The Columbia Chronicle, October 24, 2016

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Staff union creates ‘walk of shame’ to latest negotiation meeting

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Volume 52, Issue 8

ColumbiaChronicle.com

‘Keeping up with Killers’— serial killers have celebrity status and fans

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» WESLEY HEROLD/CHRONICLE

Oct.

24 2016

» ERIC BRADACH METRO REPORTER

Chicago continues demands for accountability, resignations

SEE LAQUAN, PAGE 39

TWO YEARS AFTER LAQUAN

DEMANDS FOR POLICE accountability and political reform continue as protesters and activists honored the two-year anniversary of Laquan McDonald’s death. The event, held outside of the Chicago Police Department Headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Ave., was organized by activist William Calloway to “demand the termination of all involved with falsifying police reports in efforts of covering up his death,” as stated on its Facebook page. On Oct. 20, 2014, 17-year-old McDonald was shot 16 times near 41st Street and Pulaski Road by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. After a $5 million settlement to McDonald’s family in April 2015, Cook County Judge Franklin Valderrama ordered the city to release the police dash-cam video by Nov. 24. Protests followed, leading to the firing of former CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy, amid chants of “16 shots” from Black Lives Matter activists. At the gathering, numerous citizens grieving for family members killed by CPD officers spoke on stage. Gwendolyn Moore, mother of Jamaal Moore, who was unarmed while killed by a Chicago police officer in December 2012, addressed the crowd. Moore said she came to support the McDonald family and thinks police officers’ mindsets about using force have to change. “Use of excessive force is not always warranted,” she said. In an Oct. 20 press release, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the incident was a “wake-up call” for the city and McDonald “unnecessarily” lost his life. “We will continue working together across the city to build a brighter future by restoring trust between residents and our officers,” Emanuel stated.

WAC returns for fourth year » FAITH MUSONDA CONTRIBUTING WRITER KELLI HERNDON, A student’s parent who traveled all the way from New York City to participate in the Oct. 21 Wabash Arts Corridor Crawl celebrations, was excited to experience what she normally does not get to see: Columbia students’ showcased creations. “I don’t [usually] get this aspect,” Herndon said. “It’s usually just

move-in day and then I go back. It’s fun to interact and see what [Columbia students] do here. It’s very cool.” More than 25 free public events including dance performances, guided mural tours and live music shows were part of the fourth annual WAC Crawl. The event—hosted by the Department of Exhibitions, Performance and Student Spaces and the Office of Student

Affairs—featured student art exhibitions, modern interpretive dance performances and music events along Wabash Avenue from Congress Parkway to Roosevelt Road, according to its website. Parents and alumni, who visited visiting for Columbia Weekend— the college’s welcome back celebration that occurred Oct. 22 and Oct. 23—as well as South Loop residents and businesses, were also able to attend and participate.

» ERIN BROWN/CHRONICLE Michael Witek, freshman cinema art + science major, painted pumpkins at the 623 S. Wabash Ave. Building Oct. 21 as part of the annual Wabash Arts Corridor Crawl.


» staff

EDITOR’S NOTE

Higher-ups should be fed up with staff contract halts, not just union

MANAGEMENT

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITORS

» MEGAN BENNETT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A

s reported on Page 3, members of the United Staff of Columbia College lined the entrance of a contract negotiation meeting Oct. 18, chanting and expressing frustrations. Some were even holding up copies. of the Oct. 10 issue of The Chronicle that displayed former Columbia president Warrick Carter’s $2 million payout as they pointed out how the discussions have been ongoing for more than three years. US of CC members are still working under their 2010 contract, as reported Dec. 14, 2015, by The Chronicle. The story, even this column, sounds like it has been written several times before. From a historical standpoint, the narrative of the disgruntled union striving for a deal with an administration they feel is not holding up their responsibility will likely be written again. Voicing staff frustration in public settings is not new for US of CC, which used the tactic in attempts to speed up contract negotiations or support other sensible demands such as raises. Throughout years of negotiation, it has staged pickets, facilitated open-member meetings with administrators and circulated petitions. In one of its clever attempts during the Fall 2015 Semester, the union placed “C.O.L.A.” cans throughout campus to express anger about the lack of a cost of living adjustment, which had not been awarded since negotiations began in 2012. Though staff members expressed expectation that the July arrival of new Associate Vice President of Human Resources Norma de Jesus would help accelerate negotiations, they say this has only caused more delays as she gets up to speed and as parties navigate her new ideas. Though the college needed a permanent H.R. official, and it is not her fault that she arrived at the college in the midst of a yearslong administration-employee battle, the negotiations should not have been delayed into the time de Jesus assumed her role. At the very least, the college should have gotten it done before she began to avoid additional hold-ups that are inevitable when bringing in a new team member. These delays, while of course disappointing to the union, should be equally as frustrating to college higher-ups working on the contract. Though the slow movement does 2 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

Megan Bennett Arabella Breck Zoë Eitel DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Lauren Kostiuk AD & BUSINESS MANAGER Charlie Connelly ART DIRECTOR Alexander Aghayere

CAMPUS

CAMPUS EDITOR CAMPUS REPORTERS

Andrea Salcedo Llaurado Amelia Garza Ariana Portalatin Connor Carynski

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ariel Parrella-Aureli ARTS & CULTURE REPORTERS Tyra Bosnic Jonathon Sadowski Brooke Pawling Stennett

METRO

METRO REPORTERS

Eric Bradach Courtney Wolfe Taylor Morris

directly affect the administration, there are COPY other residual effects that should make them COPY CHIEF Abby Lee Hood want the process to move quickly. COPY EDITORS Carolyn Bradley James Firkins While bargaining team members said after the Oct. 18 meeting that they are conGRAPHICS fident and happy with how close the union SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Zoë Haworth is to a contract, it is difficult to think any GRAPHIC Sarah DESIGNERS Impola progress is actually being made considering Gabriel de la Mora those same sentiments have been expressed James Tsitiridis many times. During a period of great fluidity at PHOTOGRAPHY Columbia, where some things change SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR G-Jun Yam often and quickly, staff members should not PHOTO EDITORS Erin Brown Maria Cardona undergo several years of negotiation stops Wesley Herold and starts. This process should be seen as a priority, and some college initiatives that MULTIMEDIA have been expedited should take a backseat. that have MULTIMEDIA REPORTERS McKayla Braid Projects started by the college Trevor Hargis been seen as priority, including the recent rebranding initiative and the student center, ADVERTISING prove that some initiatives—even ones that MARKETING CONSULTANTS Marisa Mackowiak take massive amounts of time and money— Noah Kelly can be pushed faster if so desired. Christian Cook A lack of a contract for staff has a large WEB effect on employee morale and finances. These employees are also involved in stu WEBMASTER Lou Foglia dent lives on a day-to-day basis and the OPERATIONS union’s unnecessary back-and-forth with the college could impact the student experi OFFICE ASSISTANTS Ethan Stocking-Anderson Gretchen Sterba ence or morale, especially if the staff chooses to leave or cannot afford to stay. SENIOR STAFF If students are customers, then the GENERAL MANAGER Chris Richert employees on the ground act as customer FACULTY ADVISER Len Strazewski service—the most important element of an ASSISTANT FACULTY ADVISER Stephanie Goldberg institution or business wanting to increase its revenue. The college cannot afford to push these staff members to the side any longer while attempts to turn around enrollment are in full force. mbennett@chroniclemail.com

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Campus self defense classes aim to prepare participants » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Multimedia

» PHOTOS G-JUN YAM/CHRONICLE

Members of the United Staff of Columbia College picketed outside an Oct. 18 bargaining meeting, held at the 624 S. Michigan Ave. Building, to raise awareness about their lack of a contract.

Staff members picket to stop ‘stonewalling’ contract agreement » AMELIA GARZA CAMPUS REPORTER HOLDING SIGNS THAT read “We are more than one percent!” and “Quit stonewalling,” members of the United Staff of Columbia College picketed the Library’s fifth floor as members of the bargaining team entered a contract negotiation meeting on Oct. 18. US of CC’s negotiations team wanted to force Columbia’s negotiators to take a “walk of shame” as they lined the bargaining meeting’s entrance in the 624 S. Michigan Ave. Building, said Cat Bromels, print service manager in the Design Department and member of US of CC’s bargaining and contract support team. Bromels added that the “walk of shame” was intended to be an informational picket to make a statement on behalf of US of CC. “[It’s] to inform our members how long we’ve been bargaining, to show the college that our membership is in support of the union’s bargaining team, [and] that we’re tired of waiting to get the contract signed,” Bromels said. US of CC and the college have been negotiating a contract agreement for approximately three years, as reported Sept. 12 by The Chronicle. “The college can clearly move very quickly with decisions when they want; they canceled a BFA program over the summer,” Bromels said. As reported Sept. 12 by The Chronicle, US of CC President and engineer in the Radio Department Nick Hoeppner said the

union was “cautiously optimistic” that the negotiation would keep moving forward. This has since changed, he said on the day of the picket. Hoeppner told The Chronicle Oct. 18 that the union has not made much progress with its latest contract offer, adding that when the contract went to review, many issues he thought were put to rest were reopened. “The struggle has come down to just a few economic issues in the contract,” Hoeppner said. “When I say economic issues, that’s salaries [and] benefits.” Bromels said Columbia’s staff is also concerned about being replaced by student workers.

“We in no way don’t want student workers to have jobs, but students are going to learn better if they’re working with a staff member versus just doing work professional staffers do,” Bromels said. Another important issue is a cost-ofliving increase for staff. According to Bromels, staff members have not received a cost-of-living adjustment in more than three years. The cost of living rose by 14 percent since 2009, but staff received its last increase—5.5 percent—that year. Union members want fair pay as their wages are fairly low against market value, which they accept because they love working at the college, Bromels added. Sheila Brady, fellow member of US of CC and coordinator for the Education Department, said staff members need to be applauded for their work at the college. “It’s time for staff to be recognized as the critical element it is in the lives of students,” Brady said. “We need to see that [recognition] in respect given to us by administration, but also in our salary checks.” According to Brady, with new personnel added to Human Resources, negotiations were expected to accelerate; however, this has not been the case. Mary Badger, US of CC negotiations chair and director of theater facilities for the Theatre Department, said H.R. has delayed the contract negotiation. “We’ve had a new director of Human Resources, [Norma de Jesus], added to the US of CC has been negotiating a contract for three years, said Cat Bromels, US of CC member and print service manger of the Design Department.

mix,” Badger said. “Getting her up to speed and having her own opinion on things has delayed things.” According to an Oct. 20 statement from the College News Office on behalf of de Jesus, she requested more information and clarification from US of CC after reviewing the contract proposal but those discussions were resolved quickly and the parties have been meeting regularly since then. “The meetings have been positive and productive, and everyone involved is looking forward to finalizing the renewal contract very soon,” the statement said. Badger, who was a part of the Oct. 18 bargaining meeting, said she was happy with the progress made at the meeting and is hopeful of forward progress. “We’re down to the last bit of nitty-gritty things, and that’s always the hardest thing to get done in any kind of negotiation,” Badger said. According the Badger, the “nitty-gritty” of the negotiation is compensation. As for the union’s bargaining and contract support team, Bromels said at the rally that the union plans to “poster the campus” to get its voice heard. “We want to raise awareness across campus and show the school that the longer it takes [to get a contract], the more active we’re going to be,” Bromels said. Brady added that the union has done its part and hopes administration will now do the same. “The reason we organized the union was to have a voice and to have a place at the table so staff is not just manipulated. We have done that,” Brady said. “But, I think it’s time that administration cooperate.” agarza@chroniclemail.com

