reynolds Club only on the condition that they sold $1 milkshakes each week, a tradition established in the prior coffee shop. Years of inflation later, there’s consistently a line of students stretching out the door every Wednesday—more commonly referred to as Shake Day. Spending all day at the Reg, checking Facebook and getting coffee at Ex Libris Ah yes, the Reg, the towering, brutalist library that serves as both a prison and a hub. Everyone goes to the Reg planning to study, and most, when asked, will claim to have been studying. But it’s a rare specimen that spends all day at the Reg (as you will hear endlessly) actually studying. And after repeatedly refreshing your Facebook and Twitter feeds and watching a couple YouTube clips, you really need to get a coffee to hunker down and bust through some pages. Hey, you spent all day at the Reg— you deserve it! See you tomorrow on the third floor! Falling asleep in the Harper reading room armchairs It happens to the best of us. You just wanted to sit in a comfortable chair for a few minutes to catch up on your reading. You know, to give your eyes a break from your laptop. You just took your shoes off because, hey, it’s
eighth week (see: “Breaking down the quarter week by week”), and we’re all pretty cozy by eighth week. Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko (Kuvia) Still not pumped for winter? COUP is here to help! Second week of winter quarter is the weeklong festival Kuviasungnerk, which is named after the Inuit word for the pursuit of happiness. Every morning during Kuvia, students meet at 6 a.m. in Henry Crown Field House for Kangeiko, which is named after the tradition in karate to exercise during the coldest time of the year, but is in reality mostly yoga and dancing followed by bagels and regret. The last morning of Kangeiko concludes with a walk to the Point and a celebratory free T-shirt for everyone who made it out every morning. Free T-shirts validate all struggles in college. Stepping on the seal At some point during the admissions tour, the tour guide stopped to show you the gold University seal on the ground at the entrance to Reynolds Club. Legend goes that if you step on the seal, you won’t graduate in four years. While it might seem annoying to avoid the seal at first, you’ll soon find yourself snickering at the hundreds of prospective students who step on the seal during their tours, dooming their fate at the University. Spoiler alert: The tradition was started by faculty who didn’t want students to wear away the engraving. Latke-Hamentaschen Debate For one evening during each of the last 66 years, some of the University’s most brilliant faculty have come together to debate the universe’s fundamental question: Which is the superior food, the latke or the hamentaschen? Those who have debated the merits of the traditional Jewish potato pancakes and cookies have ranged from professors who went on to be top advisors to President Barack Obama to philosophers to biologists. Overheard at the Latke-Hamentaschen debate: “True philosophy leads to the latke.” Summer Breeze After the ice melts, both on the ground and in your heart, the Summer Breeze festival kicks off. For one glorious afternoon, you can drink to excess on the quad, go see a concert put on by the Major Activities Board (MAB), and wonder if this is what it would feel like to go to a school without a Core and in a warmer climate. Last year, Azealia Banks headlined
with supporting acts T-Pain and Madeon. Nelly, Crystal Castles, Nas, Spoon, Broken Social Scene, Run DMC, and U2 have played at the concert in the past. Being Socially Awkward If you’re walking across the quad and someone from class avoids eye contact with you, don’t take it personally. UChicago students may be able to do delta-epsilon proofs and understand complex price models, but small talk isn’t always their forte. Take any chance you can get to talk to new people. Even if it takes a little coaxing, they’re probably just as eager to talk to you. Overheard being socially awkward: “Do you want another beer, or would you rather talk about the problem set?” Loving/Hating the Core You knew about it when you applied here, and you knew about it when you decided to attend, but you won’t truly understand the Core until you’re up at 3 a.m. writing a Sosc paper on Durkheim, surviving on a sugar rush from Bart Mart gummy bears and Red Bull. The Core can be what you make of it; writing seminars can be an opportunity to work closely with your Hum TA, or to peeredit the work of that cute classmate that sits across from you. Before it’s all over, you will have six classes in the humanities, six in math and sciences, and three in social sciences under your belt. Those courses, in addition to the language requirements, will teach you how to approach ideas that you completely don’t understand and how to casually drop Foucault and Freud into conversation. T-shirt Slogans Houses often raise money for bonding events by selling T-shirts with the University logo on the front and a self-deprecating slogan on the back. Regularly sold during prospective student weekends, the shirts make parents think twice before sending their children to UChicago. Some of the most famous slogans are “Where fun goes to die,” “Hell does freeze over,” and “Where the only thing that goes down on you is your GPA.” But, as you’ll hear again and again, don’t take them seriously; the only thing the slogans reflect is the wit of the student body. Overheard while selling self-deprecating T-shirts: “It’s funny because it’s true.” -Maggie Loughran with additional reporting from Mara McCollom and Sam Levine
SYDNEY COMBS
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
WHILE YOU WERE OUT
KRISTIN LIN
It’s one thing to know the University of Chicago by the broad strokes of its reputation and brochures, quite another to know it as a community member experiencing the penciled-in fluctuations of each new year, not yet inked into the history books. But it turns out that the history of this University is written by the accumulation of that nitty-gritty. In the conversations and debates you will have and hear this coming year, you will likely encounter many references to the events of this past year. So, for your benefit, what follows is a summary of the major events and dialogues of 2014– 2015; a year in the life at the University of Chicago. During O-Week last year, a Tumblr titled The Hyde Park List accused six current and former male students of sexual assault or harassment. The Tumblr was accompanied by flyers posted around campus. Within the week, a group claiming to be the UChicago Electronic Army (UEA) hacked the website of MODA, an on-campus fashion magazine, and publically accused a student of creating and distributing The Hyde Park List. The UEA had hacked Freenters, a free printing service on campus, a year before and leaked the passwords of the service’s users. This incident followed increased examination and criticism of the University’s handling of sexual assault over the past couple years, including a federal investigation for potential breaches of Title IX, a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Since the investigation began, the University has revised its handling of sexual assault cases and is now in line with Title IX, although student activists point out that there is still progress to be made. Before fall quarter was over, the UEA would make another appearance as the
alleged hackers of a student’s Facebook account, although the hack and UEA’s involvement would eventually be debunked. This incident occurred in the midst of student activism surrounding racial insensitivity on campus, set off by stereotypical costumes of Mexican gangsters worn on Halloween. Petitions penned by both students and faculty urged the University to address racial insensitivity on campus. In the midst of this, a post appeared on a student activist’s Facebook page that used racial slurs, threatened sexual assault, and targeted a specific student activist. The student initially claimed that his Facebook had been hacked by the UEA, but further investigation by the University found that no hack had occurred and the student himself posted the status. However, other student activists pointed out that, although the “hack” was staged, this did not detract from the original message calling for racial sensitivity and a culture of inclusion. After meetings with students, the administrators announced that they would convene a Diversity Advisory Council consisting of both faculty of students, and would conduct two campus climate surveys to further examine the campus culture. The first of these surveys, focusing on the treatment of sexual assault and harassment on campus, collected responses from students in spring quarter, and its preliminary results can be found online, with the full report scheduled for release this autumn quarter. The second survey, focusing on the issues of diversity and inclusion, is to follow. Administrators have said that the results of the survey will be used to inform institutional action to address these issues. During these incidents, the president and provost of the University sent a campus-wide email reiterating the University’s
| CHICAGO MAROON
commitment to diversity and condemning harassment and threats on the basis of a person’s identity. However, at the beginning of winter quarter the University’s Committee on Free Expression released a report that almost unequivocally affirmed the University’s commitment to freedom of speech. Protection against a “genuine threat or harassment” was described as a “narrow exception to the general principle of freedom of expression.” Since the report’s release, other universities such as Purdue and Princeton have adopted similar policies. However, how the University reconciles its commitment to free speech with its commitment to inclusivity is still a matter of debate. Paralleling student activism surrounding racial insensitivity on campus were discussions among students and community members about racial profiling from the UCPD and the police force’s lack of accountability to the community it polices. These groups pointed out that the UCPD’s status as a private police force meant that it had fewer legal obligations to be accountable to the community. The UCPD announced a Director of Professional Accountability in the fall and, in the spring , announced that information on traffic stops, field stops, and arrests would be made public in an effort to increase transparency with the community. Only a couple weeks after this announcement, Illinois House Bill 3932 was passed. The bill would hold the UCPD and other private campus police forces to release information similar to that required of public police forces. The bill must pass the Illinois Senate and receive Governor Bruce Rauner’s signature to become law. The UCPD has also announced the creation of a Community Advisory Board, which will help to connect the UCPD and non-University affiliated commu-
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
nity members. In the fall, the University also announced the public phase of its fundraising campaign titled “Inquiry and Impact,” which will conclude in 2019. The fundraising goal for this campaign is $4.5 billion, with $150-200 million going to student financial aid. The University has already announced changes to its financial aid policy through a new initiative called “No Barriers,” which included eliminating loans for need-based scholarships, waiving the application fee, and additional funding and support for lowand middle-income students. Additional donations led to further expansion of the “No Barriers” program in the winter, including further aid for international students. Student activists continue to advocate for a better college experience for low-income students. Along with this fundraising campaign, the University has also announced a new administrative cost-cutting initiative, stating that non-academic departments will be most affected by the cuts. Students, concerned that these cuts may result in the firing of mid-level and low-wage campus workers and higher costs to students, orchestrated a sit-in in Rosenwald Hall, the University’s admissions building in the spring. They protested the cuts and a general trend of increasing corporatization of education. After the slums of a cold winter, it’s common for spring quarter to bring a flurry of excitement and activity to campus. Last spring, student government (SG) elections were some of the most contested and controversial in recent memory, drawing the highest voter turnout in years. Names to recognize are those of your president (Tyler Kissinger) and vice presidents (Kenzo Esquivel and Alex Jung ). Recent actions by SG include bringing UPass to campus for the 2016-17 school year, starting a program of financial stipends for student leadership, and increasing budget allocation to graduate students. Graduate students have increasingly spoken out against their rising student life fee, which has increased by 87.5% over the past ten
years. SG’s increased support for graduate students will also be accompanied by the University’s new UChicagoGRAD program. In May, the Barack Obama Foundation announced that it had selected the University of Chicago’s bid for the Barack Obama Presidential Center to come to the South Side. And, as the year came to a close, the Trauma Center Coalition—which includes both student and community activists—led a series of protests for the University to build an adult Level 1 trauma center on the South Side. The protests included nine protesters barricading themselves in Levi Hall, the University’s administrative building. After police and
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
TOP OF THE IVORY TOWER THE HEADS OF POWER: UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION The gargoyles on the sides of Cobb Gate are said to represent the admissions officers who guard access to the University of Chicago, as well as the ascending first-, second-, third-, and fourth-years at the peak who tower over the gate’s entrance. That may or may not just be a cute fiction imagined by a wired admissions counselor. But, yes, the hard fact of the matter is that real power at the University of Chicago is not wielded by knowledge itself, but by the administration. Shed a tear, then educate yo’ self: At the top reigns President Robert Zimmer, in office since 2006 and pledged to stay until at least 2019. The former math professor and department chairperson has been at the helm during a tremendous growth spurt for the University. Under his watch, the University has seen the addition of two new dorms, its first-ever engineering program, extended community development and engagement, the opening of two (soon to be three) new study abroad centers, and the reorganization of the higher-ups in his administration. Should you pass by the President’s House at the corner of 59th and University one morning on your way to your 9:30 class, there’s a good chance you’ll spot crews packing up furniture and tents from a fundraising celebration the Zimmers hosted the night before—fundraising is one of the principal responsibili-
ties for the University’s president, especially since the launch of the $4.5 billion Inquiry and Impact fundraising campaign last May. Next on the gate comes Provost Eric D. Isaacs, acclaimed physicist and former director of Argonne National Laboratory, whose responsibilities now revolve around all things academic at the University. The deans of the University’s academic divisions, from the Law School to the Divinity School to the College, report to him, as do the heads of campus institutes such as the Smart Museum and the Urban Education Institute. There is, however, a step that lies between the deans and the provost on the administrative tiers: the vice presidents of the University. One of the most prominent VPs to students is Karen Warren Coleman, in charge of Campus and Student Life and Student Services since 2009. Her stated duties range from UChicago Dining to the Spiritual Life Office, as well as the Student Counseling Services. This past year, Warren Coleman played a key role in the discussion of the future fates of Broadview, Breckinridge, Maclean, and Blackstone. She directly named the four dorms as under consideration for closure due to their high maintenance costs and lack of a Resident Master. Warren Coleman also played a significant role in the University’s decision to aban-
don the swimming test for incoming students in 2012. Another prominent VP, Rowan Miranda, has been the vice president for operations and chief financial officer since December 2014. He came to UChicago from the University of Michigan in March 2014 to be the University’s senior associate vice president for finance and administration and treasurer. As Chief Financial Officer, Miranda plays a key role in planning the financial future of the University and his role as vice president for operations gives him oversight over diverse categories from human resources to commercial real estate operations. Although a relatively new member of the administrative team, Miranda is no stranger to UChicago, as he graduated in 1992 with a M.A. and a Ph.D in public policy analysis from the Harris School. Last but not least on the totem pole of gargoyles come the deans, a grouping of administrators so broad and vast that they deserve two levels on Cobb Gate. By far the most visible dean is Dean of the College John Boyer, the unofficial historian of the University, longest-serving in his role as dean and bike aficionado— not to mention a part-time Prancerciser, thanks to a certain item on a past Scav list. Boyer continues to study and share the history of the University and beyond as the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished
Service Professor in History and has frequently taught parts of the civilizations study abroad program in Austria. Twenty-one years behind Boyer in her tenure, Dean of Students in the University Michele Rasmussen joined up two years ago in the newly-created position. Rasmussen quickly made her presence known on campus, however, holding lectures on lemurs (one of her areas of expertise) and other events with students. Last September, Rasmussen was the administrator who announced changes to the University’s sexual assault policy after controversy surrounding The Hyde Park List. The newest member of the dean team is John “Jay” Ellison, the Harvard administration transplant who joined UChicago in July 2014 to replace Dean of Students in the College Susan Art. As the Dean of Students of the College, Ellison is responsible for overseeing career advising, curriculum, and discipline. Over the past year, Ellison has focused on increasing the number of advisors in the College and helping to increase advisor-student interaction through initiatives such as giving advisors Maroon dollars to support coffee meet-ups. –Eileen Li, with additional reporting by Christine Schmidt
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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TRUSTEES While the administration handles the dayto-day operations of the university, the Board of Trustees sets the school’s long-term vision. Its 55 members range from CEOs to New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks to University president Robert Zimmer. The Board meets three times a year to discuss the University’s goals, approve the budget, elect high-level administrators as well as its own own
trustees, and more. In conjunction with the board’s long-term planning, it directs fundraising initiatives that have made large-scale projects like the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts possible. The Board plans to raise $4.5 billion by 2019 via its current initiative, “The University of Chicago: Inquiry and Impact.”
The Board of Trustees is led by the chairman, a position currently held by former Aramark corporation CEO Joseph Neubauer, MBA ‘65. The Neubauer family has donated more than $65 million to the school to fund research grants, scholarships, and, most recently, the Neubauer Family Collegium for Culture and Society. Chairman Neubauer is the head of the Inquiry and Impact fundraising campaign.
The Board connects to the students through Student Government’s Liaisons to the Board of Trustees. This year, Booth School of Business student Katie Perri and third-year Andrew Young will be serving as the graduate and undergraduate liaisons, respectively.
the top of Rockefeller Chapel Jeannette Piccard (S.M. ’19), the first licensed female balloon pilot in the U.S. and the first woman to fly in the stratosphere. The stairs to get to the top of the chapel are more claustrophobia-inducing than the openness of the stratosphere, but both viewpoints are probably out of this world.
roots of some cancers. She probably employed some humor while studying such a humorless disease.
acters probably stems from interactions with the econ and public policy majors on campus.
–Anne Nazzaro
ALUMNI One of the most school spirit–arousing events each year is the announcement of the Nobel Prize winners. With nearly 90 laureates calling UChicago home between our alumni and faculty members, sometimes the achievements of the other thousands of alumni can be overlooked. Here, the Maroon imagines what some of these former UChicagoans were up to during their time on campus, from the bookstacks to Bar Night. Most likely to do weekly all-nighters in the Reg Joe Mansueto (A.B. ’78, M.B.A. ’80), CEO of Morningstar. After seeing too many concrete walls and never-ending bookstacks, you would want to build a glass study space, too. Most likely to have been a Cubs fan Tom Ricketts (A.B. ’88, M.B.A. ’93), current chairman of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Even though Hyde Park is technically in White Sox territory as a South Side neighborhood, perhaps this alumnus can pull the team out of its 100+ years of World Series drought. Most likely to have worked at one of the student-run cafés Joseph Neubauer (M.B.A. ’65), chairman and CEO of food supply giant Aramark. Maybe he was inspired to expand beyond coffee shops after serving students cappuccinos at Cobb Café or Hallowed Grounds. Most likely to have loved the view from
Most likely to have written for the MAROON John Paul Stevens (A.B. ’41), former Supreme Court justice, former editor-in-chief of the Chicago Maroon. This is fact—the Maroon staff has a tradition of celebrating the end of the quarter in his style. Most likely to have written for satirical publication The Chicago Shady Dealer Hayden Schlossberg (A.B. ’00), writer of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. This three star–rated film has the potential to be a satirical chronicle of a UChicagoan’s trip to the fast food restaurant, as none is within walking distance of campus. Most likely to have been Doc Films’s most ardent critic Roger Ebert (A.B. ’70), Pulitzer Prize–winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. Here’s hoping that most of the screenings were two thumbs up. Most likely to make a Punnett Square pun Janet Rowley (Ph.B. ’44, S.B. ’46, M.D. ’48), noted biologist who discovered the genetic
Most likely to have been a fundamentals major Bret Stephens (A.B. ’95), columnist and editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal. This creative thinker actually did study fundamentals, focusing on the intersection between democracy and technology as interpreted by Abraham Lincoln. Most likely to have perfect attendance at Bar Night Tucker Max (A.B. ’98), Internet celebrity and New York Times best-selling author, famous for publishing his inebriated and sexual escapades. Success is measured in all sorts of ways here at UChicago. Most likely to have ventured south of 65th Street on a regular basis Sudhir Venkatesh (A.M. ’92, Ph.D. ’97), author of Gang Leader for a Day and expert on urban sociology and poverty. While it’s not fair to assume that the surrounding neighborhoods are all dangerous gang strongholds, an in-depth study of that sort had to be conducted outside of Hyde Park’s boundaries. Most likely to have lived at University Theater Anna Chlumsky (A.B. ’02), actress from Veep and My Girl. Her inspiration for political char-
The Lumen Chr isti Institute for C atholic Thought
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
Morals or Metaphsyics? The Place of Charity in Christian Thought Gary A. Anderson (University of Notre Dame) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
From Ancient Philosophy to Christian Wisdom: A Symposium Rémi Brague (Sorbonne, University of Munich) Brian Daley, S.J. (University of Notre Dame)
OCTOBER 6-NOVEMBER 17
The Fathers of the Church A weekly non-credit course for students
Founded in 1997 by Catholic scholars at the University of Chicago, the Lumen Christi Institute engages the intellectual community of the University by presenting the Catholic intellectual and spiritual traditions through lectures, symposia, master classes, and non-credit courses, and conferences. Catholics and non-Catholics are encouraged to participate. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit WWW.LUMENCHRISTI.ORG.
Most likely to have road-tripped during the heart of tornado season T. Theodore Fujita (S.B. ’53), acclaimed meteorologist who developed the Fujita system for measuring tornadoes. He must have had eventful spring quarters, with the Midwest’s tornado season falling between March and June. Most likely to have gone to a Maroon athletics event Kim Ng (A.B. ’90), an executive in Major League Baseball who was seriously considered for G.M. for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. The baseball team’s record during the late ’80s wasn’t exactly stellar, but perhaps Ng was inspired by the attendance at the games to incite more team spirit for other groups. Most unlikely to have gone to a Maroon athletics event Nate Silver (A.B. ’00), scarily accurate statistician and founder of FiveThirtyEight.com, ESPN’s statistical analysis website. At first glance, you wouldn’t think that this math wonk was an avid baseball fan, but he actually wrote about sports for the Maroon and even got his start in statistical analysis with a baseball website. —Christine Schmidt
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
NON-ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS “Cloisters, ancient libraries…I was confusing learning with the smell of cold stone,” reminisces the history teacher from playwright Alan Bennett’s acclaimed History Boys. Wise as this character is, it’s an admittedly easy mix-up to make: Amid all the ivory and the cobblestones, one tends to forget that an education has no bounds. Do yourself a favor: Take a wander out of the library. Go on, really push the limits; wander on over to UChicago’s three “non-academic” institutes on campus: the Institute of Politics, the University Community Service Center, and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. Under the umbrella of Campus and Student Life, all three of these separately housed organizations seek to apply and create meaning from academia, outside of pure academia itself.
