April 5

1

NEWS

Independent

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

www.neiuindependent.org

Vol. 35 Issue 14

Thousands March on Day of Action Open Budget Forum Pg. 2

Voting Matters

Balancing School and Working Out Pg. 9-12

Pop Waits!

Pg. 13

NEIU and CSU, in conjunction with many schools around the city and state, joined in a one-day rally to shut down Chicago or #ShutDownChi in protest of cuts to public education.

April 1 marked the tenth consecutive month Illinois has gone without a state budget. Without a budget the state has withheld its usual payouts to all that receive money appropriated from the state except a few city ordered child care and family court service providers.

As a result, over the last few months many nonprofits, public schools and universities and social services have moved from money saving measures to full-on closure proceedings. Most notably, Chicago State University (CSU) not only sent out layoff notices to its 900 employees but has also requested that staff turn in their keys by April 4 in order to be completely shut down by April 30.

Without its state appropriation, NEIU is not far behind CSU, though not as immediately.

“I’ve never seen this commons look so good! And that’s because we’re all here and we’re united to get this mission done so we can be about those jobs that we want to do,” said rally coorganizer Linda Loew, who has taken a 20 percent pay cut among the rest of NEIU’s employees to keep students in their classes.

She continued, “People have asked me, ‘What do Chicago teachers have to do with the rest of us?’ They have everything to do with us! Our crisis is one crisis! Our struggle for funding and racial and economic justice are inextricably bound. Many of the graduates of Chicago Public Schools come to school at our university, NEIU. “And we turn out the future teachers from the College of Education.

Our public universities are a beacon of a dream that many gave their lives to establish in the first place. So, we can not let the governor or anyone take that away from our students and all of us who serve them.”

The NEIU Day of Action rally began with a New Orleans style funeral march to symbolize the death of higher public education. When the protesters came back from a four block walk to Bryn Mawr and Kimball and back they were greeted with a symbolic phoenix.

“We are here to mourn the death of public education and much like the pheonix here behind me, we, too will rise from the ashes that have been burned from Bruce Rauner,” said Jessica Alaniz, #BruceBetterHaveOurMoney organizer and the president of NEIU’s sociology club.

A host of speakers motivated a vocal crowd of about 1,000 gathered teachers, parents and children of all ages. They listened, cheered and booed for over an hour in the chilly rain displaying homemade signs and CTU

provided strike signs.

After the outdoor rally, participants were invited to a teach-in session in the Ronald Williams Library followed by boarding busses headed for the James R.Thompson Center state building downtown. Those busses arrived to a large waiting state and local police presence and a small group of protesters already on site.

Not long after the first bus of NEIU protesters arrived, groups of protesters from all sides of the city converged from all directions. The crowd went from a few hundred people to several thousand within 30 minutes. The Thompson Center plaza could not contain the crowd as it spilled onto the surrounding streets blocking traffic in all directions.

As the rally began, McDonald’s worker and FightFor15 representative, Adriana Alvarez, said,“In Illinois 51 percent of fast food workers are on public assistance. That costs us, all of Illinois’s taxpayers, 368 million dollars a year.”

She represented one of the many union groups showing support for CTU that day. The estimated 15,000 in attendance marched with coordinators who lead the rally as it turned into a march. The march headed down Lasalle Street toward Wacker Street and then east to Michigan Avenue.

Soon after the protesters went from blocking traffic in a single direction to blocking traffic entirely as it snaked toward Monroe Avenue. The group was escorted by local and state law enforcement. The group stretched back for more than three blocks.

The group made its way southeast

Photos by Robin Bridges

Pg. 6

Robin Bridges

Thousands of protestors gathered downtown to support public education.

toward Lake Shore Drive and blocked traffic in both directions. Police herded protesters from Lake Shore Drive on to the sidewalks and west bound on Monroe Avenue. Mounted police, police on bicycles, in cars and on foot from various districts were out to block protesters from Lake Shore Drive.

Shortly after 5 p.m. a group broke off and walked ahead of its police escort. According to WGNtv.com,

three arrests were made.

Theodore Roosevelt High School teacher, Tim Meegan said, “They call our strike illegal. They said we would have no support but look at us … CTU is the one organization that stands in the way of mass privatization of our schools ... At Roosevelt we’ve lost so much.They can’t step on our necks when we stand up!”

News

Frustrated, Furloughed Employees Vent at Forum Luis Badillo

Police Blotter The following offenses occurred on NEIU’s main campus between March 14 and March 16: March 14 – Bernard Brommel Hall: An unknown offender wrote graffiti on a door.

March 14 – Lot H: A contractor reported a theft of tools totalling over $500.

March 16 – Ronald Williams Library: A victim reported receiving threatening messages through Facebook. The offense is currently under investigation.

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Report disruptive or suspicious activity to Campus Police by dialing (773)442-4100.

In the event of an emergency, dial 911.

As the state budget crisis continues to loom over NEIU, many of the school’s staff are feeling the consequences. At a March 17, budget forum, university employees used the event’s open question period to voice anxieties amid massive salary cuts.

As of March 14, large groups of university staff were subject to a weekly furlough day, a required day of absence to serve as a cost saving measure. Other measures include spending freezes and hiring freezes for open positions. As demonstrated at the budget forum, many of the employees subject to furlough days see the measure as a 20 percent cut in pay.

Linda Loew of enrollment services presented questions to a top university administrator at the forum. “No matter what someone earns any kind of cutback in expected income hurts,” she said in a room packed with students and employees.

She addressed the issue of her colleagues with lower incomes.

“Not all, but some, are facing the questions of ‘Will I make a mortgage payment? Will I pay the rent? Will I have what I need to repair my car to get to work?’”

Loew said. “And even in a small, but important number of cases, ‘Will I be homeless?’”

The comments followed a presentation given by President Sharon Hahs.

“Our tuition and reserves are almost gone,” she said early in the forum. “There is a tremendous need for cost-savings. It’s a very steep need for cost savings.” In a previous forum, Hahs said that there would be “significant sacrifice” without state appropriations.

Michael Pierick, Vice President of Finance and Administration spoke for the majority of the presentation.

“I said at the (previous) forum that we have a cash flow problem,” he said. “Well, we’re now approaching the point where we’re going to have a budgetary problem.”

According to Pierick’s presentation, even with an estimated $4.8 million cut through furloughs, the university will still need to cut $1.8 million before Sept.

15, when fall 2016 tuition revenue becomes available.

Pierick outlined several financial outcomes, many of them assuming a state budget is passed by the fall 2016 semester. However, each scenario accounts for some percentage of cuts ranging from an

expected 10 to 15 percent.

“We’ll continue to monitor our savings and our cash flow. We’ll end the furloughs as soon as possible,” Pierick said.

Many of those with questions in the audience had issues with how the furloughs are being implemented.

Dwan “Dee” Buetow, office manager in the Physics department, expressed what challenges she’ll face with furloughs.

“I will only speak for me, but those of us who may be at my salary level, I will not survive a 20 percent pay cut,” Buetow said.

At several points during the question period, administrators explained why furlough days were implemented equally amongst employees at all pay levels.

Dr. April Nauman, professor of literacy education, asked why NEIU did not implement tiers of furlough scales.

“So that people at the highest pay scale have more furlough days and then it goes down,” she said.

“And people at the bottom of the pay scale have fewer furlough days.”

Dr. Brett Stockdill, sociology professor, challenged the administration to consider progressive furlough scales.

Continued on page 3

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

NEWS

3

Effects of the Budget Crisis on NEIU

Laura Rojas Although the university has estimated it will save roughly $225,000 to $250,000 through its furlough program, the reception among the NEIU community has not all been well.

Dr. Jon Hageman, coordinator and associate professor of anthropology and the chair of the university planning and budgeting council, said the furloughs—which account for a 20 percent pay cut to all university employees—hit some members of the community harder than others.

“This situation is truly horrible, that because of the state’s inaction we are forced to furlough employees to make it to Sept. 15,” Hageman said. “For some, this means they won’t be able to pay the mortgage or the car loan, or maybe buy groceries or pay the light bill.”

A lot of departments have begun to see an impact when even a month ago they believed they were still doing alright. Dr. Mary Kimble, a biology professor, said her department’s research has been affected.

“Some dollars that had been allocated to us for running the teaching labs was taken back,” she said. “The impact of this will likely be felt more in the summer and fall than this semester as our lab manager generally orders supplies in advance.”

“Also, I believe our two newest faculty lost some of the startup funding they were promised for getting their research labs up and

running,” Kimble added.

Foreign exchange students Minju Choi and Haein Kim, both juniors at NEIU, talked about the rumors of the school closing. Choi said that since Kim wanted to sign up for another semester with NEIU but given the current situation, she had worries.

“You should go back to Korea,” Choi joked.

She explained that she and Kim were making light of the situation.

But jokes aside, Choi said that her friend feels hopeful that the school will make it through these next couple semesters and as far as she knows her friend is keeping with her intentions to enroll next semester at NEIU. Edgar Camargo, a freshman at NEIU majoring in biology, said that he hadn’t even heard about the situation regarding the university’s budget difficulties. He said that the thought of NEIU possibly closing makes him “kind of unnerved.”

