PAGE 3: International students could unknowingly violate visa status
PAGE 13: Local nonprofit pushes junior high students to strive for greatness
PAGE 7: Newfound popularity of rage rooms brings safety concerns PAGE 10: Commentary: Trump should not use soldiers for political gain Volume 54, Issue 11
November 12, 2018
ColumbiaChronicle.com
VOTERS SHOW UP Illinois votES blue DURING 2018 midterms see page 14 Âť MIKE RUNDLE/CHRONICLE
editor’s note
Historic midterm election shows power behind votes » ARIANA PORTALATIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A
s a result of significant voter turnout, this year’s midterm election recorded numerous groundbreaking victories as the public resists the Trump Administration. According to a Nov. 9 New York Times article, an estimated 113 million people voted, the majority of which included women, Latinos and young people. Voters showed up to the polls to advocate for the issues they care about—the issues that represent them. The people have spoken. Democrat Ayanna Pressley was victorious in Massachussett’s 7th Congressional District, making her the first black woman to represent the state. Michigan’s 13th district was won by Democrat Rashida Tlaib, one of two Muslim women to ever be elected to Congress. Democrat Joe Neguse is the first black person to represent Colorado, and Jahana Hayes is the first black woman to represent Connecticut. Texas elected Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia as the first Latinas to represent the state in Congress. New Mexico elected its first Democratic Latina governor as well as its first Native American woman to represent the state in Congress. According to the Victory Institute, an organization which works to increase the number of LGBTQ people in public office, there are 559 openly LGBTQ elected officials in the U.S. In order to be equally represented, voters would have to elect 22,837 more to office. There is still a long way to go to achieve this, but we’re at least one step closer after electing more than 150 LGBTQ candidates, according to a Nov. 7 NBC News article. Democrat Chris Pappas became the first openly gay person to represent New Hampshire in Congress. Minnesota elected its first openly LGBTQ person to represent it in Congress, also making her the first lesbian mother to serve in Congress. Democrat Jared Polis was also elected as Colorado’s first openly gay governor and Teri Johnson was elected mayor of Key West, becoming Florida’s first openly lesbian mayor. Young people not only made strides in voting but in Congress as well with 2 THE CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 12, 2018
MANAGEMENT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITORS
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19-year-old Kalan Haywood elected COPY EDITORS as the youngest state lawmaker in the U.S. and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez elected as the youngest woman to Congress. SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ` on this GRAPHIC DESIGNERS There is not enough space page to list all the accomplishments from the midterm elections, but this list alone proves that every vote matters to ensure the change voters want STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS to see. With Trump still in office, this is more important than ever. According to Gallup, it is not unusual for a president’s party to lose seats in the House of Representatives when MULTIMEDIA EDITOR it is unpopular. The high turnover MULTIMEDIA REPORTERS of House seats was a direct result of the high amount of dissatisfaction with Congress. This needs little explanation, but a few things could be attributed to this dissatisfaction, including the enormous disrespect and MEDIA SALES REPS overall inhumanity toward minorities, immigrants, the LGBTQ community BRAND MANAGER and women. Gallup also noted that healthcare, the economy and immigration were WEBMASTER among the most important topics for voters. Other topics voters cared the most about included infrastructure investments, expanding family leave FACULTY ADVISERS and implementing environmen tal protections. Elected officials GENERAL MANAGER are now more likely to address these topics in the future and pass supportive legislation. Previous presidents have been able to bounce back from similar setbacks against their party, but people can continue to use their vote to ensure their voices are heard and the issues they care about are addressed at the federal and state levels. @c cchronicle
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campus
Ultimate frisbee team begins first season » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Multimedia
International students could unknowingly be in violation of F, J and M visa statuses
» BLAISE MESA MANAGING EDITOR
