Summer 2 Issue 2 2013 A R L IN GTON HEIG H T S • B E NS E NV I L L E • CH I C AG O • D U PAG E • E L G I N • LA K E C O U N T Y • O R LA ND PA R K • PEO R IA • SC HAUM BUR G • SPR INGF IELD
Best Performances at Lollapalooza 2013 pg. 4
MEET THE NEW EDITOR IN CHIEF PG. 2
FREE STUFF TO DO IN CHICAGO! PG. 8
THE TURTLE: TOP 10 SONGS
PG. 14-15
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
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THE NEWS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Over the past several issues, the Eagle has been operating without an official Editor-in-Chief. Throughout this period of transition, I have grown to love taking a leadership role on the staff. Prior to accepting the position of Editor-in-Chief, I worked as the Art Director. In the past, I have also served as a writer, designer, and editor for the Eagle. I guess this was the only position left that I had not already worked besides Ad Sales, but I have never been a good sales person; I tend to put my foot in my mouth too much for sales. In addition to working for the Eagle, I have experience working with other publications including Epic Magazine, The Flaneur’s Turtle, and outside of RMU I am an entertainment blogger and graphic designer for a company in Lincoln Park. I took a strong interest in writing in middle school after reading the first few Harry Potter books. I enjoy writing anything from fiction to controversial
articles on pressing social issues. I added design to my interests after being a part of my high school’s award winning yearbook staff. Without that influence, I would have gone to school to study physics or evolutionary biology. My love of science has not just disappeared after decided against studying it in college. I love all things science fiction, especially Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Ender’s Game. I look forward to an exciting year with the Eagle. I hope to help the Eagle to continue to expand to new mediums. In addition to our current Facebook and Twitter pages, we have plans for an Eagle News YouTube channel and the ultimate goal would be to have a fully functioning website with more timely content for you, the reader, to enjoy. Print is a dying industry, but that doesn’t mean the news is dying.
Blake Whitmore Editor-in-Chief
Eagle Advisor
Content Team
Paul Gaszak PGaszak@robertmorris.edu
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] Jesse Bahena [Writer]
Advisory Board David Pyle Mick McMahon
Campus Faculty David Belotti • Lake County DBelotti@robertmorris.edu Beth Gainer • Bensonville BGainer@robertmorris.edu Nicole Hager • Springfield NHager@robertmorris.edu Gerard Wozek • Dupage GWozek@robertmorris.edu Jane Wendorff-Craps • Peoria JWendorffCraps@robertmorris.edu
Design Team Austin Huette [Art Director] Tyson Bosco[Designer] Robert McMorris[Designer] Matt Theodosopoulos [Designer] Kyle Ashley[Designer]
Public Relations Team Mason Riley [Social Media Manager] Xavier Cordova [Advertising Manager]
Contributors Alyssa Brown
RMU Alumni: Where are they now? By Dan Ciaglia Elijah Blackmon (’13) received a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from RMU’s DuPage campus. He is currently working as RMU’s representative on ABC’s Windy City Live program. Corey Hosier (’10) received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the Chicago campus. Corey works for the Illinois Department of Transportation as an Engineer Technician, specializing in bridge and highway construction.
Selena Hughes (’08) received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at the Chicago campus. Selena is now a Senior Financial Analyst for City Colleges of Chicago and working toward her CPA Certification. Whitney Napoleon (’08) received a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from the Chicago campus. Whitney started her own design company, Napoleon Design, and specializes in designing logos, business cards, and packaging.
State Farm ICenter Project By Adrian Saucedo What is the ICenter? Robert Morris University has listed in their values: serving the community, creating opportunity, and experiential teaching. The ICenter is a channel in which experiential teaching can happen by allowing students participate in projects with real world clients. In this case the client was State Farm. The State Farm agent, Frank Cooper was already familiar with ICenter since he had taken accounting interns before. This time however Frank Cooper was moved to a new location where he realized that the new locality had more of a community atmosphere. Mr. Cooper wanted to add value to the place by having a window display to make his workplace more inviting to clients. The project began Summer 1, Erika Cinnamon, the supervisor of the project stated that two students were interested in the project. Breeanne, and Dominique. Both with different majors decided to tackle the task of creating a window display for State Farm. They brainstormed ideas and thought of the major days of summer such as Memorial Day, and 4th of July, as Ms. Cinnamon stated “they had a picnic theme”. Once they realized their theme they proceeded to create and design the display, however once consulting Mr. Cooper they realized they had to abide by branding parameters, and integrate
State Farm in the actual display. Mr. Cooper then provided the students with the actual outdoor utilities. Upon completion Frank Cooper was very satisfied, he noticed that more people are stopping by to admire the display, and place has gotten to be more visible to the people, which in any business is a great thing to have happen. Unfortunately although the display was much of a success the manager has notified Mr. Cooper that they are going to remodel the front of the building. As Frank Cooper states “it’s a funny thing, for over a year and a half there was nothing and then right after the window display they are going to remodel”, but because of the success of this project he will contact Robert Morris after the remodeling is done to create a new window display. That is the great thing about ICenter projects, students are allowed to do projects with real clients and actually have an impact. And although this project was geared towards Art majors the two students that participated were not Art majors. This serves as an example of how ICenter projects can be fun and still obtain vital experience for the workplace once one graduates. ICenter projects for the fall quarter have already been posted so for any student interested please visit: http://www.robertmorris.edu/icenter/ projectboard/.v
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THEEAGLE
CONTENT TEAM
DO YOU WANT TO: BECOME A PUBLISHED WRITER? BECOME A WRITER FOR THE EAGLE! VISIT www.robertmorris.edu/publications/eagle FOR MORE DETAILS!
