[ [ THE EAGLE R O B E R T
ISSUE
M O R R I S
U N I V E R S I T Y
No 17.07
FALL II 2013
Arlington Heights • Bensenville • Chicago • DuPage • Elgin • Lake County • Orland Park • Peoria • Schaumburg • Springfield
Est. 1996
100 YEARS of SHAPING YOUNG MINDS AND FUTURE PROFESSIONALS
CONTINUALLY IMPROVING WHO WE ARE
ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS
CAREER-FOCUSED EDUCATION
APPLYING SUCCESS TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
PROFESSING DIVERSITY AND DEDICATION
EXPERIENCE Robert Morris University is celebrating a century of education this year. The Eagle would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the university on its milestone.
that I am happy. True happiness should be our number one priority in life. It leads to better health, better quality of life, and lower stress levels. I should practice what I preach, so I recently made a decision to improve my happiness by taking classes at Second City and learning more about writing, and I would encourage you to do the same. Follow your own true happiness that is, not going to Second City, unless that is your true happiness too! Following my theme of balance, this issue of the Eagle has a lot to offer in terms of work and play: Ventra news and commentary, Chicago REAL haunted places and fun haunted houses, and more. I hope you enjoy this issue and as always, “like” us on Twitter and follow us on Facebook… or whatever. Happy trails!
Blake Whitmore LETTER FROM THE EDITOR I am having a hard time believing it is week 6 already. Time has flown by and so have missed opportunities for extra credit, turning things in on time, and studying for midterms. I have learned recently in my life that balance is important. Not like, stand on one foot with your finger on your nose balance, but rather balance of work and play. It is this common misconception that as you get older life becomes more boring, mundane, and routine. That choice, however, is totally up to you. I sat down with a friend and former coworker not too long ago who told me he felt he never saw anyone anymore or did anything fun. He went to work, came home, watched TV, went to bed, and did it all over again. I told him that as we get older it is extremely important that we do something for ourselves. Whether it is picking up a hobby, joining a gym, taking yoga class, learning a new skill, or joining in a cause, we have to take time out of our busy schedules for ourselves. For me, I take writing classes at the Second City Training Center on Thursdays, which is my longest day of the week. I have class from 8:00 in the morning until noon, and then work from 12:30 to 5:00, then I grab a quick bite and rush over to Second City for my class which runs until 10:00 PM. At the end of the day it does not matter how quickly I rushed around (probably looking like a mad person) but
2 | The Eagle
Editor-in-Chief
THE HISTORY of Robert Morris University
1913
-Moser School is founded.
1965
-Robert Morris College is chartered in Carthage.
1975
-Robert Morris College arrives in Chicago, merging with the Moser School.
1986
-Robert Morris College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
1988
THE EAGLE CONTENT TEAM Blake Whitmore Editor-in-Chief Dan Ciaglia Editor Stacy Zamskaya Editor Heather D. Alexander Editor Adrian Saucedo Writer Aaron Wilson Writer Myranda Cate Writer Kelsey Neville Writer Lawerance Chamberlain Writer Phylicia Fletcher Writer Jessica Fuchs Writer Jessi Bahena Writer
-A campus opens in Springfield, Illinois.
1991
-Third campus opens in Orland Park, Illinois.
1997
-Fourth campus opens in Naperville, Illinois.
DESIGN TEAM Austin Huette Art Director Tyson Bosco Designer Robert McMorris Designer Matt Theodosopoulos Designer Kyle Ashley Illustrator
1998
MISSION STATEMENT
The Eagle is the student-centered news source of Robert Morris University (IL) and does not necessarily represent the views of Robert Morris Univeristy administrators, faculty, or students. The Eagle provides a venue for the exchange of ideas and information pertinent to the students of RMU. Visit our publication page at robertmorris.edu/publications/ eagle
-The Chicago Campus moves to 401 South State Street.
1999
PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM Mason Riley Social Media Manager Xavier Cordova Advertising Manager
2000
CONTRIBUTORS Alyssa Brown
-Fifth campus opens in Bensenville, Illinois. -Sixth campus opens in Peoria, Illinois.
2001
-The Naperville Campus relocates to Aurora, Illinois, the DuPage Campus.
2003
-Seventh campus opens in Waukegan, Illinois, the Lake County Campus.
2005
-College earns University status.
2008
-The first Graduate School campus is established in Schaumburg, Illinois.
2009
-Ninth campus opens in Elgin, Illinois.
2010
-ICenter established.
