IndependentNORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Vol. 35 Issue 7www.neiuindependent.org

Kate Hilliard

The third annual Genocide Symposium was held in Alumni Hall on Nov. 10 and discussions spanned racial violence directed at African Americans, genocide, terror and diaspora in the African region.

The symposium was sponsored by the Genocide Research Group — a growing collective of researchers and academics, founded by Jeanine Ntihirageza, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Chair, coordinator and associate professor — and co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences, African and African American Studies, Justice Studies, TESOL, African and African American Resource Center and Northwestern University.

The Genocide Research Group held a discussion in the afternoon. By 2 p.m., more than 65 NEIU students and faculty, from over 19 different programs, were in attendance.

During the morning, talks focused on: The parameters and definitions of genocide; its residual effects on language, culture and psychology; and the overall impact of genocide on individual, national and global scales.

Members of the group took turns to address the audience about what being part of the group has allowed them to achieve collectively. They shared their stories, along with poetry written by Chielozona Eze, associate English professor, and a rap written by a woman serving a life sentence performed by Susquehanna University philosophy professor Lissa Skitolsky.

Ntihirageza was first to speak during the discussion. She reiterated that the group has been a major proponent of her own healing processes in the wake of her own experiences with genocide in Burundi during the 1970s.

Eze was born in Nigeria and when he was five years old, Nigeria was in the midst of a full-blown civil war. Though much of his experiences and sentiments have been internalized, Eze recounted the early and continuing stages of finding the courage and strength to discuss them. Eze’s wife encouraged him to confront his experiences. He also recognized his colleague, Ntihirageza, for helping him digest and communicate his memories.

“Nothing is ever completely forgotten, nothing is completely ignored,” Eze said, quoting Sigmund

Freud.Some of Eze’s current research

focuses on the “Ethical role in empathy.” There were a few watery eyes in the audience as Eze read three of his poems. A concluding line of one of the poems he shared hit hard, “The past, if forgotten, poisons the village well.”

During the panel discussion, adviser and assistant philosophy professor Alfred Frankowski said (in the context of genocide and its survivors) that, “memory and mourning are two separate phenomena.”

The professor went on to describe how he was surprised, as he never really thought of himself as an activist, to come to the conclusion that as a member of the Genocide Research Group, he was an activist.

“Thinking about the world is a form of activism,” Frankowski said.

It was Lissa Skitolsky’s first time attending the Genocide Research Symposium as a newer member of the Genocide Research Group. After meeting Frankowski, who introduced her to the group, Skitolsky described a sense of relief in learning of people who were, “asking the same questions.” Up until that point, Skitolsky had “asked lots of questions,” but nobody else seemed to be asking them, nor did they express any interest in investigating them. Apologizing in advance for her delivery, she read a rap written by an inmate, sentenced to life without parole.

The final lines Skitolsky representatively rapped for the inmate were “mass incarceration is the new Jim Crow, from the mind of a woman who is free.”

Cris E. Toffolo, chair of NEIU’s

Justice Studies department, joined the Genocide Research Group after the first symposium. As an undergraduate in 1981, Toffolo taught high school in Nigeria, where she saw children and poisoned by benzyne gas released from mining operations in the Niger Delta region. Tofollo recalled being young and ill equipped with the tools, at the time, to fully comprehend what she saw. What she realized in the following years was she had witnessed the negative repercussions of continued mass environmental neglect by Shell Oil Companies. Toffolo further reasoned that Shell’s negligence was, in fact, a form of genocide.

Shell’s mining enterprises were responsible for poisoning communities and destroying the ecosystem in the Niger Delta region. Greenpeace.org published information in January of this year, which states Shell’s own data accounts for approximately 250 oil spills per year in that region from 1997 to 2006 alone. The people of the developing country of Nigeria suffered immense losses due to Shell’s negligence, yet they are poorly represented, often unrecognized and it can be argued that the compensation is disproportionate to the extent of their losses.

There were several times the room became still as keynote speaker Christen Smith, assistant professor of Anthropology and African and African Disaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, aligned a series of pictures of the acts of terror and genocide occurring in Brazil.

While she reviewed the parameters, definitions and types

of representation given to genocide, Smith mentioned several times that she does not subscribe to, and makes conscious efforts to avoid, making genocide “an exotic issue.”

Despite deliberate omission of the more graphic imagery, the crowd got the message through a series of vignettes as Smith delivered her narrative presentation titled, “A Campaign for Life: Struggle Against Anti-Black Genocide in Brazil.”

Deaths occur often in the form of executions and reporting such deaths is inconsistent. In attempts to justify these executions, fabrications surrounding chilling connections between powerful elected officials, civil service workers and militarized police were among what was mapped out in Smith’s talk. The deaths of thousands of Brazilian men, often between the ages of about 19 to 39, are poorly represented in mortality statistics of Brazil.

According to Smith, mortality records are, “voluntarily kept and internally compiled.”

The category “death by resisting arrest” is the catchall accounting for death squad murders and police brutality and their classification as “suicides” is all too commonly misconstrued.

It became apparent that genocide in Brazil has been denied recognition by the Brazilian government and by other nations. It was not until 2005 that conversations really began, “Nobody believed it was genocide in Brazil.”

Recognizing that some of her views are controversial, Smith said, “U.S. accountability sets the precedent for what we consider genocide.”

The deaths of individuals like the son of a React or Die! Campaign member who was found shot, mutilated and buried upside-down in a “clandestine” gravesite. Police forces and justice authorities deemed the area “too dangerous” and refused to go and search for his son when Tony reported him missing and needed their help. Elaborating on her investment in the React or Die! Campaign since 2005, Smith allowed the crowd to interpret the atrocities of black genocide and unprecedented racial violence in Brazil.

According to Smith, The React or Die! Campaign aims to gather evidence and interpret “extrajudicial activity in what (their campaign) is calling genocide.” At the same time that Smith marched with React or Die! in Brazil in 2014, protesters rallied in response to the murder of Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014 in Ferguson Missouri.

Several student attendees at the check-in table outside the event in the afternoon said they were not there because it was required for a course. For other NEIU students, the event was part of the semester curriculum.

