04/25/2017 Independent Spring Issue #7

Independent Northeastern Illinois University

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Student Government Association Election Results pg. 11

www.neiuindependent.org

Energy costs unknown after El Centro left alight

pg. 4

El Centro’s programmed lighting suffered a technical error, exceeding the use of the campus’s electricity. | Jason Merel

Vol. 36 Issue 15

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NEWS

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

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Police Blotter The following incidents occurred between the dates of April 1 to April 17 at NEIU’s main campus: April 1 - The Nest: A couple was arguing over a family issue outside of The Nest, but the male left when police arrived.

April 1 - Library: A male was kicked and struck while sitting at the library. The offender apologized and no complaints were signed.

April 3 - Parking Lot J: An ex-boyfriend came to campus uninvited.

The police told him to leave and he was given a trespass warning.

April 6 - Library: On two separate occasions, an unknown female had verbal altercations with library staff.

April 17 - Quads: There was a verbal altercation between two students and police stepped in.

NEIU’s first fundraising campaign goes public The Vice President for Institutional Advancement Liesl Downey spoke at the Transforming Lives fundraising campaign on Apr. 7. | Courtesy of NEIU

Sarahy Lopez For the first time in its 150-year history, NEIU launched a fundraising campaign that intends to gather $10 million to support the school and its students.

At almost its second year without a state budget, NEIU publicly announced the campaign on April 7.

The goal of the “Transforming Lives” campaign is to keep the university running and ensure a future for students. The “Transforming Lives” campaign started its silent phase in Jan. 2014 “The Board had been talking about when we were going to have a campaign, and we weren’t quite ready until 2014,” said Liesl Downey, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. The campaign began years prior with the intention to be completed sometime in 2017-18, in honor of the 150th year of the university.

“We’ve been working in the silent phase. What you do during that period is that you approach those nearest and dearest, to which you say ‘We are in the quiet phase of this campaign, would you consider making an investment of x amount of dollars for this priority?” Downey said.

The Transforming Lives campaign has two main initiatives: the Extraordinary Scholarship Support and Exceptional Learning Environments. The Scholarship Support will help students pay for college by funding scholarships, fellowships, research-related travel and internships.

Exceptional Learning Environments will assist with endowed funds for NEIU’s departments and programs, provide naming opportunities for buildings and spaces, endowed professorship and research grants.

Downey, who revealed the fundraising campaign on April 7, explained the first ever endowed professorship program which supports faculty, “It is a fairly broad application and we did that intentionally because with this campaign, what we really want to do is to make sure that people are aware of Northeastern and that they’re inspired to make their first contribution. It’s so broad that you can really say you know what? I did graduate from biology, I really want to do something for those professors that meant something for me.”

The initiative “Exceptional Learning Environments” is to ultimately support faculty research and give back to those departments.

The “Scholarship Supports” goal is $6 million, while “Exceptional Learning Environments” intends to raise $4 million, equaling to $10 million. Currently, the campaign has raised over $5 million, well on its way to completion before the deadline of New Year’s Eve, 2018.

This paved the way to the campaign goal of $10 million with the help of the NEIU Foundation, donors like former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Daniel Goodwin who pledged $2.5 million, administrative staff, faculty, and alumni. Another major contributor is the Class Gift Fund, where graduating seniors from NEIU can make a donation of $20.17 to assist the Class Gift Scholarship.

Downey said they might’ve been a little conservative about when they wanted to go public, but their hope was when they reached a certain amount, it would inspire and show others how well on the way the campaign was to its goal. It is general practice to go public once a campaign has reached 40-60% of completion.

“The whole principle is that you see success is already on its way,” Downey stated. “This is how Northeastern transforms lives.”

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

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Recruitment suffers from lack of staff, budget This past week’s Forward 150 discussion was “Recruitment 101.” In which the retention rates of students to the university were examined in a presentation by Dr. Janice Herring-Hendon, associate vice president for enrollment services. Strategies to bring in freshman, students from other universities and receiving more graduate students were discussed within the panel.

The lack of a state budget is creating an effect that trickles down to student recruitment and retainment.

Students are applying and attending other state colleges and universities because the budget crisis has “created an ominous back-drop,” according to Herring-Hendon.

In 2016 the university accepted over 11,000 applications in Spring, Summer and Fall semesters from students and transfers, but only about 4,600 enrolled. “I’ve been in enrollment management a long time, and I have to say, I’ve never seen such an incredibly challenging recruitment environment,” Herring-Hendon said during the discussion panel. “The competition is absolutely fierce.”

States like New Jersey, Wisconsin and Iowa are retaining more students from Illinois, making it difficult for public universities like NEIU to enroll students.

Staffing within recruitment services only has a director, an assistant director, three recruiters, a coordinator and two in-house admissions counselors.

In comparison, UIC has a total es out to. “The only thing that will of 13 recruiters. “Even though we’ve keep us from a salary-savings plan, or had some staff added in the last year, furlough program, is receiving adewe’re still quate fundrunning being from the state,” Preshind,” Herr i ng - He n ident Helldon stated. dobler said The hirat the Board of Trustees ing freeze meeting, on that the uniApril 6. versity initiB u t ated due to most imthe budget crisis preportant is getting vents the - Dr. Janice Herring-Hendon, associate students to department vice president for enrollment services stay at the from getting NEIU. “The more reconversion rates are what matter cruiters and staff. This in turn affects how many students the school reach- right now, said Herring-Hendon. The

“

Even though we’ve had some staff added in the last year, we’re still running behind.