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 3


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Professor, stars share ‘ideas’ on comedy’s power » ANDREA SALCEDO LLAURADO CAMPUS EDITOR ALTHOUGH MOST COMEDIANS like to pretend comedy and jokes happen magically, they are far more calculated than what people see on the stage, said Anne Libera, assistant professor in the Theatre Department and director of Columbia and Second City’s comedy studies program. “One of the questions I get most frequently is ‘How can you teach comedy? Aren’t people just naturally funny?’” Libera said. “As much as all these comedians like to pretend it’s magic, it’s not. It’s really more like math.” Libera hosted the Chicago Ideas Week Oct. 19 discussion “Comedy: But Seriously…” The discussion included prominent comedy creators such as Bob Saget, best known for his role as Danny

Tanner in the hit TV series “Full House;” Negin Farsad, comedian and author best known for her book “How to Make White People Laugh”; Chelsea Devantez, writer for Jon Stewart’s new HBO project and former Second City performer; and Phoebe Robinson, comedian and author of the book “You Can’t Touch My Hair.” Saget entertained the audience with jokes about how he’s not a “carrier” when he greeted Libera with a handshake and his thrill being at the event instead of watching “the f--king [presidential] debate” that was simultaneously occurring. As for being a comedian, he said it is about more than fame. “Being a celebrity isn’t anything,” Saget said. “Doing good work [and] being great at whatever you’re passionate about [is].” Before the Q&A, the packed auditorium filled with chatter as

6 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

strangers turned to each other and introduced themselves, an example of what these events can accomplish, said Chicago Ideas Week Director of Marketing & Media Sona Jones. Chicago Ideas Week is a festival with more than 150 events Oct. 17–23. During the event, Libera explained that the best comedy moments occur when the elements

» WESLEY HEROLD/CHRONICLE

of recognition, pain and distance join to produce laughter. “You get to this great moment where all of the elements come together, and a group of people sitting in a half dark [room] have the same thought at the same time, and they do this amazing thing: they laugh,” Libera said. During the Q&A session, Devantez said no topic is off-limits

Anne Libera, director of Columbia and Second City’s comedy program hosted the “Comedy: But Seriously...” Oct. 19 talk that featured comedian Bob Saget.

when it comes to jokes. Robinson agreed , adding that you can make fun of anything as long as you do it the in the right context. Farsad said one way of using stereotypes in comedy is to show how ridiculous they are. For example, when Trump referred to vetting Muslims in the U.S., Farsad walked through New York city asking people to eat bacon to prove they were not Muslim. “I would ask them ‘Are you Muslim?,’ and I would say ‘Prove it!’” Farsad said as the audience laughed. “If they didn’t eat the bacon, I [would sarcastically say] ‘You’re Muslim!’” Libera, who asked the audience if comedy can be used as a social change agent, said for her the answer is uncertain. However, there is one thing comedy can show people, she said. “Can comedy create change? I honestly don’t know,” Libera said. “But comedy [can] tell us that we’re [all] changing.” asalcedo@chroniclemail.com


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Kim ‘chats’ about student concerns, college’s future » ARIANA PORTALATIN CAMPUS REPORTER PRESIDENT AND CEO Kwang-Wu Kim answered students’ questions and concerns regarding dropping enrollment, curricular changes and the recently launched rebranding campaign at the biannual, Student Government Associationhosted forum. The discussion, titled “Let’s Chat: A Conversation With Dr. Kim,” was held Oct. 18 at the Hokin Gallery in the 623 S. Wabash Ave Building. Kim, joined by Senior Vice President and Provost Stan Wearden and Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications Deborah Maue, said opportunities for student input are important for understanding students’ priorities. “How close do we get to fulfilling our promise to you and setting

you up to be successful?,” Kim said. “That’s the fundamental question.” SGA president and senior business & entrepreneurship major Kaela Ritter said in previous forums, SGA members would prepare questions prior to the event. This year, to increase involvement, the organization allowed attendees to submit questions. Kim was questioned about the Communication and Media Innovation Department’s retention

President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim responded to students’ questions and concerns during the biannual “Let’s Chat” event.

rate and whether retention was a problem in other departments. When comparing student enrollment between the Fall 2015 and current semesters, the CMI Department lost 69 students, according to data from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Kim said colleges are generally considered successful if they have an 80 percent retention rate. College spokeswoman Cara Birch said the retention rate at the start of Kim’s presidency in 2013 was 67.5 percent, and is now up to 70.5 percent. Kim added Columbia is increasing its focus on suburban enrollment in response to a pattern

» ERIN BROWN/CHRONICLE

of dropping enrollment from the city’s suburbs. “We’re working on this,” Kim said. “We keep asking the question, ‘How are we going to build our enrollment back to the point where we’re a little bit stronger in terms of the resources we have as a result?’” Columbia’s fashion studies BFA program’s curriculum changes were also brought up after a student asked Kim about his involvement in the changes and how they would benefit students. As reported Sept. 30 by The Chronicle, Jeff Schiff, interim chair of the Fashion Studies Department, sent an email to students announcing curricular changes, later clarified to only be proposals, that would eliminate the fashion BFA program and create a single undergraduate program to meet the demands of the fashion industry. Kim said he was not involved in the decision and emphasized this is only a proposal that would need several levels of approval before being implemented.

“My question for all proposals is going to be, ‘Show me where the input is from the industry that justifies [the change]’, Kim said. The college’s recent rebranding was also discussed. As reported Sept. 19 by The Chronicle, a rebranding and advertising campaign was launched to increase enrollment and brand awareness. Kim said when his presidency began, he was surprised to see that Columbia was not advertised sufficiently. “From so many years of not stating that we are a quality institution, the world tends to not know that about us,” Kim said. Megan Merry, a sophomore American Sign Language-English interpretation major, said she thought Kim answered the questions very thoroughly and didn’t leave out any details. “They were very honest when it came to money and branding,” Merry said. “They didn’t hide anything, [and] I like that.” aportalatin@chroniclemail.com

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 7


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Students meet international filmmakers at CIFF panels » AMELIA GARZA CAMPUS REPORTER COLUMBIA PARTNERED WITH the 52nd annual Chicago International Film Festival to host panels with directors and filmmakers for

audiences of students, faculty and the general public. The Columbia-hosted panels included “New Directors,” Oct. 18 and “Lunch with the Filmmakers” Oct. 20 and another “Lunch with the Filmmakers” will be held Oct.

» ERIN BROWN/CHRONICLE Columbia, who hosted panels for the 2016 Chicago International Film Festival, has partnered with the organization for more than a decade, according to CIFF’s Managing Director Vivian Teng.

25 at the Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. CIFF will be showing films until Oct. 27. The college has supported and promoted CIFF’s New Directors Program for more than 11 years, according to Vivian Teng, managing director of CIFF, who said Columbia is a “top film school.” “We have a longstanding relationship with Columbia,” Teng said. “We love working with the faculty and definitely with the professors and the film students [who] are very enthusiastic.” According to Teng, CIFF is the largest film festival in the Midwest, screening approximately 175 films from more than 50 countries. She added that the festival expects about 60,000 attendees. Attendees of the “New Directors Panel,” held in Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. engaged in an open discussion about “The Political and the Personal.” The directors, whose films premiered at CIFF, included Erica Weiss, Carlos Lechuga, Tamer El Said and Nathan Adloff.

“The View from Tall” was the first film Weiss co-directed, and she said many elements of the film had a political theme. “This film was an attempt to take a stand and make a statement,” Weiss said. “We had a character who is disabled, [and] we have an actor that is also disabled playing the role.” Weiss and co-director Caitlin Parrish also made a statement by having a primarily female crew, she added. “We cast [the film] all locally [in Chicago] with a 65 percent female crew and 80 percent female department heads, which is something I’m very proud of,” Weiss said. Unlike the “New Directors Panel,” only Columbia students were able to attend “Lunch with the Filmmakers.” Held in room 711 of the Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., students had the chance to talk with filmmakers Vardan Tozija, Shawn Convey, Jordan Melamed, and Juho Kuosmanen.

Melamed, whose third film and first documentary, “Futures Past,” was shown at the festival, said he use to trade commodities but left his finance career to pursue filmmaking. He added that now he lives a different, more fulfilling life and encouraged students to follow their passions. “This is real life,” Melamed said. “You can do something for the world with your films but even if you don’t and you’re just telling stories, you’re doing something for people. People need that escape.” Teng said although movies can now be streamed online, there is nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen. She added CIFF is a once-a-year opportunity to experience films students might not typically be exposed to. “Take advantage of this opportunity,” Teng said. See the films [you] might not otherwise have a chance to see and chat with people [you] may not have the opportunity to talk to.” agarza@chroniclemail.com

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Music producer, alumnus gives back to students » ARIANA PORTALATIN CAMPUS REPORTER MARCOS PALACIOS, A Grammy-nominated music producer and 2006 business & entrepreneurship alumnus, will appear at a series of events to discuss his success and give advice to students on their career paths. Palacios, who will be on campus Oct. 21–28, is the co-founder of “Da Internz,” a music production company he started while attending Columbia. He has worked with notable artists such as Rihanna, Nas and Justin Bieber. His residency includes lecturing in Business & Entrepreneurship Department classes, as well as guest speaking at two events. The events include the Oct. 24 “ReWrite Ya Life” at the Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., and the Oct. 27 Career Center

launch at the 618 S. Michigan Ave. Building. Palacios said he hopes to be a resource during his time at the college. “The monotony of school can be tedious, [and] I hope this is a breath of fresh air to motivate them to want to be better and to grow,” Palacios said. Beth Ryan, a lecturer in the Business & Entrepreneurship Department who taught Palacios, said she and her former student discussed a visit to the college a few years ago. Palacios is the first of many alumni Artists-inResidence Columbia plans to bring to the college, she added. “He’s always had a desire to give back to Columbia, [teach students] what he wishes he knew when he was in the classroom and how to get your career started,” Ryan said.

The “ReWrite Ya Life” event will be hosted by Creative Industry Collective—previously known as the Art of Business/ Business of Art organization. Francesca Brilli, the group’s vice president and junior business & entrepreneurship major, said she was excited about Palacios’ visit. The “ReWrite Ya Life” event is based on the talk of the same name Palacios did at the TEDxColumbiaCollegeChicago event during the Spring 2016 Semester, Brilli said. “Success is absolutely in the journey, not the destination,” Palacios said in his TEDx presentation. “You have the opportunity to rewrite your life everyday. Life is going to come at you from every different angle. That doesn’t mean swim against the tide. Ride the wave.” Brilli said Palacios coming back to Columbia to share his experience with students reflects well on his character. “He stands as a role model, showing people, ‘This is what

» Courtesy MARCOS PALACIOS Music producer and 2006 business & entrepreneurship alumnus Marcos Palacios will be discussing his success during his Columbia residency.

you can do with what you’ve been given here,’” Brilli said. According to Mary Filice, interim chair of the Business & Entrepreneurship Department, Palacios represents Columbia’s current student body. “He represents our students across the college, but also [students] within this department who are creative [and] realize the need to have the skills to continue having a successful and meaningful career,” Filice said. “He’s an

ideal model for what we believe in here at Columbia.” Palacios said Columbia helped prepare him for his career with opportunities such as the Semester in L.A. program. “It was an incredible platform for me to be able to get a summary of what music business entails,” Palacios said. “All these opportunities just prepared me to get out and govern myself.”

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CAMPUS WAC, FROM FRONT

and a “Radio-Active: We Got the Beat” show organized by the Radio A fashion show, film screen- Department and the DJ club . ings, and a pop-up art store were Aleah Jackson, a freshman jouralso part of Columbia’s crawl. nalism major, attended the fashion Local groups’ events included show “Kaleidoscope: A Fashion a “Solarbeatz ” mobile sound Frenzy ” in the 618 S. Michigan stage presentation hosted by the Ave. Building, which showcased Student Programming Board garments from different countries

including Mexico and Asia. She said these events reflect the college’s appeal to various audiences. “It shows Columbia’s diversity, [and] it shows how Columbia appeals to all kinds of audiences,” Jackson said. This is the first art crawl in which former Vice President of

Student Success and WAC creator Mark Kelly did not participate. Kelly, who created WAC to foster relationships with the surrounding community and showcase the talent of the Columbia community, left the college during the summer to be the city’s Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and » WESLEY HEROLD/CHRONICLE

The “Wabash Arts Corridor Crawl at MoCP,” a multidisciplinary art exhibit, at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in the 600 S. Michigan Ave. Building, was one of the Oct. 21 WAC events.

