March 1 | The Columbia Chronicle

MAR

01

» RYAN BRUMBACK /CHRONICLE

2021

Alumni, film industry professionals say celluloid film ‘is not going anywhere’ Campus, page 6

Arts & Culture, page 9

Metro, page 8

Opinions, 11

Students mourn the loss of beloved South Loop restaurants

Columbia alumni art featured at Hyde Park Art Center

Black women-owned restaurants give back to the earth and the community

Girls learn to reject the patriarchy and embrace self love by becoming bimbos

editor’s note

Editor’s Note: You are capable of more than you think

»staff MANAGEMENT

Editors-in-Chief » BROOKLYN KIOSOW MANAGING EDITOR ABOUT A YEAR and a half ago, you could

usually find me spending my afternoons at home or a coffee shop, book in hand, sipping an iced coffee.

But just over a year ago, in January, I started working at the Chronicle, and it not only changed how I spent my afternoons but also my perspective on how I defined myself as a writer.

When I applied, I didn’t exactly know what I was getting myself into.

However, I knew I liked to write and edit, and I needed a job.

I began as a copy editor, and I had to ask other editors a lot of questions.

As soon as I got the hang of it, though, I was excited when articles popped up at the copy desk. I was eager to grab them and make sure all the facts were straight.

I worked as a copy editor from Spring 2020 through the summer before I was offered the position of copy chief, meaning I had proven I knew what I was doing and had what it took to be the editor, answering questions instead of asking them.

By January of this year, I was promoted again to managing editor, and I was elated. I was going to be the first person that read incoming articles about everything from the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit to changes in the Cinema and Television Arts Department.

I had already been helping to publish articles, but I was also pushed to write more. After I got one byline, I was hungry for another. It quickly became about making each article better than the last.

As I move into a new position once again, I am excited and a bit nervous to be co-editor-in-chief alongside Mari Devereaux. She and Kendall Polidori, the previous co-editor-in-chief, have worked so hard to set an example of what EICs are capable of.

They have worked until nearly midnight some Friday nights perfecting the E-editions, and they seem to know the right questions to ask to make an article that much better.

I don’t have a background in journalism, and I know this is unusual.

I’m a graduate student in the English and Creative Writing Department’s 2 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE MARCH 1, 2021

nonfiction program. I write essays— sometimes about goldfish, and other times I compose observational pieces on the body.

But over the last year working for the Chronicle, I have found a new love for being a part of a newsroom. When I started as a copy editor, I saw how important copy editors are to the process of getting an accurate, clean story published. When I moved into a management role, I understood that the questions I asked reporters pushed them to think about their next story more critically.

And now, as I step into the role of co-editor-in-chief, I am thrilled to expand my knowledge and skill set.

As co-editor-in-chief, I hope to not only fill the enormous shoes Polidori is leaving behind, but also to push new reporters to see what they are capable of. With a background in creative writing, I hope to bring a different set of eyes to articles.

I am eternally grateful Travis Truitt, our general manager; Curtis Lawrence, our faculty adviser; and both Devereaux and Polidori saw something in me that I’m not sure I even saw until starting at the Chronicle.

When I was asked to step into the role of co-editor-in-chief, I didn’t hesitate to accept. This wasn’t because I knew I could do it or I wasn’t afraid, but because I am eager to be an integral part of what makes the Chronicle so great and to continue to grow alongside the Chronicle team.

I started out as a copy editor, unsure of what it meant for me, and I’ve learned I am capable of more than I think— we all are.

Director of Photography Managing Editor Audience Engagement Editor Sales Manager

News Editor Opinions Editor Senior Reporter Multimedia Reporter Staff Reporters

Copy Chief Copy Editors

Mari Devereaux Kendall Polidori Camilla Forte Brooklyn Kiosow Paige Barnes Cale Holder

REPORTERS

Dyana Daniels Isaiah Colbert Mateusz Janik Shane Verkest Anna Busalacchi Camryn Cutinello Amaris Edwards Noah Jennings Rachel Patel Amina Sergazina Erin Threlkeld

COPY

Summer Hoagland-Abernathy Justice Lewis Ella Watylyk

Multimedia Editor Photojournalists

MULTIMEDIA

Jonah Ocuto Zac Clingenpeel Sophia Felino K’Von Jackson Mengshin Lin Abby McFarland Valentina Pucarelli Kaylie Slack

GRAPHICS

Lead Graphic Designer Lead Page Designer Graphic Designers

Savanna Steffens Vicki Lei Ryan Brumback Chloe McMullen

Faculty Adviser General Manager

Curtis Lawrence Travis Truitt

BKIOSOW@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM

ADVISERS

VOL. 56, ISSUE 10

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

Stay up to date with the Media Hub Minute » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Columbia alum, film industry professionals continue urging college to bring back celluloid film » NOAH JENNINGS STAFF REPORTER

» RYAN BRUMBACK /CHRONICLE

MONTHS AFTER THE college announced the decision to eliminate the instruction of shooting on celluloid film, dozens of industry professionals—including some Hollywood heavyweights led by a Columbia alum—continue to pressure college administrators, asking them to reverse course on the decision.

Columbia alum, director and cinematographer Hannah Welever sent a letter Feb. 10 signed by 68 other industry professionals to a group of Columbia administrators, including President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim, asking them to reverse the decision to eliminate the use of celluloid film, or 16 mm and 35 mm film, in classroom instruction.

Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese later lent his support to the cause.

The Cinema and Television Arts Department’s decision to eliminate celluloid film from its curriculum was announced in an email to cinematography students on Sept. 14, and faced criticism from students in the department, as reported by the Chronicle on Dec. 14. The decision goes into effect in the Fall 2021 semester.

In the September email, Chair of the CTVA Department Thelma Vickroy stated, “While we understand this changeover may be upsetting to some of our students who still favor shooting on film, it is a necessary change we must face in today’s entertainment industry environment.”

Students and alums created a petition in October 2020 on Change.org to convince the CTVA Department to reverse its decision. As of publication, the petition has more than 2,300 signatures.

Months after creating the petition, Welever emailed the Feb. 10 letter signed by dozens of industry professionals to Kim, Senior Vice President and Provost Marcella David, Dean of the School of Media Arts Eric Freedman and Vickroy, asking the college to reconsider its decision.

The letter was signed by cinematographers, directors and International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600) members and stated the importance of celluloid film in the industry.

