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» CAMILLA FORTE & SAVANNA STEFFENS/CHRONICLE
2020
Dr. Kim on reopening campus: ‘We are in a good spot’ Campus, page 5
Arts & Culture, page 10
Metro, page 12
Opinions, ColumbiaChronicle.com
Marcella David on her first full year at Columbia
Columbia student creates her own clothing brand
A look back at a summer of protests through photos
Patriotism is defined through serving your neighbors
editors’ note
A Remote Chronicle » KENDALL POLIDORI CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF » MARI DEVEREAUX CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF IT MIGHT BE strange, but even after work-
ing remotely from the comfort of our homes since the middle of March, coming to the realization that the Chronicle will not be operating in the office surrounded by a large, talented staff is a hard pill to swallow. We will miss the oftentimes frantic yet thrilling Friday production nights, the inside jokes and office shenanigans, our walls of plants and desk trinkets. Instead, our staff will be bonding over livestreamed movie nights, Slack group chats and other virtual hang outs. We’ll continue to build relationships while talking to faculty, staff and students around campus, we’ll just be doing it a little differently than before. Just like every other newsroom across the world, we are adapting and finding new ways to cover the important stories and remain a trustworthy source of information for the Columbia community—oftentimes going beyond even that. Although it’s not quite the same as being face-to-face, we have continued to communicate and be there for each other in a virtual setting. Through technology and by relying on each other’s individual strengths, we are learning how to reimagine the Chronicle, together. Our staff works from home most of the time, with some reporters and photojournalists occasionally going out to get interviews or cover events, of course while using coronavirus safety protocols provided by the school and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We hold meetings and training sessions over Zoom, overcoming screen fatigue and staying as positive and energetic as possible. As students and everyday people with families and friends, we have also been attempting to navigate the uncertainty and fear that comes with the pandemic. We are prioritizing our health and safety, while still pursuing our passions for reporting and visual storytelling. And we’re also keeping our ears open for your stories of survival during this turbulent time. We have a duty to you, our readers, to stay ahead of the news, advocate for
transparency and accountability and inform with digital content on a daily basis—as a staff, we take the gravity of this responsibility seriously. Because we will be encouraging our staffers to work remotely for a large part of the semester—and only going into the office when necessary—we will not produce a weekly print newspaper like we have since 1978, when the publication was first named The Columbia Chronicle. In addition to our timely reporting on our digital site that has kept our community informed during the spring and summer, we will be producing a biweekly digital publication which can be found both on Issuu.com and the Chronicle website and shared through our newsletter. Similar to our past print products, these digital issues will contain our most relevant and engaging stories over the time span of two weeks, complete with the creative graphics and design work our readers have come to expect. When the Chronicle was in-house and producing physical newspapers, our editors would be in the office until 9 or 10 p.m. most Friday nights in order to have the most timely and accurate edition possible on the newsstands early Monday mornings. Now, every other week we will gather our best stories for our production team to lay out the entire e-edition on Fridays. Our entire staff will practice social distancing while reporting and covering assignments, and because every piece of content we produce is a collaborative team effort, much of what you will see from us will continue to be done over numerous Zoom sessions and phone calls. For now, our goal as editors-in-chief is to continue the hands-on and driven work our summer staff accomplished and push it further with a full team located across the state and beyond. Although we will be following a remote work model, we still hope to return to our office and produce print issues again, when it is safe to do so. Throughout everything that has happened during the spring and summer, we are so thankful for your support and interest in our coverage. We are excited to challenge ourselves and continue to grow and build relationships with you, while also getting creative with how we produce content. Despite a change in scenery and continuously transitioning to a new mode of operation, as co-editors-in-chief we are committed to weathering the pandemic as a team and coming out of this stronger than ever.
2 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
CHRONICLE@COLUM.EDU
»staff Editors-in-Chief Director of Photography Senior Video Editor Senior Graphic Designer
MANAGEMENT
Mari Devereaux Kendall Polidori Camilla Forte Ignacio Calderon Shane Tolentino
REPORTERS
Jonah Ocuto Multimedia Producer/Editor Lauren Leazenby News Editor Paige Barnes Audience Engagement Editor Alexandra Yetter Senior Reporter Summer Hoagland-Abernathy Opinions Editor Isaiah Colbert Staff Reporters Dyana Daniels Mateusz Janik Noah Jennings Rachael Perry Ryan Rosenberger Myer Lee Charlie Wacholz
Copy Chief
Photojournalists
COPY
Brooklyn Kiosow Erin Threlkeld Ella Watylyk
MULTIMEDIA
Zac Clingenpeel Evan Fintzy K’Von Jackson Mengshin Lin Steven Nunez Kaylie Slack
GRAPHICS
Jennifer Chavez Gianella Goan Vicki Lei Lucas Martinez Savanna Steffens
MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVES Sales Manager
Faculty Adviser General Manager
Cale Holder Sunjoy Walls
ADVISERS
Curtis Lawrence Travis Truitt
VOL. 56, ISSUE 1
The Columbia Chronicle is a student-produced publication of Columbia College Chicago and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of college administrators, faculty or students. All text, photos and graphics are the property of The Columbia Chronicle and may not be reproduced or published without written permission. Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial Board of The Columbia Chronicle. Columns are the opinions of the author(s). Views expressed in this publication are those of the writer and are not the opinions of The Columbia Chronicle, Columbia’s Communication Department or Columbia College Chicago. Letters to the editor must include full name, year, major and phone number. Faculty and staff should include their job title. Alumni should include year of graduation, or attendance, and major. Other readers should note their city of residence and occupation or employer, if related to the letter’s subject matter. All letters are edited for grammar and may be cut due to a limit of space. The Columbia Chronicle holds the right to limit any one person’s submissions to three per semester.
campus
Fashion department pioneers clear masks for accessibility » ColumbiaChronicle.com
Dr. Kim on reopening campus: ‘We are in a good spot’ » KENDALL POLIDORI CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF » MARI DEVEREAUX CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF WHEN HE WAS not listening to the nine
symphonies by composer Anton Bruckner or exercising, President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim, along with cabinet and task force members, was working all summer to develop plans and procedures for starting the new school year during the ongoing coronavirus, or COVID-19 pandemic. Amid months of confusion among faculty, students and their families filled with vague emails about new and changing policies, tuition protests and the constant shifting of class schedules, the months leading up to campus reopening have been anything but smooth. The Chronicle sat down with Kim and Chief of Staff Laurent Pernot to gain a better understanding of the college’s thought process behind major decisions, how the campus will operate this fall and their goals for the 2020-21 academic year.
Safety and Security Ron Sodini, also met to discuss the college’s plans. Kim said in all decisions Columbia has prioritized safety and the quality of education delivered to students, while also taking the college’s finances into consideration. Kim said the college decided to take a three-week pause during the middle of the Spring semester to ensure the best instruction possible following safety guidelines, and Pernot said those on campus were sent home in March because the college was not equipped to have students stay in the dorms during the pandemic.
“The level of understanding, sophistication, the amount of guidance, the tools we had at our disposal in March were none,” Pernot said. “So we would probably make different decisions today ... if outside or internal events dictate that we have to go remote.” ADDRESSING STUDENT DISSATISFACTION
With reopening campus comes a number of changes to a student’s experience, including a lack of, or reduced amount of hands-on instruction and collaboration, issues with student housing and limited access to some resources.