Special Events as reported July 7 by The Chronicle. Neysa Page-Lieberman— director of DEPS, adjunct professor in the Business & Entrepreneurship Department and WAC curator— said more students wanted to participate in the event than previously because of the local, national and international exposure WAC has recently received. “The majority of the event planners have been students,” PageLieberman said. “We’re seeing such enthusiasm over the events taking place, and the ways students want to represent ourselves.” Page-Lieberman filled the role Kelly left behind and said she does not think the event’s dynamic has changed because of his departure. The crawl still has all of its key players and partners who organized the event when Kelly was present at the college , she added. “It gets bigger and more dynamic every year, and that hasn’t changed at all with Kelly leaving,” PageLieberman said. chronicle@colum.edu

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12 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016


ARTS & CULTURE

Student fashion show promotes body positivity » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Multimedia » PHOTOS MARIA CARDONA/CHRONICLE

XO Marshmallow, a local marshmallow company, created a unique dessert that resembles a donut, which they are tentatively calling a “marsh-halo.”

Local gourmet marshmallows evoke camping nostalgia » ARIEL PARRELLA-AURELI ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR THIS TIME LAST year, Kat Connor was a busy and broke law student looking for easy holiday gifts for her friends and family. Her solution was to make marshmallows from scratch, an experience that took off in a way she could never have predicted. “People went nuts over the marshmallows and the idea that you could make them,” Connor said. Soon after, Connor decided to try to make a profit from her experimental gourmet marshmallows, which resulted in the creation of XO Marshmallow, a company she founded with Lindzi Shanks, a blogger and fashion designer who owns an online retailer called The Trendy Sparrow. Since then, the young company has experienced rapid growth. After research on crowdfunding platforms, Connor said XO Marshmallow launched a month-long Kickstarter campaign and discovered a big demand for the product. The campaign, which ended Oct. 13, raised $6,288 in less than 30 days—more than its $5,500 goal.

“We got contacted by different news organizations [and] bloggers for orders and events, so even before our Kickstarter was halfway through, we were looking at two or three events a week [of sampling marshmallows],” she said. The online campaign received attention from the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication that hosts the annual Big Idea Awards. XO Marshmallow was a finalist for this year’s awards, and on Oct. 13—just hours after its Kickstarter wrapped up— the team won its “Eat and Drink” category. The award show audience voted for each category. The winners of each category received a $1,000 cash prize, ads in RedEye’s print edition, a one-year small business membership to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and a gift certificate to apply toward event registration. With the new funding, Connor said the most important purchase will be a new kitchen. Connor makes all 12 marshmallow flavors by hand, which

include kinds like raspberry and champagne. Shanks is responsible for marketing and design and said the duo’s best-selling flavor is salted caramel, but her favorite is the honey lavender. Connor said she did not expect the marshmallows to “fly off the shelves” and cannot keep up with increasing orders because of outdated equipment. “The orders are coming in, but [Connor] has a mixer that is so small they don’t even make that size anymore,” Shanks said. Currently, Connor said she works out of Wired Coffee House’s kitchen in Lakeview, 3508 N. Broadway. Wired also sells XO Marshmallows and has a second location in Evanston on the Metra platform. Connor said she hopes to make the Evanston kitchen the company’s permanent cooking home and store. For now, those wanting local marshmallows can walk into Wired or order online, but Shanks Chicago native Kat Connor (above) and Lindzi Shanks (left), founders of XO Marshmallow, started a Kickstarter for their company and raised more than $6,000. The company also won the “Eat and Drink” category of RedEye’s Big Idea Awards Oct. 13.

said another long-term goal is a permanent store with a hot chocolate and s’mores bar. In the meantime, XO Marshmallows will temporarily be in Block 37 starting Black Friday, Nov. 25, through December as part of the Boss Babe pop-up, which will feature multiple female-run businesses. The duo was also recently featured on Snapchat’s Sweet Magazine Oct. 19. Shanks said because of Snapchat’s publicity, XO Marshmallows sold 40 boxes of goods in one day. “It’s been a lot of exposure and increased awareness, which is perfect because we are getting right into prime marshmallow season as the temperatures start to drop,” Shanks said. The founders pride themselves on using local and fresh ingredients for their goods. All the marshmallows are gluten-free, eggfree, preservative-free and Kosher. Shanks said they want to make vegan options but keep the same gourmet taste. Chicago is known for many vegan options and restaurants like The Chicago Diner, most notable for its vegan milkshakes, according to Dan Reed, marketing director of Chicago Vegan Foods, the company that makes vegan ice cream for the milkshakes. Chicago Vegan Foods was started in 2001 by Ryan Howard and Dan Ziegler. They took their activism fighting for animal rights by making marshma llows, trying to change the perspective of veganism and bring attention to products that support factory farming. Dandies Marshmallows, part of Chicago Vegan Foods, created in 2009, now has more than five flavors, including seasonal varieties such as pumpkin and peppermint, and sells in Whole Foods Markets across the country, Reed said. “Over the years, we have evolved our recipes, so we can reach this point where we have a marshmallow made with all natural ingredients that ethically aligns with who we are and still continues to get the taste and texture right,” Reed said. Both companies aim to bring classy sweets to Chicago. Connor stressed that XO is trying to relive childhood memories. “We are trying to take something that brings you back in a very nostalgic way to having that s’more by the campfire, or a hot cup of cocoa,” Connor said. aparrella@chroniclemail.com

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 13


ARTS & CULTURE Thursday, Oct. 27 STITCHED UP HEART » ZOË EITEL MANAGING EDITOR

Wolverine isn't the only member of X-Men

"

L

ogan," the third standalone Wolverine movie, will be the next addition to the "X-Men" franchise. The first trailer for the movie was released Oct. 20 and turns away from the direction of previous movies. Taking place an unspecified number of years in the future, "Logan" once again stars Hugh Jackman as an older version of the title character. Patrick Stewart also reprises as the original Professor X. With vague details, a strange choice of background music and a large number of wordless, meaningful stares between the two main characters, the trailer makes the upcoming movie look like a bummer. Professor X is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, Wolverine's powers are fading and there's a little girl who needs their help. The trailer makes the movie seem more like a drama than the action-packed thrillers fans are used to. Though the story does come from an "Old Man Logan" comic book, it is an unnecessary addition to the franchise. The previous two Wolverine movies were disappointments that should have warned Marvel against doing another standalone movie for the character. Though Wolverine is a staple of the "X-Men" movies and Jackman is the only actor to portray the same superhero for 16 years, there are other X-Men members who deserve their own shots at a solo film. Jean Grey, Mystique, Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Iceman and Nightcrawler all have major roles in one or more of the "X-Men" team movies but have not had a chance to completely tell their stories. Storm, the daughter of a Kenyan princess played by Halle Berry in the majority of the movies, took over leading Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters as well as the X-Men after Professor X briefly died in "X-Men: The Last Stand." Despite her interesting and complicated background and powers, Storm's largest role was in "X-Men: Apocalypse"

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when a young version of her, played by Alexandra Shipp, served as a sidekick to the movie's antagonist En Sabah Nur. Gambit, who had a background role in the first standalone Wolverine movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," was going to get his own film starring Channing Tatum this year, but development was postponed, and the release has been pushed to an undisclosed date. It was announced in 2014 that Tatum would take on the lead role. In addition to Gambit, an immense number of interesting mutants in the "X-Men" universe have only gotten a small stint on screen. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" and "X-Men: Apocalypse" introduced mutants previously seen in the comics such as Jubilee, Sunspot, Psylocke, Quicksilver and Blink. However, those characters weren't given nearly enough screentime. The failure of the previous Wolverine movies compared to the success of the larger team movies is an obvious indicator that a third starring Jackson is not needed. But, because the movie has already been made and Shadowcat isn't around to send us back in time, Marvel needs to use its other interesting characters for future films. Jackman has said he is done playing Wolverine after this movie. Let's hope he keeps his promise.

14 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

zeitel@chroniclemail.com

Friday, Oct. 28

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Cory Bishop, lead singer of The New Schematics, performed at The Ogden Chicago, 1659 W. Ogden Ave., on Oct. 20.

» G-JUN YAM/CHRONICLE


ARTS & CULTURE

Historical walking tour reveals unknown, spooky side of Chicago » TYRA BOSNIC ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER LINCOLN PARK IS now one of Chicago’s premier North Side neighborhoods, but in the 19th century, it was known as City Cemetery. A series of tours explores the history of the neighborhood as a home for the dead and an active site for grave robbers. The Oct. 25 walking tour, Grave Robbing 101, is one of several tours by author and Mysterious Chicago tour guide Adam Selzer. According to Selzer, the idea for the themed tour derived from his research for other projects, including a book called “The Smart Aleck’s Guide to Grave Robbing.” “I started running into a lot of stories about grave robbers operating in the old City Cemetery,” Selzer said. “I thought it would be

fun to combine a tour with tips and tricks of how the old grave robbers used to operate.” Selzer added that what makes Mysterious Chicago tours different from others is the accuracy of the information presented in each tour. “There are plenty of ghost stories where even the historic parts behind them have no basis in fact,” Selzer said, citing the lack of accuracy in ghost stories as a motivation for organizing his own tours. Learning Chicago history through the lens of ghosts and grave robbing makes the information unique to participants while remaining informative, he said. “There is a whole side of history that did not even make it into the history books,” Selzer said. “There are antique serial killers that nobody has ever heard of. It

adds another layer to the history beyond just the Al Capone stuff.” Although walking tours like Grave Robbing 101 can seem like a fun excursion, educating people on the city’s history in any way is beneficial, according to Dominic Pacyga, a professor in the Humanities, History and Social Sciences Department. Pacyga said he thinks knowledge of the city’s history is important because of the city’s impact on the nation. “Chicago is a very interesting city, and some people think it is the most American of all cities,” he said. “Various events that took place here had a national impact.” Leyla Royale, who runs the website DeadInChicago.com—a site that documents peculiar events or people less talked about in Chicago’s history—has joined Selzer as a co-tour guide on some

haunted walking tours. According to Royale, ghost stories are a way to introduce participants to Chicago history. “[History includes] stories and things that are fascinating,” Royale said. “You end up telling people history and giving people knowledge, and they just thought they were hearing a ghost story.” According to Royale, learning the Chicago’s history gives people a wider perspective of the city they live in. “It’s important because it gets people to think about the past more and see beyond just what they see right now,” Royale said. Royale said she thinks the ability to see the progression of Chicago through history can also build a stronger sense of pride. “You can look back and see how much the city has changed and how it has grown,” Royale said. “Knowing the past brings a lot of pride [to residents].” » GABRIEL DE LA MORA/CHRONICLE

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OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 15


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16 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016


ARTS & CULTURE

New restaurant aims to be ‘grandma’s kitchen’

restaurant earned $34,917 by the end of the donation period. Wines, who inherited a love of cooking from her grandmother, whom the restaurant is named for, said Sweet Virginia’s Kitchen is Chef Angie Wines and her part- designed to have a “dinner-with» JONATHON SADOWSKI ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER ner, Anneliese Moy, launched a grandma” atmosphere. Kickstarter Sept. 19 to complete “It’s just the idea of cooking LINCOLN SQUARE IS about to get funding and purchase extra from scratch, not cutting corners,” a whole lot “sweeter” with the kitchen equipment including an Wines said. “Everything we do November opening of a new ice cream cabinet, charbroiler takes a little extra time.” restaurant serving smoked meats, and convection ovens for Sweet Wines and Moy are also dedidesserts and other made-from- Virginia’s Kitchen, the new restau- cated to community involvement, scratch dishes. rant at 5131 N. Damen Ave. The the chef said. Claire Shingler, a board member » Courtesy ANGIE WINES of the Bowmanville Community Organization, said the couple started turning up at various community events and offering food service to Amundsen High School and Chappell Elementary School, something she has never seen a business do before opening. Shingler said other business owners have introduced themselves to the BCO and advertised in the community newsletter, Chef Angie Wines and her partner Anneliese Moy will serve up several down- but never to the extent of Sweet home favorites at Sweet Virginia’s Kitchen, 5131 N. Damen Ave. Virginia’s Kitchen.