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2013 NFL SEASON PREVIEW What to Expect from Each Team This Season
How is each team’s outlook for the 2013 season? Check it out here (projected playoff teams in bold) By Dan Ciaglia NFC North Green Bay Packers–Simply put, you need a franchise quarterback to win in the NFL. The Packers have the best one in Aaron Rodgers, and they just handed him a contract extension that says so. As long as he is calling the plays, the Packers should stay atop this tough division. Chicago Bears–Trestman’s offensive system is designed for success with the offensive weapons they have, but it’s all on Cutler to be successful in his contract year. Their schedule will be a challenge all season, but all the pieces on offense along with a solid defense put the Bears in place for a run at the division title. Minnesota Vikings–The Vikings have a good enough defense and arguably the best offensive weapon in Adrian Peterson to keep them in the hunt for a division crown. They slid their way into the playoffs last season, but the inconsistency of quarterback Christian Ponder will be their Achilles heel this season. Detroit Lions–The Lions finally have a solid running back in Reggie Bush, which is a scary addition to an offense that already boasts the best receiver in the NFL, Calvin Johnson. Their defense, however, is far too inconsistent to help out their high powered offense. NFC South Atlanta Falcons–The NFC South is Atlanta’s division to lose. Overall, they have the best offensive unit in the NFL led by Matt Ryan. They made it to the NFC Championship last year and are easily a favorite to get back there this year.
New Orleans Saints–The Saints are a very good team that hit a rough patch last season, but they got head coach Sean Payton back from his season-long suspension. That alone should help franchise QB Drew Brees get the team back on track and contend for the division title. Tampa Bay Buccaneers– The Buccaneers traded a bunch of future draft picks to land Darrelle Revis, the best cornerback in league who should be fresh from his ACL surgery. The offense has premier players in Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson, but the Saints and Falcons are in a league of their own. There’s a chance for a wild card spot though. Carolina Panthers– Cam Newton has top tier talent at the QB position, but he is Carolina’s one man show. There isn’t enough talent around him to get enough wins in this division. NFC East Dallas Cowboys-Owner Jerry Jones gambled and gave Tony Romo a contract extension, so he is poised to finally put a good season together. His inconsistency has been Dallas’ kryptonite the past couple seasons, but his big contract combined with the emergence of Dez Bryant as one of the top receivers in the league should be enough to separate Dallas from the tight NFC East. Washington Redskins– Their success this season hinders on how well Robert Griffin III rebounds from knee surgery following his sensational rookie season. Best case scenario for Washington is he returns to form quickly and helps the Redskins repeat as NFC East champs.
New York Giants–The Giants have as good a chance as anyone to win this division, but they have a knack for being very average in the regular season. Sometimes, though, average is good enough to win this division, and Eli Manning knows how to win in the postseason. Philadelphia Eagles– Philly ended the Andy Reid era and brought in new coach Chip Kelly to bring his high speed offense to the pro level. They have solid talent on both sides of the ball, but their mistakes outweigh their successes far too often to be good. NFC West San Francisco 49ers–Colin Kaepernick took the league by storm last season, shocking everyone with his combination of electrifying speed and powerful arm. The 49ers also have the most complete defensive unit with All-Pro talent at just about every position. They are the frontrunner to get to the Super Bowl. Seattle Seahawks–The Seahawks are almost a carbon copy of the 49ers, and it’s only fitting they both play in the same division. They have a great young franchise QB in Russell Wilson, traded for Percy Harvin (though he’ll miss time due to hip surgery), and have a complete defense full of hard-hitting playmakers. They’ll be back in the postseason. St. Louis Rams–The Rams have been in rebuilding mode for the past few seasons, and it should finally start coming together this year. Unfortunately, the 49ers and Seahawks are the too good for the Rams to put themselves in a position to make the postseason.
Arizona Cardinals–Arizona was one bad game away from holding open tryouts for a quarterback last season, so adding veteran Carson Palmer is a big move. New coach Bruce Arians should be an upgrade, but there isn’t much to be excited about in Arizona. AFC North Cincinnati Bengals–The AFC North has been a Steelers and Ravens duel for years, but the youth in Cincy has the perfect opportunity to surpass them. The combo of 3rd year QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green is one of the best in the league. Baltimore Ravens–The defending Super Bowls champions still have a lot of their stars, like Joe Flacco and Ray Rice, but the loss of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed on defense leaves the Ravens with lack of leadership that could cost them a few wins. That will hurt them in a tough division like the North. Pittsburgh Steelers–The Steelers were an unbelievable team in recent years, but their core players are getting much older in a division notorious for hard-nosed football. It’s a recipe for disaster, and it probably won’t go well for the Steelers. Cleveland Browns– Cleveland is in the midst of a rebuilding phase, but it’s beginning to come together. They still need a couple more pieces to be good, so don’t expect much from them this season. AFC South Houston Texans–The Texans are one of the top tier teams in the league, led by a strong defense and play action offense. They feature some of the top players in Arian Foster and Andre Johnson on offense. Expect Houston to repeat as South champions.
