09/24 Independent Vol 39 Iss. 21

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Student-run newspaper since 1962

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

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VOLUME 39 ISSUE 21

Students ‘unafraid’ to talk about free speech

Rebecca Denham

News Editor NEIUNewsEditor@gmail.com

One hour before the Daniel L. Goodwin lecture series was scheduled to host Sean Spicer and Donna Brazile, approximately 200 NEIU students, faculty, staff and commu-

NEWS

It still had to happen. So what exactly happened?

SEE PG. 4

nity members gathered in front of Lech Walesa Hall to protest the former White House press secretary’s presence on campus.

Gabriela Loreda, an undocumented NEIU student in her third year, set the tone for the evening when she took hold of the mega-

CAMPUS LIFE

Another high-profile guest that also drew in a crowd.

SEE PG. 12

phone and said, “We must continue to fight for those who have come before us. And for those that will come after us. We must fight for our brothers and sisters who face oppression. We must continue to fight for those who live in the shadows. We must continue to fight

OPINIONS

After all is said and done, now what?

SEE PG. 13

for those without a voice. Today, I stand before you, undocumented, unafraid and unapologetic.”

An organization called the Killjoys, a student-led coalition that works to end white supremacy on NEIU’s campus, also spoke to the crowd.

ARTS & LIFE

Sometimes, it’s not just a game.

SEE PG. 20

Represented by Raeghn Draper, the Killjoys had a message to share not only with the protestors but with NEIU as a whole. “If the administration continues to ignore us, we will make them listen. So PROTEST/ page 2

SPORTS

Getting the Blackhawks back into contention.

SEE PG. 22

2

NEWS

| SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

INDEPENDENT EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robin Bridges MANAGING EDITOR AND ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Frannie Mendoza NEWS EDITOR Rebecca Denham CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR Grace Yu OPINIONS EDITOR Ata Younan ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Chuck Sipps SPORTS EDITOR Matthew Rago ONLINE EDITOR Ankush Vyas

PROTEST Continued from 1

So thank you all for taking a stand with us against this disgusting assault against students’ voices.

“We will be loud and we will be heard because this was our campus and we do not want this hateful white supremacy bullshit in our schools,” they continued.

Parameters were set for the protestors by a group of safety marshals designated to keeping the crowd organized and peaceful.

They explained that the goal for the protest was that “no one gets arrested and no one gets suspended.”

Outside of the safety marshals, four members of the National Lawyers Guild were present to ensure that protestors were being treated fairly by both the NEIUPD and the CPD and also to gather information in the hypothetical situation that

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

someone was arrested.

One student, Steve Mendez, broke off from the protest and rushed the auditorium stage.

He was quickly detained by NEIUPD and held in the police station until after the protest was over.

Chant lists were passed around the crowd to help orchestrate a unanimous voice. Some of the chants included, “Show me what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like” and “Sean Spicer, paid liar.”

Sarah Smith, a social work major at NEIU, said that NEIU was not respecting students’ freedom of speech. “Our freedom of speech is not even being taken seriously right now. We only have one of the four components of freedom of speech.

It consists of speaking your mind, which we have, but we do not have the freedom to question, the freedom to contradict or the freedom to lampoon.” Smith followed up

with her expectations for the protest. “I think it only takes one person to make a change and we have a lot more than that.”

Student Wendy Cruz addressed the crowd and said, “This does not end today or tomorrow. This ends when we have equity across all spectrums of society, even when the Trump administration systematically tried to deny us dignity. This is our home.”

Towards the end of the protest, Cruz was feeling light-headed from chanting and attempted to access a water fountain. She was barred by seven CPD officers who had set up a wall of bicycles meant to keep protestors clear from doors intended for attendees of the event to exit.

Justice studies assistant professor, Adrian Castrejón, scolded the police officers and escorted Cruz away to get her water.

Several students, alumni and faculty with valid tickets were de-

nied entry into the event. There was a stipulation in the ticket sales that indicated if they were not claimed by 7:15, they would be given away.

However, even if the entry was still allowed at that time, the south doors to the auditorium were locked from the outside. While push bars were located on the inside of the doors for a safe exit from the auditorium, the doors were locked to allow the police to, “focus on only one entry point into the auditorium halfway through the event,” according to NEIU’s chief of police, John Escalante.

When the lecture ended at approximately 8:45, the protestors congregated once more to discuss how the event went and what was accomplished.

President Gibson has refrained from commenting on the protest until the follow up town hall scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.

Chair Vicki Byard “rebutted” the concerns of students. This phrasing was misleading as to the intention of Byard.

A more appropriate phrasing would be that Byard offered her

own opinion and speculation as to why the administration was withholding microphones at the Daniel L. Goodwin lecture, which hosted Sean Spicer and Donna Brazile on Sept. 12.

Similarly, the article titled “Teach in as an alternative to Spicer lecture” was also a misrepresentation of the teach in, which was held the day prior to the lecture.

PAYROLL MANAGER Francisco Sebastian PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Humberto Ortiz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cassidy Schmidt Eric Rodriguez Ana Peres Bogo The Independent is a public forum for all of Northeastern Illinois University’s campuses and surrounding community. The Independent is entirely student-run and is published bi-weekly, except during summer and semester breaks. The editor-in-chief is responsible for the content of the Independent, and views presented do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty and students. The Independent is a member of the ICPA, CMA and ACP. For further details email: TheNeiuIndependent@gmail.com.

Two Corrections

In a previous issue of the Independent, News Editor Rebecca Denham stated in the article titled “SGA organized town hall for Sean Spicer lecture” that Faculty Senate

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | NEWS

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NEWS | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Distinguished lecture series hosts Brazile, Spicer Cassidy Schmidt Writer

On Thursday evening, Sept.

12, an individual rushed the stage during the sixth installment of the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series. Again later that evening, an NEIU professor and protest co-organizer also came up on stage in response to Spicer’s presence.

The event opened with President Gibson introducing Goodwin, an alumnus of NEIU who funded the event.

Gibson listed Goodwin’s many firsts for the university, including being “the first person to commit a multi-million dollar gift to the university.”

Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside of Lech Walesa Hall and marched to the lobby outside of the auditorium following a mass email sent out by university President Gloria Gibson.

In her email, Gibson said that despite opposition from members of the university community, she had decided to move forward with the privately funded event.

Goodwin briefly took the stage to offer some of his own insight on the lecture series to date.

“You must admit that there’s no other agenda here. There’s no political angle. There’s no other theme.

We have simply invited people from different walks of life, people that were well known, and people who had different political, financial and other beliefs. And I think we’ve had a good balance. And that’s what we tried to do with tonight’s program.

We tried to have a good balance.

And I think our guests will prove that to be true,”he said.

The name of the event was “Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series presents: Politics, the Press, and the Presidential Election: A discussion with Donna Brazile and Sean Spicer.”

Ata Younan

On stage at the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series (Left to Right): Donna Brazile, Phil Ponce and Sean Spicer.

Goodwin then introduced the night’s moderator, Window To The World’s (WTTW) host of Chicago Tonight, Phil Ponce.

He followed the introduction with, “... it’s my pleasure now to see another event and take maybe a new step…. I’ve always wanted a little bit of controversy.”

Before turning it back over to President Gibson, Goodwin also read a portion of NEIU’s mission statement.

Shortly after Goodwin’s closing statement, NEIU student Steve Mendez rushed the stage and threw noise makers into the crowd as he yelled, “Shut it down.” Four NEIU police officers tackled him, while he continued to shout statements including: “I am a student here”, “all you are complacent to fucking Nazis” and “you’re hurting me”.

Mendez’s stage rush prompted audience members to yell back in response, making statements like “you’re the Nazi” and “freedom of speech, get him out of here.” Applause came from the crowd as the officers eventually escorted him off the stage and out of the auditorium.

The incident lasted approximately two minutes.

Once the guests were invited to the stage more opposition came from the audience in the form of heckling and other comments once Ponce invited both speakers to the stage.

One audience member yelled out, “Spicer, you fucking scumbag, kill yourself. You’ll do anything for a buck. The school too.”

Ponce started off the lecture by acknowledging protesters’ concerns.

“We hear you. We know you’re there. And most questions will be posed...A lot of people here want to hear both of them, you know what, if we agreed with everybody what a, you know what an uninteresting world it would be, sometimes maybe this world is a little too interesting, but I ask you to give the evening a chance, okay?”

Ponce went on to explain that the program was scheduled to run until about 8:30 but said both speakers had agreed to stay a little longer depending on how the flow of the evening is going.

Ponce then laid out the evening beginning by addressing concerns on Spicer’s attendance.

Afterwards, he explained that he would then give about 10 to 15 minutes on the topics of politics, the presidential election and dealing with the press.

He also said he would be incorporating some of the questions submitted online by students, faculty and community members.

Community members who attended the event seemed to agree that while the event might not have suited everyone’s taste, it was a fair and interesting event.

Community member Michelle Armamentos said in response to the event, “I thought it was very even. They gave fairness to what was going on outside, the people protesting..I thought it was very well balanced. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Throughout the event, the shouting of protesters could be heard from outside in the auditorium’s lobby. Ponce addressed it by saying, “It’s a sign of health, where people can be yelling in protest and

at the same time, we have the ability to have a robust but civil conversation.”

Ponce also joked with Spicer.

He said to him, “Sean, you’re good at this, how...how big of a crowd do you think we have.” This was followed by many laughs.

As the discussion continued Ponce paraphrased the petition letter to disinvite Spicer to campus, written by Stockdill and signed by several hundred students. He then asked Spicer to respond.

He responded: “When a group of people, on either side, seemingly tries to speak for everybody, meaning that to suggest somehow there is no one here at NEIU that’s a conservative, that supports the current administration, is a stretch at the very least.”

Spicer went on to say, “My point being is this, the left continues to talk about tolerance and inclusivity, except for those who don’t agree with a far left progressive agenda.”

His statements began to incite input from the audience Spicer became agitated as he said, “You read an entire letter making serious accusations against me, at least give me the respect to answer…You want to control the conversation.

Let me answer. I’m sitting here. I’ll answer any question you have.”

When questioned on whether he felt as though he was asked to lie to the American public on behalf of the president, Spicer referred to his official role as spokesperson Spicer said, “I am and was a spokesperson for an individual.

My job is to go out and repeat the thoughts and views of whoever is the principal at the time. If they don’t like the answer of the policy, that’s not my problem.”

Brett Stockdill, a sociology professor at NEIU and co-organizer of the protest going on outside, DISTINGUISHED/ page 5

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DISTINGUISHED Continued from 4

entered the auditorium as Spicer responded to a question from Ponce about the White House’s temporary bar on The New York Times, CNN and Politico. Spicer began, “I had a group of folks in my office…”

Stockdill interrupted, “Were they racist like you, you white-supremacist-piece-of-shit?”