DECISION MAKERS
During a Wednesday, Sept. 2 interview with the Chronicle, Kim said administrators began worrying about the coronavirus in January, weeks before the campus officially closed in March. He said it has been difficult to make decisions on how to properly reopen campus and hold classes both remotely and in person, acknowledging a number of decisions have disappointed students and faculty. The main challenge has been figuring out how to deliver an efficient and effective experience for the Columbia community with rules and policies constantly changing, Kim said, adding the college is “in a good place” now. “What’s kept me positive and optimistic is my belief that this is a community made up of people who actually care about each other,” Kim said. The college’s Incident Assessment Task Force, composed of employees from various offices and departments, meets regularly and was expanded to involve more faculty and staff members in the crafting of plans to address the ongoing pandemic. Members of Kim’s cabinet, including Pernot and Associate Vice President of
Over the summer, some students signed a petition demanding a tuition decrease of up to 40% for the academic year, as reported by the Chronicle July 28, and held a protest outside the building where Kim’s office is located, 600 S. Michigan Ave. Kim said he and Pernot met face-toface last month with students who organized the protest in an effort to resolve the conflict and hear their concerns. Kim said he wants to have more in-person exchanges, with a desire to meet on a regular basis with the college’s student leaders by working alongside the Student Government Association to connect better with students. “The thing that I noticed right now that’s so difficult [is] ... we seem to be moving into a world where it’s almost like, if you’re willing to talk to each other, you’re weak,” Kim said. “I don’t know what you resolve that way.” With numerous changes to the college’s policies and procedures and coronavirus updates, Kim said mass collegewide announcements have been an immense challenge and are either too vague or too long. The college is continually working to figure out the best ways to communicate with students, Kim said, such as trying out videos and social media as other effective methods besides email announcements. DEI EFFORTS
» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING AND STRATEGIZING, PRESIDENT AND CEO KWANG-WU KIM IS READY TO RETURN TO CAMPUS WITH SAFETY GUIDELINES IN PLACE.
Beyond the coronavirus, the college has actively addressed widespread unrest surrounding police brutality and other social injustices. Kim said the college still has a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and will push harder in the next few years to be an “anti-racist institution” by identifying the ways in which systemic forms of oppression are embedded in education. He said although Columbia is in a better position than other institutions, there is still a gap in degree completion rates between white and Black, Indigenous, and people of color, or BIPOC, students. “If we don’t get this right, we’ll never get to where we need to be as an educational institution,” Kim said. The college plans to announce a new set of initiatives for the fall to involve students in a push toward a completely safe and inclusive environment. One challenge at Columbia as well as other colleges and universities across the country is creating a safer space SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 3
campus for all students, many of whom are demanding their schools cut ties with local police forces. Kim said Columbia does not have a formal relationship with the Chicago Police Department, but because of the school’s location downtown, they are in frequent communication, as he often worries about students’ safety. Pernot said having a heavy presence of police officers on campus would not be a good mix and would diminish the culture of Columbia. “While a lot of [security personnel] are former police officers, they’re in the mindset that they’re here to serve the campus community,” Pernot said. SAFE CAMPUS OPERATIONS
Pernot said there are many options the college can explore if it were to see a high number of COVID-19 cases before closing the campus altogether. Some options include pausing in-person courses, closing specific facilities for cleaning and isolating certain departments or classes, he said. Kim said rather than thinking of one positive case on campus as unsafe and shutting everything down
again, the college is now able to do things “the right way” and manage cases with dormitory isolation rooms, contact tracing protocols and guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public health departments and Rush University Medical Center. He said there is no specific number of positive cases administrators are using as a threshold to determine if the campus will close or classes will go completely online. In the meantime, Columbia will continue to offer optional free testing, rather than enforcing mandatory testing, as the three-day turnaround for test results and students’ class schedules present logistical issues. “We consulted with the Chicago Department of Public Health, [and] their guidance is that testing everybody is not a proven way to control the virus,” Pernot said. BUDGET
Kim said navigating the reopening of campus has been financially challenging, but it is of the utmost importance the college tries to preserve employ-
ment by not eliminating positions or cutting staff. As Columbia closes the book on fiscal year 2020, the college has seen a loss of nearly $17 million—$10 million due to increased student scholarships, $9 million for refunds on room and board and $1 million spent on coronavirus safety resources. These losses were minimally offset by funding from the CARES Act. In an interview with the Chronicle, Chief Financial Officer Jerry Tarrer said the college has taken steps to reduce costs for this year by $9 million, which includes pay cuts for all senior administrators, including Kim. Kim said all senior staff members received anywhere from a 2-10% cut to their individual salary for the upcoming fiscal year, but he did not elaborate on how the percentage cuts were determined. He said the college’s budget is contingent on student enrollment, which will be challenging to maintain this year as typical recruitment methods are not possible due to the pandemic. Though there are 100 more freshman
students enrolled this year compared to this time last year, he said overall there are around 130 fewer students at Columbia this fall than there were in the spring. MESSAGE AND GOALS FOR 2020-21
Kim said his main goal for the new school year is to maintain the authenticity of the education students are receiving. “This is a school that has a profound commitment to promoting [the] creative practice as broadly as possible, and that’s why we’re here,” Kim said. He said as a creative institution, he hopes students, faculty and staff come out of this situation with a series of lessons learned, including new approaches to teaching, producing work and connecting with others. “I’m really proud of our students, ... and I find it very motivating and uplifting,” Kim said. “I want our students to just go for it this year [and] to be responsible to each other and the community.” CHRONICLE@COLUM.EDU
FEATURED PHOTO
» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) JORDAN CAMPBELL AND JON VEAL, CO-FOUNDERS OF ALT_, STARTED ALT_MARKET ON JUNETEENTH IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE BACK TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY. 4 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
Marcella David on her first year at Columbia, the Black Lives Matter movement and the fall semester » ALEXANDRA YETTER SENIOR REPORTER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT and Provost Mar-
cella David began working at Columbia during what were thought, at the time, to be the biggest challenges the college ever faced, including staff layoffs, union tensions, budget cuts, enrollment anxiety and a lack of trust between different factions. Looking back, David laughed at the idea of those being Columbia’s biggest challenges when, mere months later, a pandemic would upend everything. “We have to think ahead about what the next year is going to look like differently, but at the same time think about what the year after that is going to look like,” said David, who marked her first anniversary at Columbia on June 3. David’s approach of looking ahead may have “totally freaked out the rest of the members of the president’s cabinet” at times, she said. With her background as a lawyer and an engineer, David said she is a problem solver. So while the president’s cabinet would analyze a problem that needed attention that day, she was sure to also point out an issue she knew would pop up five months later. Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications and External Relations Lambrini Lukidis said she recalls administrators grappling with switching classes with pivotal in-person components online, like dance and theatre, when David and her team presented a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet listed every individual course for the Spring 2020 semester, with titles listed in green if they had already made a successful transition online and courses in red if they had yet to make the switch. A surplus of red had the cabinet “holding onto the desk,” Lukidis said. But David assured them she was confident the list would turn green within a week and, sure enough, her prediction came true. “It was such a true moment in seeing someone’s impact and leadership over a relatively short period of time,” Lukidis said. When David is not figuring out solutions to pandemic-level problems, she