“We believe one cannot truly learn the art or craft of filmmaking until they’ve learned how to shoot on film,” the letter states. “We fully realize the negative impact that the removal of these technologies will have on the

future of the college, as well as the industry at large.”

After the Feb. 10 letter had been sent to administrators, Scorsese submitted his digital signature to Welever.

An updated version of the letter featuring Scorsese’s signature was shared through the “Film Roundtable” podcast’s Instagram account Feb. 12.

In 2016, Welever spent a day loading 16 mm film into cameras for a project directed by independent film director Joe Swanberg. While she did not get paid to do it, the work led to her getting a job on Swanberg’s Netflix show “Easy.”

“A big part of my career ... is because I was able to load 16 mm on a shoot,” Welever said.

Welever, a 2014 cinematography alum, said this is why she wanted to reverse the college’s recent decision to eliminate the instruction of celluloid film.

“If Columbia wants to still be a cut above the rest of these other schools, it needs to consider how [celluloid film] is going to be sewn into the curriculum,” Welever said.

When she heard news of the decision, Welever contacted Allison Anderson, a 2013 cinematography alum, to brainstorm an action plan and get more industry professionals involved.

Anderson said teaching students how to operate celluloid film cameras is an important element in their education because it allows students to make mistakes.

“You can’t get out of school and say, ‘Hey, I can shoot this on film,’ get hired for a job and then make a mistake,” Anderson said. “It’s going to impact you so much more in a professional space than if you just jam a camera at school.”

In a Nov. 30 email to the Chronicle in response to questions for a previous story, Vickroy said eliminating celluloid film and investing in a digital cinematography platform would keep the program “current and relevant.”

Welever said film is not out-of-date, and is still relevant in the industry.

“Film is never going to be obsolete, and new technologies are always going to be obsolete,” Welever said.

“Think about a $4,000 laptop you just bought from Apple—that in five years is essentially going to be obsolete. When you buy a brand new, fancy, shiny

product, you think that it’s the future.

But in time, that goes away.”

Welever also moderated an episode of the podcast “Film Roundtable” on Feb. 12 to discuss Columbia’s decision to eliminate film with several industry professionals.

One of the panelists on the episode was Steve Bellamy, president of Kodak Motion Picture and Entertainment.

Bellamy said Columbia would no longer be a film school if it removed celluloid film. Instead, it would be a “file school,” because students would be working with digital files in their classes, rather than film, he said.

“There will be no [lasting] record if we don’t have film,” Bellamy said. “When [schools] make ignorant decisions, it’s simple—don’t go to those schools. Drop out that day, change schools and go to one that does [teach film].”

Maria Prieto, the co-founder of “Film Roundtable” and a professional director, said her college, Chapman University, eliminated celluloid film the year after she graduated, and she witnessed the effect it had on students.

“I remember my cinematography fellows being really saddened when there were certain courses that they couldn’t take because they just didn’t offer those cameras anymore,” Prieto said. “For me having seen that program shut down [firsthand], it’s something that I don’t want to see happen to other students.”

Kim, David, Vickroy and Freedman did not respond to multiple emailed requests for an interview regarding the letter or the college’s decision as of publication time on Friday, Feb. 26.

Prieto said she hopes the letter and discussion lead to Columbia reconsidering its decision, along with schools around the country who have already eliminated celluloid film.

Welever said the story of her career beginning with celluloid film is not unique, and the college’s decision would take those stories away from other students.

“There are so many people who have stories like [mine] from Columbia, because the art doesn’t really go anywhere,” Welever said. “Again, [film] is not going anywhere [in the industry].”

NJENNINGS@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM MARCH 1, 2021 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 3

campus » COURTESY/DANIEL LIVINGSTONE

College announces inaugural winners of DEI Award

COLUMBIA’S DANCE DEPARTMENT– HEADED BY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MELISSA GAMBLE– IS THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TEACHING ACTIVISM AWARD.

» NOAH JENNINGS STAFF REPORTER LISA GONZALES found out her department had won an award in diversity, equity and inclusion, she did not have to go far to inform her colleagues.

Gonzales, chair of the Dance Department, was in a meeting with some of the department faculty when she came across an email indicating the department had won.

“It’s very exciting because it really does feel like recognition to th e entire department,” said Gonzalez. “The recognition feels like something to celebrate, and yet the work is ongoing and we very much understand that.”

In a Feb. 2 email from Senior Vice President and Provost Marcella David, recipients were announced for the inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Teaching Activism Award.

The award is an initiative announced

by David in her first collegewide address as senior vice president and provost, as reported by the Chronicle on Aug. 19, 2019. The award goes to both one department and one individual faculty member to recognize

WHEN

4 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE MARCH 1, 2021

their efforts to include diversity, equity and inclusion in their courses.

Melissa Gamble, an assistant professor in the Fashion Studies Department and the individual recipient of the award,was surprised she won.

“There are a lot of faculty at the college working really hard in this space and doing some amazing things,” Gamble said. “I’ve learned from them.

It’s just a huge honor for me.”

Colbey Reid, chair of the Fashion Studies Department, said in the announcement email that Gamble put an emphasis on cultural diversity, disability, gender nonconformity and socioeconomic diversity in relation to fashion in her courses.

Gamble teaches “Trendspotting,” and said while formally incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion into her courses did not start after this past summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, it has been a “journey” that began when she started teaching.

She also thanked the college for the opportunities it has provided, such as the Undoing Racism workshop.

“Even though I think some people started paying more attention maybe after the summer, the college has

been working on this for a few years already,” Gamble said referring to DEI initiatives.

Gamble said her motivation to incorporate a greater sense of diversity, equity and inclusion in her courses comes from her students.

“This is all about the students,” Gamble said. “It’s about how I can be a better professor, how I can be a better person, both in the classroom and out of the classroom, and how I can best support them.”

In the Dance Department, classes with West African styles of dance are required for all students to take in order to graduate.

Freshman dance major Ruby Levin, who spent six months last year in Senegal as part of a gap year, said the courses she has taken showcase very similar styles of dance to the ones she experienced in Senegal.

Levin said she appreciates the open-mindedness of her professors within the Dance Department. “[Professors] understand that when we talk about dance, we can’t talk about it just from a European standard,” said Levin.

Gonzales said a major shift in the

way the Dance Department operated came when former chair Onye Ozuzu arrived at the college nine years ago.

“We were a faculty who cared very much about diversity, equity and inclusion; we’ve always been a department that has been concerned with it,” Gonzales said. “But we knew we had revisions to make.”