Spicer then invited Stockdill to the stage to which he responded, “I’ll come down there, alright,

I have not had to cuss one person out.”

Ponce also posed a submitted question to Spicer about the mental competency of President Trump.

Ponce pointed to speculation on Trump suffering from narcissistic personality disorder, mentioning the American Psychiatric Association and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

To which Spicer responded, “... these are the kind of questions that

some closing statements from both speakers. Brazile got up from her seat at the end to do a little dance to show Spicer what to do when he hears the music on Dancing with the Stars.

Spicers closing statements included this, “Look, I think we’ve gotta get back, and Donna referenced this and I couldn’t agree more, to a culture where we can agree to respect people of different backgrounds and understand that

“There was racism in this country before Donald Trump...

People fail to recognize what we have seen as a disease that’s been coming up in this country.”

you’re inviting me.” He proceeded to climb on the stage and sit crosslegged.

Stockdill was not on stage long before Ponce disinvited him from the stage. He was ushered to leave

by NEIU police.

The remainder of the evening involved Ponce asking both speakers questions submitted by students, staff and the community.

Ponce asked both speakers questions on the upcoming election. He asked Brazile about her transition over to Fox News, the response she got and if she regretted her decision to join Fox News.

Brazile said: “No, because when you lose an election by less than 78,701 votes, you better figure out what the hell happened…I need to help reach those Americans who don’t hear from us. That don’t hear from liberals...It makes me a better person to understand what my quote unquote what my opposition is saying so that I can either correct them or understand why they are calling me a socialist.”

She also said, “I love my world at Fox. I want you all to know that.

They treat me very well. Very well.

I have not had one bad experience.

are silly...I have no medical training, and to sit here and say, oh yeah, I mean, honest to God, that is literally a silly question.”

Ponce asked Brazile about her recent assertion that President Trump has nothing to do with the recent mass shootings, including the one is El Paso.

Brazile said, “You see too often we make it about Donald Trump and we putting it all on Donald Trump. Oh, it’s Trump. There was racism in this country before Donald Trump...People fail to recognize what we have seen as a disease that’s been coming up in this country. I witnessed it personally as a child of the South.”

She continued: “And I’m also sick of talking about racism..Jesus Christ, can we begin to believe that we are one people, one country, one America...If you’re a man you’re not better than me. If you’re white person you’re not better than me. I am an American. I love this country.”

Both speakers listened to one another without interruption.

The evening concluded with questions for Spicer about being a topic on Saturday Night Live and Dancing with the Stars, as well as

- Donna Brazile

because someone else doesn’t share the same views that you do, doesn’t make them a bad person.”

Another community member, Tom Mollo, said, “I think the intention, the inclusiveness, I think it fits the spirit and the mission of the university. I don’t think it was wrong to have this event..It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but it’s something that I think needed to be done.”

Student Kevin Coleman said, “I felt I pretty much I got what I expected, more or less. Actually, there were some points of Ms. Brazile’s comments that somewhat surprised me. It was because when she had kinda the Kumbaya speech and I was like yeah that’s great but, like we were just saying, I don’t see that happening in my lifetime or my kids for that matter because America has a long dark history with other cultures. And I think Mr. Spicer exposed himself for what he is, deceitful, and I applaud him for his commitment to his beliefs.

At the same time, I understand the protest because when your commitments to your beliefs take you to dark places, I don’t think it’s a good thing, not for him or for anyone for that matter.”

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NEWS | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

These incidents occured on NEIU campus property between the dates of September 3 and September 19.

9/3/19 – El Centro Officer discovered graffiti on El Centro campus.

Phone turned over to NEIU PD and contact was made with phone owner.

9/3/19 – D Building Pregnant woman was reporting pains. She was transported to a hospital.

9/12/19 – Library Multiple calls were made about a person acting suspiciously.

9/4/19 – J Lot Report of dog left unattended in car.

9/5/19 – D Lot Victim’s parked car struck by offender’s car while victim was inside.

9/9/19 – WTTW Lot Minor cyclist reported accident with injury.

9/9/19 – Info Desk Cell phone turned in to info desk.

Phone turned over to NEIU PD. 9/11/19 – Library Suspicious person reported.

9/11/19 – E Building A found North Carolina ID given to officer while on patrol. Contact was made with ID owner.

9/11/19 – Student Union Victim alleged battery from the week prior.

9/12/19 – NEIU PD NEIU PD received copy of an order of protection for a student.

9/12/19 – CCICS An argument was reported between an NEU employee and unknown individuals.

9/12/19 – Parking Facility Vehicle struck while attempting to back out of a parking space.

9/12/19 – Auditorium Disruption of a speaker event was reported. Offender was detained and later released.

9/12/19 – Auditorium IPod belonging to NEIU was turned in to NEIU PD 9/13/19 – J Lot NEIU is holding a bicycle for inebriated individual at the fall fest event. The individual left in an Uber.

9/11/19 – LWH Victim alleged harassment.

9/14/19 – Nest Intoxicated individual was found at the Nest. The individual was transported to the hospital.

9/11/19 – Info Desk Phone turned in to Info Desk.

9/14/19 – CCICS Alarm sounded at CCICS. Officers

responded. Nothing was found out of place.

9/16/19 – NEIU PD An individual reported unsafe behavior.

9/17/19 – Info Desk Credit card was turned in to the Info Desk. Card was then turned over to NEIU PD, who were unable to make contact with the card owner.

9/17/19 – Off Campus, Korean BBQ House An individual notified NEIU PD of an aggressive and intoxicated patron at the restaurant. CPD 17th district were also notified.

9/17/19 – Info Desk Cell phone turned in to Info Desk.

Phone was turned over to NEIU PD and contact was made with the owner.

9/18/19 – H Building NEIU PD conducted a well being check on a distraught employee.

9/19/19 – On Campus NEIU employee reported theft of university property.

9/19/19 – LWH NEIU employee complained about chemical smell in office.

9/19/19 – Parking Facility NEIU employee sustained minor injuries in a slip and fall accident.

The NEIU police blotter is requested from our campus police for every issue of the Independent because this publication exercises its right to do so, courtesy of the Clery Act. The Clery Act is a federal statute requiring all higher education establishments that participate in federal financial aid programs to maintain records of campus crime and campus security information. Any case that is considered on going may not be listed in the blotter. For this reason, there may be updated reports published retroactively once those cases are closed. For more information about the Clery Act, visit the NEIU police department’s webpage.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 |

CAMPUS LIFE

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Nuevas Voces plays lift up NEIU voices Grace Yu

Campus Life Editor NEIUCampusEditor@gmail.com

The Nuevas Voces Playwriting Competition and Festival is a unique NEIU tradition that honors and amplifies the voices of NEIU students and community members. The third annual edition will be held in the first week of October. Jim Blair, longtime faculty member at NEIU, founded the festival to provide students with a platform to showcase their playwriting skills and to provide them with the opportunity to see their original work staged.

The entire festival is produced and performed by an ensemble of actors from the Stage Center Theatre. This year’s actors include seven current NEIU students and one NEIU alumnus.

The contest portion takes place every year in the spring semester. The contest participants submit their work in January, the winners are announced in March and

the winning pieces are performed together as a festival taking place in the following Fall semester.

Submissions to the competition are 10 minute plays which fall under one of three categories: NEIU, community and high school. Typically three to five plays are selected by a committee as the winners to be produced for the festival.

The 2019 selection committee is comprised of Sarah J. Fabian, Managing Director of Stage Center Theatre, Adam Goldstein, Artistic Director of Stage Center Theatre, Rodney Higginbotham, NEIU Professor Emeritus and Becca Peterson, NEIU alumni and former Nuevas Voces Prize winner.

This year, the four plays that were produced won the prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as a, honorable mention selection, and even included a work written by a Buffalo Grove area high school student.

“We get all sorts of plays, a variety of voices, we get all types of genres and styles.

One evening at the university and you get

four different plays with four entire different feelings, but you can see how every story talks to every other story,” said Artistic Director Goldstein.

With four different plays, the producers of the festival producers look for creative ways to connect the plays to one another, such as a song linking from one play to the next or a prop that gets used in a distinct way for each piece. Hence, these plays can be viewed as related or even in conversation with each other.

According to Goldstein, his favorite aspect of the festival is the opportunity to dedicate time in the Stage Center season towards providing the space to exhibit the amazing talent found within student-driven, community-generated work that speaks both to and for the student population in a relevant and vital way.

“I think student-driven work performed by the students is a really unique collegiate experience, said Goldstein. “It’s been really meaningful for the students and faculty who

have participated because we know how meaningful it was to Jim Blair to showcase student voices.”

The titles and writers of the plays to be performed are as follows: 1st Place: “The Fear of Little Things” by Shannon Naylor - Prize of $200 2nd Place: “Live it Up List” by Emily Feldman - Prize of $150 3rd Place: “Frosted” by Ariel Notterman Prize of $100 Honorable Mention: “Too True to be Good” by Shamus “James” Jarvis - Prize of $50 A reception on opening night will be held for an opportunity to share some food with the playwrights and congratulate them on a job well done. The dates and times of the performances are Thursday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m with the opening reception held at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Tickets for students and faculty are free.

Graphic provided by: Stage Center Theatre

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CAMPUS LIFE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Campus life calendar: 9/24 - 10/10

Study Abroad Information Session Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2–3 p.m., LWH 1002 Find out about the different study abroad programs you can participate in and how to apply. Hosted by the Office of International Programs.

How To Turn A Career Fair Into A Job Offer Workshop Tuesday, Sept. 24, 3 – 4 p.m., B-140 and Wednesday, Oct. 2, 5–6 p.m., B-140 Are you an NEIU student or alumnus looking for a full- or part-time job, internship or volunteer opportunity? Attend this workshop to prepare for the NEIU Diversity and Community Career Fair. This workshop relates to the steps you should take before, during and after a career fair to increase your chances of getting that job offer. If you are not able to attend these sessions but need resume writing help, come to our walk-in hours: Tuesdays 10–11 a.m., Wednesdays 1–2 p.m. and Thursdays 3–4 p.m. Contact Shannon Sibel in Career Development at: s-sibel@neiu.edu.

The Killjoys at NEIU: Agitating the System of White Supremacy Tuesday, Sept. 24, 3 – 4 p.m., Pedroso Center (B-159) Join for a student-led discussion about how white supremacy affects our campus and how to recognize microaggressions so that we can DISMANTLE IT! Sponsored by Women’s and Gender Studies.