“This is the furthest I’ve seen a business go,” Shingler said. “The fact that they’re doing it before they’ve even opened their actual business is remarkable.” Wines said she and Moy are giving and caring people by nature. The two have a daughter together, and Moy has a background in social work, Wines added. “I’m a little baffled at businesses that don’t want to [get involved in the community] or don’t make an effort to,” Wines said. “There’s no harm in it. You’re only going to be bettering everyone around you.” Christopher Comes, spokesman for Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is glad to have Sweet Virginia’s Kitchen opening. “Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce is always striving to work in the community to welcome local independent businesses,” Comes said. Sweet Virginia’s Kitchen’s Kickstarter campaign got off to a slow start and had only reached about half of its goal by Oct. 8 but

received a surge in funding Oct. 11 from multiple large donations, surpassing its $24,860 goal. Wines said managing the Kickstarter campaign was something of a full-time job, an observation she passes on to people who contact her from all over the world to ask her how she helped her campaign succeed. “You can’t just put a campaign out there and hope it gets funded,” she said. “You’ve got to really work every day at it.” If the Kickstarter had failed, Wines said the menu would have suffered because she could not have afforded many necessities for the restaurant she envisioned. Shingler said the campaign’s sudden success was likely driven by Wines and Moy’s deepening connection to the community. “That is exactly the thing to do for a new business,” Shingler said. “Try to build relationships into the community from the very start, because that’s the key to success.” jsadowski@chroniclemail.com

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OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 17


ARTS & CULTURE

Dance Center performance challenges archetypes of masculinity » CONNOR CARYNSKI CAMPUS REPORTER PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF the African, black male body and how it has been affected by societal norms and colonialism were challenged through dance in the performance of “portrait of myself as my father.” The performance, performed and choreographed by Nora Chipaumire, accompanied by dancers Pape Ibrahima N’diaye and Shamar Watt, was presented Oct. 20–22 at Columbia’s Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave. The piece, which premiered Sept. 14 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, will continue touring Nov. 17–20, according the MAPP International Productions website schedule. Expressing a theme of athleticism, the stage was made to appear as though it was a boxing ring, and Chipaumire wore football pads

» Courtesy MAPP PRODUCTIONS Fog lights were the only lighting choreographer Nora Chipaumire used in her performance. The lights resulted in dramatic shadows in the performance space.

and sweatpants. This performance examined the stereotype of men as lacking intellectual capacity and concerned with strength, according to Chipaumire. In the show, Chipaumire’s father was portrayed as a champion athlete, also symbolic of masculinity. Separated at the age of five, Chipaumire said she never had the opportunity to fully know her

father. When conducting research for this work, she took an interest in her father’s life and the struggles he may have faced in colonial Africa, she added. “I didn’t want to create some kind of monstrous, absent man, which is how the black male is generally portrayed in the world,” Chipaumire said. “I wanted to create somebody who had complexity

and probably lives up to many of the stereotypes of the black man but still is dealt with as a complex human being.” Chipaumire, born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, is a three-time winner of the New York Dance and Performance award “The Bessie,” according to the NYDP website archives. She created “portrait of myself as my father,” she said, as a companion to her previous work “rite riot,” which was a solo performance that explored aspects of female identity in the same way this piece explores the identity of men. Bonnie Brooks, an associate professor in the Dance Department and Dance Center curator, arranged for Chipaumire to come to Columbia to show the work. She had seen Nora’s previous work in the past. “I felt like her voice would be a really good fit for our season this year,” Brooks said.

After the Oct. 20 performance, most of the audience stayed for a post-performance discussion with Chipaumire, N’diaye and Watt, which was moderated by Raquel Monroe, an associate professor in the Dance Department. On Oct. 21, there was a pre-performance discussion with the performers, Monroe and Thomas DeFrantz, professor in the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University. Odaliss Cornejo, a freshman business & entrepreneurship major who attended the Oct. 20 show, said she enjoyed how the performance blended African culture with modern cultural issues. “[With the piece, I want to] create a discussion—just add to the whole philosophical discourse here,” Chipaumire said. “It’s beyond awareness; it is really creating discussions that matter, dialogue, conversations that matter about what is contemporary art and what is a human being.” ccarynski@chroniclemail.com

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Feature

interest Fans, followers of serial killers often ‘condemned’ for

w

Story by Zoë Eitel

h ile he was on trial for the murders of 36 women, Ted Bundy had fans flocking to the courthouse, proclaiming his innocence. He received daily bags of fan mail: declarations of love and photographs from fans. One woman, Carole Ann Boone, became involved with Bundy after his arrest, and they were married in 1980 during his trial for the murder of a 12-year-old, while Boone was serving as a character witness. Bundy’s reported charisma and good looks were part of what drew in fans, but he was not unique as a convicted killer with a following. In 1993, convicted serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer received $11,000 from pen pals, despite confessing to the 17 murders for which he was tried. It could be the infamy of these men, a belief in their innocence or some other attraction that drives people’s interest in convicted serial killers, but like the draw of a movie star, these attractions to serial killers are a reality. Afton Elaine Burton, or Star as she prefers, the former fiance of infamous Charles Manson, runs a website collecting letters in support of the convicted mastermind behind the Manson Family murders, titled “Release Charles Manson Now.” While the internet is a resource for killer-dedicated websites and historical information, it can also spur new interests. A 40-year-old CPA from Brooklyn, who goes by the online pseudonym Rose A. Nation, began learning about serial killers when she read about Bundy and was compelled by how he lured women in to kill them. “When he was at a grocery store, he would wear a cast on his arm and crutches at times, and it was, ‘Help me with some groceries,’ and as soon as they would bend over to put the groceries in, he would abduct them,” Nation, who helps run a Facebook group for fans of serial killers, explained. Nation, who said she was initially shocked by Bundy’s crimes because she grew up in a “privileged bubble,” added that people in her life know about her interest in serial killers. However, they do not understand it. “The fascination [in serial killers] cannot be explained entirely through negative emotions,” said David Schmid, author and professor of English at the University at Buffalo. “In ways that our culture really does not want to admit, the serial killer is a figure that draws us, that fascinates us in a more positive sense.”

20 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

Design by James Tsitiridis

Schmid, who wrote the 2005 book “Natural Born Celebrities: Serial Killers in American Culture,” said the societal norm is to condemn fans of serial killers and view their fascination as inappropriate. Denouncing those people, he added, allows the passive interest that everyone has in crime and these killers to seem more acceptable because it is not seen as fanaticism. Serial killers are some of the scariest and most dangerous members of society, but people tend to be captivated by that danger and the “nature of evil,” according to forensic psychologist Shawn Johnston, who specializes in multiple murderers. “It’s difficult to think of anything that’s more horrifying than a serial killer,” Johnston said. “They’re almost like a different species from the rest of us.” The internet and social media has made it easier to connect with other serial killer fans and find information on these killers than it was for Bundy’s original fans. Pages and accounts on various social media sites discuss stories and personal feelings about serial killers. The private Facebook group Nation co-administrates, “Serial Killers & Twisted Minds,” has nearly 6,000 members. A similar group, “Serial Killer Obsession,” has almost 4,000. Because of Facebook’s community guidelines on posts, photos depicting violence or gore are typically removed, so crime scene photos and pictures of victims are rare in these groups. But photos of well-known killers and little-known stories or facts about them, as well as news stories of lesser-known murderers can be found in these groups. One post on “Serial Killer Obsession” includes a user’s list of his favorite serial killers, and a claim that he once wrote to Richard Ramirez, aka “The Night Stalker,” who terrorized California in the mid-1980s when he killed at least 13 people. Nation said she discourages anyone from reaching out directly to convicted killers because it could put them in danger. “I’m very fascinated with [serial killers]; I have no intention of writing any of them,” Nation said. “I personally don’t recommend it when [members] write about it in the group.” For most of these group members, their interest in serial killers is passive and does not affect their day-to-day lives, but some people can become deeply involved with convicted killers, to the point of it taking over their lives.

Author of the 1990 book “Women Who Love Men Who Kill,” Sheila Isenberg found that the dozens of women she spoke to who were involved with convicted killers were all victims of past abuse, and their relationships with the convicted killers consumed all their time. They began their relationships for many reasons, but most said they felt safe and in control with the men in prison. Their fixations were also able to spend time on the women and their relationships that unincarcerated men would not be able to. “A man behind bars for murder and spending life in prison without parole or on death row has a lot of time on his hands,” Isenberg said. “He can be extremely romantic and creative in being romantic.” In one case, Doreen Lioy married Ramirez while he was in prison in 1996, and they were together until he died of natural causes in 2013. Lioy told CNN in 1997 that marrying “The Night Stalker” caused her family to disown her, but being with him was her “dream.” These relationships can also become dangerous. In 1980, Veronica Compton began writing to convicted killer Kenneth Bianchi, half of the Hillside Stranglers duo. Bianchi convinced Compton to kill someone and plant evidence to cast doubt on his conviction. After Compton’s victim overpowered her, Compton was sent to prison. There, she began correspondence with Douglas Daniel Clark, who was on trial for multiple murders and sent her crime scene photos. Compton can be considered the model of an obsessive fan who seeks out dangerous men, hoping for relationships. Hybristophilia, an attraction to people who commit violent crimes like rape and murder, can be a cause of such extreme cases of obsession. “You can put yourself in a dangerous position,” Johnston said. “I would strongly urge young women who are involved with violent guys to run the other way screaming; they’re playing a very dangerous game.” Jerry Hollingsworth, a professor of Sociology at McMurry University, teaches a class titled “Serial Killer Investigations,” that covers famous killers like Bundy, Dahmer and Chicago’s own John Wayne Gacy. In his class, students create their own serial killers and investigators to understand the inner workings of real life killers and why they commit violent crimes. As part of the project, students also give their killers paraphilias, or abnormal sexual desires. “I introduced [hybristophilia] to my students, and they were just shocked,” Hollingsworth said. “Most


of these women are kind of delusional and find [ways] to make excuses for the people they’re attracted to.” Isenberg doesn’t consider the women in her book hybristophiliacs because, she said, sex did not play a role in their relationships. It was about romance. “They’re not crazy,” Isenberg said. “They’re meeting their own psychological needs. We don’t understand why these women see something in these men, but they do.” In 1993, 17 states had programs for incarcerated people that allowed married couples to spend time together privately and have sex, or conjugal visitation programs. Currently, there are only six states that still have the programs. However, getting close to incarcerated killers by sending letters or starting relationships is a way for hybristophiliacs to act out their fantasies, Nation said. Though this paraphilia typically affects women, it is not unheard of for a man to identify with the term. In the “Serial Killer Obsession” group, a male member explains in a post that he thinks he has hybristophilia and that he wants to write to convicted serial killer Donald Harvey to declare his love. Fellow members comment on the post to show support and say they have the paraphilia as well. Nation said romantic posts about killers are usually from younger members, and she tries to approve only people who are over 25 to discourage these posts. “[For] the younger crowd, media plays a huge role on them,” Nation said. “You can have someone who’s 16 who can be easily influenced. [When] they read something about the Columbine killers, they’re like, ‘Oh wow, that’s the way they handled their bullies.’” One media platform that influences interest in these killers is television. Many crime shows draw in audiences with the interesting nature of crime and romanticize criminals like serial killers. Hollingsworth said when he asks his students why they decided to take his “Serial Murder Investigations” class, most of them say it is because they have enjoyed watching killers in popular media, like crime shows. “Most of them start out by watching media: CSI shows, police shows, forensic science shows,” Hollingsworth said. “People get interested in watching that, and then they want to know more.” The public’s fascination with crime causes killers to be made notorious not only by the news but by depictions in shows and movies of fictional and real-life killers, such as Mark Harmon’s portrayal of Bundy in the 1986 TV movie “The Deliberate Stranger.” The year it was released, Harmon was named “People’s Sexiest Man Alive,” which Schmid said was not a coincidence. NBC produced “The Deliberate Stranger” to capitalize on the intrigue of the Bundy story, even before he was executed, Schmid said. In movies and shows that depict serial killers, the killer is almost always the protagonist, he added.

