PAGE 3: Lower enrollment decline gives college hope
PAGE 9: RY X makes stop at Thalia Hall on Unfurl tour
PAGE 7: Uncommon Ground listening rooms provide space for emerging artists PAGE 13: Controversial Lincoln Yards project heads to funding vote Volume 53, Issue 25
April 8, 2019
Chicago ‘to Bring
in the light’ SEE MAYOR, PAGE 12
» STEVEN NUNEZ/CHRONICLE
ColumbiaChronicle.com
editor’s note
Chicago mayoral election: Where did all the voters go? » ARIANA PORTALATIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
V
oters nationwide were thrilled when the high voter turnout during the Nov. 6 midterm election bought several historic victories. However, the honeymoon phase has quickly ended as seen by the low voter turnout during the April 2 runoff mayoral election. According to a Nov. 9 New York Times article, an estimated 113 million people voted during the midterms, the majority being women, Latinos and young people. The results were historic. Many cities and states voted people of color and the LGBTQ community to represent them for the first time, among other accomplishments. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, about 31% of people 18–29 years old voted in the 2018 midterm election, which was estimated to be the highest turnout among youth in decades, as reported Nov. 10, 2018, by The Chronicle. Chicago specifically had a total of 912,061 ballots cast out of 1,503,353, equaling a 60.67% turnout, according to the Chicago Board of Elections website. But that percentage was nearly cut in half during the Feb. 26 mayoral election, and worsened April 2. On Feb. 26, the number of registered voters increased to 1,581,755. However, only 560,701 ballots were cast, a 35.45% turnout. While registered voters slightly increased again for the April 2 election, voter turnout still decreased. The total number of ballots cast dropped to 507,524, a 31.87% turnout. Chicago didn’t have much to look forward to with turnout because the numbers looked bleak to begin with the day of the election. “Obviously, the choice is a lot simpler when it is boiled down to a one-on-one contest,” Chicago Board of Elections Spokesperson Jim Allen said in an April 2 WTTW article. “Whether all those voters who didn’t participate [the] first time are going to be more enthused and come out … remains to be seen. So far, we’re running parallel to Feb. 26 in terms of turnout.” According to the same WTTW article, 25–44-year-olds make up the largest voting block, but don’t vote in the largest 2 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 8, 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
numbers. The largest number of votes instead come from people ages 55–74, and early COPY CHIEF including in person, by mail COPY EDITORS voting. This is extremely different than the high number of votes cast by young people during the midterms. It’s hard to say exactly what could SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER have caused fewer people to vote, but a GRAPHIC DESIGNERS likely reason could be voter fatigue fol lowing the February and November 2018 elections and early media coverage of the 2020 presidential election. results of SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR Regardless of turnout, the STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS the election should still be celebrated and not overlooked. Chicago elected its first openly-gay black woman as mayor, one who has promised to break away from the status quo and move the city in a much-needed positive direction. VIDEOGRAPHERS Legislative officials are becoming increasingly more representative of our society at the local and federal levels, such as presidential candidates Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro and MEDIA SALES REPS Tulsi Gabbard. This is all due to people making their voices heard. BRAND MANAGER Chicagoans, especially youths, should remember the importance of casting a ballot. Local and state elections have a much higher impact on daily life than WEBMASTER presidential elections, and making one’s voice heard is a critical opportunity. The results of the midterm and local mayoral election show the impact a vote can have GENERAL MANAGER to promote positive change. FACULTY ADVISER Both elections will be recognized years from now as some of the most memorable moments in political history. But these moments happened only because people took advantage of their votes. In order to continue down this path, voters have to keep the same energy throughout each election. @ aportalatin@columbiachronicle.com
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campus
Film festival held with help of Columbia alumni » ColumbiaChronicle.com
College finds footing in enrollment decline
» ALEXANDRA YETTER & KNOX KERANEN STAFF REPORTERS
» FERNANDA WEISSBUCH/ CHRONICLE