Institute of Politics (IOP) Founded in January 2012 by Barack Obama’s former adviser David Axelrod (A.B. ’76), the IOP is the campus gateway to the world of all things politics, public policy, and public services. Located at 5707 South Woodlawn Avenue, the IOP was created as a nonpartisan institute that seeks to broaden student interest in politics through three distinct programs: a speaker series, internship opportunities, and a fellows program. In its speaker series, the Institute brings to campus a wide range of specialists, ranging from political officials to journalists, to discuss current events and issues. In the past year, the Institute hosted lectures with former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Rocco Castoro, the former Vice editor-in-chief who announced his resignation during the event, and Dominique de Villepin, a former prime minister of France (an event cohosted with the UChicago French Club). Additionally, the Institute helped organize a book signing with former president Jimmy Carter at the Seminary Co-op bookstore. In addition to the speaker series, the IOP also offers students an opportunity to apply for a variety of internships related to politics, including some within the Institute. While some of these internships take place in the summer, there are also opportunities to intern throughout the academic year. In its first year, the IOP offered students 163 internships in various career fields and locations, ranging from CNN to the UChicago Crime Lab, and summer programming events for students based in Washington, D.C. The third central pillar of the IOP is the fellows program. This program brings professionals to the University for a full academic quarter. Throughout their 10-week stay in Hyde Park, fellows hold weekly seminars for students, each centered on a certain political theme or issue. Past fellows have included former House Representative Vin Weber, political strategist David Muir, and former Republican
National Committee Chair Michael Steele. Fellows for the fall quarter include Hussain Haqqani, former ambassador to the United States for Pakistan; Jessica Yellin, former chief White House correspondent for CNN; and Matthew Dowd, a current ABC News political analyst and former chief campaign strategist for George W. Bush.
University Community Service Center (UCSC) The UCSC was launched as a studentrun organization in 1992 and has since sought to service Hyde Park and other surrounding communities through volunteer work. This non-academic center matches students with a myriad of volunteer and community immersion opportunities. There is a diverse assortment of volunteer options for students, often tailored to one’s specific interests. These options include, but are not limited to, student-run groups, campus-wide days of service, internships at nonprofit organizations, and communitybuilding programs. The UCSC also promotes a volunteer referral program that seeks to connect students to short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities throughout Chicago. In addition to fostering individual volunteerism, the UCSC runs many community service–oriented programs. This includes programs such as Summer Links (a 10-week internship program at a host site over the summer quarter) and Chicago Bound (a weeklong pre-O-Week program that promotes community building and civic engagement to incoming students). Since its 1992 inception, the Center has grown in size and mission. Former UCSC Director and current First Lady Michelle
Obama was one of the principal drivers of this growth in the mid-1990s. Two years ago, the Center came under fire after a announcing a reorganization in leadership and its Summer Links internship program. Past participants and student leaders of the program charged the new UCSC administration with neglecting to involve student input in the changes. Around that time, some students and employees defected from the organization outright, alleging that changes to the Summer Links program spoke to larger shifts in the organization’s central mission. Proposed changes to Summer Links included reducing the program by a week, doubling housing costs, and adding for-profit internship sites. Students riled by these proposals created a petition that garnered over 1,000 signatures and called for a restoration of the essential aspects of the program. Despite student outrage, the bulk of planned changes were still made to Summer Links. However, the spat did spark the founding of the new UCSC Advisory Board. That May, the UCSC chose to name an advisory board composed of students, faculty members, community partners, alumni, and campus colleagues in order to promote and support the UCSC, to serve as ambassadors for the office, and to oversee the Center’s operationalization of its mission statement. UCSC helped organize the pilot of the Chicago Studies program last spring quarter. Structured like a study-abroad experience, Chicago Studies allowed 20 undergraduates to study the city through three Chicago-focused classes. These classes included guest speakers, meetings with community leaders, and many trips outside
DREW WESTFAHL
of Hyde Park. Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs is an organization that seeks to foster “intentionally diverse and inclusive communities” through special program emphasis on black, Asian-American, Latina/o, Native-American, and multiracial student experiences at the University. OMSA was founded in 1986 as the Coordinating Council for Minority Issues (CCMI), as a result of suggestions by students, faculty, and staff. However, the name was later changed to OMSA on July 1, 2007 to better reflect the overarching mission and work of the Office. The Office provides students with various academic and cultural resources, including grants, funding opportunities, and an in-house resource library, among many others. In addition, students can participate in a wide variety of programs specifically tailored to the multicultural community, such as the Multiracial Affinity Group and mentoring programs such as Chicago Multicultural Connection (CMC). There are also more than 40 multicultural recognized student organizations (RSOs) for both undergraduate and graduate students to participate in during their time at the University. OMSA is located at 5710 South Woodlawn Avenue and is jointly homed with the Office of LGBTQ Student Life. The building is the main hub for events and resources specifically tailored to LGBTQ students and students of color. – Marta Bakula, with additional reporting by Annie Nazzaro
| CHICAGO MAROON
FRANK YAN
SG: UNITED PROGRESS (x2) The University of Chicago Student Government (SG) has more power than you might think. Not only is SG the primary voice of students when dealing with the University administration, but it also oversees more than $2.1 million in funding for student activities. SG is thus the go-to funding source for most campus activities, providing money for Registered Student
Organizations (RSO), the Coalition of Academic Teams (CAT), and the Graduate Student Council, among other things. Student Government is led by an executive slate, which consists of a president, a vice president for administration, and a vice president for student affairs. Beneath the Executive Slate is the Student Assembly— composed of the Graduate Council and
the College Council. The College Council is composed of four members from each year elected by their peers, and Graduate Council contains representatives from all graduate divisions. Each council responds to the needs of their representative populations, and collectively, they allocate funding for all student activities. Additionally, there is a community and
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government liaison in charge of representing students during work with various RSO’s and the South Side community. There are also undergraduate and graduate liaisons to the Board of Trustees, both of whom meet with various members of the Board of Trustees to discuss student issues. Every spring, students vote for a new executive slate, community and government
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
liaison, undergraduate and graduate liaisons to the Board of Trustees, and College and Graduate Council members. The 2015 spring election saw the largest student turnout in four years, with 3,127 votes cast. It was a 57-percent increase over the 2014 turnout of 1,991 votes cast. The 2015–2016 Student Government is led by United Progress, which consists of President Tyler Kissinger, Vice President for Administration Alex Jung, and Vice President for Student Affairs Kenzo Esquivel. In the spring, United Progress won the race for executive slate with 1,340 votes—more than all of the other slates combined. The 2015–2016 school year marks Kissinger’s second consecutive year as president, and United Progress’s second consecutive year in power—though both vice presidents have now changed. This past year, United Progress negotiated a deal with the administration to include the College in the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) U-Pass program for the 2016–2017 school year. UChicago voted in favor of the program (undergraduates
were split 55.1 percent for and 44.9 percent against), which will raise tuition by $85 and allow full-time students access to unlimited bus and rail rides. Additionally, in response to pressure from United Progress, the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) made significant changes to its transparency policy earlier this year. The UCPD began releasing daily traffic stop data, field contact data, and information on arrest records on request in April. “This year, we’ve worked to make Student Government into a place where any student can come to substantially impact the way their University is governed,” Kissinger wrote in a statement last spring. “We’re excited to keep building off the progress we’ve made this year in creating a more active and engaged SG, and look forward to making sure all students have the opportunity to take part in this process every step of the way.”
The winners of the 2015 Liaison and College Council Elections are listed below: Community and Government Liaison: Currently open following the resignation of Nina Katemauswa Undergraduate Liaison to the Board of Trustees: Andrew Young Graduate Liaison to the Board of Trustees: Katie Perri Class of 2018 College Council Representatives: Cosmo Albrecht, Calvin Cottrell, Eric Holmberg, Michael Meng Class of 2017 College Council Representatives: Louisa Richardson-Deppe, Leeho Lim, Katherine Shen, Peggy Xu Class of 2016 College Council Representatives: Edward Vincent Barrett IV, Clark Halpern, Mark Sands, Mike Viola – Raymond Fang
BEYOND THE COLLEGE: GRADUATE SCHOOLS For undergrads, it’s sometimes easy to forget that UChicago is more than just the College. The six graduate schools that additionally comprise the UChicago community are not only collectively much larger than the College, but also have incredible resources for undergraduate students. Whether your major is undecided or if you’ve already planned to apply to a jointdegree program, UChicago’s graduate schools offer classes, advisement, research opportunities, and more to enrich your time at the University. Chicago Booth School of Business Though Booth actually has five campuses (London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Hyde Park, and downtown Chicago), the campus closest to the center of the University is the Hyde Park campus, located across from the Oriental Institute and Robie House. Booth offers M.B.A. and Ph.D. programs to nearly 3,300 students. Undergrads can also take certain courses (such as Financial Accounting, Building the New Venture, and Marketing Strategy) at Booth after their first year. Booth consistently ranks among the top business schools in the country and boasts numerous notable alumni, including Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and Matthew M. Maloney, CEO and Co-Founder of GrubHub, Inc. Booth is also home to many Nobel laureate professors, including Eugene Fama, the “father of modern finance.” Undergrads can also take advantage of Booth’s Everett Klover Cafe, a less-crowded alternative to South and Bartlett (just be aware it doesn’t accept Maroon dollars). The Divinity School Located in the heart of the quad, right across from Cobb Hall, the Divinity School is difficult to miss. Though perhaps more notorious among undergrads for its coffee and lunches from local restaurants, the Divinity School, or “Div School,” has also opened up many courses to College students. Those interested in majoring, minoring, or even dabbling in religious studies can take Religion and Gender, Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, and Interpretations of Myth, among others. All are taught by the Divinity School’s widely-published, awardwinning faculty. Harris School of Public Policy Next to the Law School on 60th Street is UChicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.
The Harris School offers nine different Master’s degree programs and six different joint degree programs, including the A.B./ M.P.P. program. This allows students to earn a Bachelor’s degree from the College and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harris in five years instead of six. Through the Harris School, undergrads can also participate in the Chicago Harris Scholars Program, which encourages students in the College to apply to Harris during their fourth year, defer for two years of work experience, and then return to Harris to complete their degree. Students in the College can also submit the Professional School Petition Form if they want to take courses at Harris taught by professors like former Senior Economic Advisor to the FDA Tomas J. Philipson. The Law School UChicago’s Law School, celebrated recently for its high success rate of recent graduates seeking first-time employment with law firms, has been consistently recognized as one of the top law schools in the country. Although the Law School provides no joint-degrees with the College, undergraduates interested in law can apply for the Law, Letters, and Society major, or submit the Professional School Petition to gain access to Law School classes. The Law School offers courses in all fields of law, taught by notable professors such as Tom Ginsburg, Martha Nussbaum, and Geoffrey Stone. President Barack Obama taught at the Law School from 1991 to 2003. Law School professors frequently hold conferences, panels, and discussions open to undergraduates. Located adjacent to Burton-Judson and Renee Granville-Grossman, the Law Library also provides a convenient study spot on especially cold and windy days for those who live south of the Midway. Pritzker School of Medicine Part of the UChicago Medical Center, the Pritzker School of Medicine is one of the country’s most esteemed medical schools. The Pritzker School boasts an affiliation with 12 laureates who have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, as well as highly regarded doctors and professors, including Doctor Mark Siegler, director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Its alumni have gone on to work at the Center for Disease Control, nonprofits, and various state departments of public health. College students cannot take classes at Pritzker, but can get involved
in UChicago Careers in Health Profession (UCIHP), a four-year pre-professional program that offers advising and events for those interested in health and medicine. College students can also participate in summer research programs at Pritzker. The library closest to the med school is Crerar, located behind the bookstore and across the street from the Biological Sciences Learning Center. It is full of medical and biological resources and stays open until 1 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday if you need a rest from the Reg or Harper. The UChicago Medical Center buildings also house alternative dining options for students, with a Starbucks and Qdoba at the Center for Care and Discovery, an Argo Tea at the Duchossois Center, and an Au Bon Pain at the Comer Center. School of Social Service Administration Opened in 1908 as one of the first schools for social work in the U.S., the School of Social Service Administration (SSA) has since created 10 research programs in partnership with other schools and organizations, including the Crime Lab, Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, and the Family Well-Being and Social Policy Network. The SSA has performed groundbreaking research over the years that has influenced policy change, fundraising, and external research. SSA offers M.A. and Ph.D. programs, as well as a jointdegree A.M./A.B. program that gives students a Bachelor’s degree from the College and a Master’s from SSA in five years. Undergraduates may also take courses at SSA after submitting a Professional School Petition Form. The SSA building, located across from Burton-Judson on 60th Street, has a small library space on its first floor open to undergraduate students. Graham School The Graham School of Liberal and Continuing Studies offers master’s programs, certificate courses and credit and noncredit classes, as well as three online certificate programs. It also manages the University’s Summer Session. It was founded with the opening of the University in 1892 and underwent a change in 1997 with a $10 million donation from the Graham family. It offers several lectures series at 1427 E. 60th Street. –Lorentz Hansen
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
CAMPUS CULTURE
JAMIE MANLEY
| CHICAGO MAROON
DORMS The Satellites
The satellite dorms are those not on the main campus. These buildings are smaller and come closer to apartment living than traditional dorms, and their residents boast unique (read: quirky) house cultures and traditions; on the other hand, they are older and come without more modern luxuries like air conditioning. UChicago’s five satellite dorms will be closed at the end of this academic year to make way for North Campus, opening in the fall of 2016. The nine houses in these dorms will be “retired” rather than relocated, and North Campus will consist of entirely new houses. While the decision has been controversial and student activists continue to fight against it, the administration doesn’t seem to be relenting—so get the most you can out of these dorms before they’re gone.
Blackstone 5748 South Blackstone Avenue
Blackstone, the home of its one and only Blackstone House, is a six-floor, co-ed dorm made up of half double-apartments (two rooms with a shared bathroom and kitchenette) and adjoining single suites (two rooms with just a shared bathroom). Once only home to upperclassmen, the building is welcoming first-years for the last time this fall, for a total of approximately 80 residents. The building has plenty of community space to make up for the seclusion of a single room: There’s a lounge with a fireplace and grand piano, another with a TV, a computer lab and study space, and a community kitchen. The catch: Blackstone is about a 10-minute walk from campus. But it’s close to the 57th Street restaurants and shops, as well as the #6 bus or Metra to get downtown and away from the campus ruckus—it allows residents to find a happy medium between apartment and dorm life.
Breckinridge 1442 East 59th Street
Affectionately called “Breck,” and its residents “Breckies,” Breckinridge gets its name from Sophonisba Breckinridge, the first female graduate of the Law School, the first woman to earn a UChicago Ph.D. in political science, and the founder of the School of Social Service Administration. The building holds just one house—Breckinridge—and consists of single and double rooms divided into single-sex floors for a total of about 95 residents. The lounge has ample socializing space and a grand piano,
and the basement has a community kitchen and ping-pong and pool tables. The building sits on the north side of the Midway, giving residents easy access to open outdoor space for recreation. Like other satellite dorms, the comfort, space, and smaller tight-knit communities come at the cost of a distance from campus—Breck is about a 10-minute walk from the quad. On the other hand, it’s also right next to the 59th Street Metra station, making it easy to head downtown.
Broadview 5540 S Hyde Park Boulevard
Once a hotel, Broadview is now arguably the most remote satellite dorm, a full 15-minute walk from the quad. (Don’t worry, there’s the #171 bus and the shuttle system to get you back and forth.) The first floor has a computer lab, a library, a ballroom complete with a grand piano and ping-pong and pool tables, a bike storage room, and a community kitchen. The remaining six floors are divided into the three houses: Palmer, Wick, and Talbot. Each house is made of two floors of single, double, and one or two triple rooms, each with their own private bathroom, as well as a house lounge where students can do homework, watch TV, and play video games in a common space. The building’s on the older side, but it’s in the perfect spot to get downtown on the #6, #28, or #55 bus—and certain times of the year, the #10, running express to Water Tower Place—as well as being close to the lakefront, where students gather for Frisbee and cookouts when the weather’s good.
Maclean 5445 South Ingleside Avenue
If you don’t live in Maclean, you may never see it, even though it’s not far from campus at all—only two blocks north of Ratner Athletics Center. Named for the author of A River Runs Through It, as well as being a former retirement home (ignore the rumors of it being an insane asylum), it houses about 100 residents in four floors of mostly single rooms with common hall bathrooms. There’s a big communal kitchen and a projector room for movie nights, as well as lounges, so maybe no one knows about Maclean because the residents are just too comfy to leave. Maclean is surrounded by private residences and has a spacious yard—it captures the comforts of a suburban home while maintaining a dorm feel.
New Grad 1307 East 60th Street
When New Grad goes the way of the other satellites, it will become the Keller Center, the new headquarters of the Harris School of Public Policy. But for now, it remains graduate housing turned undergraduate housing, the home of Midway, Tufts, and Henderson Houses, and 200 residents. Since it was originally for graduate students, it’s on the nicer side. Both the single and double rooms have private bathrooms, and there’s a swanky atrium, study rooms, and an exercise room. It’s probably best situated for getting to graduate student buildings, but it’s also close to Cathey (South) Dining Hall and not far from the quad, either. For a satellite, it’s in a pretty good spot.
The Survivors
The remaining dorms are bigger, newer, and here to stay (as far as we know).
Burton-Judson (B-J) 1005 East 60th Street
Yes, we call it B-J. Soon you’ll forget B-J could mean anything else. In this neo-Gothic, castlelike building, 300 residents comprising six small houses live in mostly singles and a few doubles. Being an older building, B-J lacks air-conditioning and elevators, but it does have two lounges (complete with pianos, libraries, and Chagall paintings), a movie theater, and two courtyards. Plus, it has a prime location: just across the midway from the main quad, a couple of blocks east of Logan Center for the Arts, and right next door to Cathey (South) Dining Hall. There are a series of underground tunnels you’re not allowed to use, but make your own decisions.
International House (I-House) 1414 East 59th Street
I-House is a different kind of dorm—it’s home to 430 residents, but only 250 of those are UChicago undergraduates living in four houses. The rest are students from around the world— hence the name—studying at different institutions in Chicago. I-House is also a cultural center that hosts events and world-renowned speakers frequently. Because of this, I-House residents can enjoy a huge kitchen, a courtyard, and a lot of lounge space on the first floor. Each house has its own smaller lounge as well, and residents live in mostly single and a few double rooms. I-House isn’t exactly on campus, but it’s close, and there are plenty of positives to offset the distance.
14 Max Palevsky 1101 East 56th Street
Max catches a lot of flack for its color scheme, but what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for with one of the best locations and a classic #collegelife feel. Max is next door to Bartlett Dining Hall and the Reg, and it’s the closest dorm to both Ratner Athletic Center and Henry Crown Field House, which makes it the perfect dorm for student athletes. Max definitely has a reputation as a kind of haven for those who aren’t feeling that whole “UChicago quirky” thing—it has a more “normal” and sporty vibe. To each his own. Max has three wings, East, Central, and West, connected by underground tunnels that hold laundry rooms, music rooms, and storage space. There are large lounge areas for the entire building and study spaces for each house. About 700 students divided into eight houses live in apartment style suites with two bedrooms (each with two beds), a bathroom, and a foyer area. You can decide whether sharing a bathroom with three is any better than sharing a bathroom with an entire
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
floor. About one-fourth of the rooms are singles typically reserved for upperclassmen—but you’ll have something to aspire to.
Snell-Hitchcock 1009 East 57th Street
Who knows how people get to live in this dorm? The truth is it’s usually the early admits who put in their housing applications as soon as they could, but sometimes it seems more likely that a prophecy foretold their Scav abilities would be great. Snell-Hitchcock is made of Snell and Hitchcock houses, which hold about 160 residents total, well-known for being the most quintessentially UChicago students on campus. Often referred to as “Snitchcock,” this dorm is actually on the main quad. Snell has only single rooms, and Hitchcock has a mix of singles and doubles. Each house has its own kitchen and laundry room, but they share a recreational room with ping-pong and pool tables. If you can deal with the overwhelming enthusiasm for every UChicago tradition, there is really no better location available.
Stony Island 5700 South Stony Island Avenue
The last satellite standing! Originally a graduate student dorm, Stony Island is less central and much nicer. The rooms are all four-person apartments bigger than even South Campus rooms— two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. It has reliable heating and air-conditioning, as well as balconies with Lake Michigan views. About 80 students live comfortably here, complaining only about the distance to campus—about a 15-minute walk.
Renée Granville-Grossman (South Campus) 6031 South Ellis Avenue
The newest dorm (for now), South— newly and naïvely renamed Renée GranvilleGrossman—holds 800 residents between its East and West wings in eight houses. The rooms are a mix of spacious singles, doubles, triples, and apartments. It’s right next door to Cathey (South) and on top of South Mart—a convenience store with a Subway in it. The building
has two reading rooms, two big lounges as well as smaller house lounges, a basement recreation room, and two courtyards. It’s a generally pleasant place to live, even if only because it has a fully functional elevator and air-conditioning. Complain as much as you want about having to cross the Midway to get to class, you will never know the pain of a Broadview resident’s winter commute.
Campus North 5514 South University Avenue
As the year goes along, you’ll see North Campus rising from the ashes of what was once Pierce Tower (R.I.P.). This residential complex will be the even nicer counterpart to South Campus. Set to open in the fall of 2016, it will have a new dining hall, two courtyards, commercial venues on the ground floor, and even two classrooms—not to mention it will house 800 residents. The truly huge building is meant to function as a gateway to the campus, but for now, avoid the construction and drool over the blueprints. – Kayleigh Voss
THE ROOMMATE SITUATION The roommate you’ve been hoping for might turn out to be a neat freak or a fellow slob, might rise with the sun or sleep in ‘til noon, might be a go-getter or a shut-in. Whoever you end up with, it’s all about how you two get along. Here are a few reminders to get you through the next nine months.
Know your room
There are some cohabitation basics you will need to discuss with your roommate, no matter what: Room temperature! Sleeping schedules! Homework habits! In addition to these stock topics, the specific style of your room can make a big difference. Know your room—if you’re in an apartment-style or a suite, as opposed to a standard double, your conversational needs will vary. Is your bathroom in the room, or is it communal and down the hall? Do you need to clean it? Is there a kitchenette that could smoke up the room if you’re not careful? Do you get along with your suitemates? Be ready to roll with punches while you work out how best to live together.