Like us! RMU Eagle News Follow us! @RMUEagle
2011
-Tenth campus opens in Arlington Heights, Illinois. -Eyrie Restaurant opens in Oak Park, Illinois. -Athletic Program grows to 63 teams. For a complete history, please visit robertmorris.edu/about/mission
EAGLE ADVISOR Paul Gaszak pgaszak@robertmorris.edu ADVISORY BOARD David Pyle Mick McMahon CAMPUS FACULTY David Belotti - Lake County dbelotti@robertmorris.edu Beth Gainer - Bensenville bgainer@robertmorris.edu Nicole Hager - Springfield nhager@robertmorris.edu Gerard Wozek - Dupage gwozek@robertmorris.edu Jane Wendorff-Craps - Peoria jwendorffcraps@robertmorris.edu
THE EAGLE THROUGH THE YEARS
1996 Designer - Mike Kelly
2005
Designer - Jorge Hinojosa
1998 Designer - Mike Kelly
2006 Designer - Katie Holme
1999 Designer - Amelia Diaz
2010
Designer - Monica Rodriguez
2000
Designer - Mike Sukowski
2011
Designer - Nate Daubert
2002 Designer - Javier Govea
2012
Designer - Nate Daubert
To read past issues, please visit robertmorris.edu/publications/eagle
Fall II 2013 | 3
100 YEARS WALL A Century of... TYSON BOSCO hat does 100 mean to you? Is it a number, a value, a period of time, or even a symbol for what was and could someday be? There can be an endless amount of ways to interpret the concept of 100. The basis that starts this question is that at the very least, 100 is how old this very school is. As Robert Morris University hits its 100 year mark, just think of all the things that have changed. Graphic Design, one of the vital RMU programs, was almost nothing like it is today. Without computers, printers, phones, or any of
today’s digital software, Graphic Design was less of an art and more of a factory job. Imagine what your major would have been like a century ago. Even further, think of all the things the future will bring. 100 years can bring an almost unimaginable amount of change. Due to the importance of this milestone,the Learning Commons, located on the sixth floor of the Chicago campus, has become a host of activities for celebrating our school, students, faculty, and all the interactions and ideas that circulate throughout. The Learning Commons has always been for the benefit of giving every student an advantage
in his or herstudies by being assisting with homework and providing other tutoring opportunities. From now until the end of the year, the Learning Commons is also setting up to be a fun
visit the Learning Commons today and get involved. Although much of the celebration stems to a subsequent dealing to the 100 theme, mostly the events are specified to give students a stronger The Learning Commons has level of comthat the become a host of activities for fort faculty of celebrating our school, students, this school faculty, and ideas. aims to inspire creativity and feed everyand entertaining experience as well as one’s thirst for knowledge. The Learneducational. A few members of the fac- ing Commons is a place where students ulty have already started the festivities can feel comfortable interacting and with activities such as hosting discus- meeting with their teachers, so feel free sions, chess matches, card games, and to take advantage of what it has to offer. word games like Scrabble. Tricia Lunt, For more information contact Tricia one of the faculty hosting activities, Lunt, come to the Learning Commons, has even gone as far as to make a “100 or even check out the blog at RMUThings Learned this Term” wall and a LearningCommons.com. E white board containing 100 Quotations to consider. Students are encouraged to
New Provider of U-Passes STACY ZAMSKAYA
providing unlimited rides for full-time stu-
his fall, all Chicago college students received a Ventra card to replace the previous magnetic-stripe U-Pass provided through the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The Ventra card is the new transition to pay for trains and buses on the CTA and Pace,
4 | The Eagle
dents. The new U-Pass card aims to make commuting easier for students. The Ventra card is a contactless card, as students only need to tap the card on one of the Ventra readers at station turnstiles. Another feature is that students do not need to obtain a new card every quarter, as was the norm with the previous magnetic-stripe cards. As long as students remain enrolled full-time, U-Pass
privileges will be loaded onto the card automatically. The Ventra card also allows students to add full fare and transit value straight to the card when school is not in session or when students are not enrolled full-time. Similar restrictions remain with the new U-Pass as with the previous system. If the card stops working as a result of abuse, a replacement fee will be charged to the student. The U-Pass is still only for the use by the student whose name is on the card and cannot be transferred or sold. If a card is lost or stolen, students need to report this to their school’s U-Pass administrator and pay a $50 replacement fee. Some students may have issues with defective cards, and Ventra offers to replace the cards free of charge for the first replacement. Subsequent replacements will be billed to the student, a $4.97 fee each time, and the defective card has to be returned to the school. So how does the new system affect RMU students? All full-time students
will be charged a $90 fee each quarter to their student account for the new card. In order to be considered full-time, students need to take 12 or more credit hours at the Undergraduate level and 8 or more credit hours at the Graduate level per quarter. There will also be no refunds offered for withdrawals or status changes. The new Ventra card allows students to have unlimited access to public transportation 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Students do not have to worry about paying for transportation costs each time they need to go to class or work, thanks to the discounted U-Pass option. For additional information, contact the Office of Student Affairs, located in the 7th floor Student Center. Specific Ventra questions can be answered by visiting the Ventra website at ventrachicago. com or b y c a l l i n g 1-877-NOW-VENTR A. E
VITAL Program Offers Great Benefits for Student Veterans HEATHER D. ALEXANDER & MICHELLE KUPRIS he Veterans Integration To Academic Leadership (VITAL) was founded in 2008 and came to Chicago in 2012. There are currently 21 active programs throughout the United States. The program was started due to a need for outreach to younger veterans who were unaware of the benefits they receive using their GI Bill. The program at RMU has approximately 6-7 members and is serviced by Dr. Holly Passi and RMU faculty member, Molly Zahorik. Dr. Passi began working in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system in 2009 as a psychology trainee and has been with the organization ever since. She graduated from Roosevelt University in 2012 with a Doctorate in Psychology. Her specialty areas include Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) treatment, returning veterans, and readjustment to civilian life. She currently works at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center’s OEF/OIF/OND Post Deployment Clinic. The main goal of the program is helping veterans to be successful at RMU the same way they succeeded in the military by supporting academic success and psychological well-being. The VITAL program offers several benefits to student veterans. Dr. Passi assists students with accessing their health care benefits by setting appointments and offering psychological guidance if needed. “My role is to help foster a veteran friendly environment, so I end up doing a lot of staff and faculty training on military culture and what it is like for veterans to transition from the military
to a university,” said Passi. “I think it is important to understand that combat is an extraordinary situation and a lot of the responses people have to being in combat are understandable responses to being in a very intense situation...when you come home it is hard to know what to do with those [responses], they do not just turn off. That is what I try to help with in terms of mental health.” Current MBA student Rodolfo Ceja has been an active member of VITAL since the program became operational at RMU. Ceja became involved in the program because it allowed “easy access to veteran assistance programs” without the hassle of scheduling appointments and travelling to veteran hospitals in the surrounding area. According to Ceja, this is extremely important