as language training, and J-1 visas are for study-based exchange visitor programs. Unlawful presence is time spent in the United States without being admitted, paroled or authorized by Department of Homeland Security, according to the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website. Under the previous unlawful presence policy, students who violated these conditions would be notified of their violation. Under the new policy, students can accumulate unlawful presence days without receiving notification. For a student to avoid violation of unlawful presence, they must be full-time, have a valid passport, report any name or address changes and work only at jobs for which they are authorized, according to the International Student Handbook. Four colleges—Guilford College in North Carolina, The New School in New York, Foothill-De Anza Community College District in California and Haverford College in Pennsylvania—sued the USDHS and USCIS over the change.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO hold F, J and M visas could be barred from re-entering the country without knowing they are in violation following a change in the unlawful presence policy. The policy change, which went into effect Aug. 9, will no longer notify students if they are spending time in the country unlawfully. “[The previous unlawful presence] policy provided essential notice to F, J and M visa holders,” states a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “The new policy’s use of a backdated unlawful-presence clock will render tens of thousands of F, J, and M visa holders subject to 3- and 10-year re-entry bars without any opportunity to cure.” F-1 visas are for full-time students, M-1 visas are for students in vocational schools or non academic programs, such
“The imposition of a re-entry bar impacts the lives of students by creating barriers to completing degree programs and access to employment opportunities,” said a Nov. 8 email statement from The New School. “Options for solving what were once common problems are now more limited. This policy and its long-term effects have raised the stakes for universities, making them increasingly likely to refer students to immigration attorneys, a prospect which is daunting and costly to the student.” Heather Stewart, director of immigration policy and counsel at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, said the policy change is another example of the U.S. being unwelcoming to international students. “DHS and other government agencies are making it more difficult for international students to come to the United States and maintain status while they are here,” she said. Stewart said not notifying students is troubling, and the policy is unfair to
international students and adds a layer of confusion. Sophomore live and performing arts management major Yu Cao is an international student from Beijing. Cao said Columbia has not told him of the change. Columbia, along with multiple universities, have not updated its website to inform students about the change. Northwestern University has updated its website to provide this information. Cao said he does not know the difference between a lawful and unlawful day. Cao said he was told about immigration status during orientation, and there are faculty he can go to with questions. Vice Provost of Global Education Marcelo Sabatés did not respond to requests for comment on Columbia’s efforts as of press time. Visit ColumbiaChronicle.com for story developments. bmesa@columbiachronicle.com » JOCELYN MORENO/CHRONICLE
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NOVEMBER 12, 2018 THE CHRONICLE 3
campus
Dance Department faculty member Tosha Alston receives 3Arts grant » KACI WATT STAFF REPORTER
said he has known Alston for about 10 years; in that time, he has gotten to know her not only as a person, but as an artist, too. Jones said Alston has a very clear way of communicating movements found in African dance technique with her body and her articulation. Besides teaching at Columbia, Alston teaches adults and children in the Chicago community at Ayodele Drum and Dance where she serves as executive artistic director. “When I think of her artistry, I think of it very holistically, not only in the work that she makes but the work that she does out in the community,” Jones said. In addition to the 3Arts awards, 10 artists received a surprise $1,000 grant from Make a Wave, an artist-to-artist grant pro-
Alston is unsure of how she will use the money but has a few ideas, including clearing debt or going back to school. “It’s a real game-changer for an artist to have these kinds of resources without a lot of stipulations,” Jones said. “I’m really happy that [Alston] got it, and I anticipate all the things she’s going to be able to do in the future as a result of this.” kwatt@columbiachronicle.com » COURTESY ROBIN SUB AR
THE DANCE WORLD may emphasize classical styles such as ballet, but Dance Department adjunct professor Tosha Alston teaches young dancers the West African style. Alston’s artistry has earned her a $25,000 grant. Alston received a 2018 3Arts Award and the cash grant for achievements in the dance field during a ceremony Nov. 5. “I’ve never been materialistic. I don’t receive things like this,” Alston said. “It’s humbling and a confidence booster that people at such calibers want to grant me with a gift.” 3Arts is a nonprofit that supports Chicago’s women artists, artists of color and artists with disabilities who work in the performing, teaching and visual arts.