Diane Cossin, a survivor of Bundy’s attack on Florida State University’s Chi Omega sorority house, told The Washington Post in 1989 that she protested to NBC about the glamorization of Bundy in the film. Shows like Showtime’s “Dexter” or movies like “Silence of the Lambs” flip the depictions of good and evil by depicting police as the bad guys and killers and criminals as the witty protagonists, according to Johnston. “I’m disgusted at the manner in which these individuals are adulated in a lot of the media,” Johnston said. “These are not sexy, cool, bright, witty people.”

Schmid said the portrayal of serial killers in popular media plays into and amplifies the public’s fascination while granting them fame. He likened the situation to contemporary celebrity culture. “Success and fame are defined by visibility more than achievement. This is partly why people are so attracted to this image of serial killers,” Schmid said. “People find them attractive because they are well known, and it’s easy for people to set aside the details of what they actually did.” zeitel@chroniclemail.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

audiofile Grunge-pop to Netflix show— local band gets taste of fame » ARIEL PARRELLA-AURELI

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

S

ix guys are sitting at a restaurant, band Post Animal have experienced since laughing and joking around as they “Stranger Things” debuted in July. The chow down on hamburgers and beers. Chicago “punk-psych-pop” band—made up Suddenly, one gets a tap on the shoulder of Keery, Dalton Allison, Wesley Toledo, from a man at the nearby table. Matt Williams, Javier Reyes and Jake “Excuse me, aren’t you the guy from Hirshland—formally began playing music ‘Stranger Things’?” the man asks. Joe as Post Animal six months ago. Keery, who plays Steve Harrington on the With the band’s new EP, Garden Series, hit Netflix show, smiles, pauses and then released July 22, and Keery’s seemingly nods his head. The stranger asks for a selfie, quick rise to fame, Post Animal has grabbed and the two smile into the camera. After attention from music and TV show fans shaking hands, the man leaves, and Keery alike. The band played a free show Oct. 13 at takes a moment to breathe. Virgin Hotel Chicago, 203 N. Wabash Ave., Getting recognized for a TV show is which had fans waiting two hours to get in. one of those strange things Keery and his The Chronicle spoke with the band about acclimating to Keery’s fame, its musical » Courtesy ERIC MUHLBERGER influence and its favorite Chicago venues.

Joe Keery and Dalton Allison of Post Animal sang to a full house Oct. 13 at Virgin Hotel Chicago, 203 N. Wabash Ave.

THE CHRONICLE: How is the band adjusting to Keery’s acting gig? JAKE HIRSHLAND: [Keery’s notoriety] has been a big deal. [We have] a lot of new listeners, so that’s pretty cool. We are figuring it out, taking it day by day. DALTON ALLISON: This group has survived some crazy things together so far. We realized that us playing as six is way better than what it was before [as four], so might as well keep it together. JOE KEERY: Me being gone could have made us not work out, but first and foremost, we are all buddies, which is helpful. A lot of people who wouldn’t listen to the

Drop it like a klutz

» JAMES FIRKINS

“So Fresh, So Clean” “Where’s Your Head At”

DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

OutKast

”Fallin’”

Basement Jaxx

“Clumsy”

Fergie

“Putty Boy Strut”

Flying Lotus

“Get Up”

Ciara feat. Chamillionaire

“Fever the Ghost”

SOURCE

“Falling to Pieces”

Faith No More

22 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

“Get Up Stand Up” “Stand UP”

Who are your musical influences? JH: We have a record stack in our house and a lot of Black Sabbath. We are definitely into old, classic heavy stuff and spacey pop [Electric Light Orchestra]. Every song varies from these modern derivatives of that old stuff and then directly linking to the old stuff. JK: Everybody really loves The Beatles, so anything that has a little morsel from that. DA: This morning [Keery] and I were both listening to Vulfpeck at the same time without knowing it. Read the full Q&A at ColumbiaChronicle.com. aparrella@chroniclemail.com

» BROOKE PAWLING STENNETT

ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alicia Keys

How was it seeing Keery on screen? DA: It wasn’t played up by any of these guys or [Keery]. I knew it was awesome he had work, but I didn’t realize it would be what it is now. JK: [Netflix] came out with a lot of shows this year that weren’t my favorite, so I was like, ‘Well, I hope it doesn’t suck.’ Then I saw it didn’t suck, and that’s all I cared about at first. Then people really liked it. It’s weird; it’s fun and cool.

Staff Playlist

» JAMES TSITIRIDIS

» LAUREN KOSTUIK

COPY EDITOR

band are listening to it. It’s great in a lot of ways and weird in a lot of ways. JAVIER REYES: You get ulterior motives, but then you have people who come for [Keery] and stay for Post Animal.

Bob Marley Ludacris feat. Shawnna

“Oops!...I Did it Again” “Sissy That Walk”

Britney Spears RuPaul

“Let the Bodies Hit the Floor” Drowning Pool

“Oh No!”

Marina and The Diamonds

“Everything is Embarrassing” Sky Ferreira

“Help”

The Beatles

“Vogue”

Madonna

“Falling”

“Over”

Lindsay Lohan

“Move”

Little Mix

HAIM


ARTS & CULTURE

Cult classic ‘American Psycho’ has ‘caught up’ to society » BROOKE PAWLING STENNETT ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER WALL STREET MOGUL and fictional serial killer Patrick Bateman never could get a reservation to fine-dining restaurant Dorsia in the cult classic film “American Psycho,” despite his wealth. On Oct. 27, Hubbard Inn, 110 W. Hubbard St., will reinvent itself as that high-priced restaurant for the second year—without the gore—for fans of the 2000 film and 1991 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. “Dorsia is a fairytale restaurant,” said Sommy Irani, business development manager at 8 Hospitality, the group hosting the event. “We’re here to help envision that restaurant for the general population.” According to Irani, themed dishes, including a “bone marrow” appetizer and a specialty cocktail, will be available. Staff will be in

themed costume to add to the overall ambiance of the event. For each ticket sold, $5 will go toward the Hurricane Matthew relief in Haiti and American Red Cross. One ticket covers admission, passed appetizers and a drink. Despite the fact that the film came out almost two decades ago, the movie’s popularity has grown steadily with a 2002 spin-off, a 2016 Broadway musical adaption and, now, pop-up dinners. Irani said Bateman’s internal conflicts and the interpretations people draw from the film has kept it relevant. Originally, the novel was met with backlash for the graphic violence perpetrated by Bateman—a man who nail guns women to the floor before torturing them. Many called the novel unadaptable, including Ellis himself in a 2013 interview with IndieWire.com, but the metaphorical message

about greed and materialism in elites, which Severance said comAmerican culture caused the film ments on American culture. “Upper class businessmen and to reach cult status. women are living in an environ“[‘American Psycho’] is a movie ment where they are protected where everybody has an opinion of by their money,” Severance said. what the ending is,” said Graham “They feel like they can do whatever Severance, a fan of the film and they want.” a 2015 Columbia music alumnus. Interest in the film was revived “That is a reason why it has stood by the economic housing crash the test of time.” of 2008 and 2009, according to The movie’s theme points to a Zoran Samardzija, an associate depiction of powerful, heartless

» GABRIEL DE LA MORA/CHRONICLE

professor in the Cinema Art + Science Department. “People started looking at it as [a movie] ahead of its time by predicting this world of Wall Street,” Samardzija said. “A film like [Martin Scorcese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’] owes something to ‘American Psycho.’” Sa ma rdzija added that Bateman’s misogynistic attitude has social credence, citing recent comparisons of Donald Trump, Jr., to Bateman in terms of demeanor. “The satire of the film and the book has caught up with us,” Samardzija added. “They are both a brutal look at Wall Street and the kind of world that gives us Trump.” Samardzija said pop-up dinners and similar events could overshadow the political message behind the film and novel. But, Severance said his own everyday references to the film, like the event, is not criticism, but more of an ode to the film that is more timely than ever. bpawlingstennett@chroniclemail.com

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OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 23


ARTS & CULTURE

meOUT

CHECK » PHOTOS WESLEY HEROLD/CHRONICLE

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING HALLOWEEN COSTUME?

Cassidy Kearns senior creative writing major

Derek Hopkins junior creative writing major

“I went as a superhero that I invented when I was 17; way too old to be trick-or-treating.”

“I had an afro, and I wore pants, a jacket and no shirt. I [thought], ‘I’m going to be Lenny Kravitz.’”

Emoni Brown-Bey sophomore cinema art + science major “Probably ‘Blues Clues.’ I was a kid, though, so I wasn’t really embarrassed.”

TOUR THE COMMUNITY, LEASE TODAY!

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24 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

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ARTS & CULTURE

recipe

» CONNOR CARYNSKI CAMPUS REPORTER

THESE HOMEMADE DELIGHTS are guaranteed to be healthier and taste better than any frozen, store-bought substitute. These potstickers, which are filled with pork but could also stuffed with chicken, beef or veggies, are certainly a labor of love but not nearly as difficult as you might think.

ccarynski@chroniclemail.com

INGREDIENTS: 1 pound ground pork 1 cup shredded green cabbage 3 ounces shiitake mushrooms, diced 2 cloves garlic, pressed 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon ginger, freshly grated 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper 36 wonton wrappers

Pork Potstickers » G-JUN YAM AND ZOË HAWORTH/CHRONICLE

DIRECTIONS: 1. Mix pork, cabbage, mushrooms, garlic, green onions, hoisin, ginger, sesame oil and white pepper in a large bowl. 2. Spoon one tablespoon of pork mixture into the center of each wonton wrapper. Rub edges of wrapper with water and fold dough to form crescent shape, pinch edges to seal. 3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet on medium heat, add potstickers and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side. 4. Serve immediately with soy sauce.

A cozy ride is only 5 minutes away.

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OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 25


top our staff’s top 5 picks:

video & blog reviews

Video: “The Monster” Simon’s Cat Simon is a lucky cat owner—or so you think. His entertaining feline harbors a fear of cleaning appliances. It starts off with the curious kitty batting at an unsuspecting vacuum cleaner. Cute, until the fear becomes too overwhelming and the cat resorts to self-defense. Simon’s cat leaves no room for mercy when he returns to the room with a blunt object. The scaredy-cat seals the vacuum cleaner’s dismal fate.

ARTS & CULTURE

LATINO LIFE HACKS

The Chicago Review of Books is an independent literature review encouraging diversity by challenging antiquated literary tradition—a timeline established by Western elitism. It prizes, for instance, the works of Jane Austen over Sam Selvon. The website features reviews, interviews and diverse literary news. It is a great place to discover your next favorite author.