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Sarahy Lopez

presentation discussed the “work-inprogress” recruitment plan, which will implement many marketing strategies to attract students to NEIU, including telephone push campaigns, high school territory travel, campus tours that are scheduled throughout the year, State Articulation Conferences in September that bring hundreds of high school guidance counselors to NEIU, open houses, FAFSA workshops and scholarship sessions.

“More and more of what we’re finding is that guidance counselors and parents are encouraging and sending students out of state,” said Herring-Hendon. “The degree is being devalued, but in spite of it all, we’ll move forward in smarter, bolder, creative and very measured ways.”

News Problems come to light at El Centro The lights were left in the on position at the El Centro campus 24/7 over a two week period. There is no word yet how much this will cost the university. | Jason Merel

Jason Merel In the midst of budgetary restrictions and furlough programs, there was a major malfunction with the lights at El Centro.

The lights were left stuck on day and night for about two weeks.

The malfunction was discovered at the end of March. Electricians were sent to assess the problem, they determined that the lighting program on the main lighting control panel had been deleted.

This can happen in the event of a power surge or failure but neither were reported.

The manufacturer’s authorized maintenance vendor was then contacted to reprogram the panel. The vendor was originally scheduled to come out on April 6 but was rescheduled to avoid interrupting the Board of Trustee’s meeting at El Centro that day, to April 13.

The replacement is not the same as the previous program so there are still a few bugs to work out. The remaining issue with the program is the bathroom lights.

At the moment, it is difficult to quantify how much this will cost the university.

“It has not been determined whether fixing or replacing or reprogramming the panel is covered by

manufacturer's or installer's warranty,” said Michael Pierick, vice president of finance and administration.

“If not, then the cost to the University will be determined and presented.”

The exact cost of this increase in energy usage for the two weeks, whether the warranty covers the service visit or not, is also not yet known.

Meanwhile, there are some budget items that may help NEIU lighten the financial impact of the budget impasse in Springfield, going forward.

The university has added the Nest residence hall and a pilot program for an inter-campus shuttle service this year.

A few years ago the university surveyed students who applied to NEIU but chose to attend other universities, to find out what made them choose the other school. One of the top reasons cited was a lack of a residence hall. “​The Nest has been an asset to the University.” Pierick said. “A residence hall option provides the opportunity to increase enrollment for groups like international students, students from other states and even students who have long commutes from other parts of Chicagoland.”

The agreements for development, funding and operation of the Nest specify that NEIU is responsible for achieving what is called break-even

occupancy. This means that the university has guaranteed American Campus Communities, the developer and operator of the Nest, that a certain level of residency will be achieved.

If break-even occupancy is not reached, the university is responsible for the difference and has to essentially rent unoccupied units. However, in the first year of the residence hall, the break-even goal was met. Already, it looks as though the university will exceed break-even for the second year.

As occupancy increases beyond the break-even requirement, NEIU receives ground lease payments that increase along with it so the Nest is already making money for the university.

The staff are employed by ACC so aside from a slightly increased workload for Facilities Management and Student Affairs, no new staff had to be hired by the university.

However, there is a new pilot program being tested this semester that could provide Nest residents with on-campus employment opportunities if successful.

The NEIU Shuttle started running Feb. 21 and will operate every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until May 4.

The goal of the program is to offer students an easier option for access-

ing the various campuses, to expand their course enrollment options.

It’s free to all NEIU students and links the main campus with El Centro and the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, with stops at the Kimball Brown Line station. Students must show a school ID when boarding as well as fill out an authorization form (which can be done online in less than a minute).

The drivers are NEIU students working part time and there are currently three drivers. The shuttle leaves the Nest at 8:00 a.m., making driving an ideal job for residents.

When determining the route schedule for this semester, there were two main factors: classes being offered at El Centro and CCICS, and traffic patterns.

The pilot program will continue until the end of the spring semester, at which point the program will be reevaluated for the fall semester. Since enrollment for summer courses is lower than spring and fall, the shuttle will not be offered during the summer semester.

“If there is a substantiated interest to keep (the program) moving, then we will develop what the fall will look like, based on the success of the pilot program,” said Kyle Burke, Director of Student Union and Event Coordination Services.

“We will have some administrative discussions about the usage but I would like to have some student input.”

This may come in the form of a survey or a town hall meeting, shortly after the spring semester ends. If this program is successful, the intention is to start promoting the service to highlight the registration options students would have available.

The projected program cost was estimated by Burke to be slightly more than $7,000 for ten weeks of this semester, operating three days of the week.

This covers the cost of the van rental and employing the drivers.

The estimated cost for a full semester is $10,000 and that number would increase if the service is extended to four or five days per week.

The funding for this program comes out of the student union fee that every student pays along with their tuition and other fees.

The university is taking steps to drive enrollment until a resoloution to the state budget situation as it continues.