Latinx Month 2019: Mesoamerican Migrant Movement with Rubén Figueroa Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6–7 p.m., Pedroso Center (B-159) Latinx Month 2019: The ENLACE Puerto Rican Experience Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6–8 p.m., El Centro Campus

NEIU Student Media Monthly Meeting Thursday, Sept. 26, 4:30 p.m., Carruthers Campus Room 408 Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society) Presents: Environmental Racism and Literature Thursday, Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m., FA 152 This year, we’re going to be learning about environmentalism and literature, beginning with Environmental Racism. Dr. Poll will lead the discussion on this important concept that will change the way you read literature and help you develop interesting, complex papers for your classes. Come learn with us! Bring friends! Please pass on to all interested parties.

ARS, A Reading Series Thursday, Sept. 26, 5:45 p.m., SU 215 Come support NEIU creative writers read their work and contribute your own voice.

There is still time to reserve a 10 minute slot to showcase your work. Brought to you by Seeds Journal and Rebel Poetry. Contact Brice McGourty at b-mcgourty@neiu.edu if interested.

“Telling Our Own Stories” Community Writing Workshop Kickoff Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m., Carruthers Campus NEIU will host workshops run by Chicago Sun-Times journalist and author John Fountain from Sept. 28 through Oct. 19. These workshops are intended to encourage personal story-writing as a way to provide the first drafts of history, uncover the stories that often go missing—particularly those from poor and minority communities—and to promote an insider perspective on people, problems and possibilities in a community, neighborhood and city. The series is free and open to the public. RSVP is required (https://www.neiu. edu/signup-community-workshops) for the

four workshop sessions but not for the Sept. 26 kickoff event. All workshops run from 1-3:30 p.m.

11th Annual SCSE Research Symposium Friday, Sept. 27, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., El Centro Campus The annual Student Center for Science Engagement (SCSE) symposium highlights research conducted by Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) students who participated in summer research programs. Our keynote speaker this year is Dr. Julie Libarkin from Michigan State University.

Reception for Chicago Printers Guild: 10th Anniversary Exhibition Friday, Oct. 4, 6–9 p.m., Fine Arts Gallery A juried exhibition to mark the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Printer’s Guild, whose mission is to foster awareness of print culture as it bridges the gap between commercial and fine art printing. Sept. 30-Oct. 25 (closed on Friday, Oct. 11 for Fall Break).

Latinx Month 2019: Los Trabajadores Wednesday, Oct. 2, 3–4 p.m., Ronald Williams Library Join this celebration of the trajectory of five Latinx/a/o-identified staff, spanning various disciplines and experiences.

Diversity & Community Career Fair Thursday, Oct. 3, 12–4 p.m., Alumni Hall (SU 115) Career Development is hosting organizations from Illinois and other states looking for full-time and part-time employees, interns and volunteers. Open to NEIU students from all majors. Contact Shannon Sibel in Career Development at: s-sibel@neiu.edu.

Latinx Month 2019: Los Profesores Thursday, Oct. 3, 3–4 p.m., Northside

Campus Cafeteria Join this celebration of the trajectory of five Latinx/a/o-identified faculty, spanning various disciplines and experiences.

Latinx Month 2019: Building Community Through Healing, Resilience & Resistance Thursday, Oct. 3, 6–8 p.m., El Centro Campus Bringing the NEIU community together in an immigration symposium to talk about the trauma caused by recent attacks on immigrant communities.

Nuevas Voces Playwriting Contest and Festival Performances Thursday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m *with an Opening Reception at 6:30 p.m. prior to the performance Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

All performances at Stage Center Theatre Founded by alumnus and former Northeastern professor Jim Blair to create a platform at Northeastern Illinois University for new playwrights, Nuevas Voces is a thrilling launch point for new work from NEIU its vibrant community. Featuring multiple prize winning short plays selected from an extensive competition, Nuevas Voces reveals the complexity of our human experience through the many lenses that make up Northeastern.

Golden Eaglepreneurs Business Pitch Competition Thursday, Oct. 10th, CBM 149 Open to all students from any major! Do you have a business idea that is still in its infancy stage meaning no revenue, prototype, or product yet? Get ready to do a 90 seconds elevator pitch to a panel of judges to win a chance to travel with the NEIU CEO club to compete at the global pitch competition in Florida. Register with ceo@neiu.edu by Thursday, Oct. 3.

Don’t see your event? Tell us about it.

Email Grace at NEIUCampusEditor@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | CAMPUS LIFE

11

Amanda Goldblatt and the process of ‘Hard Mouth’ Chuck Sipps

Arts and Life Editor NEIUArtsLifeEditor@gmail.com

“I’d advise all writers to write precisely what book they want to write. Because it’s not easy to publish a book. It’s quite hard. It’s hard emotionally. It’s hard logistically. It can be hard on your own life and on others’ lives.

It is a major undertaking. So to do all that on anything less than exactly what you want to be writing, is total folly.”

Those are the words of Amanda Goldblatt, English instructor at NEIU and author of the recently released “Hard Mouth,” her first published novel. It was these words that stuck with me most in the week since our one-onone interview in her office in Lech Walesa Hall. In fact, I have recounted these words to others during discussions on various creative processes. While Goldblatt shared them in the spirit of writing, her words can be applied to almost any creative endeavor. Because to create anything other than what you wish to create is indeed total folly.

She spoke often about the amount of work that went into “Hard Mouth” both during and after the writing process, which took eight years and nine separate drafts. When asked what carried her through and kept her working, her answer was simple: “I’m stubborn.”

That stubborn streak carried her through the rigorous editing process. These edits weren’t simple revisions or small word changes, but line by line edits. These drastically changed the voice and structure of the story.

The version of “Hard Mouth” that is published in 2019 is vastly different from the one she submitted when she thought the book was finished sometime between 2013 and 2014. In some ways, “Hard Mouth” is exactly what Goldblatt had wanted it to be originally, but a lot can change in an eight-year process.

Goldblatt started writing the book after her father was diagnosed with cancer, which has since gone into remission, and she began to think about mortality, specifically parental mortality. With both her grandmothers passing within a year of one another, she found a new perspective. Those emotions led to to big revisions, particularly around the last third of the book.

The initial rejection of Goldblatt’s attempt

to publish “Hard Mouth” (“Ultimately they were like, ‘this is too weird,’”) allowed Goldblatt the opportunity for refinement. While she feels the version she submitted back then was the best it could have been at the time, she is happy that things worked out as they did. “I mean, who knows if I had sent it out to a 25th agent, maybe that agent would have picked it up. My agent is relatively young, and she would have been an assistant the first time I sent it out. She wouldn’t even have been acquiring clients at the time. So much of it is really just a matter of luck and timing. And so for me, that was definitely the case.”

Luck may indeed play a part, but the amount of editing and research put into “Hard Mouth” played a much larger role. From reading wilderness survival guides, going through old survivalist discussion boards and watching primary source videos on YouTube, Goldblatt’s process and commitment to seeing “Hard Mouth” come to life are apparent.

Goldblatt’s talent for language started at an early age and it is a skill she continuously continues to hone. Ironically, her decision to make a career of writing stemmed from the loss of a hard drive’s worth of video production work and a promise to herself to never again suffer the fickleness of computers, though now she does all of her writing on electronic devices. She is already working on her next novel. Who knows? Maybe the next time you see Goldblatt on her phone she is hard at work on said novel.

Lastly, I asked Goldblatt why NEIU students should read “Hard Mouth?” While she felt selling a book was a marketer’s job, she did eventually offer, “I don’t know why someone else should read the book. But I don’t think it’s a total waste of your time.”

You can purchase ‘Hard Mouth’ anywhere books are sold, including your local bookstore.

NEIU faculty member Amanda Goldblatt’s (right) debut novel, ‘Hard Mouth,’ was published in August 2019 by Counterpoint Press.

12

CAMPUS LIFE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Good times with T-Pain

Serving as the crown jewel of NEIU’s Fall Fest was the Friday night performance of Grammy Award winning artist T-Pain. The concert, held in Parking Lot J just outside the Nest, was preceded by a performance by DJ Perry Donta’e and The Pack Drumline. They hyped up the crowd for the headlining perfmance. T-Pain came out, performed a medley of his most well-known hits as well as a sampler of covers and a few tunes from his latest album “1-UP”. T-Pain was well received by the crowd and good times were had by all.

Photos by Chuck Sipps

Visit our website at NEIUIndependent.org to view more photos plus videos of the concert and other events from NEIU Fall Fest!

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 |

OPINIONS

13

A good win for civic engagement

Ata Younan

Opinions Editor NEIUOpsEditor@gmail.com

On Aug. 22, at 1:06 p.m., President Gloria J. Gibson sent an email to students and faculty at NEIU, announcing that former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would speak at the sixth installment of the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series.

A limited number of free tickets were reserved for the NEIU community before tickets were made available to the public, with the promise that any unclaimed tickets would be released 15 minutes prior to the start of the lecture. So naturally, Pres. Gibson encouraged everyone to arrive early. In the event of an overflow, rest assured, a live feed would play in the adjacent Recital Hall.

Six days later, an email from Mike Hines, Director of Public Relations, announced that all reserved tickets were claimed and all those reserved for the public had been sold.

The same email announced that questions for the speakers were to be submitted by Sept.

9 through an online form. Moderator Phil Ponce would then decide which questions to pose.

Less than two hours later, the Student Government Association (SGA) announced a town hall for the next day to allow students to openly express their concerns regarding the event.

With only 24 hour notice, about 30 students, staff and faculty gathered in the campus cafeteria to discuss possible recourse to address the Spicer situation. With Ombuds officer Tyler Smith serving as moderator, the group discussed the event’s unprecedented lack of audience participation, the fear and betrayal felt from inviting Spicer to what they essentially consider their home and what this could mean for the future of an institution that serves a predominantly Latinx student demographic.

As I sat in attendance, emotions from the gatherers were visceral. And as SGA members compiled a list of questions they promised to deliver to the administration, I knew that regardless of whether or not the University decided to retract its invitation to Spicer, something significant was happening.

Ata Younan

One of approximately 200 protesters outside Lech Walesa Hall.

Finally, Sept. 11, the day before the event.

At 4:54 p.m., Gibson sent out one last email in response to the rumblings underway.

Spicer would indeed take part in the lecture the following day. The protests, she acknowledged, were a sign of a healthy student body, one dedicated to civic engagement.

The next day, I arrived on campus with my camera in tow and my media pass secured.

As a couple protesters sat making signs in one of four “designated demonstration areas” sectioned off by the University, the air was calm.