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Indianapolis Colts–The Colts got very… “Lucky"… with the 2012 #1 pick Andrew Luck, who shined in his rookie season. Indy has a lot of young talent around Luck and has a good chance at a playoff spot, but they’re a few seasons away from dethroning Houston in the South. Tennessee Titans-If there was a recognition for the most mediocre team in football, Tennessee would be the frontrunner. Their skill players, like Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt, have flashed potential and their defense can be good at times, but they just aren’t good enough to reach the postseason. Jacksonville Jaguars–The Jaguars are bad. Like, really bad. Maurice Jones-Drew is a great running back, but that’s about all there is to say in Jacksonville. AFC East New England Patriots– Tom Brady is one of the best to play the game, but he will be without his top 7 receivers from last season. Brady and head coach Bill Belichick are a winning combination and will find a way to get it done. New WR Danny Amendola should help right away. Miami Dolphins–After New England, there’s a big drop off of talent in the East. Miami has done a lot in the offseason to fix that though, adding speedy WR Mike Wallace to be 2nd year QB Ryan Tannehill’s go-to guy. They have young talent all over the roster; it’s just a matter of bringing it all together. Buffalo Bills–The Bills are another team that consistently stays mediocre. C.J. Spiller has emerged as a top tier running back, but they don’t have much talent other than that. New York Jets–In Mark Sanchez’s rookie season in 2009, he led the Jets to the AFC Championship. It’s basically been all
downhill from there, and everyone will be waiting for head coach Rex Ryan to bench him for rookie Geno Smith. Everyone in New York is playing and coaching to save their job. AFC West Denver Broncos–Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning came back from missing a whole season almost better than ever and now he has Wes Welker to throw to and a very good rookie running back in Montee Ball. There’s no question here – the Broncos are the favorites to get to the Super Bowl. Kansas City Chiefs–Kansas City was the worst team in football last year despite having a surprisingly good roster. They have a new coach in Andy Reid and a new QB that knows how to win in Alex Smith. It remains unseen on if this is a playoff caliber roster, but they definitely addressed their biggest issues. San Diego Chargers– Philip Rivers is the only offensive player worth mentioning, which says a lot about the outlook of this season for San Diego. There’s a slight chance they’ll be successful this season, but everyone around Rivers needs to step up. Oakland Raiders–When the best offensive weapon you have is your kicker, there’s probably a high chance you’ll lose more than you win. Nothing goes right for Oakland, so don’t expect to hear much from them. v
The Newest Chapter of Bears History By Dan Ciaglia As long as they have been a pro football team, the Chicago Bears have been synonymous with hard-nosed defensive units led by Hall of Fame linebackers such as Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, and the recently retired Brian Urlacher. The Bears defense has consistently been one of the better units in pro football, but a severe lack of offensive production over the years has always left the team in a “good, but not great” state. However, in 2013, Jay Cutler and the offense around him will be the talk of the town as a new era of Chicago Bears football begins.
To start this new regime in Chicago, Bears GM Phil Emery made 2 of the hardest decisions of his career thus far – firing head coach Lovie Smith and letting Urlacher, a future Hall of Famer, walk away from the team before he subsequently decided to retire from the NFL. If you’re an avid fan of the NFL and football in general, you know that the game is changing. Offenses are becoming much quicker and more complex with speedy quarterbacks, special receiver packages, and dual threat running backs. While the game was evolving, the Bears were stuck with Smith’s conservative style of running an offense. Emery saw the evolution of the game, and orchestrated a thorough interview process in January to find his new head coach, Marc Trestman. Trestman most recently had success in the Canadian Football League winning back-to-back Grey Cups and is widely regarded as an offensive mastermind who specializes in quarter-
back development, 2 things the Bears desperately needed. Trestman assembled his own coaching staff, hiring Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer as his offensive coordinator and Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker to the same position. So what’s to be expected on the field? In addition to the new coaches, Emery also brought in Pro Bowl Tackle Jermon Bushrod and used their first round draft pick on Kyle Long to solidify the struggling offensive line and Tight End Martellus Bennett to add another big weapon for Cutler. They’re developing a whole new system designed for this offense to succeed and all the analysts agree that if there’s ever a chance for the Bears to be successful, it’s now. Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall are established all-pro players, so the missing link could come down to 2nd year receiver Alshon Jeffery. If he can stay healthy and play to the level he did in college, the Bears will finally have a complete offense. On defense, the Bears should play to their full potential as one of the top units in the NFL. The key will be how they perform without #54 in the middle, but the veteran leadership of Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs, and Charles Tillman will easily make up for Urlacher’s departure. Jon Bostic, the rookie linebacker from Florida, looks to be Urlacher’s future replacement, so one thing to keep an eye on will be how Trestman and Mel Tucker use him. If all goes to plan for Chicago, they can make a run at the NFC North title. Their offseason moves have separated them from the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, but the Green Bay Packers remain the top team in the division. Nonetheless, the Bears should be able to make the postseason with this roster and new coaching staff. v
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ARTS & CULTURE
The Eagle Hits Up By Blake Whitmore and Stacy Zamskaya Veteran music festival goer and editor for the Eagle, Stacy Zamskaya, attended Lollapalooza in Grant Park with first time music festival attendee and Editor-in-Chief, Blake Whitmore. The two went all three days and battled through the crowds of over 300,000 fans. Over the course of the weekend the pair saw a variety of amazing performances and they are sharing their favorites, in no particular order, with the Eagle.
Blake’s Top Lollapalooza Performances Mumford & Sons Headlining Saturday night, Mumford & Sons attracted possibly one of the largest crowds at the event. The English folk rock band seemed almost shocked at the large amount of people. Stretching back from the Red Bull Sound Select stage all the way across the 12 baseball diamonds, the crowd roared at the first strum of the guitar. The band had a few minor hiccups, due to the fact they couldn’t hear well and are not use to a venue of that size, but it didn’t take long to get their groove and close out the day on a high note. Lana Del Rey The Grove stage was packed Friday night when Lana Del Rey headlined at one of the smaller stages at the festival. The smaller stage did not stop fans from packing in to see the alternative pop star. Fans wanted to see her so bad that there were hoards of people up in the trees and on top of light poles trying to see over the crowd. As lights flashed from the stage the audience could see fans in the trees singing along. Lana ended with “National Anthem”, a surprising choice since “Young and Beautiful” and “Born to Die” are both more notable, but nevertheless she redeemed herself after her performance on SNL early last year. Queens of the Stone Age There is nothing like moshing in the mud to Queens of the Stone Age. Friday afternoon the group performed at the Bud Light stage. It is hard to pin point the group’s genre. Are they alternative metal, hard rock, or alternative? It does not really matter because they played a great set anyway. The mud was being flung around as the band played songs from their new album …Like Clockwork. They commanded the crowd during “My God is the Sun”. There hour long set was one worth getting dirty to.