“I was planning to do my undergraduate at NEIU,” Camargo said. He explained that transferring to another school would result in higher costs, especially considering it would be further from his job.

One reason he came to NEIU was as a financial move but also that he liked the professors and would be disappointed to transfer and “lose a lot of really good people.”

Hageman said he was concerned about the future of NEIU’s accreditation, which would be put in jeopardy if the university were to close at any point.

“We can’t afford to close…

ONE VOICE

A Common Agenda. A Common Purpose.

Every student deserves a voice.

closing would be horrible because we’d put our accreditation at risk,” Hageman said. “If we eventually lost our accreditation it would take years to get it back and during that time students that attended Northeastern would not be eligible for federal student aid.”

Though the university and its community appear to be under distress, some feel very positive that NEIU will pull through as they promised.

“I think we will make it through the fall,” said History Instructor Dr. Nikolas Hoel. “But I can understand why there would be fear that we wouldn’t.”

Hoel said that the greatest impact he’s seen this situation have on the NEIU community, and within his own department, are: The loss in morale, a scared student body and having their department chair gone one day a week because of furloughs. This has cost the history department to function around 20 percent less efficiently, though he said it hasn’t impacted the students directly.

But it’s not only the public university’s finances at risk because of the budget impasse. Gov. Rauner also has been back and forth on an issue regarding funding for student MAP grants.

Olivia Cronk, an English instructor, said the uncertainty regarding the MAP grants alongside the greater budget crisis has brought out stress for students, faculty and staff.

“If people don’t have access to education, their civil rights are

NORTHEASTERN Illinois University Student Government Association (SGA)

being denied,” Cronk said in a Feb. 26 email “What kind of democracy is that?”

A key factor for funding is enrollment, which could be affected by the impasse. “The damage that our state legislators are doing to the university is the uncertainty they’re creating…it is likely to have more of an impact than the absolute absence of dollars,” Kimble said.

NEIU’s budget is 35 percent state funding and the remaining 65 percent is from student tuition.

This is why enrollment plays such an important role, however Hageman mentioned that the state appropriation exceeded tuition funding around 2002.

Hageman also said that currently, from what he has heard, enrollment for next fall is at a record high with somewhere around 1,700 applicants. Though both Kimble and Hageman stress the importance of enrollment the state funding is still considered an important factor.

Hageman said institutions that are for the greater good of the community, such as public universities, now seem to be caught in politics.

“I think it is inappropriate to use higher education as a political issue,” Hageman said. He clarified that this was his view as a faculty member, and not the official position of the UPBC. An impasse between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the democratic state legislators since July 2015 has left the state without a determined budget in place. This has been a heated issue ever since.

Financial Aid Office

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 Explore delays in processing payments Explore delays in processing payments  Create better channels of communication Ensuringchannels student representation in decisions regarding financial aid Createbetter of communication Ensuring student representation in decisions regarding SGA Representation on the NEIU Faculty Senate (voting member) financial aid  Input into campus life  Provide student perspectives on decisions that affect them  Student input into decisions on course cancellations

SGA Representation on the NEIU Faculty Senate (voting member)   

Input into campus life and Cancellations Course Scheduling Provide student perspectives on decisions that affect them  Surveying students’ needs for advising the administration Student input into decisions onincourse cancellations  Ensuring student representation course scheduling discussions  Working with faculty and advisors to inform them of student concerns

Course Scheduling and Cancellations   

Surveying students’ needs for advising the administration Ensuring student representation in course scheduling discussions Working with faculty and advisors to inform them of student concerns

“I think it’s very problematic for someone like me who makes $118,000 to have the same days of furloughs as someone that makes $35,000. I know I’m lucky.”

Provost Dr. Richard Helldobler admitted the decisions made by administration were difficult.

“It’s painful. We get it,” he said.

“I’ve heard stories in the hall when this came out; a mother came up and said ‘I don’t think my daughter can go to college in the fall.’

“Another single mother came up and said ‘how do I afford daycare for the other four days of the week that I have to be here?’”

Helldobler said that without state funding, the university will continue to meet challenges.

“This is really, really, hard. It’s intellectually hard, it’s politically hard, it’s financially hard, it’s emotionally hard and none of us have really done this before.”

Helldobler reiterated that the administration’s goal was to keep the school open through Sept. 15, when fall 2016 tuition revenue becomes available.

More information from NEIU regarding furloughs, including more financial details discussed at the forum are available through NEIUport, under “Open Budget Forum.”

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION Minutes (Pending for Approval) Minutes (Pending for Approval) 8 , 2015 September March 2016 October29th, 20, 2015 th

A.) Call to Order at 3:10

GOALSYOUR FOR YOUR STUDENT GGOVERNMENT OVERNMENT GOALS FOR STUDENT 2015-2016 2015 - 2016

Furloughed Employees cont.

A.) Call to Order 3:17 A.) Call to Order at 3:17 B.) Roll Call Roll B.)B.) Roll CallCall 1.1.Executive Board Members: President Nick Martinez, Vice President Ricky Executive Board Members: President Nick Martinez, ViceRicky President 1. Executive Board Members: President Nick Martinez, Vice President Gutierrez, Secretary Yessica Garcia.

Treasurer Max Caviness, Student Trustee Ricky Gutierrez, Secretary Yessica Garcia.

Treasurer Max Caviness, Gutierrez, Secretary Yessica Garcia.

Treasurer Max Caviness, Student Trustee Pedro Nungaray, IBHE-SAC Representative Hosman Student Trustee Pedro Nungaray andEmily IBHE-SAC Representative Pedro Nungaray, IBHE-SAC Representative Emily Hosman 2.Emily Senators: Anna Augustyn, Arnold Garcia, Christopher Vazquez, Edwin 2. Ramirez, Senators:Hosman Senator Anna Augustyn, Senator Arnold Garcia, Senator Christopher Elizabeth Nieto, Laura Ayala, Butler-Ludwig, Luis Arriola, Roger 2. Senators: Arnold Garcia, DavidLily Diaz, Dorrie Hubbard III, Edwin Vazquez, Senator Laura Ayala, Senator Edwin Ramirez, Senator Elizabeth Nieto, Byrd, ThomasErick Montbriand and Tremayne Ramirez, Gonzales, Gonzalo Housto Duran, Jessica Alaniz, Jose Garcia, Lily Butler-Ludwig, Senator Luis Arriola, Senator Gonzalo Duran, Senator C.) Approval of Minutes Laura Ayala, Lily Butler-Ludwig, Luis Arriola, Roger Byrd, Shatara Senator Melanie Betancourt, Senator Sharron Burrell, Senator Thomas Montbriad 1.

Minutes 9-22-15 Mitchell, and Tremayne Houston and Senator Tremayne Houston • No objections to the approval of the Senate minutes on September C.)C.) Approval of Minutes 2015.

Approval of22nd, Minutes 1. 2.

Minutes 8-15-15 10-6-15 1.Minutes Minutes 3-15-16 • Approved • Approved • No objections to the approval of the Senate minutes on October 6th, 2. Minutes 8-25-15 2015.

D.) Approval of Agenda D.) Approval of•Agenda Approved 1.1.Agenda 10-20-15 D.) Approval ofApproved Agenda • No objections to the approval of the Senate agenda on October 20th, 1. Agenda 9-8-15 E.) Executive Reports 2015.

• Approved 1. President E.) Executive Executive Reports E.) Reports • April 1st Day of Action will was take exerted. place atThe 10 a.m at NEIU Commons Duetotospace space constrictions, thisportion portion official minutes canbe 1. 1.

Due constrictions, this was exerted.

The official minutes can 2.found Treasurer be on the Student Government Association collegiate link page. found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page.

• Annually funded clubs start presenting on March 31st F.)Old Audience Participation and Announcements F.) Business 3.

Board of Trustee Representative 1.

Dr. Lopez G.) New Business: • Thursday, April 7, 2016 at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for • Discussed how university has Justice shifted gears and offers more Act to the Appoint an SGA 1. Senate Bill 16-20:City Anon Inner Studies will be the next meeting opportunities to the undocumented student • Senate Bill 16-20 passes with acclamation. population at NEIU. 4. IBHE-SAC Representative • Scholarship opportunities, programs, events, advisers and an 2. Senate Bill•16-21: An IBHE-SAC Act to Appoint an SGA Senator The next meeting be on April 1st. effortless application process is nowwill offered to the undocumented • Senate Bill 16-21 passes with acclamation. population at NEIU. F.) Old Business: 3. Business Senate Bill 16-22: An Act to Request Financial Aid Review G.) Old 1. Bill B16-42: An Act to Amend Constitution • Bill 16-22 with the acclamation.

1. SenateSenate Bill 16-29: A Billpasses to Appoint a Bill of Rights Commission • Failed H.) Senate Reports • Senate Bill 16-19 passes with acclamation.

1. Business: Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The official minutes can be H.) New G.) Newfound Business: Government Association collegiate link page. on Bill the Student 1. Senate 16-30: BilltotoAmend Establish Case Assessments Bill B16-43: AnAAct the Constitution I.) Audience1.participation and announcements • Treasurer Max Caviness motion to table to move to next meeting • First reading 1. 1.

