The Chronicle, April 29, 2019

PAGE 4: Students struggle to navigate internship opportunities PAGE 7: 1.8 billion Muslims to fast during Ramadan beginning May 6

PAGE 13: Sen. Elizabeth Warren proposes $50,000 of student loan forgiveness and free tuition

PAGE 10: COMMENTARY: If I stay in the closet, am I truly being an advocate?

Volume 54, Issue 28

April 29, 2019

ColumbiaChronicle.com

CASTING CONTROVERSY SPARKS DISCOURSE ON REPRESENTATION SEE HOME/LAND, PAGE 3

» IGNACIO CALDERON/CHRONICLE

editor’s note

Security alerts should not be limited to campus boundaries » ARIANA PORTALATIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

S

tudents living on campus may have been startled at the sound of a gunshot early April 26. As reported on Page 15, a 41-year-old 2015 BMW owner fatally shot a 22-year-old man who reportedly pointed a gun at him and demanded the keys to his car after rear-ending him on Ida B. Wells Drive around 3:15 a.m.

Incidents like this are concerning to students who care about the safety of their living environment in a city known for its high crime rate. After an incident happens, questions swirl through people’s minds, and people immediately scroll through social media and news sites in search of information.

As of press time, an alert from the Office of Safety and Security has not been sent to students. Unfortunately, a crime happening near campus doesn’t always lead to one, either.

As reported Dec. 7, 2018, by The Chronicle, a safety alert was not sent to students after a shooting occurred at the Jackson Red Line station the night of Dec. 6. A shooting at the same station that occurred Aug. 17, 2017, also did not lead to a campus alert.

For events such as these, one of the first things students think about is whether they will get an alert from campus Safety and Security, however alerts are not sent out if incidents occur off campus or do not pose an immediate threat to students.

On-campus locations are defined by the 1990 Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which was created to allow students and staff access to information about campus crime at universities across the country.

Higher education institutions that receive federal funding are required by the Clery Act to keep records of crimes occurring on and off campus and issue timely notifications to their campus communities of emergency situations that pose a threat to students or staff.

Schools that fail to do this are at risk of civil penalties and loss of federal funds.

Columbia may not have been required to report past off-campus incidents and may not be required to report the April 26 shooting, however, that doesn’t mean the college shouldn’t.

2 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 29, 2019

MANAGEMENT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITORS

Ariana Portalatin Blaise Mesa Molly Walsh Zack Jackson Micha Thurston

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AD & BUSINESS MANAGER

REPORTERS

NEWS EDITOR REPORTERS

OPINIONS EDITOR

Whether the event occurs on campus

is a technicality, but the worries of stuCOPY CHIEF dents and their parents last long after.

COPY EDITORS The college should reevaluate what constitutes an alert and consider more than what the law states.

An incident may not have occurred on

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER campus property, but it does not mean GRAPHIC DESIGNERS it didn’t directly affect members of the

campus community.

The Jackson Red Line stop in particular is frequented by many Columbia SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR students. Not only do many students

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS commute to and from campus, the CTA

is often used to get around the city. For example, two Chronicle employees were on a Red Line train during the August 2017 shooting.

A crime alert does not only serve the

VIDEOGRAPHERS purpose of notifying students of a crime, it allows students to plan their days around the possibility of a street closure or train delay.

“I pass there everyday to get here,”

MEDIA SALES REPS freshman game art major Dayanara Ocampo said of the April 26 shootBRAND MANAGER ing. “My mom drops me off on the same street.”

With the number of students who take the CTA or drive to campus, it’s WEBMASTER important for the Office of Safety and Security to consider this an important factor when deciding whether to alert the campus.

GENERAL MANAGER The fact that students expect these

FACULTY ADVISER alerts is reason enough for the college to oblige to this simple request. Columbia students depend on the campus safety alerts to let them know not only if a crime took place, but that their school cares enough about them to send an alert regardless of whether the incident was technically on campus. @ aportalatin@columbiachronicle.com

e CCC hronicl

@C CChronicle

Miranda Manier Bridget Ekis Knox Keranen Kendall Polidori Katherine Savage Yasmeen Sheikah Kaci Watt Alexandra Yetter Jay Berghuis

COPY Kristen Nichols Eden Bunna Margaret Smith

GRAPHICS Grace Senior Patrick Casey Shane Tolentino Fernanda Weissbuch

PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Rundle Ignacio Calderon Steven Nunez Halie Parkinson Orlando Pinder Patrick Reponse

MULTIMEDIA Ethan Sandock Alex White

Main line: (312) 369-8999 Editor-in-Chief: (312) 369-8959 Advertising: (312) 369-8984 Creative Director: (312) 369-8960 Digital Content: (312) 369-8961 Production: (312) 369-8834 News Editor: (312) 369-8968 Copy Chief: (312) 369-8976 Webmaster: (312) 369-8894 Permission/Reproductions: (312) 369-8955 Faculty Adviser: (312) 369-8905

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All text, photos and graphics are the property of The Chronicle and may not be reproduced or published without written permission.