ENROLLMENT AT COLUMBIA is continuing its years-long downward trend with the Spring 2019 semester, according to the college’s Institutional Effectiveness website. But faculty and administrative leadership said that may change soon. From Spring 2017 to Spring 2018, enrollment suffered an 8.9% decline. From Spring 2018 to this Spring 2019 semester, the decline was 5.3%—a slight improvement. While the college is not expecting significant enrollment increases in the fall, it hopes the more than 10-year trend of decline will level off. “We’ve had this consistent decline from fall to fall,” said Vice President of Enrollment Management Michael Joseph. “Our goal ... for this coming fall is that we stem the tide there and stop that train going in the wrong direction.” In 2008, 12,464 students were enrolled. Since then, enrollment has tumbled every year. Between 2013 and 2017, enrollment went down by 27.9%. Sean Andrews, Faculty Senate president and associate professor in the Humanities, History and Social Sciences Department, said a slight decline in enrollment is usually expected between the fall and spring semesters; enrollment is projected to increase by about 200 students by fall. Joseph said there were around 700 freshman deposits at this time last year, and there are currently 900. He added transfer deposits have increased as well, from around 250 last year to approximately 300. Not all students who put down a registration deposit will enroll at the school
though, as many use it to secure their spot at multiple schools while they decide which to attend. While Columbia has been disproportionately affected by this in the past, Joseph said he hopes to cut that number in half and hold on to students who have put down deposits. This could be the first enrollment increase the college has seen in 11 years, Joseph said. He added that the college hopes to increase total enrollment to 8,000 students by 2025. “It could be a random coincidence or the start of a new trend,”
Andrews said. “It definitely is better than the alternative.” Andrews attributed the promising statistics partly to the new marketing initiatives targeting geographic areas to bring in more students, such as from the Chicagoland area, where enrollment has been down in previous years. The increased amount of financial aid and scholarships being offered by the college may also be helping enrollment, Andrews said. While the issue of declining enrollment may not be as severe as in past semesters, the college will still have to reallocate its budget to make up for the loss of income from tuition and to support the amount of aid provided to students. Andrews said this budget reallocation will look different across departments, but may include not hiring faculty replacements. Most departments collegewide saw a decrease in enrollment, some more drastically than others. The four departments with the highest enrollment decline are the Fashion Studies Department, with an 11.4% decline; the Communication Department, with a 10.6% decline; the Music Department, with a 9.2% decline; and the Business and Entrepreneurship Department, with an 8.1% decline. However, the Interactive Arts and Media department saw an uptick in Spring 2019 enrollment, with a 62.7% increase—an addition of 198 students, according to the college’s enrollment website. Chair of the Communication Department and Associate Professor Suzanne McBride said new leadership, recruitment and marketing practices are cause for excitement. She also expects fall enrollment improvements. “In my 14 years here ... I have never felt such energy,” McBride said. “There’s been a rethinking among faculty members … who [are now] playing a role in getting students here.” With numerous initiatives in the works to increase diversity and inclusion at the
college, enrollment among diverse ethnicities increased. The number of Asian students enrolled for Spring 2019 increased by 8.4%, and the number of Hispanic students increased by 4.8%. President of the Asian Student Organization and senior acting major Tina-Kim Nguyen said she was pleasantly surprised by the increase in Asian students because of the stigma in the community about being in the arts. Although she attributed the increase to Columbia’s focus on diversity, she said there is not much diversity among individual departments. For example, there are only 14 Asian students in the Theatre Department. The number of black students decreased by 4.2% and was the only demographic to have a significant decrease. Isaiah Moore, a sophomore television and cultural studies double major and community chair to the Black Student Union, said the decline showed there is more to be done to make students feel represented. “It’s telling [of] how Columbia hasn’t reached out to the demographic of black and African American students,” Moore said. “They try to market it in the sense that they’ll put pictures of people who look like me on the cover of certain things, but it doesn’t really do much to diversify … or include them in the conversation. They try to make [diversity] a hallmark of what we do, but we don’t see administrative leaders who look like us, for the most part.” Moore said it can be nerve wracking to come to Columbia because incoming students may not see the representation they are looking for during tours and orientation. If enrollment continues to decline, more tuition hikes could be a possibility, Andrews said. President and CEO Kwang-Wu Kim announced in a Nov. 27, 2018, email to students there would be an increase in tuition for the 2019–2020 academic year from $26,090 to $26,610. Vice President of Marketing for BSU and junior cinema art and science major Dorian Mays said more tuition hikes may be necessary, but budget cuts can cripple the quality of students’ education and access to resources. “What’s the point of me being at Columbia now if the budget is being cut so much?” Mays said. “Some the majors have no space to grow.” chronicle@colum.edu