Despite the motives of those who participated in the third annual Genocide Symposium, attendees gained powerful insight over the course of the day, as genocide, intent and public secrets were delineated. The series of discussions spoke, at high volume, in the name of disturbing issues spanning racial violence, diaspora, terror and police brutality that have been muted or lacking in representation in the past.

No More Silence: NEIU Hosts Discussions Against Genocide

Cris Toffolo speaks on the Genocide Research Panel, with Alfred Franksowski, Chielozona Eze, Lissa Skitolksly and Jeanine Ntihirageza.

Photo by Kate H

illiard

Chicago is Waiting for Justice

Page 6

A Letter from Seeds

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Previewing the Boxing Match of the Season

Page 10

Big Varsity Band Plays Big Jazz Tunes

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From poetry to prose, to paintings, drawings, sculptures and photography—we at Seeds Literary & Visual Arts Journal strive to provide a medium through which the members of the academic community, as well as other creative souls, can showcase their talents in the visual and literary arts.

Seeds is one of the media organizations funded by Northeastern Illinois University. We strive to unearth the most interesting, unheard and unique voices by soliciting submissions in both the fall and the spring semesters to produce two

publications each school year. Our team is currently in the editing and production phase of the fall 2015 issue, vol. 10 and our launch date and party will be announced next week. We are currently accepting submissions for the spring 2016 issue, vol. 11.

While Seeds continues to accept and consider submissions of all genres and/or themes, we have a special call for submissions. Amid the wide spread protest for racial equality on college campuses, the police violence that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, the killing of a 9-year-old boy over an

alleged gang war and the satire by director Spike Lee that highlights the violence plaguing many neighborhoods in Chicago — Seeds is asking for creative submissions that pertain to race relations.

Your stories, poetry and art can evolve from actual or imagined experience, frustration over media coverage, examining history and/or an imagined future.

Seeds will aide in sparking thought in your creative mind by posting prompts to our website and social media pages as well as hold workshops. We have some very inspirational events planned to encourage everyone to lend a voice to this human issue. Keep an eye out for the Seeds logo on campus for information.

To get involved with Seeds—attend one of our meetings in room E-035 on Thursday’s from

3-4 p.m. or email us at seeds.neiu@gmail.com. The deadline for spring submissions will be Feb. 18, 2016. Digital copies of recent issues as well as information on the call for submissions, workshops events, and guidelines on how to submit your work for publication can be found at http://seedslitjournal.wordpress.com.

Literature and art remind us that history is the collective story of everyday people working for a different tomorrow. Artists and authors create emerging cultures that expand our imagination and help us see beyond the “fixed facts” of the present. Your stories, your poetry and your art has the power to spark new conversations and ultimately—new histories, both big and small. The Seeds organization is dedicated to giving voice and fostering collaborations that

empower writers and artists. We accept our charge as the literary face of the university, and we are here to plant the Seeds that will flower into a beautiful future.

facebook.com/SEEDSneiutwitter.com/SEEDSneiu/ #SEEDSneiuhttp://seedslitjournal.wordpress.com

News Editorial Board

Editor-in-chief: Rut OrtizManaging Editor: Emmanuel Gonzalez

Production Editor: Brisa BecerrilNews Editor: Steven VillaOpinions Editor: Viviana Serrano

Sports Editor: Alejandra FrancoArts & Life Editor: Hailey G. Boyle

Letter of Leadership:

Seeds

SGA Seeks Representation on the Faculty SenateEmmanuel Gonzalez

For the first time in recent history, students at NEIU are aiming to have representation on the Faculty Senate.

Placing a student on that board was an initiative brought on by the Student Government Association (SGA). Both groups are NEIU’s shared governance program.

“It’s something we planned ever since we got into this administration, this new SGA. It’s important because we realize that students not only represent students but there are faculty members who can’t represent themselves, who are instructors that are not tenured. They have no representation. Not only they do not have representation, students really appreciate those instructors,” said SGA President Nick Martinez. “Anything that’s happening with faculty is also affecting the students.”

According to the Faculty Senate constitution, the first responsibility of the Senate is to secure participation from the faculty as authorized by the university regarding the development and recommendation of policies pertaining to subjects like admissions, retention and graduation.

University President Sharon Hahs holds an ex-officio (non-voting) position on the Faculty Senate, but is usually represented at meetings by Provost Helldobler.

Currently, members of the Faculty Senate as read in their constitution consist “of all tenured/tenure track faculty members; Chairs of academic departments who are classified as administrators by University governing policies; and faculty who serve as Resource Professionals.”

Martinez stressed the importance of SGA’s involvement in all bodies that are in the university. He said, “You can’t be a good student government if you don’t know what’s going on in your university.”

SGA Vice President Ricky Gutierrez said, “There is miscommunication amongst all bodies in the university…we need this.”

He talked about how the narrative of the everyday problems of students is important to include in the Faculty Senate.

As of now, there is no position for student representation in faculty governance, however, the Faculty Senate has appointed a subcommittee to draft a proposal for their inclusion and bring it to the table.

The subcommittee consists of Mark Melton, associate professor in special education and April Nauman, associate professor in literacy.

“There seems to be a lot of interest in non-voting membership of one or more students. I can’t speak for everyone,” said Faculty Senate Chair Erick Howenstine. “But I and other senators are excited to bring a student on board.”

While it is unlikely that students will have a voting membership in the senate, a non-voting member can still present motions, second motions and weigh in on motions to share their voice.

“We hope that, in time, an ex-officio membership would change to voting membership,” Martinez said.

Police Blotter

Photo courtesy of Seeds

The following offenses occurred on NEIU’s main campus from Oct. 23 to Oct. 29:Oct. 23, College of Business Management:

An unknown offender wrote graffiti on the inside of a bathroom stall. Oct. 29, Parking Garage:

An unknown offender struck and damaged a victim’s vehicle while it was parked in the garage. Nov. 4, F Building:

The fire alarm was set off by

accident.Nov. 7, PE Complex:

A child was injured during a soccer game and was treated by EMS.Nov. 12, Library:

Two students were stuck in an elevator; no injuries were reported.

The following offenses occurred off NEIU’S main campus from Oct. 23 – Nov. 3.Oct. 23, BOB Parking Lot:

An unknown offender struck

and damaged a victim’s vehicle while it was parked in the lot. Oct. 30, El Centro:

A victim reported the theft of university property.Nov. 3, Off Campus:

The NEIU police department was asked to the check on the well-being of an international student.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 NEWS 3

Viviana Serrano

Through the Angelina Pedroso Center, the NEIU community is welcome to participate and celebrate the Dia de los Muertos Community Altar.