Gonzales said one change was equalizing the roles of ballet and West African dance within the department. Prior to the change, ballet played a larger role within the department, but the switch required that students train in the two forms equally.

Both Gonzales and Gamble hope that their efforts will ultimately help their students fuel their creative passion.

“I hope it helps [students] find their own voice, and be confident in expressing that voice and being comfortable that there are many definitions or many ways to succeed in life and in their career and define their own path,” Gamble said.

NJENNINGS@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM

campus

The Columbia Chronicle wins Sweepstakes Award and 28 others at state convention » BY STAFF

» CAMILLA FORTE / CHRONICLE

THE STUDENT STAFF of The Columbia Chronicle won a total of 29 awards, including first place wins in eight categories, at the Illinois College Press Association’s annual convention, held Feb. 19-20 via Zoom. The awards recognized work published between December 2019 and the end of November 2020.

The Chronicle competed against news organizations from 23 other institutions and was one of seven schools to win awards in the “Non-Dailies – Enrollment 4,000 or More” category. ICPA reported 896 total entries.

In the non-daily newspaper/large school class, the staff, led by former Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Yetter and later Co-Editors-in-Chief Kendall Polidori and Mari Devereaux, won first place for the Sweepstakes Award—the convention’s overall biggest award— based on an accumulation of points awarded across all categories.

The staff of the Loyola Phoenix at Loyola University Chicago was the runner-up to the Chronicle. The staff of the Daily Illini at the University of Illinois won the Sweepstakes Award for daily newspapers, and the staff of F Newsmagazine at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago won for small school non-dailies.

The Chronicle also won first place recognition in its class for in-depth reporting (Devereaux, Polidori and former staffer Ignacio Calderon), feature story other than sports (former staffer Knox Keranen), general news photo (Zachary Clingenpeel), front page layout (former staffer Shane Tolentino), online news site (staff, plus Tolentino and former staffer Wesley Enriquez for their work managing and laying out the content on ColumbiaChronicle.com), and opinion page (staff).

In the Open category, with the Chronicle competing against all student news organizations in the state, the Chronicle won first place in the special supplement category for the 2019 Sex Issue.

The Chronicle also did well in other Open categories. Calderon and Paige Barnes earned second place among all student reporters in the state in the special COVID-19 coverage category. Former staffer Jennifer

Chavez earned third place recogniPhotojournalist Mengshin Lin fol- community during a very confusing tion in both the editorial cartoon and lowed Clingenpeel’s first place win in and distressing time.” graphic illustration categories. Former the general news photo category with a He said the awards not only reflect staffer Gianella Goan placed third in the second place finish. the “hard work and dedication of the cartoon, strip or panel competition, and Forte and Yetter both received Chronicle staff—including the often Opinions Editor Isaiah Colbert earned honorable mentions in the feature page unsung and uncredited work of copy honorable mention recognition for his design category. editors and news editors—but also critical review of the film “Antebellum.”

Other Chronicle current and former reflects the hard work of the incredible Camilla Forte, director of photogra- staffers recognized were K’Von Jack- faculty in the Communication Departphy at the Chronicle, won second place son, Lauren Leazenby and Jonah Ocuto. ment and across campus teaching our in the annual ICPA Photo Competi- Earning recognition in multiple cate- students, especially faculty adviser tion (pictured below) held during the gories were Barnes, Calderon, Chavez, Curtis Lawrence.” convention, competing against pho- Clingenpeel, Devereaux, Forte, LeazenIn October 2020, The Columbia tographers from schools across the by, Lee, Lin, Polidori and Tolentino.

Chronicle won two major awards state who were tasked with grabbing a General Manager Travis Truitt said from the Associated Collegiate Press shot showing how life has adapted he was most excited to see 19 different at the National College Journalism during the pandemic.

Chronicle students win awards across Convention—both the Newspaper Pace“There is no easy way to describe the the various categories. maker and the Online Pacemaker. emotion I feel from seeing the amount The Chronicle also placed first “To be recognized as the top of recognition our staffers have received student news outlet in the state among in three College Media Association for the immense amount of time and its peers during this very weird and Pinnacle Awards categories for Best work they have put in during the past significant time in history is really Newspaper Front Page and Best year,” Polidori said. “Although awards gratifying,” Truitt said. “Awards are Newspaper Opinion Page/Spread by are not the purpose behind the work we always a little random and subjective, Tolentino and Best Special Section do, it is humbling to know it has made an but this is meaningful because Chron- Cover by former staffer Mike Rundle. impact. Each day I work alongside this icle students had to really reinvent The full list of the Chronicle’s awards team I am overwhelmed with pride, so how they cover and disseminate the through the years can be viewed on the it is satisfying to take a step back and news and connect with their audience Chronicle’s website. celebrate ourselves for a bit.” during the pandemic. The Chronicle CHRONICLE@COLUM.COM In most categories, student news staff brought clarity to the campus organizations could submit two entries, and both of the Chronicle’s entries earned recognition in five categories. In addition to earning first place for the opinion spread in the Chronicle’s special “The New Normal” edition from May 2020, columns from Dyana Daniels and Myer Lee also earned the Chronicle a third place finish in the opinion page category.

On top of the Chronicle’s win for in-depth reporting for the story “Chicago’s one-star nursing homes were troubled before the pandemic. Now they’re ground zero,” produced in conjunction with Sam Roe’s “Investigative Reporting” course in the Communication Department, the Chronicle’s “Difficult to Transfer” series about the college’s pandemic-related curricular adjustments earned an honorable mention.

Along with Keranen’s first place finish in the non-sports feature story category, Polidori also placed third for her profile on “CHANGING WORLD: ADAPTING TO THE PANDEMIC,” DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY CAMILLA FORTE VISITED THE RESTAURANT BEARD AND BELLY’S OUTDOOR EATING AREA DURING THE ICPA PHOTO COMPETITION. Bobbi Wilsyn.

MARCH 1, 2021 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 5

campus

» ABBY MCFARLAND/CHRONICLE

Columbia students lose restaurants that once brought them together

PAULY’S PIZZA WAS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 15 YEARS. THE LAST DAY THEY WERE OPEN WAS FEBRUARY 15, 2021.

» ANNA BUSALACCHI STAFF REPORTER AS OF MONDAY, Feb. 15, Pauly’s Pizza, 719 S. State St., is closed permanently, leaving frequenting students saddened with the unexpected closure.