Malfunctions like the lighting at El Centro present new challenges for the administration but as long as enrollment continues to grow, the university may be able to navigate this financial crisis.

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Former Obama adviser gives free keynote address Rut Ortiz

keep the it afloat during a budget impasse that has lasted 22 months.

The last agreed-upon furlough day for the Valerie Jarrett will not be accepting paySpring semester is set to take place May 1. ment for her keynote speech at Spring ComHelldobler called coverage on Jarrett’s formencement this May. The NEIU Board of Trustees faced disagree- mer honorarium amount “a distraction.”

“What people should really be talking about ments stemming from $30,000 honorarium that was set to pay Jarrett amid the continuous is the $17 million that the state has shorted financial gridlock imposed by the Illinois State Northeastern Illinois University this fiscal year,” he said in his email. “This is what we must fogovernment.

“The speaker fee that we intended to pay is cus on and continue to draw attention to every well within what is typical of Commencement chance we get.” speakers for any major university. We are so According to Helldobler, a bill for another very fortunate to have the kind of high-profile round of stopgap funding for higher education speaker, like Valerie Jarrett, that our graduating and human services cleared the Illinois House students deserve,” said NEIU Interim President but not the Senate before they broke for their Richard Helldobler in an email on April 13. spring break. Gov. Bruce Rauner has already “We are not going to let Springfield punish our promised not to sign it, even if it passes the graduating students by keeping General Assembly. them from having a proper Currently the stopgap is send off. I regret that our Uninot the only bill in circulation that would affect NEIU’s fiversity Community, the Board of Trustees and Ms. Jarrett were nances. subject to this unnecessary According to an April 22 drama.” report by the Chicago SunThe high profile speaker Times, politicians have noticed and former adviser for the the situation that state-funded Obama administration is coninstitutions and are taking actracted to deliver her speech tion. to the graduating class of 2017 State Rep. Mark Batinick, and receive an honorary degree Valerie Jarrett R-Plainfield, plans to follow during commencement. through with bill HB 4033. If However, for a moment an unidentified this bill is passed, state universities and commuphilanthropist offered to pick up the tab. nity colleges who collect state appropriations According to a Chicago Sun-Times article would be prohibited from using public funding published on April 11, NEIU spokesperson to pay commencement speakers to deliver their Mike Hines said, “Since last week’s Board of speeches at graduation ceremonies.

Trustees meeting, we have identified a generous “There are plenty of successful people who donor who will cover the cost for our Com- believe it’s about giving back,” Batinick told the Sun-Times. “It should be an honor to give that mencement speaker.”

The Sun-Times reported that Hines did not speech.”

Additionally, Batinick said to The Southern have details on the mysterious donor.

In a follow-up article the next day, the Illinoisan in an article published on April 17 Sun-Times confirmed that Jarrett would speak that paying a commencement speaker is not the at NEIUs May graduation for free and that a “best use” of public funding during a time of spokesperson for Jarrett said she was unaware of layoffs and furlough days.

He told the Carbondale newspaper, “If you the financial distress NEIU has faced. The SunTimes also reported on the additional furlough expect to get paid for that sort of speech, you days agreed upon to close the school in order to don’t deserve to give that sort of speech.”

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TheEditorial Independent Board Editor-in-Chief Brett Starkopf Managing Editor Robin Bridges Production Editor Pablo Medina News Editor Sarahy Lopez Assistant News Editor Bisma Zafar Opinions Editor Danny Montesdeoca Sports Editor Spencer Jones Arts & Life Editor Cecilia Hernandez Online Editor Christian Gralak Social Media Editor Megan Couty Marketing and Advertising Director Christopher Starnawski Payroll Manager Cheryl Johnson

Independent Staff Writers Megan Couty Jason Merel Rut Ortiz Regina M. Torres Cartoonists GN 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 nd Associated Collegiate Press.

Opinions Everybody poops: A new Target to boycott Pablo Medina When you have nowhere to do your business, whose fault is it?

Retail corporation Target announced on Apr. 19, 2016 the decision to allow transgender workers and shoppers to use bathrooms and fitting rooms that correspond to their gender identity in all of its stores in the United States. In response to the Equality Act enacted in 2015, Target aimed to support the act in protecting LGBT persons and opposing discrimination of the community.

“Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate,” the statement read. “We stand for equality and equity, and strive to make our guests and team members feel accepted, respected and welcomed in our stores and workplaces every day.”

Since the day of the statement, the American Family Association has boycotted the decision. Nearly million people signed the AFA’s petition to make a statement to Target that the decision does not pave the way to a safe shopping environment.

“This means a man can simply say he ‘feels like a woman today’ and enter the women's restroom... even if young girls or women are already in there,” the AFA’s website stated.

“Target's policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims.

And with Target publicly boasting that men can enter women's bathrooms, where do you think predators are going to go?”

As questionable as that argument sounds, it seems to be a genuine concern out of the hearts of a well-intentioned organization. The AFA, however, has one massively fatal flaw going against it: it’s a hate group. Yes, the non-profit 501(c)(3) charity organization centered on the protection of traditional family values is labeled as a hate group, according to the South-

Some establishments, like NEIU, choose to build all gender bathrooms, while others allow individuals use the bathroom that sutis them. | Pablo Medina

ern Poverty Law Center in November 2010.