El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a Mexican holiday in November, celebrates the memory of deceased loved ones.

“The altar that we have is very much acknowledging the way the Mexican community honors the dead,” said Maria Genao-Homs, executive director of diversity and intercultural affairs.

The traditional Mexican altar is displayed on a table, and sometimes it has multiple tiers that are draped in cloth. The photo of the deceased person is placed in the center of the table and items such as the person’s favorite food, drink and mementos decorate the altar. It is also common to see images of saints; toiletries, like a mirror; sugar skulls; pan de muerto, to symbolize the departed; candles, as a welcome to the spirits; and marigolds, yellow-orange flowers which symbolize death.

The picture frames have an opening of 1 5/8 inch by 3 inches and are available upon request. The frames on display at the altar include the name of the person being honored with additional notes of remembrance.

The altar is accompanied with a tree decorated with paper flowers, and clipped to its branches, are more

pictures of the deceased and poems. As far as decorating the altar, the center is accepting of the offerings students and faculty want to display next to the picture of the deceased.

“Anything is allowed. Folks can just bring pictures or ofrendas (offerings) or any kind of memorabilia that acknowledges the person that they want to be displayed on the altar,” said Genao-Homs. “Whatever is on that table is preserved as it is set.”

The altar will be kept on display until the end of the month.

“We want to keep our altar up through the month of November because we also want to make sure we are observing Veterans Day and also observing Transgender Day of Remembrance,” Genao-Homs said. “Transgender Day of Remembrance will also have its own program. That’s being coordinated through the LGBTQ Resource Center.”

According to Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), “Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.”

Transgender Awareness Week is Nov. 14-20 and “individuals and organizations around the country participate…to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address the issues these communities face.”

“We will acknowledge

Transgender Day of Remembrance through a ceremony that’s going to be held on Nov. 19 from noon to one-o-clock,” said Genao-Homs. “It’s open to anyone and everyone in the campus community, and its going to be a ceremony to remember folks of trans and gender non-conforming identities that have passed away.”

In the future, Genoa-Homs would like to see the celebration of the dead represented by different countries.

“We want to expand our horizons of the campus community and understanding that this isn’t just the sole way to celebrate the dead,” said Genao-Homs.

November is for Remembering

Members of the NEIU community honor their departed loved ones at the Dia De Los Muertos Altar in the Angelina Pedroso Center.

Photos by Viviana Serrano

Prison Reform Receives Bipartisan Support

Christ Starnawski

At Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, President Barack Obama called upon federal agencies to “ban the box,” on Nov. 2.

The act is intended to reduce discrimination towards formerly incarcerated individuals during the hiring process and to increase their chances of finding a career. Job applications currently include a box requiring applicants to signify if they have a criminal history.

For many former convicts trying to turn their life around and make a positive change, this box can be a hurdle that can’t be overcome.

According to the Justice Department, 60 to 75 percent of the 600,000 inmates released yearly are unable to find work within a year of their release. The purpose

to “ban the box” is not to ignore an applicant’s criminal history, but to address it following a formal introduction.

“If the disclosure of a criminal record happens later in a job application process, you’re more likely to be hired,” Obama said during his address. “If you’re able to talk to them about your life, what you’ve done, maybe they give you a chance.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie passed a similar “ban the box” bill last year so the state is no stranger to Obama’s proposition. Obama also announced other measures which include public housing and money for re-entry programs. Currently former convicts are ineligible for public housing, student loans, welfare and food stamps.

The White House released a statement stating that the president’s order will take immediate action and for government human resource departments to “delay inquiries into criminal history until later in the hiring process.” These reforms are intended to reduce recidivism of those formerly incarcerated, which is the return to criminal behavior.

“There’s always going to be so many road blocks,” said Dr. Timothy Barnett, associate professor of English, women’s and gender studies. He serves as the faculty adviser for NEIU’s student group Formerly Incarcerated Standing Together (FIST).

FIST, a recently founded student organization, aims to provide education on incarceration to the NEIU student body and to surrounding communities. The group aims to support students on campus who have been formerly incarcerated and to challenge the politics of mass incarceration in the United States.

“The incarceration of multitudes of youth of color in particular is devastating whole communities, whole neighborhoods and whole cities,” Barnett said. “NEIU’s the perfect place because of its working class background to provide education and support for both people that are outside and inside prison. We’ve got a lot of programs around here to knock some holes in those barriers.”

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 received bipartisan support in the Senate Judiciary Committee, prevailing

with a 15-5 vote. The bill is currently moving through the legislation process. The purpose of the bill is to reduce the sentencing of non-violent offenders while still allowing law-enforcement to uphold justice and target violent criminals and other serious offenders. The United States’ prison population has boomed by 800 percent since 1980, largely as a result of mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenders. This bill aims to reduce those sentences by five years and over 7,000 inmates will be eligible for early release.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has been vocal throughout the year for the need to reduce the prison population.

He announced appointments to a commission for criminal justice reform. The governor is quoted on www.illinoisobserver.net, “The current prison system is costly, overcrowded and ineffective. We need to reform the system to stop the costly and vicious cycle of recidivism and help those who’ve left prison get the help they need to become productive members of society.”

The governor estimated that the state spends $1.3 billion a year on the prison system. In February, Rauner used his executive powers to form a commission, which includes lawmakers, victim rights advocates and law enforcement officials to analyze and recommend changes to the state’s criminal justice system. The end goal of this commission is to reduce the number of adults and juveniles sent to correctional facilities by 25 percent over the next

10 years.

“If Bruce Rauner is trying to reduce the prison population in the state of Illinois, one way to stop people from coming back into prisons and jails is to educate them while they’re on the inside and to support their access to education after release,” said Erica Meiner, professor of educational inquiry, curricular studies, women’s and gender studies. She is also a faculty adviser for NEIU’s Prison Neighborhood Art Project (PNAP).

The program has had a healthy relationship with NEIU for several years. The program offers college level classes and workshops at Stateville Correctional Center (SCC).

“PNAP brings artwork and conversation from inside the prison out into communities across the city of Chicago to humanize the lives of the people on the inside,” Meiner said.