because this allows “veterans suffering from PTSD to speak freely [and] to express their feelings.” as opposed to waiting until immediate action is needed. In order for this program to stay functional, Ceja “encourages other student veterans to take advantage of the program,” because not only does it provide services to RMU veterans but also to other local student veterans. If students are interested in getting involved with the program, they can contact Dr. Passi directly at (312)262-8007 or email her at holly.passi@va.gov. She is also on campus Thursdays in the 7th floor Veterans Resource Center from 1 PM to 5 PM. E
Fall II 2013 | 5
hard to get ahead. The well-being of my children was everything to me.” Monica did not hesitate to say yes once she was asked to speak at graduation. When asked about the opportunity, she said “it’s simply a great honor, and I’m so thrilled to be asked to not only take part in the graduation, but also be a witness to the achievements of these men and women.” Once she takes the stage, she said she wants to speak to the graduates about her personal experiences and what led her to come to Robert Morris. “Sometimes, it helps to know someone’s story because it helps you see that everyone has to start somewhere and fear should never be the reason to alter your choices or keep you from fol-
lowing your dreams.” Once she leaves the young men and women with her parting words of wisdom, the message she hopes to send is to never fear what you can accomplish and always look for opportunities to better yourself just as she did for her family. For those of you attending the Commencement Ceremony in a couple of weeks, listen to the words that Monica has to say. There are opportunities far and wide once you leave these halls; do not be afraid to pursue them. If you won’t be in attendance, Monica would like to leave you with a quick tip for your time here at RMU: “a strong work ethic and determination can and will open many doors.” E
Alumni Spotlight ’84 Graduate Monica Barrera: Keynote Speaker for November’s Graduation DAN CIAGLIA n November 16th, the latest group of Robert Morris University graduates will be gathering at the Arie Crown Theatre to accept their degrees and taking their first steps into life after college (a bit of a scary thought, isn’t it?). Graduation ceremonies all across the country tend to have 2 common themes: a lot of congratulatory remarks and speeches. You’ll hear from a student speaker, maybe some faculty, and a few administrators, but one of the many speakers at the Fall 2013 Commencement Ceremony will be RMU alum Monica Barrera, who has recently accepted the invitation to be the keynote speaker. Monica graduated from Robert Morris in 1984 with an Associate Degree in Applied Science. After graduating, she
6 | The Eagle
began a career in the financial industry, where she has made a successful living for the past 25 years. She has worked for several of the top financial firms in the world and is currently employed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management. As a Client Analyst, Monica is responsible for managing accounts that total in the billions of dollars for several different clients. For someone in such a great position, it’s almost hard to believe that Monica ended up in this profession just by chance. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do even though I had a degree. When I first began to work in this industry, there weren’t many Latinos working in this field. I was a single mother with two young kids who refused to allow my status to get in the way. I wanted a better life for my family and I needed to work
NANCY DONOHOE arlos Santiago grew up among the color, vibrancy and brightness that is Puerto Rico. It isn’t surprising that he was drawing, coloring and painting from an early age. He attended the only university on the island that specializes in visual arts, Escuela de Artes Plasticas in Old San Juan. After six years in the Army with a two year deployment, he moved to Chicago and attended Robert Morris University’s Institute of Art and Design. He is currently a student in the Morris Graduate School of Management, working on a master’s
degree in Design and Media. For Carlos, art and design is a passion – it is something that has always been with him and every day he finds a reason, an inspiration or a new technique to bring it out and share it. He says his work is greatly inspired by music and also by the city of Chicago, a place that provides many images in direct contrast to tropical Puerto Rico. But it all goes back to the passion. “Passion in art goes beyond what you imagine,” he says. “You have to take it as far as you can.” Carlos found the undergraduate expe-
rience at RMU provided him with the tools to develop as an artist; but more importantly, it taught him to explore outside of the classroom. “I had one instructor in particular, Susan Stewart, who was very tough with me,” he remembers. “She didn’t hold back when she criticized my work. It helped me develop a thick skin, to be critical of my own work, and to become a more well rounded designer. In essence, she polished me up and gave me a clear idea about what design really is.” Taking advantage of the skills and expertise of teachers and mentors has helped Carlos in many ways. While at Columbia Records, he worked with a woman named Karen Pedroza. “She
helped me become more rounded in web design and always had tips on how to speed up my workflow.” He became more skilled, not only as an artist, but in the technical aspects of design. Learning each new program, creating apps, exploring and stretching the capabilities of an ipad or iphone, all led to a proficiency that quickly took him beyond his assignments. His use of Adobe while working on the student magazine, Epic, also got him attention. After a couple quarters of graduate school, he applied for and was accepted for an internship at Sony Music in New York. “I loved being in New York,” he said. “I spent my internship developing an interactive music app.” Obviously it’s a
perfect fit for Carlos to combine art, music and technology. The project is still under wraps and he is anxiously waiting to learn when it gets a green light. Upon his return from New York, Carlos was invited to do a guest lecture at the Michigan Avenue Apple Store on “Design, Development and iOS” – a discussion of the influence of iOS and Apple products on his creative process and workflow. It was also inevitable that Carlos would strike out on his own with Osanti Design, his own company that specializes in interactive design, brand identity and illustrations. He already has several corporate clients and works from wherever he can plug in his laptop, usually a local coffeeshop.
As an RMU alumnus, and a veteran, Carlos has a very focused approach to completing graduate school and some solid ideas about where his design passion will take him. Returning to NYC is a possibility, continuing for an MFA at the Art Institute is another. Down the line he might like to work for a large agency or even open up his own. “School is important,” he says. “It gives you the tools but you have to do the homework. And passion for your art is, well, if you aren’t passionate about it, drop it. Don’t settle with what is learned in the classroom – get out there and learn more.” E
Alumni: Where are they now? DAN CIAGLIA
Stacy Chapa
Patrick Ruffolo
Jeffery McDuff
Daniel Mendoza
Brigit Colon
(DuPage ’12)
(DuPage ’13)
(Chicago ’11)
(Orland Park ’12)
(DuPage ’09)
Stacy Chapa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management. She works as a National Admissions Ambassador for the American Intercontinental University.
Patrick Ruffolo received his degree in Culinary Arts. He works as the Executive Chef at Timber Creek Inn and Suites.
Jeffery McDuff received his Master’s Degree in Information Systems. He works as an IT Specialist for the Naval Sea Systems Command.
Daniel Mendoza received his degree in Computer Networking. He works as a Colorectal Cancer Screening Educator for the American Cancer Society
Brigit Colon received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management. She works as a National Admissions Ambassador for the American Intercontinental University.
Lizzy Pfister (Chicago ’12) received her Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts. She currently works as the Head Kitchen Manager for Lucky Strike Bowling.
Tanya King (Orland Park ’08) received her Master’s Degree in Information Systems. She works as a Technical Service Manager for Oil-Dri Corporation of America.