Phoenix The French alternative rock band, Phoenix, from Versailles headlined Sunday night at the Bud Light stage. As one of the last bands to perform at the festival they made sure to go out with a bang. Lead singer Thomas Mars ran all the back to the sound booth towards the end of their hour and half long set. He then jumped up in the crowd and was crowd surfed back to the stage by hundreds of eager fans to help the singer roll back to the front. As Mars rolled and toppled his way back stage the crowd roared with excitement. Despite it being Sunday night, the energy brought to the festival by Phoenix made sure the party kept going. The Cure One of the great things about Lollapalooza is the variety in artists they have, and the blast from the past The Cure was no exception. The English rock band closed out the festival on Sunday night. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with front man, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member, but that did not stop the large crowd from coming out to see the rock group. Donning his red lipstick and wild black eye makeup, Robert Smith proved they still got it. The Godfathers of Goth brought all the hits, squeezing in 26 songs in their two hour set, including “Friday I‘m In Love”, “Just Like Heaven”, and “100 Years”. Deemed the veteran band at the festival The Cure lived up to all expectations.
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Stacy’s Top Lollapalooza Performances Nine Inch Nails The Friday night headliner ended the first day of Lollapalooza with a truly grand finale. The set began with a minimalist feel resembling the Talking Heads’ 1983 “Speaking in Tongues” tour, as Trent Reznor sang the previously unreleased “Copy of A” with his band mates joining him on stage to the buildup of the track. The 23 song set grew through flawless transitions, mixing industrial classics with Reznor’s newest endeavors, such as a track from his “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” soundtrack, featuring Ilan Rubin on cello. The industrial rockers ended the night with “Hurt” as thousands of fans sang along to the emotion filled classic. Wavves The California surf punk rockers took over the Grove Sunday afternoon, as they played an energy filled set which embodied the essence of summer. Starting the performance with “King of the Beach”, the band empowered the crowd of rowdy teenagers to push and shove until the entire crowd turned into a mosh pit. The carefree attitude of Nathan Williams and Stephen Pope was seen as the two cracked jokes about the crowd during their set. The set was softer than earlier performances by the band, yet they ended with the fan-favorite “Green Eyes”, and nonchalantly walked off stage as they finished. MS MR Clad in a tie dye jumpsuit which matched her orange and purple streaked hair, Lizzy Plapinger showed Lolla fans what she was truly made of during her performance. MS MR’s live show was energetic and captivating, as the group played hits from Secondhand Rapture as they have never been heard before. Plapinger was beyond confident during the set, as she danced around with her band mate, Max Hershenow. MS MR had the entire crowd dancing to the drum heavy tracks, as well as encouraging a sing-a-long during “Hurricane”. The performance showed that MS MR are not afraid to show what they’ve got, making us wonder what else is in store for these up-and-coming artists. Guards Guards began the last day of the festival with a stellar performance at the Lakeshore stage, as the morning crowd gathered to see the up-and-coming indie rockers. Richie Follin created a very personal connection with the crowd during his first Lolla performance. Performing hits like “Ready to Go” and “Do It Again”, the band made the crowd feel the happiness of being young. The summer anthems paired with reverbed vocals and uniform guitar riffs made the hot Sunday afternoon performance feel like a beach party. Cat Power Chan Marshall showed the true powers of female rock during her headlining set on Sunday. Marshall was beyond confident on stage, as her voice resonated through the trees of The Grove. A certain mystic feel was present during the set, as soft blue lights illuminated Marshall in her all-black ensemble. Playing hits like “The Greatest” and “Metal Heart”, Marshall performed like never before, as if trying to show her fans a completely different side of Cat Power. Even though only a small crowd gathered for the performance, Cat Power was able to have one of the most personal and intimate sets of the entire weekend.