In the coming weeks more information regarding the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 will be available. To voice your support or concern for the bill you can contact Illinois Senator Dick Durbin at www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/.

If you’d like to learn more about FIST and when meetings will be held you can contact Frencenza Eshoo at francenzaeshoo@yahoo.com.

To find out more about PNAP and how to get involved, Erica Meiner is available to be reached at e-meiners@neiu.edu.

Many former convicts find walls between them and a career after leaving prison, making it difficult to start a new life.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015NEWS4

The Fee for a Greener NEIULaura Rojas

Green Fee Committee discussed present and past initiatives and the future allocation of their budget, currently at $66,000 at their Nov. 5 meeting.

The green fee, three dollars charged per semester alongside NEIU’s tuition, is used to fund green projects on campus and obtain environmentally friendly technology.

Discussed during the meeting was a need to get the word to members of the campus community unaware that the comingle bins are for recycling and that all forms of recyclable waste can be mixed together.

Ron Jacobson, superintendent of buildings at NEIU, said that the most common objection he’s heard to comingle bins is that they could bring on a pest problem from people disposing of food and edible waste. He added that none of the waste stays long before being removed.

Others members of the committee said that people throw food waste in comingle bins.

“That’s the nature of the beast,” Jacobson said. “A lot of people just don’t care. We don’t have to be the recycle police to stop people from

doing that.”The committee moved on to

discuss future initiatives to provide green energy and services at the university.

Physics Instructor Bob Moltaji said he had a new proposal for a vertical wind turbine that would be a better choice than previous turbine proposals. He estimated the cost of the turbines to be between $10,000-$11,000.

There was a consensus among the members that larger projects, such as solar panels and wind turbines, would hold more of an educational value for students than save the school money on its energy bill. It was unanimously decided that an energy audit for the university was in order. Green Fee Committee student member George Mason agreed.

“I think an energy audit is a very good idea.” Mason said. “You can find out where you come from and where you are headed and the progress that has been made.”

The Green Fee Committee assembles every Thursday for a budget conference and their meeting is open, once a month, for all students and faculty of NEIU to attend.

Among the committee’s investments: Low flow toilets

installed to reduce water consumption; water fountains set up to refill water bottle, encouraging a reduction in plastic waste; the addition of a bicycle tire pump/care station and providing new recycle and trash bins around the campus.

The green fee committee was also responsible for NEIU’s purchase of solar panels. Melinda Storie, assistant professor for the department of geography and environmental studies, explained there will only be a 100 year payout since the purchase of the panels 10 years ago, meaning the money saved should outweigh the cost of the solar panels within another 90 years from now.

The committee is open to suggestion by written proposal on methods to develop the university’s environmental footprint and sustainability.

NORTHEASTERN Illinois University Student Government Association (SGA)

ONE VOICE A Common Agenda. A Common Purpose. Every student deserves a voice.

GOALS FOR YOUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT

2015-2016 Financial Aid Office

Explore delays in processing payments Create better channels of communication Ensuring student representation in decisions regarding financial aid

SGA Representation on the NEIU Faculty Senate (voting member) Input into campus life Provide student perspectives on decisions that affect them Student input into decisions on course cancellations

Course Scheduling and Cancellations Surveying students’ needs for advising the administration Ensuring student representation in course scheduling discussions Working with faculty and advisors to inform them of student concerns

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Minutes (Pending for Approval) September 8th, 2015

A.) Call to Order at 3:17 B.) Roll Call

1. Executive Board Members: President Nick Martinez, Vice President Ricky Gutierrez, Secretary Yessica Garcia. Treasurer Max Caviness, Student Trustee Pedro Nungaray, IBHE-SAC Representative Emily Hosman

2. Senators: Senator Anna Augustyn, Senator Arnold Garcia, Senator Christopher Vazquez, Senator Laura Ayala, Senator Edwin Ramirez, Senator Elizabeth Nieto, Senator Gonzalo Duran, Senator Lily Butler-Ludwig, Senator Luis Arriola, Senator Melanie Betancourt, Senator Sharron Burrell, Senator Thomas Montbriad and Senator Tremayne Houston

C.) Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes 8-15-15

• Approved 2. Minutes 8-25-15

• Approved D.) Approval of Agenda

1. Agenda 9-8-15 • Approved

E.) Executive Reports 1. Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The official minutes can be

found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page. F.) Old Business G.) New Business:

1. Senate Bill 16-20: An Act to Appoint an SGA Justice • Senate Bill 16-20 passes with acclamation.

2. Senate Bill 16-21: An Act to Appoint an SGA Senator • Senate Bill 16-21 passes with acclamation.

3. Senate Bill 16-22: An Act to Request Financial Aid Review • Senate Bill 16-22 passes with acclamation.

H.) Senate Reports 1. Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The official minutes can be

found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page. I.) Audience participation and announcements

1. Provost participation • Provost states Northeastern Illinois University will go through the

accreditation process in spring 2016. Class observations will take place and students picked at random will be asked how the NEIU values are practiced in class.

J.) Adjournment at 3:31

Minutes (Pending for Approval)October 20, 2015

A.) Call to Order 3:17B.) Roll Call 1. Executive Board Members: President Nick Martinez, Vice President Ricky Gutierrez, Secretary Yessica Garcia. Treasurer Max Caviness, Student Trustee Pedro Nungaray, IBHE-SAC Representative Emily Hosman 2. Senators: Anna Augustyn, Arnold Garcia, Christopher Vazquez, Edwin Ramirez, Elizabeth Nieto, Laura Ayala, Lily Butler-Ludwig, Luis Arriola, Roger Byrd, Thomas Montbriand and Tremayne HoustoC.) Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes 9-22-15 • No objections to the approval of the Senate minutes on September 22nd, 2015. 2. Minutes 10-6-15 • No objections to the approval of the Senate minutes on October 6th, 2015.D.) Approval of Agenda 1. Agenda 10-20-15 • No objections to the approval of the Senate agenda on October 20th, 2015.E.) Executive Reports 1. Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The official minutes can be found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page.F.) Audience Participation and Announcements 1. Dr. Lopez • Discussed on how the university has shifted gears and offers more opportunities to the undocumented student population at NEIU. • Scholarship opportunities, programs, events, advisers and an effortless application process is now offered to the undocumented population at NEIU.G.) Old Business 1. Senate Bill 16-29: A Bill to Appoint a Bill of Rights Commission • Senate Bill 16-19 passes with acclamation.H.) New Business: 1. Senate Bill 16-30: A Bill to Establish Case Assessments • Treasurer Max Caviness motion to table to move to next meeting 1. Senator Ana Augustyn seconds the motion.I.) Senate Reports: 1. Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The official minutes can be found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page.J.) Adjournment at 4:15