Sleep is vital
Nothing can sour your relationship with your
roommate like being forced to sacrifice sleep in an environment where everyone is trying to get in as much desperately-needed nap time as possible. Does your roommate sleep through their daily 6 a.m. alarm, then hit snooze, then snooze again? Sound like a Snorlax with asthma at night? Turn the thermostat down to 50 the moment you fall asleep? Although you can ask them to get a quieter alarm or to stop tinkering with the air-conditioning, you can’t make them get nasal surgery. Pick your battles and meet your new best friends: a sleeping mask and earplugs, available at nearby Walgreens. Unfortunately, privacy issues are almost inevitable in any roommate relationship. Whether they’re Skyping with family or listening to music while studying, be accommodating as you try to work it out. Let them know what you aren’t OK with, but always suggest alternatives: Offer your headphones or a pillow to make hallway Skyping a feasible alternative. Try to anticipate your roommate’s complaints and be willing to make concessions for the sake of peace.
Kindergarten manners
“It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission”
does not apply to stealing that economy-sized Kit Kat bar sitting unopened on your roommate’s dresser. Yes, even if it’s been there since second week and you’re practically approaching finals. Yes, even if the dining hall is serving leftover tilapia that was already dry yesterday and all you want is your chocolate fix. Resist. If you ask, your roommate might even want to share—and if you make it a practice to extend common courtesy, you can expect your roommate to do the same.
Know when to leave (for a bit)
There are going to be times when your roommate just needs space. Maybe it’s a spontaneous hookup (Yes, sexile does happen at UChicago). Maybe it’s a phone argument with a long-distance significant other that keeps getting louder and more personal. Maybe it’s just a frustrating assignment. Whatever it is, sense when you might need to be somewhere else for a while. Have a place in mind to hang out: maybe your house lounge or a friend’s room. When in doubt, go to the library. Yes, it’s polite to reserve alone time in advance, but even the best roommate can’t predict everything. Be gracious—you can let them know afterward that a warning text would be appreciated in the
future. Hopefully, when it’s your turn to need some space, they’ll return the favor.
And know when to leave for good
Sometimes there’s just no help—totally incompatible roommates are better off splitting up than spilling blood. Your RH and RAs are great resources for helping everybody get along, so they may have a few more tips if the going gets tough. If they can’t arrange some kind of truce between you, though, it’s best to jump ship and find yourself a new room (along with a new roommate.) Contact the Office of Undergraduate Housing (6030 South Ellis Avenue, 773-702-7366) to get the ball rolling, but be aware that there’s a threeweek housing freeze to start fall quarter. After that, switching depends on your location, preferences, and the vacancies that open up. Still, it’s better to go out on a limb than to be miserable for the better part of nine months. Don’t let yourself get stuck in a bad situation, and don’t lose hope—most roommate pairings work out. If you’re one of the unlucky few, there are plenty of resources at your disposal. – Sophia Vojta
on October 13.
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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DINING HALLS
With more students at UChicago than ever before, students can expect to get cozier than ever at the Arley D. Cathey and Bartlett dining commons—the University’s two dining halls. As a first year, you are wedded to your Unlimited Meal Plan, which is appropriately named, as it literally gives you as many meal swipes as you need to satisfy your stomach. But with great power comes great responsibility—or, rather, the need for great creativity. Because the dining hall can get monotonous— fast. As soon as you run out of your quarterly flex dollars and are constrained to eating three meals a day in the same room with food served on a more or less rotational schedule, you’re going to want new options. By getting to know UChicago’s two dining halls, their best dishes, and how to make the most out of the different stations, you’ll be able to get through first year no problem. Here’s what you need to know: 1. No two dining halls are the same Almost every student has an opinion concerning which dining hall is better. Some will claim they like that Bartlett is so conveniently placed on campus and makes the best sandwiches. Others will claim the title of best dining hall goes to Cathey, with its more modern appearance and amazing omelets. So what’s the difference? ‘ Arley D. Cathey Dining Commons, also known as just “Cathey” or most commonly by its old name, “South,” contains two separate sitting areas with vastly different ambiences. There
is a well-lit, open space closer to the entrance where many students will eat alone while trying to look busy thumbing through pages of Sosc reading that will forever remain unfinished. But if your house table is located in Cathey Dining Hall and you crave human interaction, you may choose to join your house-mates in the regal Harry Potter-esque rooms towards the back. In contrast, Bartlett Dining Hall is where you should go if you like being seen. By everyone. In all directions. All the time. You can choose to eat on the main floor, which is largely dominated by house tables and some peripheral tables (which tend to fill up very quickly). If you’re feeling brave, you can choose to make the treacherous climb to the third floor with all of your food. What’s nice about the third floor is that there are plenty of outlets, so you can easily do homework or just watch Netflix while eating your lunch. In terms of food, although Cathey and Bartlett claim to have all the same goods, they don’t. Bartlett is known for a sandwich station that toasts its sandwiches, as well as a wood-fired oven for pizza. Cathey stands apart for the fresh veggies at the salad bar and the Mongolian grill station, where you can watch your vegetables and meat get stir-fried with the sauce of your choice. Also important to know: there’s a hazelnut-flavored coffee at Bartlett, but not South. Captain Crunch is only served in Bartlett, but Cathey more consistently has Cinnamon Toast Crunch. 2. There are two types of hummus, and one is superior
Fact: the hummus at the kosher station tastes significantly better than its counterpart at the salad bar. 3. It’s all about the bressert Combining breakfast and dessert items can lead to an exciting dessert or a sugary start to your day. Put a cookie in the waffle machine with some waffle batter and you get a wookie. Replace sprinkles with cereal for your ice cream topping. 4. Microwaves and toasters can perform miracles You’d be surprised how much better food tastes when it’s piping hot. Put your pita bread and chocolate chip cookies through the microwave or toaster oven. 5. Waffle machines, too During fourth meal, you can put tater tots in the waffle machines to make a potato waffle. It’s what some experts call genius. 6. Fourth meal is the best meal Starting on the second week of each quarter and ending on the Thursday before Reading Period, one of the dining halls will open from 9 p.m. to midnight for Fourth Meal. Options for Fourth Meal often include pizza, pasta, greasy mozzarella sticks, curly fries, ice cream, waffles, and other late night staples. Every once in awhile, food will even be catered from a local Hyde Park restaurant. This is the one time of the day where you’ll actually want to go to a
dining hall. 7. Maroon Dollars can take you a long way If you’re tired of eating in the dining hall, you can always use the 100 flex dollars that come with your Unlimited Meal Plan. Maroon Dollars can be used at all campus coffee shops except for Grounds of Being, the Divinity School coffee shop. If you go to Cobb Coffee Shop, you will find hot lunches catered from local restaurants like the Snail and the Nile. 8. …so can meal exchanges The Unlimited meal plan will also provide you with three meal exchanges, which are essentially preset meals that seem like they cost you nothing. Many places on campus offer meal exchanges: Among these options, C-Shop offers a bagel and coffee, the BSLC has hot dogs (among other items), and Hutchinson Commons (aka Hutch) will give you three tacos at Qdoba. Look for a maroon sign at any place that provides food. Hopefully these tips will help you get through a year filled of lackluster and repetitive food options. But, hey, this will inevitably bring you and your new friends closer together as you all now have something to complain about. As a respite from the monotony, the dining halls remain closed on Saturday nights to allow you to branch out, explore Hyde Park, and go downtown—but expect to spend a fair few ordering in. –Harini Jaganathan and Kristin Lin
LGBTQ+ LIFE You’ve been warned about hookup culture and wild parties, and you’ve heard jokes about “phases” and experimentation. The stories range from fiction to…well, still fiction. But the truth is, college is a time when a lot of people come head to head with their sexuality and how they express it. Luckily, there are a lot of resources on campus to help you along that path: If you’re looking for advocacy and society, you have several options. For members of the LGBTQ community, the College has an Office of LGBTQ Student Life, at 5710 South Woodlawn Avenue (newly renovated!). Here, the Office directs about 50 programs a year, from socials to guest lectures. There’s a mentoring program that matches undergraduates with LGBTQ graduate students, faculty, or staff members, as well as weekly Q-groups—discussion groups that focus on a variety of topics, like the intersection of race and sexuality. These programs provide students a chance to speak their
mind among a small group of peers with similar experiences. You can check out the Office’s Queer 101: LGBTQ New College Student Reception on Friday, September 25 from 1–3 p.m. to learn more about what they offer, or else check out their own O-Week issue, the (U)Chicago Queer Compass, which provides information and tips about life both on- and off-campus for LGBTQ people. There are groups run by students, too: Queers & Associates, or Q&A, is probably best known for their annual Pride Week, featuring Genderfuck, a ball celebrating any and all forms of gender expression. There’s also QUIP, or Queers United in Power, which works towards social justice for LGBTQ individuals. Similarly, there’s GALS—Gender, Activism, Learning, and Service. All three of these organizations have an activism bend, but there’s no doubt that they are a great place to meet LGBTQ people and allies, as well as to learn more about others’
identities—and maybe even your own. For aromantic and asexual students, there’s Asexualitea, a group that provides a supportive community while also promoting visibility of asexuality as a whole. And for survivors of assault, there is the Phoenix Survivors Alliance, a student-run group of survivors and allies who offer emotional support and advocacy, as well as resources for medical, psychological, or legal information. Come spring quarter, you can check out Sexual Assault Awareness Week, and especially the Clothesline Project, to learn, share, and help. But if you’re interested in the more technical aspects of sexuality—maybe your junior high sex ed course wasn’t so thorough—you can turn to RSOs like RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink) and Tea Time and Sex Chats. RACK is a BDSM group focused on helping students practice their kink safely, and Tea Time and Sex Chats is a panel of students hoping to answer
any questions you might have about sex. Both groups are largely educational, but still social. Once a year, UChicago has its own student-led Sex Week, with panels, discussions, demonstrations, movie screenings, and more that are all about sex, working to destigmatize open sexual discourse and get conversations started. Free condoms and other safe sex devices are available from your house Wellness Czar, a representative of the Health Promotion and Wellness department of Student Health Services, so you can make the transition from theory to practice. And if you have any medical questions or concerns, you can always make an appointment at Student Health Services. So find your friends, your allies, your partners (chem lab or romantic), grab a fistful of free condoms, and jump in the deep end. Welcome to college! – Kayleigh Voss
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
STUDENT ACTIVISM
UChicago’s student activism is marked by a focus on issues that often radiate far beyond student life. Issues range from increased awareness of minority rights and status to the lack of an adult trauma center at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and many groups passionately formed around major events that occurred on-campus or off. Activist groups will again unite to host Disorientation, an educational event designed to introduce first-years to the relationship between the University and the south side. First held two years ago, Disorientation is meant to play off students’ weeklong University orientation. “I think students coming in need to think about what they care about and why, and
#liabilityofthemind
essentially get involved in campaigns,” activist Emma LaBounty said. Whether you choose to attend Disorientation or not, here’s an overview of the major activist groups and issues discussed on campus this past year. Probably the most visible protest last year centered around addressing cultural intolerance on campus. Students Against On-Campus Racial and Ethnic Discrimination (SACRED) formed as a reaction to two students’ racially charged Halloween costumes. The group created a petition signed by over 2,000 students that called for the University to acknowledge and discipline the students responsible. Despite these efforts, the group was unsatisfied with the lack of response from University administration. Soon afterward, a student responsible for creating the petition claimed that their Facebook had been hacked by a group known as the UChicago Electronic Army (an unofficial student organization). The “hacked” status contained a racial slur and specifically threatened another student on campus. President Robert Zimmer immediately declared the status hate speech and promised students that an investigation would be
forthcoming. However, this response was not well-received by some students, who believed that Zimmer was responding to an isolated incident, and ignoring a larger campus culture of racial intolerance. In response, fifty students staged a protest chanting “we are here” in Harper Memorial Library to show that “institutionalized racism impedes student learning.” The protest also garnered attention on multiple social media platforms, with the hashtag #liabilityofthemind, which was meant to showcase the negative experiences of marginalized students on campus. Things came to a head when University officials declared that the alleged Facebook hack was actually fake; the student confirmed this on Facebook saying “I am behind this, and only I.” Fellow activist Vincente Perez claimed that the student faked the hacking as a dramatic measure, due to the lack of campus dialogue surrounding racial issues. Despite this potential setback, these protests and the general atmosphere of student unrest did eventually spark some of the campus dialogue SACRED was waiting for. Just before the end of fall quarter, President Zimmer announced that the University would issue two campus climate surveys revolving around issues of sexual assault and issues on race and diversity. The University additionally convened a Diversity Advisory Council that is meant to bring faculty and students “to make suggestions about the University’s approach to these issues, programming during O-Week and throughout the academic year, and ways to improve the campus climate for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in general.” Formed last year in the wake of the announcement to close satellite dorms, Save Our Satellites (SOS) has been working to meet with administrators to prevent the closure of these five smaller but beloved buildings. Students were outraged to receive an announcement that nine houses would be moved from their dorms, renamed, and integrated into Campus North Residence Hall in the fall of 2016. Members of satellite houses state they were never consulted during the decision making process and that they are not willing to give up their satellite dorms without a fight. “[The University] assumed that we want to live in a shiny new building. They assumed a lot of things, and we need to confront those underlying assumptions. They don’t understand the vitality of small dorms,” says a first-year student from Breckinridge. Shortly after the announcement, SOS held a town meeting to discuss their cause; however, all administrators expected at the meeting cancelled. For the upcoming year, the organization plans on publicly protesting and contacting alumni to make a pledge of non-
donation. Those who sign the pledge promise not to donate any money to the University unless administrators “reach a compromise with the student body.” Probably the largest activist group on the south side is the Trauma Center Coalition (TCC), which is an umbrella group consisting of five smaller community and University organizations: Students for Health Equity (SHE), Fearless Leading the Youth (FLY), the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO), and the Jewish Council of Urban Affairs. Activism for a Level I adult trauma center began in 2010 when FLY founder Damien Turner was shot and subsequently died while in transit to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Activists assert that if the University of Chicago had its own trauma care center to serve the south side, Turner’s life could have been saved. Tensions boiled over this year after the announcement that the University would be bidding to host a Barack Obama Presidential Library. Enraged that the University is spending time and money on a bid for library and not a trauma center, protesters stormed a University fundraising event downtown, blocking off North Michigan Avenue for about an hour. After the announcement that the Obama Library was indeed going to be built on the south side, 65 members of TCC marched from one of the proposed Barack Obama presidential library sites in Washington Park to the house of University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer. Veronica MorrisMoore, a member of FLY, said that “people [whose] lives are being lost on the south side due to gun trauma, due to economic violence, due to police violence, will not be able to find much life-saving value in the presidential library.” Finally, at the end of the school year, nine protesters hoping to meet with President Zimmer were arrested on campus after they barricaded themselves inside Levi Hall and disabled the elevators. The sit-in was promptly ended after firefighters cut through the dry wall and broke windows in order to reach the protesters. On September 10, after years of protest, University of Chicago and the Sinai Health System announced a partnership to not only expand emergency services but also build and maintain a Level I adult trauma center. A statement released by the TCC states that although the new trauma center is seen as a victory for the south side, this step does not “erase the institutionally racist nature of the University’s handling of the community, young black people, and the gun violence that is killing people steps aways from their hospital.” Activists will continue to fight for increased relations between the University and the south side community.
An ally of the TCC, the Southside Solidarity Network (SSN) works on campus, Chicago, and state-level campaigns, and is a part of IIRON Students Network, which lobbies on a state-level for economic and social justice issues. SSN’s current campaign is the Coalition for Equitable Policing (CEP), which alleges racial profiling on the part of the UCPD. Founded in spring 2013 in the wake of a forceful arrest of a black graduate student at a trauma center protest perceived as an instance of racial profiling, CEP works towards greater transparency and accountability from the UCPD. This past April, CEP, along with UChicago Democrats and other community members, rallied after the unanimous passage of Illinois House Bill 3932
#traumacenternow
which mandates that the UCPD and other private police forces must follow the same laws of transparency as public forces do under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill would not go into effect, however, until it was additionally passed by the Illinois State Senate and signed by the governor. Protesters took issue with the University press release that was sent out an hour before the bill was passed. The release stated that the UCPD would “go beyond the requirements of Illinois law for police forces at private institutions” by releasing daily traffic stop data, field contact data, and information on arrests by request only. However, some UCPD data would still remain at the discretion of the University, unless there was a legal mandate forcing their release. Alex Ding of CEP stated that the group was there to “demand from the University a more transparent and accountable University police force,” as the UCPD has been known to “systematically racially profile and harass…with complete impunity.”
– Sarah Zimmerman
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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HYDE PARK EATS The dining halls are always there for you— except Saturday nights when they’re closed. Or at 2 a.m. when you’re finally done with that problem set. Or when you’re just plain sick of them. But don’t worry—Hyde Park isn’t short on restaurants and food. Here are some places to try: CHEAP AND FAST: Get full on a college student’s budget and schedule. Hyde Park has the fast food staples: Chipotle, McDonald’s, Five Guys, Jimmy John’s, and Domino’s are some (there’s even a Native Foods on 53rd)—but if you’re looking for something more unique, try these places. Harold’s Chicken Shack #14 1208 East 53rd Street, (773) 7529260 Near and dear to every UChicago student’s heart—like, literally in their arteries—is the southern-style fried chicken served at Harold’s. Treat yourself to a Kanye-approved half dark with fries, white bread, and coleslaw for under five dollars. Even with their recent (small) price increase, Harold’s won’t break the bank—especially because you get a discount with your student ID. Valois 1518 East 53rd Street, (773) 6670647 President Obama himself endorses Valois (that’s pronounced Vah-loyz), a cafeteria-style breakfast spot where you can “see your food” (and smell it, mmm). Cure a hangover with a giant omelette or a stack of pancakes. Be prepared to stand in a line that stretches to the door if it’s a weekend, and don’t forget it’s cash only. Clarke’s 1447 East 53rd Street, (773) 8914027 Open 24 hours a day and conveniently located right next to Harper Movie Theater, Clarke’s is perfect for following up a midnight premiere with a gigantic brownie sundae. Also good for fueling up with classic diner fare after a study session that extended well past sundown—or as a pit stop stumbling home from an off-campus party. Rajun Cajun 1459 East 53rd Street, (773) 9551145 This is your only Hyde Park option for Indian food, but even without the illusion of choice, it still hits the spot. The restaurant is tiny and has recently been hidden by surrounding construction, but it’s open—eat in or take out (they deliver, too) generous portions for a good price.
Z&H Marketplace 1323 East 57th Street, (773) 5387372 Sort of a grocery store, but mostly a sandwich shop. Good for a quick bite on the way to class, or drop by a taco. FOOD TRUCKS Check out Ellis between 57th and 59th on weekdays for a plethora of food trucks for breakfast and lunch—from Piko Street’s KoreanMexican fusion to Bruges Brother’s Belgian style French fries, you have a lot of options. Lines can get long, but it might be worth the late-to-class run. Follow @uchiNOMgo on Twitter to know who’s where when. CASUAL: A step up from the order-at-the-counter spots, these are good options for Saturday night dining with housemates and friends, or even for a date. The Snail Thai Cuisine 1649 East 55th Street, (773) 6675423 Or just “Snail.” There are three Thai restaurants nearly next door on 55th, but Snail sticks out. Maybe it’s the festive seasonal window decor, but then again, it’s probably the irresistible Pad Thai and curry fried rice. Order a Thai iced coffee to get a caffeine fix and sugar high in one go—then finish that Hum paper. The Nile 1162 East 55th Street, (773) 3249499 The Nile recently moved a little farther west down 55th, coming closer to campus and making students rethink dining hall hummus and pita. Mediterranean food comes in big servings here, so just come hungry—because there’s no way you’ll be able to skip the hummus appetizer or the baklava dessert. Noodles Etc. 1333 East 57th Street, (773) 684-2801 Not to be confused with Noodles and Co., this is a Pan-Asian restaurant for all your noodle, rice, soup, and dumpling needs. They have a station in Hutch Commons, but the true location isn’t much farther and you get far more choices on the full menu. Pho 55 1611 East 55th Street, (773) 3631515 A recent addition to the string of restaurants on 55th, Pho 55, unsurprisingly, offers (among other things) pho, the delicious Vietnamese noodle soup. This does a great job of warming
you up on a cold winter (or fall or spring) day— and at a decent price, too. Kikuya, The Sit Down, and Shinju 1601 East 55th Street, (773) 6673727 1312 East 53rd Street, (773) 3243700 1375 East 53rd Street, (773) 9666669 These are your sushi options in Hyde Park, and each has its merits. Kikuya has high-quality sushi as well as non-fish items like noodles and gyoza; The Sit Down has sushi and pizza and a student discount—but Shinju has all you can eat sushi for $20. Know your needs and find your place. Medici on 57th 1327 East 57th Street, (773) 6677394 The true UChicago classic—the place you’ll take your parents when they visit; the place you’ll take your kids when you make them tour campus. Usually referred to as “The Med,” this is where students eat—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Be sure to visit the café and bakery next door for sandwiches, pastries, and coffee—the Medici Mocha has a scoop of chocolate ice cream in it, just saying. As closing hours approach, baked goods start to go for one dollar, so stop by on your way home from the Reg for dessert. Salonica 1440 East 57th Street, (773) 7523899 A favorite of Dean Boyer’s (unconfirmed rumor), Salonica is a cozy Greek diner that serves breakfast all day. Close enough to walk, but far away enough that it feels special. A great place for that rare unburdened Sunday morning when you can brunch without reading between bites. Giordano’s 5311 South Blackstone Avenue, (773) 947-0200 Are you from New York? Are you going to be a snob all year about thin crust pizza? Why don’t you head on over to Giordano’s? Rest assured, you’re going to want to pick up that third, maybe even fourth piece of deep dish, but restrain yourself—you have to save room to eat your words. The frankly inappropriate amount of cheese piled on a deliciously buttery crust takes about 40 minutes to cook, so either order ahead or bring your Sosc reading along. Packed 1321 East 57th Street Set to open in September, Packed is all about
dumplings—every kind of dumpling. That means pierogis, empanadas, ravioli—every good thing packed into a little starch pocket. Is it everything we’re dreaming it will be? We’ll have to find out together on opening night. FOR THE BIG SPENDERS: Special occasion? Rich relative in town? Hit up one of the pricier establishments around for fine cuisine and like, fancy fireplaces and stuff. If you like live music, try Chant, an Asian fusion restaurant, or The Promontory, a New American place, both on 53rd. Try European fine dining at Piccolo Mondo for Italian food across from the Museum of Science and Industry, or La Petite Folie, a Michelin Guide recommended French restaurant in the Hyde Park Shopping Center (with Treasure Island and Walgreen’s). If you’re really looking to burn some cash, head to A10 on 53rd for French and Italian food, and a killer brunch. GROCERIES: Prefer to stay in and cook for yourself? No problem, just pick up what you need at one of Hyde Park’s grocery stores. Treasure Island 1526 East 55th Street, (773) 3586400 Treasure Island is definitely on the pricier side, but as “America’s Most European Supermarket” it does have a lot of specialty and imported items you won’t be able to find elsewhere. The only true supermarket nearby, you’ll end up here a lot over the years. Hyde Park Produce 1226 East 53rd Street, (773) 3247100 A little on the small side, Hyde Park Produce has good prices on fresh produce, as well as less satisfactory prices on other goods, like organic meats and gluten-free microwaveable waffles. The in-between of supermarket Treasure Island and hipster paradise Open Produce, HPP is a good stop for buying local and fresh. Open Produce 1635 East 55th Street, (773) 4964327 A teeny tiny grocery, Open Produce is so named because it stays open until 2 a.m. A true haven for nearby Broadview residents who may find themselves craving fresh fruits and veggies, a Mexican Coke, or a variety of snack items in the wee hours of the morning. And in really, very exciting, life-changing news, they have a brand new wine section.