Within hours, I stood outside the steps of the Lech Walesa Hall amidst about 200 protesters. Students, faculty and community members took to the megaphone, speaking on what it means to stand up even when you are afraid. In the face of bigotry, they stood and they proclaimed NEIU as their own, an institution not for sale. Then they marched.

Citing policy and rhetoric from the Trump administration as divisive, harmful, and having the potential to incite violence, the protesters marched to finally stand outside the auditorium doors where the lecture was taking place.

Over the course of the weeks leading up to the event, there was constant talk of fear,

of inviting hate into our hallways, of what it means to be both a member of NEIU and a member of one or more groups so vehemently targeted by the Trump administration.

As a woman, an immigrant and first-generation American, I wasn’t sure how I felt. I knew I didn’t agree with the administration’s policies and I knew Spicer to be an undistinguished member of society. But what did this mean for the University and this lecture specifically? What did this mean for the undocumented students at NEIU? These individuals, I felt, had the most at stake at this particular moment in time.

After documenting the protest and the lecture itself, after hearing both the protesters and Spicer, I am left with one resounding feeling.

I witnessed undocumented students and citizens with privilege stand side by side. I saw the building of community.

Yes, I heard Spicer speak. But what I heard louder, what truly resonated with me and with many others, I believe, were the voices of the protesters.

Spicer is one person.

Yes, he once served an administration that’s still in office. Arguably, he represents the underbelly of the country who, clinging to the

guise of traditional American values, serves to discount, dismantle and terrorize entire groups of marginalized people.

But what purpose did each protester serve? If I were afforded a bird’s eye view of the event, what would I see? I would have seen the hundreds of protesters standing in solidarity.

Yes, Spicer was on stage.

But the message that rose above all was the rallying cry of a community united, practicing its prowess in protest and sharpening its recourse with civil disobedience. I saw a people banded together in power.

Spicer is going to fizzle away into obscurity. And when he does, there will likely be many eager to take his place, spewing the same message. Another proud supporter of conservative social values. One that stubbornly clings to a decaying tradition even when the smell of fresh new insights, ideals and values blossom under their nose.

Was inviting Sean Spicer to NEIU in essence providing him a home? Or rather was this the perfect opportunity for students to practice their freedom of speech and push back? In their home. Where they are safe.

Where they know the corridors. They know the exits. A place with less at stake.

Outside of our homes, we don’t get to shut down those whose opinions we disagree with.

Or at least, we don’t get to shut them down in the places that really matter. Unless we come prepared.

And that’s exactly what Spicer was. A preparation for the larger monsters at hand.

He’s the little monster in the neon green frilly shirt you have to defeat before you get to the big guy. And no, the big guy isn’t an orange monster. If only it were that easy.

The real monsters are way more subtle and insidious in their attack. They are the institutions that allow for the breeding of the administration we see today. The larger corporations that lobby and directly effect policy. The lack of civic engagement at the federal and local level. Because face it...if these monsters weren’t in office, it wouldn’t matter.

CIVICS/ page 14

14

OPINIONS | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Cuccinelli as Trump’s secret weapon is terrifying Eric Rodriguez Writer

In an era of Trumpian appointments who bear little to no qualifications, such as Rick Perry (Department of Energy), Betsy Davos (Department of Private Education), and Ben Carson (Department of HUD), it is hard to register Ken Cuccinelli’s appointment as acting director of U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) as anything worth panicking over. But if we look at how Cuccinelli is aggressively shifting the USCIS at a pace far quicker than Trump in the last 3 years, there’s a legitimate reason to believe Cuccinelli may cause irreparable damage to the American immigration system for years to come.

Cuccinelli, the former 46th Virginia attorney general, has now found a home in the Trump administration and is thriving for all the wrong reasons. Once known in Virginia for introducing legislation that would allow employers to fire employees for speaking Spanish in the workplace, Cuccinelli has long been a conservative firebrand when it comes to immigration. If there ever were an ideal fit to direct the Trump administration’s immigration department, it would probably be the type of person who speaks about immigration policy and killing rats in the same breath.

Cuccinelli has a certain fervor for restricting immigration policy that most of his colleagues don’t share. One of the main problems the Trump administration has encountered

CIVICS Continued from 13

What matters is individual passion funneled and aimed to drive home the bigger cause. What matters is using the power of our vote to change the individuals in office-from president to congressmen to mayor to alderman. All of these people are the drivers of democracy.

This event made us stronger in our ability to band together and our ability to articulate our values. It reminded us that we must not discount our discomfort because amid discomfort is camaraderie.

These are the events that ignite passion.

when implementing their anti-immigration policies is that there aren’t enough qualified people with the will to pursue such laws. With Cuccinelli, that’s not an issue.

Now what is a concerning issue is giving an appointed official, who has not been confirmed by Congress and who is hellbent on ending legal immigration, free reign over the department in charge of handling legal

immigration.

Since Cuccinelli was appointed, the USCIS has rattled out numerous initiatives to curb legal immigration, including speeding up asylum screenings and announcing a public charge statute that would allow immigration officials to deny legal immigrants on the basis of perceived need.

He has also worked aggressively to

Not just reading about it in a book or seeing it on TV. First hand experience, whether as a member of the targeted group or as an ally.

That’s what fuels a movement.

Before this, I didn’t know about the Daniel L. Goodwin Distinguished Lecture Series. I didn’t understand, viscerally, first hand, what it means for money to buy time, to afford a platform. I mean, yes, I knew. But I didn’t personally understand the implications.

Now I do. And you better believe I will pay attention- to Goodwin, to the way we use platforms to drive rhetoric and discussion, to how money is spent, to how a publicly funded university can use private funding. I might have watched before, but now I watch with a

knowing eye.

And all those who were directly involved will watch differently too. That’s what engagement is. You have to engage the enemy to destroy him. And what better place to do it than on our home front.

In two months, maybe even in two weeks, Spicer’s trip to NEIU will be a thing of the past. What remains are the mass deportations, the cages at our borders and the continued decriminalization and dehumanization of asylum seekers from Central America.

Let’s learn from Spicer and set our sights on our next target. We’ve got a lot to choose from.

expand his role within all federal sectors of immigration, butting heads with both ICE and Homeland Security over the jurisdiction of his department. Cuccinelli has been reported to have openly demanded that the director of ICE cede authority of the student visa program to the USCIS. While both of those ideas are absurd in practice and flagrantly illegal, Cuccinelli’s request is hardly original. However, considering the precedence set by this administration, Cuccinelli’s ideas are terrifyingly realistic.

With Cuccinelli recently ousting the top asylum official in the USCIS, it’s not hard to imagine him getting some concessions in his requests.

Showing no remorse for the standards and traditions practiced by the department--and with his drastic changes in policy being backed wholeheartedly by the Trump administration--Cuccineli has the power and the ambition to make some of Trump’s most polarizing policies come to fruition.

It’s time to forgo the notion that there are checks and balances in our federal bureaucracies. That idea is naive and no longer represents the standard to which our agencies are are held in 2019. It’s time to accept the reality that if we relax, if we take our eyes off of what is happening in our major bureaucratic institutions, we may look back and see a country that we no longer recognize.

Share your opinion on topics that ignite your passion!

Email Ata at NEIUOpsEditor @gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | OPINIONS

15

Shooting down gun law misconceptions Matthew Rago

Sports Editor NEIUSportsEditor@gmail.com

“The intensive, three-week Kinderguardian course introduces specially selected children from 12 to 4 years old to pistols, rifles, semiautomatics and a rudimentary knowledge of mortars. In less than a month — less than a month — a first-grader can become a firstgrenade-er. Happy shooting, kids.”

You would be forgiven if you thought the above quote was extracted from a parody.

You might even be forgiven if you believed the quote was fake. The quote, in fact, was offered

by Joe Walsh, former Illinois Congressman and Republican primary challenger to Donald Trump.

It’s 2019 and Americans are divided over the issue of gun control. The left is pushing for more legislation to regulate firearms.

The right believes the right to own firearms is a constitutionally protected choice that requires no government intervention. Neither side is willing to give in. Emotion has taken precedence over rational dialogue. So what do we do? The simple solution would be to sift through the misinformation and detail what the gun control debate is actually centered around.

The most effective course of action is to provide the American people with facts and have faith that we are intellectually capable enough to come to our own conclusions.

Unfortunately, with the emergence of social media as a primary news source, misinformation is spreading at an unprecedented rate.

First, let’s make a distinction between those advocating for gun control and those advocating for a gun ban. Gun control advocates are fighting to close loopholes in our current set of laws. Gun ban advocates are arguing for a blanket ban on all firearms.

Simple stuff so far.

Gun enthusiasts oftentimes oppose both groups. Pro-gun lobbyists argue that a prohibition on guns would incentivize crime rather than deter it. It would leave Americans vulnerable to criminals who, according to the pro-gun faction of America, will get their hands on guns anyways. They assert that it’s people, rather than guns, that commit murder.

An inanimate object cannot, by itself, commit a crime.

Gun control advocates counter by stating our current set of laws is not working. They point to the unprecedented amount of mass shootings. They point out that the U.S. has six times as many mass shootings as the global average, relative to population.

Telling either side they are wrong would be a thankless task. What we can do, however, is dissect common arguments and misconceptions pertaining to gun legislation.

Chicago has strict gun laws and it’s still the murder capital of the U.S. --- This is both correct and incorrect. What’s correct in that Chicago has a blanket ban on firearm sales. What’s also correct is that Chicago experienced a disconcerting amount of gun crime. However, to suggest that Chicago is the gun capital of the U.S. is false. In fact, depending on the population parameters of the list, Chicago doesn’t even rank top 20 in gun crime per capita most years.

Second, it’s important to put into context why Chicago’s gun laws are ineffective. Similar to our gun laws, Chicago has a ban on the sale, possession or use of all “consumer fireworks.” Despite this, Chicago residents find a way to access fireworks. Strange how that works.

The issue is Chicago’s neighboring states. For example, a 40-minute drive east to Indiana brings us to a state that does not require a permit or license to purchase firearms. Furthermore, Indiana does not require its unlicensed buyers to register their newly obtained firearms. The kicker? Indiana has a system of laws in place that allow certain

types of buyers to forego background checks.

In Illinois, six out of ten guns used during the commission of a crime come from out of state. 21% of those guns come from Indiana.

Chicago’s gun laws are essentially rendered meaningless by the lax gun laws of surrounding states.