GOALS FOR YOUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT2015-2016

Financial Aid Office Explore delays in processing payments Create better channels of communication Ensuring student representation in decisions regarding financial aid

SGA Representation on the NEIU Faculty Senate (voting member) Input into campus life Provide student perspectives on decisions that affect them Student input into decisions on course cancellations

Course Scheduling and Cancellations Surveying students’ needs for advising the administration Ensuring student representation in course scheduling discussions Working with faculty and advisors to inform them of student concerns

November 3rd, 2015

A.) Call to Order 3:07B.) Roll Call 1. Executive Board Members: President Nick Martinez, Vice President Ricky Gutierrez, Secretary Yessica Garcia. Treasurer Max Caviness, Student Trustee Pedro Nungaray and IBHE-SAC Representative Emily Hosman 2. Senators: Anna Augustyn, Arnold Garcia, Christopher Vazquez, Edwin Ramirez, Elizabeth Nieto, Gonzalo Duran, Laura Ayala, Lily Butler-Ludwig, Luis Arriola, Roger Byrd, Thomas Montbriand and Tremayne HoustonC.) Approval of Minutes 1. There are no objections to the approval of the Minutes 10-20-15.D.) Approval of Agenda 1. There are no objections to the approval of the Agenda 11-03-15E.) Executive Reports 1. Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The o�cial minutes can be found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page. F.) Old Business 1. Senate Bill B16-30: A Bill to Establish Case Assignments • Treasurer Max Caviness motions to table Senate Bill B16-30. 1. Senator Laura Ayala seconds the motion. G.) New Business: 1. Senate Bill B16-31: An Act to Appoint a Council of Clubs Representative • Senate Bill B16-31 passes with acclamation. 2. Senate Bill B16-32: An Act to Appoint an SGA Senator • Senate Bill B16-32 passes with acclamation. 3. Senate Bill B16-33: An Act to Appoint an SGA Senator • Senate Bill B16-33 passes with acclamation. 4. Senate Bill B16-34: An Act to Appoint an SGA Senator • Senate Bill B16-34 passes with acclamation. 5. Senate Bill B16-35: An Act to Change the Constitution • Senate Bill B16-35 had its first reading.H.) Senate Reports: 1. Due to space constrictions, this portion was exerted. The o�cial minutes can be found on the Student Government Association collegiate link page.I.) Audience Participation and Announcements 1. Illinois Hunger CoalitionJ.) Adjournment at 4:11

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 NEWS 5

Steven Villa On Thanksgiving weekend,

NEIU’s first residence hall, The Nest, will be enclosed to allow for work on the interior to proceed through Chicago’s winter months.

It will mark the third of 10 milestones completed by Weis Builders, a Minneapolis based construction firm, before the structure’s scheduled completion in August 2016.

Excavation and underground work began on May 11. The stairwell towers — in the North and South wings — and a two lift elevator shaft at the core of the structure, near what will become reception area, were the first prominent elements to rise. They were followed in short order by all six floors.

“We were completing a floor every eight days,” said Kevin Voda, senior superintendent for Weis Builders. “That includes the perimeter walls, the unit separation walls, the corridor walls and the deck that goes on top of that.”

Condenser units running down through the structure to all 110 apartments, affording the units complete control of air conditioning, were installed on the roof of the building. Work on the brickwork and masonry, not scheduled to begin before April, will be initiated on the week of Nov. 16.

*** For most students, The Nest is

a construction site, a future home or an obelisk to their old parking spot. For 10 students in the College of Business and Management (COBM), it’s a part of their grade.

A prerequisite for graduation from COBM, Operations Management is a statistics heavy course traditionally limited to the classroom. Patrick Delaney, an instructor of management for COBM and an NEIU alumnus, took a unique approach to teaching the class.

As a part of an analysis paper, students were embedded in various companies and enterprises dispersed throughout the Chicagoland area.

“I believe students are better off if they have a balance between what’s in the book and what’s going on in the real world,” Delaney said. “I try to get students in companies to see how they’re doing things. Getting them to apply what’s in the textbook to a particular operation or company.”

Of the 40 students in the class, 10 were assigned to write their paper on the residence hall construction. Voda previously worked in a similar arrangement with students at Southern Illinois University.

Patrick Delaney, an instructor of management for COBM and an NEIU alumnus, formed a partnership with Weis Builders after inviting Voda to speak to his

Operations Management class. The superintendent offered a spot for 10 of Delaney’s students on the construction site as an option for their analysis paper.

The students were required to attend bi-weekly meetings with the superintendent, foremen and subcontractors where on the progress of their specialties and coordinate things were going according to schedule.

Jonathan Zarate, a senior majoring in finance, was assigned to write about the project’s architect, John May.

“He was a really cool guy, really nice, was very open to answering my questions,” Zarate said. “I walked around with him through the site, just seeing what he did. He would take pictures and compare them to previous pictures — he’s there every other week — and he checks to make sure everything is in order and compares correctly to his drawings.”

The 30 members of the class not assigned to the construction site embedded themselves in various companies throughout the Chicagoland. These companies ranged from Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel; to retail stores such as Guess Apparel and Dick’s Sporting Goods; to Pampered Pup’z a grooming and daycare center for dogs.

***Kevin Voda has worked in

construction for 38 years. He got his start in the industry as a carpenter doing metal stud framing before he found work as a laborer at Mayfair Construction, the largest concrete company in Chicago, at the time. Six months later, he was promoted to foreman.

He spends a daily average of 12 to 13 hours on-site.

This time is split between making rounds through The Nest to keep tabs on the day’s progress and managing the site from the operational nerve center — a grey office trailer just off the access road connecting Foster Avenue to Bryn Mawr Avenue.

Every aspect of the process has been carefully scheduled and organized, but that hasn’t prevented Weis Builders from finding innovative solutions to problems that could cause serious delays. The early rise of the elevator and stairwell towers was an example of one of those improvisations.