Each year, 3Arts gives 10 artists each an unrestricted $25,000 cash grant, according to executive director of 3Arts Esther Grisham Grimm. The nominees are selected by a national panel, which decides the awardees, she said. “Nominators are looking for artists who are making compelling work in the [Chicago metropolitan] area, who have a distinctive artistic voice. They are often selecting artists [who] have flown under the radar and have not been recognized,” Grisham Grimm said. Alston said the ceremony gave her the opportunity to connect with the arts community. “It was a lot of people that I didn’t know, and that I need to know,” Alston said. Dance Department Associate Professor Darrell Jones
gram, which was also awarded during the ceremony, Grisham Grimm added. “You can see how one award gives them important recognition or confidence, [and it] just comes at the right time to really leverage it for things that they want to do in their art,” Grisham Grimm said. With the unrestricted grant, artists are able to use the money for just about anything imaginable such as starting a savings account, Grisham Grimm said.
The 3Arts Award is given annually to Chicago women artists, artists of color and artists with disabilities. Adjunct Professor Tosha Alston (far left) is a 2018 recipent.
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someone you should know
Alumna explores belonging, ‘otherness’ through poetry » ALEXANDRA YETTER STAFF REPORTER
if you want to be a better writer, read more, and if you’re having writer’s block, you’re not reading enough. It wasn’t until I was rowing up with a Nigerian Muslim in the South that I really got involved with mother and a black southern Bap- Southern writing, and it’s some of the most tist father in an all-girls, majority impactful, most amazing writing there is. white Catholic school, Hafizah Geter, 2010 The way Southern writing atunes itself to MFA poetry alumna, has always ques- the idea of place and land was a big impact. tioned where she belongs. Pat Conroy, one of the first writers that I ever An award-winning poet and editor, Geter became obsessed with, the way he attuned is exploring what it feels like to be “other” in himself to land and place and how that was America in her in-the-works poetry collec- also a fundamental part of identity, that defition. She writes against a political backdrop nitely shaped how I write, and how I consider concerning issues such as immigration and my father’s land of the American Jim Crow inequalities for those in America who have South to my mother’s land of Nigeria. grown up with a melting pot of identities. Geter spoke with The Chronicle about How do you connect your subject matter to the influences of nationhood and politics current events? on her work, as well as what it’s like to be a poet in 2018. I’m writing about nationhood, belonging [and] Islam. That is very relevant to this presTHE CHRONICLE: How did the South influ- ent time when we are in a war against people ence your work? who are “other”— there’s a war against immigrants, there’s a war against Latinx, against GETER: I became engrossed with Southern black Americans, anyone who is “other.”’ I literature. One of the tools with writing is remember after 9/11 happened, it was my
G
campus first awareness of Islamophobia, [which] became so popular in the dominant culture [of] this terrorist rhetoric. It was such a surprise to me because I had no concept of that kind of Islam. My mother was Muslim, so seeing how a national narrative could pervert or demonize something that’s out of the construct of whiteness, I think my work really tries to push against that narrative and speak of the Islamic identity as a healing place. What do you think when people say you’ll be broke if you’re a poet?
You can be jobless and broke and be anyone. When people say that, it’s a very reductive comment that ignores [how] job opportunity is based on your identity. You can have a master’s and be unemployed because your name sounds too black. I have an undergraduate degree in English, and it has allowed me so much flexibility because at the end of the day, people don’t write ads in numbers and the world uses words. Someone has to write them.
» COURTESY STEPHANIE LAND
How is the poetry community becoming more diverse?
make it happen. People of color have been locked out of so many spaces, as well as LGBTQ people, so we’ve created our own. People are like, “Poetry is dying,” but one of the things that has stopped poetry from dying is people of color, because they can reach so many people. White spaces have now become more diverse in order to stay alive.