The AFA is placed among groups like the Illinois Family Institute, Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment and Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. The group aims to spread the fundamental Christian message that “God ordained the marital covenant as the exclusive context for sexual contact to be enjoyed between a husband (one man) and his wife (one woman).”

The AFA also fronted conspiracies like homosexual Nazi leaders in the Third Reich, the SPLC supporting homosexual dominance by holding an anti-clique and anti-bullying Teaching Tolerance program, and its own organization supporting the kidnapping of children with same-sex parents and placing them in, accord-

ing to former Director of Issues Analysis Bryan Fisher, “‘normal” homes.

It’s safe to say this boycott is a moot resort to pushing a conservative agenda of delegitimizing the concerns of the transgender community. Some of those concerns include discrimination and exclusion in social events and business gatherings.

Thus leading to turning transgender individuals into targets of violence for being different. They’re looking for a lame excuse to separate transgender people from public view.

The AFA instead offers a “common-sense approach and a reasonable solution” to appease transgender people.

“Target should keep separate facilities for men and women, but for the trans community and for those who simply like using the bathroom

alone, a single occupancy unisex option should be provided,” the AFA’s website stated.

Well, that’s purely an opinion, and the AFA is not the spokesperson for the whole trans community.

If any gendered person wants to use any bathroom they please, who has any right to stop them?

The AFA reasoned that the policy puts wives and children at risk of predators and violence, and that it does not place protection as a priority.

The transgender community should not be equated or even compared to sexual predators, because there is a difference between someone who just wants to use the toilet and someone who is in the bathroom to claim a victim.

More often than not, bathroom legislation assumes that transgender people include people that pretend to be the opposite gender. There’s a word for that, and it’s not transgender. It’s called fraud. If anything, the law should be punishing predators equally, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation.

The bigger problem, however, stems from the false fear that a transgender person will use a bathroom to cause harm to someone. Intent is the focus of the crime, not the person’s gender, and predators come in all different identities and even different ages.

The predator can either be a complete stranger but more likely someone the victim knows personally. There are too many factors to simply deduce predators as people pretending to be the opposite gender to follow someone to the bathroom.

There needs to be a greater emphasis in educating people and calming the fear of trans people and bathroom predators. Transgender people are human beings and deserve to have their voices heard.

Arts & Life

DJ Stack’s spin on things: Ajoyi Stackhouse DJ Stack performing at First Fridays event on NEIU's Main Campus. Learn more about her on her website at www.DJStack83.com. | Photos by Robin Bridges and Regina Torres

NEIU student DJ Stack was born unable to breathe. Her full name is Ajoyi Stackhouse is a representation of the joy of overcoming such a traumatic beginning of life.

Now in her early thirties and residing in Waukegan, Stack is finally enjoying the fruits of her labor, running her own DJ service in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. It’s been a long and interesting haul for Stack. One that has involved a love of music since she was just a child.

“Ever since I was little, I’d take my allowance and go to Sam Goody and get CDs,” Stack said.Some of Stack’s early memories involve playing living room DJ for her brother and the girls he would bring home, or becoming the main DJ at her friend’s parties, “because I always had a stack of CDs,

education and solidify her skills at and people liked the stuff I had.”

This musical fondness continued Scratch DJ Academy. Not only did for Stack even after she joined the this experience provide a positive Navy upon graduating high school. social network for female DJs, where There, she spent over a decade aboard they would practice together and ships while making mixed CDs for support each other, but it also led to her friends to listen to. Stack got her start at being an official DJ by providing beats for her military - Ajoyi Stackhouse crewmembers by 2009, “There would be times that we would be land-docked Stack’s being hired by the academy as for 40 days, and there would be beer a professional DJ. While spending her time parties. Those were cool times.”

When she finished her stint in studying at NEIU, she has DJ’d for the navy, she had accumulated about Latino History Month, a science event, and for about two years she did seven years of DJ experience.

“I was an okay DJ, but wanted a show called NEIU’s #1 Podcast. This to embrace and learn more about led to even more DJ gigs.

In her words, “The campus has the culture of DJ’ing,” she said.

This is when she decided to get an really shown me love.” Today, Stack

“

The campus has really shown me love.

DJs for corporate and private events.

Although she prefers the sound quality of turntables/vinyl records, she operates without them. Instead, she uses a controller unit, laptop and Seratto — a popular DJ software program.

In her words, “With controllers you don’t need anything but your laptop and external hard drive. Your music is transferred through that way. I just don’t carry vinyl even though I prefer it. It’s a pain to move turntables.”

Stack said the DJ’ing scene has transformed over the years in certain ways, which is why she finds herself DJing for unique places such as a Trampoline park, as well as more traditional events such as weddings.

“It’s great that stores are getting

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Regina M. Torres

DJs into their spaces for events,” Stack said. “It sets a vibe. I wish I could convince them all to do it, because music and DJs — we change the scene so much.”

Stack also finds it interesting and positive that most of her bookings are from women.