APRIL 8, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 3
campus
Donning of the Kente celebrates black graduates » KNOX KERANEN STAFF REPORTER
DURING COLUMBIA’S INAUGURAL
and plans for faculty and staff to offer words of encouragement at the ceremony are in the works, according to Stanley. “Black people should be celebrated for the things they do, especially the black seniors here [who] are under-appreciated at this school,” Mundy said. “Which is why Essence, Connie and I decided to take it on, change the name and have it blossom.” Mack anticipates the Donning
of the Kente Ceremony will spark other underrepresented student groups to find new ways to celebrate their achievements. “The event gives me hope and makes me excited to move forward in my education here, knowing at some point I can be rewarded,” Mack said. “And not in a large group, but in a small group of people who are like me.” kkeranen@columbiachronicle.com » IGNACIO CALDERON/CHRONICLE
Donning of the Kente Ceremony, black graduates will drape Kente stoles around their necks to signify the achievement of completing their degrees. The Donning of the Kente is an additional ceremony separate from the collegewide commencement ceremonies, meant to acknowledge the distinct acheivements of black graduates. The ceremony is open to the public and will take place May 3 from 4–6 p.m. at Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. A Kente stole is a scarf-like cloth commonly given to black graduates during commencement ceremonies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, said sophomore graphic design major and Black Student Union
Event Co-Chair Essence Mack. HBCU’s with similar ceremonies, in which students are given Kente stoles, include Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Virginia Commonwealth University. The Kente cloth represents accomplishment in West Africa, its place of origin, said Manager of Events and Performance Spaces and BSU advisor Connie Stanley. Planning processes for the Donning of the Kente began in December 2018, when underclassmen members of BSU heeded a call from their senior peers to create a unique graduation ceremony, according to Stanley. Mack said black students should be individually recognized when they surpass major academic milestones. “The graduation rate for black people is not that high,” Mack said. “We wanted to let them
know, ‘We see you. You are doing great. We believe in you, and we are happy you made it this far.’” Initially, BSU members wanted the office of Student Diversity and Inclusion to organize an event akin to the Donning of the Kente, Stanley said. Due to miscommunication between BSU and SDI, the original plans for a black commencement fell through. Since then, SDI has taken a backseat in the organization process but is partnering with BSU in funding the ceremony, according to Jordan Mundy, a sophomore marketing major and BSU’s event co-chair. Mundy said she is glad BSU is organizing the ceremony, despite its challenges, because it ensures the event is conducted properly. According to the Spring 2019 student profile in an Institutional Effectiveness report, there are 214 Black/African American seniors at the college. Thirty-two graduate hopefuls have reserved spots thus far. BSU is still accepting reservations,
BSU Event chairs Jordan Mundy and Essence Mack are planning the Donning of the Kente commencement ceremony to celebrate black graduates of the college.
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
Tuesday April 9 Alex Brinkley Senior Recital at the Sherwood
4 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 8, 2019
E v e n t s
7:00 pm
Wednesday April 10 Wednesday Noon Guitar Concert Series at the Conaway
12:00 pm
Jules Cunningham Senior Recital
7:00 pm
Columbia students go OFFLINE with new art collective program OFFLINE curates live performances and events for all art mediums, unlike typical art collectives that deal with just one
NETWORKING IS EMPHASIZED as an important part of the learning curriculum at Columbia. However, two students felt there was not enough being done to help students showcase their work and connect with others. Junior arts management majors Peter Jang and Jeonghun Han are changing this with OFFLINE, an independent art collective focused on curating events to help artists further promote themselves. “One thing I have learned from the school is to try to market yourself, but at the same time, I was questioning them,” Jang said. “[Does Columbia] actually provide those marketing platforms or opportunities to do that? I don’t think the school provides those.”
» MIKE RUNDLE/CHRONICLE
» KATHERINE SAVAGE STAFF REPORTER
form of art. Jang said the goal is to “challenge the status quo.” The relationship between a curator and an artist can
Peter Jang, Donovan Thomas and Jeonghun Han are part of OFFLINE, which works to provide art students better networking opportunities.