Hamantash Debate), Chabad Jewish Center, and the jUChicago function as the University’s Jewish resource centers. Each provide students with holiday services, community service opportunities, birthright trips to Israel, and a place to meet other Jewish students on campus. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) provides activities and prayer services for anybody interested every Friday night in Bond Chapel. The organization is also best known for its annual fast-a-thon for charity and really fun events for all students during Ramadan. For those on the opposite side of the religious spectrum, there’s the Secular Student Alliance. The alliance is open to those who identify themselves as atheist, agnostic, humanist, secular, non-religious, questioning, or any other name you can think of not tied to an organized religion. In the past, the group has hosted talks by The End of Faith author Sam Harris, outreach events like Superstition Bash, and debates with campus organizations like the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The perhaps “lesser-known” religions and denominations still have a presence on campus. Whether you’re interested in the Bahá’í faith—which emphasizes the unity of God,
religion, and all mankind—or Jainism, a faith rooted in India that believes in nonviolence toward all living creatures, there are religious and spiritual organizations for almost everything. There are also groups that explore paganism, Wicca, Quakerism, and Sikhism. Even one of the world’s smallest religion, Zoroastrianism, based on the teachings of the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster, is also present on campus. If you’re interested in meeting students outside your religion, consider joining the Spiritual Life Council, which is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students nominated from a myriad of faiths. The council organizes events like the annual Spirit Week and Multifaith Celebration. It also offers weekly meditation and yoga for all students to come together in a secular setting. If nothing mentioned here suits you, remember that this is not meant to be a comprehensive list and there is always more information to be found at UChicago’s Spiritual Life website. Whether you are interested or not, there are opportunities for everyone—the faithful and secular, the atheists, monotheists, and polytheists. – Sarah Zimmerman
– Kayleigh Voss
SPIRITUAL LIFE Religious life on campus runs from A–Z, Ásatrú to Zoroastrianism. In between, you can find spiritual communities for Atheists, Bahá’ís, Buddhists, Christians, Confucianists, Hindus, Pluralistics, Jews, Jains, Muslims, pagans, Quakers, Shintoists, Sikhs, Taoists, and Unitarian Universalists. You have the option to begin your spiritual trek, continue it, reject it, or transform it. Whether you want to casually attend services, join or even lead interfaith dialogue groups, or simply ignore spiritual life on campus completely, it’s important to know that you have the option to create and follow your own spiritual path if you so choose. Every group on campus welcomes all students, no matter their previous religious affiliation or sexuality, who wish to find a religious, spiritual, or philosophical community. Rockefeller Chapel is the main “hub” of religion on campus. Located at 5850 South Woodlawn Avenue, the building is home to the Interreligious Center and most groups will meet to pray and discuss spiritual texts within these chapel’s four walls. You’ll have the unique opportunity to enter a space where all faiths can come together. While students involved with the Hindu Student Sangam, for example, will
meet for prayers and discussion in Rockefeller’s Hindu prayer room, elsewhere in the building Muslim students say daily prayers, Christians take Communion, and Buddhists meditate. If you’re looking for a leadership position, or to join a group that meets to discuss religious texts, perform community service, and just generally hang out, there are tons of organizations on campus for almost every spiritual belief. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, for example is one of the largest Christian groups on campus with two main chapters—Multi-Ethnic InterVarsity and Asian American InterVarsity. The Fellowship offers a space for students to informally mingle, talk, and get involved with the community. For Catholics, Calvert House offers daily mass, organizes service trips, and even runs a tutoring program. Unitarian Universalists can join the First Unitarian Young Adult and Campus Ministry at 5650 South Woodlawn Avenue on the first and third Sunday of each month. The church offers more intensive community outreach programs, and is known for its Social Justice Council, which convenes to discuss liberal issues. Collectively, the Hillel Jewish Center (known for hosting UChicago’s annual Latke-
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
GREEK LIFE
Although often considered small, Greek life represents a significant part of the UChicago campus community. The four original fraternities on campus date back to the 1860s, near the start of the University’s establishment. Fast-forward to campus today, and there are over 20 different fraternities and sororities that account for a substantial and ever increasing group within the student body. In the past four years alone, several chapters have been added and sorority recruitment has grown by 26 percent. The Greek community consists of Panhellenic sororities, fraternities, the Multicultural Greek Council, and co-ed service and business fraternities. Realistically, most people’s closest interaction with Greek life will be going to a frat party on a Friday or Saturday night. On the eastern edge of the quad, along South University Avenue, you’ll find some of the oldest and most visible reminders of Greek life: Psi Upsilon (Psi U), Phi Delta Theta (Phi Delt), and Alpha Delta Phi (Alpha Delt) fraternity houses. Just across from Max, these frats will likely be the heart of the O-Week party scene due to their proximity to campus and their large houses. Another nearby favorite is Delta Upsilon (DU) on Woodlawn. Scattered across the rest of Hyde Park are Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), Delta Kappa Epsilon
(DKE), Delta Tau Delta (DTD), Lambda Phi Epsilon (Lambda), Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep), Sigma Chi, and Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), which moved off-campus this past spring for house renovations. Many Greek systems will call their campus presence unique, and we are no exception. Seeing as this is the University of Chicago, our system is definitely not what you’d expect if your prior knowledge of Greek life is based on large state schools. If you’re looking for Animal House or Legally Blonde, you’re in the wrong place. None of the sororities have houses, and the majority of fraternities are off-campus. Taking into account that UChicago Greek life is not necessarily traditional, why go Greek? Most students involved with Greek life would say that the biggest draw is the community. By joining a sorority or fraternity, you’re exposed to people you probably would have never met otherwise. The Panhellenic sororities have over 100 members each and fraternities often have 50 or more, so not everyone in your chapter is going to be a close friend. But that’s okay. The lasting friendships and memories you create with the people you are close with make it all worthwhile. Besides, the smaller size of the UChicago Greek community makes it easy to get to know people in other chapters besides your own, so members
Bar Night at Alpha Delta Phi By Juliet Eldred
are part of a larger network visible at major campus events such as InterFraternity Sing, which brings current and past Greek members together to compete in a “traditional singing competition.” During your college years, it’s necessary to have some sort of support system, and that’s often what a Greek chapter is: people who are going to be there for you through the highs and the lows. People are proud to belong to these organizations and wear their affiliation; you’ll see that many Greeks wear their letters on a daily basis. The only way to truly understand the commitment and dedication Greek life inspires is to be a part of it. Other draws include the opportunity to get involved in philanthropy and the support of a national network for college and beyond. Each of the Panhellenic sororities hosts a large-scale philanthropy event and cumulatively raised over $93,500 in the past academic year. Pi Beta Phi (Pi Phi) and Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) host Arrowfest and Mr. University, respectively, in the winter for their philanthropies, Read > Lead > Achieve and Court Appointed Special Advocates. In the spring, Delta Gamma (DG) hosts Anchorslam for Service for Sight and Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) hosts Alpha Games for the National Arthritis Foundation. Several fraternities also host annual philanthropic events, such as DKE’s Ian Woo
Cummings Memorial Scholarship Run/Walk, FIJI’s Flag Football tournament for cancer research, and Sigma Chi’s Derby Days for the Huntington Foundation. On a smaller scale, Greek life offers the opportunity to get involved by organizing community service trips and initiatives. If you think Greek life is for you and are considering rushing a fraternity or sorority, remember that there is much to be gained from trying it out and nothing to lose if you end up deciding that it isn’t for you. You can always continue to indulge in Bar Night, attend one of the many philanthropy events, or choose not to engage at all. Greek life is selfselective and isn’t necessarily for everyone; for some people, the sense of community one can find in Greek brothers and sisters can be found in their house or in RSOs. Additionally, there’s no pressure to make this decision fall quarter of first year: Fraternities have multiple rush classes per year and formal sorority recruitment is made up of about equal numbers of first- and second-years. Meet the brothers and sisters, check out parties or philanthropy events, and decide for yourself whether or not you’re interested in joining this community. – Tatiana Fields
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS
Although UChicago doesn’t have a school of journalism like our friends at Northwestern, we still have plenty of opportunities for aspiring journalists to practice their craft. With a large array of student publications, you’ll be able to find your niche and start creating a writer’s portfolio in no time. Not to mention that you’ll also make amazing friends and connections along the way. Take the plunge and get your hands dirty by contributing to or at least reading any of these invaluable publications: The Chicago Maroon is the “official” independently-run student newspaper of UChicago. It also happens to be one of the oldest college papers in the U.S., dating back to 1892. Published every Tuesday and Friday, the paper boasts famous alumni including New York Times columnist David Brooks (A.B. ’83), Obama senior advisor David Axelrod (A.B. ’76), and former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (A.B. ’41). The paper is always looking for fresh faces to contribute to any of its four sections (News, Viewpoints, Arts, or Sports) or its design, copy, photo, and multimedia sections that closely work the aforementioned sections. The Maroon is also responsible for a bi-annual magazine Grey City which mainly publishes in-depth feature articles. The South Side Weekly is the alternative campus news magazine dedicated to “supporting cultural and civic engagement on the South Side.” Published every Wednesday, the Weekly covers local happenings usually untouched by mainstream media and publishes more extensive narratives and essays. For students that have very specialized interests, they can easily contribute to one of the magazine’s diverse sections which range from politics and education to food, books, art, and music. It additionally provides more opportunities for creative writers as the publication often publishes poetry, fiction, and original artwork. The Shady Dealer is UChicago’s hilarious satirical newspaper. The paper mostly deals with issues relevant to UChicago with the type of pretentious humor we here at UChicago love, producing fake news and feature articles like “Zimmer Wishes His Salary Were Paid In Gum” or “Play-Doh Releases Its Republic.” For political junkies, The Gate offers plenty of opportunities to write about politics, either on the local, national,
or international level. This nonpartisan publication invites all students to participate, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum. The Gate is relatively new and just hit the presses two years ago; however, sponsored by UChicago’s own Institute of Politics (IOP), it’s quickly shaping up to be an established and well-known publication on campus (they even have matching sweatshirts). Sliced Bread is an arts and literary magazine that tries to “provide a slice of everything being produced on the University of Chicago campus.” After a long selecting and editing process, the magazine prints about 100 pages of short stories, poetry, non-fiction, paintings, drawings, and photography in the fall and spring. WHPK 88.5 FM is the non-profit community radio station serving UChicago, Hyde Park, and the South Side at large. The station prides itself on playing music that is not commonly heard on the mainstream radio. Programming consists of every genre and period of music you can possibly think of as well as a couple of talk shows. You can either apply for your own DJ-set or work behind the scenes to help WHPK stay up and running. MODA Magazine is a quarterly publication that has been recognized as “one of the best college fashion publications in the nation” by Teen Vogue in 2013. The magazine and its associated blog aims to deliver the most important fashion news and trends. The Midway Review offers a forum for students to publish essays that will contribute to a larger intellectual discourse. The journal looks for thoughtful pieces on current events, arts and culture, and philosophy and gives students the chance to have their pieces printed alongside articles written by graduate students, faculty, and alumni. Vita Excolatur borrows its name from the second half of the University’s motto, which loosely translates to “the life well lived,” befitting to the now (in) famous magazine’s exploration of sexuality. Students can submit proposals of projects (photography, visual art, photo pieces, etc.) centered around a quarterly theme. Memoryhouse is a quarterly publication specializing in first-person prose and poetry but also accepts art and photography. Memoryhouse also publishes original content online and hosts literary events,
workshops, and performances throughout the year. For culinary experts, there is Nonpareil, UChicago’s quarterly food magazine. From restaurant reviews and recipes to food memoirs and cooking tips, the magazine gives food enthusiasts a chance to share their experiences and favorite recipes. Blacklight Magazine is a bimonthly online magazine under the Organization of Black Students and is dedicated to showcase issues faced by students of color. Students can also submit feature articles to the college website, which publishes all information about campus life for students. Diskord is an online magazine that serves as an outlet for progressive students to write in-depth analyses of current events, both domestic and international. The Euphony Journal is a biannual literary magazine that publishes both poetry and prose from both students and writers across the country. The Platypus Review is a publication that is a branch of the Platypus Affiliated Society—an international Marxist leftist group that originated at UChicago. The Triple Helix at the University of Chicago is just one branch of the international science, business, policy, ethics, and law society. The publication is run by student editors who work with faculty members. Although the magazine usually publishes work by accomplished academics, students can contribute to its blog, The Triple Helix Online. For those who’d like in on the action, UChicago’s mediasphere is mostly inclusive and welcomes new staff and submissions. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in journalism, consider visiting UChicago Careers in Journalism, Arts, and Media (UCIJAM). This Career Advancement program is an excellent resource for students to touch up their resumes and cover letters and find internships and job opportunities. UCIJAM also coordinates events, visits, guest speakers, and meet-ups for the burgeoning UChicago journalist. – Sarah Zimmerman
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
ARTS & CRAFTS
CATHERINE GAO
|
CHICAGO MAROON
CAMPUS ARTS Day two of O-Week, my overly eager first-year self rose early to attend the Smart Museum’s 7 a.m. “Coffee and Calligraphy” session only to find that I could not, in fact, find the Smart. The entrance to the museum is tucked away in an unassuming courtyard behind the Court Theater—hidden within its own walls and, like most of UChicago’s fine art collections, easy to miss. On a campus with such a rich yet scattered collection of museums, galleries, and art RSOs—several of which will be celebrating anniversaries this year and many others that are just taking root— you’ll want to stay tuned on the parade of events in store, so keep your eyes on these venues: Located just north of the intersection of East 56th Street and South Greenwood Avenue, the Smart Museum of Art is the University’s main art museum and harbors a collection of works ranging from 12th century Korean bowls to mid-century Warhols, Paschkes, and Matisses (not to mention that stunning 1962 Rothko). The Smart just recently marked its 40th anniversary, using the event as an opportunity to renew its dedication to community education and engagement. This fall, the Smart marks another anniversary—the University’s 125th—with the exhibition Conversations with the Collection: Memory, a retrospective celebration of the Smart’s diverse collection centered on personal and cultural history, on view through January. Admission is free. Return visitors to the Smart will also notice a complete renovation of the front lobby: Jessica Stockholder, DoVA Chair, has covered ceiling , wall, and floor with her massive new installation piece titled Rose’s Inclination. If you’re looking for a quiet and well-lit haven complete with snacks, meals, and delicious Italian espresso (coming from an
unbiased Smart Museum barista here), stop by the Smart Café, also located in the front lobby. If you favor art with a more “experimental ethos,” venture up to the fourth floor of Cobb to visit the Renaissance Society. Founded in 1915, this small, independent museum is known for featuring unexpected and interactive exhibitions from local and international contemporary artists. For this, its centennial year, the Renaissance Society will publish a collection of commissioned essays assessing its role in the evolving art world. For now, check out Irena Haiduk’s show titled Seductive Exacting Realism, a two-part project displayed in conjunction with the 14th Istanbul Biennial that examines the overlay between the conceptual roles of the artist and the revolutionary, on view until October 8. Admission is free. Inevitably, every first-year starts to miss their mummy during first quarter, so take a visit to the Oriental Institute, located just a block off the main quad. This world-renowned archaeolog y museum boasts a collection of ancient artifacts from Eg ypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Syria, Nubia, and Turkey—everything from 40-ton sculptures of winged bulls to the weapons of Biblical Armageddon. A Threatened Heritage, a special exhibition currently on view in the Oriental, features a set of graphic panels showcasing modern menaces to ancient archaeological sites. If you’re reading The Epic of Gilgamesh for first-year Hum, put down your tired translation and check out the epic itself : the original Babylonian cuneiform tablets (circa 2,000 B.C.E.) located just inside the museum. Admission is free with a $10 suggestion. The Logan Center for the Arts, located at 60th Street and Drexel Avenue, opened in 2012 and is a newer but
thriving center of campus art featuring both professional and student work. Photographs Get Moving (potatoes and shells, too), a show exploring the relationship between the still and moving image envisioned by the French avant-garde filmmaker Agnès Varda, is currently on display on the first floor Logan Center Gallery and runs until November 8. To see student work, stroll the ground floor and lower levels, where paintings, drawings, and sculptures flood the halls. Just beyond the Oriental Institute, along South Woodlawn Avenue, you’ll find a reprieve from the pervasive gothic façade of campus at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House. This “Prairie style” architectural masterpiece, distinguished by its low-pitched roof and long strips of windows, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. For a tour of the interior, the student price is $14. Though not a museum or exhibition space itself, the Booth School of Business exhibits a substantial collection of modern art and is located just across the street from the Robie House, making for a convenient post-tour supplement. If you’re interesting in venturing slightly off campus, simply take the Green Line to the Garfield stop to visit the brainchild of artist and urban planner Theaster Gates: the Hyde Park Arts Incubator. This community space for exhibitions, performances, lectures, and artist residencies is part of the University’s Arts + Public Life Initiative, which encourages students and faculty to engage with their community and experience art outside the campus gates. The Hyde Park Arts Center, located at 5020 S. Cornell Avenue along the East Shuttle route, also promotes local artists and offers both classes and work-
shops, allowing student members free access to the ceramics facilities. To the West of campus at the intersection of 57th Street and Cottage Grove, the DuSable Museum of African American History is committed to the conservation of African American history, culture, and art, offering student memberships for $15. For those of you hoping to create rather than contemplate, there are many official and unofficial student groups dedicated to promoting the visual arts. Each spring , Festival of the Arts (FOTA) orchestrates a campuswide jubilee of student art. Throughout the year, FOTA also hosts workshops, performances, and gallery openings and sends out a weekly arts newsletter. Outside the Lines, a group more geared toward promoting technique in practicing artists, organizes weekly figure-drawing classes in Logan while members of ArtShould spend their afternoons teaching art classes at nearby Chicago Public Schools. ArtShould also organizes art fairs to give students the opportunity to showcase and sell their work. Kitchen Sink, a relatively new, student-funded group dedicated to fostering the student art community, hosts free four-hour painting sessions every Wednesday night in Logan’s Great Hall. Whether you’re a devoted museumgoer, practicing artist, or complete art novice, the depth and diversity of fine art outlets on campus and in Hyde Park at large has something for everyone. You picked a good year to join in on the fun. – Grace Hauck
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
CAMPUS THEATER Whether it’s performing Shakespeare, building a set, or bringing the audience to tears with improv comedy, there are many opportunities to make the world your stage during your time at UChicago. Each year approximately 500 students are involved in campus productions both on-stage and behind
the scenes. The largest contingent of students partakes in University Theater (UT), which produces over 35 shows a year reaching an annual audience of over 10,000. UT offers a high level of student involvement in the shows and an extensive set of resources at students’ disposal, including the eleven-story
COURTESY OF UCHICAGO ARTS
Logan Center for the Arts and the knowledge of well-trained theater professionals and academics. This fall alone, UT will put on an eclectic array of productions, beginning with Eric Bogosian’s mid’90s slacker anthem subUrbia (first through second week). Midterm season is buoyed by Samuel Beckett’s
one-man, one-act Krapp’s Last Tape (fourth week), as well as August Strindberg’s naturalistic Miss Julie, penned in 1888 (eighth week). The first quarter concludes with the raucous and much-beloved musical Urinetown (tenth week). UT’s 24-Hour Play Festival—held the first weekend of each quarter— invites all students to create an entire play from scratch, from playwriting to set design to performance, in just 24 hours. New and curious students should sign up for the UT list host and check the UT Web site for specific audition information. Positions for production managing, state managing, house managing, lighting, set design, costume design, and sound design are always available if you prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Students with Shakespearean inclinations may want to check out The Dean’s Men. As the University’s resident Shakespeare troupe, it stages one of the master’s 39 plays per quarter—this fall, the troupe will stage Twelfth Night (seventh week). The Dean’s Men also holds biweekly play readings and works closely with Professor Emeritus and Shakespeare expert David Bevington. Because Chicago is considered the birthplace of American improv, it’s only fitting that the University boasts not one but two excellent improv groups. Started by Second City founder Bernie Sahlins (A.B. ’43) in 1986, Off-Off Campus presents a five-week revue each quarter. Off-Off will give its O-Week show in Mandel Hall. Occam’s Razor, an improv troupe open to both under-
graduate and graduate students, puts on three free shows each quarter, performing in the FXK Theater on the third floor of Reynold’s Club. Auditions for both Off-Off and Occam’s Razor are held early in fall quarter. For those interested in studying theater in an academic setting, Theater and Performance Arts Studies (TAPS) is a strong undergraduate department which places emphasis on combining the theory of drama and its practice. Six courses in theory and analysis and six courses in artistic practice are required of all TAPS majors. It should also be noted that some of the best professional theater in Chicago happens here at Court Theatre, a professional theater company on campus. Once called “the most consistently excellent theater company in America� by The Wall Street Journal, Court will open this season with Gem of the Ocean, August Wilson’s story of a mystic seeking to cleanse souls in raciallytorn, early 20th-century Pittsburgh. Don’t forget to check out student pricing online, which may allow you to see a Court production for as little as five dollars—or even for free. Fresh thespian blood, experienced or not, is what keeps the theater groups alive and improving each year. And with the University’s offerings academic and extracurricular, onand offstage, traditional and comedic, chances are you are missing out if you don’t put yourself out there. – Lauren Gurley, updated by Hannah Edgar
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
CAMPUS CINEMA Many esteemed directors and actors from Woody Allen to Alfred Hitchcock and, more recently, Darren Aronofsky, have even graced Max Palevsky Cinema with their presence and led discussions about their films. Films play every night throughout the entire quarter (excluding the dreaded finals week). Doc features eight film series per quarter, one for each night of the week and two on Thursdays, and covers highly varied cinematic ground. Just this past quarter student could enjoy films by Orson Welles on Wednesday, see a retrospective of Vivian Leighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career each Monday, and jump into the world of Italian crime dramas Thursdays. On Fridays Doc has its marquee series, usually the most popular set of films among students, which tend to more popular, recent films and on Saturday it plays new releases.