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Views expressed in this publication are those of the writer and are not the opinions of The Chronicle, Columbia’s Communication Department or Columbia College Chicago.

Letters to the editor must include full name, year, major and phone number. All letters are edited for grammar and may be cut due to a limit of space.

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campus

Students use fashion for political messages » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Casting controversy sparks student discourse on representation

HOME/LAND, FROM FRONT » ALEXANDRA YETTER STAFF REPORTER

» MIKE RUNDLE/CHRONICLE

DURING THE FIRST table read for the Columbia production “HOME/LAND,” cast members looked at each other and wondered, “What the hell is this?”

Cast members alleged Associate Professor in the Theatre Department and the play’s director Catherine Slade ignored concerns about white actors being cast in roles written for Latinx and Palestinian characters, made racially insensitive comments on set and attempted to make changes in the script that some students felt fostered stereotypes about immigrants.

The Chronicle contacted Slade on Saturday, April 20 and requested an interview, to which she initially agreed.

On Monday, the News Office intervened and eventually denied interviews with Slade, Theater Department Interm Chair Peter Carpenter and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholar-in-Residence for the Theater Department Khalid Long. After repeated requests for a statement, the News Office supplied one Friday evening shortly before The Chronicle’s deadline.

“The Theatre Department is committed to providing students with opportunities to perform in diverse theatre productions,” the statement read. “The ‘HOME/LAND’ script called for Latinx, Palestinian and Caucasian characters. All students who auditioned were cast in the production. However, not all of the students who auditioned were of the same race and/or ethnicity as the characters identified in the script. Indeed, no Palestinian students auditioned for the play, and as such, non-Palestinian actors were assigned to those roles. Several Latinx students who initially auditioned for the production didn’t pursue participation.”

Three white actors were cast in Latinx roles, according to sophomore theatre directing major and Assistant Stage Manager Amy Gerwert-Valdez. Still, the Latinx students said the experience brought them closer together.

As its first event, the Mosaic Theatre Collective—in conjunction with the Asian Student Organization, the Black Student Union and the Muslim Student Association— hosted a sit-down with cast members April 18 at The Loft, 916 S. Wabash Ave., to discuss incidents that occurred on set.

The Mosaic Theatre Collective is a stuwhen he saw white actors reciting lines in so I cannot disregard her,” said Estefania dent-led organization that supports black Spanish and Slade altering the show mate- Unzueta, a sophomore advertising and writperformance artists at Columbia. rial in “culturally ignorant” ways. ing for performance double major.

“There was no trying to collaborate with In one scene, Alonzo said Slade tried to From pre-show dance parties to conus; there was no trying to see if [she was] add a line to show a comparison between necting with other Latinx theatre studoing the right thing. It almost felt like Latinx immigrants and cockroaches and dents, working on “HOME/LAND” also we were just being used as pawns,” said imagery of chicken farms with mass chicken had its “joyous moments of being seen,” sophomore musical theatre major and cast slaughter. But the lines and imagery were Unzueta said. member Sophia Alonzo. “It’s hard because not added after student complaints, stuFor sophomore acting major and cast these are real stories to our families and our dents said. member Kristina Hernandez, working on background that were [not treated as] valid.”

Despite her frustrations, Alonzo said she the production made her feel like she was Created with the Albany Park Theater chose not to quit the show because she did home because she was able to meet other Project and performed March 13–23, not want to “let [Slade] win.”

Latinx students at the college.

“HOME/LAND” tells the stories of Latinx Slade allegedly called Daniela Monico, “Being in a production with people who and Palestinian immigration to America. sophomore theatre technology major and share my culture … It was really great to have The show was based on interviews with the show’s sound design and foley artist, that experience,” Hernandez said.

Chicago-based immigrants.

Mexican even though Monico told her she Monico saw her mother cry when Gerwert-Valdez said she had a meeting was Colombian. she saw the show and knew her mother with her stage manager and Slade due to Monico said she had signed onto the show felt connected to the real stories concerns about white actors being cast for with excitement for telling a meaningful of immigrants’ lives showcased in Palestinian roles, but said her concerns were story with which she connected, but her the play. dismissed. When concerns about the casthope began to diminish because of Slade’s “It was the first time I’ve been in a proing of white actors as Palestinian characactions and indifference to student concerns. duction where I see people whom I can ters were voiced, Slade said Palestinian “I wanted to do [the show] justice,” Monico relate to,” Monico said. “There’s really people “are just white people,” according said. “I wish the director cared more.” beautiful moments in it.” to Gerwert-Valdez.

Although the cast was upset with Slade, But students said there could have been Slade would act out toward the cast by some said they were concerned about judg- more of those beautiful moments if there being aggressive and speaking badly about ing her too harshly. had been a more open dialogue during them, Gerwert-Valdez said.

“It’s so easy to dehumanize people who production between the director and “From the get-go, it felt disrespectful,” do things like this to us, … [but] I have no cast members.