REASONS TO WATCH “THE X-FILES”

» MARIA CARDONA PHOTO EDITOR

» WESLEY HEROLD PHOTO EDITOR

» ERIN BROWN PHOTO EDITOR

The oven is a storage unit:

Stan Lee:

It’s not all sci-fi:

Ovens are made for cooking food. In most Latino families, however, everyone knows that, before preheating the oven, you always have to take out pots and pans usually stored there. My roommates hate me for it because of burned cookware.

Stan Lee is the father of modern comics and the face of Marvel. He has created characters such as the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and Iron Man. He was even awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2008.

I boycotted watching “The X-Files” for years simply because I don’t really like things that deal with the supernatural. It was a pleasant surprise that some episodes could actually happen in real life, and that character Dana Scully uses logic and reason to describe seemingly otherworldly happenings.

Give foil a new purpose: Foil has become cereal bowls, a tool to scrub off grease, a replacement curling iron, and can even fix satellite antennas. Expand your creativity with kitchen supplies. Foil can’t be in microwaves, so use the iron to steam your quesadilla. Vicks and miracles: Grandparents and mothers would use this on their children for not only colds, but for anything that involved pain, though Vicks has nothing to do with relieving pain or broken hearts. Next time you’re feeling any kind of discomfort, rub Vicks where it hurts. Is it butter or is it arroz con frijoles?:

Blog: “Chicago Review of Books”

REASONS MARVEL IS BETTER THAN DC

Butter containers can be one of the most annoying and exciting things in the world for a Latin family. These hidden gems are a secret container when you’re too poor to buy Tupperware. This will save your Spanish rice from spoiling!

The heroes have more character flaws: DC heros’ weaknesses, are usually only temporary or used as a plot device to create dramatic tension, such as Superman’s Kryptonite weakness. Within Marvel, characters can be narcissistic and alcoholic like Tony Stark, or nerdy and poor like Peter Parker. Their deep flaws engage the reader because the heroes are more relatable and real, which helps maintain the suspension of disbelief. Better movies: It’s no question that Marvel Entertainment has been dominating superhero genre of film for the past few years with franchises like the Avengers and Iron Man, DC has had flop after flop with films like “the Green Lantern or “Superman.” It’s more progressive: Marvel is always pushing for diversity in comics, like the first black hero­—Black Panther—and strong female roles, even replacing Thor with a female lead.

Add water and it’s like new:

Exists in our own world:

To this day, my mother still adds water to dish soap, and it’s “como nuevo.” For the additional $7 going to soap, the options are endless and the necessities on your grocery list can be moved up. The trick when adding the water is shaking that bottle to some merengue tunes.

The Marvel stories do not take place in a separate universe from our own. This allows the comics to talk about the socioeconomic climates of the time. Whether it is Captain America fighting Hitler or Spider-Man dealing with 9/11, Marvel always feels far more relevant.

26 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

Gillian Anderson: Gillian Anderson, who plays the redheaded, shoulder pad-clad FBI agent, sets a positive example for women. Scully is fierce and sarcastic, friendly and emotional, and does not let anyone push her around. Effects: Premiering in 1993, “The X-Files” is a quintessential ‘90s TV show. Along with that era came “cheesy” CGI effects. These effects aren’t distracting: they’re fun! Sometimes it’s good to live life a little simpler. Chemistry: I can’t mention “The X-Files” without noting the amazing chemistry that leads David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and Anderson have. It made me realize how good a show it is, and I keep coming back for more. I’m on season seven, so I’m still wondering if they’ve kissed yet. It brings people together: I have bonded with many friends, new and old, over this series. If you’re one of those friends, you can expect late night ramblings about my latest theories and silly things Mulder has done.


reviews APP

SCREEN

ARTS & CULTURE

scale

MUSIC

LADY GAGA’S ‘A-YO’

RANDOM

DUOLINGO ‘BOTS’

NICK JONAS’ ‘VOODOO’ MUSIC VIDEO

» ETHAN STOCKING-ANDERSON OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

» ZOË EITEL MANAGING EDITOR

» MARIA CARDONA PHOTO EDITOR

» MCKAYLA BRAID MULTIMEDIA REPORTER

When the top language-learning app Doulingo came out with artificial intelligence-powered chat bots, I expected better quality. Instead of practical or even realistic exchanges, it feels more like talking to the TV screen during an episode of “Dora the Explorer.” For now, a real-life conversation with a native speaker remains the best way of immersing yourself in a new language.

The first track from Nick Jonas’ album Last Year was Complicated debuted its music video exclusively on Tidal Oct. 12. Taking place in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, the video—now available on Vimeo and YouTube—uses special effects to make the video extra trippy with skeleton doodles and hallucination-like scenes. The video and his performance is just one of the reasons Nick is the best Jonas Brother.

Lady Gaga’s new single, “A-Yo,” released Oct. 18, is not as catchy as her other recently released songs like “Perfect Illusion.” Her range is naturally impressive, but the song doesn’t show that skill. Gaga has raised the level of her talent as an actress and a vocal performer, but the single is not up to Gaga-level and sounded more like a lower-level pop star’s song. Overall, it wasn’t catchy or mind-blowing.

Disney’s 1993 “Hocus Pocus” film is my favorite Halloween-themed movie next to Casper. From Bette Midler’s amazing performance to the 1990s effects, this movie will “put a spell on you” and can be watched 100 times without ever getting sick of it. Also, thank to Freeform’s “13 Nights of Halloween,” you don’t have to worry about your original VHS copy breaking.

APP

SCREEN

MUSIC

‘HOCUS POCUS’

RANDOM

REALLY BAD CHESS APP

‘HATERS BACK OFF’ SERIES RELEASE

VULFPECK’S THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

CUBS TRAFFIC

» ZOË EITEL MANAGING EDITOR

» ARABELLA BRECK MANAGING EDITOR

» LAUREN KOSTIUK DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

» LAUREN KOSTIUK DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

The new board game app remixes classic chess by giving the user and the computer or real-life opponent random pieces instead of the typical ones. While it’s a fun spin on an ancient game, it’s frustrating trying to win with seven knights, one bishop and four rooks. At least the pieces still move as they are supposed to, and the game still ends when the king is captured. I think I’ll stick with my “Harry Potter” chess set.

YouTube sensation Miranda Sings— played by Colleen Ballinger—released her own Netflix series Oct. 14 called “Haters Back Off.” The series follows Miranda, her uncle, mom, sister and several love interests through her rise to “fame.” The humor is the same style as popular movies like “Napoleon Dynamite,” but a little more serious. Although this show will be enjoyed most by Miranda fans, it is still absolutely hilarious for everyone.

Michigan’s funkiest band Vulfpeck released its new album The Beautiful Game Oct. 17. The album’s 10 original tracks are jam-packed with groovy melodies and odd lyrics that make me want to dance. The band’s weirdness is what makes the album so great because Vulfpeck isn’t afraid to push boundaries. But no matter how great these songs are, nothing will beat its song “Funky Duck” from its 2015 album Thrill of the Arts.

As much as I love the Cubs and Chicago pride, the traffic near Wrigley Field and the surrounding area is unbearable. It only took me one really expensive Uber ride to find that out. After not moving in traffic for 20 minutes, the CTA proved not to be any faster and was packed with loud, drunker Cubs fans leaving no room for anyone else. Looks like the only way to get around during Cubs games is to walk. OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 27


OPINIONS

editorial

Burden of security should be put on college not students

A

recent string of laptop thefts—in two cases laptops were stolen right out of students’ hands—in buildings across campus have left students questioning their safety on campus, as reported Oct. 17 by The Chronicle. The robbery victims suggested increasing the number of I.D. checkpoints on campus to prevent future crime, as reported in the article. Other city schools have implemented strict I.D. policies in their downtown campuses. Columbia’s neighboring institution, The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, requires I.D. checks for everyone including guests entering campus buildings, according to SAIC’s campus security section of its website. Columbia, however, is an open campus with resources available to the

general public, like its galleries and the Museum of Contemporary Photography. The benefits of an open campus are intrinsic to Columbia but cannot be justified if students are not safe. Students should be expected to take basic safety precautions, like being aware of surroundings and not leaving their possessions unattended, but they should expect to be safe while on campus. Security must be improved to meet those expectations. Increasing I.D. checkpoints, however, may be unwise. The Office of Campus Safety & Security has already stated that checkpoints for inspecting I.D.s are not feasible in every Columbia building, as reported Oct. 17. ID scanners are an alternative to manual I.D. checks by security officers. The

Chicago Transit Authority uses scanners to track passengers as they enter train stations, but that would require a sizable investment of time and money the college likely cannot make right now. While these issues are sorted out, the Office of Campus Safety & Security must find an immediate way to improve security by hiring skilled officers

The benefits of an open campus are intrinsic to Columbia but cannot be justified if students are not safe. who are motivated by competitive salaries to do their jobs well. Officers are needed to patrol buildings as well as make their presence known in lobbies or the first floor of buildings. A conspicuous security force can not only deter crime but improve access to help in emergency situations. Currently, there are “emergency

S

While the Justice Department should be commended for this step, the accuracy of this data and how it is used are important considerations. One flaw in the proposed plan is that the Justice Department can only assess fines for departments that fail to report fatal incidents but cannot penalize the failure to report nonfatal incidents, according to The Washington Post article. Lack of enforcement tools means a significant part of the picture is likely to be missing. In addition, the comprehensiveness of this data, including the scope of the pilot program, also merits concern. The pilot program needs to focus not just on collecting this information from departments in cities like

Editorial Board Members Arabella Breck Managing Editor Charlie Connelly Ad & Business Manager Taylor Morris Metro Reporter Courtney Wolfe Metro Reporter Connor Carynski Campus Reporter Sarah Impola Graphic Designer Eric Bradach Metro Reporter

28 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

Wesley Herold Photo Editor McKayla Braid Multimedia Reporter Amelia Garza Campus Reporter James Firkins Copy Editor Carolyn Bradley Copy Editor Tyra Bosnic Arts & Culture Reporter Jonathon Sadowski Arts & Culture Reporter

lege needs to take responsibility and expand the emergency phone and alert systems on campus, instead of putting the burden of safety on students. Finally, if campus security is going to implement these changes or any others, it must improve how it communicates with students as security measures are useless if students do not know about them. editorial

FBI should not be commended for collecting police brutality statistics yet tarting in 2017, the FBI will launch a pilot program collecting national statistics on fatal and non-fatal interactions between civilians and law enforcement officers. The statistics will be searchable online, according to an Oct. 13 article from The Washington Post. Prior to this announcement, the only databases of these statistics were collected by nongovernment publications and organizations. Two notable and frequently cited databases were created by The Guardian and The Washington Post. Data collection by the federal government will make statistics more authoritative and uniform. It could also help indicate which police departments have exemplary practices so others can emulate them.

telephones in multiple locations across campus,” according to the Campus Safety & Security section of Columbia’s website. In the Oct. 17 article, Associate Vice President of Safety & Security Ron Sodini suggested that students save the on-campus emergency number in their phones. While this is good advice, many students will not follow it. The col-

Chicago with documented police brutality issues but also from smaller police departments in less-populated areas as a resource for the future. The pilot program is beneficial because it will allow the FBI to see which collection methods work and which do not, so that when a larger, permanent program is implemented, the best practices for collecting and reporting these statistics can be used. Errors are always a problem in data collection. For example, Chicago’s inspector general said statistics provided by the Independent Police Review Authority did not match up with actual incidents from October 2013 to September 2014, according to an Aug. 2 article from DNAinfo.

For the sake of accuracy, auditors should be part of the data collection process. If these statistics are flawed, they will be of limited use. Police brutality is a serious, chronic issue in police departments across the U.S., and it is important that government agencies on every level take responsibility for this problem and fighting against it. The federal government is setting the precedent that it takes police brutality seriously, and so should other jurisdictions. The Marshall Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that focuses on criminal justice issues, said on May 15 that one of the “13 Important Questions About Criminal Justice We Can’t Answer” is “How many police are investigated or prosecuted for misconduct?” These statistics could answer that question, and many others about the justice system and police brutality, but only if the statistics are collected effectively.