Provost Senatorparticipation Ana Augustyn seconds the motion.

• Provost states Northeastern Illinois University will go through the I.)H.) Senate Reports: Audience Participation and Announcements accreditation process in spring 2016. observations will take place 1.1.Due to space constrictions, this portion wasClass exerted.

The official minutes can Veronica Rodriguez picked at random will be asked how passed the NEIU values are be foundand on•students the Student Government collegiate link page.

A moment of silence forAssociation NEIU student who away.

Armani J.) Adjournmentpracticed at 4:15 in class.

Dickenson was killed during Spring Break.

J.) Adjournment at 3:31 I.) Adjournment at 4:15

SGA NOMINEES OF 2016

4

NEWS

Complete List of SGA Candidates Anna Augustyn IBHE-SAC Rep* Olivia Clark Student Trustee Sharon Hernandez President* Nicholas Martinez President* Shatara Mitchell President* Joshua Carlson Secretary* Jessica Alaniz Secretary* Joselin Munoz Secretary Aaron Schiffman Senator*

Candidate Name Nicholas Martinez Running for the position of President Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles President of Student Government Campaign platform I have always strived to be very involved on all the campuses of Northeastern, including CCICS and El Centro At NEIU, I have had the opportunity to grow and become a better person both academically and personally.

Northeastern made a huge difference in my life and has given me many opportunities. Every day I strive to return the favor by making a difference in students’

Arnold Garcia Senator Dorrie Hubbard III Senator Andre Herrera Senator Pedro Nungaray Senator Jose Garcia Senator Gonzalo Duran Senator David Diaz Senator Max Caviness Treasurer* Yessica Garcia Vice President* Michael Vargas Vice President blue = people who provided pictures * = people who provided biographies

Candidate Name Sharon Hernandez Running for the position of President Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles I have been involved in Student Government Association as a Council of Clubs Representative.

I have gone through great training to know how to allocate funds properly to student organizations.

Thanks to this leadership role, I have learned about issues that have affected student organizations on campus.

Campaign platform Putting students first What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

I believe there are many critical issues facing NEIU students, especially at a time

lives. Student Government has been huge in my life.

When I started at this school, the first thing on my mind was, “How do I get involved?” Today, I am the President of Student Government and have a whole bunch of plans for the upcoming year. As President, I have decided that financial aid issues, course cancellations and students’ rights need to be addressed. And to do that, we have a petition circulating the school to encourage our administration to listen to the united voice of the NEIU student body. I believe we will see a great change for the better, and I am very excited for the future of our university. My personal advice to all students would be to get involved. I can promise you that you will never regret getting involved or making a difference in your life and your community.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

The university getting a state appropriation.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Campaign platform All student voices and concerns should be heard and addressed.

To be an active and approachable student body president. Student equality and fairness.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

NEIU students feel that their concerns are heard but not effectively listened to.

Candidate Name Shatara Mitchell Running for the position of President Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles Orientation leader for three years and mentor for incoming students.

What would be your first action once in office?

To continue to be the voice of the students and to repeal the bill which states that a club needs five members minimum for funding.

This will allow all organizations to request funds.

How do you plan to address these issues?

I would like to have a student forum each semester where students are welcome to come and share their concerns with Student Government. Also, this would be a great way for student organizations to come out and learn about resources offered to them. Not only that, but a student forum is an excellent way for students to learn from one another and share that knowledge.

What would be your first action once in office?

One of the many things I’d like to do is implement a Student Forum in which students can come and share concerns they may have.

In this forum, administration and students come together to share concerns and issues students may have. Through this, students will be well informed and create better relations with administration.

What would be your first action once in office?

My first act would be to arrange a meet-and-greet session with students to share ideas and listen to the needs and concerns of the students of NEIU. Devise a strategic plan to put things in action that will make a difference. can put the needs of the students first.

How do you plan to address these issues?

Through mobilization.

of budget crisis we are going through. Representation of all NEIU students needs to be better implemented. NEIU prides itself on diversity, and for this reason, I feel that some students who are not being properly represented should be recognized. Our other campus locations often go overlooked or even ignored. Some students aren’t even aware that NEIU has different campuses. This past year students’ voices have been increasing, and I would like for the voices to grow even louder. I’d like to students to have better communication with the administration and Student Government.

How do you plan to address these issues?

If elected I plan to address this issue by being a strong advocate for the NEIU Student Body.

Candidate Name Yessica Garcia Running for the position of Vice President Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles I currently hold the position as Secretary in Student Government Association. This position has given me a whole new outlook on what is required as an executive board member. Previously to gaining this position, I was a Senator for three semesters. I’ve come to see how Student Government has evolved into a more productive organization. Of course, I still see a lot of great potential and work that we can do to better Student Government. My past experiences with working as an Orientation Leader and an Ambassador have given me the opportunity to speak to students on what they feel like Northeastern can improve on.

Students have many great ideas and opinions on what the university can implement to better serve the Northeastern population, but they need individuals to advocate on their behalf.

Campaign platform Transparency is important for the distribution of information between staff, faculty, and administration to students. Sharing accurate information and having this information available to the whole Northeastern population is important. Feedback from the students is always important, so we

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

Students are receiving a lot of information regarding budget cuts, class cancellations, and how Northeastern is being affected by the lack of state appropriation.

This information causes distress among students, especially when the information given to them is not accurate. The shortage of communication between administration and students opens up the opportunity to individuals to assume what is going to happen to Northeastern. This issue is important to address because it would alleviate tension between students and the university. The current issues facing Northeastern students do not only consist of budget cuts, but it also consists of the lack of inclusion of CCICS. Many CCICS students have shared that they do not feel like resources are being allocated equally. Thus, it is important to review what resources lack in this campus and how we can better assist that population.

How do you plan to address these issues?

This semester Dr. Daniel Lopez had the opportunity to have discussions with students on what they would like to see from the administration. I would love to continue these discussions with students but also include other administration members as well.

Obtaining feedback from students is the best way to better serve the student population and understand their needs. Student Government will be having more tabling events on the Main Campus, El Centro and CCICS to get this information and meet students.

What would be your first action once in office?

My first action would be to review how the administration is sharing information to students and on how we can improve these communications. It is important to be transparent and address the needs of the students.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Candidate Name Joshua Carlson Running for the position of Secretary Year in school First Past experience in leadership roles Military; Account manager; Maintenance supervisor Campaign platform I am here to help the people and to assist the President and Vice President with their duties.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

Lack of funds, no sports organizations and no safe places to de-stress.

How do you plan to address these issues?

By finding out where our funds are going, creating a sports team in some way, giving people a place to relax and take their mind off of school and having social events.

What would be your first action once in office?

To get things better organized and to get questions from my peers answered.

You can cast your vote for SGA representation at neiu.collegiatelink. net

before the polls close on April 8.

5

NEWS

Candidate Name Jessica Alaniz

Candidate Name Max Caviness

Running for the position of Secretary

Running for the position of Treasurer

Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles President of Sociology Club, Senator of SGA, Student Life Committee Member, Rally Organizer, Program Assistant for Non-Profit Organization.

Campaign platform My campaign platform is to promote transparency and equality throughout all clubs and organizations at Northeastern Illinois University. We need to collectively learn to work with students, faculty, staff and administration. I will work hard to enhance the spirit and reputation of NEIU and to make sure students are able to gain the most from their time here.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

An extremely critical issue facing NEIU students at the moment is that of the budget crisis. I would ensure that we continue to fight for NEIU students, staff and faculty. As secretary, I would have events on campus that would increase awareness on the issues and mobilize people to take action.

How do you plan to address these issues?

I plan to address this issue by working together with senators and other members of SGA to have events to increase awareness on campus.

What would be your first action once in office?

My first action once elected would be to organize an event where students could express their concerns or opinions about NEIU. This would promote transparency between Student Government and the students we represent.

Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles For the past two years I have been an active member of the Student Government Association at NEIU. When I began my time with SGA, I worked as a Council of Clubs Representative which allocated the student activity fee to clubs and organizations on campus. This past year I was

elected as the SGA Treasurer, and I worked to expand the budget of the Council of Clubs, spread the wealth between more clubs and organizations on campus, and encourage greater student participation at NEIU.

students is heard all the way from Chicago to Springfield. Lack of communication and individualism are huge issues at NEIU. Students tend to think too much on the micro level, and not enough on the macro level.

Campaign platform This year I would like to act as the unified voice of the students, as well as the student clubs and organizations.

Northeastern Illinois University holds a special place in my heart, and my goal is to ensure a long and prosperous future for the university. A successful student government executive knows how to maintain relationships with students, faculty, staff, and administration, all while providing the best representation for the student body as a whole.

I will fight to ensure that the university continues to serve the needs of the students and provide students with the tools to a successful future after graduation.

How do you plan to address these issues?

Moving forward, communication and collaboration will be crucial to the overall success within the university. Similar to our nation’s government, NEIU’s student government can be viewed as a system of checks and balances.