William Gregory (DuPage ’04) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking. He works as a Field Technician for L-3 Communications.
Fall II 2013 | 7
ALBUM REVIEW Sleigh Bells: Bitter Rivals STACY ZAMSKAYA
ince 2009, Sleigh Bells has been at the forefront of a teenage revival revolution, as Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller bring together hardcore guitars with bubblegum vocals. If you’ve ever needed a pep talk in the form of anthem guitar rock, there is no better source than Sleigh Bells. Debuting on the music scene with Treats in 2010, Sleigh Bells brought something that had never been heard before. The electrifying riffs throughout the album, paired with Krauss’ chanting vocals, either shocked or excited listeners. The album brought crowds of teenagers to live shows, as they all sang in unison with Krauss to singles like “Kids” and “Infinity Guitars”. The sold out shows resembled a pep rally of misfits, gathered to bring the spirit of chaos into the world. The sophomore follow-up, Reign of Terror, continued to follow the loud noise rock style of Treats, but in a slightly different way. Through their transition to hi-fi from the previously distorted sound of Treats, Sleigh Bells took on a more haunting atmosphere. One of the key tracks on the album, “Comeback Kid”, continued to showcase Krauss’ bubbly style, yet demonstrated more maturity through her ability to find balance among distortion and melody. For their third album, Bitter Rivals, Sleigh Bells continue to follow their original recipe, yet with a couple new variations. One of the vital differences with this album lies with the change of roles between Miller and Krauss. The two previous records were in large part handled by Miller, as he produced the tracks, while also writing the music
8 | The Eagle
and lyrics. For Bitter Rivals, Krauss took charge of writing most of the melodies, which allowed her to showcase the true sense of her range. The band also decided to utilize more instruments in this album, as seen through the acoustic intro to “Bitter Rivals” and the heavy synths on “Sing Like a Wire”. Although Sleigh Bells attempt to revamp their signature style, the album shows that it lacks cohesion, which may be due to the members’ stylistic differences. Several of the tracks
seem confusing, as they attempt to mix minimalism with extremely heavy power chords. In comparison to the controlled chaos of Treats, this album lets go of all previous organization and takes off headfirst. Although the heavier tracks only showcase more closed off guitar melodies with shriller vocals, some of the slower tracks bring back the Sleigh Bells that we all came to love. “Young Legends” features a calmer Krauss, as she quiets
down while still maintaining her powerful persona. The track is catchy and provokes the listener to both dance and sing along. Krauss also manages to fully showcase her talent on “To Hell With You”, one of the best slowed down pauses to the jam-packed album. The minimal effects within the track are perfect in portraying Krauss’ vocals in the best light. At the same time, the instrumental undertones of the track manage to move the melody in the right direction. E
Haunted Chicago here are many places through the city of Chicago that are notarized for not only being national landmarks, but haunted as well. This list of locations provides a brief description of some Chicago haunted places and may even give you an idea as opposed to visiting a haunted attraction around Halloween.
HEATHER ALEXANDER
Excalibur is a three-story gothic style building that was built after the Chicago Fire. It is the former site of the Chicago Historical Society and was turned into a night club in 1989. The building served as a temporary morgue after the Eastland disaster in 1915, when a docked ship tipped into the Chicago River and killed 800 people. During the Chicago Fire, two women took refuge and sources believed they died there and their spirits remain in the building. Paranormal activity that occurs includes bottles breaking by themselves, cold spots, and the infamous ‘Lady In Red.’ The club entertains the idea of it being haunted by having a ‘Houdini Séance’ on Halloween. Excalibur has been featured on television shows such as Sightings and Resurrection Cemetery is located on America’s Most Haunted Places. Archer Avenue in the south suburb of Justice. The most infamous ghost of the cemetery is Resurrection Mary. Mary attended a dance with her boyfriend at what is now known as Willowbrook Ballroom in the 1920s. When she abandoned her boyfriend at the dance, she was struck by a car and killed instantly. Her remains were buried in Resurrection Cemetery and she was buried in a white gown, shawl, and dancing shoes. People have reported seeing Mary walking up and down Archer Avenue and there have been instances of people giving Mary a ride to the cemetery where she disappears. Other haunted sites include the Museum of Science and Industry, site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Rosehill Cemetery, Jane Addams Hull House, and many more.
last burial held there was in 1989. The original caretaker of the cemetery butchered his entire family and after realizing what he had done, hung himself from a tree within the cemetery. It is rumored that Al Capone buried dead bodies in the cemetery in the 1920s. There have been satanic rituals, stolen caskets, human bones, and dead animals found throughout the abandoned cemetery.
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery is located in Rubio Woods in the Chicago suburb of Midlothian. It is considered the most haunted cemetery in the United States. It is also very old and abandoned. Headstones date back as far as 1838 and the
EXCALIBUR NIGHT CLUB
Wrigley Field is said to be the most haunted ball park in the world! People believe it is haunted by Harry Carey, Charlie Grimm, and the man who made the Cubs anthem, Steven Goodman. Charlie Grimm’s ashes are believed to be buried in left-center field. Steven Goodman’s ashes are buried under home plate and fans will sometimes scatter the ashes of loved ones throughout the park. The ghost of Harry Caray has been seen in the bleachers along with other dark figures and there are cold spots throughout the park. Security guards have reported that the bullphone will ring late at night and it is only accessible from the dugout. E
Fall II 2013 | 9
MILLER'S PUB REVIEW
CHRISTIN ROLLETT iller’s Pub has been a night life hot spot for over seventy years. Filled with the lively spirit of downtown Chicago, Miller’s Pub gives restaurant goers an old Chicago feel with a new twist on American cuisine. Famous for their delectable, fall off the bone, Canadian Baby Back BBQ Ribs, a meal at this restaurant is sure to satisfy your taste buds! Its walls are adorned with antique oil paintings and countless celebrity signed photographs of Frank Sinatra, Dick the Bruiser, and many more. Located on 134 S. Wabash Avenue, a short walk from the Chicago campus, Miller’s Pub is a great place for Robert Morris students to grab a bite to eat any night of the week. When walking into Miller’s Pub, guests become engulfed in the downtown Chicago atmosphere. Customers are instantly greeted and taken straight to a table, no reservations needed. Miller’s Pub offers several different drink options including soda, beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. Another option is a glass of water, however it has little ice and is very warm. Also, each table is brought a complimentary basket of bread and butter. Although the bread looks perfectly cooked, it is very dry and crusty. For the main course there are options for everyone. Hot and spicy wings, mouthwatering hamburgers, and juicy steak are just a few of the delicious items on the menu.