“I’m all about chick empowerment and building community amongst female DJs and clientele,” Stack said.

“We shouldn’t be in competition with one another. Instead, we each offer something unique. I think we need to stick together because it’s a male dominated field.”

As for the types of music that Stack enjoys playing most?

“I like a lot of different genres of music. Hip hop and old school house music like Chicago’s Marshall Jefferson. I’d even throw some disco in there,” she says with a laugh.

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Festivals to look forward to Robin Bridges In Chicago, sunny days and warm weather equal festivals. Whether you’re a music fan, foodie, art lover or enjoy a little bit of everything, the Chicago area has something for you.

This past weekend marked the unofficial opening of the festival season. It was barely higher than 60 degrees outside but that didn’t stop one of the largest congregations of all things pop culture outside of San Diego’s Comic Con. Seven years ago ReedPOP brought Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo to our city. C2E2 is by far not the largest festival this summer but it is definitely how Chicagoans know it’s that time of year.

For those who love performance Chicago Summer Dance (June 23 through Sept. 10) - Not strictly a festival, Summer Dance is totally a party.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday there is a different music style. Go early for the dance lessons or bring your partner and dance the night away to a different set of bands every weekend – for free.

Fringe Festival (August 30 to Sept. 10)

For the music lover Chicago Open Air (July 14 to July 16) - 2017 will be the heavy metal music festival’s second year in existence.

Headlined last year by artists like Korn, Disturbed and Marilyn Manson.

Many of the artists had not played in the Chicago area for almost 10 years.

This year bands like Kiss, Slayer and Godsmack headline the music, food and craft beer fest.

Featuring “Gourmet Man Food” from places such as Kuma’s Corner and the Big Cheesy along with locally made craft beers.

Half Acre, Revolution and Goose Island beer will all be available either in a can or on tap for those who are of age.

Disturbed (top) and Korn (bottom) performed at the 2016 Chicago Open Air. | Robin Bridges

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest (May 27 and 28), Spring Awakening ( June 9 to June 11)

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

For the artist, For those who love words both on and off the page art lover or aficionado of all things visual Printers Row Lit Fest (June 10 and 11) - Purchased by the Chicago Tribune in 2002 the festival brings purveyors of the printed word from around the country to a small south loop stretch.

The fest also features workshops and speakers.

Young Chicago Authors (Workshops and open mic every Tuesday and Saturday), Chicago Zine Fest (May 5 and 6)

The 57th Street Art Fair (June 3 and June 4) and African Festival of the Arts (Sept 1 to Sept 4) - There is nothing like these two art festivals.

You’ll never see art and hand made crafts like these anywhere else. If you like unique pieces from local and international artists, these art fairs are a must see.

Wells Street Art Fair (June 10 and June 11), Gold Coast Art fair (June 17 and June 18)

For the shopper

The Illinois Women's Press Association (top) and Printer's Row Lit Fest (bottom) stands get busy. | Robin Bridges

Randolph Street Market happens on the last weekend of the month all year long. However, during the summer it explodes into the great outdoors of Chicago.

The market pours onto the indoor/outdoor space of Chicago Plumbers Union Hall. Buy food, furniture or add to your vinyl collection.

One of a kind Show and Sale, Spring Edition (April 28 to April 30)

For the lover of edibles and drinkables Maifest (Mayfest) (June 1 to June 4) - This German festival features Polka music, giant soft bavarian pretzels and beer in a boot-stein. The festival officially opens with the crowning of the May Queen on friday. However, the pre-crowning party on Thursday is worth the trip.

Lincoln Park Greek Fest (June 2 to June 4) Andersonville Midsommar Fest (June 9 to June 11)

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NEIU student makes musical history: Steven Cristi Rut Ortiz

joining the group with his brother.

“We actually got to live the highschool version of ‘Pitch Perfect,’” he NEIU senior Steven Cristi loves said. His experiences with his A capmusic. The secondary-education major also sings, writes his own lyrics and has pella group throughout high school won two NEIU talent shows in both were the driving force behind his new a group and as an individual. He won pursuit of singing.

NEIU’s 2017 Talent Show.

He said his transition from high “I think I’ve always been a writer,” school to his first two years at NEIU Cristi said. “I just didn’t really accept were tough ones. He came to college it or really embrace it until I came (to not knowing how or where to become NEIU).” involved on campus.

He remembered first coming to “I would jam out with one of my NEIU and wanting to become a history good friends. I started writing my own teacher but received encouragement music and it hasn’t stopped since. It’s from an English professor to pursue been almost like a year since I started writing in the middle of his freshman writing.” year. His professor pulled him out of Singing and playing music became his English 101 class for a pep talk. not just an outlet of self-expression but “I didn’t think that would happen also worked as a means to cope with in college,” he said with a smile. “I the transition. thought I was in trouble.”

“Coming into Northeastern, I As a senior, Cristi is pursuing a thought I was supposed to have things minor in creative writing along with Courtesy of Kevin Reodica figured out already,” he said. “I realized his education major although teaching Steven Cristi also played in events at UIC and around NEIU. He uploads music videos of his orig- I can be whoever I want to be and conand writing are not his main interests. inal songs on youtube and Facebook under the name of Steven Cristi. tinue becoming that person for the rest He comes from family-generations of of my life.” musicians.

