02/21/2017 Independent Spring Issue #3

Independent

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Opinions

Northeastern Illinois University

www.neiuindependent.org

Vol. 36 Issue 11

News

The treatment of animals in Hollywood pg. 5

A&L

Steven Cristi wins NEIU Talent Show pg. 10

Sports

Campus Recreation introduces Healthy Lifestyle Challenge pg. 14

Salary-saving may cost student workers NEIU students, alumni and staff traveled once again to Springfield to demand a fair state budget. | Robin Bridges

pg. 2

News Inaction speaks louder than words Rut Ortiz

Various universities participated in a rally held in Springfield urging lawmakers to fund higher education. | Robin Bridges Furlough days will be imposed on faculty and staff for the second time in nearly a year. The difference this time around is that student workers could be affected by either furlough days or termination.

The number of days that will need to be taken per employee has not been determined and the number of days an employee is furloughed also depends on the amount of salary to be cut.

“We are in negotiations with all of the university's bargaining units, so we do not have an answer yet,” said Director of Public Relations Mike Hines in an email. “(The amount of salary) would depend on the outcome of the negotiations with the bargaining units.”

The gubernatorial election of 2014 left the Illinois budget at a standstill with Democrats of Springfield at odds with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Questions were directed to a panel composed of the university’s leadership on Feb. 7 in the manner of

a town hall meeting with the NEIU community.

“It’s been 19 months,” said Interim President Richard Helldobler about the lack of budget. “Our budget seems to be tied up in a major difference of philosophy and neither side showing any signs of backing down.”

Dean of Students Matt Specht asked the panel how the program would affect student employees.

“It was brought to our attention that in the negotiations for Civil Service employees that (Illinois State Universities Civil Service) negotiated a clause into the new statute rule,” Helldobler said.

According to Section 250.119 under SUCSS’ Statutes and Rules states, “An employee on a temporary or extra help appointment shall be terminated prior to implementation of the furlough program, unless the appointment is required based on health and welfare or public safety, or a designated grant or other funding source.”

This new clause does not include

students working on federal work study, federal financial aid benefits, or those earning academic credit for courses through their work.

However, this clause will affect students earning their pay through funds from the state of Illinois.

“Northeastern is not implementing a layoff,” Hines said. The university is considering how it will implement the (furlough) program while complying the SUCSS statute and has yet to determine how many students will be affected by the program.”

Helldobler said Melissa Reardon Henry, Vice President of Legal Affairs, would look into the consequences to the school if NEIU did not follow through with the termination of state-paid student workers.

As to the attention of the Illinois budget stalemate from the federal government, Helldobler said, “No one seems to be paying attention.”

Dr. Suleyma Perez, NEIU’s executive director of government relations, said that university leadership does not know whether the newly

appointed Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, will make the crisis a priority or if there is even a plan to fix the situation.

“Because there’s no indicators out there that this is going to be solved, the responsible thing to do is to begin to plan for this cost-savings and salary savings,” Helldobler said. “There doesn’t seem to be any pressure from either the feds or the state, that this going to get solved.”

Monetary Award Program grants have also been a cause of concern for the university.

Without a budget from the state for almost two years, MAP grants have been fronted by the university out of NEIU’s reserves funds.

“Right now we know that we’re about $8 million in the red,” Helldobler said. “We have next to no cash reserves now.”

He said that the goal of the cost-savings program is not to replenish the university's cash reserves but to stay afloat until tuition dollars are received for the fall 2017 semester.

“We are more and more, whether we like it or not, becoming reliant on tuition,” Helldobler said. “And so making a decision that would negatively impact enrollment, we didn’t feel was in the better short-term or long-term interests of the university.”

To that effect, Helldobler began a series of discussions called the “Forward 150.”

A recent discussion was held Feb. 10 regarding matters of the school’s money and finding ways to generate alternative revenue so that the university does not depend on money from the state.

“When we did the first brainstorming session in Alumni Hall, that was a really open-ended brainstorming session that asked basically a question about ‘How do we want to plan for the future?’” said Michael Pierick, NEIU Vice President of Finance and Administration.

Meetings between university leadership and the unions that represent affected employees are ongoing.

www.neiuindependent.org

NEWS

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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Court’s in session: NEIU prof turned judge Laura Rojas Michael Gerber, an NEIU professor of 37 years, has been appointed judge of the circuit court of Cook County effective Dec. 22, 2016.

Gerber teaches business law in the College of Business and Management and has been with the university since 1980.

Not only has he been a teacher for nearly three decades, but he is also a lawyer and practiced law while teaching his classes.

Gerber is the longest serving state attorney prosecutor in the history of Illinois.

“I know that he was a tough, fair, and a moral prosecutor,” said Stijepko

Tokic, department chair of accounting, business law, and finance within COBM. “It’s very difficult to become a judge; you really have to be an upstanding citizen, not just an upstanding lawyer, because of the scrutiny you face as a judge. You essentially have the power of somebody’s fate,” Tokic said.

Gerber explained that there were a fair amount of lawyers on his father’s side of the family and teachers on his mother’s side.

For as long as he could remember, he always wanted to do both.

As for becoming a judge, Gerber said, “I think I always had that in the back of my mind. And after I got into

the courtrooms I said, ‘This is what I want to do.’”

“I was appointed to fill a vacancy,” Gerber said. “And I will eventually have to run in an election.”

Gerber was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court and will have to run in 2018.

The process for the election will begin with Gerber obtaining enough signatures to be placed on the ballot for the election and then competing in the primary election in March 2018.

If Gerber secures the nomination in the primaries, he will run in the general election in November 2018.

The term for a circuit court judge is six years if elected, with the oppor-

tunity of being reappointed for two years until he is able to run again.

Gerber completed his undergraduate degree in political science at Roosevelt.

He then earned his law degree from DePaul University.

When Gerber graduated, he went straight into teaching simultaneously at NEIU and Roosevelt starting in 1982.

However, teaching at both universities while practicing law became a strain.

“It got to be too much. I was teaching here, I was teaching there and I was state’s attorney,” he said.