Pauly’s, a local South Loop pizza hot spot, was more than just a restaurant for Columbia students. It was admired for its large portions, cheap prices and quality food.

“I will speak of Pauly’s Pizza for the rest of my life,” said Thurston Stevenson, a senior comedy writing and performance major. “I’m grateful for the memories and the food that I got there while I could; it will live on in my memories forever.”

As of Aug. 31, 2020, 163,000 businesses had closed nationwide since the pandemic began in March, and 60% closed permanently, according to Yelp’s Local Economic Impact Report.

Since its location was so close to Columbia’s campus, Pauly’s Pizza was a staple of many students’ college experience, Stevenson said. Whether to get 6 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE MARCH 1, 2021

a bite to eat or stay a while and hang out with friends, it felt like a part of the Columbia community.

Stevenson has been a customer of Pauly’s for two years and ate there one to two times every week, he said, making it a ritual to go there with friends before or after improv club.

The Chronicle made several attempts to speak to the owner, but was unsuccessful. The phone number associated with Pauly’s Pizza has been disconnected.

Unfortunately, Pauly’s Pizza is not all the South Loop and Columbia students have lost. The Panera Bread at 501 S. State St., which was connected to the University Center, closed before the Fall 2020 semester began.

Lucas Bold, a sophomore film major, commuted to class nearly every day last year and said eating at Pauly’s Pizza and Panera Bread comprised significant moments in his early adulthood.

“That was the beginning of my freshman year of college when I was growing out of my nest,” he said. “[Pauly’s] and

Panera Bread were always the symbols of my independence.”

In Bold’s friend group, he said there was a good-natured feud over whether they were a Pauly’s fan or an Art of Pizza fan. Bold said he preferred Pauly’s because of its friendly atmosphere.

“I’m not a regular in the sense that I went every other day, but I still was treated like a regular,” Bold said.

Jonah Cohn, a freshman exploratory major, and Jhonn Rusic, a freshman comedy writing and performance major, are roommates in 30 East, located at 30 E. Balbo Drive. They once went to Pauly’s five times in one week.

“Pauly’s helped us bond as roommates,” Cohn said.

While students are upset about the multiple closures, some suspect it is due to the harsh effect of the pandemic on steady business.

“I’m still in denial. I refuse to accept that [Pauly’s] has actually closed,” Rusic said. “It’s tragic that so many places like this are closing due to COVID-19.”

With fewer students living on and walking around campus this year, busi-

nesses like Pauly’s and Panera lost a significant amount of their customer base. This, compounded with insufficient government aid, has made it a challenge to remain open, as reported by the Chronicle Feb 5.

Released in December, the Chicago Hospitality Grant Program aimed to relieve Chicago bars, restaurants and performance venues financially, but it has not been enough to help every establishment impacted by COVID-19 stay afloat.

The city eased COVID-19 indoor dining restrictions somewhat Jan. 31, allowing bars and restaurants to safely operate at 40% capacity, but no more than 50 individuals per space at one time, which could gradually aid struggling businesses.

Caroline Guffey, a freshman photography major, said she wished the Panera had not closed and found the Panera on North Michigan Avenue also closed.

“Every single time my friend and I go out walking, we just notice more and more stores closing,” Guffey said.

ABUSALACCHI@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM

campus » ZACHARY CLINGENPEEL/CHRONICLE

Health, Fertility, Agency: The MoCP’s latest exhibit explores reproductive justice THE EXHIBIT COMBINES VIDEO, PHOTO, SCULPTURAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY ART FOCUSED ON REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES SUCH AS ABORTION, MENSTRUATION, MENOPAUSE AND PREGNANCY.

» ZACHARY CLINGENPEEL PHOTOJOURNALIST

On Thursday, Feb. 18, the museum hosted a teen education workshop, where participants of all ages were involved with “getting people to understand anatomy better, and getting to understand the needs of [their] bodies,” Taylor said.

The museum is also hosting several lectures with the artists of the exhibit, including Carmen Winant and Candice Breitz, and a panel discussion on March 10 called “Destigmatizing Reproductive Health,” where panelists, including OB-GYN Wendy C. Goodall McDonald, will discuss “historical and contemporary misconceptions of

the female body,” according to the museum’s website.

The exhibit, which was originally scheduled for last fall, ran through Black History Month and will continue through Women’s History Month, remaining open until May 23.

“I hope that the human rights issues that are being highlighted through this exhibition are recognized and that systemic, legislative and medical change begins to happen in this country,” Franklin said. “That’s what this entire exhibition is about.”

ZCLINGENPEEL@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM » ZACHARY CLINGENPEEL/CHRONICLE

A PHOTO OF a uterus, post-hysterectomy, hangs along a white wall. Next to it are tools used for an abortion and a womb, superimposed on fruit.

The art pieces can be found in the Museum of Contemporary Photography’s latest exhibit, “Reproductive: Health, Fertility, Agency.” The exhibit focuses on artwork related to reproductive justice and women’s rights, according to Kristin Taylor, curator of Academic Programs and Collections at the MoCP and co-curator of the exhibit.

“It started out as discussions about how little you see these topics addressed in art, but also in culture at large,” Taylor said. “Women are expected to go through a lot of these experiences alone.”

The exhibit, curated by Taylor and Karen Irvine, deputy director and chief curator of the MoCP, explores the “psychological, physical and emotional realities people encounter in the years leading up to, during and after fertility,” according to its website.

Krista Franklin, a 2013 Columbia alum, has artwork featured in the exhibit. Her work comes from her published book “Under The Knife,” which addresses her personal struggle with uterine fibroids, a type of growth

that causes pain and complications related to menstruation.

“I think the curators of this particular exhibition are incredibly courageous,” Franklin said. “I feel very lucky to have my work included in this exhibit.”

The exhibit addresses a variety of reproductive topics through art, including abortion, infertility, birth and miscarriage.

In conjunction with the space, the museum is also hosting several virtual events aimed at raising awareness of reproductive bodily issues, platforming human rights activists and discussing art related to these topics.

On Feb. 10, the museum hosted a talk with feminist activist Loretta J. Ross, who gave a brief overview of her involvement with the Reproductive Justice Movement. The event, which was open to the public through Zoom, included a section where audience members could ask Ross questions related to her work.

Ross, a professor of women and gender studies at Smith College, and 11 other women began using the term reproductive justice to describe the movement in 1994 at an Illinois Pro-Choice Alliance conference, she said at the event.