If each one branch tries to accomplish something, it is much more unlikely for it to come to fruition than if they were to work alongside other branches of SGA, student organizations, faculty, staff, and administration.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

Currently NEIU is in the midst of a dire financial crisis due to the financial turmoil within the state government. I will fight hard to make sure that the voice of NEIU Officer.

Candidate Name Anna Augustyn Running for the position of IBHE-SAC Representative Year in school Sophomore Past experience in leadership roles Senator on SGA from midSpring 2015 to Fall 2015. I was also the French Club Treasurer; Student Conduct Hearing Panel Member and, Presidential Scholar Student Association Communications

Campaign platform Our state has faced many budget issues, and with the impasse of a budget down in Springfield, many state colleges have had to scrape together operational funds with cuts to programs, staff and faculty everywhere. This is one of the many issues that face us in the state of Illinois today, but I would like to take a focus on the many other needs of students at NEIU so that YOU can have a voice in the progress we make together for a better education.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

I believe that better databases can be created for students to be able to find and apply for scholarships within the state of Illinois at all universities. All students should have equal access and opportunity to be able to fund the education they deserve without having to take out heavy student loans or working 30-plus hours a week during the semester to pay for classes, textbooks and

What would be your first action once in office?

My first action in office would be to ensure that the students, and the student clubs and organizations on campus, do not suffer due to the ongoing financial crisis. I will do my best to make sure that clubs and organizations continue to flourish, and students continue to get involved and enjoy their time at NEIU. fees. It can be difficult to navigate the many websites to find what scholarships apply to you and with that, and I would like to make the task a little bit less stressful.

How do you plan to address these issues?

I am currently studying abroad in Ireland this semester, so I am open to any and all suggestions on what you would like me to tackle and how you would like our university to be represented. I am open to transparency and would like to know how you would like to take a stance on the issues in and around NEIU. What would be your first action once in office?

While in Ireland, I’ve come to have quite the fondness for tea and therefore would like to have some tea-time chats with any students who are willing to come and talk with me on what they want from NEIU. I’ll happily make and provide the tea (if permitted by university regulations). If not, you will usually be able to find me around the SGA offices for a chat.

My ears and thoughts will be open.

Candidate Name Aaron Schiffman Running for the position of Senator Year in school Junior Past experience in leadership roles I was the co-chair of the West Rogers Park Youth Community Organization; I’m currently involved with the Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce. I’m the Vice President of the Leone Beach Park Advisory Council.

Campaign platform I’m for civil rights and equal opportunities. I’m for an affordable and well-rounded education. I’m for the students for We Are the Students.

What do you believe to be the critical issues facing NEIU students?

Right now there are the budget cuts that the school is dealing with, and we’re also dealing with some class cancellations.

How do you plan to address these issues?

I will address them by standing up for these students and fighting for what is right.

What would be your first action once in office?

To come up with a forum to stop class cancellations.

Get Social with the Independent Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Rut Ortiz Production Editor Pablo Medina News Editor Steven Villa Opinions Editor Mary Kroeck

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Opinions

Does Voting Really Matter?

Rut Ortiz There was a moment during history when a person like me would not be allowed to exercise my right to vote. Specifically for two reasons: because I’m a woman and a minority.

This is a topic very close to my heart because I like to think for myself. I am adamant that in a democracy where my political leaders are chosen by the votes of the people, my voice will be heard.

I will exercise my inalienable right to vote.

Voting is important because the scars of this country’s past are too evident to take my rights for granted.

When I talk about the scars of America, I’m talking about movements that led to such events like the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1920, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Growing up as a Hispanic female has always been a tug of war for me. I’ve always been caught in between being a proud Puerto Rican and an “Americanized” one.

I was born here in Chicago and raised in the city, a Midwesterner through and through.

I’ve visited Puerto Rico twice in my life and although it was beautiful (I could live in 70 degree weather everyday), I didn’t quite fit in. Locals told me I wasn’t “Puerto Rican” enough and to this day I still don’t know what that means.

What I do know is that I am a proud American to the depths of my very core. While I wasn’t alive during the women’s suffrage movement, I’ve learned and eaten up history lessons like gummy bears.

The ratification of the 19th amendment of the United States

Photo by Mary Kroeck

Sports Editor Spencer Jones

facebook: neiu independent

The right to choose a political leader is the key to a democratic republic.

Constitution gave the right to American women to vote. For the first time women had the same legal rights and responsibility as men did when it came to the polls.

It took almost 100 years of fighting–known as the campaign for women’s suffrage–during the 19th and 20th centuries, for women to obtain this right.

So this is not one that I take lightly.

The fact that I would have been denied the ability to vote (had I been alive prior to 1920), simply because I was a woman angers me.

And yes, the 19th amendment was approved in 1920 but this did not take into account women of different races, which is all the more reason voting is so important.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation and banned discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national

origin. After the Civil War, Southern states instilled Jim Crow laws, segregating people based solely on the color of their skin.

President John F. Kennedy said that the United States “would not be fully free until all of its citizens are free.”

He first proposed the Civil Rights Act in 1963, but it was not signed into effect until 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

This was one of many landmark decisions for the United States as a nation.

The Civil Rights Act paved the way for the Voting Rights Act in 1965, also signed into effect by President Johnson. This overturned any and all barriers that kept male African-American citizens from voting at the state and local levels.

African-American men were able to exercise their rights to vote under the 15th amendment, which

states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

While our great nation has come a long way, there is still so much work to be done. Equality between men and women of all colors and creeds has to be one of the top priorities if the United States is to mend what’s broken.

My right to vote is important because I want to show that the people who suffered oppression before me did not do it in vain.

I remember that every time I go to the polls. I didn’t suffer because others suffered, and for them my voice will be heard.

I choose to vote not because I’m a woman, or because I’m a minority, but because it is my right and no one will take that away from me.

Reflections of a First Time Voter Cecilia G. Hernandez While opening the fieldhouse door of Ken-Well Park, I took a deep breath and stepped inside the voting station. Desks with tall cardboard privacy partitions were all being occupied by my Hispanic neighbors. As I read the instructions, my heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.

On March 15, I voted for the first time in a U.S. Presidential Primary Election. It was terrifying.

I had no idea what I had to do or say before receiving my voting ballot. I walked into a scene I was not familiar with, blind as a bat and all for the fear of Donald Trump becoming the next U.S. President.

I’ve heard Trump speak his mind while utilizing misogynistic, racist, psychopathic comments to back up his claim of “making America great again.” My question for Trump supporters is: When has the U.S. ever been great without first

Graphic by Mary Kroeck

exploiting third world countries and its own people, damaging the environment with its oil-spills and the overproduction of clothing, the horrid treatment of animals, or losing its compassion for the poor?

Our president is a reflection of us, who we are as a nation.

What does it say about me if I had voted for Trump? Perhaps that I’m an anti-feminist with a desire

to dehumanize not only my own gender, but others in different cultures.

I’m terrified because Trump actually does have a chance at winning presidency.

I voted for my people, mi gente, the ones that haven’t had the same opportunities I have. Granted, it’s the first presidential election I’m eligible to vote, but I still had the

option of not voting at all.

My choice was to support Bernie Sanders.

Sanders supports funding for education, rejects income and wealth inequality, and advocates for the basic rights for women.

For a country that thrives on education, how is it possible that our own university might shut down due to lack of public funding? Why are women still fighting for their right to control their own bodies? Why is the middle class disappearing, making the distinction between the poor and the rich more prominent?

We’re stuck in a tedious cycle, doomed to keep repeating itself, unless we pick a candidate focusing on finding solutions for these problems. That’s most definitely not Trump. I voted for my future as a Latina and first-generation college student in the U.S.A. I voted to break the cycle.

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

7

Taxes are for Squares: Chicago’s New Smoking Ban

Pablo Medina

Photo by Rut Ortiz

A new Chicago ordinance prohibits the purchase of cigarettes by those under the age of 21.

Tobacco is not a necessity, it is a luxury that only harms, with more disadvantages that far outweigh the benefits.

Plus, smoking is a habit that is very difficult to break for many, due in part to the appeal and feeling of the activity.

Maybe someone who is free of consistent patterns of stress and habit can give it up quickly, but for people

who smoke on a regular basis, it’s a lot harder to quit.

I personally know first-hand because I smoked back in high school.

I chose not to continue that path simply due to the horrible taste. I’ve also tried hookah to varying extents of pleasure.

I’ve quit for many reasons, mostly having to do with my view of myself.

To think anyone would be cool

Golden Perspectives: Voices of NEIU “What effect do NEIU furlough days have on you?”

Photos by Cecilia G. Hernandez

Cecilia G. Hernandez

Nayeli Corral Senior

Peter Gniech Freshman

Dolly Sarkar Graduate

It’s unfair. The professors shouldn’t suffer. Cutting back on their hours, on courses, and I know that the Gallery in the Fine Arts building has cut back, also. It’s really unfair.

I believe we need to try and solve this without closing in the Spring or cutting back on classes or our class time during the fall semester.

I like to call this the Great Depression of Education. Even my mom was telling me that she had never gone through anything like this or seen anything like this. It’s disheartening knowing that our leaders down in Springfield, it feels like they don’t care, like they only care about themselves.