“Something had to give.”

So he left Roosevelt in 1990 and

solely taught classes at NEIU. “I think NEIU is outstanding,” Gerber said as he expressed his affection for the university and its students. “I really enjoy this school, and I enjoy it because it’s local, it’s so diverse—it’s so interesting the different cultures, the different religions, the different backgrounds that people have when they come to this school.

It’s a great mix.”

So far as a judge, Gerber has mostly dealt with traffic court.

Gerber still plans on teaching at NEIU while serving as a judge of the circuit court.

Currently he has been teaching two classes in the fall, two in the spring and one over the summer.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

NEWS

www.neiuindependent.org

Police Blotter The following offenses occurred at NEIU’s main campus on Feb. 1 and Feb. 14: Feb. 1 - BBH building: Simple Battery. Witnesses reported a man who slapped a Northside Learning student. The incident is under investigation.

fire.

Feb. 14 - Parking Facility: Fire. A student’s car was reported to be on

Feb. 14 - The Nest: Simple Battery. Two students were reported to be fighting within the student apartments. The incident is currently still open.

Golden Eagles flock to state capital Brett Starkopf SPRINGFIELD — NEIU students, alumni and administrators rallied at the state capitol Feb. 8 to urge Illinois representatives to end the budget impasse and fund higher education.

NEIU has operated without a state budget for 19 months and nearly depleted its reserve funds due in large part to fronting Monetary Award Program grants to students in need.

Elisa Salgado, an NEIU junior and political science major, is a recipient of MAP grants and empathizes with other students who struggle financially.

Salgado was ineligible for financial aid her freshman year and, like many public-university students

who need aid, dealt with the “burden” of not only worrying about her academic success, but funding her academics.

“If I were to not have the MAP grant, I probably would not be sitting here right now because I would probably have to work full time and come to school part time,” Salgado said.

According to a June 30, 2016 financial audit, NEIU fronted $7.42 million in MAP grants for the fiscal year 2016.

Rep. Kelly Burke, Appropriations Higher Education Chair, said it’s not just the students who will benefit from funding higher education.

“When we invest in higher education, people stay in the state of Illinois,” Burke said. “When we invest in higher education, people get better

paying jobs. It makes good economic sense. What’s happened here in the last two years is just horrific.”

NEIU is once again tasked with instituting a furlough program should a stalemate continue.

Salgado called upon the NEIU community to be more involved in order to get lawmakers to fund higher education.

“I know as a student and as a student worker it can become difficult to be involved in everything,” Salgado said. “Even if you could invest a couple hours, which is maybe one or two events per month, makes a great impact. It’s the only way we can get our message across to let them know we are not okay with what’s going on.

“We have a lot of work to do. This is just the beginning,” Salgado said.

Opinions

TheEditorial Independent Board Editor-in-Chief Brett Starkopf Managing Editor Robin Bridges Production Editor Pablo Medina News Editor Rut Ortiz Opinions Editor Danny Montesdeoca Sports Editor Spencer Jones Arts & Life Editor Cecilia Hernandez Online Editor Christian Gralak

Independent Staff Copy Editors John Cummings Desiree Dylong Naaim Siddiqi Grace Yu Production Staff Jason Merel Writers Michelle Bright William Castro Megan Couty Amaris Rodriguez Laura Rojas Idoia Solano Covadonga Solares Carlo Varquez Yolanda Amon Cartoonists GN Photographers Elena Molloy Marketing and Advertising Director Christopher Starnawski Payroll Manager Cheryl Johnson The Independent is a public forum for the university and community around Northeastern Illinois University. The Independent is completely student run and receives no prior review of its content by anyone other than its student editors. Views presented do not necesarily represent those of the administration, faculty or students.

The Independent is a member of the Illinois College Press Association and Associated Collegiate Press.

Hollywood's ruff patch with animal rights Amaris Rodriguez A couple months ago when I first saw the trailer for “A Dog’s Purpose,” a movie that tells the story of a dog who gets reincarnated as different dogs, each serving a purpose in their human’s life.

I love movies that are centered around animals, so I was shocked when TMZ released a video on Jan. 18 showing two disturbing scenes.

The video released titled, “Terrified German Shepherd Forced Into Turbulent Water” showed a trainer forcing a dog into the water to film a rescue scene despite the dog resisting.

The video goes on to show the trainer forcefully putting the dog in the water. The clip cuts to a new scene of the dog going under the rushing water and having to be rescued by the crew.

I was outraged and wanted to boycott the movie, but the more I saw the video the more I started to doubt the validity of the footage because of the sudden cut from scene to scene.

While everyone was posting their outrage on Facebook, an investigation was launched by the American Humane Association.

A month and a cancelled movie premiere later, the verdict was that the video had been deliberately manipulated to showcase a serious case of animal cruelty. Questions were also raised on the ethics of and motive behind those who made the video due to the amount of time that had passed from its filming to its release.

While the investigation did conclude that “no animals were harmed in the making of this film,” the debate about animal rights was already in the public.

The case of “A Dog’s Purpose” brought up the concept of speciesism, the discrimination or bias that favors one’s own species over another.

Human beings have always thought

themselves the top of the food chain.

While the idea of animal rights is not new, in recent years it has gained more ground than before, especially in the entertainment industry.

I remember when I was 12, my mother took my sister and I to the circus, I was in awe. When it was time for the elephants and tigers to perform my feelings changed completely.

I was no longer in awe, because what I saw were scared, timid animals that

won’t see the consequences of those actions for years, if at all, the reality is that we are seeing these changes during our lifetime. According to NASA, current warming trends have significantly increased and it is most likely human induced.

Our human “needs” are damaging the planet for every species that inhabits it. The oceans’ temperatures are getting warmer and are affecting the ecosystems that are found be-

Courtesy of PETA via Wikimedia Commons

Puppy mills deny dogs a good quality of life, an animal rights violation.

were obviously stressed out. That was the last time I went to the circus.