Both Stacy and Blake came out of the festival claiming it was the best weekend of their lives. Despite the slight showers on Friday and the disgusting Porta-Potties on Sunday night, the pair plans on continue their music festival journeys with Loufest in St. Louis on September 7th and 8th and Riot Fest at Humboldt Park on September 14th and 15th. Music festivals may be expensive, but the pair agree it is an expense worth every penny. For more on their experience watch their Lolla video on the new Eagle News YouTube channel. v
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ARTS & CULTURE
Everybody Loves Free Stuff! By Jessi Bahena You know that saying “nothing is free”? Luckily, if you are living in the city of Chicago or just visiting, there is plenty of fun stuff to keep you busy, and it’s free. Yes, free! Being a broke college student may be a bummer at times, but there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself. Mid-May through October, keep an eye out for free outdoor concerts and weekend festivals. Chicago Gospel Music festival is in early June, it usually starts the music festivals for downtown Chicago. There are also plenty of indoor concerts that happen year round. Chicago Cultural Center hosts many of this free indoor entertainment. If you’re of drinking age, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs that host free performances; all you have to do is take care of your drinks and or food. The Green Mill and Lee’s Unleaded Blues provide late night drop in jazz sessions. Interested in dancing? Or are you in need of some lessons? It’s okay if you suck at it. Because the Chicago SummerDance provides a one hour dance lesson, accompanied by a free concert afterwards. Every night has a different dance style, which includes swing, line dancing, cajun, salsa, and other dances
from around the world. These free lessons and concerts happen from mid- June through mid-August, every Thursday through Saturday from 6-9:30 pm and Sunday from 4-7 pm. Sessions are held at the Spirit of Music Garden at 601 South Michigan Avenue. The Chicago Cultural Center also hosts free dance performance that go throughout the year. Like comedy? Well The Second City is a comedy improv group. There are branches in Chicago, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Many of the alumni include Tina Fey, John Belushi, Mike Myers, and Steven Colbert. You can see the latest performances during the free improv sets, following the last regular show every night except for Friday. The famous occasionally stop in to join some of these performances. If interested in something a bit more serious, Chicago also provides free poetry reading, monologues, and storytelling. Chicago Humanities Festival hosts spoken word events throughout the year, which may also include book readings and performances. February and March, Columbia College has an annual Story Week Festival. Along with local libraries, bars, and cafes, which include story telling events. There are plenty of museums with
free admission on certain nights. One perk of being an RMU student, provided you have your student ID, you can gain free admission into the Art Institute of Chicago. If not a student, the museum offers free admission on Thursday. The Skokie Northshore Scultpure Park has two miles of walkways that has a combination of original contemporary sculptures. Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Tuesdays. The National Museum of Mexican Art is always free. There are plenty of free attractions in Chicago. Interested in architecture? Take a stroll through downtown Chicago; there are plenty of buildings to view at from outside. But the Chicago Greeter has volunteers that would love to give you a free tour around Chicago if need be. Navy Pier is a fun place to visit, but most of the indoor attraction has a fee. But walking and admiring Navy Pier is free. The Buckingham Fountain has a free water display every hour from mid-April to mid-October. If you have kids or just love animals, the Lincoln Park Zoo is always free. The parks in downtown Chicago are also another good option. Mayor Richard M. Daley developed parks that would display horticulture specimens. Jefferson Park and
Osaka Garden have tranquil lagoons. Near the Lincoln Park Zoo, there is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and it’s free as well. A prairie sanctuary surrounds it as well home to couple bird sanctuaries. Millennium Park has a lot to offer. They’re home to “The Bean”, which is fun to walk around and watch yourself get distorted. “The Bean” is also the hugest tourist attraction of the whole park. They have plenty of horticulture throughout the park. Millennium Park has state of the art collection of landscape design, architecture, and art. The park also has plenty of concerts, some free and some not. If not interested in any of that, a stroll through the park is always a plus. The trail itself is a beautiful thing to experience. When it starts to get cold in Chicago, Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Garfield Park Conservatory offer a free tropical escape. If you’re ever interested in looking for free things to do in Chicago, here are some suggested sites to browse at. The City Of Chicago official site shows all the happenings in Millennium Park. The Chicago Reader, Time Out Chicago, The Chicagoist, and explorechicago.org are all recommended. v
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New Music By Stacy Zamskya New York City has always been known as the birthplace of new musical movements, and MS MR convey this idea fully. Consisting of vocalist Lizzy Plapinger and producer Max Hershenow, the duo effectively blends vintage sounds with modern pop beats, redefining the alt-pop movement. The duo attracted attention to itself thanks to a complex and unique Tumblr rollout strategy which they used to release their music. Plapinger originally came up with the anonymous strategy which came to life when she began working with Hershenow. MS MR put out their first EP, entitled Candy Bar Creep Show, using the Tumblr platform in 2012, as they released a single song each week alongside images and remixes. Although the band abandoned the Tumblr strategy for the release of their debut album, they retained certain aspects through
MS MR: Secondhand Rapture the use of “Secondhand Captures” – a special website designed for the album’s tracks to be paired with visual images and videos. The band’s debut album, Secondhand Rapture, seems to revolve around vintage sounds, thunderous melodies, and foggy lyrics. The catchy pop songs tend to have a brooding feel to them, as a slight hint of darkness appears on each track. “Hurricane” instantly attracts the attention of listeners with its vintage and shadowy sound. At the same time, “Fantasy” features a stampede of synth and drums, as Plapinger fights the difference of existing and living through the lyrics. Certain tracks on the album feature darker motifs, which are aided by either string en-
sembles or experimental vocalization, which can be seen through “Bones” and “Dark Doo Wop”. The album seems conflicted at times when the band attempts to leave its occult sound towards something more pop-like. “Think of You” appears to be the duo’s attempt at a more broader sound, but the shallow lyrics and stumbling transitions make the track out to be a very mediocre success. At the same time, there are certain tracks that show major growth in the sound of MS MR. “BTSK” features a slow progression into a post-apocalyptic dream. “No Trace” features Hershenow’s best production work, as the mix of classical instruments and modern synthesizers pairs together with Pla-