People of color are kicking the doors in to
ayetter@columbiachronicle.com
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arts culture
Director Sean Anders discusses “Instant Family” » ColumbiaChronicle.com
Rage rooms smash onto the scene
» KACI WATT STAFF REPORTER
it outside of a controlled, safe space, then it’s obviously not the greatest [outlet] for them.” Jason Heidel, founder of Make Grandma Smile, an organization that fundraises to support the elderly, said he used a rage room as a positive charity tool. His organization hosted a pop-up at Replay Lincoln Park, 2833 N. Sheffield Ave., where individuals pledged money to smash items. “If you go in under the idea that it is therapy, it actually is really relieving,” Heidel said. “I’m sure there are people with their
opinions against it, but if more people took a crack at it, they probably would not have so many anger issues.” Dignan said users should go with people they are comfortable with so if it becomes an emotional space, you have a support system to help you. However, she added going alone is also OK. “It’s a little different and unique,” Dignan said. “If you choose to go alone, enjoy it and really take it in. Have fun with it.” kwatt@columbiachronicle.edu » PHOTOS COURTESY ESCAPADES
DESTROYING AN OLD TV with a baseball bat is usually frowned upon, but in rage rooms, it is fair game and even celebrated. “A rage room is a place where you can go to break stuff, smash things [and] get your stress out [to] be able to let out your aggressions,” said Roosevelt McMullan, manager of Escapades Rage Room, 153 W. Ohio St. Escapades books individuals in the rage room for one and half hour increments starting at $15. Rage rooms are not just popping up in Chicago but all over the country. With their rise in popularity, there is also concern that the rooms can cause users to have violent reactions to anger in the real world, according to John Schinnerer, executive coach at Guide to Self, an organization that aids individuals in overcoming emotional hurdles like anger or stress. Schinnerer said he could see rage rooms attracting a clientele who tend to be aggressive in situations where anger comes into play. “Many people like to go and break things as a way to tap into their anger or let go
of their anger. [But] it’s not a great way to deal with anger on a long-term basis,” Schinnerer said. Schinnerer said a healthier management skill is the ability to identify early signs of frustration and then call them out. This allows one to get rid of the anger and not let it build up over time. Rage room attendee and Tinley Park resident Meg Dignan said she thinks the rooms are a positive outlet for anger or stress. Dignan said she and her friends used this unique experience— along with listening to music— to let go of stressors from work or personal relations. “[After], we were all able to talk about it and say it felt good to think about things that have been bothering us or have been weighing down on us and [to be] able to let it out,” Dignan said. Dignan said she would like to see rage rooms stick around because they are beneficial. However, she recognizes the concerns some may have when it comes to people who are predisposed to violent reactions attending rage rooms. “Everybody is different, and if it is something that can be beneficial, I say more power to you,” Dignan said. “But if someone is going to abuse that and take
Rage Rooms are marketed as an outlet for anger or stress, but some are skeptical of potential harms.
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 THE CHRONICLE 7
arts & culture
Australian band The Faim is hungry to join the American rock scene
» OLIVIA DELOIAN STAFF REPORTER
A
THE CHRONICLE: What was your experience like working with a renowned producer like John Feldman? SAM TYE: The band learned so much from
that experience, and you really learn how to create songs that you hope are important in the industry. That’s allowed us to get to this point where we’re about to tour the U.S. We’ve been working with more producers like Dave Bassett and Neil Avron; we just
Is your band influenced by American bands like blink-182 or Good Charlotte?
There [are] so many American bands we’re influenced by that we can’t even name one specific band. But blink-182 is definitely a massive influence, and Red Hot Chili Peppers are a massive influence, too.
It’s hard to describe. It’s a mix of nervousness, adrenaline, a bit of excitement—well, a lot of excitement—and the thing that makes a live show great is that it’s always unpredictable. You don’t know what’s going to happen next. It’s all fresh, all new and it feels alive. What would you like readers to know about your newest record?
Because the band has been around for such a long time, these songs are really important to us. We feel very passionate about them, and that passion comes across, and we want the listeners to feel passionate about it, too. If you haven’t given the EP a listen, give it a listen. There’s something in there for you, and we hope that you can listen and somehow feel like you’re a part of the family we’ve created. odeloian@columbiachronicle.com » COURTESY NATHALIE RUBIN
ustralian band The Faim is kicking off its first U.S. tour Nov. 10 following the release of its first EP Summer is a Curse. They will perform at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Nov. 16. The six-song record was released Sept. 7 by renowned producer John Feldman, who previously worked with well-known American bands such as blink-182, All Time Low and Good Charlotte. The Chronicle spoke with guitarist Sam Tye about the EP, performing in the upcoming North American tour and producing with Feldman.
co-wrote with Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low. That experience with John Feldman allowed us to push ourselves into the future and really start on a good foot.
What’s your favorite song to perform off the new EP?