campus be a difficult hierarchy, but OFFLINE wants to make that relationship better and be an incubator for artists, Jang said. The collective chose the name OFFLINE because the members believed it was important for artists to collaborate and network in-person rather than just through social media. They want to encourage students to get out of their dorms and actually do the work they are learning about in classes, Han said. OFFLINE hosted the event ART-ISFACTION April 6 at 410 N. Paulina St. They asked artists to present work about their perspectives on love. The event featured everything from video art to fashion designers. The theme of this event tied into the collective’s bigger theme for the year: identity. The theme was developed after the group’s first official event, Anti, in November 2018. “We found our [identity]. That was another reason why we went that route, so we can solidify our identity and then have
everyone kind of evaluate their own as well,” said project manager and photography major Donovan Victoria Thomas. Thomas is in charge of scouting artists on social media and anywhere around Chicago, specifically looking for someone who is unique and who fits the theme, she said. “It doesn’t matter if we fail or not. We didn’t really see any failing aspect in our future because failure doesn’t mean anything for us [because we still learned something],” Han said. In the future, they hope to expand to bigger venues and have more collaborations with international and rising artists, Thomas said. “As an artist, you have to consider yourself a business at the same time,” Han said. “We’re doing this to provide [artists] an easier platform and [to make them] more approachable because we are students, [and] we’re the artists.” ksavage@columbiachronicle.com
My Body. My Choice. BIRTH CONTROL THAT WORKS No Cost IUDs and Implants with Free Lyft Rides
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APRIL 8, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 5
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A RI A N A
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TWENTY ØNE
FLUME
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CHAINSMOKERS IMPALA KACEY MUSGRAVES • LIL WAYNE • JANELLE MONÁE • MEEK MILL • HOZIER
RÜFÜS DU SOL • GARY CLARK JR. • TENACIOUS D • 21 SAVAGE • DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE THE REVIVALISTS • H.E.R. • MAGGIE ROGERS • PERRY FARRELL’S KIND HEAVEN ORCHESTRA ALESSO • GUD VIBRATIONS VS SLUGZ MUSIC • LOUIS THE CHILD • RL GRIME • 6LACK • NF SLASH FEAT. MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS • LIL BABY • GUNNA • KING PRINCESS MADEON • GRYFFIN • SAN HOLO • SNAILS • FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS • JUDAH & THE LION SHECK WES • SMINO • FISHER • LAUREN DAIGLE • ROSALíA • MITSKI • BRING ME THE HORIZON J.I.D • CHEVELLE • FKJ • AJR • LIL SKIES • BOOMBOX CARTEL • MATOMA • DEORRO • MANIC FOCUS WHETHAN • RICH THE KID • SABA • NORMANI • BISHOP BRIGGS • HAYLEY KIYOKO • DENZEL CURRY PARTY FAVOR • LOUD LUXURY • JAPANESE BREAKFAST • LANE 8 • JOJI • LENNON STELLA • SHARON VAN ETTEN FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS • CHELSEA CUTLER • YAEJI • IDLES • CONAN GRAY • SIGRID • DEAN LEWIS • MASEGO HOBO JOHNSON & THE LOVEMAKERS • HONNE • DIESEL (SHAQUILLE O’NEAL) • BAD SUNS • OMAR APOLLO TIERRA WHACK • JEREMY ZUCKER • (SANDY) ALEX G • CALPURNIA • ALEC BENJAMIN • STILL WOOZY • BOY PABLO CAUTIOUS CLAY • GHOSTEMANE • PINK SWEAT$ • SHALLOU • JADE BIRD • SAID THE SKY • CAMELPHAT • JONAS BLUE CLOZEE • MONDO COZMO • MAGIC CITY HIPPIES • THE BAND CAMINO • EMILY KING • MEN I TRUST • CALBOY YUNG GRAVY • GOTHBOICLIQUE • YBN CORDAE • SVDDEN DEATH • ELEPHANTE • OPIUO • DUCKY (LIVE) FANTASTIC NEGRITO • THE NUDE PARTY • G FLIP • BEA MILLER • HALF•ALIVE • RUSTON KELLY • ROY BLAIR PICTURE THIS • BAYNK • SLOW HOLLOWS • TYLA YAWEH • RYAN BEATTY • KILLY • SLENDERBODIES • WILDERADO 6 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 8, 2019
arts culture
RY X performs at Thalia Hall » ColumbiaChronicle.com
Uncommon Ground: Intimate stepping stone provided for Chicago artists » IGNACIO CALDERON/CHRONICLE
Uncommon Ground’s current Homegrown Residency band Illville Vanguard, led by Gabriel Alston, play music influenced by a variety of genres such as jazz, funk, hip-hop, Latin and neo soul. » KACI WATT STAFF REPORTER A SMALL WOODEN room designed to seat
no more than 50 people and a rug in place of a stage is where some local artists are getting their start. Uncommon Ground is a music venue— as well as a rooftop farm, restaurant, coffee shop and brewery—that prides itself on being a starting point in the Chicago music scene, Music Program Curator Rebecca Baruc said. “The structure is really conducive for emerging bands,” Baruc said. “Our strength is being the ground zero for bands where they get their start.” The venues, 3800 N. Clark St. and 1401 W. Devon Ave., have a history of highlighting folk artists and singer-songwriters. However, when Baruc took over as music program curator in September 2018, she decided to work toward expanding their range of artists and genres. Baruc said she built the selection process for artists “from the ground up.”