pinger’s strong voice. The track carries a feeling of an impending fight, as the track culminates into a goosebump inducing trip. MS MR have managed to create a unique production which mixes traditional and modern elements. The band has proven its ability to transcend the confines of goth synth-pop as they successfully take on new risks with no hesitation. Although successful in parts, the album as a whole seems a bit conflicted, bringing listeners to ask why the album lacks the cohesion it desires. Experience “Secondhand Captures” on the band’s website and catch MS MR at Lincoln Hall on September 30th.v
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CUISINE
Chicago's Chicken & Waffles
By Myleng Glover
Who would have ever imagined that a combination such as Chicken and waffles would cause such a buzz around Chicago?? Chicago’s chicken and Waffles is located 3947 s. King Drive, in the heart of the Bronzeville area. Although the chicken and waffle meal is the main attraction to many, they also have an extensive menu full of delicious options. They also provide a unique touch to their menu by naming their dishes after famous musicians, varying from waffles to mouthwatering sautéed catfish! Established in 2008, Chicago’s has already made a name for its self in the Bronzeville/Hyde Park community as one of the best restaurants in town. Being a Bronzeville resident, Chicago’s has become one of my more frequent stops. It’s not just the delicious food that brings people back; it’s also the beautiful relaxed ambiance as well as the hospitable service! Chicago’s is also known for its very relaxed
and soothing feel. The staff is friendly, and on some nights you can even enjoy free live jazz! The warm inviting ambiance makes this restaurant comfortable for family outings, dates, meeting or even just an old fashion night out. Some of Chicago’s most popular meals includes: The Saint, where you can receive a combination of fried chicken and two homemade waffles, Evelyn’s Eggstacy, which is a huge omelet with your choice of ingredients as well as two waffle and they have various soul food dishes to choose from as well. One of my personal favorite dishes is the southern style fried chicken meal and the Cajun red beans and rice! You can enjoy all of this at reasonable prices. Chicago’s bronzeville location often crowded, sometimes with lines out the door (but trust it’s worth the wait)! They have recently opened two new locations. They have one 543 Madison Street in Oak Park as well as 2424 west Dempster in Evanston. Chicago’s has been causing such a stir it has
already attracted many celebrities as well as press. Chicago’s regular hour include sun-thur 9-9 and Fridays and Saturdays
9-11. I can guarantee it is an experience you will not regret, so head over there and give them a shot! v
Mexican Food on Uncle Julio By Heather D. Alexander Uncle Julio’s Hacienda is located on Chicago’s North Side at 855 W. North Ave. The location is perfect considering there other wonderful shops such as the Apple Store, the Container Store, and World Market just steps away. Parking can be a bit of hassle since the location has metered parking surrounding the building, but there are other options. Guests can park in a public lot that is right around the corner, or they can choose to valet park for a small fee, which varies from day-to-day. Upon entering the restaurant, you will be greeted with warm smiles from polite hosts or hostesses. The dining room is relatively large and very open. The walls are bright yellows, blues, greens, and reds which makes the space very warm and inviting. The lighting is dim and each table is equipped with a small candle. There is also outdoor seating for dining during warmer months. The menu at Uncle Julio’s is extensive. Guests are given a free appetizer that consists of their house salsa and homemade
tortilla chips. If you go at the right time of day, you can even witness the tortilla chips being made! Another great appetizer from
the menu is the guacamole. It is made to order according to the preferred spice level. It comes with shredded cheese and additional chips. A large guacamole is $5.39 and a large is $8.29. The specialty guacamoles are a bit more costly, but well worth the money. The entrée portions are large enough to feed a small family, so you will definitely get your money’s worth. If you’re going with a group of people, try the Plato Gordo to Share. It consists of several menu items proportioned to feed a group. Menu items include beef and chicken fajitas, slow smoked pork ribs and bacon-wrapped Camarones Brochette
served with fresh guacamole and pico de gallo, Mexican rice, frijoles a la charra, and their homemade flour tortillas. A platter that serves 2-3 is $58.99 and a platter that serves 3-4 is $73.99. To quench your thirst, they serve Coke products, fresh brewed tea, coffee, bottled water, mineral water, lemonade, milk, or juice. If you’re a bit more adventurous (and 21 or over), try The Swirl. It’s a blend of frozen margarita and frozen sangria served in a large beer mug, and poured so that it creates the image of a swirl or spiral. To kick it up a notch, try it with a shot of your favorite liqueur; just make sure you have your cab money ready. Uncle Julio’s is a great date restaurant or just to catch up with friends and family. The staff is polite, the dining room and restrooms are always clean, and the service is phenomenal. The next time you want to splurge a little on your next meal, just head to North Ave. to try some of Uncle Julio’s specials—you won’t be disappointed. v
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PIZZA STAND-OFF! An Al Capone Favorite
Photo Courtesy: Flickr By Jessi Bahena Chicago is best known for their delicious deep-dish pizza. Amongst the thousands of pizza restaurants in Chicago, it can be over whelming on choosing good restaurants to go to. Not only do you have to choose a restaurant, you have to decide if you want deep dish or thin crust. Since deep dish is cliché in my mind, I’ve decided to go on a hunt for the best thin crust pizza. On my quest, I’ve eaten some bad, okay not bad, but not so interesting pizza. I did find two very good restaurants that I really liked, that had delivered delicious pizza. If you’re near the Chicago campus and are in need of some grub. Wabash is home to the famous Exchequer Restaurant and Pub. The restaurant is famously known for their highly rated deep-dish pizza. Exchequer doesn’t only have pizza; their huge menu offers appetizers, ribs, salads, seafood, burgers, pasta, and a separate
wine and beer menu. It tends to get busy, but I never waited more than 5 minutes to be seated. The staff is very energetic and friendly. They’re also very acknowledgeable on beers and wines, which is very helpful when interested in trying something new and different. I stuck with a simple thin crust deluxe pizza. Which includes cheese, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. I also ordered a meatless pizza, for those that are opposed to consuming meat. That included mushrooms, onions, spinach, and feta cheese. Both these pizzas were filling and very satisfying, and this is coming from a die-hard deep-dish pizza lover. I was actually quite surprised that I enjoyed it so much. The price wasn’t over bearing either. Everything on their menu was set at a decent price. I would highly recommend people visiting or just in need of some good ole pizza. If looking for something out of the city
of Chicago, I’ve found another pizza joint called Barnaby’s. There are several locations in the Chicago suburbs. They are located in Niles, Des Plaines, Northbrook, Arlington Heights, and Schaumberg. When looking from the outside of the establishment, it looks a tad bit outdated, but friendly nonetheless. When I first walked in I thought they were closed, but there were families inside eating and laughing. You seat yourself and there are menus/order forms on the table with pencils. Pick and chose what you want and go to the ordering booth. They give each order a number. So this is more of an in, order, eat, and leave kind of place. So if you’re looking for employee-customer interaction, this isn’t the place for you. Their pizza is no more than $20, which is a plus. They also serve appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and beer. I believe the only downside to the restaurant is the wait. There were a bunch of families there at the time I went. I can