has been spending her time during lockdown working on her hobbies—knitting, crocheting and photography. David took part in a “craftivism” project called emPower People where she crocheted purple bandanas, which advocate voting, to mail to her friends. She has also been working on her photography by snapping photos of sunsets and fireworks from her balcony and Black Lives Matter marches from State Street as well as enrolling in an online class about astrophotography. When campus and Chicago were not in lockdown, David would often pop into different events on campus to get a sense of the Columbia community—something her predecessor, Stan Wearden, was criticized for not doing. Matthew Rillie, coordinator of Student Support and Engagement for Student Diversity and Inclusion, said the provost visited SDI’s space soon after starting at the college and brought items to donate to The Rack, a free clothing exchange on campus. Rillie said it was “rare” for them to see an administrator so engaged in the community. “In many provosts, we’ll see folks who hold that role being accountable to the president and the board, and that is it,” said Rillie, also a contract action team member and membership chair for the United Staff of Columbia College union. “I see a willingness to be more accountable to people who she is charged to serve, which is the students, faculty and staff.” David has also worked to improve relations with the Faculty Senate and is frequently a guest speaker at meetings, more so since the pandemic. Faculty Senate President Sean Johnson Andrews said David is more “personable” than her predecessor, and was happy to have her at the helm during the pandemic. But there are still areas where communication between administrators, faculty, students and staff falls short, he said. Communication and transparency are ongoing sore spots at Columbia and are something campus leaders wanted from David when she entered the college a year ago, as reported by the Chronicle in June 2019. Although they have im-
proved, Andrews, an associate professor in the Humanities, History and Social Sciences Department, said there have been several times where faculty are left in the dark only to be later informed of a policy change via a staffwide email. Columbia Part-Time Faculty Union President Diana Vallera said prior to the “chaos” of the pandemic, the biggest challenge with the provost was a lack of transparency and communication specifically with parttime faculty. » K AYLIE SLACK /CHRONICLE Vallera, an adjunct faculty member in the SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST MARCELLA DAVID, AN AVID TRAVELER, SAID ONE OF HER BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS VISITING Photography Depart- ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS. ment, wants more stakeholders involved in decision-making meaningful conversations when the and to collaborate with the provost on campus is scattered,” she said. projects to dismantle inequities for As someone who has experienced part-time faculty. racial segregation and whose scholarDavid said she is continuing to build ly work has focused heavily on human on the relationships she has forged rights, it is difficult to see the Black with faculty, staff and students, which Lives Matter movement unfolding and she said have helped her during “pan- not have a “crushing sense” that history demic mode” because she was able to will continue to repeat itself, she said. send “frank” emails to faculty and get Moving forward, addressing pandemuseful feedback. ic-worsened graduation, retention and One of the major selling points for enrollment rates will be a major priority many when reviewing David’s candi- for David, as reported by the Chronicle dacy was her commitment to Diversity, on Aug. 21. Equity and Inclusion. She will also help administrators That commitment has not waned, as get back on track with Columbia’s next she still prioritizes finding new ways to five-year strategic plan and focus on expand DEI. Most recently, David was jump-starting the international and part of a three-day anti-racism train- study abroad programs after a “near ing retreat where a team came together shuttering” caused by travel bans. to craft a proposal for an Anti-Racist Many are thankful to have David Transformation Team at Columbia. The helping to pilot the college through the proposal is currently being reviewed by pandemic, helping Columbia to be betthe president. ter off than some other institutions, David also plans to bring conversa- Rillie said. tions on race and access to students in “The next couple of years, for many of the fall when she teaches her first class us in higher ed, are going to be difficult at Columbia, a hybrid “Big Chicago: and I hope she’s willing to still work Honors” course, “Access, Civic Life and with us,” Rillie said. “We’ve got a lot of City Design,” on how city designs affect work to do, and we’re ready to do it as access to different groups. a team.” “What I want is something meaningAYETTER@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM ful, and it’s hard to have those kinds of SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 5
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Welcome back Columbia: Here’ » PAIGE BARNES AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR » IGNACIO CALDERON SENIOR VIDEO EDITOR FROM BEFORE LEAVING home to arriving on campus, the Chronicle breaks down what students, faculty and staff can expect when returning to Columbia, from the Daily PreCheck to new capacity limits. MANDATORY CORONAVIRUS KNOWLEDGE TRAINING
Before leaving one’s house, all students, faculty and staff will need to complete the coronavirus knowledge training and the Daily Pre-Check. The coronavirus knowledge training can be found under the “Together, Columbia” reopening campus training. This provides the information needed to complete the 10 question certification quiz that is synced to MyColumbia ID cards. Quiz links are unique to each individual’s ID card and were sent out to everyone’s Office 365 email address. The quiz must be completed by 4 p.m. the day before an individual plans to return to campus to allow their ID card to sync with the quiz results. If the training is not completed in advance, entrance will be denied. If a person’s training is completed after 4 p.m. and they intend to be on campus the next day, they must print or screenshot the digital certificate to show building security guards. DAILY PRE-CHECK
Every day before arriving on campus, anyone entering a building must com-
plete the Daily Pre-Check questionnaire on their mobile device or computer. The questionnaire can be found on the MyColumbia app under “Building Entry Pre-Check” or accessed through a web browser here. These questions ask members of the campus community to assess their health for the day, including whether or not they have a fever, if they suspect they have come in contact with someone who has the coronavirus and whether they are in compliance with Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order, which is updated every Tuesday and goes into effect the following Friday at 12:01 a.m. Members of the community need to take a screenshot of their clearance because all campus security guards will require students, faculty and staff to show it upon entering each campus building. Students who do not clear the Daily-Pre Check due to coronavirus-related health reasons and have to miss face-toface instruction should email Student Relations at studentrelations@colum. edu and their professors. MASK REQUIREMENT
Face coverings are now required inside all campus buildings and must be worn at all times including in classrooms, shared workspaces and common areas. An Aug. 21 collegewide email said bandanas, neck gaiters, knitted masks or face coverings with exhalation vents or valves are not permitted and will prevent anyone from entering a Columbia building. All students will receive a one-time distribution of two face masks on campus. They can pick up their coverings un-
IN ORDER TO ENTER A COLUMBIA BUILDING, PEOPLE MUST COMPLETE A DAILY QUESTIONNAIRE THROUGH THE MYCOLUMBIA APP WHICH CERTIFIES THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS AND ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CHICAGO’S EMERGENCY TRAVEL ORDER. 6 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
NANOSEPTIC’S SELF-CLEANING STICKERS USE “A MINERAL NANO-CRYSTAL, WHICH ACTS AS A CATALYST, CHARGED BY VISIBLE LIGHT ... THAT CREATES A CONTINUOUS, POWERFUL OXIDATION REACTION,” ACCORDING TO ITS WEBSITE.
til Sept. 25 at 916 S. Wabash Ave., Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. NANOSEPTIC STICKERS
New anti-bacterial stickers have been placed on commonly touched objects such as door handles and elevator buttons. The stickers are self-cleaning and use “a mineral nano-crystal, which acts as a catalyst, charged by visible light ... that creates a continuous, powerful oxidation reaction,” according to the NanoSeptic website. The oxidation reaction breaks down organic material into base components such as CO2. Columbia’s Facilities and Operation’s team chose NanoSeptic because it is “the best line of defense against touchbased infection,” along with frequent hand washing and sanitation. Keisha Cowen, senior director of Campus Communications, said in a July 31 email to the Chronicle that the college prioritized surfaces that will be commonly touched and where using an
elbow is not possible. The stickers have not been placed on door keypads because they would interfere with the technology or on paper towel dispenser handles due to their grooved surfaces. Stickers work effectively for 90 days and will be replaced regularly. TEMPERATURE SCANNERS
Everyone entering a building will have to scan their Columbia ID and will need to pass a temperature check, as a high temperature can be a potential indicator of the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The college is following guidelines from both the CDC and the City of Chicago. Cowen said although the CDC considers a fever to be 100.4 degrees, the college is deferring to local health officials, meaning 100 degrees will be used as a baseline for determining a fever. The college placed hoods on scanners to “help to enhance individual privacy.”