10 | The Eagle
The waitress’s recommendation for a student on a budget is the vegetarian friendly dish, Spanakopita. This dish is layered with perfectly cooked spinach, covered in warm feta cheese, and baked with a crispy buttered layer of filo dough on top. This delectable dish is paired with rice pilaf. It is a unique combination of flavors, however the rice pilaf is a little too sweet. Nevertheless, this is a great dish for any student on a budget being that the meal is only $9.95. Each dish at Miller’s Pub gives you the perfect amount of food with a little extra to take home for a midnight snack. Finally, guests can finish the meal with a variety of desserts ranging from warm apple pie, refreshing key lime pie, or their colorful rainbow sherbet! Any of these dishes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Miller’s Pub is a perfect place to bring the family for dinner or go out for a drink with friends. The staff always puts the customers first and their service is pristine. Year after year, Millers Pub continues to please guests with their delicious food and fantastic atmosphere. It is a restaurant where you can be comfortable and casual, yet have a great experience. With its reasonably priced entrees, Millers Pub is a restaurant that should be put on the radar of any student who is on a budget looking for a great meal. Millers Pub is definitely a place to check out on a Friday night. Good service, great company, and even better food! E
DRINKS WITH TYSON The Zamboni Flush TYSON BOSCO ometimes it can be beneficial in deciding to have a drink specifically because of its completely off-the-wall name. It is clearly not going to be something simple like a rum and Coke. If someone gave it a name such as this, it surely must be full of alcohol and have the taste of 407 different fruit flavors,
right? Yes to one/ no to the other, at least in this case. For the complexity of its taste, it is strange that so little goes into this Zamboni Flush. The hints of mint, citrus, and sweet honey make it a drink for special occasion. As for the name, it was made up by a random bartender of which had absolutely no idea what she was naming. E
INGREDIENTS:
-2 Parts Bacardi Limon -2 parts Honey Whiskey (it can be anything: Jack, Jim, Wild Turkey. Whomever you invited to the party.) -1 part Peppermint Schnapps -4 parts Sprite -1 tiny umbrella (If the place is classy enough to detect micro storms.
Editor to Editor:
A Sit Down With Former Editor-in-Chief Matt Kirouac BLAKE WHITMORE
urrent Eagle Editor-in-Chief, Blake Whitmore, had the opportunity to sit down with former Editor-in-Chief, Matt Kirouac. An alumni of the Culinary and Hospitality Management program here at RMU, Matt continued writing after his time with the Eagle back in 2009. Matt gives the Eagle a little taste of how his two worlds, cooking and writing, collided and became a career, as well as gives current RMU students some “real world” advice in this exclusive interview. How did you become interested in pursuing culinary and hospitality management at RMU? At home I developed interest while helping my mom. I began getting my own ideas, but it began just helping her with really simple easy things, but then I became interested in trying new things. I remember one weirdly specific item. There was this deli or sub shop that opened up in my town and they had eggplant parmesan subs, and I had never had eggplant whatsoever, in any shape or form. I didn’t even know what
it really was growing up, so it was different but I wanted to try it. My mom at first was said you’re not going to like it. I tried it anyway and I loved it. That was probably the first thing I remember trying that was atypical. So I began trying to make it at home. I still make that probably more so than most things in different variations. I continue to explore more things; eating and cooking them. It made me excited and happy to do that sort of stuff, so I wanted to do it on a larger scale and learn more about it. Did you always have a passion for writing? Or did it all start at the Eagle? No. That’s pretty much it. I never really did much writing in high school. I was not involved in any writing clubs or anything like that. I sort of just developed my passion for it while I was attending school at RMU and taking English class and excelling at them. I was eventually just sort of nudged into joining the Eagle by my professors initially as a cuisine writer and eventually taking over as the Editor. I liked writing more than anything and I wanted to do that more, so I started freelance writing more and more and eventually less and less actual cooking. I sort of fell into it and now I love it. What are you doing professionally right now?
I freelance full time now. It’s a full time lifestyle. What publications have you contributed to while freelancing? There are a number I consistently and currently write for now: Daily Candy, New City, Front Desk Magazine, a number of others too. There’s something out right now in the current issue of Michigan Avenue Magazine and the current issue of Edible Chicago Magazine. Most of the writing, about 95% of the writing, I do has to do with food and I occasionally take on other stuff too. When you write about food, is it mainly reviews or something else? A whole mix of stuff. It really just depends on the outlet. Like I do weekly reviews for Serious Eats and twice a month I do reviews for BlackboardEats and I do reviews for a couple other sites too, but not on a necessarily consistent basis. So there’s the critical stuff, but I also write sort of “newsie” stuff in general like event-based coverage. I also write some behind the scenes type pieces that are kind of Q&A related, off beat. What is your favorite type of piece to write? I really love doing the behind the scenes, cool things that no one else is doing, because the news stuff it just gets regurgitated at several outlets; it’s just a matter of obligation and having to cover it. I like the stuff that I come up with an idea and then create a story around it. Meet these people and spend time with them and create something really different and sort of personalized.