imagine during a slower night; that the wait wouldn’t be so bad. I ordered the Belt Buster, which with the name like that, it sounds like a cholesterol havoc of a pizza. But it included toppings such as pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and black olives. The pizza was very cheesy and had more than enough toppings on every slice of pizza I ate. But the best part of the pizza was the crust. I’m not sure what they do to their dough, buts absolutely delicious. Its flaky and crunchy, but not burnt. It’s just a simple thin crust pizza, but definitely worth the wait and money. The Exchequer is located at 226 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604. As for Barnaby’s, I went to the one in Niles. Its located 7950 N. Caldwell Avenue, Niles, IL 60714. If you are looking for another Barnaby’s closer near you, Google or yellow page for other locations. v
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COMMENTARY
He Says // She Says The Necessity of our Current Pension Plan System Stacy Zamskaya
Adrian Saucedo
Lack of reform to the Illinois worker pension systems is costing taxpayers millions of dollars a day. It is estimated that by the end of this year, taxpayers will have contributed more than one billion dollars to pension systems. This makes Illinois one of states with the worst management and budget deficit. As a result, many Illinois residents have moved out of the state. Due to Illinois legislators’ lack of action, Governor Quinn suspended his pay and those of the legislators until they pass a reform. Legislators responded with a lawsuit against Governor Quinn for violating the constitution, but have not yet passed any reform to the pension systems. Governor Quinn accused the legislators of having time to elaborate a lawsuit, but not enough time to put forth a reform bill. The governor has made a priority to put in action a reform to the pension systems, but so far no change has been accomplished. As he points out, it has taken less time to allow concealed weapons in Illinois than it has taken to reach a decision to improve the pension systems in this state. Reform is of crucial importance because it is negatively affecting the economy. The cost of living in this state and the poor management of the government are causing people to migrate out of state in order to afford the cost of living. Resources are being taken away and the next step is to keep increasing taxes. Combining the city, state, and federal taxes Chicago is a very expensive city to live in. It is expensive to own a car, a house, a cell phone, etc. The list can go on and on but the way we live stays the same or is worse. This decline in the quality of living conditions directly affects our society and the progress of our families. People erroneously assume that
a reform in the pension systems means that people will have fewer benefits by the time they retire. However, the goal of the reform is to lower the deficit and pay the debt the state is in sooner. The reform is about bridging a gap that has been growing for a long time, but no one has given it the attention it deserves. The future is looking very bleak for our generation and by ignoring the problem we presently have is going to affect us in the long term, we are just being passive. We are pouring money into a gap that is becoming wider and wider as time goes by. Action is required to bring accountability to the poor management and governance of our state. In less than three years, one out of every five dollars taxpayers will make will go to pension payments. We are in desperate times, the proof is in the Chicago Public Schools, which has made more than $600 million in cuts, and even then no solution has been made. If the administration still manages to continue without reform taxpayers will be facing difficult choices between pension payments and other public services.
As the recent headlines have been foreshadowing the collapse of our current pension system, few have stopped to evaluate the benefits of the traditional defined-benefit pension plans. The many proponents of defined-contribution plans tend to dismiss the current system as a valuable option, suggesting that citizens turn to 401(k) and 403(b) plans as a source of retirement income instead. As the pension debate continues, some analysts suggest that a defined-benefit pension plan is less costly in the long-run than defined-contribution plans, while at the same time being more secure of a retirement option. Most public sector employees participate in defined-benefit plans, which consist of a fixed monthly retirement benefit for life. The benefits are usually a percentage of the employee’s final salary multiplied by the number of years of employment. These plans differ from defined-contribution plans that are more common in the private sector, where the employer contributes to an employee’s investment account each year, but makes no promise of the actual benefit received by the employee at retirement. The recent recession has caused many states to struggle in funding its pension obligations, as budgets and tax payer revenues were greatly cut. Supporters of defined-contribution plans suggest that states are greatly underfunded and cannot pay out pension benefits. While extreme cases, like Illinois, do exist, there are several states that have managed to control their pension plans in an efficient manner. New York’s Comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, suggests that the states that are having issues paying out pensions today were already struggling before the recession hit. DiNapoli explains that these states skipped out on necessary pension payments for short-term debt relief during the recessionary period, causing the major deficits that we see today. If these states
had kept up with the pension payments, such issues would not have occurred. DiNapoli states that defined-benefit plans cost an average of 46% less than 401(k) plans in the long-run. This is due to many of the citizens being pushed into direct-contribution plans not having any investment expertise, which often results in these employees having to hire investment specialists to manage their retirement funds. At the same time, most citizens base their investment decisions on their current standing, such as someone in their late fifties choosing the less risky option of bonds rather than investing in corporate stock. Employees rarely go after the best market opportunities in their retirement plans, due to higher risk, which prevents these funds from reaching their full financial potential. States can also greatly benefit from direct-benefit plans’ abilities to retain citizens for many years. Due to these plans being more secure of an option, employees decide to move to and reside in states which have this system under control, even though other states may be a cheaper option. For example, older New Yorkers have the security of having a pension plan which gives them the confidence to spend money and help fuel the state economy. The important thing that employees need to realize is that a 401(k) plan works best as a supplement to a direct-benefit pension plan. The direct-benefit system prevents employees from directly experiencing the losses associated with major financial crises. States should take the time to look at the public systems in need of assistance and figure out how to aid employees in the private sector that do not have pension plans. Reformulating a traditional system may seem like a better outcome for some, but the many costs and difficulties associated with the switch may prevent these new plans from working as well as the current direct-benefit pension system.