Gun bans would stop crime. --- The data is mixed on this issue. In 1996, the UK and Australia experienced consecutive mass shootings that resulted in a legislative upheaval. In response, the UK passed the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) 1997. The aggregate amount of homicides, attempted murders and other “serious offenses” involving firearms spiked significantly in the immediate aftermath of the new legislation, increasing from 859 in 1996 to 1,461 in 2004. However, since 2004, violent crime and serious offenses involving firearms has decreased significantly, dropping by 41% from 2006 to 2019.

Japan, a country with such comprehensive gun legislation that it essentially operates as a gun ban, is home to 127 million Japanese men and women. Japan has a blanket ban on handguns. In order to obtain a shotgun or air rifle, you must submit to a criminal history check, a mental health evaluation and a drug test. You must also attend an all-day class, pass a written test and pass a shooting range exam with at least 95% accuracy. Police must be notified where and when you are storing a firearm.

Japan has essentially eradicated gun crime. As a result, Japan sported a 0.1 homicide rate per 100,00 people in 2013, 350 times

George Danby

lower than the U.S. (3.5 per 100,000).

Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Why not ban knives, too? --- These two arguments usually come consecutively.

Guns are, and always have been, instruments used to kill. This argument is the equivalent of contending that we should legalize explosives because an inanimate object cannot, by itself, maim or kill.

According to FBI databases, there were 586% more homicides by gun than homicides by knife in 2016. Furthermore, in the history of the U.S., there have only been two mass stabbings in a public space that resulted in death, one on a train in Portland that resulted in two deaths and one in Orange County, Ca., that resulted in four deaths.

This is a mental health issue, not a gun issue. --- This argument implies that mental health issues are a problem exclusive to the U.S. Even if we were to entertain this argument as legitimate, a Republican majority house blocked a measure that would require the Social Security Administration to report certain mental health prohibitors to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a database responsible for determining a buyer’s eligibility to purchase at a licensed dealer. This measure prevented 75,000 Americans from being disqualified from legally purchasing firearms from licensed dealers.

As it stands, America is locked in an indefinite stalemate on how to address the gun crime epidemic. What seems certain, however, is that our current set of laws is ineffective and have contributed to an unprecedented amount of mass shootings. A change is necessary. Unfortunately, what is considered corruption in other parts of the world is considered lobbying here. We can not continue to allow organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) to fund our elected representatives. We cannot sit idly by as our children are slain in academic, professional and social settings. We cannot allow organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to afford corporations with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo a voice in our congressional chambers. Most importantly, though, it is time to collaborate and compromise using facts rather than social media sentiments.

16

ARTS & LIFE

| SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Freaks and Deac Chuck Sipps

Arts and Life Editor NEIUArtsLifeEditor@gmail.com

‘Days Gone’, a PlayStation exclusive developed by SIE Bend Studio, is a perfectly adequate gaming experience that could have been so much more. It creates a constant feeling of one step forward and one step back.

While there are numerous gameplay and story beats that are enjoyable there are just as many that frustrate.

The world of ‘Days Gone’ has been overrun by zombie-like creatures. Mass swarms of humanity have become albino monstrosities dubbed Freakers. These Freakers fulfill all the usual tropes associated with zombies.

Players take control of Deacon St. John, a former motorcycle gang member, played by Sam Witwer (known best for his roles as StarKiller in ‘The Force Unleashed’ and as the voice of Darth Maul.)

When the Freakers first emerged, Deacon is separated from his wife, whom he believes to be dead. He spent the next two years trying to realize his death wish by fighting as many Freakers as possible.

It is only when he discovers hints that his wife may be alive that he starts to hope that this world just might be worth fighting for.

There are four main gameplay mechanics: driving, gunplay, melee and crafting. Deak’s bike is almost a character in of itself and generally runs well and is easy to control.

As you advance the story and build up trust with survivor camps, you will be able to modify, customize and upgrade your bike. Early on Deacon suffers the same indignity that befalls many protagonists who are fully equipped at the start of the game: the loss of said equipment.

His bike is stolen and stripped for

parts, along with much of his weaponry, forcing players to rebuild his collection from scratch.

The bike initially feels pretty flimsy, after a few upgrades the experience vastly improves, though even a fully upgraded bike takes damage pretty easily.

Combat is broken down into two variants: gunplay and melee. As with most zombie style games, melee tends to be the better choice. You never know what, or rather how many, the sound of gunfire will attract, so it’s best to stay silent whenever possible.

You’ll always have your trusty boot knife, it is nowhere near as effective as the weapons you can pick up. However, melee weapons break after use and will need scrap to repair. Ammo is also fairly limited, so you’ll need to scour areas to find loot to replenish your stock.

This is where the crafting element comes into play. You’ll need to keep your equipment stocked as you never know when a cheeky health pack or a sneaky molotov can be the difference in an encounter.

The Freakers prove to be far more formidable foes than the human enemies you encounter, if only because of their sheer numbers. Freakers are especially frightening when they group up in massive hordes throughout the adventure.

One or two Freakers, no problem. 10 or 20, now that’s a challenge.

Hordes, however, can be comprised of hundreds of Freakers and they lead to some of the most exhilarating and challenging scenarios in the game.

It’s a unique mixture of awesome and terrifying sneaking a peek back as you reload and seeing hundreds of Freakers descending upon you. Stumbling onto a horde unprepared can lead to disaster, and even being fully

equipped can still end in failure.

Some hordes are holed up in some pretty interesting locals and figuring out how to use the terrain to your advantage is just as important as how well you fight the hordes.

While the gameplay is fun,the storyline of ‘Days Gone’ flounders. Numerous times during stealth missions, Deacon screams into his radio with enemies right next to him, who are incapable of hearing him.

Oftentimes, while in a camp, mission givers won’t speak to you, only to call you to return to camp as soon as you leave. Side missions start out fresh but soon become redundant. Many of the story beats start off with intrigue but end predictably.

These moments continuously break immersion and feel like unforced errors. Even the Freakers consist of every zombie type we have come to expect and there isn’t any originality in their design.

The game also feels overlong, as a second map area opens up about halfway through the game and never really justifies its existence.

The most egregious of these missteps contains spoilers. If you do not wish to be SPOILED, skip ahead to the potato scale.

Deacon eventually reunites with Sarah. Once reunited their relationship and its characterization become infinitely frustrating.

For some reason, they hide the fact that they are husband and wife, though

the reason for this is never shared.

Sarah’s emotions fluctuate from one scene to the next. One moment she is lamenting her involvement in the creation of the virus and the next she acts as if nothing has happened.

Deacon fluctuates from sociopath to lovelorn romantic while continuously professing his love via sappy monologues. But we never see that love realized on screen.

The most glaring mistake is after the climax. The entire campaign is a fight to reunite, only for Sarah to disappear. She is literally gone from the game.

While it is implied that she is staying at a survivor camp, she is nowhere to be found within the camp. After being asked to emotionally invest in this reunion, the culmination leads to nothing.

‘Days Gone’ is a flawed experience but it does leave hope for the future.

The game teases that there are future plans for the series and hopefully Bend Studio gets the chance to try again.

It has the feel of an Assassin’s Creed trajectory where the first game was middling, and its sequel took the leap into beloved status. Hopefully, ‘Days Gone 2’ can do the same.

Days Gone is awarded 854 potatoes on the Sipps’ Potato Scale.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | ARTS & LIFE

17

All hail the queen: Gears of War 5

Chuck Sipps

Arts and Life Editor NEIUArtsLifeEditor@gmail.com

Gears of War 5 (GOW5), developed by The Coalition, is the first party exclusive that Xbox and their streaming service Games Pass needed to compete with the prolific output of PlayStation.

It doesn’t reinvent the wheel but has refined its mechanics to create a compelling and crisp feeling shooter experience. While its story does suffer a dip at the very end it still manages to weave an engaging experience that is worth giving a shot. Because it is a shooter?

Anywho…

The Swarm Wars’ are well underway in GOW5. After defeating the endless waves of the Locust and Lambent armies in the original trilogy, some remnants of the Locust horde have survived and evolved into the Swarm.

The Swarm may have the numbers but without a Queen their forces are fighting at a deficit. The Swarm had attempted to convert Reyna Diaz, who’s mother Myraa was the Queen of the Locust, into the Queen of the Swarm. Reyna’s daughter Kait saved her mother from this dark fate in Gears 4 but Reyna died in the process.

Now The Swarm wants Kait to follow her

mother and grandmother’s footsteps. Kait and her Delta squadmates are less than enthused at the Swarm’s proposition.

GOW5 utilized the same third-person-cover-shooter mechanics the series first utilized way back in 2006. Even after all this time the core gameplay still holds up. Add to that the vast array of weapons that populates GOW5 and your in for exhilarating battle after exhilarating battle.

Whether using explosive ammo or your trust Lancer, you always feel like an action movie badass, even when the odds aren’t in your favor, which they rarely are.

The Swarm is a formidable opponent, whose ranks are made up by a numerous creatures that change the strategy for each encounter. A battle plan that is effective against a group of Grunts can have fatal results when Hunters or Scions enter the fray.

GOW5 also utilizes two-weapon only system so choosing which guns to keep can be a painstaking choice. There is no better feeling than having kept the shotgun-like Gnasher when a group of Juvies come rushing you, and now worse feeling like having a sniper-like Longshot when a Pouncer leaps at you from above.

Still having so large an arsenal, with many subcategories within each, is a good problem to have and they all are fun to use.

Where GOW5 shines throughout is with the pacing of its story. Each time you want to be fighting enemies, enemies appear. When you need a moment to decompress from the latest story beat the game affords it to you.

No section outstayed its welcome, with only one exception. The game repurposes a boss encounter twice and the second time suffers from diminishing returns. Disappointedly this comes towards the endgame.

That revamp is partly responsible for the previously mentioned dip it is only one piece of bread in the downer sandwich. The other piece comes when, for the very first time in the series, the game forces the player into a binary A or B style choice.

The moment doesn’t feel earned one option is clearly the more compelling of the two. The story would have been better served for the writers at the Coalition to make this decision themselves, but it will be interesting to see how they handle this choice in future installments.

The meat and cheese of the downer sandwich comes with the final confrontation

at the end of the campaign. In the midst of the climax ramping up the story ends before it really reaches at satisfying conclusion.

This is partly because of the reutilized boss encounter but also because when the ending did come it wasn’t a moment of “Oh heck yeah” that usually follows GOW set pieces. Instead it was “Oh wait, it’s over?”

As said above, this doesn’t completely tarnish the story the Coalition crafted, it’s just a slight bummer to see the games few missteps all come at the very end.

GOW5’s campaign is worth the price of admission alone, not even mentioning its multiplayer suites. Especially considering its day one availability on Games Pass, if you have an Xbox there is no reason to not pick this one up.