I enjoy playing each and every one of them for different reasons, but my favorite song to play and to just be up on stage and a part of is the song “Make Believe.” It’s special to me playing that to an audience, and seeing them react to the song is something that makes the song special. Being onstage with the guys and giving that to the audience is just an amazing experience. What does it feel like for you to perform when you are onstage?
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arts & culture
film review
Whoville shines in modern twist on Dr. Seuss classic the Grinch lives in what looks like a modern condo. He even has a fancy french coffee press he uses every day. There are points in the film where viewers grow to resent how unjustifiably mean the Grinch is, but those resentments are often coupled with moments to remind them why the Grinch is the way he is. In “The Grinch,” Cindy Lou Who is not a rosey cheeked little girl. She is an ambitious young woman on a mission to persuade Santa to help her mother, Donna Lou Who, with her three children. Donna Lou works nights and takes care of her children during the day. Cindy Lou Who is hoping to trap Santa on Christmas morning because she believes he is the only person who can help her mom. The film was a great modern take on a classic children’s tale. Often, it is difficult to rework a famous story to make it relevant again.
In the end, the film is yet another visually appealing animated film that has enough cartoon-styled comedy to keep a child entertained while simultaneously having a deeper meaning that can resonate with adult viewers. jnolen@columbiachronicle.com » MIKE RUNDLE/CHRONICLE
mayor of Whoville makes this year’s Christmas celebration larger than ever before, and the IN RON HOWARD’S 2000 version animators take advantage of the of the Dr. Seuss classic, the opportunity to make Whoville Grinch is brought to life by Jim shine. To the Grinch’s dismay, Carrey wearing green special Whoville’s Chrismas carols effects makeup and a Santa suit. are louder, the tree larger and Carrey’s Grinch is sarcastic, the star atop the tree brighter mean and creepy. The film feels than ever before. Christmas in more like a horror flick than a Whoville is larger than life, as family holiday movie. Dr. Seuss intended. The 2018 version of the film, “Dr. Minor details about the city Seuss’ The Grinch,” directed by make it relatable to other places Yarrow Cheney and Scott Mosier, in America—such as “Who Foods,” is much different. Using anima- a play on the Whole Foods market tion, the filmmakers bring new chain, as well as Whos running life to Whoville by modernizing late for the bus and going to work. the original 1966 “How the Grinch The Grinch also got an upgrade. Stole Christmas.” He is not a scary, lurking figure Visually, the film is remarkable. who lives on the top of a mounThe bright, shining Christmas tain looking down on the people lights of Whoville sparkle on of Whoville, but simply an outsider. the big screen and bring the High above Whoville at the top of entire city to life for five days snowy Mount Crumpit, with his leading up to Christmas. The dog Max as his only companion, » JERMAINE NOLEN STAFF REPORTER
By making a strong commitment to visuals and adding twists to the story, the filmmakers were able to do just that. The film is narrated by Pharrell Williams, and the famous title song, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” originally sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, was redone by rapper Tyler, the Creator.
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 THE CHRONICLE 9
opinions
Chronicle staff discusses rage rooms, ultimate frisbee and election night » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Multimedia
Anti-Semitic hate cannot continue
A
sent out an email Feb. 7 informing student residents of what was found. However, he only described the graffiti as offensive and not what it was: anti-Semitic. Less than a year after the incident at Columbia, the worst hate crimes in U.S. history against the Jewish community took place. Eleven people were killed during a shooting at The Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh Oct. 27. Federal
» PATRICK CASEY/CHRONICLE
series of recent attacks and anti-Semitic rhetoric nationwide have led to public fear for the safety of the Jewish community, even at our own college. Has Columbia done enough to support and create a safe space for Jewish students? As reported Feb. 12 by The Chronicle, swastikas were discovered in The Dwight Lofts graffiti room. After being notified of the graffiti, Dean of Students John Pelrine
Trump uses soldiers as pawns to further immigration agenda » HANNAH BURNS MEDIA SALES REP
P
resident Donald Trump is using our armed forces like G.I. Joe action figures to push his anti-immigration agenda. Staging a “hurry up and wait” scenario for the military, President Trump is putting his own political gain
before troops and their families. The sacrifices of these troops—a service which Trump avoided with numerous draft deferments during the Vietnam War—are being dismissed on a whim. Military families who have waited months, sometimes years, to see their loved ones are pushed aside for the “bigger issue” at hand: the caravan. An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 Central American migrants are making their way toward the Southern U.S. border, through storms and heat, with small children and few possessions, according to The New York Post. President Trump may have authority to block the migrants from entering our country with federal law and the Constitution behind him, but there is no need for military presence at the border. The border is protected by Border Patrol whose job is to deal with these situations; this is not a job for soldiers.