Her process is a combination of seeking out artists and reviewing applications. To be considered, the performers need a sound that will fit the volume level of the intimate listening rooms, Baruc said. “[The venue] is such a good fit for college-age talent … who are often turned away at the door [of] cool venues,” Baruc said. “We’re a high-production venue, but we’re intimate, and we’re all ages.” Uncommon Ground provides optional lighting and sound equipment for artists. Interested performers can apply on Uncommon Ground’s website under their Listening Rooms page, Baruc said. Because Uncommon Ground is a small establishment, Baruc teaches musicians how to become professional and move on to larger venues. “[The] music scene is going through a renaissance,” she said. “What’s so beautiful is that the music community here is collaborative versus feeling competitive.” Sophomore music business management major Sierra Hill is the curatorial research intern at Uncommon Ground.
Hill said she saw the internship on Handshake and decided to apply. In her position, she researches artists and tries to bring new talent to the space. “Uncommon Ground is really rooted in up-and-coming artists who are just trying to get their foot into the scene,” Hill said. “A lot of artists I know from Columbia are still in that stage and are looking for places to perform or don’t know of places to perform. This is a place that could be a home for them [and] that they need to know about.” In addition to performances, the listening rooms hold various events, including album listening parties. The listening parties are free to the public and a host walks attendees through the newly-released album. For previous listening parties, Hill said they also created an artist-themed cocktail. Junior audio design and production major Johnny Newell is a pop artist who goes by the name Jae Deco and has performed in one of Uncommon Ground’s listening rooms.
Newell was introduced to Uncommon Ground by Hill, he said. While Newell has played shows before, he said this was his first paid gig. Newell will be headlining a show at Uncommon Ground May 17. “They are accommodating and here for people who aren’t playing at bigger venues yet or don’t have much in the way of released music,” Newell said. “They’re not too concerned about what you can bring to the table or what you have, but what they can do for you. That’s really a wonderful thing you don’t see too often in the music industry.” Uncommon Ground provides a nontraditional space for attendees and a space for artists to experiment, Newell said. “It’s not what you’d expect when you say venue,” Newell said. “There are sit down tables in the back, specific for listening and watching performers; it’s almost like a dining experience for the audience. It’s a nice environment to play your music without a lot of pressure.” kwatt@columbiachronicle.com APRIL 8, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 7
arts & culture
» KENDALL POLIDORI STAFF REPORTER
THE CHRONICLE: What was your goal when forming the band? BOOTS COPELAND: We all met in church, so
not superpop, so it’s kind of right in between, What can fans expect in the future? in the sweet spot. We hope to release a new single in May at the latest. Following that, every month or What is your process of creating music? month and a half, we are going to release We usually start with the music or melody. We write to the way the music feels. Why did you decide to go on this mini tour, and how did you choose the venues?
This is a tour [in which] we are revisiting places we have played recently. It’s about getting back out and playing live music for people we thought would come back out to the shows. We have played Chicago quite a bit, and Nashville, so it is places we enjoy playing and where people seem to enjoy us playing.
a bunch of singles in a row as opposed to making people wait down the road for an EP. kpolidori@columbiachronicle.com » PATRICK REPONSE/CHRONICLE
T
he “Beach Boys of Little Rock” hit the road for a five-destination mini tour with Brother Moses during the last week of March. Knox Hamilton, comprised of Boots Copeland, Cobo Copeland, Drew Buffington and Brad Pierce, has played its alternative, indie pop-rock music since 2010, signing a deal with record label Prospect Park in 2014. The band made its first stop of the tour in Chicago March 26 at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., and spoke with The Chronicle about their music and future plans.
Knox Hamilton performs at Subterranean for brief spring tour
Can you tell us a little bit about your most recent EP?
“Beach Boy” is a really old song. We had a lot of people who wanted to hear the song again because it had been taken off the music domains where we had it up. We revamped it and we had three or four songs we wanted to release with it. It wasn’t really a theme, it was just that we had those songs ready and How would you describe your music? wanted to release “Beach Boy” for the day-one It’s energetic, but it’s also not hard rock. It’s fans, so [we made] the collection.
we started playing music together. We didn’t want to play praise and worship music; we wanted to start our own alternative thing. Our goal was to put out music we enjoyed and we wished was being written at the time.
TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY! APRIL 14 8 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 8, 2019
Boots Copeland (left) and Drew Buffington (right) of Knox Hamilton at Subterranean March 26 for their short spring tour.
arts & cutlure » STEVEN NUNEZ/CHRONICLE
RY X played to a sold-out crowd March 26 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. The Autralian singer-songwriter performed tracks “Untold,” “Mallorca” and more from his latest album Unfurl.