AFTER SCANNING THEIR COLUMBIA ID, STUDENTS. FACULTY AND STAFF NEED TO PASS A TEMPERATURE CHECK. THE SCANNER WILL BE CLEARED IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 100 DEGREES.
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’s what campus looks like now tions have been closed off for the time being to prevent people from taking their face masks off. Additionally, sharing food in communal spaces is prohibited. BATHROOMS
NANOSEPTIC ANTIBACTERIAL STICKERS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON COMMONLY TOUCHED AREAS SUCH AS DOOR HANDLES AND ELEVATOR BUTTONS AND LAST UP TO 90 DAYS.
There is also technology to scan an ID on the temperature scanners, but Cowen said Columbia has not integrated syncing IDs to one’s temperature because of privacy and data management concerns. Any students who have a health condition that causes their temperature to exceed normal ranges should speak with the Student Health Center at 312369-6830. FOOT TRAFFIC PATTERNS
All buildings have new foot traffic patterns and markings on the ground to ensure “traffic is one-directional” to help with physical distancing. There are now entrance-only and exit-only doors and stairwells designated as only up or down, except in an emergency. Though many of Columbia’s entrance points are revolving doors, Cowen said automatic doors will remain an option for people with a disability. Lambrini Lukidis, associate vice president of Strategic Communications and External Relations, said the college
has reduced foot traffic greatly, as on a Friday last year the college would expect nearly 2,000 people on campus, but college officials expect around only 500 this Fall semester. ELEVATOR CAPACITIES
Elevators in all buildings now have a posted elevator capacity, ranging from a maximum of six people in some elevators to a maximum of just two in others. Floor markings with images of feet on them have also been placed on the ground to indicate where to stand during the ride up or down. Cowen said the capacity limits were determined by the elevator’s size, its button panel location and overall accessibility with entering and exiting. However, the college encourages students to take the stairs if they are physically able and have moved some classes to lower floors in the building. CLOSED WATER FOUNTAINS
Water fountains and water refill sta-
AUTOMATIC SINKS WILL BE INSTALLED IN ALL BATHROOMS BY THE START OF THE SEMESTER.
New capacity limits also affect the bathrooms and are noted on posted signs. The college’s reopening plan suggests students, faculty and staff avoid touching door handles if possible, use a paper towel or their shoulder to open the door and wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. Automatic sinks have been installed in most of Columbia’s bathrooms and will be installed in all bathrooms on campus by the start of the fall semester, Cowen said. CLASSROOMS
There are special markers for where students can sit so six feet of distance can be maintained. Face coverings will be required in classrooms, “except in exceptional circumstances driven by pedagogy where other precautions will be in effect,” according to Columbia’s reopening plan. Exceptions made for not wearing a face-covering in the classroom must be approved by the Provost’s Office. Additionally, the college updated its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in nine of its buildings with Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) technology, as reported by the Chronicle August 7. CONTACT TRACING
Columbia’s Campus Safety and Security personnel have undergone training on contact tracing to help inform mem-
bers of the campus community, as reported by the Chronicle Aug. 25. Those who have tested positive for the coronavirus, are experiencing symptoms, or have come in close contact with someone who is sick or is experiencing symptoms should alert Campus Security at securitycommand@colum.edu and Student Relations at studentrelations@ colum.edu. COVID-19 REPORTING DASHBOARD
Each day, students, faculty and staff can stay up to date with the number of positive coronavirus cases on campus. These include “students, employees, college contractors or visitors who tested positive for COVID-19 and were in a campus facility, including residence halls, during the time they were contagious.” The dashboard can be found on the Reopening Columbia site under the COVID-19 Case Updates and Testing Information tab. RESIDENCE HALLS
Students have been allowed to move back into campus residence halls. To promote physical distancing, only one person is assigned to each bedroom. No guests will be allowed in any apartment or room until Sept. 21. From Sept. 21 until the end of the semester, only guests living within the same building will be allowed in an apartment or room, with a capacity of six people in each unit. Guests from outside a building will not be permitted for the fall semester. CHRONICLE@COLUM.EDU
THE COLLEGE’S REOPENING PLAN SUGGESTS EVERYONE WASH THEIR HANDS FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS AND USE THEIR SHOULDERS OR ELBOWS TO OPEN DOOR HANDLES.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 7
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Columbia’s Dance Center reinvents itself remotely while celebrating Chicago artists » MARIELLE DEVEREAUX CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FROM VIRTUAL RESIDENCIES to online classes and livestreamed performances, the Dance Center is embracing what it means to adapt and create during the coronavirus pandemic. “This season it feels like we’re reinventing everything we do, which is exciting and also labor-intensive and scary,” said Ellen Chenoweth, director of the Dance Presenting Series at the Dance Center. The Dance Center, located at 1306 S. Michigan Ave., will not invite any in-person crowds to view performances or participate in activities during the fall semester. Instead, audiences will watch colorful forms skillfully leap and twirl across their screens from the comfort of home. Chenoweth, an assistant professor of instruction in the Dance Department, said this year the center is only releasing one semester of programming at a time and plans to celebrate 30 Chicago-based artists as part of the fall lineup of programming. There will be three branches of the Dance Presenting Series: production residencies, where artists are given space at the Dance Center for projects; virtual residencies, where artists are given funding and free range to create; and various classes and activities free to Columbia students. For her production residency, freelance choreographer and dancer Nejla Yatkin said she will present a virtual solo piece in three segments called “The Other Witch,” a project partially supported by the Chicago Dancemakers Forum, an organization dedicated to nurturing artistic advancement in dancemaking. Inspired by dancer and choreographer Mary Wigman’s “Witch Dance,” Yatkin said she has to rethink her piece to work digitally for a more intimate dance film. During her two-week residency at the Dance Center, Yatkin will use the space to rehearse and figure out the transition from the stage to the camera, with angles, cuts and lighting. “You envision something one way, and then throughout the process, you discover new things about it and it changes into another form,” Yatkin said. “So
I’m looking forward to how [‘The Other Witch’] will manifest itself on this virtual platform.” Yatkin said her film will be shown in three parts over the course of the Dance Center’s online presenting series this fall, which will include virtual Q&As with the artists who helped create the piece. The first segment is set to debut Oct. 23. For the center’s virtual residencies, Chenoweth said three Chicago artists were offered a spot in which they will be financially supported in creating a project they will later share remotely via photo, video, writing or some other form to be determined. Kierah King, a 2020 Columbia dance alumna, said she was approached about taking on a residency after Chenoweth saw the work she was doing within Chicago communities. King said at first graduating during a pandemic was “weird,” but she found a way to stay active in her field by organizing dance demonstrations for recent protests and planning a “beach bash” for people to dance and socially distance together in their cars. Chenoweth said she is excited by the prospect of King helping define what will come next in dance using this residency.