Gerwert-Valdez said. “It got to a place where idea what [she], as a theater artist, as a ayetter@columbiachronicle.com nobody felt safe; no one was comfortable black woman, had to do in this industry, with her.”

Sophomore comedy writing and performance major Allison Cochrane, a white actor who played a white character in the show, said cast members were uncomfortable from the first read-through, but they all stuck together regardless.

Though she did not personally experience or see any discrimination from Slade, she heard comments made by Slade about the Latinx cast looking white anyway.

Cochrane attributed the incidents to a lack of cultural understanding on Slade’s part.

Sophomore acting major and cast member Gabriel Chinchilla said he Cast members of the play “HOME/LAND” alleged the director made racially insensitive comments and ignored their connoticed the insensitivity cerns about casting white actors in Latinx and Palestinian roles.

APRIL 29, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 3

campus

Internships can be minefields for unsuspecting students » MARI DEVEREAUX CONTRIBUTING WRITER MARLEY MOLKENTIN, JUNIOR multimedia photojournalism major, had trouble getting paid for a recent internship after she “stupidly didn’t sign any type of contract.”

During her time at Columbia, Molkentin has had two internships, one for an aldermanic campaign in Chicago and another for a nonprofit organization.

Molkentin turned to the Career Center after her internship with the nonprofit only paid her for 75 of the 120 hours she worked.

She said she needed her internship wages to offset the costs of video production she had done for the organization.

Instead, Molkentin said she had to rely on money from jobs such as waitressing and babysit-

ting to pay for her tuition to attend Columbia and to pay her $667 monthly rent.

At her second internship for the aldermanic campaign, Molkentin underwent a similar ordeal as she was paid one-third of what she was owed for producing two videos over three months.

“I was confused about how internships worked. I thought, ‘Columbia knows what’s going on and is working with this person [to] give [me] this internship opportunity,’” Molkentin said, referring to her early experiences.

“It’s not really an internship. It’s not guided; there’s no schedule.”

Internship and Career Advisor Jennifer Halperin said the Career Center urges students to take paid and unpaid internships for college credit so Columbia can hold employers accountable under the Fair Labor Standards Act guide-

lines. The guidelines help ensure students are treated fairly and the positions are helping them build their portfolios.

Twenty percent of the 693 internships taken for credit at Columbia during the 2017–2018 school year were paid, according to Assistant Director of Internships and Career Advising Laura Daniels.

Senior multimedia journalism major Megan Perrero stressed the value of studying contracts before signing them and con-

sulting resources, such as the company’s human resources representative. Perrero added that students can contact representatives at the Career Center who can advocate on a student’s behalf if the contract’s standards are not met.

“People should not be afraid to step away from something that’s not working out,” Perrero said.

Internships not taken for credit are not vetted through the Career Center, which sometimes allows freelance jobs that do not meet mandatory educational or mentoring standards to slip through, Halperin said.

“When [companies] want a student to do free work, they’ll call it an internship,” Halperin said.

In order to avoid allowing businesses to take advantage of students, Columbia uses Handshake, a job and internship hiring platform. Handshake flags employers who are questionable based on a number of factors, including student surveys about their past experiences with the company, Halperin added.

“At the Career Center, it’s a constant goal of ours to work with employers to try to create paid opportunities,” Halperin said.

Sophomore communications major Jason Ritter said Career Center staff played a major role in finding the right opportunity for him as an unpaid social media intern at public relations and marketing firm ext.54.

Despite lacking compensation for his work, Ritter said he did not regret the invaluable connections and transferable skills he gained from the internship.

Above all else, Ritter advised students to choose opportunities they will genuinely enjoy. chronicle@colum.edu

» ZACK JACKSON/CHRONICLE

The Music Center at Columbia College Chicago 1014 S. Michigan Avenue

M u s i c

D e p a r t m e n t

Monday April 29 Jazz Pop Choir in Concert at the Conaway Fusion Ensemble in Concert Quinn Rigg Senior Vocal Recital at the Sherwood Gospel Choir and Gospel Rep Ensemble at Stage TWO

WEDNESDAY, May 1st | 3pm Career center, 618 s. michigan

4 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 29, 2019

E v e n t s 12:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Tuesday April 30 Gospel Ensemble: Showcase in Concert

7:00 pm

Wednesday May 1 Wednesday Noon Guitar Concert Series at the Conaway Breakaway in Concert Jazz ComboFest New Music Ensemble in Concert at the Sherwood

12:00 pm 12:30 pm 4:30 pm 7:00 pm

Thursday May 2 Guitar Ensemble in Concert Hip Hop Ensemble in Concert Student Piano & Strings Recital #6 & #7 at the Sherwood

12:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Friday May 3 ChicagoVox in Concert

7:00 pm

Saturday May 4 Advanced Studio Vocal Performance

12:00 pm

campus » HALIE PARKINSON/CHRONICLE

FEATURED PHOTO

Actor and Grammy-nominated R&B artist Mario discussed his diverse career in a conversation led by music professor and “Empire” vocal producer Jeff Morrow April 25 at Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave.