“We consider controlling our fertility as an essential act of self determination while we are fighting against these stereotypes of Black women as unnatural women or bad mothers,” Ross said.

DOREEN GARNER’S SCULPTURE, “HENRIETTA: AFTER THE HARVEST,” HANGS OVER THE EXHIBIT’S THIRD FLOOR. THE SCULPTURE PAYS TRIBUTE TO HENRIETTA LACKS, WHOSE CERVICAL CANCER CELLS WERE CULTIVATED AT JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL IN 1951 AGAINST HER CONSENT. MARCH 1, 2021 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 7

metro

Columbia student creates organization to address Chicago’s crisis of homelessness » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Three Black women-owned restaurants that give love to the planet and community AS BLACK HISTORY month concludes, the Chronicle wanted to shine light onto three restaurants: The Black Vegan, Gobble Doggs and Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat, owned by Black women committed to building their communities healthier and stronger with food.

This is why the menu is based on classic soul foods people would miss if they were to become vegan or live a healthier lifestyle, Rucker said. Vegan selections such as barbecue ribs, vegan fried shrimp, portobello wings, cheesecake and more are on the menu.

“A lot of people are trying to stay out of the hospital ... especially in communities like this,” she said. “This is a Latino and Black community—diabetes is one of the things that happens in our families the most.”

GOBBLE DOGGS Gobble Doggs, a turkey hot dog joint, began as a catering company in 2012 as a way to offer hot dogs to people who enjoy the classics, but do not eat beef or pork.

With support from the local community members, owner Annah Mitchell moved Gobble Doggs from a food truck to inside the LaSalle Street Station, 414 S. LaSalle St., in 2017.

The menu boasts both turkey and vegan hot dogs with any option of topping one may desire: pickles, chili, sautéed onions and garlic, cheese, pico de gallo and more.

Gobble Doggs currently offers scholarships to Black students graduating high school in an effort to encourage more of them to become entrepreneurs and bridge the generational wealth gap, Mitchell said.

“Even though we won’t be able to give as much as we did in the previous years, we are able to give something,” she said.

“Anybody that leaves a cash tip, those go to that scholarship.”

ANNAH MITCHELL, GOBBLE DOGGS OWNER, WORKS THE KIOSK IN LASALLE STREET TRAIN STATION.

The scholarships can be used either for college or to start a business, Mitchell said.

“We want our kids to know that they have just as much of a right to own a business and be successful as anybody else,” she said.

CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT MEAT Laricia Chandler Baker, known as Chef Fab, an Englewood native and entrepreneur, started Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat in 2019 after becoming a vegetarian.

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat offers a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian plant-based dishes including salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, tacos, burritos, “chicken” nuggets and Chef Fab’s personal favorite, the Philly cheesesteak.

Baker said she became a vegetarian in 2017 after learning about the

harmful effects meat has on the body and eventually taught herself to cook without it.

“The meat that we’re eating is causing cancer, diabetes, heart problems [and] just so many things that won’t give you a long life span,” Baker said.

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat is currently located at 1368 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park, and a new location in Orland Park recently opened, where they serve vegan, vegetarian and “flexitarian” dishes.

“We do offer vegetarian cheese, as well as vegan cheese,” she said. “But everything on the menu ... is all vegan.”

Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat also works with I Grow Chicago, an organization that works to build community connections and opportunities for Englewood residents.

VPUCARELLI@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM » VALENTINA PUCARELLI/CHRONICLE

» VALENTINA PUCARELLI/CHRONICLE

THE BLACK VEGAN The Black Vegan, a soul foodinspired vegan restaurant, opened amid the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests.

Owned by former Columbia student Sparkle Le’Star Rucker, The Black Vegan, 2300 S. Kedzie Ave., was one of the few restaurants in Chicago giving out free food and assistance to those protesting with Black Lives Matter last summer, as well as to those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, Rucker said.

“That’s one of the biggest things that has helped us get our momentum and the support that we have,” she said.

With the ongoing pandemic, Rucker noticed people starting to pay more attention to their health. But at The Black Vegan, there are no salads or greens in sight.

“It was important for me to talk to people in their language,” Rucker said. “And feed them the foods that looked and tasted the way they want in order for them to feel comfortable and know that you don’t have to make this drastic change just to eat better.”

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» VALENTINA PUCARELLI PHOTOJOURNALIST

ENTREPRENEUR SPARKLE LE’STAR RUCKER IS HOPING TO OPEN THE BLACK VEGAN FOR INDOOR DINING IN MARCH. 8 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE MARCH 1, 2021

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU CAN SEE WHEN WHEN WALKING INTO CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT MEAT’S 1386 E. 53RD ST. LOCATION IS A BRIGHT NEON SIGN WITH THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT AS PART OF THEIR MODERN LOOK.

arts&culture

Queer students share how they express themselves through fashion » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Columbia alumni earn opportunity to showcase work at Hyde Park Art Center » NOAH JENNINGS STAFF REPORTER

» K’VON JACKSON/CHRONICLE

WHEN JORDAN KAGAN Putt graduated from

» K’VON JACKSON/CHRONICLE

THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER, 5020 S. CORNELL AVE., IS THE HOST TO THE GROUND FLOOR INSTALLATION SHOWCASING ART FROM EMERGING CHICAGO ARTISTS.

» K’VON JACKSON/CHRONICLE

» K’VON JACKSON/CHRONICLE

THE GROUND FLOOR INSTALLATION IS SHOWCASED IN THE CLEVE CARNEY GALLERY.

Columbia in May 2020, he missed the opportunity to have his photography featured in the annual thesis exhibition due to the pandemic.

But thanks to a new exhibit at the Hyde Park Art Center, Putt said he has been given an opportunity to showcase his work.

“I still have a chance to show the work that I’ve been working on, and I have more space and more time to get something together,” Putt said.

Putt is one of four Columbia alumni selected for “Ground Floor,” an exhibit at the Hyde Park Art Center showcasing the work of 20 recent graduates from five Chicago schools with master of fine arts programs.

Along with Putt, Columbia alumni Jonathan Castillo, Atefeh Farajolahzadeh and Forrest Simmons will have their work on display through April 3.

Putt, who graduated with an MFA in photography, said his work as a land surveyor in Arizona inspired his current photography, and his project strives to create a contemporary record of what Arizona looked like long ago by taking photos in Arizona and putting them next to old surveyor maps.