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“Youth are leading the uprising that’s happening at this moment, and I feel so inspired by what’s happening in our city and in our country,” Chenoweth said. “Young people also have a lot to offer the field of dance in this moment in thinking about how we move forward.” For King’s residency, which will last from September through December, King said she will likely put out work around three times throughout the semester to keep her Dance Center audience connected, possibly through some type of video documentation or livestream everyone has access to. King recently released a survey on her social media pages asking her followers what they need or want to see come to the forefront of art at this moment. “I want to make it a community effort to engage and collaborate with other artists,” said King, who typically creates work revolving around empowerment and involvement. Chenoweth said the Dance Center is also leveraging Columbia’s resources to host online activities, discussion groups and technique classes led by faculty, alumni and talented local artists. “We’re calling it a dance buffet,” Chenoweth said. “It’s a lot of recipes that we haven’t tried before, and we’re gonna see what works.”
The courses are designed to complement learning material from the normal dance curriculum, but students don’t need prerequisites to take a Dance Center class, Chenoweth said. The full list and description of class programming was posted online in September, along with registration and sales portals. All classes—most of which are weekly or one-time only—and programming will be available to dancers to purchase individually or as a package for $120. Classes and programming will be free for Columbia students who register in advance. Patrons from the general public can view all projects and films, including livestreamed performances and talkbacks within the Dance Presenting Series, for a donation of $20 or more. Chenoweth said going remote is a way for those who have not been to the Dance Center to visit without making the physical trek, and she hopes people will return when the building is open again. “We are in the business of supporting artists, and it feels like we have a responsibility to respond to the moment like artists do, with the spirit of inquiry and experimentation,” Chenoweth said. MDEVEREAUX@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM
campus
» KENDALL POLIDORI CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF IN MAY, THE U.S. Department of Education
issued final regulations on how colleges should respond to allegations of sexual harassment under Title IX, and now Columbia is adapting to the changes. As reported by the Chronicle May 22, colleges and universities were expected to be “in full compliance” with the new regulations by Friday, Aug. 14. The regulations revise the definition of sexual harassment and modify how someone reports an incident, with increased procedural protections and “enhanced transparency for all parties,” according to a Friday, Aug. 14 collegewide email from Vice President of Student Affairs Sharon Wilson-Taylor and Associate Vice President of Human Resources Norma De Jesus. Changes to Title IX include: • Defining sexual harassment “to include sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex.” • Allowing colleges to use technology to conduct Title IX investigations and hearings remotely. • Requiring stronger evidence and higher standards for what is considered a violation under Title IX. • More narrowly defining sexual misconduct as “unwelcome conduct that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school’s education program or activity,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. According to the Friday, Aug. 14 collegewide email, the college updated its Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures, which is part of the College’s Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy and “is applicable to all members of the College community, including students, faculty, staff, and third parties.” Some groups are continuing the push to stop the changes due to lingering con-
cerns. The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, or CAASE, joined other partner organizations in suing the Department of Education to stop the new regulations. Staff Attorney at CAASE Christina Zuba said the new rules “reverse decades of guidance and target survivors.” Zuba said the new regulations are in violation for a number of reasons, including prohibiting schools from investigating cases that occur outside of campus boundaries, requiring students to “endure more severe sexual harassment in school than adult employees in the workplace before intervention is required” and establishing an “inappropriate and unfair process that harms survivors.” As Columbia is currently in full compliance with the new regulations, here are some of the changes and resources students can expect for the upcoming fall semester: REVISED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Columbia’s Title IX Coordinator and Director of Equity Issues Janely Rivera said one of the biggest changes to come from the new regulations is how narrow and specific the definition of sexual harassment is. With the definition more narrow, Title IX procedures will not cover all incidents, and students will have to provide specific evidence under the standard of proof. For example, if a student is touched by another student inappropriately in a classroom and they don’t have physical evidence of this, they cannot file a formal complaint. Jill Dunlap, senior director of Research, Policy and Civic Engagement for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, which focuses on improving student affairs on college campuses, said although some cases of sexual harassment may not fall under the new Title IX regulations—meaning institutions cannot take action through Title IX procedures—most colleges and universities
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New Title IX regulations create concerns, but Columbia students ‘will be supported’ can provide help through their student misconduct policies. In the Aug. 14 email, the college said “allegations of sexual harassment that do not fall within the scope of Title IX will be governed by the Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy and the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures.” “We will still continue to see those cases and investigate them and ask the students what next steps they would like to take, so that they can receive the services they need from our office,” Rivera said. Rivera said there will also be small changes in how the Title IX process works, including the requirement of writing a formal complaint and submitting it. She said without a formal written complaint, the college cannot initiate the process. Another concern with the new regulations is the requirement to hold live hearings for cases. Dunlap said this is a specialized area that most coordinators or administrators on campuses are not properly trained to conduct. Dunlap said because of the pandemic, hearings will be held live virtually, which allows those involved in the case to not physically be face-to-face. But, Dunlap said this could also initiate a concern of confidentiality if a student does not have a safe space to attend a hearing virtually. She said colleges should provide students with the opportunity to have a space on campus for hearings. MANDATORY ONLINE TRAINING
Although faculty and staff take part in a yearly Title IX training, for the first time “mandatory Title IX training will be offered to all students, faculty and staff in the fall,” according to the Aug. 14 email. Rivera said the training will be done electronically and will provide information on resources, policies and how the
office operates. Training will be completed yearly and tracked to show a person has completed it. REMOTE SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Verron Fisher, Title IX investigator at Columbia, said if there is an incident or case that occurs off campus or out-ofstate, as many students will be taking remote classes, those students will still be supported. On its website, the college has a list of upcoming virtual events, which are coordinated by the college’s Sexual Assault Awareness Education Committee. Fisher said all events are open to everyone in the Columbia community, and students outside of Illinois enrolled at Columbia can access all of the resources. Rivera said the college is also putting together a list of resources for students in other states, such as organizations and counseling centers in their area, so students can utilize those if needed. The U.S. Department of Education launched a new website which provides information on “how to file a complaint, an overview of the [regulations’] protections for survivors, and a detailed webinar on how schools can fully implement and uphold the new provisions in the law,” according to a Friday, Aug. 14 press release from the DOE. Rivera said although the college was only given a short time frame of three months to implement the new regulations, the office came together to ensure Columbia was in full compliance. Fisher said the office will respond and assist all students who need it. “I just want students to feel supported,” Fisher said. “This new policy is different and students may have a lot of concerns about it, but we just want to make sure students know they will be supported.” KPOLIDORI@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 9
arts&culture
Co-founders of alt_Space discuss art as activism and the creation of alt_Market » ColumbiaChronicle.com
Born Again Studios upscales vintage pieces with pearls and luxury monograms » STEVEN NUNEZ PHOTOJOURNALIST WITH A FOCUS on environmental con-
sciousness, Born Again Studios combines streetwear and pop culture into its clothing, reducing its carbon footprint by giving vintage items a second life. Originally a medical student in Miami, Brianna Montesano, a sophomore fashion studies major, transferred to Columbia in 2018 to pursue her passion for fashion. On Friday, Aug. 28, she launched Born Again Studios with her best friend, Christina Ande. “Born Again” is a mantra that Montesano embodies in her life through her personal growth and feeling “reborn.” She said she loves Chicago for its abundance of culture in streetwear and how
other art forms, such as music, intertwine with fashion. After living in Miami and seeing other students’ individual styles on campus in Chicago, she felt inspired to embrace her own, Montesano said. “It was a little bit harder to see people wearing the stuff that I wear because my style kind of stuck out from the crowd ... because everyone’s in shorts, T-shirts, flip-flops and sneakers. Everyone’s on island mode down there,” she said. The brand’s recent launch features custom vintage items, crochet bikinis and denim, which can all be found on its website. As someone who keeps up with fashion trends, Montesano said she noticed pearls are currently in style and decided to combine them with vintage clothing.