Cristi said for a moment during “Music is in my blood on my dad’s side,” he “It’s a big part of Filipino culture. We love to Boys and *NSYNC but admitted that he never his college education he thought that he had to said. took singi2wng seriously because of his high choose between his desire to be a teacher and singing, dancing and karaokeing.”

Cristi’s grandfather has his own band in the Cristi is not an exception. He played piano voice in grammar school. However, that only his love of being a musician.

Philippines during the 1950s and 1960s. He ob- and saxophone while in junior high and high lasted until high school when his brother joined Despite these doubts, Cristi will begin stuan A cappella group. school.

As a young adult he mainly focuses on tained the opportunity to perform in New York. dent teaching and the next chapter of his story.

“In some funny way I was like, ‘I can sing He will be taking his lyrical background with playing the guitar and his voice.

The rest is musical history.

He described growing up trying to copy the better than him,’” he said through chuckles. him to his future classroom.

“His sons and my father, they had their own band and then they came (to Chicago),” he said. routines of boy bands such as the Backstreet That friendly sibling competitiveness led to him “Music’s going to be part of my life,” he said.

STR E S S

F R E E ZON E

Looking for a FREE Lunch? FREE Massage?

FREE Games? FREE T-Shirt? A Place to CHILL? Come to SU-214 Tuesday, May 2nd & Wednesday, May 3rd 9:30 am - 2:30 pm CURRENT STUDENT ID REQUIRED Sponsored by Student Health and Counseling Services

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Student Government Association election results President Ashlei Ross (52.41%) 195 votes Dorrie Hubbard III (34.94%) 130 votes Vice President Mohammed Sibghatullah Khan (42.47%) 158 votes Nancy Calderon (42.47%) 158 votes Treasurer Alfredo Palafox (44.62%) 166 votes Selma Aburahmeh (42.47 %) 159 votes Secretary Jermaine Cherry (73.92%) 275 votes Student Trustee Trudy Leong (53.49%) 199 votes Nicholas Martinez (38.97%) 145 votes IBHE-SAC Representative Amy Durbin (56.72%) 211 votes Matthew Sund (15.59%) 58 votes Senators Sharon Diaz (15.38%) 104 votes Nicole Saineghi (13.16%) 89 votes Kevin Coleman (13.01%) 88 votes Elena Molloy (12.13%) 82 votes Anthony Hall (11.39%) 77 votes Jennifer Mena (11.24%) 76 votes Joe Tyler Gerber (10.20%) 69 votes Hermes Banda (6.65%) 45 votes Michell Pacheco (4.14%) 28 votes Eligible Write-In Candidates for Senator Christian Huerta (1.08%) 4 votes Jessica Alaniz (0.81%) 3 votes Taryn Harris (0.54%) 2 votes Council of Clubs Representatives Sharon Hernandez (46.08%) 206 votes Abraham Pante(25.72%) 115 votes M Dilum Meegoda (23.93%) 107 votes Eligible Write-In Candidates for Council of clubs Representatives Thu Phan (0.27%) 1 vote These results are not yet ratified by Student Government Senate. Results are set to be voted on at Tuesday, April 25 at the next Student Government Senate Meeting. For details stop by the Student Leadership Development office in room B119.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

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Korean food gets playful in comic books Regina M. Torres There are seemingly countless cookbooks out on the market, each written with a certain niche and aiming to set themselves apart from the rest on the shelf (or screen), “Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes” actually delivers.

Author and illustrator Robin Ha has given the English-speaking world a vibrant and informative comic book-style cookbook, complete with passages that serve as welcoming introductions to Korean terminology and food culture.

Serving as narrator and accompanying the reader through the chapters, Ha has created Dengki, a traditional-style Korean dress-wearing young lady. Visual learners will appreciate the fun sketches that span 1-3 pages per recipe, while the instructions accompanying are detailed and concise — especially helpful for those new to Korean cuisine.

Another charm the book has is Ha’s colorfully drawn culinary accounts of early life

growing up in South Korea, leading up to her college era travels to Italy and relocation to New York, often injecting cheeky humor into her tales along the way.

Besides covering the basics of Korean cooking, such as key ingredients or types of bap (cooked rice), the 176-page paperback covers a portion of the over 100 varieties of vegetable side dishes known as banchan. Here you will find simple recipes for bean sprout salad and pan-fried tofu, as well as the bit more complex but legendary Dolsot Bibimbap — sizzling hot rice, veggies, proteins and spicy sauce cooked together in an earthenware pot.

More surprising may be the Acorn Jelly Salad recipe, which is strictly unique to Korean food. There is a chapter devoted to some varieties of kimchi, or traditional fermented/pickled vegetable dishes, which are a staple in the Korean diet. The most popular types are being made from napa cabbages and daikon radishes.

There is also a section concerning meat

such as an intro on Korean barbeque, which is typically served in lettuce and/or perilla leaves.

Ginseng Chicken Soup is also listed here, as Koreans prize ginseng for its medicinal properties.