authorities have declared it a hate crime, describing the crime scene as one of the most horrific they’ve seen. Also, a Nov. 1 Get Out the Vote event featuring “Broad City” star Ilana Glazer was canceled after anti-Semitic graffiti was found inside a New York City synagogue where the event was supposed to be held, according to a Nov. 2 New York Times article. The vandalism, which included graffiti such as swastikas and the words “Die Jew Rats,” was discovered written in black marker across the walls. This happened on the same day that two spray-painted swastikas were discovered on a concrete pier near Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The New York Police Department has documented 142 reported incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti this year, up from 126 reports in 2017. Out of the 290 reported hate crimes documented in New York, about half are anti-Semitic in nature. The Jewish community has always faced hate crimes, racist rhetoric and attacks, but the hate has grown. The Trump Administration’s words and actions perpetuate this intolerable behavior. To stop the rise of anti-Semitic hate in our country, community and college, we need to call it out for what it is and The 900 soldiers currently at the border are there only to give extra support. This means highly trained personnel lay barbed wire and wait around for those who dare to cross. If deployment increases to the speculated 15,000, the cost could be up to $110 million, according to a Nov. 3 Washington Post article. But this isn’t the troops’ faults. Many in uniform may not even agree with President Trump’s demands, especially if this unneeded deployment interferes with Thanksgiving and other holiday plans. And not just Thanksgiving, but their time. Being a soldier, and thus carrying out President Trump’s orders, comes before their rights as individuals. Before their own thoughts and beliefs, they must serve and protect the interests of their country. This is what makes our service members heroic and worthy of our respect. We can support the troops. We can appreciate their sacrifices and respect
EDITORIAL refuse to hide behind veiled language. It’s anti-Semitic rhetoric; it’s a hate crime, and it needs to be stopped. The college should be an example of how to handle this kind of hate and avoid vague language describing something as serious as anti-Semitism. The college administration needs to condemn this discrimination happening nationally and let our community know it will not be accepted or tolerated here at Columbia. Social media often encourages these hate crimes, but can also be used to prevent them. Anti-Semitic graffiti may have been drawn around a city for years, but with our culture of sharing everything online, these crimes are made more visible. People are not afraid to call out an unjust act when they see one, and we need to continue to use social media to shed light on this issue and expose criminal acts. Columbia can help fight against hate by spreading positivity and helping students, faculty and staff know they are in a safe space. The college’s administration should, at the very least, send a college wide email informing everyone that Columbia does not stand with the rise of hate in this country, and, as a college, will continue to push back. tbrubaker@columbiachronicle.com
COMMENTARY the families without supporting war, presidential action or cause. We can only hope to find the integrity of our country boomeranging back from its long hiatus by giving those their due respect and by taking pride in what makes us American. What strips troops of choice is what makes them human, too. They are not action figures in a game of political strife. Our soldiers are following orders, and in doing so, serving our country. For President Trump to send our troops to hurry up and wait mere weeks before Thanksgiving is cruel to the troops and their families. They were called to action without a second thought of the consequences. Our troops and their families sacrifice so much already, and now their Thanksgiving, too, must be sacrificed in the name of political prerogatives. hburns@columbiachronicle.com
Editorial Board Members Tessa Brubaker News Editor Blaise Mesa Managing Editor Olivia Deloian Staff Reporter Alexandra Yetter Staff Reporter Kaci Watt Staff Reporter Katherine Savage Staff Reporter
Jermaine Nolen Staff Reporter Micha Thurston Ad & Business
Manager
Dennis Percevecz Media Sales Rep Jocelyn Moreno Senior Graphic
Designer
10 THE CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 12, 2018
Grace Senior Graphic Designer Patrick Casey Graphic Designer Orlando Pinder Staff Photographer Halie Parkinson Staff Photographer
Did you catch a mistake, think we could have covered a story better or have strong beliefs about an issue that faces all of us here at Columbia? Why not write a letter to the editor? At the bottom of Page 2, you’ll find a set of guidelines on how to do this. Let us hear from you. —The Columbia Chronicle Editorial Board
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COMMENTARY: If media outlets spent less time on high school and middle school sports and more time on professional female athletes, women in sports would have a larger fanbase, says Blaise Mesa.