Montesano’s favorite piece in the pearl vintage collection is the first one she made, titled “Led Zeppelin Pearl Band Tee.” The vintage band T-shirt has a black, glittery spray painted Nike-style Swoosh on the chest and pearls on the angel wings. “It just accidentally ended up looking so much cooler than what I expected it to,” Montesano said. “I think some of the best things that you make are so unexpected.” Before launching her brand’s official website, Montesano posted a teaser of the first pearl vintage collection item and received an abundance of positive feedback from her friends on social media. Since then, Montesano has created more music and sports related pearl pieces, including shirts of the late singer Aaliyah, Nike-style crew-
necks and various T-shirts, windbreakers and jerseys boasting different sports teams. Born Again Studios also features a crochet collection of colorful bikinis with pearl detailing. Each suit features a “CC” similar to Chanel’s brand logo on the top. However, the pieces in this collection are not recommended for swimming, she said. Instead, she said they should be worn as a lounge set and under other clothing. “I want to give people the opportunity to wear something cool and different that has that luxury feel to it without it being luxury ... and help the world in a way [because] we’re recycling everything and upcycling it,” said Montesano. SNUNEZ@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM » STEVEN NUNEZ/CHRONICLE
BORN AGAIN’S NEW LINE FEATURES VINTAGE SPORTSWEAR, BAND MERCHANDISE AND POP CULTURE ITEMS ACCENTED WITH PEARLS, GIVING THE CLOTHES A SECOND LIFE.
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MONTESANO MODELS THE STUDIOS’ “NY METS X THOR PEARL TEE” AND “LV MONOGRAM DENIM” FROM THE BRAND’S NEWEST COLLECTION. 10 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
BRIANNA MONTESANO, A SOPHOMORE FASHION MERCHANDISING MAJOR AT COLUMBIA, CO-FOUNDED BORN AGAIN STUDIOS WITH HER BEST FRIEND CHRISTINA ANDE.
arts & culture
Columbia alums create inclusive virtual concert series due to a lack of accessible resources and financial backing. So, in June 2019, Kohlman started her own concert proFOR YEARS, ANYA Kohlman’s dream has motion company, Bottlenose Presents. been to promote lesser known artists in “This was my way of being able to the music industry by organizing shows put on shows even though I didn’t and connecting with performers. have very much money and I didn’t Kohlman said because much of Chica- have very many resources behind me,” go’s local talent is not connected to the Kohlman said. “venue scene,” she wanted to help bridge As live, in-person music performances the gap and give artists a platform to came to a standstill mid-March due to gain recognition. the coronavirus pandemic, Kohlman and The 2019 music business manage- 2020 music business management alum ment alum said it is difficult to break Rachel Vogrich, who is the chief of operinto the music industry as a promoter ations for Bottlenose, sprang into action. The two used Bottlenose platforms to start a weekly virtual livestream series to help fill the void from a lack of shows and give artists a space to perform. The virtual livestream concert series, called “Livestreams from Quarantine,” takes place every MILA DIAZ, A 2020 MUSIC BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ALUM, AND HER Friday night over BAND PERFORM A VIRTUAL LIVE SET FOR BOTTLENOSE PRESENTS.
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» RYAN ROSENBERGER STAFF REPORTER
Eat, drink and meet bunnies: Places to visit this fall
» DYANA DANIELS STAFF REPORTER FROM BUNNY RABBITS frolicking in yoga
sessions to doughnuts infused with lavender, Chicago has plenty of new and seasoned businesses to keep students busy and well-fed this fall. Even with social distancing measures in place, students can take a break from studying with an online jazz concert or relieve stress with some retail therapy. The Chronicle compiled a list of places around the city that should be on every student’s radar.
BEACON DOUGHNUT CO. (810 W. ARMITAGE AVE.)
Now operating from an alley window on Armitage Avenue, Beacon Doughnuts was founded by Andrew Catrambone
and Ben Fritz, after humble beginnings as a booth at a farmer’s market. These vegan doughnuts can now be ordered in person, or preordered to limit contact with other people. What sets Beacon Doughnuts apart from other shops are its unique combinations—from campfire s’more to orange pistachio and a classic glazed, the flavors are experimental and switched out seasonally. Its best-selling doughnut, the lavender vanilla, is infused with blue lavender and was originally a one-off flavor. The shop is open Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doughnuts range from $2.95 to $3.25 and can be ordered through ChowNow. CUDDLE BUNNY (2901 N. CLARK ST.)
Created primarily as a way to help
Facebook Live and Zoom and artists perform virtually from any location The shows are also completely free, which makes Bottlenose more accessible than other livestreaming platforms, Vogrich said. In addition to promoting various genres, Vogrich said she and Kohlman also make it a priority to include artists from different minority groups in their show lineups to combat a music scene that is “primarily dominated by white cis males.” Sophomore graphic design major and singer-songwriter Chrissi Bahadri, also known as Rose Bud, said it is more difficult for minority artists to get booked for shows, and platforms such as Bottlenose are diversifying the field by promoting inclusivity. “It’s so cool to have people who are constantly looking out for minority women, trans [and] queer artists and giving them a platform and giving them a chance to share their music,” Bahadri said. Mila Diaz, a Chicago-based musician and 2020 music business management alum who performed a virtual set for Bottlenose on Aug. 14, said she wanted to perform because as a woman of color college students adjust to campus life, Cuddle Bunny allows customers to social distance while interacting with bunny rabbits. “The idea [for] Cuddle Bunny came from the fact that we wanted to provide a space where college students, primarily, can come and get their oxytocin fixed from our bunnies to help replace the feelings of loneliness that they’re getting because they’re missing their pets that they might have back at home,” said owner Barbara Burdick. Customers can meet Rex, a 15-pound strawberry blonde Continental Giant; GG, a Flemish Giant who weighs 15 pounds and is only five months old; and brothers Little Bear and Marley, a bonded pair. Cuddle Bunny is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, and the events calendar can be found on its website. NOMAD-CHICAGO (820 N. FRANKLIN ST.)
