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Wat erCri si s By:RoxanneHounnou
I ti st hey ear2016andf ami l i esi nourv er yownUni t edS t at esofAmer i c aar ehav i ngt r oubl eget t i ngac c es s t oc l eanwat er .Themai nl oc at i onoft hi si s s uei si nFl i nt ,Mi c hi gan.Thewat ert hatt hepeopl ear eus i ngt her ei s nol ongers af e,buti nf ec t edwi t hl eadandheav yt r ac esofmet al .I t ’ sc aus eddi s c ol or at i oni nt hewat erandt he l eadhasmadei tt oxi c .Thewat erhasc hangedi nodor ,t as t eandc ol or .Thought hepubl i caf f ec t edbyt hi swat er c ompl ai ned,c i t yof f i c i al sc l ai medt hatt hewat eri ss af et odr i nkbutt hati snott hec as eatal l .Thewat ert hat t hepubl i ci sdr i nki ngi st oxi c .S i nc ei ti sf i l l edwi t hpoi s onousl ead,t hewat ert hatt hepubl i ci sus i ngi sc aus i ng t hem t ohav el eadpoi s oni ng. How di dwegett ot hi spoi nt ?How di dt hel eadgeti ns i det hewat ert hatpeopl eus edai l yasdr i nki ng, bat hi ngandc l eani ngwat er ?Asac os t c ut t i ngmov e,t hec i t yofFl i ntc hangedi t swat ers uppl ys our c ef r om t he t r eat edDet r oi tWat erandS ewer ageDepar t mentwat ert oFl i ntRi v erwat eri n2014.Whati st hebi gdi f f er enc e bet weent het wo?TheDet r oi tWat erandS ewer ageDepar t menti soneoft hel ar ges twat ers y s t emsus edi nt he Uni t edS t at es .I tus esf i v edi f f er entwat ert r eat mentpl ansi nor dert oav oi danyi s s ueswi t ht hewat er .Fl i ntr i v er wat eront heot herhand?I thasei ghtt i mesasmuc hc hl or i net hant heDet r oi twat er . Pr ev i ous l yt hewat ert r eat edbyt heDet r oi tWat erandS ewer ageDepar t ment .Thes t at eDepar t mentof Env i r onment alQual i t yhasr ev eal edt hati tf ai l edt or equi r eneededc hemi c al st obeaddedt ot hec or r os i v eFl i nt Ri v erwat er .Whent her es i dent sdi dment i ont hei s s ueswi t ht hewat er ,t heywer eadv i s edbyc i t yof f i c i al st oboi l t hewat erbef or eus i ngi t .I twaski ndofa“s weepundert her ug”t ac t i ct heyus edatt het i met ogetpeopl et o s t opbot her i ngt hem.Ther es ul tofal lt hi si samuc hbi ggeri s s uet hanany bodyc oul dhav ei magi ned. S i nc e2014,t hi spoi s onouswat erhasonl yc ont i nuedt ohar mf ami l i esi nFl i nt .THel eadpoi s oni nghas c aus edav ar i et yofheal t hi s s ues .I thasc aus edhai rl os s ,br i t t l ebones ,mons t r ousr as hes ,andev enadhd.Though Fl i ntof f i c i al sdi di s s uepl as t i cwat erf i l t er s ,manyf ami l i eshav er epor t edt hatt heydonotwor k.Res i dent si n Fl i ntnow hav et or el yonbot t l edwat eri nor dert odoany t hi ngt hatr equi r eswat er .TheNat i onalGuar di sgi v i ng outwat err at i onsofonec as eofwat eraday ,whi c hdoeshel p,butf oraf ami l yoff ourormor e,t hatc oul dbe s omewhatofani s s ue.Nott oment i ont hos epeopl ewhoar edi s abl edandc an’ tdr i v eorwal kov ert ogetwat er f ort hems el v es . Ac c or di ngt ot heU. S .Cens us ,Fl i nti s56. 6%bl ac k,37. 4%whi t e,3. 9%Lat i noand3%mi xedr ac e,anda boomi ng41. 