At UChicago the pictures may move, but you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have to; there are plenty of excellent resources for the collegiate cinephile right on campus. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not looking to stray too far from the Reg , Doc Films is an exceptional choice. Doc began in 1932 as a studentrun film club that exclusively screened documentaries (or, as its founders called them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the realist study of our time via nonfiction filmâ&#x20AC;?). In 1940, the organization became firmly established as the International House Documentary Film Group. Since then, Doc has expanded its repertoire and now screens everything from flops to favorites. Roger Ebert (X â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70), an Illinois native and brief UChicago student, once called Doc Films â&#x20AC;&#x153;cinephile heaven,â&#x20AC;? and at five dollars per ticket or $30 for a quarterly pass with discounts for renewing members, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to disagree.
Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss Docâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spring mega-screeningâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showing of the shining had live music and inflatable bloody axesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that always promise a good time. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also worth noting that Doc is run entirely by student and community volunteers who are rewarded with free entrance to all Doc shows in a given academic quarter for their hard work. The Max Palevsky Cinema is also used, along with the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, to play movies produced by Fire Escape Films, UChicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student filmmaking RSO. New members are initiated by filming and editing a short intro project in the fall as part of a production crew. Members also are allowed to propose projects of their own, which can receive funding from the student group if approved by the Fire Escape Films Committee. The club also has weekly
screenwriting workshops, filmmaking equipment orientation, and short film discussions at general meetings. Along with making films throughout the year, Fire Escape hosts the 48 Hour Film Festival in the spring , where teams spend a weekend together writing , filming , and editing a short film. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not feeling up to the brouhaha of a public screening , or would like to watch as many films as your heart desiresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;free of chargeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Film Studies Center is an excellent alternative. Located on the third floor of Cobb Hall, the FSC boasts an impressive collection of films, from the highly decorated to the relatively obscure, and you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a Cinema and Media Studies major to borrow from their cinematic archives (though you do have to remain on the premises to watch them). The FSC also conducts events and film screenings, including those produced by members of Fire Escape. Just a few steps farther away from campus, Harper Theater, located at East 53rd Street and South Harper Avenue, is the closest off-campus option for your movie and popcorn consuming needs. For seven dollars, students can check out new releases on one of five screens in this historic building designed by Horatio Wilson in the early 20th century. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a cinephileâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or just need a breather from that backbreaking essayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;look no further than the silver screens right at home. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Emily Wang A.B.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;14 , updated by Andrew McVea
COURTESY OF FIRE ESCAPE FILMS
THE CIVIC KNOWLEDGE PROJECT # $')( #. $-2 ( + -.+ 0 )! +#&! #& * ') & ) " ) (/1
Division of the Humanities University of Chicago
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Interested in meaningful community engagement on Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Side? Want to know more about the historic neighborhoods of the South Side? Committed to enhancing the role of the humanities in education? Hoping to see more critical thinking and ethical reflection in your world? Then check out the UChicago Civic Knowledge Project, which would welcome your participation! Our aim is to develop and strengthen community connections, helping to overcome the social, economic, and racial divisions among the various knowledge communities on the South Side of Chicago. For more information, please visit our website, http://civicknowledge.uchicago.edu/ , join our listserv civicknowledge@listhost.uchicago.edu , or contact CKP Director Bart Schultz, at rschultz@uchicago.edu , tel. 773.834.3929 ext. 1
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
CAMPUS MUSIC
COURTESY OF CHRIST STRONG
It’s a good time to be a musician at UChicago. While Philip Glass (A.B. ’56) has long since departed from the Burton-Judson courtyard, music remains central to the University’s cultural and physical landscape. Between the beat of your own drum and the rhythm of other campus productions, we, the footloose, bid you welcome. Get off the O-Week grid by checking out the annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival, a free two-day festival that hosts a rich assortment of local and national jazz artists. The festival boasts 11 indoor and outdoor venues throughout the neighborhood and all-day programming. Falling on the last weekend before fall quarter, September 26–27, Jazz Fest bids the summer farewell with just a touch of the blues. The music department hosts over 14 different ensembles and programs, which collectively put on more than 100 concerts each quarter. Richly varied in historical periods and cultural affiliations, these ensembles range from the prestigious Rockefeller Chapel Choir to the South Asian Vocal Ensemble.
The main audition process occurs September 23–29, so tune those violins and clean that horn already. But you needn’t leave your dorm room to hear some great student-produced beats. WHPK, the campus-wide radio station, pools together University students and community members to build its 160 person staff. Providing a 24-hour stream of high-quality programming , WHPK presents shows in a variety of formats from rock to public affairs to jazz, all strung together under the collective aim of “playing music not commonly heard on the mainstream.” Tune in to 88.5 FM or listen online at whpk.org , where you can also apply to become a student DJ. The Major Activities Board, an RSO affectionately known as MAB, presents two annual music concerts: the Fall Show and the Summer Breeze Concert. Both highly anticipated events, past concerts have featured the Ramones, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Eminem, and, last year, the headliners were Madeon, T-Pain, and Azealia Banks. Twenty-dollar tickets are easy
on the student budget (beer funds not included). For the more classically inclined, University of Chicago Presents (UCP) is well poised to satisfy an aficionado’s needs. UCP hosts three concert series per annum, bringing together highly acclaimed soloists and chamber music ensembles in awe-inspiring spaces such as Mandel Hall and Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. With student tickets as low as five dollars, these heavily discounted events are a lot of refined bang for your buck. In terms of practice and performance spaces, Logan Center’s musical facilities stand unrivaled. Logan boasts three music ensemble rehearsal rooms, 20 music practice rooms, one piano teaching studio, and an ambitious Performance Hall. The space fosters musical creativity in a variety of hues, from the much beloved Jazz Series, which offers discounted access to world-renowned jazz artist performances throughout the year, to the Logan Cabaret Series, a student-hosted and student-performed cabaret show each
fortnight. While situated due south of the Midway, the glassy behemoth may be the new “True North” for all ye aspiring musicians-cum-rock stars. A final nod (read: head bang ) to the “alternative” musical wellsprings on and around campus that rock out without RSO funding or a place on the official campus events calendar. Record store by day, music venue by night, Hyde Park Records on East 53rd Street offers students a sample size of Chicago’s rich musical history (and present) without ever leaving UCPD–patrolled areas. On any given day, Dirt Red Brass Band, a traveling New Orleans–style student band, may jazz up your quad-crossing scramble with its signature sound and playful performance style. And for those who like the dirt under the nails just where it is, basement shows featuring local student bands are a regular fixture in the Hyde Park night scene. Just be sure to keep your ears to the ground; it’s rumbling. – Joy Crane A.B. ‘15, updated by Andrew McVea
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STUDENT TICKETS
Available to all current students* cso.org/students CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • RICCARDO MUTI Zell Music Director *Valid student ID required
$5 handling fee applies
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
CHICAGO ART
COURTESY OF THE RENAISSANCE SOCIETY
Before I discovered how to identify individual quad buildings, find Hyde Park’s grocery stores, or go downtown on the bus, it became clear that Chicago art was accessible. I first noticed this because art was everywhere outside, in parks and plazas. Trying to get a hold on public art at the city center, I did a selfguided walking tour of the Loop in the rain, sheltering under the glass canopy above Chagall’s Four Seasons, putting my face near the vibrant mosaic mural. The other large sculptures en route were deserted during the 20-minute storm that day. The tour was free; it was in the community; most important, it was beautiful. Art in Chicago is also financially accessible, thanks to the UChicago Arts Pass, your oneway ticket to all art that isn’t in the public domain. The pass itself is highly convenient to acquire—its your UCID—and it grants free or reduced admission to almost every major Chicago art institution, including theaters, concert halls/auditoriums, screening rooms, and, of course, museums. For what the Arts Pass
doesn’t cover, there’s usually a reduced student ticket price. Begin with local treasures, like the Renaissance Society, the Smart Museum, and The DuSable Museum of African American History. Working outward, the following are very brief guides to several places and events outside of Hyde Park that will take you well into the first part of the year with their abundant offerings. Art Institute of Chicago (AIC): Guarded by two bronze beasts at its South Michigan Avenue entrance, this worldfamous art museum is perhaps as easily recognized by its gorgeous exterior as by the thousands of years’ worth of artistic treasures that lie within. Between rooms filled to burst with Monet, Renoir, Caillebotte, and other celebrities of 19th- and 20thcentury art, the AIC also features collections of Japanese woodblock prints, African-American art, and the Modern Wing, a 2009 renovation that offers a rich collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. Currently on display is Gates of the Lord: The Tradition of Krishna Paintings,
COURTESY OF THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO
the first major U.S. exhibition exploring the visual culture of the Pushtimarg, a Hindu denomination from Western India. Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA): Located a mile and a half north of the Art Institute is Chicago’s own contemporary art museum, which offers several floors worth of post-war art. Here, much more so than at the Art Institute, you will find artwork that pokes and probes at traditional understandings of art. The current lineup includes the show S, M, L, XL, which runs through October 4 and displays sculpture which interacts with the viewer’s space to varying degrees; The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now, which traces the legacy of the AfricanAmerican avant-garde in the ’60s to current art and culture; and Keren Cytter, the first largescale presentation of the artist’s film work in the U.S. National Museum of Mexican Art: Located in Pilsen, Chicago’s own Mexican-American heritage neighborhood and one of the city’s cultural hubs, this small museum boasts a rich, colorful
collection of art that doubles as an educational resource for Mexican history and culture. The permanent collection is organized chronologically, from pre-Columbian times to Chicano resistance art, and is complemented by rotational exhibitions, including works by Frida Kahlo. The annual Día de los Muertos exhibit runs from mid-September to the end of October. The neighborhood is full of authentic Mexican cuisine, fun thrift stores and a handful of private gallery spaces as well. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Fridays: 1st Fridays are held at the MCA for those 21 or older. Geared more toward art as social engagement, this monthly event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and offers complimentary food, live music, and a cash bar. Tickets bought in advance go for around $14, although unfortunately the monthly event is currently on hiatus. For the younger and more broke, 2nd and 3rd Fridays are appealing options. Doors fly open along the blocks comprising the Chicago Arts District in Pilsen from 6 to 10 p.m. on the second Friday of
COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART
each month, signaling the beginning of a night of free galleryhopping and an eyeful of diverse contemporary art; the Fine Arts Building next to Roosevelt University also opens artist studios to the public from 5 to 10 in the evening. 3rd Fridays in the Oak Park Arts District are a similar affair, except with greater emphasis on live music and more dining options. Also keep on your radar the River North district, located immediately north of the Loop. The largest cluster of art galleries outside of Manhattan, River North has hundreds of fine art galleries open to the public, as well as high-end furniture stores, bars, nightclubs, and some of the city’s best restaurants. The city’s art has the power to shape college experience. Being neither an art expert nor a longtime Chicagoan, all I have to pass on are memories: I, too, stood in front of Van Gogh’s painting of his bedroom at Arles in the Art Institute, wondering if here would ever feel like home. – Emma Broder A.B.’15 , updated by MJ Chen
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
WORK IT OUT
ATHLETICS, PHYSICAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL PHUN
AUMER SHUGHOURY
| CHICAGO MAROON
ATHLETICS HISTORY We may no longer be in the Big Ten. And perhaps we aren’t on that list of teams that’s perennially challenging for the DI national championship in some sport or another. But that doesn’t mean the Maroons lack a storied history. In fact, it’s a rich one, in both the distant and the more recent past. Let’s take it from the beginning. The beginning of what, you may ask? How about the Big Ten Conference. Our Maroons were co-founders back in 1896, along with a list of schools whose athletics remain on the national stage to this day. Chicago was a force in the Midwest during the 40 years that Amos Alonzo Stagg coached the football squad (1892–1932). Yes, that’s the same Stagg whose name adorns the trophy awarded to the winner of the Big Ten each year in football, and our very own football field on campus. Stagg led the Maroons to six Big Ten championships (seven if you count the 1922 shared title with Iowa and Michigan). And Stagg’s victories extended beyond his time—the Statue of Liberty play that Boise State used to win the 2007 Fiesta Bowl was partially Stagg’s creation, while coaching here in 1908. The coaching, of course, wasn’t the only exciting element to early 1900s Maroon sports. The players possessed certifiable, DI-level talent, too—which helped Stagg and other coaches look good. One crucial chess piece of his was Jay Berwanger. Berwanger was the first recipient of the Heisman Trophy, still awarded each year to the best player in college football. The halfback was given the honor in 1935, when it was called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy. The next year, they renamed it the Heisman, and that name stuck. For those who doubt that the Maroons could ever reign supreme on the gridiron, Berwanger’s Heisman trophy sits in the middle of the Ratner Athletic Center rotunda. Long before Title IX, female Maroons were putting on a show as well. Between 1898 and 1935, Gertrude Dudley served as director of “physical culture” for women.
She organized multiple female teams and crusaded for more women’s sports at the University. Then, sports seemingly faded into the background. The South Siders left the Big Ten in 1946, after University President Robert Maynard Hutchins decided to eliminate the University’s varsity football team in 1939. We rejoin the South Siders’ highlight reel in 1987, when the Maroons again helped to charter a sports conference. This time, it was the NCAA DIII University Athletic Association, also known as the UAA. Chicago has won 50 UAA championships and participated in NCAA tournament play 66 times. In 2012, the excitement over the women’s basketball team was palpable on campus, as it went undefeated en route to an impressive
showing in the NCAA tournament, where the women fell to Calvin College in the Sweet 16. That same year, the women’s tennis team made it all the way to the national title match, before losing to Williams College. The appearance in the finals was the Maroons’ first in women’s tennis, and the national runner-up trophy was quite a feat. Last year, two Maroons added the distinction of national champion to their—and the school’s—résumés: Michael Bennett in the pole vault and Abby Erdmann in the 200yard butterfly. Other bright spots in recent history include women’s cross country, men’s swimming and diving, and women’s swimming and diving, each of which finished in the top 10 nationally last season. In addition, women’s track and field,
women’s cross country, and volleyball each won the UAA in their respective sports last year. The athletics department is always changing, too. New athletic director Erin McDermott took office last July. The new athletics website that launched last year is the easiest to navigate of any team in the UAA. Stagg might never have dreamed that his coaching record would one day be mentioned on the same page as a female athletic director, and that it’d be a pretty commonplace occurrence at that. That’s the thing about the Maroons: Their history is lively and unique, just sometimes on a smaller scale.
—Sarah Langs A.B. ‘15
SYDNEY COMBS
| CHICAGO MAROON
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
VARSITY ATHLETES
JAMIE MANLEY
The University of Chicago is a better school for sports than any Division I program in the country. Yes, you read that right. Now understand, Chicago does not have the best teams or athletes in the nation. The football team would not last one down against Florida State, and the basketball team would not stay within 30 points of Connecticut.
But here’s the kicker for the Maroons: Every student who attends the University of Chicago has the ability to truly know who he’s rooting for. This O-Week, first-years will undoubtedly enter Ratner Athletics Center to get in a quick run, lift some weights, or even check out the first Heisman Trophy won by Jay Berwanger in 1935. Swiping those students through the turnstile will likely
| CHICAGO MAROON
be four-year Michael Bennett. Bennett won the NCAA Division III Indoor National Title in the pole vault two years ago. The only thing he does better than pole vaulting is talking, and he will be ecstatic to meet new people. As you take your first Sosc class, you might even find second-year Nicholas Chua sitting next to you, discussing Aquinas’s definition of law. Chua won the ITA title in men’s ten-
nis as a first-year. As a Maroon, you may very well meet both of them by the end of your first quarter. Chicago has a tight-knit community, and when you know the people you are rooting for in any sport, the sport doesn’t matter; the relationship does. Chicago provides Maroons with an opportunity to really get to know Maroon athletes. That’s what separates the 1,000-seat stadiums of Chicago from the 100,000-seat stadiums at large state schools. Now don’t get me wrong—the University’s sports feature more than just friendly faces. They display dominance in their own right. Maroons strive for excellence in everything they do: on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Last year Chicago placed 20th in the DIII Directors Cup, which ranks athletic departments by the success of their teams. The Maroons featured a handful of conference champions, a slew of All-Americans, and a boatload of winning programs. As you meet your new housemates and go to your first classes, take a second to appreciate the company. Chicago gathers young men and women who are unique and different but share a passion to achieve excellence, whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or both.