For the first time since the series development switched from Epic Games to The Colatition, this feels like a worthy successor to the original trilogy.

Gears Of War 5 is awarded 343 potatoes on the Sipps’ Potato Scale.

18 ARTS & LIFE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Hungover by Zahra Sajwani

Powerful storytelling in gaming Chuck Sipps

Arts and Life Editor NEIUArtsLifeEditor@gmail.com

The last few games I’ve played had disappointing narratives. I had to ask myself if I was being too hard on videogame storylines? Though there is a place for all types of media in my heart, videogames are my primary choice. We tend to be hardest on the things we love. Was this the issue? Was I expecting too much?

It’s been said that a movie or TV show will play with or without audience involvement. A book’s story won’t change depending on who’s reading it. But a game--a game-- can change and be shaped by the player. This allows videogames a level of immersion that no other form of media can offer. So why is it that I’ve been left so dissatisfied?

I had to think back to the last game that truly impacted me. The last storyline that stuck with me long after I put down the controller. One game came to mind.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2). RDR2 tells the tale of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw in the dying West and proud member of the Van der Linde gang. Morgan is an older, world-weary outlaw and has reached a more contemplative point in his life. He is intelligent enough to know that his way of life is coming to an end, forcing him to reconsider the decisions that brought him to this point. This also allows gamers to decide what kind of man they want Arthur to be.

Typically, when games offers a moral choice, I tend to choose the just option.

I almost always play the good guy. With Arthur however, that didn’t feel right.

Arthur had made his choices in life and it felt wrong to force him to be something he wasn’t. So, I robbed those I didn’t have to. I got into shootouts that weren’t necessary.

I caused carnage and chaos everywhere I went. It felt true to the man Arthur was. Was he proud of what he did?

No. But he did what he had to do to keep his chosen family safe.

At different points throughout the journey, Arthur takes time to reflect.

During these moments he is visited by a wolf. Staring out at him from the wilderness, the wolf is the embodiment of who the character really is, a lone wolf not meant to run in the world of man. Arthur and the player both know where this journey will end. With mankind culling the lone wolf.

And then everything changed.

While walking through Saint Denis, Arthur collapses in a coughing heap.

Feeble and weak, he crawls to the doctor’s office, where he is informed that he has contracted tuberculosis. The disease is too far along and there is nothing that anyone can do. Arthur is advised to go to a dryer climate and wait out his days. But that isn’t an option for him, not while his family needs him.

I almost didn’t notice it at first but both Arthur and I were reluctant to continue our outlaw ways. Money didn’t seem to matter much anymore. Arthur became more generous with both his time and money. He made amends as best he could with those he wronged. He called out the cruelty of those he had once called friends.

He was becoming a far better man while dying than he had ever been while living. I didn’t comprehend the change until Arthur once again had a moment of contemplation.

The lone wolf was gone, instead replaced by a gentle doe. At first, I questioned why the wolf had gone. I had not realized that the wolf was a reflection of Arthur’s low honor and the type of man he once was. It was only then that I understood the change both he and I had undergone. The beauty of that realization was that it was indeed my choice.

Arthur doesn’t need to change. He can be an embittered outlaw till the end, but that wasn’t my version of Arthur. My Arthur eventually proved to be a good man. A flawed man to be sure, but with a good heart.

There was no heavy-handed message telling you to do the right thing. There was no overreliance on clichés. There was no false choice to make. There was just me, Arthur and a decision:What kind of men do we want to be?

I attempt to focus my blurry vision All I want to do is be lost in your eyes Yet all I can control is this half full wine glass Watching merlot swish is my ideal hobby The contents of my glass overflow by each second And I sip while wiping away your tears I stumble on my words while gazing at your shirt I actually think that flannel you’re wearing is kind of hideous But I won’t tell you because I know it’s your favorite I don’t know why you are sobbing, but I don’t care I’ll still use my silky blouse against your stubbly face anyhow You trace your fingertips against my inked flesh While you try to gain a sense of reality You laugh, I laugh, and then life goes silent I was never much of a hugger until I met you Now all I want is to be wrapped in your arms I still hold on to that flannel of yours Just to remind myself of how complete I felt with you

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | ARTS & LIFE

Neunundneunzig luftballons

Ana Peres Bogo Writer

The Losers Club is back in Derry. 27 years after their battle with Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), the members need to go back and finish what they started. ‘It Chapter 2’ maintains the nostalgic feeling the prequel had, without being repetitive.

Ben (Jay Ryan), Bill (James McAvoy), Eddie (James Ransone), Richie (Bill Hader), Stan (Andy Bean) and Beverly (Jessica Chastain) all left town after all the horrible things that happened. The group forgot about the events, but Mike (Isaiah Mustafa), because he stayed in Derry, is the only one who remembers. After more horrible deaths emerge, Mike decides it’s time to bring back the Losers Club. They need to return to the life they left behind so long ago. That’s the only way they will survive.

One of the strongest choices in the film is the casting. Not only did the actors that portray the adults look physically similar to the children that played them in the

first movie, they were also skillful enough actors to mimic the mannerisms and speech patterns of the child actors. That gives the movie a level of realism that usually does not happen when different actors play the same characters.

A surprising aspect is the humor in ‘It’. Because there is such a dark tone to the story, the uses of comedy are fun diversions.

When the club is first reunited they meet in a Chinese restaurant, this is one of the most hilarious scenes in the whole movie. Everyone is at ease and you get to remember, along with them, why they were friends so many years ago. Richie was the provider of the funniest joke in this scene and throughout the film, thanks to Hader’s years of comedy experience.

The movie is no slouch in the horror department either. A few jumpscares, which are well placed throughout the narrative, are accompanied by the use of disgusting violence that sets the mood even when the scary parts are not there. This creates

an atmosphere of discomfort throughout the whole experience. The traumas the characters suffered in life plays a big part in the movie, as they strengthen Pennywise. 27 years have made their childhood fears grow all the more. This time Pennywise deals with these long-term traumas in sadistic ways.

Bill returns to Derry still carrying the guilt of his brother George’s death. Bill ends up befriending a kid that was about the same age that George was when he died, and of course, that is the perfect scenario for Pennywise. He leads Bill to a house of mirrors in a carnival, and there makes Bill’s worst nightmare come true. It’s a heartbreaking scene that leaves the audience feeling as defeated as Bill.

The young Losers Club has new moments we did not get to see in the first movie. Because the movie has a very rapid pace, these scenes slow down the narrative to let the audience to catch their breath. In these moments, we understand what the movie really is about: the friendship between

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the members of the Loser Club, and how powerful this bond is.

Not only do they bring the kids back but also they do a few cinematography parallels between the movies. One of the clearest ones are the fighting sequence between Beverly and her husband is almost the same as the one she had with her father. There is also a scene in the first movie where young Bill is drawing Beverly and a few drops of water fall onto the drawing. When they make the transition reintroducing Bev in the second film, she is awakened by drops of water that fell on her face.

The movies share many more parallels with each other and they both bring the book that Stephen King created to life. It is a refreshing take on the horror genre without forgetting its roots.

It’s a coming of age story wrapped within a horror story that leaves the audience with a feeling of nostalgia for their childhood though hopefully, one far scarier than their actual childhood.

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ARTS & LIFE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

It’s ‘Unbelievable’ Ana Peres Bogo Writer

The new Netflix series ‘Unbelievable’ is based on the Pulitzer prize-winning article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong.

They tell the story of a girl named Marie who was raped in her apartment. She reported the crime to the police but because of the way the police responded to her answers, Marie was afraid no one would believe her, so she said she was lying.

The article also followed the investigation of a serial rapist, and how because of the investigation Marie got the proof she needed to prove that she really was raped.

Deviating from the standard crime procedural show, ‘Unbelievable’ not only shows a thorough investigation – explaining all the steps of the investigative procedures without ever getting boring – but shows the audience what rape really means to women.

The show takes those sanitized impersonal stories we hear about every day in the news and highlights the human struggle and suffering behind them. ‘Unbelievable’ does not sugarcoat any part of the process of suffering and reporting sexual assault. The showrunners make the viewer go through the many interrogations that are imposed on the victims.

We see Marie being asked the same questions about what happened, and therefore having to relive the assault over and over again a very short period.

Primarily it follows two women who work in an environment that leaves them open to constant exposure to harassment and

assault, and indirectly insinuates the toll it takes on them. This is shown in subtle scenes, particularly in conversations between the two investigators.

On episode five, one of the investigators said, “She got a broken leg and fractured her pelvis, but she didn’t get raped.” The woman the investigator was talking about was one of the victims of the suspected serial rapist they were investigating.

Rather than getting raped, the victim jumped out of her second floor window, head first, sustaining horrible injuries instead.

Without writing too many spoilers, the show themes are undeniably based on real life. Most of the female characters of the show experienced sexual assault in some way. They don’t talk openly about the events, nevertheless they explicitly claim they are victims.

This mirrors real life all too well. Almost every woman either is or knows someone who suffered some kind of violation, but the social pressure and stigma to remain silent is strong.

It is so important to spread awareness about the realities and trials facing sexual assault victims to increase social pushback.

The fact that ‘Unbelievable’ addressed this systemically-dogged process openly on the Netflix platform and showed how common the mishandling of sexual assault reports can be is a step in the right direction.

The show also highlights different unpleasant but all too familiar scenarios that women experience almost every day in real life. One of these scenes showed the main character, Marie, at her work place (a warehouse,) alone with another coworker.

The guy blocks her way when she tries to

pass him several times, filling the audience with a nauseous feeling. One of the places women get sexually harassed or assaulted most frequently is at work, especially by someone that holds a position of power over them.

Many taboo subjects were brought to the table in ‘Unbelievable,’ none more kneejerk than the emotional abuse one can experience after an assault from the police through their question choices and methods.

The show tackles the tough questions: “Is there a right and a wrong way to react to being sexual assaulted? Is one person more believable than another?”

Some cinematography tricks improve the overall experience of the show, such as using handheld camera shots to mimic law enforcement recording devices created a realistic feeling of anxiety for the audience while characters were interrogated.

The soundtrack really added depth to the drama, and the moments of silence built breath-holding tension. The opening scene is a compilation of various places we go to everyday, a school, a pool, a library, a park,

etc. They use these images so that the viewer knows the story they are about to tell could happen in any of these places. It could happen to anyone.

The fact that the victims may never be the same, that they will always carry that violence with them, and that these experiences can lead to depression, dysfunction, or worse is rarely addressed in popular media.

Even more tragic and traumatizing is how sometimes the people who love you most won’t believe that the assault happened because the truth is too inconvenient and uncomfortable.