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COMMENTARY: If media outlets spent less time on high school and middle school sports and more time on professional female athletes, women in sports would have a larger fanbase, says Blaise Mesa.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2018 THE CHRONICLE 11
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THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO PRESENTS:
IVAN NEVILLE RESIDENCY CONCERT
November 16, 7 p.m. Music Center Concert Hall 1014 S. Michigan Ave.
$20 General admission $10 Family of performers, faculty, and staff $5
Students with ID
For tickets, call 312-369-8330 or visit tickets.colum.edu.
12 THE CHRONICLE
NOVEMBER 12, 2018
metro
Chicagoans protest resignation of U.S. attorney general » Page 15
Local nonprofit urges students to dream big
» JERMAINE NOLEN STAFF REPORTER
SINCE 2012, NONPROFIT organization Dream on Education has tried to aid the development of high-achieving [sixth to eighth grade students] in underprivileged areas in Chicago, according to the program’s founder Kelli Haywood. “What we do is provide enrichment services, scholastic development, mentoring, career and cultural exposure,” Haywood said. “We partner with different schools throughout the city, primarily on the South and West sides, focusing on low income communities. We do a number of activities to challenge the students academically, [and] to also expose them to different sessions, different forms of creative expression and really to just broaden their horizons.” Haywood said the nonprofit’s mission is to prepare students for success throughout high school and college. Dream on Education
partners with Tanner Elementary School in Chatham, Kenwood Academy in Hyde Park, KIPP Academy in Austin and Prospectives Math and Science Academy in Bronzeville. The organization is hoping to add one more school to its network this year, she said. “I have a lot of family members and friends [who have] lived in or currently live in low income communities who are really bright, talented people who simply lack access to resources and opportunities,” Haywood said. “There are a lot of young people like that who are really talented [and] have the desire to excel, they simply need that access and opportunity to those resources.” A large part of the organization’s curriculum is social-emotional development, she said. Organization mentors meet with the students in the program for an hour per week to discuss goals, work ethic and networking activ ities wh ich focus on standards of excellence and never selling themselves short.
“Our cultural exposure and mentoring [go] all of the material and showing you they hand in hand. We will do things at least every understand it that way, there are tons of other month where we will take the students other ways to deepen and broaden [their] on some sort of culturally-enriching expe- understanding,” Heck said. rience,” Haywood said. “We [have gone] to Junior music business major Kaylin Loer dinner at a sit-down restaurant, we’ve done said she was a high-performing junior high cooking classes, a sketching class lead by school student, but her school did not have Hebru Brantley and fashion design tours honors classes or an honors program. She of different companies throughout the city.” said if she was pushed to work harder early Haywood said the cultural exposure enough, she could have been a better student programs are usually led by mentors of and more prepared for college. many backgrounds and industries, giving “I felt prepared [for college], but I didn’t students the opportunity to learn from and learn how to study and work hard for a long network with a multitude of professionals. period of time because [things were] so easy, A first grade teacher at CICS Basil so that is something I have had to adjust Elementary School Emily Heck, said it is to,” Loer said. difficult having children who are learning Haywood said founding the Dream on at a rate below or beyond their grade level. Education program has been the most She said in situations like these, it is up to rewarding experience she’s ever had. the teacher to make material engaging. “By the end of the program, [the students] “A lot of learning kids do in school is visual, display a broadened horizon for professions audio or reading and writing, but if you and really understanding that there is really already have a kid who is understanding nothing that they [can’t] do,” Haywood said. » PHOTOS HALIE PARKINSON/CHRONICLE
Dream on Eduction provides Perspectives Math and Science Academy, Tanner Elementary, Kenwood Academy and KIPP Academy hands on experience to their possible careers due to their high acheivments.