The seafood chapter offers up specialties like the spicy Raw Fish Salad Bowl as well as accompaniments for seafood such as Tangy Seaweed Salad.

The Soups and Stews section offers up recipes which are healthy, though they each consist of meat, egg or seafood products. Even so, as with the other chapters of Ha’s book, she informs us that many of these recipes can be tweaked to make them vegan. For example, by substituting fish sauce for soy sauce, or omitting eggs. Porridges, which are mostly rice and rice flour based, vary with some consisting of interesting combinations of vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruit.

The Korean party food of Japchae, or Sweet Potato Noodles, can be found in the Noodles and Rice Cakes section along with an education

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on the different types of rice cakes. We hear about rice cakes again in the snacks section, where they are renowned as one of the kings of Korean street food in their various forms and preparations. There is even a wrap-up chapter giving a nod to Korean fusion, since the influence and ingredients stemming from other countries seems to have taken over the world at large, and Korea is no different in this way.

With a large portion of the population being of imbibing age, there should be some mention of what Ha calls “The Irish of Asia.” Korean people have their own traditional alcoholic beverages such as Anju, as well as unspoken drinking rules and rituals which apply to social drinking scenarios.

In short, this book is a delight for those who love Korean food as well as a fun introduction for those who may be new to it. Ha’s passion for cooking is conveyed in an unassuming, practical, and artistic manner which can be contagious in a most welcome and quirky way.

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Sports NEIU’s best kept secret goes martial Secco and his Tai Chi class is the best kept secret from the P.E. Complex. | Regina M. Torres

Regina M. Torres Northeastern Illinois University is chock-full of surprises, even when it comes to classes offered in the way of athletics.

I recently sat down for an informative and inspiring interview with NEIU adjunct professor of computer ethics and public policy, Thomas Secco. Our purpose, however, wasn’t to talk tech or policy. Instead I sat in on one of his beginner-level Tai Chi classes, which he instructs on Tuesday afternoons from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in studio 2 of the P.E. Complex Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art thought to be credited to a Taoist monk named Zhang San Feng.

Loosely translated, Tai Chi Chuan (its full name) means “grand ultimate fist or boxing.” According to Secco, “Tai Chi is also called moving meditation, with some schools stressing the aesthetic aspects.”

Secco teaches the Yang style of Tai Chi, which he was certified to instruct in 1999.

“The Yang style traces its roots back to its founder, Yang Lu Chan, born in 1799,” Secco said.

“My teacher was Hsu Fun Yuen, whose teacher was Chen Men Ching, two of the best Tai Chi teachers in the United States. Their lineage can be traced all the way back to Yang Lu Chan.”

Tai Chi is practiced in a very slow form as opposed to other typical lightning-fast and offensively-focused martial art forms.

“Tai Chi is stressed as a martial art that emphasizes self-defense.

There is also a breathing component, which overlaps with the practice of Qi Gong,” he continued.

This would explain why walking into an ongoing Tai Chi class is so unexpectedly different. There is no loud music pumping here and not even much vocal instruction from Secco.

Just the sound of bare feet and soft-soled shoes sweeping the floor and whirring the air in a series of exact body placements and shifts: kicks, punches, blocks and retreats— all done in what looks like a sort of constant push-and-pull, whole body, slow dance meditation consisting of 64 postures.

I asked Secco what sparked his interest in Tai Chi and how long he

has been practicing it. He has been active in athletics his whole life, trying his hand out at a wide range of sports, from baseball to boxing. He was not only interested in the physical aspects of practicing Tai Chi, but the intellectual aspects as well.

“Both needs were met by the practice of Tai Chi, which is one of the ‘internal’ martial arts of China.

Internal, because it is not only concerned with self-defense but the internal circulation of energy, or ‘chi,’” Secco said.

Some of the benefits of practicing Tai Chi are that core strength and leg strength are greatly improved.

In addition, balance and posture are also improved, making it extremely beneficial for people recovering from strokes. Secco added, “Tai Chi produces a radical improvement in proprioceptive intelligence, physical stamina, perceptual awareness, coordination and confidence.”

If this form of martial arts sounds like a winner, consider attending one of the free beginner or intermediate sessions. Check with the P.E. Complex for a current schedule of classes offered. And come prepared to find your chi.

FREAKY FAST! FREAKY GOOD! ®

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Sports

www.neiuindependent.org

NBA end of year awards predictions Spencer Jones

Russell Westbrook averaged a triple double for the entire season. Is that enough to claim this year’s Most Valuable award?

Graphic by Spencer Jones

This 2016-2017 NBA season has lived up to the hype that none of us NBA fans were expecting.

In this single season, we witnessed a new collective record for triple-doubles in a season (115), second-year guard Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, became the youngest player to score 70 points in a game and Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, became the first player in league history to be top-20 in all five major statistical categories.

As the regular season has ended and the playoffs have started, it’s almost time for the league to give out its yearly awards.

This year will definitely be a tough one for voters.

Rookie of the Year Dario Saric Philadelphia 76ers Saric’s frontcourt mate Joel Embiid was the leading rookie before he suffered a season ending knee injury.

Since then the gap between him and other first-year players have closed and has come down to two legitimate players, Saric and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Malcolm Brogdon.