– Isaac Stern A.B. ‘15
CLUB AND INTRAMURAL SPORTS Whether you’re an experienced player or just looking to make friends, UChicago’s diverse slate of intramural and club sports has all your bases covered. Last year, according to Assistant Athletic Director Brian Bock, about 5,500 students, graduate and undergraduate, participated in 32 different intramurals ranging from broomball to football to euchre. Another 1,000 students participated in 41 different club sports. Broomball in particular is an important part of the UChicago brand. During winter quarter, so long as the weather is cold and the ice is firm, students head to the ice rink on the Midway to play a modified version of hockey, with sneakers subbed in for skates, brooms for sticks, and a tiny soccer ball for the puck. And, in the last couple of years, enthusiastic students from the Harry Potter generation have popularized Quidditch, in which players run around with brooms between their legs. Scoring the Quaffle works roughly as it does in the magical variant, whereas Seekers chase a Snitch that’s actually a rubber ball in a sock tucked into a volunteer’s waistband. Soccer, flag football, and basketball are predictably the most popular intramurals, and soccer actually surpassed flag football last year as the most popular intramural. It’s not unusual to see intramural teams where the majority of players have high school experience. The athletics department offers co-ed, men’s, and occasionally women’s leagues for both graduate and undergraduate students. The leagues come with the works: playoffs, referees, and trophies for league champions. For students who like to keep their competition and their physical fitness separate, the University offers leagues in chess, backgammon, and other individual games. “We use the term sports sometimes loosely,” Bock said. “So some people
might not say backgammon, euchre, and spades are sports. But at the University of Chicago, they are.” Another UChicago tradition is midnight soccer, which students organize outside the aegis of the athletics department. Starting first week, teams from different houses come out to play on the Midway Plaisance at around 9 or 10 p.m., with as many players a side as they can handle. The results are a formality more than anything, and the season stretches until the ground freezes over. While intramural sports offer a way for houses to bond and for friends to stay in touch, club sports are social circles unto themselves. The University distinguishes between clubs focused on competition and clubs focused on instruction and recreation. Clubs, like varsity sports, travel to compete against other Midwest schools. But crew, archery, badminton, water polo, climbing, women’s rugby, and men’s ultimate frisbee were the most popular club sports last year, all with about 50 participants. Different club sports attract different sorts. The badminton club is full of international students, many of whom played badminton in their home countries. The men’s volleyball club, on the other hand, leans West Coast, and the triathlon club is full of science majors. Every club, though, has a mix of experienced players and curious newcomers, and most clubs actively seek out new members at the beginning of each year. The slate of 41 club sports is a veritable smorgasbord: There’s squash, g ymnastics, golf, several varieties of martial arts, fencing, cheerleading, lacrosse, handball, and quite a bit more. Club sports are categorically more demanding than intramurals, which, for some students, is a drawback. The crew team, for example, meets before sunrise to practice on the Chicago River during fall and spring quarters. When the river’s
frozen, they meet several times a week for indoor workouts instead. Although the schedules can be grueling, travel is a major plus for members of club sports—the sailing team, for example, has spent a week in France each of the last two years in what its skipper called the “best week of [her] life.” Clubs also have a strong social dimension, both within the University and without. Team members tend to become
friends outside of just their sport, and several sports, like archery, encourage opposing teams to mingle at meets. Sign-ups for intramurals usually happen through houses’ designated intramural rep, via the online registration website IMLeagues.com. Club sports usually have Facebook pages or websites, and tend to advertise at RSO fairs. –Zachary Themer
UCHICAGO LIBRARY
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
CHICAGO PRO SPORTS PRIMER
WIKI COMMONS
I came to Chicago for the sports… didn’t you? As a huge professional sports devotee, the city’s plethora of teams and venues seemed like a dream come true. You could say I’ve spent my last three years here learning sports—through sports, about sports, and channeling what I’ve learned into sports, too. Even if you didn’t come for the same reason, make it a bucket list item for the next four years: Catch a game at each of the city’s professional sports venues. Whether you’re a fan or not, whether you root for the Chicago team’s rival, or you don’t even know how baseball is scored, put it on your schedule. You’ll be glad you did. We are lucky to have two baseball teams, one football team, one hockey team, and one basketball team just a little ways away on public transportation from our campus. Sporting events give us a chance to forget about homework and classes for a few hours, a great bonding experience with our companions, and a time to connect with this city we reside in for nine months of the year. Head up to U.S. Cellular Field sometime in the next two weeks to get a chance to get a chance to take in a dominating pitcher performance from Chris
Sale, or a power-hitting display from Jose Abreu. Or, head out to Sox/35th on the Red Line next spring to see the White Sox improve upon this lackluster season. With several contracts coming off the books this season, the Sox could be primed to return to the playoffs next season on the backs of Sale, Abreu, and so many others. If North Side baseball is more your thing, take the Red Line to Addison. Whether you go in the next few days or wait until next spring, you’ll be treated to Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Kyle Hendricks, and the future of Major League Baseball. Hell, if the Cubs can pull off a couple of upsets in the playoffs in a few weeks, you may just have a chance to take part in the party of the century: A Chicago Cubs World Series victory parade. Baseball games are accessible from campus: Just take the #55 bus to the Red Line, or the #6 to the Red Line downtown if you’re going to Wrigley. Cheap tickets for either squad’s games can be found pretty easily online; plus the dorms often organize group outings with subsidized tickets. As the weather cools off, it’ll start to feel more and more like football season. That means Bears games at Soldier Field. Football is a lot pricier than baseball, but
any of the eight home games would be worth the experience. Situated south of the Loop, you can easily walk to Soldier Field from the first downtown stop on the #6 bus or the Roosevelt Red Line stop. Football is an incredible experience in person, and the indoors of Soldier Field is a sight to behold, especially covered in snow. Dress warmly. For your hockey fix, I’m sure the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks will do the trick. Chicago absolutely comes alive in support of the team when it enters a playoff run. This spring, the dinosaur skeleton outside the Field Museum had on a dinosaur-sized Blackhawks jersey for the duration of their postseason run. Grab a friend, grab a sweater, and head to the Madhouse on Madison. The United Center, as it’s also called, houses the NBA’s Bulls as well. There’s the Green Line to get there, or the #4 bus to the #20. Head out there to see a basketball game. Try to see Derrick Rose. I’ve been trying for three years running, so I wish you the best of luck. Learn the lingo, too. The big names these days are the Blackhawks’ Toews and Keith, the Bulls’ Rose and Noah, the Bears’ Forte and Cutler, the Sox’s Sale, and the Cubs’ Kris Bryant, and the afore-
mentioned Soler and Baez. The great thing about sports in Chicago is that, despite the Billy Goat curse, these teams seem to always make it interesting. This past season, the Blackhawks made a stunning run to the Stanley Cup Finals and captured their third championship this decade. It was electric. Take advantage of any game you’re given. One of the things that makes sports captivating is that even the most harmless or smallstorylined of games can become epic. Outdoors game at Soldier Field with sub-zero temperatures projected? Go anyway. Game Seven between two teams you don’t care strongly about? Go anyway. Free tickets to the Sox when it’s clear they’ll be bottom feeders this season and rain is predicted? Go anyway. Chicago’s sporting field is wide, so do yourself a favor and be a sports fanatic. You don’t have to be a White Sox, Cubs, Blackhawks, Bulls, or Bears fan. In fact, you can be the opposite. All you have to do is be willing to sit through three hours—an afternoon unlike any you’ll find on campus.
– Sarah Langs, updated by Zachery Themer
FUNCTIONAL FITNESS In Parks and Recreation, Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle set aside one day of the year called Treat Yo Self. It’s what it sounds like: Treat yourself to everything—clothes, treat yo self; fragrances, treat yo self; massages, treat yo self; mimosas, treat yo self; fine leather goods, treat yo self. Here at UChicago, you can treat yo self any day of the year. Campus abounds with wellness and alternative health initiatives to help you manage stress and feel good while getting a workout. Of course, there are intramural sports and club teams, but for those who prefer to get their exercise in more creative ways, UChicago is the place to be. For those who are into yoga, you have options on and around campus. Ratner Athletics Center holds drop-in and registered classes every quarter. Or if you’re looking for a nicer view, consider showing up for restorative yoga in Rockefeller Chapel, which is held twice a week in the early evening. The class is aimed at relaxing you, and Meredith Haggerty, who leads the program, will often give you a few dabs of essential oil at the end of the class to soothe your stressed-out soul.
Yoga addicts who want their daily fix can consider CorePower Yoga on East 53rd Street and South Lake Park Avenue, where a membership will give you access to hot yoga classes. Your sweat will probably freeze on the long trek back to campus, but hey, isn’t that something you’ve always wanted to experience? Closer to campus, you’ll find that Ratner runs two fitness programs. FitChicago offers commitment-free, drop-in classes that are open to everyone in the community. Classes range from cardio kickboxing to zumba and 15-minute ab workouts. Phoenix Fitness requires registration at the beginning of each quarter and provides a more structured routine for those who need the motivation. These classes generally provide instruction for activities that require more specialized skills, like ballroom dancing and golf. If making friends is your prerogative, several RSOs also provide alternatives to the traditional workout. To get out of Hyde Park or even the Midwest, join the Outdoor Adventure Club, which holds outings to go kayaking, rock climbing, backpacking, slacklining, camping, and beyond. In the past,
the OAC has gone kayaking on the Chicago River and taken weeklong backpacking trips during spring break. If its activities do not fit your schedule, you can also rent camping gear from the group for a small fee and go on your own time. Le Vorris & Vox Circus is an RSO that will teach you everything from unicycling and stilts walking to aerials and acrobatics. It meets three times a week and puts on shows and workshops open to the public. Or perhaps you’re looking to impart wellness on the masses. Stressbusters is a program that trains students in proper massaging technique and deploys them to relax the muscles of the masses on Wednesdays in the Reynolds Club. The athletics department also offers a CPR/AED/first aid class through its Phoenix Fitness program to certify students. The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that when the intellectual life inevitably gets tough, there are many ways to get out of it. So I’ve got three words for you: Treat. Yo. Self.
– Kristin Lin
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
GET SCHOOLED
JAMIE MANLEY
| CHICAGO MAROON
PROFESSORS AND GRAD STUDENTS Can you spot the difference?
Professors have always played a large and critical role in the academic careers of every UChicago student, and for a very good reason. They’re often known to do extraordinary things, whether that be conducting groundbreaking research, consulting the country’s many policymakers, publishing countless books within their fields, or even getting elected the president of the United States. But in the meantime, they also manage to educate and inspire students to pursue their academic passions on a daily basis. While the University boasts a large list of world-famous faculty, it’s important to consider other factors when selecting classes and professors in order to get the most out of every course. Here’s a quick guide to dealing with University professors and teaching assistants (TA’s): Office Hours Attending office hours is an excellent way to develop meaningful relationships with professors, especially in large lecture classes where a professor may never be able to learn your name otherwise. You can ask questions you might have been too afraid to ask in class, go over assignments, talk through ideas and outlines for a paper, go over missed exam questions, or discuss a difficult homework assignment. Professors are required to set aside time specifically devoted to meeting with their students, so it’s a great idea to take advantage of the opportunity to further your educational experiences in the class. Even if you don’t need help with anything specific, office hours are a chance for the professor to appreciate that you are paying attention to the material and have an interest in the course. Course Evaluations Course evaluations are a great way to learn about the class offerings every quarter and read reviews left by students who have previously taken the class. However, it’s important to remember that evaluations often suffer from response bias: Students who loved the class are inclined to respond with an outstanding
review of the professor, and students who absolutely hated the class will write a scathing diatribe defiling the professor. In order to avoid the pitfalls of inconsistent evaluations, it helps to try out different sections of the course during the first week of the quarter, especially for Hum, Sosc, and Civ classes and other discussion-based courses. Some professors are extremely adept at facilitating discussion, while others can struggle to get everyone talking. The only way to truly determine what professor’s class will work best for you is to experience each class first hand. Barring the ability to acquire a time-turner and go to overlapping sections, if everyone in a class evaluated it similarly, that’s a good bet—and if you’re on the fence, all-around positive evaluations can help tip the scales toward a topic you might not have tried otherwise. Inexperienced vs. Experienced Professors You might not get to take a class with that world-renowned professor right off the bat. But fear not: Younger professors often tend to provide an equally enriching experience as their older faculty members. They can provide fresh, new insights on age-old texts and concepts, which can make for interesting discussion sections. Young professors often possess a huge level of enthusiasm for their academic interests and generally have more time to devote to their students, as they have fewer side projects and appointments. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re usually much closer in age to undergraduate students, often making it less intimidating to engage in conversations about the material, ask questions, or attend office hours. Distinguishing between Professors and TAs It’s important to understand the distinction between the various teachers you may come across in your academic experiences on campus, whether they are graduate students working as a TA or leading a writing workshop, or
tenured professors who may have more teaching experience than you can imagine! Graduate students Graduate students are a diverse bunch who have one thing in common: their pursuit of a master, doctoral, or professional degree. A group of over 9,000 students spanning five divisions and six professional schools, they are on campus for an average of five to seven years to take classes, conduct research, and write their dissertations. Given their long stays on campus, graduate students contribute a significant amount to undergraduate life, whether by being the resident head in your dorm or your neighbor in an apartment complex, a TA critiquing your Hum paper or working in research, an instructor teaching a full class or a classmate no different than yourself. At UChicago, graduate students enrolled in doctoral programs are guaranteed funding, issued through quarterly stipends that are used to cover rent and other costs of living. Graduate students even have their own union, Graduate Students United (GSU), which acts as a voice for the graduate student body and lobbies for their rights. Started in 2007, GSU has successfully doubled the pay for TAs and called for more affordable health care and child care for graduate students. Faculty The University has 2,190 full-time faculty who conduct research, teach, and contribute to decision-making on campus. Faculty are divided into four categories that vary based on factors like length of appointment and experience. The distinctions are as follows: Instructors are hired by the University on a one-year or two-year basis and do not necessarily have a doctorate. Collegiate assistant professors are appointed for four years at a time. You might want to watch for the Harper-Schmidt fellows, who are hired as Collegiate assistant professors to teach Core courses in the humanities, social sciences, and Western civilization. Because SYDNEY COMBS
| CHICAGO MAROON
the fellowship is highly selective and is tailored specifically toward enriching the Core Curriculum, Harper-Schmidt Fellows tend to be excellent instructors—or, at least, receive rave evaluations. A word of advice: When choosing Core courses, bid for the ones that they teach. You’ll get more out of reading evaluations than you will out of some class readings. The tenure track comprises three types of professors. Assistant professors serve for a renewable term of either three or four years for a total of no more than seven, at the end of which they are considered for tenure. Associate professors and professors have received tenure, which means that they are guaranteed their position at the University for an indefinite period of time. As an academic community, the University puts great care into ensuring that its faculty have the power to shape the environment in which they work. These decisions are made through the University Senate, which is composed of tenure-track professors, along with the president, provost, and vice presidents of the University. According to the University’s bylaws, the University Senate is charged with “all advisory, legislative, and administrative powers in the University concerning its education work, except those vested in the president by the Board of Trustees.” The University Senate meets once a year to discuss “matters of University interest,” whatever that means. The Council of the University Senate, a subset of 51 members of the senate, consists of the president and provost, along with 49 elected members of the senate. The council meets at least once a quarter. - Marta Bakula and Kristin Lin, with additional reporting by Marina Fang
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
LIBRARIES Study â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til you drop
Take a group of friends to the Reg to hang out on the first floor and procrastinate the night away, or go to Eckhart and wipe out some problem sets solo: The libraries are versatile and mutable, and how you perceive them depends on how you use them. Regenstein Upon your first visit to UChicago, the first library youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice is the imposing Regenstein Library, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Reg.â&#x20AC;? Notable for its location on the site of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former football stadium, Stagg Field, the symbolism is not lost on students or administrators, most of whom recognize the Regâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance as the de facto hub of University activity. On any given day, one can see the Reg populated by economics study groups in the A-Level, coffee-addled writers with a looming deadline, and idle students who pretend to work but just want a place to chill. Tables are arranged throughout the seven floors (nowhere quite as concentrated as the interconnected second and third floors) but for those seeking comfort and possibly a quick nap, a better bet might be the couches arranged near the windows. Those interested in privacy should take solace in the equally widespread cubicles that are interspersed on almost all floors. The Reg might not be known for its positive, chilled-out vibes or the niche that it serves, but it instead makes its presence known through sheer scope and widespread usefulness. Whatever your needs are, they can most likely be served in some fashion by the Regâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive collection.
Mansueto Just a short hallway away, the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library offers a new study experience. Rows of desks with charging outlets fill the domed structure, and the extreme silence that pervades the area makes it clear that this is an exclusively study-oriented space. Mansueto is so quiet that even the sounds of students packing up and leaving often draw restless looks from the other patrons, sneezes or coughs prompting death stares. The flipside to this, of course, is that this is one of the prime studying areas on campus: free of distractions, home to an underground 3.5 millionâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;book storage area that is OPERATED BY A ROBOT, and still within short walking distance of dining commons. Several movies, TV shows, and ad campaigns have been filmed in Mansueto since it opened in 2011.
selfiesâ&#x20AC;? and Facebook chats across tables common distractions from the day-to-day studying. This, along with the inviting decoration and wood furnishings, makes Harper one of the most appealing places to work. The hours also promote long-term visits, with the library open all day from Sunday mornings to Friday afternoons, giving visitors a reliable location for allnighters.
Arley D. Cathey Learning Center Despite its clinical-sounding name, which it only got this past school year, Cathey, more commonly known as Harper, is one of the most relaxed and homey studying areas in the University. Found right next to the Common Knowledge CafĂŠ, the former Harper Reading Room has comfortable seating, placement close to classrooms, and plentiful electrical outlets. On any given night, the space will be filled with students either finishing up their papers or succumbing to the sleeping surface that couches on either side of the area offer. The quiet façade in Harper disguises a vibrant social atmosphere, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Harper
Crerar Your first visit to Crerar, the science library, might be a bit of a bait-and-switch: The building looks relatively unassuming, and even peering inside doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t indicate anything abnormal about the space, but once you step inside you realize that this is, without a doubt, the quietest study space on campus. In addition, the resources here are immense. The halls contain 1.4 million volumes, and the size of the library itself means that there is plenty of room to spread out and find a place to make your own. Feel free to study here if you like your mind to be absolutely undisturbed, or find a quiet spot and relax if you prefer; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unlikely youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be interrupted.
Eckhart Found in Eckhart Hall, home to the Department of Mathematics, Eckhart Library is home to, as might be guessed, math volumes and textbooks. However, despite the dry, precise space that these facts might imply, Eckhart gives off a stylish aura, with as much attention paid to artful, aesthetically pleasing design as to ergonomics and effective study space.
Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angelo Law Library If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a change of pace, a way to get some space and an area away from most of the undergraduate population, the Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angelo Law Library might be right for you. As an undergraduate student, you will see few friends or classmates, but the professional ambience is well worth it for some. The most like an office building of all the libraries, the Law Library nevertheless attracts its fair share of students looking for an alternative to the Regenstein-Mansueto-Harper trifecta. For the film buffs out there, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angelo also has one of the more comprehensive DVD collections in the school, with selections like The Wire and The Godfather available, in contrast with the more academic selections that might be found in other libraries. SSA Last but definitely not least, found right near South Campus housing and BurtonJudson, the Social Services Administration Library is a comfortable, fun library, somewhat understated when looked at in comparison to behemoths like the Reg. Couches are spread throughout, and a relaxed vibe permeates the space. This library might be the one least visited by undergraduates, but it still acts as a valuable foil to the imposing atmosphere of some of the other libraries. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Austin Brown
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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BOOKSTORES Shop ‘til you drop
in depth and height, with four sprawling stories and no shortage of nooks, crannies, and bends with books stuffed into them. The store has some pretty strict regulations—no phones, no photography, and leave all bags at the front desk if you want to explore the upper or lower levels. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Myopic has an antique rather than intimidating feel, more like a collection than a typical bookstore. The floor-toceiling shelves evoke a roof literally held up by books, and if you climb all the way up to the open gallery area on the top floor, the only space not crammed with tomes of literature, you can enjoy the semi-weekly series of readings and occasional poets’ talks and live music.