So far it hasn’t affected me, but I’m still shocked that they’re cutting back. It’s open right now, but maybe I’ll apply at a different school. I don’t know.

Marcus Mateo Junior Honestly, it seems surreal.

Nothing’s really changed. My teachers are still teaching, I’m still coming to class. In the long term, it’s kind of scary. Will we be open during the Spring term of 2017— when I’m supposed to be graduating? I don’t have much control over that, only about my own school work. Everything’s up in the air.

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Fewer teens may smoke with the new tobacco laws introduced by Chicago lawmakers.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city’s aldermen voted to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes from 18 to 21.

Chicago is following in the steps of Evanston and 100 other cities to improve the lives of citizens and the air quality of the environment.

From a subjective standpoint, I think this is good for the public.

Each time I see someone going about, taking a strong drag of a cigarette, I wonder, “Does that person understand the irony in giving a large corporation hard earned money to decrease the quality of their life for a small hint of tarry, smelly pleasure?”

I mean, I fully understand, because some people enjoy taking the time they have on Earth for granted.

Whatever people do outside of my life is none of my business, I definitely get it.

However, this doesn’t entitle anyone to do whatever they want. It may be the person’s choice to indulge in the addictive nature of tobacco, but it doesn’t make it a smart choice.

simply through smoking is a laughing matter to me, because I sense the falsehood behind it and in people who reinforce that ideal.

Yet again, anyone can choose to smoke and to some, the law is simply a piece of paper to look at. For all I know, the most hardened of smokers may take that same paper and roll a fresh square with it.

In the end, however, you’re either satisfied or, like me, you’ll make a change and quit engaging in the disgusting habit.

There are plenty of other things smokers can be doing to occupy their time and fingers, like taking up a new hobby, making healthy choices with food and exercise, relieving stress through yoga or karate, or listening to music.

If there is one thing I can tell any teenager looking to rid their troubles with a stick full of nicotine, it would be a reminder that they have the willpower to not smoke, give it up if they’ve already started and, more importantly, tell the tobacco companies off by not giving them more business.

And hey, the road to recovery may be a long one, but better to be able to breathe than to stay in the shrouds of smoke.

Letter to the Editor

One of the signs made for the April 1 day of protest at NEIU to resurrect public education.

An Educator’s Take on the Illinois Budget Crisis

Public education is dangerous, especially for the working classes. It gives people ideas, like that equality is a practical goal.

It teaches them how the system works and makes them think they can participate in its governance. It shows them the beauty of knowledge and gives them the skills to enjoy it. It makes them more difficult to manipulate.

This is why we Illinois citizens should accept the governor’s refusal to fund higher education.

Gov. Bruce Rauner came into office planning to break the unions and push the privatization of public education. If we do nothing, the first state schools to close may be the ones that serve AfricanAmerican students (such as Chicago State University) and Latino students (such as NEIU). If we do nothing, universities all over the state will close, lose their accreditation. They will then be ripe for takeover by for-profit companies and testing factories.

This is good. There are too many educated people in our state. Please, do not tell your state representative and senator to release the school funds they are sitting on. They might override the governor’s veto if they had the courage and your support, and that would be a terrible thing. Especially for the ruling classes.

-Kate Kane Professor of Communication, Media, and Theatre

OPINIONS

8

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Graphic by Mary Kroeck

By Mary Kroeck

I’m looking for a job, but can’t seem to find one in my field of interest. At this point should I just accept anything even if it’s not what I really want to do or what I went to school for?

Sincerely, A Discouraged Student

I met this guy and I think he’s cute. He sent me a text asking if I wanted to “hang out” sometime, but I don’t know if he’s asking me out on a date or just wanting to hang out as friends. I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of being friends, but I also wouldn’t mind if it maybe turned into a romantic relationship. What should I do?

Thanks, Mz. Confused

Dear Discouraged Student, This is a really hard question to answer. First off, I think you may need to examine your financial situation before you make a decision. If you don’t have a lot of bills to pay and have savings to keep searching for your dream job, then you have a little breathing room. If you don’t, then it’s like being caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand you need the cash, but on the other you don’t want to feel miserable about how you earn it.

However, in today’s society, many jobs are temporary. I’ve heard that generally millennials will change jobs every three years. If they don’t, employers may wonder why they stayed in the same position for longer. At the same time, if you find a job that you love and you can keep doing it for years, then why not stay?

Another thing to consider is that a job can just be a job–not your life. If you get a job offer that isn’t exactly what you want, but you can stay in the position for a while to pay off your credit card bills or some student loan debt, isn’t that better than having no income at all? You can work a nine to five that isn’t the coolest job in the world then follow your bliss in the evenings and weekends, until you can make what you love your full time job. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible.

Consider your long and short term goals. Make pro and con lists. Weigh out your options and plan, plan, plan. You can do what you love and love what you do, but sometimes you really have to have the patience and discipline to keep working at it and keep putting your work and resumes out there. If you do, I believe it will work out for the best. I also suggest utilizing NEIU’s Career Center for help with resumes, cover letters and job searches if you’re not doing that already. It can be really helpful to have someone else checking out your materials to offer suggestions on improvements. Good luck!

Dear Mz. Confused, A lot of people might tell you to play it cool and just “hang” out, see what happens and if he makes a move, you’ll know where he stands. I’m not one of those people. I used to be one of those people and it only made relationships a lot more complicated than they needed to be. If you like him and are genuinely okay with it going either way, then text him and say you’d like to hang out, you just want to be clear of the circumstances.

If he’s interested in you–as a friend or otherwise–he should be cool with answering that question so you both know where you stand.

If he can’t do that (or doesn’t want to) maybe you should reconsider if he’s someone worth building any type of relationship with in the first place. Friendships are a type of relationship too. Just like romantic relationships, they involve a certain amount of give and take. If I were you, I would just ask. If he says he doesn’t know yet, then you both can take the time to figure out the type of relationship you want to build together.

When it comes to relationships, one of the worst things that can happen is people getting their signals crossed about where they stand. Be clear and ask him for the same. In the long run it can save you both a lot of heartache and unnecessary drama.

Got a Question? E-mail us! NEIUOpsEditor@gmail.com*

*Please Note: If you are in crisis or have an immediate health issue, seek help from a health care professional. The Independent may not respond to every question in print or via e-mail. Please utliize resources on campus, such as counseling services and student health, or seek your healthcare provider for issues regarding mental and physical wellness.

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Sports

Photo courtesy of NEIU.com

NEIU students and instructors know a thing or two about balancing personal life with fitness.

Exercise: Why It'll Work Out for the Better Michelle Bright Three common problems college students face when they’re not active is weight gain, less social bonding and lower grades. There are benefits to working out though.

According to fitness instructor Kayla Hedman, “Fitness reduces the risk of illness, fights off stress and depression, helps to curb cravings, and suppresses hunger.”

Maria Choochkeh has been a fitness instructor at NEIU for the past year. She works out four days a week for an hour and a half each day.

“If you are determined you can do anything," Choochkeh said. “If they (students) have the goals and intentions to workout then you can do it. If you don’t have the time, exercise a good 15 minute stretch or a 10 minute jog.”

Stephanie Gomez, a student at NEIU who goes to Coochkeh’s group exercise class says she has been working out for five years. As far as trying to find time to work out, Gomez said, “Sometimes it's difficult to work out, but I still manage to. I think the best advice I could think about is to find a way to put their work out into

their schedule.” Having a healthy lifestyle is important to her future, because relatives on her mother’s side of the family are diabetic. Her father’s side of the family has high cholesterol. Stephanie believes that she has to exercise and have a balanced diet to avoid the same health diseases.

Student Aaron Carter exercises twice a week by playing basketball.

If he has a test or homework that takes priority over fitness, he will go to the library and study. Carter stated, “You can do anything as far as exercise, and there’s different ways to workout instead of going

to the gym.”

Joshua Carlson, also a student, exercises in the gym four to five days a week. For Carlson, fitness is not a priority. “It varies on what’s going on,” Carlson said. “I’m not a huge fitness buff. I do enjoy my fitness, but can only do so much because of physical restraints, because of arthritis.”

Kaelah Smith does yoga three to four times a week. Sometimes she is forced to miss a day because of her children, school and her internship. She wakes up early to exercise, leading a healthy lifestyle “Eating right and exercising

gives you more energy to work towards whatever goals you have made for your future,” Smith said.

Suha Baloch a student here says that she doesn’t work out. She feels that fitness is important but she is just too lazy. Baloch says “I have time but the motivation just isn’t there. It’s having an impact on me now because I’m having migraines, and my doctor recommended that I work out.”

Questions or opinions?

Follow us on neiuindependent.org and let us know!

Lovie's Back in the Orange and Blue Spencer Jones

One of the main challenges Smith will face is recruiting. The state of Illinois has never had a strong showing for in-state recruitments for sports, and this year will be no different.

Most high school recruits make verbal commitments 12-18 months in advance, so Smith will start off with a disadvantage for this upcoming graduating class. Kurt Gavin of Lincoln-Way East and Doug Kramer of Hinsdale Central are the only players from the state’s top 50 to commit to playing down in Urbana this fall.