Humans have this superiority complex that can manifest itself in actions and ideas that completely disregard another life because of how egocentric we can be. There are plenty of things that humans want and wish for that they don't need and where an animal’s welfare is truly sacrificed, like fur coats. Though we are able to develop fabrics from natural sources, many still wish to adorn their bodies with the skin and fur of animals.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t end with the fashion industry.

For years, we have stripped away the natural resources of this planet using fossil fuels and other elements to power our daily lives and deepen our pockets. While many believe we

neath the surface of the water. For example, the Great Barrier Reef, one of nature’s wonders, was rumored this past year to be facing its probable demise. Even though these claims were false, it isn’t all good news. According to CNN, the truth is that the Great Barrier Reef is in serious trouble, with 93% of it being affected by bleaching.

The color change is brought about when the reef is under tremendous stress due to changes in temperature, light and nutrients which causes it to turn white. If the reef is lost, all marine animals that call it home and all the animals that need those animals to survive will be greatly affected and face the possibility of extinction.

With the temperatures rising there's also a rise in sea levels due to the melting of ice sheets. The melting

of the ice sheets means serious trouble for polar bears who use ice sheets to hunt, give birth and travel. According to WWF Global, the global polar bear population is projected to decline by 30% by 2050.

Habits of speciesism can be found closer to home. Animal abuse in the United States is sadly still common.

To satisfy humans’ “wish” for profit, illegal dogfighting, puppy mills and other businesses where animals are harmed still exist.

However, activists and people in general have begun to become more educated on the idea that non-human lives are also valuable and worthy of the right to live the best quality of life possible. Entertainment industry giants are feeling the pressure of providing better treatment to the animals that make them money. After SeaWorld came under scrutiny for its treatment of Orca whales after the release of the highly acclaimed documentary “Blackfish,” it saw a major decrease in profits prompting them to end the Orca whale shows.

Another giant company that took a hit is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus. After pressure to retire their elephants, Ringling Bros. saw sales in their tickets drop, causing them to put a stop to the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Their last performance is scheduled for May 2017.

The video for “A Dog’s Purpose” helped the topic of animal rights resurface, but the topic shouldn’t be only brought back up when a stomach-churning clip is shown. We hold a moral responsibility not only for our well-being but the well-being of all animals because of our actions. “A Dog’s Purpose” was meant to show the importance and impact that a dog, or any animal, can have in a human’s life, but we should also consider the impact we have in theirs.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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Opinions

Terrorism and media: A fair coverage?

Idoia Solano The concept of terrorism is defined by encyclopedias and dictionaries as “the systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective.”

In recent years we have witnessed what seems to be a dramatic rise in the frequency and seriousness of terrorist attacks. We are blasted by an enormous amount of news segments every time a terrorist attack is carried out.

It is too common to see sensational headlines and shocking images on the covers of newspapers and TV news the day after a terrorist attack takes place, exploiting the event as much as possible in order to capture the public’s attention. By making society consume the information they offer, major media outlets are ultimately seeking profit at the end of the day.

The information industry is just another kind of business in which economic values dominate over the journalistic ones.

For this reason terrorist attacks attract the corporate media, who through agenda setting gather all the drama, danger and action that these attacks imply and frame it in a way in order to keep the public interested in consuming what they are offering. By doing this the media eventually see their viewer-ratings and profits increase.

On the other hand, terrorist groups need the media coverage of their attacks in order to be known worldwide so they can spread their ideas and make their targets feel threatened.

Their goals are to win the attention of political institutions and influence the decisions made by governments. We could determine that media and terrorist groups have a mutually beneficial relationship, as the coverage of terrorist attacks provides media with a massive audience and provides terrorists groups with publicity in order to be known and influence a certain society, by terrorizing it. However, do major media outlets develop this highly detailed coverage with every terrorist attack, regardless of where it is perpetrated? The answer is a clear no. After witnessing the horrifying episodes that have taken place in Paris, Belgium, Orlando, Istanbul and most recently, Berlin, the general perception of

the Western world nowadays is that terrorism has been dramatically increasing throughout the last few years. Nonetheless, as shown by the Global Terrorism Index 2016, the global deaths caused by terrorism in the last year have decreased by 10 percent compared to the previous year.

Has media covered this decrease? On the contrary, it has focused on the 650 percent increase of the deaths caused by terrorism that OECD member countries have experienced, proving that Western countries and what happens within them are more likely to gain media’s attention, and thus, to be perceived as “more important” by Western society.

Despite the media discrimination that third world countries suffer, they are still the ones that suffer the most from acts of terrorism.

Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria account for 72 percent of the total number of deaths caused by terrorism globally. These five countries are followed by 20 other developing countries.

No Western countries appear in that ranking; but according to mainstream media, it seems otherwise. Very few mainstream information sources will even mention most of the terrorist attacks that occurred in Nigeria, South Sudan or Somalia, which result in more deaths and occur with more frequency than acts of terrorism in Europe or America. Without taking into account the 9/11 events, since 2000, only 0.5 percent of deaths caused by terrorism have occurred in Western territories.

Major Western mass media outlets won’t offer this perspective to its consumers. Violence in developing countries is sadly considered as routine, not deserving of attention. Media should change its ways of covering these types of events by applying more objectivity and clarity when they deliver information to the audience. Overall, as shown by the Global Terrorism Index 2016, in both OECD and non-OECD countries, terrorism is statistically related to the acceptance of the rights of others, relations with neighbors, likelihood of violent demonstrations and political terror. It is a duty of all politicians, media, society and even violent groups to find the core of the conflict and seek a peaceful solution for it, for the common good.

Arts & Life

Anderson and Roe: The Best of Both Worlds Pablo Medina

Comic Corner

Once in a blue moon, a solid act comes around that not only delivers on its program, but doubles down and gives more reasons to love it.

The Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe duo performed at the Recital Hall for the Jewel Box series on Feb. 17.

With a packed audience and an energetic atmosphere, Anderson and Roe played a colorful set of compositions, from the classical and romantic periods to contemporary tango including their unique arrangements of popular music from Queen, The Beatles and Radiohead.