coming writers, artists, or other students just graduating into this scary job market? Start as soon as possible. I started reaching out to people, almost like cold calling them, but I wasn’t calling I was emailing them and sending out writing samples. I would just ask if they ever have any freelance pieces or intern work to start. And you really should do this as soon as you can, probably before you even graduate. Also tap into resources at school, like if you have any mentors stayed connected. I did that with someone that was in the culinary department. She knew people at Plate Magazine, so I got to meet with them and their the ones I have been writing for the longest, 5 years, and that was just off a connection so one connection can go a long way. You never really know, so ask people, reach out to comrades, or professors. Don’t feel defeated if you don’t get an email response, that’s pretty common. Be consistent and keep trying. Stay positive. There are a lot of places, a lot of outlets, so keep at it. Did the Eagle help you with any skill you utilize today? Yeah, a bunch of things, but for certain how to work with other people. Even if, like now, I don’t work in an office, so I am not directly working one on one with these people, but that’s something I deal with on a constant basis whether it is by email or meeting with someone or whatever. Be it other writers, editors or publicists. It’s been really helpful. Sort of instilling this teamwork mentality and how to cope with different attitudes different working styles. And also I think it’s helped be with deadlines and being really timely and on it. Quick and organized! Those are probably the biggest ones. E
Do you have any advice for up and
Fall II 2013 | 11
A CTA DOWNFALL THE CHICAGO WALKER RIGHT AND WRONG: HYPOTHETICAL INVENTION TCW ometimes thinking can bring me to strange places; it tends to bring me down the rabbit hole rather often, it seems. Early in the morning I find myself wandering down a dark, lamp-lit street, and endlessly I seem to find myself thinking about the best inventions of our species. Of all the things humanity has created, speech is by far the most reciprocating invention. It is not the very basis of speech that I find so absolutely interesting; it is what all else we have because of it. In all actuality, it makes us what we are. In fact, there are many things in our society we would never have imagined without it. I’m not referring to the storybook psychology of self or the philosophy of what we are or where we came from; I am referring to things like, understanding, happiness, pride, perseverance and joy. Without the ability to communicate, we would have no understanding of feelings we all have in common. It is the unified understanding of our commonalities that gives shape to the feelings we have. As well as that, our understanding of our own feelings compared to the consequential feelings of others is what gave us the very basics of cause and effect. What is right and wrong? Without unified understanding there would be no such thing as either of these concepts. In most instances, the things we find wrong in society are humanistic versions of what creatures in the wild do. It is not right or wrong to them; they
12 | The Eagle
don’t even consider such things. Animals kill each other for food, for territorial reasons, and also just to secure a mate. Partially we put ourselves above nature because we think about how our actions affect others, and also that we have a system of measurement as to what is acceptable and what is not. It is actually rather interesting, if you think about it; most of the things that run our society only do so because we all agree that they exist. What would right and wrong be if none of us notice it? I think people have a habit of forgetting what speech can do; it has the ability to unify us as well as divide us. The feeling of self, which I do agree is important, can also create barriers to others. Animals in nature have a very barren concept of self. If anything, the only reason they have any bit of it is for survival of self as well as genes. Male wolves don’t mate because female wolves are incredibly attractive, and they don’t fight for territories to get on MTV Cribs. Any singularity a wolf feels is completely in terms of keeping it’s bloodline going. The part that keeps wallowing around in my head is the simple fact that humans only had a vague ability to communicate at one point. I can’t even imagine how exciting it was to be the first beings to be able to explain things like heat, tasty, grow, fight, and music. If you really think about it; that was then what the concept of telepathy is now. And to think, there are over 1000 different languages at this point. E
STACY ZAMSKAYA s students waited in line to receive their U-Passes on the first day of the fall quarter, many did not realize the oncoming wave of problems they were about to have with the new Ventra card. Several students had to delay their commutes or were even forced to pay $2.25 out of their own pocket due to card malfunctions the first week. All that could be heard through the hallways were disgruntled students muttering about the CTA and complaining about the school switching over to Ventra. What many did not realize was the fact that every single university and college in Chicago was forced to convert to the new Ventra system, mainly because Ventra would become the new payment system for all train stations by this winter. In November of 2011, the Chicago Transit Board approved a $454 million, 12 year contract for an Open Standards Fare System. This was the largest automated fare collections contract to ever take place in North America. The new electronic fare payment system for the CTA and Pace will replace the current Chicago Card and the Transit Card automated fare collection system. Ventra was launched in September, with transitions slowly taking place until this December. The reception of Ventra was not a happy one to say the least. The lack of communication between the CTA and the general public irritated many who were not aware of the new changes taking place. The ads placed around Chicago by Ventra made the system seem like an option, not a mandatory change. At the same time, Chicago residents were frustrated with the issuance of the new cards, as some residents had to wait up to five weeks to receive the new fare
cards in the mail. Even after receiving the cards, the problems only continued to become worse. Commuters would apply payments to the cards and were told that their cards had no fare when trying to swipe into stations. CTA personnel could not fix any of the issues directly at the stations and had to tell customers to call Ventra. Seeing as only a small amount of people worked the Ventra phone lines, people were forced to wait over thirty minutes to be helped, often being disconnected while on hold. The CTA states that its change to Ventra was a way to improve the customer service experience. Based on how rough the transition to Ventra has been, this program seems to be doing the complete opposite resulting in thousands of disgruntled customers. There has already been legal action taking hold against Cubic Corporation, the entity overseeing Ventra, and the CTA in the form of a class-action lawsuit for those who were wrongfully double charged or incurred fees placed on their cards for trying to make phone calls to the helpline. Although the new changes to the CTA are attempting to embrace technological changes, the frustrations and the hassle of the payment method may not be worth the effort. If the CTA had spent more time in slowly transitioning to the new system, while clearly letting customers know of the new changes, Ventra might have become an acceptable fare system. Customers should make sure that their card is correctly activated prior to use and need to keep watch on their bank accounts to see that Ventra is not charging unnecessary fees. Maybe with time the CTA will learn to better manage the issues associated with Ventra and not to use thousands of Chicago residents as guinea pigs in their beta testing. E
HE SAYS SHE SAYS THE PROS AND CONS OF SHORTER CLASSES
ADRIAN SAUCEDO or many students, taking evening or night classes for many students is becoming more of a necessity than a preference. However, for those students who do have a choice, night school offers many opportunities and advantages that are not available when taking morning classes. Students are often hesitant to take night classes for several reasons: coming home late, being too tired to learn anything, having less time to sleep, and lacking a social life to name a few. What most students don’t realize is that taking night classes offers more opportunities to make better use of the daytime hours, especially now that shorter night classes are available. Many times, daytime classes ruin a student’s plan to work or do certain activities. Usually, students have to plan their life around their class schedule. There is little freedom to make plans or have free time to relax or do a hobby. With morning classes, students usually have a parttime job and they often do assignments or projects at night; little or no time is assigned for relaxation. There is one thing for sure in a student’s life, and that is the existence of stress. It can be work-related, school-related, or a combination of both, but the reality is that students experience a lot of stress and they need time for themselves. For this reason, night classes offer the advantage of allowing students to have the freedom to manage their own time without having to worry as much for class hours. For those who need to work full-time jobs and be full-time students, night school offers a unique opportunity to be able to work and study at the same time without having one activity conflict with the other. With shorter night classes, the advantage of taking night classes is optimized. As mentioned before, students fear not