APRIL 29, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 5

campus

B.A. Cinema Arts | Biology | Dean’s List Artist: Storyboard, Cartoonist, Paleontology Art

Love, Your Mom, Family, & the Team at Raila & Associates, PC

6 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 29, 2019

arts culture

“Hamilton: The Exhibition” opens in Chicago » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Muslims prepare for fasting, charity and worship during Ramadan 2019

» SHANE TOLENTINO/CHRONICLE

» YASMEEN SHEIKAH STAFF REPORTER FROM URBAN COLLEGE campuses to suburban organizations and mosques, Muslims throughout the area are preparing for a month of prayer, charity and most notably, fasting from dawn to dusk.

Chicago area Muslims will join more than 1.8 billion others worldwide, as stated in a Pew Research Center report, participating in a month of worship and devotion to God.

The holy month, which begins May 6, is observed annually during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar, so Ramadan starts approximately 11 days earlier each year. A person who lives at least 33 years will have experienced Ramadan in every season.

In Islam, Ramadan is important because it is the month the Quran—the Muslim holy book—was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, however, only those who are healthy should fast. Pregnant women, ill people, the elderly and prepubescent children are not required to fast.

The Prayer Center of Orland Park Imam Kifah Mustapha said fasting involves abstaining from three main things: food, liquid and intimacy.

“At sunset, people break their fast and go back into normal life, … and the next day it starts again,” Mustapha said. “People elevate their fasting by fasting through [their] senses, so [they] don’t listen to something, don’t look at something, or don’t speak something.

Some people [try to] purify the minds and the heart from the thoughts that are meant to be harmful.”

During Ramadan, Muslims throughout the area are planning to give to charity,

another pillar of Islam. The Oak Brookbased Muslim Women’s Alliance, for example, has been providing local Muslims with food for the entire month of Ramadan for the last 12 years. The organization’s goal this year is to supply more than 550 families with meals during the holy month.

“One thing that our organization has always tried to do ... is connect the Muslim community with different community service activities,” said Khadija Husain, MWA board director.

“This way [there are] a lot of different age groups and a lot of different ethnic communities—people from different backgrounds—engaged in helping marginalized communities.”

Husain also said the organization is having its Feed a Family event May 4 at the Islamic Center of Naperville, 2844 W. Ogden Ave., from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

“We’ve created this project where we pack food supplies, cooking supplies and gift cards for groceries,” Husain said. “[The families we serve] are identified through local social service organizations and ... mosques in the area. We make sure that we hit all the different localities in the city of Chicago and in the suburbs, as well as Northwest Indiana.”

Other organizations are also taking action, including the Virginia-based

Islamic Relief USA, which is sending nonperishable food packages with rice, canned meats, oil and more to Muslims in 25 predominantly Muslim countries.

“We try to make sure that the food that is sent there is reflective of the types of foods that people eat in those countries,” said Minhaj Hassan, spokesperson for Islamic Relief USA. “So [the food packages] range between $30 for an Asian food package versus $70 for a Middle Eastern food package, and the shipping is included in the cost.”

Dunyah Abulaban, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago and the Muslim Student Association advisor, is excited to learn more during Ramadan this year.

“I really want to spend a lot of time reflecting on the Quran,” Abulaban said. “It’s one thing to memorize, and it is another thing to fully understand what it is saying.”

Abulaban also said she is most excited for the community bonding.

“At Tarawih [optional prayers performed by Muslims only in Ramadan] meeting new people, talking to new people, hearing new stories, seeing family is so exciting,” Abulaban said. “[It’s] honestly my favorite time of the year.” ysheikah@columbiachronicle.com

APRIL 29, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 7

arts & culture

into—for people who have seen the movie—more of a Hope. The main thing I loved about Amy is she goes AMY AND MOLLY have spent their about her life with kindness and high school careers studying non- compassion. I always try to mirror stop to get into Ivy League schools. her dedication.

On the eve of graduation, they realize their peers got into the FELDSTEIN: I always say I’m same schools even while having like Molly with the edges sanded fun and partying. Determined down. [The writers] also infused to make high school memorable, a lot of our natural selves into [the they set off on a mission to have characters] over time. [Molly’s] the best night of their lives. not very warm at the beginning Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Amy, of the film—and I like to conand Beanie Feldstein, who plays sider myself warm—but I defiMolly, spoke with The Chronicle nitely have her passion and her about their characters and the unapologetic intensity. film’s message.

What was the most difficult THE CHRONICLE: How do you part of acting in the film? relate to your characters?

FELDSTEIN: There’s a scene DEVER: I always think I started where we had to learn Mandarin. out as an Amy the first two years of I’m not good with languages, so high school. I was very dedicated; I I was really nervous about that. had a love for school. Then I turned But that scene is so funny and a

» KATHERINE SAVAGE STAFF REPORTER

8 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 29, 2019

clear way to exhibit their intellect without talking about it.

» ORLANDO PINDER/CHRONICLE

Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein get ‘Booksmart’ in new indie film

DEVER: We talk the whole movie.