“I started to notice land surveying is

JONATHAN CASTILLO’S STILL LIFE SHOTS AND PORTRAITS DEPICT LIFE IN CHICAGO’S MANY DIVERSE STOREFRONTS.

A GALLERY PATRON READS TEXTS THAT HAVE BEEN SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE GALLERY.

so similar to documentary photography,” Putt said. “If I combine them both, then I can make this work that references the earliest surveys of the West, as well as referencing the earliest photographic documents of the West.”

Farajolahzadeh, who graduated with an MFA in photography in 2019, said she draws from her experiences as an immigrant from Iran to drive her work. “[I use] some mundane or everyday events that I experience in my work and also my experience as an immigrant facing suspension between two different places,” Farajolahzadeh said. “You feel that you are neither here nor there.”

While still incorporating photography, Simmons, a 2020 alum with an MFA in photography, uses backlit light boxes for his photographs that he said “explore multiple levels of human consciousness.”

Simmons said he started practicing photography after being inspired by the reboot of the TV program “Cosmos.”

“I was in my 30s before I ever picked up a camera for the first time,” Simmons said. “[‘Cosmos’] was the first step in reigniting a childlike sort of sense of wonderment. That really became a driving force for me and making art.”

While “Ground Floor” has been a biennial exhibit since 2010, Kelli Connell, a member of the Exhibitions Committee at the Hyde Park Art Center and the graduate program director of the Photography Department at Columbia, said this year, the exhibit is special because of students like Simmons and Putt who faced a canceled thesis exhibition.

“I’m particularly excited for the class of 2020 grads,” Connell said. “This show for them—no matter what school they came from—it probably means so much to them to have their work highlighted in Chicago. … It means something a little bit more poignant this year.”

Farajolahzadeh said she wants viewers to visit the museum with a completely open mind for the best experience.

“I don’t want to put any ideas in [the viewer’s] head,” Farajolahzadeh said.

“It’s open to their interpretation.”

NJENNINGS@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM MARCH 1, 2021 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 9

arts & culture

» SAVANNA STEFFENS/CHRONICLE

‘Sex is funny’: Student runs sex-positive Instagram account

» AMARIS EDWARDS STAFF REPORTER MERRY MARSHALL HAS never been shy

about discussing sex. Once she realized that more people were not as comfortable with the subject matter, she turned to Instagram.

Marshall, a junior musical theatre major, created an account called @completewhoredom during her sophomore year of college to educate others about sex toys, aftercare, vagina pleasure, anal, libido and anything else you could think of, while keeping the content comical and light-hearted.

From memes to toy recommendations and lingerie, Marshall said she hopes to start a conversation.

“Sex is funny,” Marshall said. “Your body is funny and it’s funny to talk about your relationships. It’s [the memes] that are relatable.”

When Marshall was 9 years old, her parents began having her attend sexual education courses. Unlike some sex

10 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE MARCH 1, 2021

ed courses, these were not abstinence classes, she said. Because of this, she decided to combine her own personal experiences with the promotion of self-empowerment to create the account.

“There was still so much confusion about things we all should’ve been taught in sex ed during middle school and high school that college kids are suddenly thrown into,” Marshall said.

Marshall’s account name was inspired by a conversation with a roommate where they lovingly called her a “complete whore.” The idea to mix the phrases “complete boredom” and “complete whore” came to mind, and from there, she stuck with the name.

Gwen Egan, freshman journalism and interaction design major at Northeastern University in Massachusetts, has been friends with Marshall since her page started and has used Marshall’s account for sex education lessons she did not learn in high school.

“Talking to your partner about this kind of thing is something I

never learned in the ‘How To Be a College Student’ handbook, so her page has given me a lot of helpful information on that as well,” Egan said.

Elena Avila, a junior acting major at Columbia, loves Marshall’s approachable and non-judgmental style.

“Whenever there are polls or Q&A, it’s super validating to see that people have similar experiences to myself,” Avila said.

Marshall also uses the story highlights feature on Instagram to get her followers involved. She regularly posts questions people have sent her through direct messages and will ask her followers to submit their own advice.

“More opinions are better in this situation than one single girl answering questions,” Marshall said. “I like to do polls a lot because I like hearing what other people have to say.”

Marshall also sees herself as an “honorary big sister” to her followers.

She covers topics ranging from commu-

nicating with a partner, to how to safely have sex during a pandemic.

To Egan, Marshall’s page is comprised of a community of women who do not feel shameful or like they are sinning for talking about sex.

The reception Marshall has received on @completewhoredom has been overwhelmingly positive, and she has followers ranging from 14 to 72 years old covering all sexualities and genders.

Marshall said she especially enjoys when high school students ask questions because she thinks they should be getting a proper lesson in sex education.

Running the account has also made Marshall feel self-empowered and more educated when she meets potential partners.

“Learning all of this stuff and being able to talk about it has made me more communicative to potential partners or boyfriends ... and then it leaves [followers] in a better spot to communicate with future partners,” Marshall said.

AEDWARDS@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM

opinions Opinion: The reason why some little girls are growing up to be ‘bimbos’ Why the backlash for singer-songwriter Sia’s movie “Music” is warranted » ColumbiaChronicle.com

» JUSTICE LEWIS COPY EDITOR

» COURTESY/ CHRISSY CHLAPECK A

GROWING UP AS a young girl, I did not recognize the many complexities surrounding gender until my teenage years. As children, girls are often mindlessly taught unwritten rules about femininity that exist, not only to limit us, but to allow men to run rampant in their mistreatment of women.

Initially, I only had to defend myself to mansplaining classmates who would eventually deviate into tangents about feminism being sexist and how women were at fault for their own mistreatment.

Once I discussed similar topics regarding sexism with my father, I became alarmingly aware that men do not always unlearn the societal rules and guidelines of gender presentation as women often do when they grow up.

According to former Columbia social media and digital strategy major-turned-influencer and self-proclaimed “bimbo” Chrissy Chlapecka, I am not alone.

The issue is so many of us have grown up believing the way we are treated is directly related to how we present ourselves, rather than the fault of the men who disrespect us. This is all internalized misogyny we have to unlearn.

According to the UMKC Women’s Center, internalized misogyny is “when women subconsciously project sexist ideas onto other women and even onto themselves.” This is a result of patriarchal ideals being taught to young girls and carried into adulthood.