Looking outside of the state shows promise, though recruiting in state is his main goal.

“We’re the state of Illinois,” Smith told CBS during his introductory press conference. “Most of the people here are Chicago Bears fans. For me, my job is to get everybody to buy in and support the flagship university.”

Though he has stated that he doesn’t know who the Illini plays in the upcoming season or when exactly he will start practice, Smith is guaranteeing that fans will leave the arena with a smile on their faces.

Smith has offered a U of I scholarship to three-star linebacker DeCalon Brooks, son of pro football hall of famer Derrick Brooks, and has retained most of the previous assistants to his staff.

Photo of Lovie Smith courtesy of Wikicommons

Lovie Smith will once again wear blue and orange, only this time he'll be coaching 130 miles away from his old coaching job at Soldier Field.

The University of Illinois hired Lovie Smith to a $29 million dollar contract for the next six years. The move to sign Smith was quick and took many Illini fans by surprise.

“My first reaction was complete shock and satisfaction.” Alumni and die-hard U of I fan Michael Simmons said. “Just astonished and excited for the program. I thought it was a great chess move for the new athletic director John Whitman. Lovie will be huge for the student athletes.”

Robbie Bain, Jr., a defensive linemen for the team, tweeted “Grew up watching Coach Smith and the Bears.

Going to be a great opportunity and experience to play for him. #ILL.” One of the more interesting reactions came from college football writer Tom Fornelli’s twitter account, explaining how this move “boils down to the fact the school seems to care about football now.”

For a while it didn’t seem that way.

Over the past 11 years the Fighting Illini head coaching position was held by five different people. During the 11-year span, the team went 52 -82 and no conference titles.

Whitman is looking to change that.

On his first day on the job he fired

interim head coach Bill Cubit and a shortly after hired Smith, making him the sixth African-American football coach in the history of the Big Ten Conference.

“Naming Lovie Smith as the Illinois head football coach is the first step in taking this program to a place of national prominence,” Whitman said during Smith’s introduction Press Conference. “We will build a program that contends annually for Big Ten and national championships. The timing for this move was extremely tight, and we needed to move quickly.

A coach of Lovie’s caliber would not have been available to us if we had waited until after the 2016 season.”

Smith is returning to college football for the first time since 1996.

He spent 14 years as a college coach for Tulsa, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio State before coaching in the NFL. “We all know he’s known for the defense so no worries on that side of the ball,” Michael Simmons explained on the transition back to college football for Smith. “Offensively, college has almost changed the way football is played with the uptempo style of offense. He will most likely need a dual threat QB that can run and throw. But on the other hand you see a coach like Jim Harbaugh, like Lovie just came from coaching in the NFL, and he had a successful first year in Michigan.”

Former Chicago Bears' Coach can't let go of the Orange and Blue.

SPORTS

10

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Bears' Bolstering Talent to Team this Offseason

Photo by Paul Cutler via WikiCommons

Christian Gralak

The Chicago Bears have been busy this offseason, but will it be enough to regain a postseason birth?

It was a disappointing season for head coach John Fox and the Chicago Bears in their first season together. However, the Bears hope that will all change this year and are making moves in the offseason to ramp up their chances of postseason contention.

Failing to make the playoffs again has shown how important it is for the Bears to improve on their overall talent.

The Bears signed former Denver Broncos inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to a four-year deal, and former Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman to a three-year deal.

Trevathan is one of the bigger signings for the Bears. Coming off a Super Bowl win with the Broncos, he had a combined 109 tackles, six pass defenses and two interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown.

Trevathan played under Fox for three seasons in Denver. Fox also helped the Broncos draft him in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Freeman is a 6-foot-tall, 240-pound defensive monster.

His knowledge of defense and aggressive playing style will be un upgrade over former Bears linebacker Shea McClellin.

The Bears and McClellin parted ways after four seasons due to his ineffectiveness on defense.

Freeman started 57 games and recorded 478 tackles in four seasons with the Colts.

The Bears also re-signed cornerback Tracy Porter to a three-year deal. He was Chicago’s best cornerback last year with a team high 22 pass breakups, according to Larry Mayer of the ChicagoBears.com.

His most notable play came

during last years Thanksgiving when he intercepted Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter, which sealed a Bears win.

Another important hole the Bears filled was finding a player to play right tackle.

To fill this hole, the Bears signed former Arizona Cardinals right tackle Bobby Massie to a three-year deal.

Massie, a Cardinals’ fourthround pick in 2012, comes in at 6-foot-6 and weighs 316 pounds.

All of his 46 starts have been at right tackle.

The signing allows Kyle Long to move back to his natural position at right guard, where he made the Pro Bowl in his first two NFL seasons.

According to ChicagoBears. com, Long played a pivotal role in recruiting Massi to the Bears due to their previous high school relationship.

"He is big ol' strong, country, mean--he's everything you want in an offensive lineman… I couldn't be happier with the news," Long told the Chicago Tribune.

The Bears’ moves should help the organization improve for the future and give John Fox the ammunition he needs to fire them back into playoff contention.

In Fox’s second year as head coach with Carolina, he took them to the Super Bowl. Bears fans hope he can achieve the same goal in his second season.

Some other notable Bears signings include: OLB Sam Acho, OL Manny Ramirez, CB Sherrick McManis, TE Zach Miller, TE Rob Housler, S Chris Prosinski, DL Akiem Hicks, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, OT Nick Becton, WR Marc Mariani, WR Deonte Thompson and LS Aaron Brewer.

Keith Suspended as Blackhawks Repeat Hopes Dwindle Brett Starkopf

Hawks seemingly have regressed to mediocrity. Granted expectations are high when you are on the precipice of—if not already—a dynasty but there have been more games where they have looked bad than games that signify a legit championship contender.

Now, with playoffs looming, their chances of repeating are slowly dwindling by the day.

A good way to boost confidence is to score with the man advantage, however their power play hasn’t been much more successful. At one point the PP was best in the league and the Hawks recent play has lowered their ranking to 21.6 percent, fifth in the league. The Hawks have connected on three power play goals in their last 32 chances.

The Hawks will not finish lower than third place in the central division and have the possibility of meeting either Dallas or St. Louis in the first round.

Fans can find comfort in the fact that playoff hockey is on another level than the regular season and the playoff Hawks are on another level than the regular season Hawks.

Although many veterans and important pieces are injured, they

Photo of Duncan Keith courtesy of Wikicommons

Now might be the time to panic.

Although the Hawks have barely managed to scrape by these last 10 games, a once top power play can’t score with the man-advantage, goalie Corey Crawford’s upperbody injury has been disclosed as a head injury and is dealing with bouts of vertigo. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on March 30 that Crawford hasn’t skated in two weeks.

And now Duncan Keith is suspended until the second game of the playoffs..

The defending Conn Smythe Trophy winner was ejected from the March 29 game against Minnesota for hitting Wild center Charlie Coyle in the face with his stick.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspended Keith for six games on April 2. It is his third offense since 2012 which could play a role in the sentencing.

The Hawks rely heavily on Keith for his offensive and defensive prowess. As one of the league’s top defenders, Keith is on the ice more than any other Hawks player and is considered an anchor for a defense that has had its issues as of late. The

only solace in Keith’s suspension is that he will be 100 percent rested when he returns.

Aside from the offensive onslaught against the Boston Bruins on April 3, Patrick Kane has returned to human form. The NHL leader in points is a near lock to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer scored his second career hat-trick and added an assist in the 6-4 win.

The game epitomized the Hawks season as of late. They squandered a six-goal lead and barely survived with the win. Aside from a goal from Jonathan Toews, the Hawks second line consisting of Kane, Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov accounted for the other five goals.

That line has carried the bulk of the offense all season and, in order to advance during the playoffs, they will need scoring from all of their lines.

Also, giving up four goals to the Bruins in a span of 10 minutes doesn’t boost confidence for a defense that has struggled recently.

And the Hawks will have less than a week to right the ship as the season ends April 9.

Since the all-star break, the

Adversity comes at a bad time for the Blackhawks as Duncan Keith has been suspended for six games by the NHL.

still have the veteran leadership, talent, coaching and enough pieces from past Stanley Cup teams to be poised for a deep playoff run.

However, their confidence and resiliency is sure to be tested leading up to then.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

SPORTS

11

Fans get to Ride Along in new WWE Network series Joe McCaffrey

Photo by Vaughanmoore via WikiCommons

WWE's new show "Ride Along" takes fans on the journey with Superstars as they head to the next stop on the tour ... Just spit balling.

The World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) “Ride Along” series shows the superstars at their most approachable and down-to-earth selves. They aren’t being chauffeured or partying on a tour bus. They’re splitting rental cars and making late night drives to the next town on their tour.

In the program, the Divas aren’t always trying to be sexy or gossiping about drama and the men aren’t always trying to be intimidating or competitive. The bad guys don’t seem so bad and the lifestyles of these TV stars and athletes aren’t always glamorous. The fact that the riding partners know each other so well gives viewers a chance to see the performers in their comfort zone, as opposed to how they are on any other WWE-produced show.