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BBC Reveals an Older Doctor
By Blake Whitmore Doctor Who is a British science fiction show that has been around since 1963. Preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year on November 23rd, the show is gearing up for some big changes. The show has a unique main character, the Doctor. The Doctor is a Time Lord, a race of aliens from the planet Galifrey, that travels through time and space in his TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space). The shows ability to continue on for years is due to the ability of changing out the actor to play the Doctor. Built into the story, the Doctor regenerates whenever near death. When the Doctor regenerates his appearance and personality changes too, but his memories remain the same. Over the past 50 years 11 actors have taken on the role of the Doctor and despite the fact that the age of the Doctor continues to go up, the age of the actors to play him continue to go down, until now. On Sunday, August 3rd, the BBC announced the new actor to play the Doctor starting this December. Peter Capaldi, a 55-year-
old Scottish actor, will step into the TARDIS this Christmas. There seemed to be delight among most fans about the pick, but some were upset about Capaldi’s age. Matt Smith, the current Doctor, was 27 years old when he was offered the job. He was the youngest actor to be offered the role. David Tennant, the Doctor prior to Smith, was 34 years old when he was offered the role, third youngest. The original Doctor, William Hartnell, took on the role at age 55, the same age as Capaldi. However Capaldi is an anomaly in a downward trend in age. Whether you are a fan of the show or not, it is interesting to see how dynamics in television have changed over the past 50 years. The Doctor was originally played by older men, father and grandfather like figures. They explored all of time and space, saving humanity and others in danger, but now the Doctor is more strung up over his loved and lost companions. Granted losing a companion was never easy on the Doctor, but now things are different. Originally when the show first aired the Doctor travelled with his granddaughter, Susan. The show runners at the time didn’t want to give the Doctor a love interest, and this idea carried on for years. The show was cancelled in 1989 after it struggled for ratings for a few years, but in 2005 Russell T. Davies revived the series. Since 2005 the show has been drastically different. The Doctor’s first companion in the show, Rose Tyler, quickly became a love interest to the ninth and tenth Doctors. Then after Rose got stuck in an alternate universe the Tenth doctor sacrifice himself, and along came the eleventh Doctor, whose love interest was River Song, his eventual wife. These changes reflect something about society as a whole. We used to respect our elders and look up to them, but today most youth disrespect and resent them. Youth,
beauty, and sex appeal is what younger generations respect and admire today. Younger generations love to watch the drama unfold too. From Big Brother and Jersey Shore to the love triangles of the Doctor and his companions, no one enjoys a good old-fashioned adventure anymore. Science fiction used to be something more. Do not take this the wrong way; Doctor Who is still an incredible show. It is impressive that after 50 years they are still able to come up with such fantastic stories, but to those fans that were upset about Capaldi’s age think about it this way: Peter Capaldi as the Doctor is a hopefully choice that maybe current show runner Steven Moffat is heading in the right direction. Maybe we can kick the ooey gooey love story to the side for now and return to some good old fashioned Dalek beat downs. v
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COMMENTARY
A Turtle Tribute to Mus Recently, the Flaneur’s Turtle celebrated the summer music season and the diversity of musical tastes by sharing their Top 10 Favorite Songs of All-Time! Each author had their own list and criteria for their Top 10 or 5.
Michael Stelzer Jocks, History Faculty
Peter Stern, Philosophy Faculty “As Time Goes By” From the Movie “Casablanca”
"Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones, 1969
“Be My Baby” sung by the Ronnettes
"My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder, 1969
“Just One of Those Things” by Cole Porter
"London Calling" by The Clash, 1979
“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
"Welcome to the Terrordome" by Public Enemy, 1989
“The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra
"Waterfall" by The Stone Roses, 1989
Paul Gaszak, English Faculty
"Sennen" by Ride, 1991
“Like the Rain” by Clint Black (1996)
"Lover, You Should’ve Come Over" by Jeff Buckley, 1994
“I Go Back” by Kenny Chesney (2004) “Showtime” by Electric Six (2007) “Life, Love, and Happiness” by Brian Kennedy (1996) “Mudhouse” by Bob Schneider (2006) “You Raise Me Up” by Secret Garden w/ Brian Kennedy (2002)
Tricia Lunt, English Faculty
"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead, 1997
“Ain’t Nothing Wrong with That,” by Robert Randolph and the Family Band
"Via Chicago" by Wilco, 1999
“Black Betty,” by Ram Jam
"The Way He Sings" by My Morning Jacket, 2002
“Delirious,” by Prince “Everybody Knows,” by Leonard Cohen “For Once in My Life,” by Stevie Wonder “Howling for You,” by The Black Keys
“Mission Temple Fireworks Stand” by Paul Thorn (2002)
“Killer Queen,” by Queen
“Recovery” by Frank Turner (2013)
“Midnight Train to Georgia,” by Gladys Knight & The Pips
“Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban (2002)
“Rock Me Right,” by Susan Tedeschi
“Set Me Free” by Velvet Revolver (2003)
“Sweet Nothing,” by Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch
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sic: Top 10 (or 5) Songs Jenny Jocks Stelzer, English Faculty “My Favorite Song” by Chance The Rapper featuring Childish Gambino “Kinda Outta Luck” by Lana Del Rey “Go Home” by Dessa “I Am a God” by Kanye West “Gold” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
For more details and descriptions of each author’s Top 10, along with videos of each song, visit www.theflaneursturtle.com. Also LIKE the Flaneur’s Turtle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theflaneursturtle
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PUZZLES
Sudoku
No Class by Kyle Ashley
Fill in the grid with numbers so each INSTRUCTIONS row, column, and 3x3 block has every number from 1 to 9.