“It’s 1000% [not] our fault as feminine people because that’s how society brought us up,” Chlapecka said. “I think everyone should be accountable by the time they leave their house to have real people opinions, not just their parents’ [opinions].”

Chlapecka has decided to educate others about unlearning internalized misogyny by self-identifying as a bimbo and, ultimately, fighting against the sexist ideals rooted within our society.

“For me, this movement is not just taking back femininity,” she said.

“It’s taking back any of these social standards that these f------ white men or cis people or heterosexual people have put on people just to say that ‘you’re less than, you’re not doing this right, you’re not fitting in our box.’ For me, the bimbo is someone who goes outside of that with no shame.”

According to the Oxford Learner’s dictionary, a bimbo is “a young person, usually a woman, who is sexually attractive but not very intelligent.”

While this may be true in the traditional meaning of the word, the Gen Z bimbo is anything but unintelligent.

“People may be like, ‘Oh, you’re not getting your college degree—you must be stupid.’ No, I’m just figuring out life a different way,” Chlapecka said. “My really good friend Griffin identifies also as a bimbo, and they go to Princeton.”

The routine of the “Chlapecka-esque” bimbo involves a lot of positive words of affirmation to oneself and others, denouncing capitalism and racism, and living by the mantra “hot is a mentality, and ugly is too,” she said. Not to mention, the job also typically includes a lot of pink and sparkles.

The alternative, “himbo” is merely a masculine modification of the word.

While the word bimbo is still heavily used as an oppressive insult to women, himbo is almost exclusively used as an endearing term for hunky but ditzy masculine-presenting people.

The word bimbo, in the traditional sense, simply does not exist for men.

This has a direct correlation to how we view masculine and feminine individuals. Himbos are not subjected to the same amount of harsh criticism that bimbos are.

As a society, we need to question our perceptions of hyper-feminine women and how heavily we rely on man-made insults like “bimbo” without masculine equivalents. We must begin to reshape those views to fit the more progressive reality in which the Gen Z bimbo lives.

“I think himbos who are male presenting and straight will never receive the same hatred that women get,” Chlapecka said. “Because no matter what, society always applauds the man.”

Despite the message of “bimboism” largely revolving around female empowerment, there are women who express distaste for bimbos as well.

The patriarchy has taught us that anything feminine is something to be ashamed of while subsequently defining masculinity as, ultimately, more worthy of respect. Women specifically are subjected to ridicule for having interests or altering their appearance in a way that does not exist to serve men. This is part of the reason why bimbos are so frowned upon— they do it for “the girls, the gays and nonbinary babes,” not for the male gaze, according to Chlapecka.

Society at large has done a thorough job of getting us to hate those of us who display hyper-femininity, but we no longer need to allow misogynistic men to perpetuate this cycle of hatred.

When we implement unwritten rules about the acceptable ways to exhibit femininity, we open the door to misogyny. We teach women to compare themselves to one another, thus creating a never-ending competition designed for us all to lose.

Many women, Chlapecka and myself included, can get caught up in trying to keep score with each other. This is a behavioral pattern created with the hope that we do not realize that we have been distracted from dismantling the larger systemic issue—the patriarchy.

Bimboism is merely a vehicle we can use, not only to reach the finish line, but to run through the obstacle course as a whole. Being a bimbo is not just an aesthetic—it’s a way of life.

Bimbos don’t let misogynistic people determine their own self-worth, and neither should you.

Instead of warning little girls about the dangers of becoming a bimbo, tell them why we see bimbos as inferior in the first place. It will help speed up the process of unlearning all of the misogynistic societal standards that little girls like Chlapecka and I had to deal with on our own.

JLEWIS@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM

MARCH 1, 2021 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 11

opinions

AWKWARD: WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET JEALOUS OF YOUR PARTNER’S FRIENDS » SUMMER HOAGL AND-ABERNATHY COPY CHIEF

T

on i g ht , you offered to pick your partner up from work so they don’t have to take the train.

They love this idea, and you’re both excited to spend a few extra minutes with each other. But when you pull up to the curb to wait for them, you see them laughing outside with all their gorgeous work friends.

LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF:

“We really need to learn how to nourish ourself,” Solomon said. “Somebody who is feeling jealous probably needs to do some work around limiting social media, deleting accounts that make you feel crappy about yourself and your body and your appearance. …

Everything we consume is energy, and it all affects how we feel about ourself.”

Hollie Schmid, marriage and family therapist at Relationship Reality 312, said to ask yourself how you can build yourself up in your own mind.

Focus on what you can control, she said, and one thing that is in your control is your ability to feel better

about yourself, even if it takes some time and work.

To ward off jealous and insecure thoughts, you can also remind yourself why your partner is with you, said relationship researcher Sylvia Mikucki-Enyart, assistant professor at the University of Iowa in the Department of Communication Studies. “[Your] relationship isn’t just based on looks,” Mikucki-Enyart said. “[Jealousy] takes on a life of its own.

Have open conversations.”

SHOAGLANDABERNATHY@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM

WORK TOGETHER:

Solomon said to be direct with your needs, or else they could “come out sideways” in passiveaggressive comments.

She said if your partner is saying something to you that makes you feel insecure, like you should dress more like one of their friends or do your hair like them, then that

» SAVANNA STEFFENS/CHRONICLE

You tell yourself there is nothing wrong with this—except you still feel off.

You notice everyone’s beautiful smiles and melodic laughter, and when you see how they all carry themselves with such casual confidence, you are stricken with a sudden, unexplainable hatred toward all of them.

You honk your horn to get your partner’s attention, and you’re a little curt with them on your way home.

What you are feeling is jealousy, and getting it under control quickly is a good idea. The Chronicle spoke with relationship and communication experts to help you evade this envy.

Alexandra H. Solomon, clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, said one of the central questions in a relationship is how much responsibility you have to soothe yourself versus how much responsibility your partner has to affirm you.

There is no simple answer, but both sides are necessary.

is problematic and needs to be worked on between the two of you.

If your partner or their friends are actively doing something that makes you anxious, Schmid said, that is one thing. But if the jealousy is born of your own insecurity, you can communicate that and ask for more reassurance.

“I’m a huge fan of straight-up asking for affirmation from our partners,” Solomon said. “Our partners can’t read our minds. I do it all the time with my husband, and we’ve been married for 22 years.”

FOR THE FIRST DAY OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, WHO ARE YOUR TOP 5 FEMALE CREATORS?