Beanie and I had never led a film before, so we knew going into it, we have to get this right. Our language is so back and forth and smart and quick and witty. [I] was just thinking, “God, I’ve never been in every single scene in a movie every day,” and it scared me. That’s what’s so “Booksmart,” Olivia Wilde’s directorial film debut, will premiere May 24. It stars fun about making movies—doing (from left) Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein. something [one’s] scared of and Everyone can relate to someone up to seeing people more clearly for then having it be great in the end. in this movie. The film asks the who they are versus who [they are audience to look at the world a expected] to be because of preconWhat do you want people to little differently and place less ceived notions. We love the tagline, walk away with after seeing judgment on people, and in return, “You read them wrong,” because it’s ‘Booksmart’? [they] might actually judge [them- twofold. The audience is reading DEVER: This is not just a comedy selves] a little less. us wrong. My character reads all for young women because there of her classmates wrong and is led are two young women in the lead- FELDSTEIN: Movies about boys to seeing them more clearly and ing roles. [Director] Oliva [Wilde] get to be for anyone; for some rea- more openly. really wanted to change the view son [movies with] young girls are we have on female comedies. [repulsive]. It opens [the audience] ksavage@columbiachronicle.com

arts & culture

Podcast brings ‘riddikulus’ humor to Harry Potter world » KATHERINE SAVAGE STAFF REPORTER

» COURTESY CASEY CAMPBELL

IN “POTTERLESS,” A podcast following 25-year-old Mike Schubert reading the “Harry Potter” series for the first time, Schubert is not shy about voicing his take on the Wizarding World— even when it comes to disliking the popular wizarding sport known as Quidditch.

During each episode, Schubert breaks down the books by chapter to analyze, critique and deliver witty takes on the franchise with various guest speakers.

First airing in October 2016, Schubert is now nearing the end of the last book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

Schubert spoke with The Chronicle about “Harry Potter” and the behind-the-scenes work of creating a podcast.

How do you decide which guests are on the show?

In the beginning, it was mainly people whom I knew. It was half Vine friends, whom I knew would be funny, and half people whom I knew did podcasts. As it got more popular, it became more

What is your least favorite part of the books?

[However] many episodes it took to do each book, that’s how much I liked it—because it means I have more stuff to talk about. I intentional trying to find a par- did the first book in two episodes, ticular guest for particular chap- and then I did the second book in ters. Such a fun aspect of “Harry three or four. I did easily the most Potter” is everyone has a different episodes on book six. So clearly, feeling on the series and a different when I like a book more, I talk approach, so it was very important more about it. It’s no secret in the for me to have a lot of people from podcast that I always hated the different walks of life. beginning recap chapters, but I get that they’re kid’s books and [the author] wants to refresh people on what happened. The refresher might be nice for other people, but for me, as a grumpy podcaster who was just plowing through them, I was like, “Come on, I don’t need this.”

Podcast “Potterless” follows host Mike Schubert as he reads the “Harry Potter” series for the first time.

check out our

podcast!

cu l ve ch tur rs ro e at nio ns

available on or visit our website columbiachronicle.com

Who has been your favorite character in the book series so far?

I probably will go with Ginny.

She’s the perfect mix of all of the wit of Fred and George, and the sassiness of them, but then the wizarding prowess and power of

Hermione. I love her as a pairing for Harry; she offsets him very well. I love that she doesn’t put up with his BS, and she stands up to him. She is independent, confident and strong, even though she has all of these older brothers who are sometimes obnoxious people—Fred and George being obnoxiously goofy or Ron being Ron. It’s a shame she wasn’t done justice in the movies.

What happens when you finish reading the books?

The podcast will go on for a while because I’m going to do all the books, and then I’m going to do all the movies. Then, I’m going to do the spin-off books, and I have tickets to see ‘[Harry Potter and the] Cursed Child,’ I’ll see ‘Puffs’ and I’ll watch ‘A Very Potter Musical.’ There’s a whole bunch of stuff I can do there. I also want to get listeners involved. I’m thinking of setting up a voicemail service where people can call in with fan theories or things I missed. ksavage@columbiachronicle.com

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opinions

Questions about arrested teens have complicated answers » ColumbiaChronicle.com

Columbia theater must set a better example

A

Being an LGBTQ advocate without coming out » ALEX WHITE VIDEOGRAPHER

“T

hank god, I thought you were doing drugs” was my mother’s response when I texted her I was out with a guy I was dating. I hadn’t really thought about it as coming out, but technically that was the first time I

according to the most recent report by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition, which surveys the state of diversity in theater. Latinx performers made up only around 5% of all those cast, and Middle Eastern and North African performers made up a mere 1.7% of performers.

Racism and xenophobia, both intentional and unintentional, permeate even the most forward-thinking circles, from students learning their craft to the highest level of performance.

Columbia must break from national trends and commit to representation. As part of a learning institution, we can set an example. We cannot excuse ourselves from thinking critically about our own communities. Columbia may do better than many colleges in terms of diversity, but issues still slip through the cracks and similar incidents must be prevented.