Anderson and Roe met 14 years ago at The Juilliard School in New York, NY. They united in their shared mission to strengthen classical music’s place in the new millennium.

“We both were obviously close friends and we wanted to spend more time together, but we also had a shared vision for music’s role in society, which was to make classical music a relevant and powerful force in society,” Anderson said.

In addition, Anderson produced many music videos of their own performances that highlighted their spirited playing styles and bold personalities.

“People often ask us how we have

Pablo Medina

Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe performed at the Recital Hall on Feb. 17, sharing with the audience their interpretation of popular music from Queen, the Beatles and Radiohead.

(the) energy that one needs to get through an entire concert, especially when we endure the struggles of jet lag and travel that limit our hours of sleep,” Anderson said. “I always say, the easy part is just being on stage because the music you play, that very first note, brings so much energy out of us.”

Part of the energy seen in the duo’s performances came from their enthusiastic talks with the audience.

They shared humorous stories and heartfelt attachments with the music they played.

“The opportunity to connect meaningfully with our audiences is another factor that inspires us and keeps us motivated,” Roe said. “It’s very gratifying to feel a powerful and visceral connection with our audiences during a performance and also to hear the warm and generous comments from them after the concerts.”

“We love Chicago, it’s actually my hometown, and it’s great to play in a hall with such lovely acoustics,” Roe said. “It’s rightfully called the Jewel Box.” With regards to the Jewel Box performance, the group’s take on “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen was especially beautiful.

It was a perfect incorporation of the composition mixed with gorgeous embellishments and dynamics

that hit hard and landed gracefully.

“The composers themselves lived such fascinating lives and they experienced suffering and love,” Roe said. “The more we try to tap into the humanity of the music, we hope that that humanity becomes revealed to our audiences, so it’s not merely this untouchable vestige but it’s a living, breathing experience.”

Once the duo finished their soulful rendition of “Let It Be” by The Beatles, the audience gave a standing ovation to their work.

The duo played a four-hand piano encore of “The Dance at the Gym” from West Side Story, with the audience providing the “Mambo” shout each time they played the familiar theme.

After that came another standing ovation and a second encore, with a sweet performance of “What a Wonderful World”, made famous by Louis Armstrong.

Finally, after another standing ovation came a third and final encore of the frantic Sabre Dance from Aram Khachaturian’s ballet Gayane.

Much like Lennon and McCartney, Anderson and Roe are not just a musical duo or a professional partnership, but a charming and talented group on a mission to unite people through music.

Check out our website neiuindependent.org for exclusive content.

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E-mail us at NEIUartslifeandeverything@gmail.com

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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'UnF#ck Your Brain' using Science: A Review William Castro “Unf*ck Your Brain” is crass and too intrusive; it’s claiming to be a self-help book, full of tips to calm your emotions with science.

If there’s any major takeaway from this selfhelp book, it’s that you can get better and all the emotions you’re feeling is just your brain protecting you. It is important to realize it’s not your fault. Author Faith G. Harper makes this clear from the first chapter. It honestly seems like she cares for the reader, especially those reading her book looking for actual help.

Yet she relies too much on an edgy writing style to inform and entertain the reader. This is a problem because she does this with no grace.

Harper likes to string an unnecessary amount of profanities per page. With the sprinkling of questionable slang as well, it all becomes too much. It seems like she was dead set on marketing this book to young adults. This is a woman in her late forties unabashedly using slang such as: amazeballs, totes, ffs (text speak for “for f*cks sake”), boo, and hella.

I had a hard time looking past her disconcerting writing style because she should’ve toned it down. Harper’s tone and writing does change to reflect the seriousness of certain mental issues as she explains them; she is coherent and insightful. She recommends keeping a journal to keep track of emotions.

She even vouches that simply counting to ten is a great way to ward off a creeping feeling of anxiety or anger. However, she reverts back to her desperate, grasping-at-youth style of writing, which quickly becomes distracting again. At times, I was more focused on reading the next out of place profanity than reading the actual content. It is aggravating, especially when she decides to write about coping methods and countering addiction.

If you are reading this book looking for help, you will be supported. Harper makes sure to point out that you are normal and your mental state is not your fault. As I said before, there are a lot of kind words and support given to the reader. Harper has great bedside manner.

William Castro

Faith G. Harper’s “UnF*ck Your Brain” will be available for purchase on Oct. 16. Copies will be available to order online on Amazon at www.amazon. com.

She is also incredibly knowledgeable.

She breaks down the complex brain and its weird tendencies into something that is understandable. When explaining these matters, she does it without being too technical or dry. I feel that she is being herself; she is not hamming it up. Still, because of this persona that Harper develops in her writing, she hypes her credentials and her PhD throughout the book. It almost seems like she expects the reader to doubt that she’s a real therapist.

It really comes across as Harper trying too hard. This is a shame because I enjoyed some aspects of the book like the composition. It’s well thought-out and the chapters flow in a logical progression.“Unf*ck Your Brain” has the form of a great self help book but Harper takes too many liberties in providing unwanted flavor to the text. This really sets the book back. I would wait for the abridged version.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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'Carmen': A Well-Deserved Olé

Todd Rosenberg

Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” will be presented in the Lyric Opera of Chicago until March 25. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lyricopera.org or at the box office.

Covadonga Solares The Lyric Opera of Chicago turned into the thrilling and colorful Seville of the twentieth century under the spell of Georges Bizet’s musical composition for “Carmen.”

A comic opera that exceptionally captures dramatic excitement and energy, “Carmen” depicts a vivid sunsoaked Andalusia and its transient, adventurous gypsy inhabitants. The opera was first performed by the Chicagoan Company in Nov. 1954, a proof of its timeless charm that keeps on engaging the public.

The opera, completely sang in French accompanied by English subtitles, revolves around the leading figure of Carmen who is a fiercely alluring character in literature, film, theater and dance.