April 12-14, 2019
Navy Pier, Chicago
Three packed days of entertainment, education, food, fashion & fun
w w w.I H e a r t H a la l.co m APRIL 8, 2019 THE CHRONICLE 9
opinions
Jordan Peele’s “Us” exemplifies authentic representation » ColumbiaChronicle.com
Funding for disability resources is essential
T
Language around disability matters »JAY BERGHUIS OPINIONS EDITOR
P
eople-first disability language has become standard, which means saying “people with disabilities.” This began as a noble goal: to make derogatory terms unacceptable. Moving toward inclusive language was and is the correct path forward, but people-first language has become outdated.
move to look sympathetic to voters, or it may have been a genuine change of heart in response to calls for compassion. The end result of the Special Olympics being funded is what matters, but voters deserve politicians with integrity, making the reasons behind his backtracking important. When Trump initially advised his administration to make cuts, he was quoted as saying “Get rid of the fat, get rid of the waste.” Investing in members of the disability community is not a waste. They are not some non-essential spending to be cut from the federal budget. They are taxpayers, citizens and human beings, and they deserve funding from the government which represents them. Disabled people are routinely set aside by society, and the government has often been complicit, from Trump’s mocking of journalist Serge Kovaleski’s joint condition to poor enforcement of The alternative is called identity-first language, which means saying “disabled people.” This is popular with disabled activists who see disability as an aspect of human diversity instead of a negative. In a March 20, 2015, essay for the website The Body is Not an Apology, disabled activist Cara Liebowitz argues it is not bodies that are disabled, but society that disables people by refusing accommodations. This idea is called the social model of disability. The medical model of disability—which insists the problem is with disabled bodies that must be “fixed”—still remains the dominant and oppressive narrative. These ideas permeate the language we use. If we want an inclusive society, we must find the language to match. The choice of language rests firmly with those it applies to, and if someone wants to call themselves a person with a disability, they should. It is the right of the marginalized to
the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to a July 26, 2017, Rewire News article, ADA violations include lack of accessible entrances such as ramps and elevators, refusing entrance to service dogs, narrow or cluttered aisles at stores, curbs without sloped edges and more. A quick trip around the city proves these problems often go unnoticed and unfixed, despite presenting danger to those who need assistance. Often the only people who notice these violations are those affected by them, and they may lack the resources or ability to file complaints and take businesses to court. Funding the Special Olympics is only one component in the ongoing work that we must demand from the government. The disability community deserves so much better than what they’re getting from the government and the culture. Disability funding, resources and education are not “extras” to be considered only after other programs have been funded first; they should be at the center of legislation.
» SHANE TOLENTINO/CHRONICLE
he Department of Education, backed by President Donald Trump, proposed cutting funds for the Special Olympics in the 2020 budget. This decision was rightfully faced with bipartisan outcry. In response to the criticisms, Trump went against “his people” and said the Special Olympics will be funded. The Special Olympics is partially funded by $18 million it receives from the government. That $18 million is less than one-tenth of a percent of the Department of Education’s annual budget; many commentators have pointed out that it’s the equivalent of a handful of Trump’s taxpayer-funded trips to Mar-a-Lago. Still, Trump demanded major cuts, which Betsy DeVos had to defend to members of Congress. Trump’s decision to go back on his word is one that deserves to be examined since he typically doubles down on his positions when called out. It may have been a tactical
EDITORIAL
chronicle@colum.edu
use terms which honor them. Journalists should communicate with those they write about to use the most affirming language. What gets under my skin is when non-disabled people attempt to write guidelines and get angry when disabled people use language they dislike. The term “person with a disability” fails to acknowledge lived realities. Disabilities are an inextricable part of daily life, and it is impossible to create an accessible society without being mindful of these differences.