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


OPINIONS

T commentary

Skin color does not inhibit skill » CAROLYN BRADLEY COPY EDITOR

amika Cross, an obstetrician and gynecologist, offered her medical skills on a Detroit-to-Minneapolis Delta Air Lines flight after a passenger a couple of rows ahead became unresponsive, and a flight attendant asked for help. Instead of accepting her help, the flight attendant dismissed her in a condescending manner, saying, “We are looking for actual physicians, nurses or some type of medical personnel; we don’t have time to talk to you,” and even called her “sweetie.” When Cross, whose account was chronicled in an Oct. 9 Facebook post, responded to the attendant’s request for help by pressing her button to notify her, the attendant seemed shocked to discover Cross was an actual physician. Upon learning that, the attendant asked for Cross’s credentials, her specialty and why Cross was in Detroit. Cross said, in her Oct. 9 post, that the flight attendant accepted the assistance of a white, male doctor. Cross said the male physician did not provide credentials to the flight attendant, yet the attendant accepted his offer. The attendant returned to Cross for advice on handling the passenger’s blood sugar. Delta stated Oct. 14 on its website that it is currently conducting an investigation. The airline said any accusations of discrimination trouble them, and the experience Cross described “is not reflective of Delta’s culture or the lives our employees live out every day.”

In an era when diversity is paramount in the workplace, there is still evidence that discrimination is prevalent. Cross is right when she said this instance was “blatant discrimination.” Because she did not fit the “white male in a white lab coat” stereotype of a physician, the attendant ignored her. What is worse about this situation is that the attendant invalidated the abilities Cross worked for many years to acquire. Judging professionals according to outdated and unfair stereotypes instead of their skills is extremely detrimental. It is not only harmful to the professional, but it is also a disservice to those who would otherwise benefit from the professional’s skills. Had Cross not been at hand to answer questions about the ill passenger’s blood sugar, the situation could have been more harmful to the passenger. It should only matter that a service is being performed correctly, especially in a state of emergency. People of color unfortunately face discrimination in and out of the workplace. Assumptions are often based on skin color and not on ability. Because of this, people of color put great pressure on themselves to avoid

being stereotyped. According to an Oct. 14, 2015, Atlantic article, black men feel a need to work longer hours to dispel the idea of black men having a poor work ethic. The same article cites Latina attorneys who attempt to speak without revealing their accents. In an era when diversity is paramount to the workplace, there is still evidence that discrimination is prevalent and there is a long way to go in terms of inclusion. By ignoring the skills people of color have because of stereotypes, employers are actually doing the workplace harm because they are not using the wide range of skills and experience that these people may offer. People of color should not feel a need to erase their identities to avoid workplace discrimination. Their characters are being judged on their skin color, their hair texture, their speech patterns and their personal lives. This discrimination is overlooking skill and ability—the real measurement employers should use.

“I didn’t even watch it because I watched the first one and I couldn’t do [another].”

“No. There was nothing to be changed. I hate both of our options.”

cbradley@chroniclemail.com

student poll

Did the final presidential debate change your opinion of either of the candidates?

CALVIN SCHWARZBACH

senior cinema art + science major

“No. I honestly don’t think there was anyone undecided at this point.”

JAY BECERRA

junior audio arts & acoustics major

SARAH RUBIN

junior photography major

letter to the editor

Columbia’s financial aid office needs improvements

I

would like to express my concern with the financial aid office. As a first-year transfer college student who is relying on loans to put herself through school, I can tell you that having clear and concise communication with the individuals at the financial aid office is essential. One of the most difficult aspects of college is paying for it; therefore, the financial aid office and those in it

should work toward making this process simple, not complicated and frustrating. Employees should know exactly what to say when asked certain questions; That way students are not receiving different answers to the same questions. If I call on Monday with an inquiry, the answer that I get on that day should be the same one I should get if I were to call on a Thursday. Employees should all be on

the same page, and maybe improvement in management is necessary. More employees would be incredibly beneficial as well. No one likes to be on hold for 30 minutes; no one likes to sit in an office for an hour just to get a single question answered. The more employees, the less wait time there will be in the office and on the phones. Perhaps, some of these extra employees will only be necessary

during specific times of the year, but I can assure you the extra employment would be a good thing. Lastly, if there are any major issues or concerns—like the Federal Government taking longer than usual to disburse loan refunds to bank accounts—[affecting] the students, then measures should be taken to inform the students of such an issue. Send out a mass email; do anything other than nothing. Zakiya Anyanwu junior business & entrepreneurship major

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 29


OPINIONS

30 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016


METRO

Anti-Trump protesters gather across from candidate’s hotel » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Multimedia

» MARIA CARDONA/CHRONICLE

‘Love Trumps Hate’ Demonstrators gathered Oct. 18 in front of the Trump International Hotel and Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave. to protest Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. The group marched from Wabash Avenue to the front entrance of the hotel.

Trump protesters marched along Wabash Avenue into the downtown area.

Chicago women protest candidate’s recent comments in front of hotel » TAYLOR MORRIS

METRO REPORTER

Trump supporters counter-protested with attacks against Hillary Clinton on Oct. 18 at the Trump International Hotel and Tower.

NEARLY 200 PROTESTERS, mostly Chicago women, “built a wall” around the Trump International Hotel and Tower, chanting “This p---y votes,” “Love trumps hate,” and “GOP hands off me.” The Oct. 18 protest was organized in response to republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s remarks in a leaked “Access Hollywood” video from 2005 including his remark that he could grab women “by the p---y.” Professor at Harold Washington College’s Humanities Department, performer and feminism activist Alicia Swiz said she organized the protest to make the issue more visible throughout the Chicago area but wasn’t expecting so much participation. She added that she was excited to see local women coming together. “We are out here as women and vocal supporters of women saying, ‘Hey, we vote,

and we will not have a sexist, misogynistic candidate for our president,’” Swiz said. “He shouldn’t even be on the ballot, but Trump is just representative of a bigger problem of toxic masculinity and rape culture.” Attorney and participant Quinn Michaelis said she joined the protest because she thinks “democracy is being threatened by Trump.” “It’s amazing that we’re angry, but we’re organized, and we’re making our voices heard,” Michaelis said. “I could not be more proud of the women of Chicago and the allies of the women of Chicago right now.” Across the street from the protesters, a small group of Trump supporters countered with signs reading things like “Lesbian Hillary Clinton grabs plenty of p---y” and shouting “Donald Trump loves women!” The counter protesters gathered across the street near the entrance of the Trump Hotel. Joshua Glaspie, one of the Trump group supporters, said he was trying to keep the peace and promote what Trump supporters stand for as well as the Constitution.

“We stand for the Constitution, our founding principles, power to the people and the States,” Glaspie said. “Less power to the corrupt government establishment that has driven our country into the ground. This is our last chance to save our country for the people, for the states and the Constitution.” Counter protester Suzzanne Monk said she also attended to show support for Trump. “Hillary Clinton will take this country in a very dangerous direction,” Monk said. “We are here to stand up against the lies and the smear that have been reported against our candidate.” Chicago was not the only city with protests, as Washington D.C. and New York City also had similar actions in front of Trumpowned hotels. “We answered the call of women across the country who are fed up with the type of language that is being used against everybody in this country,” Michaelis said. tmorris@chroniclemail.com

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 31


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Looting should not deter aid to Haiti

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32 THE CHRONICLE OCTOBER 24, 2016

hile many people in the U.S. were concerned about the effects Hurricane Matthew would have on Florida and surrounding states, Haiti, a country already suffering from past disasters and poor infrastructure, suffered worse effects from the same disaster. The crisis caused by Hurricane Matthew—a Category 4 hurricane—Oct. 4 in Haiti has not gone completely unnoticed by the international community. The United Nations sent aid to the counabout aid among nongovernmental try in an attempt to help people recover from this disaster, but U.N. trucks with organizations, other aid agencies and supplies were looted by Haitians, accordthe Haitian government. ing to an Oct. 16 Reuters article. The report recommended ensuring There are 1.4 million people in need of “adequate oversight, monitoring, and humanitarian aid in Haiti following this reporting of programs to allow accounthurricane, as reported by Reuters, and ability between donors…and the governthis looting is a sign of the desperation ment of Haiti.” Haitians feel. Lack of accountability providing aid­ The looting also shows that Haitians leads to ineffective plans that fail to may distrust the U.N. and other humaniprovide help where it is most needed. tarian aid providers coming to their coun- This lack of focus is most detrimental try, but this is not unwarranted. to the people on the ground who are After the earthquake in 2010, Haiti fell relying on this aid to survive. If Haiti victim to a cholera outbreak. This sumreceived ineffective aid in the past, it mer, the U.N. admitted it was responsible is likely Haitians will not trust the aid for bringing the disease to Haiti because they are receiving now. it sent a group of peacekeeping soldiers Despite assistance interventions, from Nepal­—where cholera was a prevaHaiti never fully recovered from the lent infection—to assist Haiti, according devastating earthquake and the followto an Oct. 20 ABC News article. ing cholera outbreak. Without proper The cholera outbreak caused 770,000 aid, it is likely it will take years for Haiti infections and approximately 9,200 to come close to recovering from this deaths since October 2010, according to hurricane and they are left susceptible the ABC News article. to future disasters. Even with proper An outbreak of this magnitude and the assistance, it will take a significant U.N. guilt are likely to cause distrust in amount of time to stabilize Haiti, which the organization's current efforts to help is why aid efforts must be executed with the Haitian people. precision and understanding between Also, following the earthquake, it was Haitians and aid providers. found that the aid being provided in Haiti Looting trucks should not be seen as was not properly monitored by the agendisrespect or be used as an excuse not cies or the government. to give the Haitian people the help that An Aug. 19, 2011, report from the they desperately need in order to conHuman Rights Watch found issue with tinue on the path of national recovery. many aid practices in Haiti including abreck@chroniclemail.com inadequate reporting and communication


METRO

Chicago growing as tourism destination bringing more people to Chicago to support economic opportunities in our neighborhoods,” Emanuel stated in the press release. The Chicago Loop Alliance, an organization dedicated to attracting tourists to the downtown area, started tracking pedestrian traffic on State Street from Wacker Drive to Congress Parkway on Jan. 1., according to Michael Edwards, president and CEO of CLA. Edwards said that in an average week, 1.8 million–2.2 million people walk on State Street. “There’s a resurgence in downtowns around the world,” Edwards said. “Millennials love downtown. They all watched ‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld’ growing up, and all of a sudden, downtowns are kind of cool places.” Dominic Pacyga, a professor in the Humanities, History & Social

» COURTNEY WOLFE METRO REPORTER CHICAGO WAS NAMED the second greatest city in the nation to visit by Conde Nast Traveler’s 29th annual Readers’ Choice Awards Oct. 17. The award followed an Oct. 9 press release from Mayor Rahm Emanuel that announced the city saw record tourism for the first three quarters of 2016. Overall tourism for the period of Jan. 1 through Sep. 30 increased 2.2 percent and grew by 6 percent in September alone, the press release stated. This growth brings the city closer to its goal of hosting 55 million visitors annually by 2020, Emanuel said. “These newest records show that our efforts are driving results and

» SARAH IMPOLA/CHRONICLE

Sciences Department and Chicago history expert, said while these are probably the biggest tourism numbers Chicago has ever seen, the city has always been popular. “Chicago’s always been an attraction,” Pacyga said. “In the 19th century, 500,000 people a year toured the Chicago stockyards and packing houses to see the slaughter of hogs and cattle.” Brian Barker, a professor at DePaul University who teaches a global tourism course, said he thinks the reason for the surge

in tourism is increased marketing to international tourists and the appeal of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods for those wanting to “go off the beaten path.” “I think we will continue to see a growth because, through mediums like social media—Facebook and Instagram—all our friends are posting pictures of places [they] have been, and that serves our desire to want to go and see and explore new places,” Barker said. Barker added that while the Loop is still the city’s peak tourism

neighborhood, he’s noticed that Choose Chicago, the city’s marketing organization, has been advertising other neighborhoods more heavily, such as Chinatown and Edgewater. “There’s work to be done [on the South and West sides], but I think we are starting to see a change in that environment,” Barker said. “There’s a huge surge in hotels, and that is going to create job opportunities for some of those disenfranchised communities, [and] as those populations begin to gain employment, they can become vital contributors to their own communities.” Choose Chicago could not be reached as of press time. Edwards pointed out that the city’s focus on tourism is beneficial for Chicago residents as well. “As someone who lives in Chicago, I get to take advantage of all those tours and amenities, too,” Edwards said. “It’s a good time to be in Chicago; that’s for sure.” cwolfe@chroniclemail.com

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Local food trucks struggle with new policies

» ERIN BROWN/CHRONICLE Beavers Coffee and Donuts owner, Gabriel Wiesen, said Chicago has only 70 food trucks compared to Los Angles, which has thousands. » TAYLOR MORRIS METRO REPORTER CHICAGO FOOD TRUCKS are facing major hurdles as Mayor Rahm Emanuel has “threatened to unleash an onslaught of fines and citations” against the city’s growing industry, according to a statement on IllinoisPolicy.org.