Inspired by European cafes with wide archways and creamy white walls, customers who visit Nomad-Chicago have the option of grabbing an affordable coffee while perusing for home decor, accessories or other gifts.
in the music industry, there is a “story to tell” through her music. Kohlman said she also aims to foster connections between artists and music enthusiasts. “We want it to be an interactive environment where people can comment live and the artist can see that and respond if they feel like it,” Kohlman said. Senior acting major Jess Gomes, also known as Jess the Savior, played a hiphop set for Bottlenose from her porch at her parents’ house in Boston. Gomes said performing by herself virtually created a unique type of energy. “I couldn’t feel the energy of the audience, but those little hearts on the side that you can see and [the number] of viewers going up was really reassuring.” Kohlman said platforms like Bottlenose can provide a sense of community not only within the DIY music scene but also among minority artists. “I think it’s still really important for people to have some kind of community and place where they feel like they belong,” Kohlman said. “Music is that escape for a lot of different people, so we’re trying to get as close to that as we can with these streams.” RROSENBERGER@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM
The cafe, boutique and event space is a sanctuary for artisans, said Creative Director Erika Nolan. “The decor is very subtly feminine, but it’s very inviting and warm and so people really have that feeling of escaping when they walk in, which was our goal—the sanctuary for the wandering soul,” Nolan said. “Creating a space where people can come and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.” Customers can remain socially distant and order to go or spend up to two hours in the cafe; only ten people are allowed in at a time. Customers can also take photos in front of the large, vibrant mural Nomad-Chicago commissioned Chicago artist Laura Berger to create. All merchandise is hand-picked, with an emphasis on supporting the work of women and artists of color. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Nomad-Chicago website also offers the option of browsing and shopping online. Visit ColumbiaChronicle.com for additional reporting. DDANIELS@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM
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SUMMER OF CHANGE IN ADDITION TO the hardships that have come with
the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 has been a year of immense change, including widespread unrest surrounding police brutality and social injustices. Since March, Chronicle reporters and photojour-
» THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS FLOOD THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO MAY 30, FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, A BLACK MAN FROM MINNEAPOLIS, SIGNALING THE TIPPING POINT FOR GROWING RACIAL UNREST IN THE U.S.
nalists have been at the forefront of documenting countless protests across the city, including ones in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement, those in opposition to the movement, some demanding justice for Black lives lost to police brutality and
others calling for the city to defund the Chicago Police Department and remove police officers from schools. As Chicago enters its fifth month of protests, the Chronicle will continue to amplify voices and tell people’s stories.
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» NEARLY 5,000 PEOPLE GATHER IN WRIGLEYVILLE JUNE 2 TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD, AHMAUD ARBERY, TONY MCDADE, BREONNA TAYLOR AND OTHERS LOST TO POLICE BRUTALITY.
» DEMONSTRATORS ATTENDING THE EQUITY IN EDUCATION PROTEST ON JUNE 24 RAISE THEIR FIRSTS, JOINING IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE BEFORE LISTENING TO A PERFORMANCE OF “LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING.”
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» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE PROTESTERS ATTENDING THE EDUCATION EQUITY PROTEST ON JUNE 24 STAYED FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE DEMONSTRATION AND SUBSEQUENT SPEAKERS, DESPITE ON AND OFF RAINSTORMS.
» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE STUDENTS FROM EIGHT CHICAGO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES COME TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY TO DEMAND POLICE-FREE CAMPUSES BY MARCHING AND HOSTING A BLOCK PARTY DOWNTOWN AUG. 1.
» CAMILLA FORTE/CHRONICLE “WE HAVE TO BE ADAPTABLE. WE HAVE TO FLOW AND MOVE WITH THE FORCE OF THAT WHICH COULD ERODE A MOUNTAIN,” SAID BOYSTOWN BARTENDER JOE LEWIS, WHO ORGANIZED DRAG MARCH FOR CHANGE JUNE 14.“I THINK WE ALMOST HIT THAT. WE GOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO MOVE LIKE WATER. MAYBE WE CAN TAKE ON THE MOUNTAIN THAT IS RACISM.” 14 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
» ZAC CLINGENPEEL/CHRONICLE PROTESTERS HOLD A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AUG. 29 NEAR THE WRIGLEY BUILDING IN MEMORY OF BLACK AND BROWN LIVES LOST TO POLICE BRUTALITY.
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Everything to know about voting by mail in the general election » ALEXANDRA YETTER SENIOR REPORTER ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS the country are gearing up for record numbers of vote-bymail ballots for the November general election as many voters look for ways to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. But what is mail-in voting? And is it really a secure way to vote? The Chronicle answers these questions and more in its guide to voting by mail. WHAT IS MAIL-IN VOTING?
As the name suggests, mail-in voting is the practice of submitting a ballot through the mail rather than going in-person to a polling station to fill out a ballot. Although they bear a different name, absentee ballots are the same as mail-in and the terms can be used interchangeably. Historically, ballots have been referred to as absentee when voters send their ballots through the mail because the voters are absent from their state, such as when college students live in a different state than where they are registered to vote. In the March Illinois primary, approximately one-third of votes cast statewide were mail-in. A record 306,000 Chicago voters have already requested mail-in ballots for the general election as of publication, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. Among voters nationwide, approximately 33% plan to vote by mail in November, according to a poll conducted Aug. 21–23 by CNBC/Change Research, which surveyed 4,904 voters in battleground states and had a 1.4% margin of error. The poll also found that Democrats were more likely to say they planned to vote by mail than Republicans. IS IT SECURE?
Although President Donald Trump— who has requested an absentee ballot in Florida—has alleged without evidence that mail-in voting will lead to widespread election fraud such as by allowing voters to cast multiple ballots, that has rarely occurred in the U.S., according to a report by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. A senior FBI official told reporters, “It would be extraordinarily difficult to change a federal election outcome through this type of fraud alone,” as re-
ported Aug. 27 by WIRED. Trump has also claimed that allowing mail-in voting would disproportionately favor Democratic voters, but that is not supported by any research. Some Chicago residents, including Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), have reported receiving robocalls that claim mailin ballots are being used to collect data for credit card companies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the police. The calls’ claims were disputed by the Chicago Board of Elections, according to ABC7. WHAT IS ILLINOIS DOING TO PROTECT VOTERS DURING THE PANDEMIC?
A new Illinois law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 16 aims to increase accessibility and safety for voters, as
As of publication, Illinois has no plans to close in-person polling stations, but officials are urging voters to opt for mail-in ballots as a safety precaution. Some Illinois jurisdictions may offer early in-person voting Sept. 24–Nov. 2 to minimize the number of people in polling places on Election Day. HOW WILL MAIL-IN BALLOTS AFFECT THE GENERAL ELECTION?
The key to having a successful election with a record number of mail-in ballots is sending your ballot as soon as possible. The U.S. Postal Service is already preparing to be overloaded with mail-in ballots this fall, and it will take time for postal workers to deliver millions of ballots in time to be counted.