» GRACE SENIOR/CHRONICLE
COMMENTARY Person-first language implies disabled people are exactly the same as non-disabled people as an attempt to empower them, but erasing the visibility and needs of a community is not empowering. The implication that disability is inherently negative and something to be cured erases those with chronic illnesses and injuries that will never be “fixed.” It ignores disabled people who create communities and have no desire to be “cured” for the comfort of non-disabled people. Identity-first language affirms that disabilities are an integral part of identity and should not be ignored. Centering the experiences of disabled people instead of pushing them to the side allows us to truly see them. We must acknowledge our different needs and experiences in order to create resources, and our language should reflect that. Disabled people are not the problem in a society that demands they change first and request accommodations second. jberghuis@columbiachronicle.com
Editorial Board Members Jay Berghuis Opinions Editor Kendall Polidori Staff Reporter Kaci Watt Staff Reporter Katherine Savage Staff Reporter Kristen Nichols Copy Chief
10 THE CHRONICLE
APRIL 8, 2019
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Refusal to release the full Mueller Report leads to protest in Federal Plaza » ColumbiaChronicle.com
Mayor-elect Lightfoot foresees ‘a city reborn’ JUMP, FROM FRONT STAFF REPORTERS
WHILE IT MAY be short-lived, Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is enjoying a political honeymoon after a landslide victory over Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, making Chicago the first major U.S. city to have an openly gay, black woman at its helm. In the days following the election, Lightfoot began to mend fences with Preckwinkle, who remains in charge of county government, after a vitriolic campaign. She met with Mayor Rahm Emanuel to get a briefing on the major issues she will face when she takes office May 20. But first, she took time for reflection and celebration. “Out there tonight, a lot of little girls and boys are watching. They’re watching us, and they’re seeing the beginning of something, well, a little different,” Lightfoot said during her April 2 victory speech. “They’re seeing a city reborn, a city where it doesn’t matter what color you are, where it surely doesn’t matter how tall you are. Where it doesn’t matter who you love, just as long as you love with all your heart.” The election was a complete rejection of Preckwinkle’s mayoral aspirations as Lightfoot won all 50 wards—including the 4th Ward where Preckwinkle was alderman in the ‘90s. Lightfoot obtained 73.7% of the vote compared to Preckwinkle’s 26.3%. The last mayoral landslide of this scale was in 2003 when Richard M. Daley took 78.46% of the vote. Despite the blowout, voter turnout was low, at only 31.28%, according to the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. According to data from the election board website, voters aged 18–24 accounted for only 8% of all voters. Erik Schiller volunteered for the Lightfoot campaign while the 13 other candidates were still running and her chances of landing in the runoff seemed slim. “Seeing it grow from a few people to a whole city voting for her is pretty incredible,” Schiller said at Lightfoot’s election night party. “She is more and more what the face of our country is, and she is definitely the face of our city.” While Schiller was working with the Lightfoot campaign, his friend Sisco Hollard did not even know who she was. “When [Schiller] came back talking about Lori Lightfoot ... I [said], ‘What are
12 THE CHRONICLE APRIL 8, 2019
you talking about? Who is this candidate?’” Hollard said. “But when [he] started talking about her platform and how she was an anti-machine politician ... I [said], ‘Oh man, you are probably onto something here.’” Chicago has not had a female mayor since Jane Byrne left office in 1983. It will also be the first time since 1989—when Richard M. Daley defeated Eugene Sawyer—that Chicago has had a black mayor. Sawyer succeeded Harold Washington, who became the city’s first black mayor in 1983. In the runoff elections for City Council seats, the biggest upset came in the 40th Ward where 36-year incumbent Patrick O’Connor lost his seat to AT&T Statewide Area Manager and Democratic socialist Andre Vasquez. First-time aldermen will also take over in the 20th and 25th Wards, with Jeanette Taylor replacing Ald. Willie Cochran (20th Ward) and Byron Sigcho-Lopez taking over for Ald. Danny Solis (25th Ward). However, some City Council incumbents managed to hold onto their seats, including Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward), Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st Ward) and Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th Ward). In the race for city treasurer, State Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin defeated Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th Ward) to replace Kurt Summers. Preckwinkle still holds significant power in her position as Cook County board president and pledged to continue her civic service during her election night concession speech. “While I may be disappointed, I’m not disheartened,” Preckwinkle said. “For one thing, this is clearly a historic night. Not long ago, two African American women vying for this position would have been unthinkable … I still believe in the power of public service. It’s why I’ve dedicated so much of my life to it. It’s why I’ll continue to dedicate my life to it.” Lightfoot reinforced her campaign promises of police department reform, economic and job development, affordable housing and an end to machine politics in her election night victory speech. “When I was a little girl, I remember singing the song ‘This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,’” Lightfoot said. “We’ve said it’s time to bring in the light, and it’s sure shining on all of us tonight.”
» STEVEN NUNEZ/CHRONICLE
» ALEXANDRA YETTER & KNOX KERANEN
chronicle@colum.edu A historic mayoral election ended with Lori Lightfoot being elected as the city’s first black female mayor.