Storytelling comes with responsibility. Leaders must bring in members of marginalized communities, not only to critique content but as much-needed collaborators. Art and performance improve when communities band together told her. After growing up transgender, coming out as gay didn’t seem like something I needed to make a big deal out of. I was incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such positive LGBTQ role models and peers. It was a seamless transition.

In October 2018, I accepted a summer job to be a videographer at a boys’ summer camp in rural North Carolina. The camp “caters to the most conservative of families.” Reading that from my future boss, I knew I would be entering an environment that was drastically different. I also knew I had to make a choice: Do I come out or stay in the closet? If I stay in the closet, am I doing my part to advocate for my community? Am I secretly ashamed to be transgender and gay?

According to a June 2018 Human Rights Campaign survey, 46% of LGBTQ employees reported remaining closeted at work. According to Out and Equal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to workplace equality, more than three-quarters of transgender employees take steps to

Editorial Board Members Jay Berghuis Opinions Editor Micha Thurston Ad & Business Manager Knox Keranen Staff Reporter Katherine Savage Staff Reporter Alexandra Yetter Staff Reporter

10 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 29, 2019

Kristen Nichols Copy Chief Margaret Smith Copy Editor Steven Nunez Staff Photographer Ethan Sandock Videographer

and tell their stories with one another.

There must be accountability in our theater, from pitching to performance.

The department or the college should step in to make sure experts are working on the production, reading everything and staying in the conversation. If the responsibility of speaking up and creating resources is delegated to students, there is a problem. The power imbalance between students and professors cannot be overstated. Marginalized students need strong advocates.

Columbia supports creativity across disciplines, from performance to photography. We are a community of activist artists who want to challenge norms and create space for ourselves. Many students see Columbia as a safe place for those marginalized by race, gender, sexual orientation or immigration status. We need to ensure those values will not only stay in place but grow stronger in the coming years. Diversity and representation are incompatible with complacency.

» FERNANDA WEISSBUCH/CHRONICLE

play called “HOME/LAND” was performed March 13–23 on campus in partnership with the Albany Park Theater Project; since its run, accusations of racism and whitewashing—where white characters portray non-white character roles—have been leveled against the director, who is a professor in the Theatre Department.

As reported on Page 3, the play centers around Palestinian and Latinx immigrants coming to the U.S. According to those involved with the production, white actors were cast in Palestinian and Latinx roles, and allegedly the director argued that these two groups of people “are all white anyway.” When met with criticism, cast and crew members said the director was aggressive and disrespectful.

Though it is easy to pretend things like this do not happen at Columbia, we need to recognize reality: This problem exists at every level of theater. Among Broadway and nonprofit theater companies in the 2016–2017 season, 66.8% of actors were white, 86.8% of playwrights were white and 87.1% of directors were white,

EDITORIAL

chronicle@colum.edu

avoid mistreatment in the workplace. As a kid, I was used to keeping my past gender identity a secret, both at school and in my everyday life. I had become so accustomed to rarely sharing that information about myself that I thought it wasn’t important to share now in my everyday life.

As I become more comfortable with my identity and sexuality, I want to do more for my community and act as an advocate. I’ve always been fortunate enough to blend into my surroundings, a privilege I now realize I can use as a tool to be an advocate, too.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than half of LGBTQ workers have reported hearing jokes about lesbian or gay people at work. Being around young impressionable boys, I anticipate the word “gay” will be thrown around as a derogatory term. If I make an effort to consistently stand up to this behavior, and educate them on the hurt that may follow that insult, they could see someone defending LGBTQ people for perhaps the first time.

The ripple effect can continue with my

COMMENTARY peers as well. The effectiveness of not coming out in order to actively advocate seems greater than telling them “I am gay, so you can’t say that.” That language alone puts anyone in an uncomfortable position. Being told to accept something different on the spot makes it hard for people to truly understand and accept.

In order to urge traditional thinkers to consider shifting their language and actions to be more accepting of diversity, one must consider how to effectively reach them first. Using language that implies they must unquestioningly accept something makes people feel forced. I plan on taking both sides into consideration in order to advocate for my community.

Ignorance is often overlooked in our daily routine but when someone steps forward, it turns heads. Change can happen when introduced to the repetitive behavior of standing up for what one believes in. After enough time, people will take notice. awhite@columbiachronicle.com

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opinions according to the Cell article.

Success stories from GWAS data include: identifying genetic variations that contribute to the risk of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, heart disorders, obesity, Crohn’s disease and prostate cancer, published by the National Human Genome Research Institute. It has also found genetic variations alter a person’s ability to respond to antidepressants.

Making conclusions about how COMMENTARY genetics may work with health conditions comes at a hefty cost. It leaves the discoveries made limited to benefiting only those of European descent instead of benefiting everyone.