“First thing I noticed on the schedule was they were going to get the stair and elevator towers up and only run them to the third floor,” Voda said. This would have demanded construction on the latter three floors be postponed until the mason could return to finish the towers. “We would have had to take all the scaffolding apart, build up to the third floor and stop.”

Voda spoke with the project’s structural engineer about completing the towers, all six floors

worth, before starting the first floor. He was given the go-ahead as long as extra grout and rebar were added to reinforce the structures.

“It delayed the start of my panels, a bit, in the short run,” he added. “But it saved a lot of time in the long run waiting for the mason.”

Voda’s advice for those seeking

to be good leaders was simple.“If you want to succeed,” he

said. “ The people you work with need to want the same things you do.”

Campus Construction by College of Business

The exterior of the structure as of Friday, Nov. 13.

Xiaoxuan Wu, a senior in Delaney’s Operations Management class, in one of the two electrical rooms, with Weis Superintendent Kevin Voda.

Photos by Steven Villa and Patrick Delaney

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Robin Bridges

Police belong on the streets catching criminals and not in schools enforcing dress codes. I would even go so far as to say they don’t belong on any school campus, including universities. Having security is one thing, but a sworn officer of the law belongs in one place: The place where the law is being broken.

Where is that place? It’s Chicago, pick a neighborhood. Back in the day, cops used to have a beat. They walked around and spoke to people. They were faces in the neighborhood. They also got out of their patrol cars in order to give tickets. Cops were people with badges, not headlines waiting to arrest, beat or kill.

The rise of the School Resource Officer (SRO) has given cops a new beat. A beat full of drama, hormones and potential criminals. Recently, a girl in South Carolina was body slammed and beaten, a boy in Texas was arrested and verbally abused, and a 16-year-old boy in Oklahoma was assaulted by SRO’s.

According to the Richland County Sheriff ’s Office website, “The SRO program is a community policing approach practiced within a school environment. In our middle and high schools one officer is assigned to one school. In our elementary schools our officer’s cover two to three schools teaching the D.A.R.E. curriculum among

other lessons. Generally speaking, this provides the maximum benefit for the school and the sponsoring law enforcement agency. The school becomes the officer’s beat.”

WHAT?! The list of things wrong with this statement is endless. How about the fact that there is one officer “teaching” curriculum among other lessons in between one and three schools? How about the fact that it is a “community policing approach practiced within a school environment?” As a parent, the only thing I want practiced within a school environment is math, science and reading, etc. and the only thing cops should be teaching is nothing because they aren’t teachers.

The Department of Justice describes the roles of an SRO as “Law Enforcer, Informal Counselor, Educator, and Emergency Manager.”

That’s essentially four separate jobs in one person trained for two to four years to hunt down criminals. This is asking a lot from a teacher with at least bachelor’s degree in children, let alone an officer who may or may not even like kids. They might as well be teachers with guns.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) careers page lists exactly eight current openings for “police officers only.” These listings range from part-time security to simply off-duty police officers. Also according to the page some of the

duties “may include, but are not limited to office support, opening and closing out the school day, data entry, filing and answering phones.”

Their placements are at six elementary schools and two high schools on various ends of the city; all of them are in heavily Hispanic or black neighborhoods. However, they list 115 that involve security in some fashion.

In life, the tendency is to default to the highest authority. As a sworn officer of the law, an SRO would be that authority in every situation especially out-right defiance and disorder. At a school, the highest authority should be the principal on all matters, including discipline. When you take that authority and supersede it by placing someone of a higher authority in charge of doling out punishment, the principal becomes a figurehead in a police state.

Police belong on the streets to be summoned when they are needed. They should not be on-call in a school just waiting to spring into action. Spring loaded SRO’s are dangerous. In a “good school” they can become bored and in a “bad school” they are on edge.

Either way, the slightest thing can trip the spring and release them onto a population of young developing minds who are still testing the boundaries of discipline. It also puts a lot of power in the hands of an individual who is not trained to develop a healthy set of

boundaries. As Lord Acton said: “Power

tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Police are imbued with power by handing them a badge and paying them to prowl. By condensing their territory you have caged a lion with a herd of young, wild antelope and are waiting for someone to get hungry enough to eat.

School Resource Officers: Teachers with Guns

A drug free and gun free sign posted near a school zone.

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Chicago: A City in Silence

Alejandra Franco

When Michael Brown was killed last August, Ferguson went up in flames. Literally. This city in Missouri was all over the news as peaceful protests escalated into riots. For those unfamiliar with the story, Officer Darren Wilson, who was later acquitted, killed Brown.

Beyond the riots this incident caused, it made a way to address the relationship with law enforcement

officers and citizens in America. This case sparked such an uproar, that even to this day, the mere mention of Ferguson is enough to cause debate.

I remember watching this story develop on the news. I remember reading President Obama’s statement on Brown’s death urging the people of Ferguson and the world to “comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.” It was a sentimental move by the

nation’s leader to address this incident.

I also remember hearing and seeing social justice activist Al Sharpton in Ferguson. His words, “until justice shows up, I intend to hang around.”

By the time this prints, more than two weeks will have passed since Chicago’s crime hit a new low (pun most definitely not intended). On Nov. 2, a nine-year-old by the name of Tyshawn Lee was allegedly lured into an alleyway and executed in Chicago’s south side.

Perhaps because this city’s violence is the one consistent piece of news, we’ve become desensitized to it all. News breaks of a shooting and Chicagoans no longer beg the question of why, but rather where? And how many this time?

I was devastated when I heard the news, and I hoped there would be some type of outrage or protest from the community, the

social activists, anyone, someone. Instead, the “code of silence” went into effect and the police are still looking to make an arrest.

The biggest story about Lee has been his mother allegedly using the money raised for Lee’s funeral to pay for other expenses. The fact that that’s what is offending people is outrageous. There is justice waiting to be served here, and no one seems to care.

Lee was buried on Nov. 10 and I still heard nothing from any of the social activist “leaders” urging anyone with information to speak up. No statements from the president either. Not to take away from the Brown incident, but where is the outrage for Lee? Where is everyone?

How easy to fuel the flames on a fire already started. There has been no justice for Lee, and no one seems to be hanging around for it either.