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Controversial Lincoln Yards development moving forward » MIRANDA MANIER STAFF REPORTER THE LINCOLN YARDS development planned
for 55 acres of former industrial property between Bucktown and Lincoln Park has undergone many changes since developer Sterling Bay’s initial proposal last May. It has removed plans for a 20,000-seat soccer stadium and several entertainment venues in the development and has increased its planned number of affordable housing units from 300 to 600. However, as the plan continues to push through, residents and aldermen of surrounding wards have turned against it. Some opponents are specifically concerned with the use of Tax Increment Financing funds for the project, which could reimburse Sterling Bay for over $1 billion of the $5 billion project. According to the Cook County C le rk ’s website, TIF funding, which ha s ex i s t ed i n Chicago since 1984, evaluates the property tax of an area around a planned development— referred to as a TIF district—and for 23 years, redirects all property taxes above that base amount from its typical recipients, like public schools, to the development. However, the Cook County Clerk’s website specifies that TIFs can only be used in “blighted” areas, or areas that are under-served. According to Chris Geovanis, communications director of the Chicago Teacher’s Union—which has been outspoken against Lincoln Yards—the area surrounding the development is not blighted and does not need TIF funding. “There’s a huge public move to re-examine the entire TIF program in Chicago,” Geovanis said. “This is a program that was created to alleviate blight in long-neglected communities. That is the exact opposite of what [Lincoln Yards] is.” Geovanis said Mayor Rahm Emanuel is using Lincoln Yards as a “legacy” project for himself, and said it would be more responsible to wait for newly-elected Lori Lightfoot to take the mayor’s office May 20 before finalizing this development.
The zoning for Lincoln Yards was approved with a 33–14 vote by the City Council March 13. There will be a vote April 8 to determine if the project will receive TIF funding. Ald. Scott Waguespack of the neighboring 32nd Ward voted “no” during the March 13 vote. Waguespack wants to delay final approval of the project until Lightfoot takes office. He said the project has been poorly planned. “We’ve seen the developer drive the conversation and go back and forth on promises the city made to the [surrounding] communities years ago,” Waguespack said. “The community around that area was essentially saying they wanted lower density, mixed-use development, and what we have is something completely different.” In a Jan. 11 press release, Lightfoot said, “The Lincoln Yards development should be a decision for the next mayor and the next City Council.” She added,
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“It shou ld N SE be a decision E AC made with comGR » munity input and a full understanding of the impact on population density, schools, traffic and other factors.” The city also never took steps to assess the city-owned property within the boundaries of this TIF district before selling it to Sterling Bay, according to Waguespack. Sterling Bay will thereforebenefit from the TIF funds and will not be paying taxes on the property at the market rate as it increases in value. Neither the mayor’s office, Sterling Bay nor Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward)—the Alderman whose ward includes Lincoln Yards and who is an outspoken supporter of the development—have responded to The Chronicle’s requests for comment as of press time. IO
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Visit ColumbiaChronicle.com for the full story. mmanier@columbiachronicle.com
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metro MARY KUBICA » YASMEEN SHEIKAH
NEIGHBORHOOD: SUBURBAN CHICAGO
Local author strikes Netflix deal home, and I had just actually gotten back from a book festival in Tucson when I heard there was some interest from Hollywood on the book.
STAFF REPORTER
MARY KUBICA, a suburban Chicago resident, is taking her work to the big screen with her upcoming novel “The Other Mrs.,” which has been acquired by Netflix for a film to be released in 2020. Kubica is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of five novels. The former high school history teacher has had her novels translated into more than 30 languages and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Kubica spoke with The Chronicle about her recent success.
What is the story about?
» COURTESY MARY KUBICA
“The Other Mrs.” is about a family of four: a mother, a father and their two sons. They inherit a home off the coast of Maine on a small island. [They are] looking for a fresh start. They have a number of personal and professional mishaps back in Chicago, and it’s time to start over. Shortly after their arrival in Maine, the woman across the street winds up murdered, and all eyes look at this family new to town.
THE CHRONICLE: What is it like having your novel turned into a Netflix film? MARY KUBICA: It’s beyond my
wildest dreams. I can’t wait to see what they do with it. I’m just excited to see it on screen. I was at
OCCUPATION: NOVELIST
Suburban-based novelist Mary Kubica’s novel “The Other Mrs.” is headed to Netflix and is planned for release in 2020.
4/5/2019
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How are your previous novels different from “The Other Mrs.”?
There are some books that do have that more cinematic quality that would be translated to screen better than others. There are a few
different storylines going on. The characters will hopefully grab readers or viewers. There’s some action going on, [and] there are some really psychological aspects to it. It’s different than the other books I’ve written. I can’t say it’s more special, but it’s different.
How did you find out about this opportunity, and what were the reactions from your peers?
It’s a hard thing because I found out a couple of weeks before I was able to share. It was hard to sit on that information for a while and not shout it from the rooftops. Netflix is just so huge these days, so I think that people really understand the importance of the book being adapted by Netflix. Because the book doesn’t come out for another year, people are just so anxious to be able to get their hands on [it]. ysheikah@columbiachronicle.com
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FEATURED PHOTO
» MIKE RUNDLE/CHRONICLE
Jedidiah Brown, left, counter-protested the Fraternal Order of Police’s protest April 1 in response to State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s decision to drop all charges in the Jussie Smollett case.
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