6%ofi t sr es i dent sl i v ebel ow t hepov er t yl ev el .Thes es t at i s t i c ss ayal otaboutwhyt heFl i ntwat er c r i s i si ss t i l lgoi ngonandhaswor s enedt woy ear sl at er .I fFl i ntwer e70%whi t eandhas10%ofi t ’ sr es i dent s l i v i ngbel ow t hepov er t yl ev el ,Idon’ ts eet hes ameout c omet hatwehav et oday .Is eeamor ei mmedi at e s ol ut i onf ort hi spr obl em.I ti sbec aus emanyoft heFl i ntr es i dent sar ebl ac kandpoort hatt heyhav ebeen r obbedofav oi c e.Fl i ntc anbec ompar edt oHur r i c aneKat r i nai naway ,wher et heU. S .gov er nmentl ef tpoor f ami l i esi nt hes out hs uf f er i ngf orday sonend. ThewayAmer i c at r eat si t spoori sv er ydi s hear t eni ngandIdohopet hatt hef ami l i esi nFl i ntgett hef r es h wat ert hatt heydes er v et hr oughanew pi pi ngs y s t em.Ther ear emanyway swec anhel pt hef ami l i esi nf l i nt now,t hough.Wec oul ddonat et ot hei rChi l dHeal t handDev el opmentFund ( ht t ps : //www. c f gf . or g/c f gf /GoodWor k/Fl i nt Ar ea/Wat er Cr i s i s /t abi d/855/Def aul t . as px)ordont at et ot hei r v ar i ousGoFundMepr oj ec t s( ht t ps : //www. gof undme. c om/f l i nt wat er c r i s i s /)anywaywec oul dhel p,wes houl d. Wemus tkeepi nmi ndt hatanyofusc oul dhav ebeeni nt hatpr edi c ament .
By:Sharvel l eBul l ock
Bei ng on acol l egecam puscom eswi t hi t sm anyupsand downs:accesst ocom put ers,f reepubl i ct ransport at i on, unl i mi t ed part i es,and undercoverpol i ceof f i cers? Lat el yI SUst udent shavebeen upsetovert hei deat hatof f i cers of t en i nf i l t rat ehousepart i esand gat heri ngs. Theyf eelast hough havi ng undercoverpol i ceof f i cerson cam pusarean i nvasi on of pri vacyand rest ri ctt hem f rom doi ng whatt heyf eeli s“j ust havi ng f un. ” Weekend af t erweekend,part i esarebei ng broken up. St udent searn count l essdri nki ng t i cket sand noi sevi ol at i ons. i t ?
Sowhati st hereali ssue?I si tt heact i on i t sel forwho’ sbehi nd
Wi t h nat i onali nci dent sl i ket heonesi n Ferguson,M O, Bal t i m ore,M D,M cKi nney, TX and count l essot hers,st udent s, especi al l yt hosebel ongi ng t om i nori t ygroups,aref orced wi t ha const antworryon whet herornott hey’ l lbeharm ed byl aw enf orcem entj ustf or,bei ng. Fort unat el y,wehavenothad anysuch i nci dent sl i ket hi si n or nearNorm al ,I L. Wi t ht hatbei ng sai d,i ti sst i l li m port antf or st udent st of eelcom f ort abl eenough t orel yon ourl ocal aut hori t i esi feveran i nci dentshoul d ari se. Ii nt ervi ewed t heNorm alPol i ceDepart m ent ’ sCom m uni t yServi ce of f i cer,Greg Lei opol d,t of i nd outm oreaboutourveryown m en i n bl ue. “Ii nt eractwi t h st udent sal m osteveryday,t hereareway m oreposi t i vei nt eract i onst han negat i ve, ”Lei opol d sai d. “St udent shavet obeabl et odowhatst udent sdo,wedon’ twant t obeon t op oft hem ,butweal sowanteveryonet obesaf eand consci ousoft hei ract i ons. ” M ostoft het i m ewhen pol i ceof f i cersbreakup part i es,i ti s becauset heyaresentt here.Nei ghborsand som et i m eseven t he part ygoerst hem sel vescal lt heaut hori t i eswhen t heyf eelt hat t hegat heri ng hasgot t en t ool oud orwi l d.Usual l yst udent sl eave peacef ul l y,butoutofapart yof100peopl e,f ourorf i vet ryt o“f i ght back. ”Usual l yt hatsm al lhandf ulofst udent swi l largue,becom e bel l i gerent ,oreven t ryt ophysi cal l yret al i at eagai nstt heof f i cers. “I fyou cooperat ewi t h us,chancesaret hesi t uat i on wi l lgoa l otbet t erf orbot h si des, ”Lei opol d recom m ends.