» SAVANNA STEFFENS LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

» JUSTICE LEWIS COPY EDITOR

»SHANE VERKEST MULTIMEDIA REPORTER

1

1

1

2

2

2

Podcasting duo Karen Kilgrariff and Georgia Hardstark: They host my favorite female-run podcast “My Favorite Murder.” In every episode, they both tell a true crime story, and it’s the perfect podcast to listen to while you’re getting stuff done!

Hanna Brictson: My favorite Chicago-based dancer and choreographer—she’s a strong woman who is extremely passionate about her craft and teaching others.

3

Olga Lychkova: She is a freelance illustrator who makes whimsical paintings of plants that I could admire all day.

4

Shane Tolentino: As a former designer for the Chronicle, she creates amazing illustrations that show her passion for environmental sciences and that continue to inspire me!

5

Amanda Oleander: She is a freelance illustrator who makes pen and marker drawings depicting humorous, relatable and wholesome scenes of humans being human.

12 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE MARCH 1, 2021

Jackie Aina: I’m not someone who wears makeup usually, but I love to use it to express myself when I have time. She was the first Black woman beauty YouTuber that I subscribed to, and I love seeing her thriving in her endeavors.

Chrissy Chlapecka: Have I not made it obvious enough how much I love Bimbo culture? She and I can really relate in our experiences as hyperfeminine women, and I love the positive messages she shares on TikTok.

3

Megan Crabbe: I’ve followed her for years now, and her Instagram is often the pick-me-up that I need when I feel insecure about my body. She also raises awareness for eating disorders, and is a survivor herself.

4

Tabitha Brown: Her sweet personality and transparency with her followers on YouTube and Instagram really makes her feel relatable. Although I’m not vegan, or much of a chef, I always watch her videos and do my best to support her.

5

Amber Wagner: For a few years now I’ve been a fan of her inspirational videos on Instagram wherein she uses a lot of dramatic hand gestures to show off her nail art.

Rebecca Sugar: She is a pioneer of animation.

From her early work on “Adventure Time” to her groundbreaking series “Steven Universe,” she has spent her career fighting for representation.

Carrie Brownstein: Known for being the second half of the groundbreaking sketch comedy show “Portlandia,” she is a multi-talented artist spanning both comedy and music.

3

Lena Dunham: A voice of her generation, her controversial and prolific HBO masterpiece “Girls” grabbed headlines and audience attention during its five-year run.

4

Phoebe Bridgers: Her music is honest, touching and heart-wrenching all at once. In an age of vapid digital fame, her humble rise to prominence proves that her talent with music speaks for itself.

5

Lisa Congdon: One of the most successful visual artists and authors to rise up, she is a female powerhouse. With illustration credits on everything from Biden’s official inauguration invitation to Method soap, she has one of the richest portfolios of any artist of our time.

opinions

COLUMN: IT IS TIME TO LET MY ‘FREAK FLAG FLY’ » KENDALL POLIDORI CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

unions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of all, this publication taught me that I could be more than a reporter or writer, and that I had the ability to be an editor and guide an entire staff—which would not be possible without my righthand, my dear friend, my co-EIC Mari Devereaux.

The thing about the Chronicle is that it is a space for trial and error and allows any person who steps through its doors to have a hand in whatever they please.

Former EIC Alexandra Yetter accepted every music pitch I threw her way and pushed me to dig deeper with everything I do; Faculty Adviser Curtis Lawrence talked through story edits with me line by line and never failed to give me the right advice; and General Manager Travis Truitt pushed me to question everything and to trust my instincts, while also geeking out with me about the Beatles on the side.

My editors team—you know who you are—have become my family and have embraced the ability to be goofy and creative, while also being determined and productive.

I came to the Chronicle as a first semester transfer student with minimal journalism experience, and I am leaving much

KPOLIDORI@COLUMBIACHRONICLE.COM » SAVANNA STEFFENS/CHRONICLE

WHEN I SLID the venue security staff my folded paper press pass with shaky hands, my heart was beating rapidly as I watched them cross off my name on the official guest list.

I remember being in awe that I was let in as a member of the press, a nervous 19-year-old girl who adored music but was never given the opportunity to write about it until that moment.

I arrived early to meet up with the manager of the indie-punk group HUNNY and was taken to the Subterranean’s green room, where the group of four was lounging on the ripped black leather couches gulping down beers. My hands were so clammy, the pen nearly slipped from my grasp as the band welcomed me with open arms.

The smell of cigarettes, the effortless flow of talking shop about music while yelling over the speakers below us, and the smile plastered across my face—in that moment I thought, this is it. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

That was the first concert I attended as a student journalist and the first piece I wrote about music. The story was not good, and I look back at it today and cringe, thinking of how much better it would be if I had the chance to rewrite it now.

But I would never take back the expe-

rience and the thrill of it all—former Senior Video Editor Ignacio Calderon and I leaning over the balcony’s edge watching the sweaty group of people below us moshing and asking ourselves how this could possibly be our job.

That poorly written Q&A led me to more than I could have ever imagined, which is what the Chronicle experience is all about. That one concert I covered eventually led to 46 stories about music, from reviews of albums and live shows to long-form features.

This also opened the door for former photojournalist Steven Nunez and I to attend Lollapalooza in 2019 as the youngest members of the press—walking around starry-eyed the entire time.

It also allowed former Director of Photography Mike Rundle and me to capture and take part in an officiated wedding at Riot Fest, while some punk band was tearing up the stage behind us.

Most of the time, the experiences I have had at the Chronicle do not even feel real. The Chronicle has allowed me to take something I love, like music, and turn it into a documentation of history.

But music reporting is not the only area in which I have been able to develop.

I have been pushed out of my element at the Chronicle by reporting on stories I previously thought were too far out of my reach, including data breaches, Title IX regulations, protests surrounding mass civil unrest, faculty and staff

earlier than I thought I would, due to an opportunity for full-time work on the editorial team at the Chicago-based publication Luckbox Magazine while I finish my classes, which was only made possible because of the Chronicle. It is difficult to put into words how much these two years have changed everything for me, and it is even more difficult to leave a space where I have found so much purpose.

As I leave my role at the publication, I am reminded how grateful I am for finding my passion in telling diverse stories and being able to follow it into the “real world.”

As said by Jimi Hendrix in the song “If 6 was 9,” and frequently quoted by one of my many mentors at Columbia, Jim DeRogatis, it is time for me to let “my freak flag” fly.

COMIC

MARCH 1, 2021 THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE 13