From the three episodes that have been aired, a few things have stood out.

I think we can say New Member Kofi Kingston battles with fellow teammates Xavier Woods and Big E Langston about where to eat at Kofi Kingston’s favorite Mexican restaurant from his college days at Boston College, Anna’s Taqueria.

On “Monday Night Raw,”Kingston is as obnoxious as his teammates, but on “Ride Along” he gets anxious about his tag partners, Big E and Xavier Woods, embarrassing him

The Ride Along series packs a punch for wrestling fans looking to know their idols more closely. with their playful antics at Anna’s over parking. Fifty-five dollars might not seem like a lot of money to split among three TV stars, but Xavier Woods said he’d rather park far from the hotel and lug their bags than pay $55 for valet.

The Miz character is arrogant and has no self-awareness, but in his episode of “Ride Along” he’s self-deprecating, referring to his younger self as more of a rebel who partied than an actual cool guy. The

Miz recounts hiding out among the audience to listen to the fan reaction for Ziggler’s entrance the night he cashed in his title match opportunity.

The Miz tells Ziggler this during the show. He pauses for effect when he says, "in my life" I think the dashes are acceptable.

Another episode of the show featured wrestlers King Barrett, Renee Young, Summer Rae and R-Truth. This was intriguing because of how blunt they were about their

personal relationships.

The WWE network is starting slow with this new series, releasing one episode per month. Lined up for future episodes are the newly formed group Social Outcasts and legends to Chris Jericho and Mark Henry.

"WWE Ride Along gives viewers a different way to learn about their favorite Superstars and Divas in 20 minutes than any of number of wrestling podcasts out there."

A new episode was broadcasted on April 3rd, 3:30 ET. Viewers must subscribe to WWE Network first to watch Ride Along episodes on network.wwe.com.

New Subscribers recieve their first month for free.

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Arts &Life

'He Named Me Malala' Courtney Munson

Through the movie and Toffolo, students learned that Islam is not inherently oppressive of women, but rather that it is a mechanism of power exercised by the Taliban.

The Taliban came to power slowly in the Pashtun region during Malala’s life. While Malala’s father, a teacher, taught his students to question authority and not be afraid to speak up. Malala saw her dad speak out against the Taliban, putting his life at risk as the they resorted more and more to violence to enforce their power.

When the Taliban began bombing schools and banned girls, Malala knew her voice and story held importance. She began speaking up, like her father, but for education and women’s rights. Not because she believes she is special, but because her story is similar to that of 60 million girls around the world who are being deprived of an education.

For this the Taliban made an assassination attempt, and her story became national news. The movie ends with a speech she gave on her 16th birthday. Where she delivered the message that “one child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.”

Photo by Claude Truong-Ngoc

With all the attention on the budget impasse and NEIU’s Day of Action on campus, it was easy to overlook another human rights event held on campus the past week. A screening of “He Named Me Malala.”

The Office of Cultural Events hosted a screening of the documentary followed by a Q&A. Northeastern students had an amazing opportunity to gain perspective on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The film was deeply moving and eye opening to the struggles faced by people in Pakistan, children affected by war, and those who are struggling to obtain an education. It was not only an amazing message, but an incredibly poignant one at a time when Islamophobia is at a peak.

The movie opens with Malala Yousafzai narrating a beautiful animation of the story of Malalai of Maiwund, her namesake. This brave teenager who turned the tide of the most crushing defeat of the British in the Anglo-Afghan War according to New York Times journalist, William Dalrymple.

The story tells that during the Afghan retreat, Malalai grabbed a fallen flag, carried it to the top of a mountain, and inspired the Afghan army to keep fighting. The young teenager was martyred during the ensuing fight, but reinvigorated the spirit of the Pashtun people.

The movie continues with Malala’s life, paralleling her accomplishments with Malalai’s.

The movie breaks down many barriers and misconceptions, while illustrating how profound and simple her message is.

Christie Miller of the Office of Cultural Events organized the event after with student Ali Tarokh. She worked with the Muslim American Leadership Alliance and the Malala Fund to get a license to screen the documentary and the promotional materials for the evenings of March 30 and March 31.

Tarokh said of the opportunity, “I was sure it would be good for NEIU and especially classes that focused on women’s rights and human rights.”

Dr. Chris Toffolo, who did her dissertation on Pakistan, lead the Q&A, clarifying points on the culture and history of Pakistan and the Taliban.

"In 2014, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Photo by Hailey G. Boyle

Vegans Beware: Smoque BBQ is Delicious

Smoque BBQ is located just off the Irving Park Blue Line Stop.

Hailey G. Boyle

Comic's Corner

Voted the best barbecue in Chicago by the New York Times and the Chicago Reader, Smoque BBQ offers a variety of flavors where the meat melts off the bone like butter.

This hidden gem located on 3800 N Pulaski offers three styles of barbeque; Chicago, Memphis and St. Louis.

All the meals are cooked over apple and oakwood, and a scent that permeates throughout the restaurant smells like home, which

is weird, since my home doesn’t smell like that, but after eating here, I wish it did.

The pulled pork sandwich with Memphis sauce is my personal favorite. It’s peppery and tangy, but also sweet, and the tips of the pork are crusty while tender in the center. It’s also so juicy, the buns soak it up and make the experience last that much longer.

I don’t want to slack on the ribs, because damn, those things are so good! I stripped the bone clean like a piranha.

Smoque BBQ also serves a brilliant brisket, which is smoked for fourteen hours! It’s so moist and tender with two levels of spices that it rivals anything you’ll find at a backyard Texas barbeque.

And that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface, there are so many styles and combinations

to choose from, you could go to Smoque a hundred times and never have the same meal twice For a side to perfectly compliment your meal, I recommend their baked macaroni and cheese with sweet breadcrumbs and a fragrant slice of cornbread.

The best thing about the sides is that you can eat them all by themselves.

But the best, quote me on this, the BEST item on the menu is their caramel pecan bread pudding.

Oh my God! This stuff is orgasmic. It’s a tiny slice of Heaven. It was love at first bite. I truly believe that this dessert will solve world peace. It’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s moist, it’s crunchy, it has everything. I’ve eaten it fresh from the oven and cold from the fridge while I’m hungover and it works both ways. I promise that I am not talking this up; this is the best

dessert I have ever had in my life.

With one of the friendliest restaurant staff I’ve ever encountered, Smoque offers an authentic barbeque experience.

Wait, strike that. The only way it could be more authentic is if they had a liquor license and could serve whiskey with their meals. Then Smoque would be a truly authentic barbeque.

The walls are decorated with pictures of celebrities who’ve eaten there, including BB King! Any place that has BB King’s seal of approval gets an ‘A’ in my book.

It was a sad day when I decided to go vegan, because after I committed to it, I realized I couldn’t eat 99.99 percent of their menu anymore.

Oh well. Guess I’ll just stick with their absolutely, undeniably good bread pudding.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

13

ARTS & LIFE

Righteous Self Determination Rachel Hall

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Molly Brennan (back) watches Malic White (front) covered in ketchup and throwing plastic blue cups while talking about her insecurities.

E049 (beneath Beck’s) 773.442.4577 theNEIUindependent@gmail.com

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On a day when there was civil unrest, and organizations gathered around Chicago in protest over the lack of funding for education and critical social services, a different form of protest took place.

Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt, an author, educator, scholar and a performing artist, visited the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, NEIU’s Southside Campus, to lecture and sign copies of her new book “Righteous Self Determination: The Black Social Work Movement in America.”

Reid-Merritt spoke about the importance of looking at the history of social services so that people understand the need for public education and funding, and understanding how those services are disseminated. For example, Governor Rauner vetoing funding for MAP grants, and the need for more black social workers to serve in their communities where black lives still matter.

The book expands on what social services looked like in America for African Americans from a historical standpoint and argues that the commitment to black people should not be forgotten. She quotes the 1968 National Association of Negro

Social Work saying “the African American needed to be liberated and not just adjusted.”

Reid-Merritt is the bestselling author of “Sister Power: How Phenomenal Black Women Are Rising to the Top,” and “Sister Wisdom: Seven Pathways to a Satisfying Life for Soulful Black Women.”

She also regularly contributes to scholarly journals and magazines and is the recipient of numerous distinguished awards, including the NAACP Freedom Award; the Cabrini College Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award; the Temple University General Alumni Society Certificate of Honor; the Richard Stockton College’s Council of Black Faculty and Staff Annual Achievement Award; and the National Council for Black Studies Presidential Award (2002).

Reid-Merritt grew up in Philadelphia where she studied at the Sydney King School of Dance, The Eakins Arts Center and Cabrini College.

She also received her Doctorate of Social Work in Race, Law and Social Policy from the University of Philadelphia. She currently teaches social work and is the program coordinator of Africana studies at Richard Stockton College in Pomona, N.J.

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'Pop Waits' is First Rate William Castro “Pop Waits” is a play/ concert/performance art/series of monologues. I’m not even sure if this accurately defines what it is. It transcends all of that into a unique performance about self-identity and what happens when that identity is a loathed, feigned persona.

“Pop Waits” comes from the names of singers Iggy Pop and Tom Waits, cherished idols of Molly Brennan and Malic White, the creators.