Electi on Coverage
Yourcr edi ti sext r emel yi mpor t ant .Youcans t ar tbui l di ngyour cr edi tasear l yas18.I fyouhaves t udentl oans ,atacer t ai npoi ntyour cr edi ti sgoi ngt ot akeahugehi t .I ti sbet t ert ogetaj umps t ar ton advanci ngyourcr edi tear l y.Cr edi ti swhatyouwi l lneedt ogetan apar t mentaf t ercol l ege,pur chas eahome,buyacar ,ort akeoutany l oansonyourown. Thedi s coveri tcar di sanamazi ngf i r s tcr edi tcar df oras t udent . Ther ei snoi nt er es tf or18mont hsandaaf f or dabl emont hl yf ee.They gi veyoual i mi tyoucanhandl es oyoudon’ ti mmedi at el ygoi nt odebt . Theyal s oupdat eyouonyourFI CO cr edi ts cor eever ymont h. Get t i ngacr edi tcar dt hr oughyourbanki sal s oagoodopt i on. Themai npur pos eofacr edi tcar di sf oryout opur chas ei t ems i mmedi at el yt hatyoucannotaf f or datt het i me.However ,i ts houl dbe i nr eas onbecaus eyouwi l lhavet opayi tback. Keept r ackofyourcr edi tbecaus ei tmaynotbei mpor t antr i ght now,buti twi l lbe.
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Ri t moDe lAl ma Ri t moDe lAl mai st hef i r s tLa t i nDa nc eg r o uphe r ea tI SU. Iha dt hepl e a s ur eo f i nt e r vi e wi ngt hePr e s i de nta ndf o unde r , Al i c i aW a l ke r . Al i c i aW a l ke ri saj uni o rhe r ea t I SU ma j o r i ngi ne a r l yc hi l dho o de duc a t i o n. Sha j e e ’ a h: Sowha ti sRi t moDe lAl ma ?W ha tdo e si tme a n? Al i c i a : Ri t mode lAl maLa t i nDa nc eTe a m, i st hef i r s tLa t i nda nc eg r o uphe r ea tI l l i no i s St a t eUni ve r s i t y. Theme a ni ngo fRi t moDe lAl mai st he" r hyt hm o ft hes o ul "be c a us e wes pe a kf r o mo urhe a r t s . S: Tha t ’ sni c e , wha ts pa r ke dyo uri nt e r e s ti ns t a r t i ngyo uro wnda nc eRSO? A: Iha vewa nt e dt os t a r tRi t moDe lAl ma , be c a us eIc o ul dne ve rf i ndat e a mt ha tha d mys t yl eo fda nc i ngbutIwa sa l wa ysa f r a i dwha ti fi two ul df a i l . Fo r t una t e l y, Ia t t e nd Le a de r s ha pet hi spa s ts umme ra ndi tg a vemo t i va t i o na nddr i vet oma kei tha ppe nwi t h t hehe l po fmyc l us t e rf a mi l y. SoIf o und5pe o pl ewhos ha r et hi sdr e a m wi t hmea nd s ha r et her e s po ns i bi l i t yo fbe i nge xe c ut i vec o mmi t t e e . Ikno wt he r ei ss t i l ll o ngwa ysf o r g r o wt hbutIho pet ha tt heo r g a ni z a t i o nc o nt i nue sg r o wi nga saf a mi l ya ndi ns pi r i ng o t he ri ndi vi dua l s . S: Tha t ’ sve r yi ns pi r i ng !Sowhe ne xa c t l ydi dyo us t a r tRi t moDe lAl ma ? A: Tha nkyo u!Ia c t ua l l yj us ts t a r t e dt heg r o upt hi sf a l l2 0 1 5 . S: Oka yt ha t ’ sni c e , s oho wha st hi sye a rbe e nt r e a t i ngt heg r o up? A: Iwe l lpr e t t ywe l lweha veha d4pe r f o r ma nc ea nd2mo r ec o mi ngup. SoIt hi nkwe ' ve do neapr e t t yg o o dj o bwi t hne t wo r ki ngbutde f i ni t e l yr o o mf o rmo r e S: We l lc o ng r a t ul a t i o nso nt ha t !I fs o me o newa si nqui r i ngo nj o i ni ng , ho wwo ul dt he y c o nt a c tyo u? A: The yc a nr e a c hmebye ma i la l wa l k3 @i l s t u. e du. W ewi l lbeha vi ngt r yo utt o wa r ds t hee ndo ft heye a r , e nc o ur a g et he mt oc o mea ndt he ydono tne e dt obee xpe r i e nc e d.