SYDNEY COMBS
| CHICAGO MAROON
While the Regenstein Library holds over 8 million volumes of books for students to borrow, it can’t always beat the excitement of scouring a bookstore in search of some new reading material to add to your own ever-growing book collection. Luckily, Hyde Park and rest of Chicago are full of various, easily accessible bookstores for those days when you want to read something besides your notes from class. Each bookstore has its own history and distinct merchandise, and they’re all worth a visit, whether you’re looking to pick up textbooks for class, a UChicago sweatshirt, or an inexpensive book for those (rare) days where you might have some downtime! 57th Street Books Nestled away into a quaint basement, 57th Street Books is located on East 57th Street, just a few steps away from the Med and Z&H. The small awning outside boasts a shingled roof and a mossy exterior, lit by a single light bulb. Further, you have to venture down a number of stairs to enter the bookstore, giving the impression of entering an underground cave. Inside, the store is reminiscent of a treehouse, lined with books and various nooks in which to sit and leaf through a large selection of reading materials. The rooms are arranged by subject, with a directory in the front. Staff recommendations are taped to almost every shelf, giving a brief summary and personal thoughts on a particular book or series; these are especially helpful for the times that you might walk in without a particular book in mind. A nice selection of postcards, stationery, and notebooks are in the front room, as is a diverse offering of magazines, journals, and short story collections. Because of its small size, 57th Street Books has an intimate neighborhood feeling to it (Obama’s been spotted there) that attracts University students and Hyde Park locals alike. 1301 E. 57th Street. Powell’s Bookstore Powell’s Bookstore features two locations in Chicago; the one closer
to campus is located halfway between University Avenue and the Point. This Hyde Park staple takes up a large storefront on 57th Street and boasts an incredibly dense selection of books, both new and old. Be sure to take advantage of the almost omnipresent cardboard box of free books outside of the store, containing free novels, anthologies, and much more. The best part is that Powell’s sells its books far below full price, usually just a couple of dollars. As it is a used bookstore, the selection is far more varied than your usual Barnes & Noble, with cool finds like British editions of Harry Potter, an entire basement section dedicated to biographies of Jack the Ripper, and copies of a book titled Chasing Vermeer, in which Powell’s serves as the story’s backdrop. It’s easy to wander aimlessly between the stacks (some of which reach all the way up to the ceiling) for hours, but for those times where you’re looking for a particular book, it’s good to have an idea of where various genres are located within the store. Fiction is right ahead when you walk through the door, foreign language is downstairs, and an amazing selection of antique books is located in the depths of the basement. Powell’s also has a great selection of books in virtually every academic discipline, so it’s worth a visit when picking up course materials. 1501 E. 57th Street University of Chicago Bookstore This is the first bookstore that students tend to visit when they arrive on campus, and with good reason. Conveniently located on Ellis Avenue, just across from the main quad, the University bookstore is the best place to purchase your maroon sweatshirt to display collegiate pride. The store offers every type of UChicago-emblazoned paraphernalia possible, in addition to multiple tables displaying stacks of alumni- and faculty-authored works. Forgot your headphones at home? Too much luggage to bring your collection of multicolored highlighters? No worries—the campus bookstore
has all the school supplies a student could possibly need, often imprinted with the UChicago logo, from notebooks to mugs to computer programs. It also has a huge selection of class textbooks upstairs, making it a hotspot during the first few days of every quarter. As a Barnes and Noble location, it features a standard selection of classic and best-selling novels alike, along with a Starbucks on location to keep students well caffeinated between classes. 970 E. 58th Street. Seminary Co-Op The Seminary Co-Op has been on the Hyde Park bookstore scene for a while, but has only been at its newest location for the past two years. It’s currently located at East 58th Street and South Woodlawn Avenue, right next to the historic Robie House. The Co-Op is member-owned, with around 53,000 shareholders that you can choose to join as a student. In return for a $30 membership, you will start getting a 10 percent credit from each purchase (after an initial $100 spent) at the Co-Op, the 57th Street Books, and the Newberry Library Bookstore downtown. Each July, your accumulated credits will be given to you in certificate form,
SYDNEY COMBS
| CHICAGO MAROON
to redeem within the next year. The Seminary Co-Op is a popular location for students to purchase course books, located in the basement, and to sit down and peruse literary works ranging from biographies on modern political powerhouses to introductory guides to ancient medicine—comfortable reclining chairs are located next to huge, bright windows. Finding the perfect academic read at the Co-Op is not a problem; the bookstore stocks the largest selection of academic volumes in the United States throughout its extensive maze of shelves across two floors. Also located in the same building, the Plein Air Café is a tasty, albeit pricey, place to enjoy a pastry and latte after you’ve browsed through the Co-Op. 5751 S. Woodlawn Avenue. Myopic Books Although this particular bookstore is slightly farther from campus, it’s still worth a visit for its massive selection of used books and trendy atmosphere. A quick CTA ride to Wicker Park will get you to Myopic Books, one of the largest and most historic bookstores in Chicago. Though the storefront looks small in width, the inside of this unique space is gigantic
Quimby’s Another Wicker Park favorite, Quimby’s is a smaller and more eclectic bookstore than Myopic Books. It favors “independently published and small press books, comics, zines, and ephemera.” Walking in can be a little overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking and even more overwhelming if you do, because the majority of the store’s contents are small, hand-produced booklets brought in by artists and authors on consignment. These “zines,” range in topic from radical parenting to trans oral history projects to anarchy and politics to minicomics to chapbooks produced by Chicago middle schoolers. Toward the back, you can find the sale section on an elevated platform, and near the cash register, there are “grab bags” for purchase, where one can acquire 10 randomly selected art periodicals for $2.50. Quimby’s does offer some common commercially available books, but a limited selection, usually, “stuff that deals with topics that in some way relate to outer limits, carnies, freaks, conspiracy theory, lowbrow art, miscreants, mayhem, that kind of stuff.” Quimby’s mascot is Quimby the Mouse and their venue is the location for many monthly literary events, featured on the events section of their highly informative and user-friendly website. –Marta Bakula, with additoianl reporting by Emma Broder and Kiran Misra
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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THE CORE
For two years, your bookshelf full of the Western canon... For life, you, full of critical thought? School is sort of a big deal over here. While our noses aren’t always buried in some dense reading as we trod to the Reg, our collective effervescence for all things academic is still quite present on campus. It is laced into our vocabularies by the end of the first quarter (“collective effervescence”), soaked into our subconscious by the third. We have the Core to thank for much of this. Yet the Core means different things to different people. For some, it is the Michelle to their Destiny’s Child, the awkward third of an otherwise glamorous experience. For others, the Core will spark interest in a new major or previously underappreciated discipline. Regardless of your own slant, choosing the classes of best fit for you, not the friends you just met in your house, will help you wring the most from your experience. All first-years are required to take Hum (pronounced “Hume”), which delves into the philosophy and literature foundational to (primarily) Western thought. A cornerstone of the Core, Hum can offer you access to different collections of literary
and philosophical thought, depending on the class you choose. Take something more traditional like Human Being and Citizen, and you will spend at least two quarters reading the great books, from Homer’s Iliad to Aristotle’s Nicomachaean Ethics and Dante’s Inferno. Readings in World Literature, on the other hand, ventures beyond the Western canon with works like the Mahabharata. Some of you will choose to tackle the three-quarter Social Sciences (“Sosc,” pronounced “Sosh”) sequence during your first year. Credit ambiguously named classes like “Power, Identity, and Resistance” and “Self, Culture, and Society” for all those Arendt, Durkheim, and Smith references you will probably make after taking them. Sosc allows you to delve into the history of political philosophy or, even better, learn how to develop social and political theories of your own. Considered a more “practical” option for the Core, Social Science Inquiry gives you the foundation to carry out your own social science research, while Mind allows you to circumvent the classics for psychology articles galore. In addition to Hum, the Core has both
Art and Civilizations (“Civ”) requirements. You must take six quarters among these three disciplines, with no less than one quarter in each. Choose from the likes of the theoretical (art history, music theory) and the hands-on (drawing, theater) for the art portion of your core. But beware: Because of the small class sizes and high demand, core art classes become increasingly difficult to nab as you progress through your four years. Bid early, bid often. For Civ, it is (not surprisingly) a popular option to enroll in a study abroad program and spend one quarter frolicking around cities such as Barcelona, Istanbul, Beijing, and Oaxaca—although the new Gender Studies Civ could be equally uncharted territory. While not every Civ abroad has a language prerequisite, you will have to learn a foreign language as part of the Core—the completion of an introductory sequence, or its equivalent in test credit. The math and science portion of the Core requires six quarters, with a minimum of two quarters each in natural sciences, physical sciences, and math. A general Core Bio course, the natural sciences
staple, is paired with a bio topic of your choice (though the Nutrition sequence can serve as an alternative); physical sciences classes will have you studying astronomy, global warming, and natural hazards if you want to avoid chemistry or physics; and for those allergic to calculus, fear not! Statistics and computer science are both accepted for your math requirement. A.P. or I.B. credit can waive many of these classes. When it comes down to it, the Core is your introduction to the Life of the Mind in practice. There will be times when you are up at the witching hour, cursing your past self, thinking “What sequence of events brought me to this terrible pit of ennui?” To that existential question, not a single one of the people you will read will bear an answer. Well, except for Marx and his theory of alienation. And maybe Freud—yeah, I could see that. And in a twisted way, this is the Core at its finest: tediously, sometimes even painfully, gifting you an invaluable, fluid way of looking at the world. –Kristin Lin
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
Siebel Scholars Class of 2016 The Siebel Scholars program recognizes the most talented graduate students in business, computer science, bioengineering, and energy science. Each year, 93 are named Siebel Scholars based on academic excellence and leadership and join an active, lifelong community among an ever-growing group of leaders. We are pleased to recognize this year’s Siebel Scholars.
BIOENGINEERING
BUSINESS
COMPUTER SCIENCE
ENERGY SCIENCE
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY WHITING SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Sebastian Barreto Ortiz Hao Dang Shadi Eshghi David Herzfeld Dong Shin
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Shawn Basak Stephanie Moore Marvin Palavicini Arce Shahrukh Raheem Federico Weis
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE John Dickerson Rohit Girdhar Po-Yao Huang Jeffrey Rzeszotarski Xun Zheng
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE Matt Wytock
HARVARD JOHN A. PAULSON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES Hsieh-Chung Chen Svilen Kanev Scott Linderman Scott Moore Bo Waggoner
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Morgan Edwards
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Hsin-Yu Lai Alvaro Morales Sirma Orguc Wei Ouyang Dogyoon Song
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE Xinwo Huang
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Vivian Hecht Deepak Mishra Marcus Parrish Sarah Schrier Alice Tzeng
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Alizeh Gangji Shane Parkhill Rohan Rajiv Scott Stewart Mitchell Vainshtein
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Nathaniel Cira Derek Macklin Melina Mathur Carmichael Ong Liva Zarnescu
STANFORD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Ibrahim Alsuwaidi Dorian Bertsch Michael Ding Mike Mester Sarah Wang
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Malav Desai Kathryn Fink Kunwoo Lee Anusuya Ramasubramanian Zachary Russ
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Max Cohen Yevgeniya Kaliberova Bradley Powell Alon Shiran Boone Williams
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO JACOBS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Amay Bandodkar Brian Luk Douglas McCloskey Seth Parker Elaine Skowronski
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE Shivam Agarwal Ankit Garg Xin Jin Shilpa Nadimpalli Rajesh Ranganath
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE GRADUATE SCHOOL Benjamin Heymann
POLITECNICO DI TORINO DOCTORAL SCHOOL Federico de Bosio
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Ranjit Deshmukh UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Karl Reinhard
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Giovanni Campagna Vivek Jain Matthew Pick Jordan Rabet Lili Yang TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Shuo Chen Zhanpeng Fang Jian He Xin Li Tian Tian UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Siyuan He Erik Krogen Nathaniel Mailoa UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Oreoluwa Alebiosu Pedro Bello-Maldonado Avesta Hojjati Tarique Siddiqui Shashank Yaduvanshi
www.SiebelScholars.com
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
MAJORS Choose one, or two, or even three!
SYDNEY COMBS
UChicago offers 51 majors, 33 minors, and seemingly infinite combinations of concentrations to its coterie of knowledge-hungry undergrads. To be exact, that is 100 percent satiation for an academic appetite. On the surface, choosing a major at UChicago is a relatively straightforward task: take a few classes based on personal and/or professional interest to test the waters, and simply declare by spring of third year. This generally just entails submitting an online request and, if you want to avoid a prodding e-mail, informing your College adviser. Every major, of course, has its own
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rules—certain programs have more stringent prerequisites that need to be fulfilled before declaring, while others require an application for admission. A major may comprise only 11 courses (Law, Letters, and Society) or it may require 19 (biochemistry)— and the numbers may even differ depending on the area of specialization within the same major. Minors usually require about half as many credits. Thus, it is probably prudent to take a quick glance at what potential majors might require of you, but you’ve probably already done that. Many students nonetheless arrive at the University without a clue as to
what their major will be. And that’s perfectly fine; you have so much time to figure it out. Everyone will tell you that. And yet, you still might find yourself envying the lucky few who come in on the first day knowing for sure they want to do econ. Knowing they want to do econ/math. Knowing they want to do econ/comp sci. Knowing they want to do econ/ math/CompSci. Speaking of, two things: First, there are a lot of economics majors on campus. Perhaps due to the deservedly famed reputation of the department, which prompts adages like, “You can’t come to UChicago and NOT do econ,” or perhaps due to the odd association between the econ major and future financial success for those aspiring Patrick Bateman types. Based on the most recent quantitative data released by the registrar, out of 5,334 enrolled College students, there were 840 official econ majors as of spring 2013. The second and third most popular majors were biological sciences (481 students), and political science (406 students). The least popular majors currently are Jewish studies and South Asian studies, with two students each. Second, a favorite UChicago pastime is majoring in twos and threes. Many students decide to double major every year, and the University’s official spiel on this tradition is that, professionally speaking, it usually does not make a difference. An even smaller collegiate clique opts to try their hands at the masochistic rigors
of a triple major, and often finds it to be a Sisyphean, but happy, struggle. As of the spring of 2013, 1,072 students had officially declared a double major, while 54 declared a triple. Of course, this also wouldn’t be UChicago without the smattering of idiosyncratic, and interdisciplinary majors offered by the New Collegiate Division. For instance, Fundamentals: Issues and Texts majors seek to answer one deceptively basic question (for example, “How does one love?” or “What is desperation?”) by focusing intensely on a few chosen texts, hence the name. The required introductory course could cover many works of one author, or focus on a single book, most of which are read an excruciating (but theoretically rewarding) minimum of three times. Law, Letters, and Society is also an interdisciplinary major and draws heavily from the political science, history, philosophy, and sociology departments, among others. All second-years who have been admitted into the major are required to take an introductory class, “Legal Reasoning,” taught by famed professor and program director Dennis Hutchinson during the fall. Both fundamentals and Law, Letters, and Society require non-binding applications during spring quarter of your first year. In addition, there is a major with a winning name and even more impressive interdisciplinary attitude: HIPS (History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine). All HIPSters must cultivate a foun-
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dational knowledge of the natural sciences, and then immerse themselves in such topics as the history of medicine, and its social, psychological, and philosophical ramifications. Students who are on an exceptionally set path can pursue a joint degree program or professional option to really milk the benefits of their UChicago experience. The University offers four-year joint Bachelor’s/Master’s programs in humanities, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, international relations, and most recently, computer science. You also have the option to begin professional studies at the Harris School of Public Policy or the Pritzker School of Medicine during your fourth year through the professional option in public policy studies and the ultracompetitive professional option in medicine programs. The School of Social Service Administration has a five-year A.B./A.M. program. If it’s any consolation, changing your mind is a very common part of the broader process of finding yourself during college. This sudden indecision where once there was a fervent desire to be a physics, philosophy, or English major may be brought on by a multitude of factors (for example, the Core curriculum, bitterly cold weather, the pitfalls of organic chemistry, actual philosophy classes, to name a few) but it’s certainly nothing to worry about. –Stephanie Xiao
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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MANAGING MONEY Money makes the world go around For many students, managing a tight budget or dealing with stressful financial circumstances isn’t a reality that sets in after college—it’s a fact of undergraduate life. The good news is that if you know where to look, free assistance and social support networks are increasingly available on campus to help you deal with financial hardship. Financial Assistance: Grants and Funding There are a variety of grants available to support you in your time at the College. The University has an emergency loan policy in case of sudden and unavoidable changes to your finances, and the Financial Aid Office can handle any concerns you may have about being unable to manage payments. The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) provides grants that can assist with the costs of study abroad, and the University’s study abroad website provides many
more. Career Advancement is also a great provider of free resources that can help you make the best of your education and prepare for whatever comes next—they offer employment counseling appointments, networking opportunities, and professional training services available free of charge, things that are hard to find for free or cheap elsewhere. If your financial situation becomes a problem, there are people who can get you financial assistance when you’re in a bind. According to Jacqueline Gaines, the director of College Academic Support Services, the first person to go to in case of emergency should be your College adviser. Gaines says that advisers “are well suited to put the students in touch with the resources that best meet the student’s needs,” and also “can help advocate for students as their needs change over the course of their time at the College.” Your adviser can
access your financial aid information, get a sense of what services might be most useful to you, and direct you accordingly. If you’re not sure where to go for a first step, go to your adviser. If you know that your concerns are isolated to financial aid, it’s a good idea to contact the office directly. The Office of College Aid has a phone line where students can ask questions about their financial aid or changes to their aid, and there are also in-person counseling services available. If you want clarification on your situation, go straight to the source, and ask for help—they’re ready for you. Practical Concerns: Tips for Everyday While there are plenty of resources that help you figure out tuition questions, there are also plenty more that help you balance other budgets. Whether it’s paying for Saturday dinners (dining
halls are closed Saturdays after 2:30 p.m.) or for house trips, there are continuous small-scale challenges when it comes to funding student life. According to the Socioeconomic Diversity Alliance (SDA) at UChicago (which aims to support low-income students, first-generation students, and those at the intersections), OMSA is a particularly useful resource when it comes to everyday practicalities, providing free laptops to borrow (in addition to those offered at the Reg, which are also free) and copies of books on loan for some core classes. Additionally, the SDA has put together a resource guide that gives students detailed information aimed at helping them navigate various costs of life in housing (this guide is available in hard-copy form at OMSA). Social Networks: Community and Support Practical and large-scale finan-
cial considerations may not be the only barriers for you if you’re facing financial difficulty—oftentimes, students managing an emergency or tight budget are likely to feel socially isolated. SDA perhaps best exemplifies the trend toward a growing support network on campus for low-income and/or first-generation students, as well as for students experiencing financial emergencies. Attend events, discussions, or groups aimed at fostering an environment of inclusion if that’s your cup of tea, while also bearing in mind that more private support is available through a financial aid counselor, your adviser, or the Student Counseling Service. The most important thing is to reach out somewhere if you’re feeling trapped or unsure—no student deserves to have financial worry eclipse his or her potential for wellbeing and success. –Emma Thurber Stone A.B. ’15
STUDY ABROAD In case the third-largest city in America feels too small for you Just as you thought you have settled into your new home, you’ll want to pack up and leave again—only this time, you’ll take UChicago with you. With the multitude of study abroad programs available at the University of Chicago, there’s a strong possibility that you may want to delve into one of them. Whether that means bicycling through Paris or walking through a village in Delhi, you will definitely experience the “life of the mind” while embarking on an unforgettable trip that will enhance your knowledge. Before applying, it is best to decide whether you want to take a class that is a part of the Core requirement or another class that is probably a requirement for a major or minor track. Many students, for example, take a quarter of a civilization course abroad, and this course would meet the entire civilization requirement for the Core. Others choose to immerse themselves in a new language by traveling to the country where it is most commonly spoken. To help you decide which route you want to travel, it is critical to consider all of the different types of programs the University offers.
International Centers The University of Chicago hosts a variety of programs all over the world. The cornerstones of these programs are Paris, Beijing, Dehli, and Hong Kong, where UChicago centers for teaching and research are found. These centers offer programs that cover languages, civilization requirements, science, mathematics, and courses in the humanities and social sciences. Not every center offers all of these subjects, but the ones that they do offer establish important relationships between the University and that city’s culture and traditions. While the center in Paris offers the most options, the subjects that are offered in other countries will give each student a deep understanding of that city’s environment, as well as the country that surrounds it. Civilizations Programs These UChicago faculty-led programs can be used to satisfy the entire civilization requirement. They combine three quarters of civilization classes into one quarter abroad, in which students focus on fulfilling this requirement while also taking a language class in order to immerse themselves fully into the country and its culture. This year, there are 15 civilizations programs
being offered, in 12 cities. Fourth-year Matthew Goldenberg said that his trip to Barcelona last spring allowed him to improve his language speaking skills and to appreciate different cultures. “It was my first time traveling to a Spanish-speaking country despite having studied the language since grade eight. The opportunity to immerse myself in the language and culture for two months was very valuable as my language skills greatly improved,” Goldenberg said. “Studying the history of the region in a formal way gave me a greater appreciation of the culture I was experiencing. I also had the opportunity to travel around Catalonia and get to know the region beyond the city.” Thematic Programs These programs are all led by UChicago faculty and cover a wide variety of academic interests outside of the civilizations programs. While some programs, such as a humanities program in Paris, fulfill the art/music/ drama Core requirement, others are geared toward satisfying core requirements in the biological sciences, the physical sciences, or the social sciences. Finally, there are also programs geared toward specific majors and minors. In total, the University offers over almost
a dozen of these programs in various cities across four continents. Fourth-year Joshua Harris said that his study abroad experience enabled him to enjoy his passion for the arts. “I had the time of my life studying English literature in the heart of London as part of the University’s British literature program. In the classroom, we studied renaissance poetry and the black Londoner literatures (writings of the British colonial protectorates in the Caribbean) but on my own and with friends. On the program, I had the opportunity to explore my loves, music and theatre. I saw some of the most amazing productions in London’s west end, as well as a Van Morrison show in a small club—neither of which I am soon to forget,” Harris said. British/Irish Partner Institutions The University is also partnered with eight institutions in the United Kingdom, all of which, except for the London School of Economics, offer an eclectic mix of courses. The other universities are The University of Bristol, The University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, St. Catherine’s College (Oxford), Trinity College (Cambridge and Dublin), and
University College London. Each location packed with its own ambiance, culture, and history. As for expenses, the costs to study abroad are generally the same as tuition on campus, but with an added non-refundable study abroad administrative fee and a program fee set by the College. The program fees include housing and subsidized transportation and instructional costs. The College also awards students with grants for intensive language studies and research, so this is a great opportunity for all budding linguists! You might still be overwhelmed at the amount of possibilities that you have been exposed to, but attending informational meetings and getting other students’ opinions are also great ways to help narrow your options down. General informational meetings for all study abroad programs will be offered throughout fall quarter and posted on the Study Abroad website. No matter where you decide to apply, your experience will strengthen you as a person and expose you to an amazing immersive experience, full of great food, new friends, and unforgettable memories. So apply today and get packing—the world awaits you! –Cairo Lewis
SYDNEY COMBS
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, October 15 Pick Hall, First Floor Lounge 5828 South University Avenue
4:00 - 6:00 PM
Join the faculty and staff of the Environmental Studies Program for our annual open house to learn more about: υ
Major and minor programs in Environmental Studies
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Our advising system and staff
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Our upcoming events this year
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Preparing your Environmental Studies BA thesis
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Environmental organizations and programs on campus
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
This event is free and open to the public. Those with a disability who feel they may need assistance should contact pge@uchicago.edu.
LEARN MORE AT PGE.UCHICAGO.EDU
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
th
You’re invited to the 27 Annual MacLean Conference on
Clinical Medical Ethics November 13th – 14th, 2015 The University of Chicago Law School This conference is open to the public and free of charge
Presentations include: • An Economic Analysis of Medical Ethics • When Altruism Goes Awry: Living Kidney Donors in End Stage Renal Disease • History and Ethics: U.S. STD Experiments in Guatemala • Improving Shared Decision-Making with LGBT Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations • Ventures in Theology in Medicine • What’s Wrong with Healthcare Rationing?
REGISTER TODAY! MacLeanConference2015.eventbrite.com Contact Cindy Avila with any questions at cavila16@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
Register now for one of our Fall Classes!
ADULT AND CHILDREN’S CLASSES PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
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PARTNER
August Tye, Artistic Director 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave | Chicago LEARN MORE AND REGISTER:
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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WELCOME BACK
WEDNESDAY Wednesday, September 23, 2015
15% OFF Regular priced items
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
Saturday, September 26th—9pm to midnight
50% OFF ALL BOOKS UNDER $50* with a Powell’s tote bag or t-shirt! *Some restrictions apply
Shop with your tote or t-shirt on the 1st of every month & receive 20% off your purchase. New logo merchandise is 100% co on & Made in America—$12.95-$16.95
1501 E 57th St 773-955-7780 9-11pm daily www.powellschicago.com
*Must show a U of C id. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers, must be 21 years old to purchase.