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reported by WTTW.com website. Under the law, the state will automatically send mail-in ballot applications to anyone who voted in the 2018 general, 2019 municipal or 2020 primary elections. Illinois Republicans have sued Pritzker over this law, which allows mail-in ballots to count if they are postmarked by Election Day, according to FiveThirtyEight. The law also allows 16-year-olds to serve as election judges, makes Election Day a holiday for schools, expands early voting polling station hours, allows curbside voting and permits election officials to set aside special hours for voters who are at high risk of the coronavirus to vote in-person.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a longtime Trump supporter, testified before the U.S. Congress that the post office is equipped to handle mail-in ballots after congresspeople became concerned that changes at the U.S. Postal Service would jeopardize mail-in ballots. Election results could be delayed due to mail-in ballots, said Randall Calvert, Thomas F. Eagleton professor of public affairs and political science at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, as reported by the Chronicle on Aug. 6. HOW DO I VOTE BY MAIL IN ILLINOIS? STEP ONE: Make sure you are registered
to vote. If you are not sure if you are
registered, or need more information on how to register in your state, visit Vote. gov for more information. The deadline to register via mail is Oct. 18, but you can also register to vote on Election Day at the polls. STEP TWO: Request your application for a mail-in ballot. If you are registered to vote in Illinois and have voted in any of the past three elections, an application to request the mail-in ballot will be sent to you automatically. If you have not received your application or are a first-time voter, you can apply online or download an application here. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29. STEP THREE: Fill out the ballot as soon as you receive it, and send it in. Ballots should be expected to arrive in October. Chicago residents will receive an envelope with prepaid postage along with their mail-in ballot, but not every jurisdiction will do this. Typically, it will cost approximately $1.40 to mail. If you damage or lose your mail-in ballot, contact your local election officials immediately. Grant money awarded to the Columbia Votes initiative will partially be used to provide resources like stamps and envelopes to students who need them, in addition to funding salaries for a team of student voter registration geniuses, a text messaging service and an external consultant on a 51-state voting guide, according to Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin, an associate professor in the Communication Department. If you later decide to vote in-person or your ballot does not arrive, have an election judge at your polling station assist you in the proper paperwork to vote in-person instead. This paperwork will officially show you filled out a ballot in-person to guarantee you have not voted multiple times. The deadline to postmark a mail-in ballot is on Election Day, Nov. 3, and must be received by Nov. 17 to count. HOW DO I VOTE BY MAIL IN OTHER STATES?
For a step-by-step guide and resources on how to register to vote and the different ways to vote, visit this online guide compiled by the Columbia Votes team. Still have questions about voting? Email Bloyd-Peshkin to get in touch with a voter registration genius at speshkin@colum.edu or vote@colum.edu. AYETTER@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 15
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Looking for a way to get involved in the November election? Be an election judge » ALEXANDRA YETTER SENIOR REPORTER WHEN JEROMEL DELA Rosa Lara and his mother became U.S. citizens in 2017, Lara was already looking forward to voting and assisting in the U.S. democratic process. Since then, Lara, a sophomore at Harvard University who is from Chicago, has worked as an election judge in three consecutive elections—the 2018 midterms, a 2019 consolidated election and the 2020 primary. “I feel compelled to take up the role [in November] because … a lot of poll workers are elderly people and are in that high-risk category,” Lara said. “If a lot of young people like myself who were likely to be asymptomatic when it comes to the virus, or have lessened risks, can run the election, [it will make] sure democracy still works in November.” Recruiting people to run polling places on Election Day has long been a difficult task for election officials across the country. According to Pew Research Center data, 58% of poll workers in 2018 were ages 61 and older, the same demographic with an increased risk of contracting the coronavirus. That same year, 4% of poll workers were 17 and younger, 4% were 18–25 and 9% were 26–40. For November’s general election, many counties are hoping younger people will step up to the plate, as high school juniors and seniors are also able to serve. Election judges work to help voters by checking them into their polling place, verifying their identity, answering technical questions, making sure no electioneering occurs and registering them in states that allow same-day voter registration, like Illinois. Election judges in Cook County are paid $200 for the day and work from before polls open until after polls close. The only requirements to become an election judge in Cook County are being a U.S. citizen and a registered voter in Cook County. High school juniors, seniors and college students can also serve but must have at least a 3.0-grade point average, according to the Cook County Clerk website.
Those interested in becoming an “This is the year young people are pay- (D-Ill.) 2008 bid for the Oval Office. election judge can apply online here by ing attention more to what’s going on,” Although she regrets not being able to answering identification questions and Mirkovic said. “I think there’s going to take her children to Grant Park to see selecting a party affiliation. be a surge of volunteers across all demo- Obama’s victory address, McBride said Illinois law requires election judg- graphics. … Our message is, ‘If you feel working as an election judge still had its es to represent either the Democrat- you can serve, we’d love to have you.’” benefits—like baked goods from candiic or Republican Party to ensure each Brian Brady—president of Mikva dates or local residents. polling station has representation Challenge, a youth civic engagement orMcBride has spent Election Days in a from both major parties. Anyone not ganization that houses the Student Elec- newsroom since she became an editor at affiliated with a party should select tion Judge Program—said young people the Chicago Sun-Times in 2016, but she the party their ideals and voting his- are often bilingual, smart on their feet, said the sense of camaraderie and civic tory most closely reflects. The Cook from diverse backgrounds and able to duty shared among election judges may County Clerk’s Office may check a vot- work long hours, making them especial- draw her back once she feels like she has er’s history in past elections to verify ly suited for the job. finished her work as an editor. their affiliation. The Mikva Challenge’s Student ElecAs a professor, McBride said the first Cook County Clerk’s Office spokes- tion Judge Program works with Chica- step to opening students up to becoming person John Mirkovic said those inter- go Public School teachers to get Chica- an election judge is making sure they ested in serving should apply as soon go students to serve as judges, many of know how to register to vote. It is equalas possible so they can take part in whom are people of color, Brady said. ly as important that students in her training beforehand. However, the program is not run- Tuesday class know it’s OK to miss class However, Cook County also allows ning this year because of the pandemic, to go to the polls in-person, if necessary, election judges to be sworn in by anoth- though it is encouraging college stu- or work as an election judge, she said. er judge at the polling station on Elec- dents and adults in their 20s to help if A major benefit to working as an election Day if there remains a last-minute they feel safe doing so. tion judge for McBride is being able to need for more judges. Often, having young students work engage in civil discourse with the people Mirkovic said in the past, Cook Coun- the polls compels them to register to at the polling station one may not have ty has worked with local school districts vote when they are old enough and in- spoken with otherwise. Well, that and to recruit high schoolers to assist at the spires their family and friends to turn nabbing a few extra “I voted” stickers. polls. With many schools now complete- out to vote, he said. “We all should be active participants ly remote, it is uncertain how the county Suzanne McBride, Communication in our democracy and that’s a really will shift gears to recruit students. Department chair and professor, worked great way to be involved,” she said. Plans to implement pandemic-relat- as an election judge in Oak Park, IlliAYETTER@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM ed safety measures protecting election nois, during then-Sen. Barack Obama’s judges are already underway. Training sessions will take place virtually, warehouses have been stocked with personal protective equipment, polling places will be reconfigured for social distancing and sanitation will be a staple at the ballot box, Mirkovic said. It is also expected that the push for vote-by-mail in Illinois and a handful of other states will reduce foot traffic in polling stations. Mirkovic said it is pivotal young people help out this election cycle because election officials expect many Illinois primary election judges not to return, as their age puts » MENGSHIN LIN/CHRONICLE them at high risk of contracting the coronavirus or be- HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO BE ELECTION cause their family asked them JUDGES FOR THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION, AS SOME JUDGES WILL NOT RETURN BECAUSE THEIR AGE not to. PUTS THEM AT RISK FOR THE CORONAVIRUS.
16 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 8, 2020