Brennan impersonates Waits and White impersonates Pop throughout the show.

In a purposely ham-fisted manner, Brennan’s Waits impersonation is over the top funny, with a gruff voice and her hat pulled down way too low.

But there were many somber moments that delve into other topics such as hate, self-loathing, and how their love for one another might not be enough to prevent a suicide.

It lifts off the veil that reveals who these performers actually are.

“Depression is a thing that never goes away, you just learn how to live with it,” White said to the audience.

She continued to Brennan, “I hate watching you live with it, because I love you and you’re good and you don’t deserve to suffer.”

This somehow easily transitioned from White slathering peanut butter on her bare chest to Brennan going over the mantra she uses to simply get out of bed, which is done with the utmost tact.

They made the wild and loud moments work nicely with more serious matters. I enjoyed this dynamic and they really nailed the balance between the two. They made sure not to overburden the audience with too much cheese ball humor or distance themselves with

such melancholy.

There is definitely a serious theme to the show, yet, it is handled as if it were a Saturday Night Live episode.

At one point, White picks out an audience member and reads them their fortune. Right after, Brennan tells us a story of how her father mistakenly shot a squirrel.

Some skits seem completely random and unorganized, but it didn’t hurt the production.

Each break in scene was met with a cover of a Waits or Pop song, it served as a nice palate cleanser to ready myself for the next moment, but I did have issues with the music.

As White channeled Pop and the band played loud and fast, the sound mixing declined. The band drowned her out, leaving her mostly inaudible. This wasn’t the case with the slower songs but it was something that took me out of the experience.

Yet the highlights for me were the moments of honesty when they spoke to us in a completely vulnerable state.

In the end, they embrace and kiss. A moment that provides closure, that despite all the hardships and self-crises they can look to one another for reassurance. They don’t have to be Tom Waits or Iggy Pop— they can be themselves. It's weird that a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea who Brennan or White were and now I'm not only rooting for them, but enlightened by them.

“Pop Waits” closed after an extended run at The NeoFuturarium on 5153 N. Ashland Ave, home of the Neo-Futurists Ensemble, but don’t despair, their next show, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” promises more hilarity with tickets as low as $4. For inquiries about tickets, please call 773-878-4557.

14

ARTS & LIFE

Through Kurt's Eyes:

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

A Peek Behind the Front Man Laura Rojas

and it gives readers insight into the band and its lead singer.

In an interview with Gilbert Blecklen on November 10, 1991, Cobain sounded hopeful while dreaming of possibilities for his future, or at least so it appeared.

He was asked if he would go mad without music.

“I don’t know if this is something I’ll do forever. There are so many other things that I enjoy just as much. Sometimes I just want to hang out with my friends. I also really like writing, and maybe I’ll even act in a movie one day,” Cobain said. “But while that’s the way I feel at the moment, I’m sure after two months off, I’d probably then get to the point where I wanted to make music again.”

What makes reading that quote painful is the knowledge that he committed suicide three years later in 1994.

All in all, I would certainly recommend this book to any Nirvana fan or even any rock fan out there unfamiliar with the band.

Not only for the opportunity to read his own words, but also to see how this band, and particularly this man, touched those he came in contact with.

Many interviewers felt honored to have been given the opportunity to meet him during his brief fame.

WORDS. We like them.

So should you.

JOIN THE

Photo Courtesy of Chicago Review Press Inc.

INDEPENDENT

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This is not a story of Kurt Cobain’s life regarding his stardom.

This is not his journal or his written words.

This is his recorded words, and those of his bandmates that lay the story of his ultimate demise.

It is left for the reader to discern how his life began wavering off track through the interviews and transcribed recordings of the reluctant celebrity and legend of Cobain in this vast—and currently the most complete—compilation of edited sound bites, interviews and clips put together by Nick Soulsby.

Soulsby sifted through hundreds of hours of interviews and transcribed them into one incredible book.

Short of being an actual penned memoir, “Cobain on Cobain” delivers on its promise of storytelling as close as possible through Cobain’s own words and a few of his bandmates.

Some interviews seem innocent, and at first of little importance, until later development proves how the most insignificant answers he gave in an interview could provide insight and understanding into his downfall.

It was clear that Cobain wasn’t prepared for and never sought

the fame that was thrust upon him from his musical career and it inevitably proved more than he could emotionally handle.

While the subject matter is engaging, and it is interesting to read his own words, which at times can be playful and innocent, the book isn’t a smooth read.

A good chunk of the book is simply transcribed interviews, which read like a conversation—an unorganized choppy conversation.

Not like what we’re used to reading in novels, but a real conversation with meaningless fillers that don’t quite add to the story.

Imagine rereading days worth of texts between yourself and a friend. No matter how good the writing is, a texted conversation will not read like Shakespeare.

Now imagine a conversation recorded between four or more people and think of the disorganization of each person’s answer to a reporter/journalist’s questions. Not pretty.

It reads like a documentary.

But if you love watching documentaries, hold your horses, reading one is not the same thing.

One cannot simply hang on every word like you would as you do reading a mystery novel.

All warnings aside, I must say that this is a wonderful book to read

“Cobain on Cobain” offers a unique insight into the life of the Nirvana frontman.

The only exceptions being the interviewers, which the band pissed off since they were not particularly fans of doing interviews.

But for the most part, I believe they left a fairly good impression.

This book also holds a few laughs as readers get a chance to see the band’s playful, and at times even childlike, humor show in some of their interviews.

There’s a little of everything. I’m sure this is a book many will enjoy.

E-049 773.442.4577

theneiuindependent@ gmail.com

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ARTS & LIFE

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

! t t i u r T s i v a r Goodbye T en Villa

Hailey G. Boyle, Rut Ortiz and Stev

. On Apr. 8, he is leaving us mp ca on ps ou gr a di me ur fo e th r fo Travis Truitt is the advisor llege Chicago.

Co ia mb lu Co at job w ne a ng rti sta d NEIU an

ss you. Travis, you were mi to g in go e e’r w y; sa I n he w us of Hailey: I think I speak for all spaper stronger w ne e th at us de ma u Yo r. fo d ke ve as the best media advisor we could ha rnalists. writers and pushed us to be better jou le to the “Independent,” ab lu va in en be s ha ht sig in d an ce vi ad Over the past two years, your entertainment ty ali qu t ou t pu to rd ha k or w all e W la.”

“Seeds,” “WZRD,” and “Que Ondee So easier. We strive ch mu at th s job r ou de ma u yo d an ity and information to the NEIU commun at out in us. th g in br ed lp he ve u’ yo d an e nc lle ce ex for w, exciting ne is th on u yo e lat tu ra ng co d an ess succ Even though we are happy for your go. career opportunity, it’s sad to see you u’ve spent yo e tim e th r fo u yo k an Th u. yo k y than Rut: I’m writing to you today to sa ghs. Thank you lau e th d an s ue tiq cri e th r fo u yo k an . Th caring about the Independent and us you at all times. for the encouragement and for being pt us accountable. And ke ho w e on e th d an n fa st ge big r ou Thank you for always being ming like you see er ev t ou ith w ve ga u yo at th ce vi of ad most of all thank you for the words had to because it was your job. own is scary, there’s no kn un e th to in g in go h ug ho alt d an u This is a new transition for yo line of work. w ne ur yo in ith w y all ion pt ce ex rm ill perfo doubt that you’ll be respected and w Paul McCartney. d an bs Cu go ica Ch e th es, jok s” vi ra We’ll always have “T

r everything fo u yo ds ar w to de itu at gr my te ta ers to ov Steven: Travis, it is probably impossible cate. As Rut said vo ad st ge big t’s en nd pe de In e th en be you have done for us. You’ve always ble.” above, “the one who kept us accounta proverbial icebergs. You of ar cle us ep ke ed lp he It st. ju t bu Your criticism was merciless, of some kind ag sn a be to d me see ere th r ve ne he W ard. helped to keep the paper moving forw d trust the man next door ul co e w at th ew kn s ay alw e w r, he or anot to work with some viable options. without you. There d eir w l fee ill w e ac pl is th is, av Tr I won’t lie . It’ll be like one of those ce sen ab ur yo in fix to le ho ge lar a will be low-fat pop tarts in here for a while. ture endeavours, but fu ur yo of all in ell w u yo ish w I Of course, “goodbye.” We will be no is is th at th u yo d in rem to n ste I must ha watching you, Travis.

15

ARTS & LIFE

16

Location Lot C PE Lot Lot J First Floor Lot F Bernard Lot A

Zone # 5500 5503 5507 5509 5519 5521 5524

Color Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold

Location Lot C Lot H Lot J First Floor First Ramp Second Floor Second Ramp

Zone # 5501 5506 5508 5510 5511 5512 5513

Color Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue

Location Third Floor Third Ramp Fourth Floor Fourth Ramp Lot F Lot E Lot D CCICS Lot El Centro

Zone # 5514 5515 5516 5517 5520 5522 5523 5527 5528

Color Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

Lot Brommel Lot L Fifth Floor

Zone # 5502 5505 5518

Color Green Green Green