Redbird Talent Mac Pengwin [Chicago, IL] On the first day back to school last semester, I met this guy in a creative writing class and he told us his name is MAC PENGWIN and to make sure we spell it correctly. He told us that he is an artist, and throughout the course, even “performed” parts of songs to our audience classroom. One time he asked me about this band sticker that he noticed on my laptop, in which I proceeded to tell him about how TALK TO YOU NEVER performed the previous year at Scope’s Cloud Music Festival, thrown by the Cloud Arts and Entertainment Committee. With little information about the event, he was already giving me his own contact info in hopes for participation the next time. When he sent me his album over winter break, after classes ended, I knew how dedicated he was.
For The Fam & Homedogs, Mac’s second solo album, was released this past Christmas, and like the title says, this work is a dedication to the people he loves the most; you can definitely tell. There are set songs meant to tell about specific people in his family, friends, and even his five miniature schnauzers. When listening to albums, I try to tie an emotion that is most reflected in the music. With this one in particular, honesty is the “emotion” strongly reflecting in these songs. The lyrics of “I Wonder What True Freedom Is” show his h o n e s t emotions, dreams, goals, as well as simple things like wanting to make his father proud. The musicianship is also very prominent throughout, which is really impressive. In the credits of the album, Mac names everyone who helped perform as well as including his own contributions to the album musically; Guitar, Bass Guitar, Woodblock, Pop Can Percussion, Inhaler (Percussion), Shakers, and Finger Snaps in addition to his vocals. I was really impressed with the sounds of these songs, so knowing everything that went into the project is refreshing for music. If you want to hear a chill, relaxed, honest body of work, I would recommend taking a listen at http://www.macpengwin.bandcamp.com.
By: Shaquan Leverston CAEC Business Manager
Kanye West has always been a great artist, but I particularly grasped toward him after releasing the brilliant My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I specifically remember in high school 2010 being able to rap almost every lyric to songs like “Dark Fantasy”, “Monster”, and “Lost In The World”. I was immediately impressed with the new level artistry on this album, and I would say this was the start of modern Kanye.
He then took some time before the release of another album; after three long years Yeezus arrived. That album was nothing anyone, including myself, would expect from Kanye at that time. The sounds on Yeezus were very techno and electronic; He also screams multiple times throughout the album. Most people didn’t get the message or his vision behind this work, which left fans somewhat confused and wanting for more. Personally, I didn’t even realize I appreciated most of the songs until years later. Kanye started releasing music via G.O.O.D. Music, rap records with crazy beats, and the general population started forgetting about the styles on Yeezus. We started to get a sense of Kanye as a producer again through artists such as Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Vic Mensa, along with others. Eventually “Only One” and “All Day” were released, and we knew a new album was on the way. Kanye then announced SWISH as the title to an album that would eventually come out. That was then changed to WAVES, and again rumored to be called SO HELP ME GOD. We as fans didn’t know what was going on, until the day everything was actually confirmed. Finally, on February 14, 2016, Kanye West released the highly anticipated The Life of Pablo, his best body of work to date.
Top 5 (INPO): Low Lights/Highlights, Waves, Ultralight Beam, Real Friends, Famous
“Ultralight Beam” is the Best Kanye alBUm opener, period. There is an undeniable powerful feeling in entire ensemble, as we begin on this journey of an album with Kanye and many friends. On this album we hear the best of the best in many aspects. The amounts of samples present surpasses any past album of his, but the way he incorporates them all is very impressive. It is almost like Yé studies all music, regardless of genre, and finds out how to bring his own interpretations in these sounds. The lyrics have blunt, unapologetic, honest, strong or simple messages; they reflect Kanye wholeheartedly. “freestyle 4” ends the madness of the alBUm, then “i love Kanye” transitions the worK to a more reflective, candid side. songs liKe “waves” ft. chris Brown, “fml” ft. the Weeknd and “real friends” ft. ty Dolla $ign all reveal a strong message within the singing, while Kanye speaks his own simple truths in his lyrics. These strong contrasts show up throughout the album, emotions are revealed and also hidden. I believe great art has the ability to reveal truths and reality through expression, and Kanye West does this so passionately. Even outside of music, The Life of Pablo is a true work of art.