NOVEMBER 12, 2018 THE CHRONICLE 13
metro » ALEXANDRA YETTER STAFF REPORTER FRESH OFF A weekend rally with former President Barack Obama, J.B. Pritzker defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner during a strong night for local Democrats. Nationa lly, women and minority candidates led the way as Democrats flipped the House of Representatives, likely providing a check and balance on the Trump administration over the next two years. Despite big losses in House races, Republicans were able to hold onto–and may increase– their Senate majority. Thirty minutes after polls closed in Illinois, Rauner called Pritzker to concede the election to him and Juliana Stratton, lieutenant governor-elect. Pritzker won with 54 percent of the vote to Rauner’s 39 percent. “Are you ready for the fight? The fight for healthcare equality for everyone? For equal pay for equal work?” Pritzker asked during his election party address.
During a Nov. 4 Get Out the Vote rally in Chicago, former President Obama endorsed Pritzker and other Democratic candidates, including Lauren Underwood and Sean Casten for Congress, Kwame Raoul for attorney general and Susana Mendoza for comptroller. Underwood, Casten, Raoul and Mendoza all won their races. In other Congressiona l elections, only five Illinois Republicans won House races and thirteen Illinois Democrats won seats. Jim Allen, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections, said record high numbers of early voting and vote by mail signaled an impressive turnout at the polls beforehand. In this election, millennials wanted their voices to be heard, he said. “It all comes down to a sense of urgency, and a sense of wanting to participate if they hadn’t in the past,” Allen said. Briana Kennedy, a junior advertising major at Columbia, voted
for the first time this year. In the past, she said absentee ballots and the confusing voting process had discouraged her from voting, but she said she made it a priority to figure out how to vote for the 2018 midterms. “[Previous elections] should’ve been [like] this year, with more conversation and drive to vote,” Kennedy said. “We should always have this kind of attitude, and the only reason why it’s like that is because we didn’t think Trump would get elected, so now it’s like, ‘Sh*t, we really have to [vote].’” Associate Professor in the Communication Department Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin helped students register to vote during Convocation Aug. 31. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, about 31 percent of people 18-29 years old voted in the midterms, which is estimated to be the highest turnout among youth in decades. “A lot of students are not happy with the current [political]
administration and that [motivated] a lot of them to register to vote,” Bloyd-Peshkin said. Nationally, as of press time, Democrats gained 30 seats in the House and lost two in the Senate. While Kennedy said she was pleased with the House flip and unsurprised Republicans held onto the Senate, her choice, HOUSE when it came to governor, was less enthusiastic. 225 197 Democrats Republicans She said she felt compelled to look past Pritzker’s wealthy, privileged background because she would never vote for Rauner. “To any of the talking heads that do not give
SENATE 46 Democrats
[Republicans] proper credit for this great Midterm Election, just remember two words - FAKE NEWS!,” Trump tweeted Nov. 7. Many candidates’ victories represented “firsts,” including Sharice Davids (D-Kansas) and Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) as the first Native American congresswomen-elect, and A lexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mississippi) will become the first ever Muslim congresswomen. ayetter@columbiachronicle.com
HOUSE
51 Republicans
225 Democrats
197 Republicans
Gained Gained Lost Lost *preliminary results*
SENATE
» JOCELYN MORENO/CHRONICLE, INFO COURTESY THE NEW YORK TIMES 46 Democrats
51 Republicans
Gained Gained Lost Lost *preliminary results*
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14 THE CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 12, 2018
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metro » MIKE RUNDLE/CHRONICLE
Demonstrators gathered in Federal Plaza before marching to the Wabash Avenue bridge Nov. 8 to protest the forced resignation of former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a move which could threaten Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and alleged ties between President Donald Trump, his administration and Russian officials.
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COMPLETE A WORK IN PROGRESS 1 Need support for your project? All majors are encouraged to apply for the Albert P. Weisman Award. Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students can submit projects already in process to receive support towards completion.
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TO APPLY: Go to colum.edu/weisman for more info and to start your application. Register for a mandatory info session on Handshake: November 12 5pm November 16 1pm November 27 5pm November 29 10am
Recipients receive $2,000 and support from a mentor in their discipline.
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Apply before deadline: DECEMBER 2, 2018.