U OF C WEDNESDAYS 10% off every Wednesday on all regular priced items for any University student, alumni, staff, or facility **Must show a U of C id. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers, must be 21 years old to purchase.
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Like us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for special offers.
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Visit the Claret Center, a behavioral health center residing in Hyde Park for over twenty-five years. We offer services self-pay, insurance bill, and through Medicare. Sliding scale available for qualified clients. x Psychotherapy xPsychotherapy Spiritual companioning xxSpiritual xxMassage Massage therapy Acupuncture xxAcupuncture Cranial sacral Therapy xxCranial Workshops & Classes xxWorkshops 5536 South Everett Avenue 773-643-6259 WWW. claretcenter.org
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2014
SOUTH SIDE & CHICAGO
JAMIE MANLEY
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UCHIAGO/HYDE PARK HISTORY “University of Chicago” and “neighborhood” are not the same thing “The University has done more than grow” English professor Robert Herrick wrote in 1892. “It has sprung into existence fully armed.” The University of Chicago held its first classes on October 1, 1892, and quickly established its presence in the neighborhood and the city. Now celebrating 125 years from the charter of the University, it has existed as a colossus in all its existence. The University was founded by John D. Rockefeller and the American Baptist Education Society, and funded by Baptists around the country and Chicago philanthropists. The University quickly acquired land along the Midway from Marshall Field, and quickly began acquiring additional real estate in Hyde Park as the campus sprang up. Throughout its history the University frequently used real estate to gain and leverage influence, a practice that still defines its relationship with the neighborhood and the city. The University’s control of real estate often took a racial and economic tone. As early as 1909, the University began informally supporting neighborhood associations that were focused on maintaining racial separation. This legalized discrimination often took the form
of restrictive covenants, which the Chicago Defender, a prominent African-American newspaper, called in 1937, the “University of Chicago Agreement to get rid of the Negros”. The University also amassed real estate, often hiding its ownership in the name of administrators, in order to gain ownership of the land immediately bordering it. Following World War II the University increased its emphasis on real estate and urban planning, working with local organizations, like the Hyde Park–Kenwood Community Council, to maintain a racial and socioeconomic status quo as African-Americans began moving into the area. In 1950, 88 percent of the area was rentals, many owned by the University, giving it a wide degree of control over Hyde Park real estate. The University created the South East Chicago Commission in 1952 in order to lead its neighborhood renewal plan. The University has maintained an active role in the neighboring area into the present day, often not without controversy. In 2011 the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Chicago, committing billions to city projects and job development in the area. The University also
led a redevelopment of the 53rd Street corridor, attracting a mix of national chains and local stores into the area, though relocating some of the existing businesses. Across from Washington Park the University opened an Arts Incubator and the Currency Exchange Café. The University has also worked to help businesses with the UChicago Local program, students with the Chicago Promise, and patients with the Urban Health Initiative. The University’s most dramatic local involvement has been in helping secure the Barack Obama presidential library to Chicago, which will be located either along Washington Park or in Woodlawn. The University led the local South Side “Bring it on home” campaign, which was not without criticism from some community groups that opposed the library, especially when it became clear it would involve city parkland. The joint lobby of the University and the city, however, secured the Obama Presidential Library for Chicago. The University has exerted its presence throughout its history, shaping the immediate neighborhood and the city. – Sarah Manhardt
BEN GILBERT
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2014
CHICAGO POLITICS: PAST AND PRESENT
JAMIE MANLEY
“Good government is good politics and politics is good government.” - Mayor Richard J. Daley A lot of people dismiss Chicago politics as inherently “corrupt” and “morally bankrupt.” But Chicago politics is a lot more complex than a history of corruption and to be clear, studies show that Alaska, both Dakotas, and a number of other states are more corrupt than Illinois. Unfortunately, Anchorage corruption isn’t as interesting as Chicago corruption. The City of Chicago is governed by a mayor and a city council made up of 50 Aldermen. The current mayor, Rahm Emanuel, has been in office since 2011. Previously, Emanuel served as President Obama’s chief of staff and was a congressman representing Chicago’s north side. So far his tenure has been short by Chicago standards. Former mayor Richard J. Daley represented the city for 21 years and his son Richard M. Daley represented the city for 22 years. Each Alderman on City Council represents a Ward, which is made up of neighborhoods. Chicago is known as a city of neighborhoods and they are integral to the city’s politics. Depending on where you live in Hyde Park, you either live in the Fourth or Fifth Wards. The Fourth Ward is represented by former Obama aide and UChicago alum Will Burns. Prior to serving as Alderman, Burns was a state representative and worked as deputy chief of staff to the Illinois Senate president. Burns was also the deputy campaign manager for Obama’s unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Fifth Ward is represented by Leslie Hairston who is an alum of the UChicago’s Lab School. Hairston used to work as assistant attorney general for the state. Hairston is a member of Chicago’s Progressive Reform Caucus, which has served as the most prominent and organized opposition to Mayor
Emanuel in recent years. In the state government—often referred to as Springfield, the capitol of Illinois—Hyde Park is represented by State Representative Barbara Flynn-Currie, another Lab School alum who has represented the area since 1979. Currently, Flynn-Currie serves as the majority leader in the State House making her the second most powerful figure in the state house after the Speaker Michael Madigan. After then-State Senator Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, Kwame Raoul stepped into his office. In the Illinois Senate, Raoul has been a leader on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to pension reform. Congressman Bobby Rush represents Hyde Park in the U.S. House of Representatives. Notably, Bobby Rush is the only person to have beaten Barack Obama in an election. This now-historic defeat came after Obama failed to win a primary challenge again Congressman Rush in 2000. Rush is a founding member of Illinois’ Black Panther Party. Rush has been a strong advocate for a trauma center on the South Side as Rush’s son was shot in the head and killed in 1999. A number of other politicians have connections to Hyde Park and the University of Chicago. For example, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is an alum and former Alderwoman for the Fourth Ward. Hyde Park also has a long history of progressive and independent politics. Our neighborhood has produced savvy politicians for decades. It is no coincidence that both President Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders both got their community organizing chops here. Currently, Chicago and Illinois both face severe budget crises. The State is looking at a $5 billion budget deficit for this fiscal year and there has been no state-operating budget for most of the summer. The budget deficit was
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caused by a long underfunded state pension system. Republican Governor Bruce Rauner was elected in 2014 and has refused to negotiate on the budget with the Democratic leadership of the Illinois General Assembly until they pass harsh measures stripping unions of their collective bargaining powers. Because Illinois is one of the birthplaces of America’s labor movement and Chicago has more “Local 1” unions than anywhere else in country, the Democratic supermajorities in the State House and Senate have no intention of passing Rauner’s agenda. Accordingly, Governor Rauner has vetoed every spending bill that Democrats have passed. As a result, the State is only barely running thanks to a number of court orders, while billions of dollars for higher education and human service grants are not being spent. Chicago’s budget crisis is similarly bad. Mayor Emanuel is currently proposing a property tax increase that will net the city about $500 million or more in revenue. It is important to note Chicago’s property taxes are lower than neighboring areas. However, Emanuel’s tax plan requires the state government’s approval and Rauner has repeatedly said that he wants to freeze property taxes. Chicago Public Schools also has a budget deficit that is over $1 billion despite the closure of over 50 public schools just a few years ago. I’ll be honest with you. Chicago politics is a lot more complex than a short article can do justice, but that’s exactly why you should get involved in it. Chicago politics is never boring. – Henry Bensinger
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2014
WELCOME TO THE SOUTH SIDE Welcome to the South Side, your section in Chicago for the next four years. Comprising 60 percent of the land area of the city, the South Side contains many of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods. While headlines disproportionately focus on the Obama family and violence, the South Side has a rich history and present vitality, embodying some of the best Chicago has to offer. To start off, what are the boundaries of the South Side? While the crossroads of Chicago’s North/South and East/West divide is at State and Madison, many exclude the Loop from definitions of the South Side,
often citing Roosevelt Road as the beginning of the South Side. The area stretches all the way to the 138th Street, the southernmost city boundary. The South Side began booming in the 1840s, when industrial development and meatpacking attracted migrants to crowd into the areas surrounding opportunity. The annexation of several independent townships (including Hyde Park!) in 1889 increased the scope of the South Side. As African-American migration began following the end of slavery and then accelerated in the early 20th century during the Great Migration, they were pushed into concen-
CHICAGO’S NEIGHBORHOODS Chicago is comprised of 77 neighborhoods, and while you might not get to everyone during your time at the University, here are three not to miss. South Shore: South Shore is one of the closest neighborhoods to Hyde Park, albeit one relatively unfrequented by students. Skip it at your own risk! It holds some of the most interesting architecture, natural beauty, and history in Chicago. Home to Michelle Obama and Kanye West, South Shore was originally a segregated white middle class enclave before integrating in the 1960s and becoming a predominantly black community. The South Shore Cultural Center, the southernmost point on the Lakefront Trail, is a remnant of South Shore’s previous history. A beautiful, imposing building with an elegant ballroom, a theater, dance studios, and fine art galleries, it was previously home to the South Shore Country Club, which remained closed to Jews and blacks until its closure in 1973. After the country club closed, local activists and preservationists saved the buildings and turned them into a public space, open to all. Today, the center offers art classes, a nature preserve, and (in my opinion), the most spectacular lakefront beach in Chicago. Beyond the Cultural Center, South Shore is also home to Jackson Park Highlands, a collection of early 20thcentury homes in a variety of architectural styles. With quiet, tree-lined streets flanked by large, unique homes, Jackson Park highlands is a must for architecture aficionados, or anyone looking for a peaceful stroll on the South Side. If you get hungry, there are several excellent Jamaican jerk spots, as well as the aptly named Give Me Some Sugah bakery, with a selection ranging from excellent cakes and pies to its signature potato chip cookie. Separated from Hyde Park by only a few blocks of parkland, South Shore is well worth the walk. Devon: Frankly, it is a pain to get to Devon Avenue, located on the far north side of the city. But if you do decide to make the schlep, you will be rewarded with the most vibrant community in Chicago. Most known for being the heart of Chicago’s
Little India, the 1.5 mile stretch of Devon between Ridge and Kedzie is also houses city’s largest Jewish and Pakistani communities. The main draw of Devon, despite its distance, is the food, and it does not disappoint. In the Pakistani stretch of the street, Ghareeb Nawaz serves up outstanding Pakistani food at unbelievably low prices (five dollars can feed two people). Moving west, there are numerous options for all different varieties of Indian food, from the vegetarian, rice-based cuisine of the south to the meatier curries of the north, accompanied with all types of bread. Another hidden culinary gem on Devon are the kosher bakeries, particularly Tel Aviv Bakery, which makes a lifechanging cinnamon bread. Other than food, it is possible to buy just about anything on Devon, in one of the many emporiums selling everything from cookware to religious paraphernalia. Visit the different stores offering imports from India to Eastern European, see what catches your eye. Price is (somewhat) negotiable, depending on the store. Humboldt Park: Once the largest Puerto Rican community in the Midwest, Humboldt Park has lately been gentrifying rapidly; however, a strong Puerto Rican core remains and composes the heart of the neighborhood. Either end of Paseo Boricua is unmistakably marked by 60-foot Puerto Rican flags towering over Division Avenue. Foodwise, Humboldt Park is the birthplace of the jibarito sandwich, which wisely passes on bread for an outer layer of plantains, held together with a garlic mayonnaise, meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato. In addition to the relatively young jibarito, Humboldt Park also offers an exquisite variety of traditional Puerto Rican dishes, including some of the best roast chicken you’ll ever have (Nellie’s: try it). What’s more, the actual Humboldt Park, namesake to the neighborhood, is a hidden gem, one of the oldest parks in Chicago, with lovely landscaping, a lagoon, and a historic boathouse. Also in Humboldt Park, in a whimsical mock-chalet hearkening back to the neighborhood’s Norwegian roots, is the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, a highly engaging museum and showcase for neighborhood artists. – Kyle Bardman
trated areas and formed Chicago’s famous Black Belt. Racial segregation is undeniably a part of the South Side’s history, creating many of the urban issues that exist today. From the 1919 race riots to the Contract Buyer’s League, the evidence of the many forms of oppression, ranging from physical violence to restrictive contracts to stigma, are obvious today. It’s impossible to denigrate the South Side as a problem-ridden area without acknowledging the political, economic, and social forces that conspired together. The contraction of American industry in the 1960s and ensuing white flight worsened the region’s situation
in the present day. Today the South Side is predominately African-American, though tremendous diversity exists within the different neighborhoods. From Chinatown, with its strip of distinctive restaurants and stores, to Pilsen and Little Village, with their distinctive murals, to Pullman, where the remnants of a planned worker community were recently designated a national monument, the South Side is anything but a monolith. Hyde Park may be home, but the South Side surrounds you. Don’t overlook it in the next four years. – Sarah Manhardt
Happy Birthday, Mari!!! Hope this is the best year evahhh!! Love, Mom and Monique
CLASSIFIEDS Children’s Swim Teacher Looking for instructor to teach in Hyde Park. Four Children, Ages 2, 3 (2) , and 5 Teach in private pool, several hours/wk Can teach in groups or together Prefer Tuesdays around 2p, but flexible Please call if interested Claudia: 773-710-1181. Full & part-time positions at Cafe Descartes Barista experience preferred Duties include making drinks, setting up, serving bakery, handling transactions, and cleaning Please feel free call my number 773-551-7068
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2014
EXPLORE THE CITY: A GO-TO GUIDE FOR CHICAGO TRANSPORTATION Welcome to Hyde Park! While the immediate neighborhood may feel like a college town, you’re in the third-largest city in America and it’s easily accessible if you know your way around. There are several ways to get around, ranging from walking to biking to riding the train. Here are some of most popular ways to get around Chicago.
The Bus The Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) has 1,865 buses that operate over 1,354 route miles, according to its website. Bus fare is two dollars, and a Ventra card is necessary to save big bucks on transfers. #55: The #55 Garfield bus runs from the Museum of Science and Industry to Midway Airport, though be warned that the buses to St. Louis stop before reaching the airport. Running frequently, you can pick up the bus at 55th Street and reach
the Green and Red lines quickly. If you live south of the Midway, the #59 will also get you to the Red Line.
#6: The Jackson Park Express runs between 79th/South Shore and Wacker/ Columbus, and is a go-to way to get to the Loop quickly. Heading downtown the bus runs along Michigan Avenue, and coming back to Hyde Park it runs down State before going express. #4: The #4 runs along Cottage Grove, a major artery of the South Side. While the bus doesn’t run express, it does take you through Bronzeville down to Michigan Avenue and to the Water Tower Place, farther north than the #6 will get you. #2: The Hyde Park Express only runs during the morning and evening rush, but will take you from the Midway to Navy Pier. Other buses you may use include the #10 (runs express between North
Michigan Avenue and the Museum of Science & Industry), the #15 (an easy route to the Red Line), and the #28 (runs along Stony Island). Additionally, the University’s South Loop shuttle runs from campus to Roosevelt on Fridays and Saturdays, leaving campus on the hour and Roosevelt on the half-hour from 5–11 p.m.
the north side.
The “L” Train The second-oldest rapid transit system in America, Chicago’s trains consist of eight lines that will get you around the city and even into some suburbs. Two lines serve the surrounding area.
The Metra A popular rail for commuters, the Metra connects Chicago to its many suburbs. Prices vary by distance, but it’s $3.50 for a speedy trip from Hyde Park to the Loop.
Red Line: The red line is the busiest line in the system, which is no surprise considering it runs from 95th to the Howard on the north side. Unfortunately it does not run elevated in the Loop, but it’s only four stops away from South Loop and will take you to a myriad of areas on
Biking A convenient way to get around the neighborhood, bikes also make the city accessible via the Lake Shore path. Check out Divvy or pick up a bike at one of the many bike shops in the area. – Maroon Staff
Green Line: Making more stops on the South Side before heading west, the Green Line runs from 63rd to Oak Park, the suburb that’s been home to Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. If you live south of the Midway, the Cottage Grove stop is not far.
CITY DINING, CHICAGO STYLE
Chicago is frequently cited as one of America’s best cities for food, and while Michelin-starred restaurants are out of a student’s budget, there is a wealth of good food around the city. While Hyde Park has its own student haunts, try venturing out to explore the city and its culinary scene. Lem’s BBQ One of the most popular spots on the South Side, Lem’s offers quick service but lacks an interior. Maroon reporter Isaac Stein recommends the mild sauce. 311 East 75th Street. Lou Maltini’s Deep dish pizza is synonymous with Chicago, and the city has three competing chains – Giordano’s, Gino’s, and Lou Maltini’s. Really, how can you go wrong with what is essentially a pizza casserole? I recom-
mend Lou Maltini’s simply because it tends to have less tourists. Multiple locations.
cream comes with a wafer cookie! 1960 N Western Ave.
Xoco You can buy Rick Bayless’ salsas in any supermarket, but you can only sample his tortas, caldos, and churros in Chicago. The drinking chocolate is a must. Xoco’s pricier sister restaurants, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, are next door. 449 N. Clark Street.
Au Cheval Commonly heralded as one of the best burgers in Chicago. Au Cheval does not take reservations and is on the pricier side, but is definitely worth it. 800 W Randolph.
Lao Sze Chuan A UChicago favorite in Chinatown. The best dishes tend to be the spiciest! South Archer Avenue. Margie’s This classic ice cream and candy store serves up some of the biggest sundaes you’ll ever see, and are inexpensive to boot. All ice
Greek Islands In the heart of Chicago’s Greektown, Greek Islands serves up all the traditional Greek dishes you would expect. What sets it apart from the rest of the eateries in the area? The kitsch. 200 S Halstead. Ann Sather Chicago’s Swedish diner serves at huge portions at reasonable prices. The cinnamon rolls come two to an order and cannot be missed. 909 W Belmont Ave.
Nuevo Leon Standout Mexican dishes for the cheap. $10 can get you most dishes as well as an horchata. A complimentary appetizer and chips are always part of the meal! 1515 W 18th St. Al’s Italian Beef A Chicago classic, the Italian beef sandwich is as famous at deep-dish and hot dogs without ketchup here. The “gravy” a term Italians use to describe sauce, is a signature. Multiple locations. Grareeb Nawaz What the restaurant lacks in ambience, it makes up for with piles of delicious Indian food for insanely low prices. Worth the trek to West Rogers Park! 2032 W Devon Avenue. – Maroon Staff
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THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
ROBERT ALTER
THE CHALLENGE OF TRANSLATING THE BIBLE THURSDAY, OCT 8 6:00 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 p.m. Mandel Hall Free and open to the public OPENING REMARKS: Jonathan Lear, Roman Family Director of the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society and John U. Nef Distinguished Service Professor at the Committee on Social Thought and in the Department of Philosophy.
5121 S. Kenwood - Spectacular 2600 Sq. Ft. Nine (9) Room, Five (5) Bedroom, Three (3) Bathroom apartment in attractive four (4) unit apartment building
x Huge room sizes, beautiful crown molding, high ceilings, and kitchen with newer appliances x Private backyard x Onsite laundry x Bicycle room and private storage x Great location near U of C Campus and Shuttle Stop x Rent $2450, includes heat and water
Call Chad Johnson at 312-720-3136 or email at cjohnson@hallmark-johnson.com.
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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Broken L ptop? Broken np eens eenss • Damaged Dama Dam Da Dama aged hinges h Broken ports damage Cracked plastics Br e en USB USB Bp orts o rts • Keyboard rt Key K Ke eyb yboa boa b oa arrd ard d da d dam am am mage • Crack pllastics drive anty repair Hard driv H d v dr ve e replacements repla plac pla llac cem emen m nts t • i needs need ds
We Can Fix Tha Hardware Repair Services • 6019 S. Kimbark Ave. Room B 01 773 702 0110 • M-F 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
hardwarerepair.uchicago.edu
Sep 12, 2015–Jan 10, 2016
Sep 12, 2015–Jul 2, 2017
Oct 1, 2015–Jan 10, 2016
MEMORY
ROSE’S INCLINATION
Conversations with the Collection
New site-specific work by Jessica Stockholder
EXPRESSIONIST IMPULSES
ABOVE (left to right): Jason Salavon, The Class of 1988 (detail), 1998, Digital C-print, Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, Gift of Gary and Susan Garrett, 2013.17. Art © Jason Salavon. • Jessica Stockholder, Rose’s Inclination, 2015, Paint, carpet, fragment of Judy Ledgerwood’s painting, branches, rope, Plexiglas, light fixtures, hardware, extension cord, mulch, Smart Museum foyer, courtyard, and sidewalks. Commissioned by the Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago. Courtesy of the artist, Mitchell-Innes & Nash Gallery, and Kavi Gupta Gallery. • Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Dodo in the Studio (detail), 1910, Pastel on paper, Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, Gift of Paul and Susan Freehling in memory of Mrs. Edna Freehling, 2002.70.
German and Central European Art, 1890–1990
Admission is always free. All are welcome.
smartmuseum.uchicago.edu
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ORIENTATION | September 22, 2015
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2015 Randy L. and Melvin R.
BERLIN FAMILY LECTURES
AMITAV GHOSH
The Great Derangement Fiction, History, and Politics in the Age of Global Warming Fiction I September 29
Fiction II September 30
History October 6
Politics October 7
All four lectures will begin at 5:30PM Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts Performance Hall 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago IL, 60637
berlinfamilylectures.uchicago.edu uchicagohumanities @uchicagohum Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation in order to participate in this event should contact berlinfamilylectures@uchicago.edu or 773.702.7423.