She is a uniquely beautiful, resourceful, feisty and a resolute gypsy that works at a cigarette factory. She loves to get into trouble by seducing innocent men that helplessly fall under her spell. The opera is a tale of the adventures of Carmen and her lovers

(like the naïve soldier Don José that is replaced by the glamorous bullfighter Escamillo). It’s a story about a tragedy that reaches its violent culmination in a confrontation where Don José stabs and kills Carmen out of spite and heartbreak..

During the representation of the opera, the Lyric Opera faced the formidable challenge of recapturing the impact that caused the scandalous and yet successful first performances of “Carmen.”

“A responsibility to the masterpiece,” in the words of Anthony Freud, the Lyric Opera’s General Director, President and CEO. The magic of Bizet’s orchestration, which conjures up a dazzling image of a sun-drenched Seville and impeccably accompanies the harmonious singing of the cast, makes it for a more than enjoyable performance delivered by both the singers and the orchestra.

I should also add that the way in which this classical opera is portrayed at the Chicagoan theatre is anything but conventional, as the element of

dance plays a really important role, making it even more appealing to the public.

Including not only Flamenco dancers but also matadors and even a symbolic representation of a bullfight, “Carmen” manages to integrate both music and dancing to the extent that both arts melt and compose a beautifully crafted piece that captures the audience.

Another innovative factor included in the Lyric Opera’s rendition to Bizet’s “Carmen” is the introduction of spoken dialogue, which enhances the immediacy of the opera and helps to capture its theatricality. This resource also intensifies the vividness of the characters and relationships that fill up the melody.

“Carmen” is a new production created by Rob Ashford, who also directed “The Barber of Seville” in his operatic debut. “Carmen” is conducted by the music director of the Santa Fe Opera Harry Bicker, who is now branching out with triumphant success.

The line-up for the night includ-

ed Ekaterina Gubanova as Carmen, a Moscow native considered one of today’s most celebrated mezzo-sopranos, and Joseph Calleja as Don José, the world-renowned Maltese tenor recipient of a 2016 Opera News Award.

The Chicago Children’s Choir also made a special guest appearance to support the main singers during the performance.

As a Spaniard, I was amazed that Bizet was able to produce such an accurate study of our regional culture and how certain personalities worked within its confines without ever setting foot in Spain.

However, after watching the opera, I came to the realization that Carmen is just a result of artistic fascination with Spain, exotic gypsies and nomadic adventure that permeated contemporary western Europe.

He was able to draw realistic, multidimensional characters out of Proper Merimeé’s 1845 novella, like Carmen, the independent bohémienne who cannot be tamed. The clothing and scenery brought me

back to my beloved Spain, and Bizet’s bewitching melodies (the smoky Habanera, the playful Seguidilla or the provocative Gypsy song) made me admire even more the intensity and passion of this femme fatale’s depiction.

If you don’t want to miss out on the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s incredible Carmen, you can still get the tickets to enjoy the show until March 25.

CARMEN

by Georges Bizet FEBRUARY 11 – MARCH 25 Performed in French with projected English translations.

Performance running time is three hours and 15 minutes including one intermission.

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A&L

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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Jeraun Pearson

The Belizean Dancers

NEIU’s Talent Show 2017 Independent Staff

The annual Talent Show at NEIU showcased many great talents on Feb. 16. The competition was intense, consisting of spoken-word artisits, dancers, singers and rappers. The winner of the first place prize was Steven Cristi, a Secondary Education in English student.

Steven Cristi

MC: Claudia Xoy

Dawt Par

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Before Black Lives Matter, Six Days in Cincinnati: A Review

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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Que Ondee Sola Que Ondee Sola (QOS) is the oldest Puerto Rican and Latinx student published magazine established in 1972 at NEIU.

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‘Six Days in Cincinnati’ recounts the riots in 2001 that ignited the Black Lives Matter movement.

Robin Bridges The police-involved shooting of 19-yearold Timothy Thomas in April 2001, sparked days of riots and protests in Cincinnati, OH. The riots occurred specifically in and around the predominantly poor black neighborhood of Over-The-Rhine.

“Six Days in Cincinnati: A Graphic Account of the Riots that Shook the Nation a Decade Before Black Lives Matter” is a graphic-journalist account by Daniel Moore. The book tells the story of the days before and after the civil unrest that resulted from the shooting of Timothy Thomas.

The second release of the limited print book is set to hit shelves in June 2017. The book was first printed in 2002 with the title “Mark Twain Was Right.” That title was taken from an unknown protester’s sign that read, “ Mark Twain was right; Rodney King 1991; Timothy Thomas 2001.”

The sign refers to the quote attributed to Mark Twain in which he said, “If the world

comes to an end, I want to be in Cincinnati.

Everything comes there 10 years later.”

The book is pulled straight from the headlines of that fatal day, featuring a new personal testimony to map out each day. Moore mixes his own experience living in the area with these testimonies to create a comic that lays the foundation for the events of those six days.

For those unfamiliar with the 2001 riots, the book can be hard to follow. This works to the book’s advantage. News surrounding police-involved shootings and subsequent protests can also be hard to follow.

To the same end, the book references similar police-involved deaths which add to the convoluted nature of the book.

I would recommend the book to anyone. It’s a great graphic representation of events leading up to the riots and a perfect example of some of the events that led to the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement.

For me, the book was not my cup of tea, but it provides a learning tool and introduction for understanding and growth.

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A&L

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

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Growing up Black and Gay: ‘Bootycandy’ Cecilia Hernandez “It’s not meant to be easily swallowed,” says Krystel McNeil during one of the scenes of “Bootycandy,” surprising me with her bluntness.

McNeil says that if a play doesn’t make the audience work to consume it, it’s not doing its job.

NAACP Best Director Award winner Robert O’Hara writes and directs “Bootycandy,” a semi-autobiographical comedy portraying the complexities of growing up black and gay. Premiered in 2014 at Playwrights Horizon in New York, O’Hara directs the Chicago premiere of “Bootycandy” at the Windy City Playhouse featuring an all-Chicago cast consisting of Travis Turner, Krystel McNeil, Debrah Neal, Robert Fenton and Osiris Khepera.