having the enthusiasm or physical energy to learn anything after long hours of work. Given that students who take night classes usually work longer hours than students who take daytime classes, shorter night classes are ideal because that means the classes are more dynamic, and that is beneficial for the student as it helps with the learning and relaxation from work-related stress. Some students who have taken night classes often complain that the professors are often not as invested in their teaching or interested in the learning of the student. With shorter classes, everyone wins as both the students and the professors will likely be more enthusiastic and less worried about how late they will arrive home. That also means that the student will have more time for sleep or to have a social life after class. With shorter night classes, the classes are more concise and therefore more efficient in giving students the advantage of taking night classes but allowing the student to have a normal life. There is much less to negotiate, schedule or reschedule and more time to enjoy time, or make good use of it. As with anything, it is not the quantity of time, but the quality of the time spent, and shorter classes offer quality of time for students who need the extra quantity of hours to fulfill other activities. E
STACY ZAMSKAYA ith the new evening model slowly making its way into most students’ schedules, the changes in class length are urging students to take on these classes in a completely different manner. Unlike the traditional day classes, which usually meet twice a week for two hours each time, the evening classes meet only once a week for either a two or one hour timeframe. Instead of meeting in the classroom, the new classes aim towards more online learning. Although there are several benefits from this new system, many students have to change their study and learning habits in order to successfully take on these courses. The shorter class time seems to increase the amount of outside work that students need to do, seeing as a lot of in-class assignments cannot be completed with the reduced classroom time. Many professors assign extra homework, seeing as this is the only way to make sure students complete the important assignments which were previously done in-class. At the same time, some professors are forced to take out certain assignments. Although some students may see this as a blessing, some of these assignments may be helpful in understanding and applying the course material. Another important thing to notice is that the shorter class time does not allow for certain topics to be covered in depth. As professors have to speed up their lectures in order to cover numerous topics in the shorter time, some important concepts are often overlooked. Students may not fully grasp the topics and do not have time to ask important questions in class. This creates issues when homework assignments become too confusing because some ideas were not fully explained in class. At the same time, many professors fall behind schedule because
they cannot cover the necessary topics in one class session. There are also issues that result due to the student mentality towards such classes. Seeing as most work is done outside of class, some students may not find a reason to attend the short one hour class sessions. The attendance issues create frustrations for the already stressed professors, who now have to decide how to encourage students not to skip class. Although students are always complaining about needing shorter class time, the new option of such classes is creating many frustrations. The increased amount of work done outside of the classroom results in less free time for many students, which may be very problematic for students who work full-time. At the same time, important concepts are being overlooked, which creates issues for completing certain assignments. Students find it difficult to come to class for only an hour a week, especially if they know that the professor will not cover the necessary topics. Shorter class time comes with many downfalls that students do not realize at first. If you want to fully grasp topics and not be swamped with work at home, go for the more traditional class time. E
Fall II 2013 | 13
’13-’14 Bulls Emerge as the Top Contender to the Miami Dynasty DAN CIAGLIA asketball is a unique sport when compared to the other big 3 sports (football, baseball, and hockey) because the limited roster space on each professional team, which is usually 12 players and a couple reserves, allows for 1 or 2 superstars to completely dominate for their team. For example, take LeBron James off the Miami Heat, and they go from the most feared team in the NBA to a mediocre playoff team at best. In Chicago, that is exactly the case with hometown superstar Derrick Rose. If you recall, the Bulls were the Eastern Conference’s #1 seed in the 2012 playoffs, but every shred of competitive fire the Bulls had vanished when Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 of the opening series. The 76ers eliminated the Bulls, clearing the path for Miami to capture its first of 2 consecutive NBA titles. Fast forward to present day, and the Bulls for the most part have all their
14 | The Eagle
wheels turning in the right direction. Rose, the 2011 MVP, is back in the starting lineup after (somewhat controversially) sitting out the entire ’12-’13 season to rehabilitate his knee. With their floor general back and appearing to be stronger than ever, the Bulls are poised to make a run at dethroning the juggernaut from South Beach. All-Stars Luol Deng and Joakim Noah retain their starting roles along with Carlos Boozer and emerging star Jimmy Butler, who many believe could be the missing link in this deep and talented Bulls team. His shot needs a little more polish, but Butler proved near the end of last season that he has the defensive tenacity that Head Coach Tom Thibodeau loves. Only Miami and possibly the Brooklyn Nets, who acquired future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from Boston, can match the Bulls’ starting 5. Chicago, however, gains a major advantage over every other team due to their
bench players. Key contributors Nate Robinson (signed with Denver) and Marco Belinelli (San Antonio) are gone, but Kirk Hinrich, Taj Gibson, and free agent Mike Dunleavy Jr. will be vital to the Bulls success this season. Looking at the bigger picture and barring any major setbacks from injuries, the Bulls are going to end up a top 3 team in the East and have a high probability of making it to the Finals next spring. They edge out Brooklyn because of their youth and depth on the bench, but a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup with James and the Heat awaits them and we all know how difficult it is to beat Miami in a 7-game series, as no one has been able to do it the past 2 seasons. Anything can happen once the time comes, but a Chicago-Miami series is the most likely outcome in the East. In the Western Conference, Dwight Howard made the biggest splash of the offseason when he left Los Ange-
les to join James Harden as a member of the Houston Rockets. He significantly improves their roster and makes them a contender, but the addition of Howard is not enough to help them surpass perennial powerhouses like San Antonio and Oklahoma City. Both of those teams will be make a deep playoff run, but neither will be able to take down the Los Angeles Clippers, who had all the right pieces in place minus a head coach, which they have more than improved on by bringing in Doc Rivers from Boston. The bold prediction of the year is that the Clippers will be making their first ever NBA Finals appearance, but a prediction as to who their opponent will be is too hard to tell at this point with the inevitable Chicago-Miami series looming. The Chicago bias in most of us says Bulls, but one of the hardest things to do in sports today is picking against Miami in the playoffs. Only time will tell. E
Winter
Health Tips
MICHELLE KUPRIS inter: Shorter days accompanied by bitter weather, fattening foods and an astonishing amount of germs. Winter brings some of its own health challenges but you can stay healthy as we endure the forthcoming months. The most important step you can take to stay healthy is to WASH YOUR HANDS. It sounds simple but washing your hands thoroughly for 30 seconds, with warm water and antibacterial soap, reduces your chance of contracting contact based illnesses by up to 50 percent according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When unable to wash your hands after using common areas and surfaces, using a dime sized amount of antibacterial gel has shown to kill up to 99.9 percent of germs. By simply partaking in hand hygiene, you are less likely to contract or spread communicable diseases.