Protestors took to the streets of New York City in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

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7OPINIONSTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Pablo Medina

Heads up, Facebook: The commander-in-chief ’s feeling social today.

After seven years in office, President Barack Obama created an official Facebook page to reach out to the American people.

Past presidents have had fan mail, personal hotlines, televised speeches and talks on radio with the American public; Obama is the first president to utilize the power of online social networking for that purpose.

One of his most famous uses of Twitter was his invitation to the White House for Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old

inventor of an electronic LCD clock mistaken for a bomb in his school.

“Cool clock, Ahmed,” Obama tweeted. “Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.”

Obama has reached out to Facebook to extend his networking capabilities. However, a question to comes to mind: Will the Facebook profile prove to be a formidable tool to address domestic and international issues affecting groups of people today or will it be a distraction for the President to share funny cat videos and send goofy smileys?

Now, before anyone dares

to say “Hey now, I don’t use my Facebook just to goof off and watch cat videos,” let us be fair here: We have all reached that point in our social adventures — at least once. Some of us use Facebook just once a month, others habitually update every single moment of their life, as if they were building a virtual diary that no one wants to see.

Anyone can spend too much time showing their whole life to people on computers and phones, even the president. And just as the president can binge on Facebook, sometimes he just has to take a funny picture and make it the next internet meme.

On the clock or off the clock, it is unlikely that any user will go on

Facebook to see pure issues and no fun statuses. While they do bring light to moral and social issues in different parts of the world, the best thing a Facebook user can do is share and know the issue being presented.

That’s not to say the President won’t have anything interesting to say. This is the man that has to hear the troubling news that his country is riddled with spontaneous school shootings, college campus rape, the prevalence of police brutality in black communities: It’s all enough to make a man scream, ‘Why does this continue to happen?’

His first post on his page begins with a video of him walking through the back of the White House, talking about climate change and its effects on national parks in the United States.

“I want to make sure that the American people are able to enjoy the incredible national parks,” Obama said. “The incredible beauty, the mountains, the oceans that have been one of the greatest gifts we have ever received.”

He also states in the video that through leadership, 150 countries, including the United States, have joined together to agree in reducing carbon emissions, in order to protect the natural en-vironments and wonders that

encompass the Earth. However, I have to wonder:

“Will he decide to friend certain people?”

Think about it, how interesting would it be to find that, of the hundreds of millions of people living in America, Obama accepts your friend request, let alone sends you the friend request? That would absolutely blow my mind; it would be like having Mahatma Gandhi or Malcolm X as a member of your cool club.

Of course, since it is simply a page and not a personal account, its not going to be possible to actually become friends with the commander in chief.

There is potential for the President to take the profile seriously as a catalyst for many resolutions in social justice and international situations. After all, his voice comes from the people: He just wants to make sure he’s got our words right. That or he just wants to be closer to the country that he fights for every day.

As the charismatic president, with a bold sense of humanity, said on his page: “You can expect some just-for-fun stuff, too.”

A Page for the Nation’s VIP

Previous Facebook pages for the President have been run by his staff at the White House, but now the President’s personal page is just a “like” away from your newsfeed.

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8 OPINIONS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Ishtar Yakoo

On Nov. 1st of this year, many individuals were offended on a personal level. These individuals felt that it was necessary to add to the list of problems existing in America. On a list of current things to be offended about stand: Poverty, cancer, Climate Change, and even Donald Trump. When Starbucks went into their annual Holiday look, they went onto that list. Not for starting the season too soon, but for introducing an all-new red cup.

Rather than appreciating the company’s efforts of going out of their way to promote holiday cheer, some customers are completely outraged that the cup isn’t festive enough. The red cup controversy is being spoken about by a number of people.

Starbucks has been pouring its life-giving coffee and other various delicious beverages into the vibrant cups every holiday season since 1997. Why did it take eighteen years for someone to decide it was purposefully offensive? Why is the decoration of a paper-fiber and plastic cup so heavily meaningful all of a sudden?

It seems as if people deliberately look for a reason to be upset, and it all started with a popular nobody who took to Facebook to

rile people up about it. While the rest of the world is dealing with massive issues, Americans have forgotten about all of their more important problems and have decided to make passionately arguing over a disposable beverage container, provided by a billion-dollar company, their main priority.

It’s always a relief to know that some people still have a sense of humor when it comes to deal-ing with the common sense and gratitude other people lack.

Comedian and talk show host Ellen Degeneres made a few comments to her audience a few days after the red cup controversy gained popularity. “The old cups had snowflakes, and Santa’s sleigh, and elves,” she said. “You know, all the things you find in The Bible.”

When Americans cry over the lack of “ho-ho-ho” and festivity on a plastic cup, they are not only forgetting the real problems of the world, but they are also forgetting that America is a country filled with people from all over the globe and that not everyone celebrates Christmas. And for those who do, why allow the design of a cup to make or break the holiday spirit?

Well, since the appearance of a beverage container is that important to some (even though

the cup is usually carelessly tossed out after a few minutes), companies, such as Starbucks, should encourage their baristas to begin handing out Crayola products with each warm beverage. Each unappreciative and childish

customer can freely decorate the cup to match up to his or her fes-tive expectations.

And that way, as soon as each ungrateful customer has finished doodling elves, mistletoes, and little snowmen all over his or her

cup (because apparently, according to such customers, those things make a person more Christian) he or she will be too busy sipping and slurping to bother anyone with nonsense about a cup and its lack of Christmas spirit.

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The Cup that Stole Christmas

The solid red cup has been seen in the holiday season since 1997.

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Sports

Rut Ortiz

Floor hockey took over the P.E. Complex as NEIU hosted the Special Olympics 2015 State Floor Hockey Tournament on Nov. 14. A total of 26 teams, forming seven divisions, from all over the Chicagoland area, took to the gym in a quest for gold.

Floor hockey is a form of indoor hockey. There is a puck that resembles a felt doughnut being pushed around with a stick to the likes of a broom handle. The tournament consisted of three games being played at the same time. Bullhorns and whistles were the background music of each passing hour and the perpetual cheers from family and friends bellowed throughout every shot made.

“If a person has never been to a Special Olympics event before, they need to go to one and see the spirit of the athletes,” Said Director of Campus Recreation Dave Merrill. “It’s hard to not get caught up in how much these athletes really enjoy the event … how good they really are at the sports that they play.