Turner plays Sutter, a character loosely based on O’Hara. He reveals the harsh reality of racism, love, sex and sexual identity while trying to find the meaning of them all. The play consists of individual scenes that help shape Sutter’s childhood environment, one filled with loneliness and lack of guidance. Each scene has its own title signifying its individuality, yet all scenes reveal different aspects of Sutter’s life that creates a sense of unity within the play.

Michael Brosilow

Tickets can be purchased online at www.windycityplayhouse.com or at the box office.

Turner delivers a painfully wondrous act in “Happy Meal,” a scene about a mother’s misguided accusation of her son causing a man to follow him home from the library.

While Sutter tries to explain the man’s stalking tendencies, Sutter’s mother keeps yelling “What did you do?” For Sutter’s mother, the logical explanation must be that Sutter provoked the man. She doesn’t stop to think about his emotional well-being or the actual events leading up to the stalking,

which reveals the lack of empathy she has for her own son.

The frustration behind Turner’s every motion and word as he tries to defend himself until he’s shot down from his mother’s ignorance. “Happy Meal” portrays the ugly side of parenting: the times when listening serves a greater purpose than punishing. There’s a disconnect between parents and their kids that can only be solved with sharp communication; “Happy Meal” exposes the actuality

of being misunderstood by one’s parents.

“Bootycandy” is full of controversial situations that are often marginalized. In “The Last Gay Play,” Turner, Fenton and Khepera tell the story of two gay men sodomizing a drunk, crude person who is desperate for human closeness, resulting in his suicide. This scene was haunting, for it uncovers the truth about playing with someone’s emotions without any concern for their mental health

or the consequences. It’s sickening, full of awkward tension and desperation, definitely achieving a somber atmosphere filled with regret. The visual effect of Fenton begging for close body contact while only wearing a white towel--completely naked in all of his glory-- was intense. While the three actors were brilliant, this scene was hard for me “to easily swallow.”

One aspect of the play that was confusing, but weirdly strong, was when all the actors sat down in a row to talk about their scenes. Right before the intermission, Fenton led the ensemble in a conference-like discussion where they each ended up revealing their views on blackness while still acting in scenes. When Fenton offered a synopsis to Turner’s scene that consisted of calling the main character “white,” Turner challenged Fenton; he stated that just because the actor was white does not mean the character was based on a white man. Turner’s commentary exposes the lack of representation of diversity in theatre, which is a sad reality in today’s media.

“Bootycandy” contains nudity and content intended for a mature audience. It’s an unpredictable and raw play that exposes the cracks in our society. The production of “Bootycandy” will run until April 15.

www.neiuindependent.org

Sports

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

13

Are athletes getting paid far too much?

Megan Couty Whether or not professional athletes are overpaid has been a long-standing debate. And in a world where some professional athletes are paid almost 100 times the salary of the average U.S. teacher, it comes as no surprise.

Regardless of whether or not you think athletes are overpaid, the issue at hand is not how much they’re being paid, but why they’re being paid that way.

In a February 2015 article for Business Insider, Cork Gaines offered up a salary comparison for the top 100 players in the four major U.S. leagues.

It is no surprise that the MLB has the highest average salary amongst its top players – roughly $16.4 million per year – considering it is the only league without a salary cap.

The NBA comes in second, with an $11.9 million average. The typical actual salary, not including major signing bonuses, for the NFL’s top players were little over half that of the MLB at about $9 million.

Finally, rounding off the list is the NHL at about $7 million.

Obviously, not all professional athletes make that much money, but even most rookies make more money than some of the world’s other leading professionals.

So why are professional athletes making more money than most of us could ever dream of?

Well, there are many factors that go into it, such as the amount of time athletes put into perfecting their skills, the wear and tear on their bodies, and their short career spans.

As fans, we encourage and allow for athletes to get paid higher and higher salaries each year, because we keep coming back for more. According to Steven Kutz in a July 2016 article from Market Watch, the NFL generates roughly $13 billion in revenue each year. The MLB, NBA and

NHL generated $9.5 billion, $4.8 billion, and $3.7 billion respectively in 2016.

Though a good portion of this money comes from TV deals signed with major networks, a lot of it also comes from ticket sales and merchandise.

As a fan of Chicago sports, I can tell you that I have purchased insanely priced tickets to Cubs and Blackhawks games, averaging around $30-$60, with no regrets. I definitely have at least one form of apparel for the Cubs, Hawks, Bulls, Bears, and yes, even the Sox. As much as I would like to

sit here and say that athletes are overpaid, considering even some rookies make more than the President of the United States, I am partly responsible for funding their paychecks.

The big four are all multi-billion dollar companies, and you have to think of them in terms of a company.

A successful business is only going to play their employees what they feel they are worth. Then you have the middle of the road employees who make above the country’s average wages.

Finally, there are the department executives. These are players like

Tom Brady, LeBron James and Patrick Kane, who are not only faces of the business, but also top earners for it.

My question though is where does that leave the upper management and CEO of the company?

What most people fail to realize is that professional coaches and league commissioners are making just as much, if not more, than some of these players.

Now in an industry like the NFL or MLB that comes as no shock because again, these are multi-billion dollar businesses; but what about college sports?

The highest paid public employee are college coaches in 39 out of the 50 states. The highest paid public employee in the United States is Al-

abama’s head football coach, Nick Saban. With a winning record and a football team that is the pride of Alabama, Saban rakes in a cool $7.09 million per year.

To put that into perspective, most governors of states only average $137,415, and according to the Associated Press, Alabama’s own governor, although not required to, doesn’t collect a salary.

When you take a look at the expenses of a college football team, like Alabama, compared to revenue gained, it is easy to see why Saban is paid so much. Alicia Jessup, a contributor for Forbes, showed this comparison in an August 2013 article. Alabama spent $36.9 million that year, but brought in $82 million.

Overpaid/ pg. 15

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Apply online today for Spring 2017!

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Managed by Amenities are subject to change. See office for details.