‘Unbelievable’ pushes these truths into the light while doing justice to Marie’s struggle and the original article.

‘Unbelievable’ deals with a lot of traumatic events but it is important to see. Before watching the series be sure to prepare yourself for some harrowing material.

If you need to talk with someone, be sure to check the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Chat service available at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | ARTS & LIFE

Fun, diverse, but lightweight

Grace Yu

Campus Life Editor NEIUCampusEditor@gmail.com

Holy Trinity possesses a vibrant, diverse color palette both literally and figuratively, but leaves the viewer wishing for richer, more refined character development and greater profundity of plot.

The debut film of writer, director and lead actor Molly Hewitt, a Chicago-based performance artist who goes by the name Glamhag, Holy Trinity is the next feature film to be released by the local non-profit film production outfit Full Spectrum Features.

The organization, headed by producer Eugene Sun Park, was behind the 2017 web series Brujos (creatively led by writer-director Ricardo Gamboa) and the 2017 feature Signature Move (directed by Jennifer Reeder and starring and written by Fawzia Mirza.) Full Spectrum specializes in realizing the work of talent in and from Chicago and, like its name would suggest, talent from the fullest possible spectrum of human identities.

Holy Trinity is a world populated by Trinity, the protagonist, and her group of equally fascinating and wonderful friends.

Trinity, a dominatrix with hot pink-orange

hair, is joined by her non-binary partner Baby, roommates, clients and a card reader named Laura. We see these characters, who occupy an all-encompassing array of sexualities, gender non-comforming and sexual fetishes work, play, party, frolic and love. Hence, the movie aptly boasts a gloriously colorful mise-en-scène with every frame bursting in all shades of color.

Costuming, hair and make-up, production design and lighting feature citrus tones, pastel hues and a deft combination of primary and complementary colors throughout. In the key Sunday church scene, black and white patterning is used with pops of statement red.

In terms of both mise-en-scène and casting, everything about Holy Trinity is bold, loud and proud.

Trinity, a lapsed Catholic schoolgirl, discovers that she can speak to the dead when she huffs Orisha Oko Spray (a mysterious aerosol can of unknown ingredients) and finds no help at all when returning to a Roman Catholic religious source. The religious iconography throughout is important to Hewitt, who seeks to contrast her character’s liberatory lifestyle to the oppression that her education and upbringing represents to her.

Trinity’s new ability puts pressure on

her relationship with Baby, directing her to rethink how much space she has been taking in the relationship.

By the end of the film, Trinity is able to learn how to use her newfound gift towards mediating between grieving people and their dead loved ones, creating the opportunity for reconciliation. She even becomes social media famous to the point of inspiring a trending hashtag, #HolyTrinity.

I understand what Holy Trinity is attempting to do. Media representation for queer and sexually fluid have been wanting for so many people for what seems like so long that their mere presence on the big screen is a landslide triumph. But a movie like Holy Trinity begs the question: What kinds of story are X (replace with the name of any social group) identity telling?

In one sense, I wanted to know who the characters in this film were beyond their sexual and non-gender conforming identities. If they have certain sexual fetishes or practices, why? Are they related to certain past trauma or experiences? These sorts of practice don’t have to be rooted in some deep-seated pain, but Hewitt gives strong hints that they are, and doesn’t flesh out, for example, the effect of Trinity’s Catholic schooling on her affinity for

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domination in her work and pleasure.

I want to understand the experience of being raised by one set of values yet feeling out of place in one’s own skin. What is the texture of that experience, what does it feel like from the inside and who are you now since you have outgrown the early years that formed who you used to be? I had these and many other questions for the writers but felt that the movie was void of answers.

This sort of more nuanced character development could have allowed for the rather simple plot machination to be driven by more than a single point (the point that Trinity discovers the ability to speak to the dead but does not know what to do with it). I felt that Hewitt has much more to say on not only religion but also on other matters of spirituality, such as seeking the services of someone who acts as a medium between oneself and a beloved dead person.

Hewitt grazed the subject of the possibility of exploiting the service provider-client relationship, but we don’t hear much about it.

Holy Trinity is a worthwhile film, enjoyable for its portrayal of diverse identities, but ultimately lacks in depth.

Holy Trinity will premiere at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on Friday, Sept. 27.

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SPORTS

| SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

Blackhawks offseason review Matt Rago

Sports Editor NEIUSportsEditor@gmail.com

The Chicago Blackhawks grossly underachieved during the 2018-2019 season.

Despite featuring both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in their respective primes, the Blackhawks finished sixth in their division and six points out of a playoff berth. On the surface, it may seem difficult to comprehend how a team with so much offensive firepower-the Hawks had three players score at least 35 goals--could miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season. However, a defensive unit plagued by injuries, aging stars and replacement-level talent allowed the Hawks’ opponents to outscore them by 22 goals, effectively negating their offensive advantage.

This offseason, it was up to Stan Bowman and company to right the ship. Here’s how they did.

Goaltender

Perhaps the most surprising move of the 2019 NHL offseason was the Hawks acquisition of Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner.

Lehner, who last year publicized his battles with mental health and substance abuse issues, sought a long-term contract from the New York Islanders. The Islanders responded by essentially engaging Lehner in a game of chicken, opening the door for the Blackhawks to swoop in and sign him to a one-year contract worth $5 million.

There’s no doubt that the Hawks needed a sense of stability in net, as goaltender Corey Crawford’s struggles to stay healthy have been well-documented. The Blackhawks’ starting goaltender has played in only 67 games over the past two seasons.

However, what makes the acquisition of Lehner even more peculiar is that, despite outperforming Crawford across the board last season, Lehner was signed to serve as Crawford’s primary backup. Lehner, who posted a 2.13 goals against average and a .930 save percentage, is not only the reigning Masterton Trophy recipient, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, but also earned a top-three finish in the Vezina Trophy voting. Don’t be surprised if Lehner eventually usurps Crawford on the

last in the NHL last season and was the lowest penalty kill percentage by any team over the past 30 seasons. Unfortunately, Carpenter was the worst penalty killer by nearly every quantifiable metric for a middling Vegas Golden Knights squad, who finished 14th in penalty kill percentage.

Defense

Andrew Shaw looks to reprise his role with the Blackhawks.

depth chart.

Second-year coach Jeremy Colliton will have a difficult time navigating the goaltending situation. However, there is little question that the Hawks drastically upgraded the position this offseason, finally affording themselves the stability that has eluded them since Scott Darling’s departure.

Forward

The Blackhawks adopted a more modest approach with their forward acquisitions this offseason. Rather than chasing the big free agent splash, Bowman targeted role players to occupy bottom-six roles.

Andrew Shaw is a familiar face coming off a career year in Montreal. In 2019, Shaw contributed 47 points (19G, 28A). However, the Hawks’ tendency to reacquire former players in hopes of reigniting their championship aspirations has repeatedly backfired.

Shaw, who is renowned for his grittiness and willingness to do the dirty work, will look to help counteract that trend.

The acquisition of Alex Nylander upset a large faction of Blackhawk fans. Up to this point in his career, Nylander, who was drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, has failed to display the same passion that has made his brother William successful in

Toronto. However, last season, Hawks fans experienced firsthand just how rewarding a successful reclamation project can be. Dylan Strome, acquired midseason in exchange for Nick Schmaltz, floundered with the Arizona Coyotes. However, after being acquired by the Blackhawks in late November, Strome produced at nearly a point-per-game rate with the Blackhawks (51 points in 58 games).

Nylander has the raw offensive tools to replicate Strome’s success. Bowman will hope that by surrounding him with superior talent, Nylander will be able to unlock his dormant potential. While Nylander may be a dark horse candidate to have a breakout season, it also wouldn’t be too surprising if Nylander was collecting healthy scratches by midseason.

The Hawks also added centers Kirby Dach and Ryan Carpenter. Dach, the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, is a big-bodied center (6’5, 198 pounds) who draws comparisons to the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf. Like Getzlaf, Dach uses his large frame and hard shot to dominate in transition. He also moves exceptionally well without the puck for a player his size.

Carpenter is a bottom-six forward who was signed to shore up the penalty kill following the departure of Marcus Kruger.

The Hawks’ 72.7% penalty kill ranked dead

The Chicago Blackhawks’ defense was an eyesore in 2019. Brent Seabrook looked like a shell of himself. The Connor Murphy-for-Nicklas Hjalmarrsson trade looked premature. The bottom pairing did their best revolving door impression. Only the bottom dwelling Ottawa Senators surrendered more goals than the Hawks’ 292 goals against.

It was imperative for Bowman to address such a glaring weakness during the offseason.

First, Bowman flipped center Dominik Kahun to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Olli Maatta. While it’s tough to see Kahun go, his role in Chicago was limited to that of a depth forward. Maatta, despite being only 24-years old, already has a championship pedigree, playing an integral role in two Stanley Cups with the Penguins.

Furthermore, Maatta immediately helps the Hawks address their most glaring weakness. Maatta finished top-40 in blocked shots (ninth), defensive zone battles won (26th), and defensive zone blocked passes (40th). Injuries hampered Maatta last season though, as he eventually fell out of favor with the Penguins’ coaching staff and was a healthy scratch for three postseason contests.

The Hawks also acquired Calvin De Haan in exchange for defenseman Gustav Forsling and goaltender Anton Forsberg. De Haan, another conservative, stay-at-home defenseman, posted exceptional possession ratings for the Carolina Hurricanes, a team that dominated their own zone. De Haan’s 55.5% Corsi Rating at even strength, a statistic which measures the differences in shots, blocks and misses, would have led the Blackhawks last season. What De Haan excels is what the Hawks have been sorely missing--a defensive stalwart that can serve as a buffer between the Hawks’ occasionally overzealous defensemen and the netminder.

BLACKHAWKS/ page 23

Wednesday night wars Matt Rago

Sports Editor NEIUSportsEditor@gmail.com

In May of 2016, Cody Rhodes was stuck painting his face and donning a full-body spandex suit. Saddled with a gimmick that mirrored that of his older brother Dustin, Rhodes was relegated to WWE’s C-level programming. It was a humbling experience for a second generation talent who was once earmarked to become a staple of the WWE main event scene.

After a match against perennial enhancement talent Zack Ryder, Rhodes decided that he had endured enough. He requested his release from WWE and embarked on a mission to reinvent himself overseas and on the independent scene. Rebranding himself as the “American Nightmare,” Rhodes made an immediate impact in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), joining the Bullet Club faction. In Ring of Honor (ROH) and Impact Wrestling, he was a featured talent, frequently challenging for the brands’ top titles. Rhodes’ success was inspiring, particularly for WWE talent who felt they were being underutilized.