If someone identifies as African or Latinx, the chances medical professionals or geneticists can » BRIDGET EKIS provide accurate health informaSTAFF REPORTER tion is significantly less than with n a Tuesday afternoon white counterparts. This is because in “Genetics: Honors,” I researchers are basing care off of data learned of yet anothcomprised mostly of white people. er industry that marginalizes Without diversity in genetic research, people of color: DNA databases. we are stunting the growth of precision Of the data on which scienmedicine and clinical tists have been basing genetic tests. If we continue to conclusions, 78% comes only examine certain from people of predomsections of the popinately European ulation, we’re subject descent, according to miss the variability to an analysis pubin mutations of genes. lished in the scienThe path to inclutific journal Cell. sive genetic research These people recruiting is underway, but were recruited this change will take time. through an experThe NIH launched iment known as a an initiative in 2016 genome-wide assocalled All of Us, which ciation study, or GWAS. aims to collect one By scanning through sets of million samples from DNA, scientists are able to diverse individuals look for genetic variations across the U.S. to across the genome and better understand see if they correlate » FERNANDA WEISSBUCH/CHRONICLE how environment, with diseases, such as lifestyle and biology asthma, cancer, heart disease and play as factors into how researchers mental illnesses. The first genomeshould use precision medicine. wide studies were published in the Other initiatives to increase early 2000s, according to the National diversity in the gene pool include Institutes of Health, and studies have the Human Heredity and Health in continued over the past two decades.

Africa Initiative and the Hispanic People of European descent Community Health/Study of Latinos. only make up 16% of the global However, medicine needs to gain population, according to the Cell the trust of these groups through article, which means most of what transparency and inclusion. we know today about how specific In the past, scientific research diseases are related to genetics has excluded marginalized peorepresents white people, leaving ple. Moving forward, this practice people of color out of the equation. is unacceptable, especially in a People who identify as Latinx time when people are becoming or are of African descent today increasingly skeptical of medicine. account for less than 4% of people recruited into the GWAS study, bekis@columbiachronicle.com

Genetics research misrepresents people of color

O

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metro Warren: ‘It’s time for bold action’ Volunteers clean up Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pool » ColumbiaChronicle.com/Multimedia

» BLAISE MESA

MANAGING EDITOR

room to focus on creative opportunities, such as illustration work.

Warren’s proposal would “substantially increase wealth for black and Latinx families and reduce both the black-white and Latinx-white wealth gap,” she said.

The proposal would also create a fund for historically black colleges and universities and minority serving institutions.

Hounanian noted Warren’s plan was similar to proposals from other candidates, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), who has proposed free college in the past.

“It’s important that every [candidate] talks about it,” Hounanian said. “And 2020 seems to be the year everyone will.”

Irvin said debt scares a lot of people away from higher education and prevents them from considering college.

“When the cost of living is lower, [one] can put more time and money toward things that matter,” Irvin said. “Student loan debt is very daunting. [Students] think they can’t possibly pay this debt off.” bmesa@columbiachronicle.com » COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

NINETY-FIVE PERCENT of Americans with student loans could have up to $50,000 of student debt canceled under a proposal from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a Democratic presidential contender.

The proposal eliminates debt for people with a household income less than $100,000.

Those making more than $250,000 would not be eligible, and for every $3 earned over $100,000, $1 will be phased out. For example, people making $130,000 would be eligible for $40,000 of relief.

Warren estimates her plan would fully eliminate the student loan debt for 75% of Americans with student loans, and this program would be funded by her 2% UltraMillionaire Tax. Her plan would make public colleges and universities free to avoid future problems with student debt.

“The student loan debt problem has continued to get worse,” Warren said in an April 22 Medium article announcing her proposal.

“It’s time for bold action to actually fix the debt crisis.”

Some have criticized Warren’s plan for being unfair to students who have already paid off their debt. During his April 22 CNN Town Hall, presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said the plan was “pretty appealing” but would have to be properly funded.

The proposal could make graduate school more accessible, said Cody Hounanian, program director of Student Debt Crisis, a student debt advocacy group. Hounanian

attributed this possibility to students being able to afford graduate school if large portions of their debt are forgiven.

The average cost of a graduate degree in 2015–2016 was $17,868, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The average cost of a graduate degree from a private institution costs $23,919, with public institutions costing $11,303.

Senior illustration major Philli Irvin is considering graduate school, but he already has $100,000 in student loan debt.

If $50,000 of his debt were canceled, he said it would factor into his decision.

Junior audio design and production major Ian Devitt has approximately $30,000 of student loan debt with one year of school left.

Devitt is not considering graduate school but would look into taking more classes if his debt was canceled.

Devitt said he would take additional classes in related fields. The additional cost of taking extra course credits are currently preventing him from doing so.

Graduating with less debt would allow him to focus on what he is passionate about rather than worry about getting a job to make money.

Devitt said it would also open him up to other opportunities, such as spending six months working on an audio documentary he is interested in making.

“It would be easier to comfortably try and do creative things I would like to do,” Devitt said.

Irvin echoed Devitt, adding that having his debt canceled would give him breathing

Elizabeth Warren proposed free tution and forgiving $50,000 of student debt for 95% of Americans.