Courtesy of the NEIU Physical Education Facebook page

The Healthy Lifestyle Challenge is the latest initiative from the PE Complex to help encourage healthy eating goals.

Step up to the Challenge Idoia Solano With the spring semester nearing midterms, there are new exciting events taking place around campus. The Campus Recreation Center is always one of the most active locations at NEIU, and it seems to maintain that status in the current semester. With hard-working, passionate people in charge, Campus Rec picks up the Healthy Lifestyle Challenge this spring where fall semester left off.

With students’ health always in mind, this activity, one of the Rec’s most popular, as it tries to persuade as many students as possible to adopt a healthy lifestyle by providing tips and tricks to develop healthy habits just by changing small daily routines.

The activity will still be focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle, through social media like last semester, however the main activity this spring will be the celebration of weekly workshops. The workshop is opened to all students on campus, giving them the opportunity of getting to know and, eventually, embracing the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.

The first workshop was at The Nest, organized by students and Campus Rec employees.

During this workshop, attendees learned about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and some of its most popular recipes.

In upcoming events, students will learn how to shop smart and cook healthy meals.

They will also learn about different sports and fitness ideas.

The best way for students to embrace a healthier way of living is by taking an active part on it. In order to participate in NEIU’s Healthy Lifestyle Challenge, students can post pictures of their healthy meals on social media with the hashtag #HealthyLifestyleChallenge. By doing this they will instantly be eligible for winning prizes, such as t-shirts, bottles, keychains and towels With activities like the Healthy Lifestyle Challenge, students can become familiarized with Campus Recreation and all the experiences that it has to offer, while learning about healthy habits easily applicable in a daily basis. Participants will soon start enjoying all the benefits that a healthier lifestyle will provide them, while at the same time know that they represent an active part of this university.

The challenge began on Feb. 8 and is planned to last until the end of the semester.

www.neiuindependent.org

Sports

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Overpaid Continued from page 13

Courtesy of Bridget Samuels via Flickr (left) and Wikimedia Commons (center and right)

(Left to right) Lamar Odom, Lance Armstrong and Anthony Rizzo’s personal choices mold reputations that influence their respective fans.

Should athletes be role models?

Michelle Bright Young adults and children idolize athletes. They’re considered role models because of their media presence and ability to help or change the lives of those less fortunate. For awhile now, there’s been a debate on whether they should be looked at as such.

Each of us has our own talent whether it is playing basketball, baseball or another sport, and we present our craft differently to one another.

These athletes are not perfect, so they shouldn’t be put on a pedestal because we all have flaws. It makes it worse because their actions are highlighted in the media and people see that and want to imitate it, good or bad.

According to an ABC News article from [insert date here],“three-fourths of the 1,500 10 to 17year-olds and 1,950 parents surveyed said athletes teach children that being a good sport and playing fair are as important as winning.” But the article also stated that children think it’s alright to receive special treatment on and off the court, and being promiscuous is alright.

This is teaching children not be held accountable for their actions

when in reality they are held accountable. People have forgotten what it means to be a true athlete, being a team player, the reward of hard work, the importance of dedication and enjoying what you love to do, not just for fame and fortune.

Lamar Odom, a retired player for the Los Angeles Lakers and championship winner, struggled with a drug addiction. He was found unconscious and was on life support, but he came out of the coma days later. Odom might not be doing drugs now but that will be attached to his name forever.

Then there is Lance Armstrong, a cyclist and cancer survivor. He was a seven-time winner of the Tour of De France before being stripped of those titles because he used performance enhancement drugs.

In the Sportster it said “he not only ruined his name but other team member’s careers as well. I’m sure both these players had a following of children and adults that idolized them and wanted to be just like them.”

I’m not saying all athletes are not good role models but should be aware of the examples they are setting.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo recently reached out

by tweet to a boy who was beaten in the hallway of his south Elgin middle school for allegedly bumping into a student. The tweet read, “Heard you are a big cubs fan Henry. When you are better I have a couple tickets and BP (batting practice) passes waiting for you at Wrigley. #Stay Strong.”

On a local scale, the definition of a role model has college students expressing their two cents.

Senior Devin Pickell played sports growing up, so he understands the need for sports athletes to be role models. He states “a good role model is someone that children and adults can both look up to, and see themselves in, and emulate something great in life. Athletes should be role models because they are one in a million and do things you and I can’t.

Pickell’s sentiments were joined by fellow student Catherine Perez, who see’s athletes as role models for the athletic crowd. She stated that a role model “is humble, [has] good leadership skills, and caring for people.”

You may ask, “Well if athletes shouldn’t be role models then who should be? That’s for you to decide.

Why don’t you write an opinion and give us your thoughts on this topic?

Alabama was only topped by the University of Michigan and the University of Texas who spent less ($23.6 million and $25.9 million respectively) and brought in more ($85.2 million and $103.8 million.) Both of these team’s coaches are their state’s highest paid public employees as well.

Not all of this money comes from the government though.

In a September 2016 article from 24/7 Wallstreet, Evan Comen said:, “The revenue stream from highly lucrative TV and other media deals and the fact that college athletes are not paid largely explain the exorbitant salaries for coaches.”

I’m guilty of watching college football every Saturday during the season, and I own gear from at least

15

three different colleges, so again, I, as well as other fans, are still a part of the reason these coaches get paid so much.

Professional athletes and coaches have been paid lucrative salaries for years. Of course it seems crazy that a player or a coach would make more money than a doctor, lawyer, fireman, police officer, teacher, or even our president. But as fans and consumers, we keep putting the money in their pockets. We keep returning to our favorite spot on the couch, with our good friends and our usual game-day snacks every week just to watch Tom Brady throw that touchdown, LeBron James hit that three-pointer, Anthony Rizzo hit that home run , and Patrick Kane to score that goal.

Until we as fans decide to give up on our teams, they will continue to help these players make this type of money. But as long as they keep playing, I’ll keep paying.