However, Rhodes’s personal success did not reflect the success of the promotions he worked under. When Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer expressed doubt that ROH could sell out a 10,000 seat stadium, Rhodes, alongside with Matt and Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks, responded by organizing an independent event called “All In,” hosted at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. The event sold out within 30 minutes.

The success of “All In” changed the landscape of professional wrestling. Piggybacking off the success of “All In,” Rhodes, with the support of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Tony

Khan, founded All Elite Wrestling, or AEW. AEW quickly began establishing itself as a viable alternative to WWE, poaching unhappy talent from WWE and assembling a collection of wrestlers from around the globe. However, despite the commercial success of its first four events, skeptics continue to question whether AEW can compete with WWE. While AEW features an impressive roster, there is a perception that AEW is no more than a random assortment of WWE midcarders and indie gimmicks with one or two legitimate main event talents sprinkled in. AEW’s inaugural champion, Chris Jericho, will be a WWE Hall of Fame headliner once he formally retires. However, despite Jericho’s uncanny ability to rebrand himself and stay relevant, Jericho turns 49-years old this November. Furthermore, upon his departure from WWE, he was being used as a midcard act, playing Robin to Kevin Owens’ Batman.

Rhodes carries himself as a main event level talent, but the top tier placement seems more the resulting benefit of being a big fish in a small pond. If he were to make the move back to WWE, it is difficult to envision him as a staple of the main event scene (which is more a testament to the talent in WWE than an indictment on Rhodes.) Is he really more marketable than guys like Roman Reigns and Randy Orton? Is he a better in-ring performer than guys like Seth Rollins, A.J. Styles, Ricochet or Finn Balor? Is he better on the microphone than Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens or Bray Wyatt? Objectively, it is difficult to answer yes to any of those questions. The idea that AEW’s top talent would be overshadowed by their WWE counterparts poses a very real problem when attempting to shift public perception of AEW’s legitimacy as an alternative professional wrestling organization..

AEW will also have to compete directly with NXT on Wednesday nights. Currently, NXT is the superior brand between the two.

Many, including this writer, believe NXT to be the best brand in all of professional wrestling, despite technically serving as minor league pipeline for WWE. However, WWE’s stepping stone promotion routinely overshadows its parent brand. In its brief history, NXT has produced six of the 20 highest rated matches in WWE history, as voted on by fans. Additionally, the viewer complaints that

beleaguer WWE programming do not extend to NXT, which caters to die hard wrestling fans, the same demographic AEW is trying to appeal to.

So what might it take for AEW to emerge as a true challenger to the WWE’s position atop the mountaintop? First, AEW needs to produce quality content. While AEW’s pay-per-view events have been commercial successes, they haven’t been strong enough efforts to differentiate AEW from WWE, NXT or NJPW. Second, AEW would need an impactful defection or signing. World Championship Wrestling (WCW) emerged as a legitimate competitor by signing talent like Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan and Lex Luger. To put that into perspective, WCW signing Hulk Hogan in 1994 was the equivalent of a rival promotion signing John Cena in 2019. Hogan’s defection was a shocking development that solidified WCW as a premier wrestling promotion. While AEW has strong financial backing from the Khans and a television deal with Turner Broadcasting, it is uncertain if they have the financial resources to offer enough money to recruit a big name away from WWE. AEW’s best bet would be to contact CM Punk and make him an offer enticing enough to lure him out of retirement. Punk’s mixed martial arts career was, to put it kindly, a disaster. He was thoroughly outclassed by UFC rookies, prompting UFC president Dana White to sever ties. However, in professional wrestling, CM Punk’s legacy is untouchable.

Should AEW find a way to appeal to CM Punk after a five-year absence, AEW programming would immediately ascend into must-see territory.

The jury is still out on whether AEW can pose a legitimate challenge to WWE. It is imperative that AEW make a move that will generate hype around their product while the concept is still fresh. Furthermore, WWE positioning NXT directly opposite of AEW has the potentially to stunt the brand’s initial growth, perhaps enough to permanently derail AEW’s momentum. Considering both the substantial hurdles AEW will have to overcome to build a consistent fanbase, it would be premature to consider AEW a capable threat to WWE.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 | SPORTS

23

BLACKHAWKS Continued from 22 Unfortunately, we must also address the departure of Henri Jokiharju, the promising young defenseman who was traded for Alex Nylander. In staggered playing time, the 19-year old Jokiharju was already competing at an NHL level, leading the Blackhawks in Corsi. Hawks fans were excited to see Jokiharju become a pillar on the Hawks blue line, leaving many scratching their heads when he was sacrificed in order to acquire Nylander, who has thus far been considered an underachiever. The disappointment was further compounded upon when the Hawks passed on the consensus best defenseman in the 2019 draft, Bowen Byram, in favor of Dach.

The Blackhawks are currently at a crossroads. Duncan Keith and Seabrook have notably lost a step. Kane andToews are still producing at a high level, but both are on the wrong side of 30. Though the situation may be volatile, it is still manageable with the right combination of draft picks, free agent acquisitions and cap management. The Hawks will need to quickly replenish their roster with younger counterparts to help relieve the burden off of their aging core. With players like Alex DeBrincat, Strome and Erik Gustaffson serving as complements to Toews, Kane and Saad, expect a return to playoff contention for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Write about the sports that get you all riled up.

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24

SPORTS | SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG

White Sox of the future: first base

Matt Rago

Sports Editor NEIUSportsEditor@gmail.com

The White Sox have an abundance of talent at first base. This season, José Abreu made history at the Major League Level.

Andrew Vaughn was a top-three pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Gavin Sheets just concluded a season where he led the Southern League in runs batted in. With so many capable options, the White Sox find themselves in the enviable position of having too much talent. In this column, we will consider each of the White Sox’ options at first base for the 2020 season and beyond.

José Abreu is the heart and soul of the Chicago White Sox. Since defecting from Cuba back when it was still a punishable infraction, Abreu has embodied everything the White Sox franchise strives to represent.

He is both a leader and mentor. When asked about the importance of having a clubhouse leader like Abreu, 22-year-old Eloy Jimenéz offered a glowing endorsement.

“José?” responded Jimenéz, “for me, it’s been like a father. When you find someone like that, you don’t know how to explain how great [a person] they are.”

For the Sox’ young core of international talent, Abreu’s presence has been imperative towards bridging the culture gap. When Yoan Moncada struggled during his rookie campaign, it was Abreu who took him aside and offered sage advice. When Jimenéz, endured early season peaks and valleys, it was Abreu who served as a steadying presence.

More importantly, however, Abreu is a Hall of Fame caliber player. In 2019, Abreu became one of only six American League hitters ever to record four 30 home run, 100 RBI campaigns in his first six seasons. The others? Magglio Ordóñez , Frank Thomas,José Canseco, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams.

That’s elite company.

Unfortunately, Abreu’s prime years will not coincide with the White Sox perceived championship window. At age 32, Abreu is aging out of his prime as his younger teammates are entering theirs. Despite his continued power production, Abreu’s peripherals provide cause for concern. In each of the

past two seasons, Abreu has seen his on-base percentage dip to career lows. As of May 19, Abreu’s slugging percentage currently sits at a respectable-yet-unspectacular .505, a full 47 points lower than his 2017 output. However, as White Sox announcer Steve Stone so aptly phrases it, Abreu “is a professional hitter.” A down year for Abreu is a career year for other first basemen. What still stands out the most, though, is Abreu’s ability to hit the MLB’s best pitchers. While some hitters tend to pad their stats against lesser competition, Abreu continues to inflict his damage indiscriminately.

The White Sox will face a difficult decision this offseason. On one hand, Abreu

Jose Abreu

his remarkable freshman campaign by hitting .402 with 23 home runs as a sophomore, earning the Golden Spikes Award, which is annually awarded to the best amateur baseball player in the United States. Vaughn, widely considered by scouts to be the best hitter in the 2019 MLB draft, is expected to accelerate through the minor leagues.

The praise for Vaughn’s skillset has come from every direction. Former major leaguer and current MLB Network analyst Eric Byrnes, comparing the similarities between Vaughn and former AL Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson, opined that Vaughn is “ready to hit the big leagues right now.”

Andrew Vaughn

is producing runs at a league leading rate.

On the other, Abreu is an aging talent with a successor already in place. Abreu has publicly expressed his desire to remain with the White Sox, stating that he wants to see the rebuild come to fruition. Both general manager Rick Hahn and team owner Jerry Reinsdorf have each offered public votes of confidence in favor of extending Abreu’s White Sox tenure, with Hahn stating that he foresees Abreu in a White Sox uniform beyond 2019. Expect the White Sox to reward their franchise player with a two-to-three year contract during the offseason.

The White Sox drafted Andrew Vaughn third overall in the 2019 draft after a tremendous collegiate career at the University of California. As a freshman, Vaughn earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors. He followed

Gavin Sheets

“He’s probably one of those guys that a lot of people would say is the ‘quickest to the big leagues,’” said former White Sox Director of Amateur Scouting, Nick Hostetler.

Vaughn began his White Sox career with Low-A affiliate Kannapolis Intimidators before earning a quick promotion to High-A Winston-Salem. Admittedly, Vaughn seemed to plateau at Winston-Salem, though it’s reasonable to attribute that to fatigue more than any other factor.

At this juncture, fans can only speculate.

Nevertheless, there seems to be an existing consensus amongst experts that Vaughn has the opportunity to become a perennial AllStar with the Chicago White Sox. Gavin Sheets has been overshadowed from the moment he heard his name announced on draft day. Drafted in the second

round of the 2017 amateur draft out of Wake Forest, Sheets first played second fiddle to Jake Burger, the White Sox’ first round draft pick that year. Now, he’s believed to be the second best first baseman in the White Sox minor league system behind Vaughn. However, despite the lack of attention, Sheets has continued to solidify himself as a legitimate MLB prospect.

After a fantastic senior season that saw Sheets hit .317 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs, Sheets was assigned to High-A Winston-Salem for the 2017 season, where he hit for a respectable .293 average. However, his power production failed to materialize until after his promotion to AA Birmingham, where Sheets led the Southern League with 83 RBIs in 2019.

Sheets’ strengths lay in his smooth bat stroke and above average control of the strike zone. However, scouts still worry that Sheets’ bat speed won’t improve enough to catch up to quality major league fastballs. It will be the White Sox’ responsibility to teach Sheets how to better utilize his legs in order to barrel the ball consistently and unleash his full potential. If Sheets is able to make the proper adjustments, consider him a dark horse contender to man first base for the Chicago White Sox in the near future.

Honorable Mentions: Matt Skole and A.J. Reed