» GRACE SENIOR/CHRONICLE

APRIL 29, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 13

metro

Fatal shooting on Ida B. Wells Drive

» MOLLY WALSH MANAGING EDITOR

4/5/2019

5, 2017, that collegewide notifications are not sent when incidents occur off campus and do not pose an immediate threat to the Columbia community.

On-campus locations are defined by the 1990 Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus

close. We should know quickly.”

Ocampo said she saw red tape, the two cars and a helicopter overhead. She did not know what happened but saw online someone had been shot and killed.

“I pass there everyday to get here,” Ocampo said. “My mom drops me off on the same street.” mwalsh@columbiachronicle.com » COURTESY DAYANARA OCAMPO

AN ALLEGED CARJACKER was fatally shot early April 26 on Ida B. Wells Drive.

The shooter, a 41-year-old male, said he was driving his 2015 BMW between Clark and LaSalle at approximately 3:15 a.m. when he was rear-ended by a 22-year-old male driving a 2019 Volkswagen, police said.

The 41-year-old exited his vehicle to see the damage and went back to his car to retrieve his cellphone when the alleged carjacker approached with a handgun, pushed him into the vehicle and demanded his keys.

The 41-year-old, who has a concealed carry permit, pulled out a gun from the vehicle and shot the man in the head while they were both in the car. The alleged carjacker was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead, according

to Chicago Police Department spokesperson Kellie Bartoli in an April 26 email statement.

The shooter was being questioned by Area Central detectives, Bartoli said.

Freshman game art major Dayanara Ocampo was going to the 33. E. Ida B. Wells Drive Building at around 6:30 a.m. when she saw the aftermath of the incident.

Ocampo said a crime alert is the first thing she notices after something happens but was surprised she had not received a notification more than three hours after the incident.

A collegewide notification was not sent by the Safety and Security Office as of press time, despite the incident occurring near campus.

Alerts were also not sent out for shootings that occurred at the Jackson Red Line station in August 2017 and December 2018.

The Chronicle reported Sept.

Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, created to allow access to information about crime at universities.

Associate Vice President of Safety and Security Ron Sodini was not available for an interview as of press time.

“It [was] right here, so I’m scared,” Ocampo said. “We should know. The gun violence was so

An alleged carjacker was fatally shot around 3:15 a.m. April 26 near campus on Ida B. Wells Drive between Clark and LaSalle. Police said the shooter, who has a concealed carry permit, is being questioned by Area Central detectives.

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Charter school teachers, City Colleges staff threaten to strike » KNOX KERANEN STAFF REPORTER

15 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 29, 2019

School and Youth Connection Leadership Academy. The five schools serve more than 1,800 students combined. Latinx and black students make up the majority of the student bodies at the schools, excluding the Chicago High School for the Arts.

Meanwhile, more than 400 staff members at City Colleges Chicago, represented by the Federation of College Clerical Technical Personnel—which is affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers—have also announced a strike planned for May 1 if negotiations are not successful.

Administrative Assistant at Olive-Harvey City College Sherina Collins said paraprofessionals are bearing increased workloads while some are not making a living wage.

“We are fighting for more than just salaries; it’s about respect,” Collins said. “We haven’t had a raise in almost three years,

» ORLANDO PINDER /CHRONICLE

CHARTER SCHOOL EDUCATORS and City College staff are working together to gain better resources for students and higher wages for staff.

The two groups rallied outside of the Arturo Velazquez Westside Technical Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave., April 25 in solidarity for higher wages and increased resources.

Both the Chicago Teachers Union and the Federation of College Clerical & Technical Personnel (Local 1708), who represent the groups, plan to strike May 1 if their demands are not met. May 1 also marks a political holiday for labor workers, May Day. President of the CTU Jesse Sharkey said the chances that sides will reach an agreement are

slim. “They are sick of working for substandard wages,” Sharkey said. “They are sick of making due without enough staff for their students, and they are going to try to force the issue in their contract negotiations.”

The planned strike by the charter school teachers would be the first multi-employer charter strike in U.S. history. The potential strike would follow on the heels of another historical strike when 530 teachers at Acero Charter Schools, backed by the CTU, negotiated a contract after carrying out a four-day strike in December 2018, becoming the country’s first charter school employees to organize a work stoppage.

The charter schools in joint bargaining are the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy, the Chicago High School for the Arts, Latino Youth High

[but] our administrators are management in these institutions,” getting raises.”

Geovanis said. “It’s time for it Laboratories coordinator at to change.”

Malcolm X City College Roberto Chancellor Salgado was Guzman said when his faculty not immediately available union was negotiating for a new for comment . contract Chancellor of City Colleges Juan Salgado eased negokkeranen@columbiachronicle.com tiation tensions with food. “[He] gave tamales to the faculty and professionals.

Why won’t [he] give tamales to the [paraprofessionals]?” Guzman asked.

CTU Director Chris Geovanis said Salgado, former CEO of Instituto del Progreso, has brought the practice of low balling student resources to the City Colleges.

“That’s a symptom of the distorted priorities that have “Equal pay for equal work!” Families march together historically plagued along South Western Avenue on April 25.

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