Sports

Cubs and White Sox season preview Naaim Siddiqi While pitchers and catcher reporting to their respective camps official marks the start of spring training, both the Cubs and White Sox remained busy during the winter months. Let’s preview what 2017 might have in store for Chicago’s teams.

White Sox: The White Sox are a rebuilding team. While they’d obviously love to do well this season, trading ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for Yoan Moncada (Baseball America’s No. 2 prospect) and outfielder Adam Eaton and aggressively shopping pitchers Jose Quintana and David Robertson are clear evidence that the White Sox are forsaking 2017 in favor of 2018 and beyond.

Key Position Players: Todd Frazier, 3B It’s easy to forget after a down year in 2016 that Todd Frazier is still a very good third baseman and, considering what the Sox gave up for him prior to last season, he’d better be. His dip in average isn’t a huge surprise considering the move from the hitter-friendly confines of Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark to the more pitcher-friendly, newly-named Guaranteed Rate Field. The White Sox will need him to be a power threat in the top half of their order if they want any success.

Tim Anderson, SS Anderson played 99 games in his rookie campaign last year and quickly made himself an asset, making 89 of his 97 starts in the top two positions in the batting order. With Eaton, last season’s leadoff man now on the Nationals, Anderson looks to be the regular leadoff hitter, and the White Sox will hope he improves on his .306

OBP at the top of the order.

Jose Abreu, 1B When the White Sox signed Abreu out of Cuba in 2014, they couldn’t be sure if he’d be the power threat he was in the Cuban National Series. Three years into his major league career, it’s safe to assume we’ve seen the player he’ll be: a .290-plus hitter with 30 home run power and below-average defense at first base.

Abreu had a bit of a down year in 2016 and opted out of his team-friendly deal for the chance at a bigger payday in arbitration, so if he bounces back in the first half, expect a hefty return

Yankees. What they ended up getting was an average reliever who was able to rack up saves. Still, teams find saves attractive and Robertson’s 110 saves since 2014 might be attractive to a contending team at the trade deadline.

Nate Jones, RP Not much was really expected from Jones in 2016. After an impressive debut in 2012, he struggled in 2013 before losing most of the 2014 and 2015 seasons to back and elbow surgeries. Last season looked a lot like his rookie campaign, with Jones appearing to pitch like an elite

World Series titles since the New York Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

Key Position Players: Kris Bryant, 3B The reigning NL MVP will look to repeat his performance last season in which he bashed 39 home runs while hitting for a robust .292 batting average. The Cubs significant roster depth means that they won’t live and die by Bryant’s bat, but as their projected three-hole hitter, Bryant will need to continue to be a key cog in the Cubs’ offense. If the last two seasons are any indication, he’ll look to carry the team to another playoff

The Chicago White Sox have made some offseason moves to compete with the reigning MLB champion Cubs.

Will it be enough? | Graphic by Spencer Jones

for him at the deadline from a contending team.

Key Pitchers: Jose Quintana, SP Pitching in a rotation featuring a remarkable pitcher like Sale on an unremarkable team like the White Sox has led Quintana to be overlooked by many until 2016, a year in which he was named to his first All-Star team and finished 10th in Cy Young voting.

He’s also established himself as a bastion of health, pitching 200 or more innings in each of the past four seasons. Quintana has had a lot of trade rumors swirling around him as well and is expected to not be on the team by the end of the year.

David Robertson, CP When the White Sox signed Robertson to a four-year contract in 2015, they thought they were stealing the next Mariano Rivera from the

closer again. Unlike Robertson, Jones has four more years of team control, which could prime him to be the anchor of the bullpen on the next contending team.But, like Robertson, Jones is 31 years old, which would make him less attractive to keep around for a rebuilding team like the White Sox. Prediction: 77-85, 4th in AL Central Cubs The Cubs’ fortunes are the opposite of the White Sox’s to some.

They went through their rebuild in the first half of this decade and rode the wave of top draft picks and savvy trades to their first World Series championship since 1908. This year, with much of the championship team intact, the Cubs look to repeat their performance from 2016 and become the first team to win back-to-back

run.

Kyle Schwarber, LF After an explosive rookie season in 2015, Schwarber tore his ACL and LCL in an outfield collision and missed all but two games of the 2016 season. Schwarber returned to the Cubs during the World Series and continued to hit as expected. He’s rumoured to be the Cubs’ everyday left fielder in 2017. His outfield defense is expected to be a liability once again, but his offense should make up for it.

Jason Heyward, RF After hitting a career low .230 with only seven homers in the first year of his $184 million contract, Heyward must step up offensively in the absence of Dexter Fowler, who is now the St. Louis Cardinals. Expectations will be high for Heyward entering the season but as arguably

the best outfielder in the game and a World Series champion allows fans to forgive his down year. After all, his speech during the rain delay in game seven of the World Series willed the team to victory.

Key Pitchers Jake Arrieta, SP Arrieta declined in 2016, walking nearly twice as many batters as he did in his Cy Young season. But even if his true talent is closer to his 2016 campaign than 2015, Arrieta should prove to be an important piece in the Cubs’ pitching staff. This season is the last year of his contract, so if he wants to get paid like Clayton Kershaw, he will have to return to his Cy Young form.

Kyle Hendricks, SP Hendricks truly broke out in 2016, leading all of baseball a 2.13 ERA, finishing third in Cy Young voting and working his way to the top of a stacked pitching staff. Much like Arrieta, Hendricks probably won’t be good as he was in 2016, but even if his talent level is lower than his best season, he’s likely to be a stalwart of the rotation for the foreseeable future.

Wade Davis, CP The Cubs acquired Wade Davis in a trade for Jorge Soler in December. Davis fills the closer hole left by Aroldis Chapman when he returned to the Yankees. He signed the largest contract ever by a relief pitcher. Davis has been arguably the best relief pitcher in the game since moving to a full-time bullpen role in 2014. He is also in the final year of his contract, so he’s a stopgap solution for the Cubs while they give Hector Rondon more seasoning, but he’s quite a stopgap if he doesn’t re-sign.

Prediction: 95-67, 1st in NL Central