Head of the Illinois Food Truck Association and owner of Beavers Donuts, Gabriel Wiesen, said Chicago has fewer than 70 food trucks, while New York City has more than 3,500, and Los Angles has more than 10,000. Wiesen said some of the concessions that were made in place to appease restaurants and the

aldermen that they lobbied were unfair restrictions. “The argument that food trucks unfairly compete with restaurants is ridiculous,” he said. Previous city laws have supported food truck businesses. In 2012, Emanuel introduced an ordinance that legalized food truck businesses that fell under the categories: food to order, food truck stands across the city, increased hours of operation, and regular health inspections and training, according to the July 25, 2012 City of Chicago press release. Now, food truck businesses must refrain from operating within 200 feet of a brick-andmortar restaurant and are only able to park for a maximum of two hours. According to IllinoisPolicy. org, this forces businesses to fight each other for limited operating space in downtown Chicago, and the two-hour limit leaves very little time to prepare fresh food and serve customers. Diana Rickert, spokeswoman

METRO for the Illinois Policy Institute, which has been working with the food truck industry and owners for several years, said the institute is trying its best to protect the business’ economic rights. The organization has been reaching out to press and reporters and working with the community, she added. “It’s really difficult to run a business when you can only be open for two hours a day,” Rickert said. “If there’s a two-hour limitation on food trucks, food trucks are faced with either driving away from customers or facing a $1,000 fine.” On Oct. 19 at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., a Chicago judge heard the final arguments about the constitutional of laws that affect that the food truck owners. The judge will rule in December, as reported Oct. 19 by CBS Chicago. According to an Oct. 20 emailed statement from Mika Stambaugh, director of Public Information for the Department of Businesses Affairs and Consumer Protection, small businesses are important parts of the community, and food

trucks are a “vital” part of the city’s culinary landscape. However, she added, Chicago increased efforts this year to enforce the 2012 ordinance, which originally gave time for the businesses to adjust to the new rules, after discovering some trucks were violating codes, including parking in tow zones as well as fire and bus lanes. Businesses were also exceeding the two-hour parking limit. “This type of behavior is illegal for all vehicles and will not be tolerated,” Stambaugh said in the emailed statement. Manager of Sweet Ride Lupita Kuri, who recently relocated to the Chicago suburbs because of the rules and regulations, said the cities regulations are “ridiculous.” “It got so bad that I had to step away. It’s not worth it, even if I were to make $10,000 a day,” she said. “[The city is] expecting trucks every week, every day. They [the city] stop businesses. They bother them.” tmorris@chroniclemail.com

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 35


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Quilt honors victims of police shootings » COURTNEY WOLFE METRO REPORTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR people killed by the Chicago Police Department or in CPD custody are now memorialized by artist Rachel Wallis’ newest exhibit. “Gone But Not Forgotten” is a quilting project in collaboration with We Charge Genocide, an anti-police-violence group. There were 15 quilting circles with a total of around 200 participants. The six-panel quilt, which stretches nearly 40 feet in length, includes the victims’ names, ages and dates of death. “People would come together, read aloud the stories of the individuals who had been killed by police, embroider [the victims’] names and information, and then talk about what this means and

what we can do to take action to change this cycle of violence,” Wallis said. The exhibit opening, Oct. 17 in Robert Morris University’s Murray-Green Library, included a conversation with Dorothy Holmes, Henrine Edwards, Martinez Sutton and Gloria Pinex, family members of individuals represented on the quilt. Chicago police killed Ronald Johnson, Holmes’ son, at the age of 25 on Oct. 12, 2014. “[‘Gone But Not Forgotten’] means to me that I’m not the only one involved in the struggle,” Holmes said. “This support to me, my family and to [my son’s] kids is showing me there’s people out there that really care about what’s going on here in Chicago.” Holmes was also interviewed for the video portion of the exhibit,

filmed by Salome Chasnoff, a filmmaker and installation artist who has previously done work about the prison industrial complex. Chasnoff said she helped Wallis organize the project and documented the quilting circles around the city in which sections of the quilt were being made. “I wanted to know more about [the individuals represented in the quilt and] how they lived,” Chasnoff said. “I didn’t just want to know the worst thing that ever happened to them. I wanted to know how they were loved by the people that were closest to them and how their loss impacted and impacts their families, friends and their communities.” Although the video presented Oct. 17 told the stories of only the four family members who spoke at the opening, Chasnoff said the project will not be finished until she has filmed and presented the stories of more than a hundred conversations with families of those who have fallen victim to police shootings.

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» MARIA CARDONA/CHRONICLE Dorothy Holmes (pictured above) and three other family members of those killed by police spoke at the Oct. 17 exhibit opening for ‘Gone But Not Forgotten,’ a quilt that honors more than 100 police shooting victims.

Kofi Ademola, a Black Lives Matter organizer, said he hopes Wallis and Chasnoff’s project will receive national attention. “It’s just a beautiful, heartwarming project,” Ademola said. “In addition to bringing awareness, it is also very therapeutic.” While creating the project, Wallis said she found that people who are killed by the police are not always counted. Through research, she said she has found more individuals killed by CPD

in the last decade who were not originally included in the quilt, adding that she is in the process of planning a seventh panel of the quilt to include them. “Projects like this, they’re done, but they’re not done,” Wallis said. “Our hopes are that, over the next year, the quilts will move around Chicago to different community spaces. We’ll just see where this takes me.” cwolfe@chroniclemail.com

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Political experts discussed the impact of the 2016 presidential candidates on state and local elections Oct. 17 at The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court.

» WESLEY HEROLD/CHRONICLE

Experts predict presidential race to affect Illinois elections » ERIC BRADACH METRO REPORTER LOW VOTER TURNOUT, reflecting lack of enthusiasm for the presidential candidates, could hurt candidates in local and state elections, said Chris Mooney, the director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mooney and other political experts were panelists for “2016 Elections: What to Expect and Why,” held Oct. 17 at The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court. “If people are discouraged about their choices at the top of the ticket, that could lead [lack of enthusiasm] and inactivity [at the polls],” Mooney said. Another panelist, David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, said Congress and Senate candidates have less time to get out their message if they have to explain and defend their positions on the presidential candidates. “Trump’s candidacy takes a lot of the oxygen out of the room for down-ballot Republicans,” Yepsen said. Hosted by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a nonpartisan group that advocates public participation in elections, the panel also included Natasha Korecki, a senior reporter for POLITICO, and Amanda Vinicky, the Statehouse Bureau Chief for National Public Radio Illinois. Discussing how the presidential race was likely to affect the Senate campaigns of Tammy Duckworth and Mark Kirk, Yepsen said Kirk has distanced himself from the Republican base. “[Kirk] already had problems with conservatives who thought he was too moderate,” Yepsen said.

Sarah Brune, executive director of the ICPR, told The Chronicle that the election will be a test to see whether dissatisfaction with the presidential candidates will affect smaller elections. According to Real Clear Politics, which analyzes national political polls, Democratic Candidate Hillary Clinton has a 52.3 percent unfavorable rating, while her opponent, Republican Donald Trump, has a 60.9 percent unfavorable rating. Yepsen said those national numbers also reflect Illinois sentiment. Sharon Alter, who attended the event, is a co-chairwoman for the League of Women Voters of Illinois, a nonpartisan organization that educates voters. She said most people will vote for their party’s candidates, but they may not vote that way if they do not support the presidential candidate. “By leaving [the presidential ballot] blank, they are deferring to the voters who choose a particular candidate, [who] may not be the one they really want,” Alter said. In response to an audience question, Mooney suggested young voters find an issue that resonates with them, like financing college education. “The more a person sees [how] the political system affects them personally, the more likely they are to vote,” he said. Millennials should be asking questions like “Why aren’t we able to refinance our loans?” he said. Brune agreed with Mooney’s advice and said education about the importance of voter participation toward young voters needs to be more effective. “If we can find a better way to message, we could increase the involvement from [millennials],” Brune said. ebradach@chroniclemail.com

OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 37


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METRO Protesters calling for police reform gathered Oct. 20 outside CPD Headquarters on the two-year anniversary of the death of Laquan McDonald, who was killed by a CPD officer.

LAQUAN, FROM FRONT

Rahm Emanuel needs to be held accountable for the actions he has chosen not to take.

GWENDOLYN MOORE

Moore said she does not think the mayor’s comments are genuine, adding that if he had that mindset before, the McDonald incident would not have happened. Tio Hardiman, executive director for CeaseFire Violence Interrupters, said if the dashcam footage was never released, Emanuel would have taken the killing “to the grave.” Emanuel had wanted to hide McDonald’s murder to save his reelection last year and only initiated police accountability reforms because he was forced to, according to Hardiman. Hardiman called the actions on the McDonald incident a “code of silence 2.0,” and said the mayor was not “genuine and sincere”

» WESLEY HEROLD/CHRONICLE

about changes made to the system, such as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Reid Gordon, a pastoral ministry student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, said he attended the anniversary event to speak out against issues including corruption in Chicago. “The gospel of Jesus Christ compels me to take a stand for those who are being trampled by the powerful,” Gordon said. Gordon said he thinks Van Dyke’s actions went further than needed, calling it “a gross miscarriage of justice.” Pastor of Kingdom Life Center Church Kevin Jones worked closely with William Calloway in creating House Bill 6616, The

Laquan McDonald Act, filed by State Rep. Kenneth Dunkin. Jones said the goal of the bill is to hold those in power accountable. “We have asked Emanuel to step down, but obviously, that is not what he is going to do,” Jones said. “[The Laquan McDonald Act] would help that process go faster through recall legislation.” Moore, a supporter of the Laquan McDonald Act, said she would like to see Emanuel step down because he failed to serve the Chicago community. “Rahm Emanuel needs to be held accountable for the actions he has chosen not to take,” Moore said. Installing the Civilian Police Accountability Council is needed in order to have true change, according to Hardiman, who shared Moore’s sentiments. “[A police review authority] should not be appointed by the mayor,”he added. “To make a long story short, [Emanuel] needs to go.” ebradach@chroniclemail.com

1/31/17 We’ve got you covered

@CCChronicle The Columbia Chronicle OCTOBER 24, 2016 THE CHRONICLE 39



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