Aside from hand hygiene, vaccinations are also a great way to avoid circulating illnesses during the winter months. Vaccines are composed of weakened or dead microbes that cause a specific disease. When given, the solution stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against the disease, in order to respond efficiently to future exposure. The most important vaccine to receive to stay healthy, this winter season, is an annual Influenza vaccine. Influenza can last two to five days and cannot be treated using medication, leaving sufferers to simply wait out the virus. Signs and symptoms of Influenza include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and headaches. According to CDC, the 201314 Flu vaccine protects against two influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus. To receive a vaccine and lower your chances of contracting the Flu this winter, you can visit any walk-in clinic, doctor’s office or health department.
With multiple holidays around the corner, diet and exercise are crucial components to incorporate in order to remain healthy. Whether you are trying to lose, gain or maintain your weight, the abundance of fattening foods, stress of classes and a lack of outdoor space allow for students to lose control of their regular diet and exercise schedules. In order to stay healthy, college students need to make healthy food choices and get regular exercise. One of the key ways to maintain a healthy weight is through portion control. This trick allows students to eat a variety of foods while not over-indulging in excess calories by limiting the amount they consume. Adequate hydration and vitamin intake is also extremely important to keep all organ systems functioning properly. Another key way to maintain weight is by exercising at least 30 minutes 5-6 times per week. On campus you can take advantage of the RMU Fitness Centers, Intramurals, and campus events to get
involved and stay active. College students aren't exactly known for their early to bed, early to rise attitudes, but getting sleep and distressing are integral parts of staying healthy. According to Mayo Clinic, college aged students need 7-9 hours of sleep every night. While most college students definitely do not get a full night’s rest, it can be somewhat supplemented by taking naps. Taking regular naps that last 30-60 minutes are shown to improve mood, retention, boost immunity, as well as reduce stress. Reducing stress is critical in remaining healthy because stress causes the release of excess hormones that can impair the immune system as well as wreak havoc on your body and mind. All things considered, these winter health tips will help ensure that illnesses and stress will be kept at bay to help you to remain healthy and trouble free through the winter. E
Fall II 2013 | 15
Photo Credits: Blake Pg. 2 - Myles Green | All Photos Pg. 3, - Austin Huette | Monica Pg. 4 – Monica Barrera | Carlos Pg. 4 – Carlos Santiago | Soldier Pg. 5 – istockphoto.com | Bitter Rivals Pg. 8 – consequenceofsound.net | All Photos Pg. 9 – Heather Alexander | Miller's Pub Pg.10 – Christin Rollett | Drink Pg. 10 – Tyson Bosco | Matt Pg. 11 - Blake Whitmore | TCW Pg. 12 – The Chicago Walker | Ventra Pg. 12 – Chicago Transit Authority | Adrian Pg. 13 – Adrian Saucedo | Stacy Pg. 13 – Stacy Zamskaya | Bulls Pg. 14 – seattletimes.com
Sudoku Numbrix Fill the grid with numbers so each INSTRUCTIONS row, column, and 3x3 block has every number from 1 to 9.
5
1
9
7
7 9
37
1
8 1
Fill the grid with numbers 1 to 81 in such that they connect either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
2
7
3
INSTRUCTIONS
9
6
2
4
3
1
8
40
29 6 8
1
9
2
50
53
48
7
44
55
72
66 5
64
5
73
25
70
68
69
81
76
23
Check out the Eagle on Facebook for this issue's answers!
20
Avicii
5 Hold On, We're Going Home Drake Feat. Majid Jordan
6 The Fox Ylvis
1 Angry Birds Star Wars II Ndemic Creations
3 Minecraft - Pocket Edition Mojang
1 Gravity
9
17
4 Wake Me Up
Lorde 2 Wrecking Ball Miley Cyrus 3 Roar Katy Perry
Rovio Entertainment Ltd
16 21
1 Royals
2 Plague Inc.
12 13
67
78 77
56
27 59
1
4
2 49
45 61
1
33 52
30
1
5
36
41
8
4
35
Top Charts
4 Escape Plan October 4th, 2013 October 18th, 2013 2 Captain Phillips 5 Chance of Meatballs 2 October 11th, 2013 September 27h, 2013 3 Carrie 6 Prisoners October 18th, 2013 September 20th, 2013
1 The Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades Rick Riordan
2 Killing Jesus
Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
3 Storm Front
John Sandford
No Class by Kyle Ashley Why? You don’t understand humor.
Hey human, how about telling me a joke?
Listen to me. I can speak and comprehend the English language on an impossible level for my species. You are the one talking to a dog. You believe that I am incapable of understanding humor?
Okay, fine. Knock Knock...
16 | The Eagle
What are YOU doing?! WE ARE AT THE PARK!
OH MY GOD, SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOR!!!