Though Brogdon is playing in the postseason while the 76ers never had a chance to get there, Saric has had a bigger impact on his team.

For the season, he’s averaging 13 points with 41 percent shooting from the field.

He’s also averaging six rebounds and close to a steal per game. He ranks in the top of the rookie leaderboard in points, field goal percentage, and minutes played.

Most Improved Player of the Year

Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets The future for the NBA’s big men is in the hands of players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. One big man that’s flying under the radar is Nikola Jokic.

In his sophomore season he’s bumped his scoring average up from 10 points per game to 17 and his rebounds went from five per game to seven while increasing his assist and shooting percentages.

While his stats don’t stand out as much as other players who could win this award, his potential is what many fans and players in the league have taken notice of. He’s a seven foot center that can pass and move like a guard, which isn’t the norm of this league.

Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert Utah Jazz No one outside of the Jazz organization could’ve predicted this stellar play on both ends of the floor for the 7’1 Gobert. The third year player from France has solidified his place among the best defensive players in the league with his season leading block average of 2.6 while averaging 13 rebounds per game as well.

His play doesn’t end there. He’s anchored the young Jazz to third best defensive rating in the league, trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. What’s interesting about this team defensive ranking is that each of these three teams has a defensive specialist who could take home this award, players being forward Draymond Green (GS) and Kawhi Leonard (SA). Gobert’s out with an injury and that could hurt his stock.

If he could find a way to rejoin his team in the postseason and put together a few solid games, there’s no reason why this award should not go to him.

Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon Houston Rockets Taking a backseat is sometimes hard for players who know that they could be starting, but that’s not the case for Gordon.

The eight-year veteran of Indiana played with three different organizations, the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and now the Houston Rockets. What’s different about this Rockets teams is Gordon is looked at as a first or second option, which takes the pressure off of his shoulders.

Now, almost a full season in, he’s arguably the best shooter on the team and isn’t afraid of the big moment. He’s been a nice complement to James Harden, another player who’s been having a stellar season. Mike D’Antoni has always leaned towards a run-and-gun style of play, and this season he might have a few players recognized around the league because of it.

Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder There’s are legitimately four players that could take this award home this season: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA / page 15

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Sports

Gary Bettman doesn’t speak for us fans Megan Couty On April 3, the NHL announced that it would not be disrupting their 2017-2018 season to participate in the Olympics in Pyeong Chang, South Korea.

This will be the first time in 5 Olympics that NHL Players will not be competing.

There were discussed between the NHL, International Olympic Committee, NHL Players Association, and even the International Ice Hockey Federation, but no consensus could be reached.

League Commissioner, Gary Bettman, expressed the team owners’ concerns over the 17-day break involved.

This takes away time not only from those players not involved in competition, but it also takes time away from fans. At a time where the NFL and MLB are in their offseasons, US and Canadian fans both favor the NHL’s decision.

According to a poll conducted by the NHL, 73 percent of US fans and 53 percent of Canadian fans were against participation.

Organizations within the NHL are also worried about competing players being worn out or injuring themselves during the Olympics.

According to NHL.com four players in the 2014 Sochi Olympics sustained season-ending injuries.

This also accounts for the fatigue players experience because of such a condensed schedule.

With all these factors in play you’d think that the NHL was making the right decision by forgoing the Olympics, but I would disagree.

The Olympics are on an international level and the NHL has players from all over the world, and they provide a great opportunity to attract international fans.

Beside the fans, many players have expressed their disdain for the NHL’s decision and have said that

they want to compete and represent their home countries.

I understand from a business standpoint that it makes more sense to ditch the winter games, but honestly, we fans don’t watch to improve business.

We watch for the thrill of seeing teammates play against each other.

We watch for the sitting on the edge of your seat, nervous excitement of a Team USA, Team Canada matchup.

We watch for the pride felt when our flag is raised and medals are placed around our players’ necks.

The NHL said in their announcement that they “consider the matter officially closed,” but the fan in me is hoping they reconsider.

By choosing to pass on the Olympics the NHL is depriving their fans of the opportunity to feel that thrill, that nervous-excitement, and that pride.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

NBA Continued from page 14 Westbrook has a slight edge because what he’s done this season, no other player has done since Oscar Robertson 1962-1963 season to average a triple-double. In this same season he passed Robertson for most triple doubles in a single season with 42.

NBA analysts in the beginning of the season had his Thunder team on the outside of the playoffs when Westbrook’s superstar teammate Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors in the offseason.

Though stats don’t define an MVP season, we have to give credit when credit is due. If Westbrook gets this team out of the first round of the playoffs against Harden

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and the Rockets, he gets the MVP award.

Other notable awards:

Coach of the Year - Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics All-NBA first team - Russell Westbrook (OKC), James Harden (Hou), Kawhi Leonard (SA), LeBron James (CLE) and Draymond Green (OKC) All-NBA second team - Stephen Curry (GS), John Wall (Wash.), Jimmy Butler (Chi), Kevin Durant (GS) and Anthony Davis (N.O.) All-NBA third team - Chris Paul (LAC), Kyrie Irving (CLE), Klay Thompson (GS) Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) and Deandre Jordan (LAC)

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