“These events are a little different just because of the athletes themselves. The spirit and stuff these kids bring to the court or field

or whatever sport they’re playing, it’s infectious. It’s really cool to be around them.”

The players’ focus was not on just getting past the goalie, but rather, the sportsmanship. Competitiveness was not a key for the athletes. They shook hands, high-fived each other and smiled throughout the games.

“They are having a blast at their state tournament,” said Vice President of Sports Training and Competition Tracy Hilliard. “They’re getting the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, instead of when you think ‘special needs,’ a lot of the stereotype goes to the disability. So people are seeing these athletes show they’re just like everybody else.”

Christopher Marques is a goalie for the Independent Wolves, a team within division three.

“I like to watch hockey,” Marques said. “I love playing sports. It’s really fun to be with all your friends and with your coach.

The 25-year-old also said that he has been playing with the Special Olympics for about five years and that he has never been told that there was something he could not do.

The State Floor Hockey Tournament has been housed at the NEIU PE Complex for five years.

The event was free and open to NEIU students and all members of the surrounding community.

Athletes train for approximately eight weeks before coming to the state championships and every moment paid off. When it came time to announce the winners, teams that came in first, second and third place received a trophy, but every athlete’s name was announced and everyone went home with a medal.

“I think it’s great to get it out to the university community,” Merrill said. “There’s no downside to being associated with this event, so when that’s the case, why not let everyone know about it.”

The Spirit of The Special Olympics

Marques standing with Independent Wolves teammates after receiving medals.

Division 2 teams Koz Junior Stars and Hersey Huskies White go head-to-head.

Alex Ruiz

The century old rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona will be the main stage on November 21.

This event has at times surpassed

the Super Bowl in viewership, and that says a lot for a single sporting event. Two of the most powerful and decorated football teams in the world will face off for the first time this season. No other football event

gathers so much global interest as El Clásico, other than the World Cup – that is.

This time around, however, both teams are mired with injuries and some controversies.

Much is at stake for this match. The Spanish League resumes play after the international break (where players head to their National Teams) with this Clásico. Also, the teams are in second and first place, respectively, atop the standings of La Liga.

Real Madrid is coming off of a devastating loss against Sevilla on Nov. 8 which left them three points behind rival, Barcelona. To add to their string of misfortune, Madrid suffered a huge loss when captain Sergio Ramos aggravated his shoulder while scoring Real Madrid’s first goal to a match that they would ultimately end up defeated 3-2.

Furthermore, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been under criticism for “failing to carry the team” as stated by some Spanish media outlets such as AS, a popular

newspaper among Real Madrid fans. Despite being the team’s all-time top scorer, the star was criticized for seeming absent-minded during the last match.

Barcelona also has a player missing due to injury but it hasn’t seemed to affect them. With Lionel Messi out due to injury, and most likely not playing El Clásico, Barcelona seems to be cruising. Neymar Jr. and Luis Suarez have picked up the slack for the team and they look to be in better shape than their rivals from the capital city of Spain.

Despite both teams having key injuries and relying heavily on reserves, it does not take away from the magnitude of the event. First place is not the only thing at stake. It’s bragging rights for fans. Any passionate soccer fan will understand this. Also although prohibited, some politics are brought into the game: The Catalans (fans from the Bracelona region in Spain) desire to secede from Spain adds fuel to the fire, or in this case,

the Clásico. Again, passionate soccer fans understand.

There is a reason this is the biggest rivalry in sports: it brings the best and worst out of fans that want to claim they have the best team in the world.

Real Madrid and Barcelona amass for millions of dollars in revenue, are always on top of rankings and sales, and are also always competing deep into European tournaments. So will fans see a lackluster game due to superstars missing the game? Or, will the not-so-superstars play with passion and uphold the history of this rivalry?

Regardless of who’s rooting for whom, and whatever happens on and off the field, Soccer always wins. It is a great spectacle that gathers millions of friends and strangers together for at least 90 minutes.

El Clásico “Handicapped” Edition 2015

For some soccer fans, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona is the biggest rivalry in sports.

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10 SPORTS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Christian Gralak

Miguel Cotto will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) World Middleweight title against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Nov. 21. This matchup is sure to impress boxing fans and renew the classic Mexico-Puerto Rico boxing rivalry, which dates back to 1981 when Wilfedo Gomez of Puerto Rico took on Salvador Sanchez of Mexico. Gomez was favored to win but Sanchez was awarded the victory after a controversial TKO.

The FightersMiguel Cotto is a future Hall

of Famer and almost had his career come to a complete halt when he suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in 2012 against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout. Media outlets and fans talked of retirement for the boxer who seemed to have reached his peak of domination in the boxing world. Yet, when asked about retirement, Cotto said, “Three more fights, that’s all, and then Miguel Cotto will hang up his gloves and enjoy life with the family.” Cotto has since changed his mind.

Cotto parted ways with his trainer, Pedro Diaz, in 2013 and hired legendary Freddie Roach to take on the role as his new trainer. Roach believed that Cotto still had

a lot of fight left in him and trained him to box more aggressively like he did when he was younger — more left hooks and body shots to the opponent — and it sure paid off.

In October 2013, Cotto defeated Dominican boxer Devlin Rodriguez to get back into the win category. He then beat Argentinian champion Sergio Martinez in June 2014 to become the WBC, Lineal and The Ring Middleweight Champion.

This feat also led Cotto to become the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four different weight classes. Cotto’s most recent fight was last June when he defended his championships against former Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale.

Cotto won via TKO in the fourth round after knocking Geale down twice.

His third win in a row brought him to a record of 40-4 with 33 knockouts and set up the upcoming fight against Alvarez.

On the other side of the ring is Saul Alvarez better known as “Canelo.” The 25-year-old from Jalisco, a state in Western Mexico, has emerged over the last few years as arguably one of boxing’s best. He won his last three fights and goes into this upcoming match with a record of 45-1-1 with 32 knockouts.

His only loss was against Floyd

Mayweather Jr. on Sept.14, 2013. Even though Canelo put up a strong fight for 12 rounds, against arguably the best fighter in boxing at the time (Mayweather has since retired) Mayweather won by judges’ decision.

Canelo also lost his WBC and The Ring Light Middleweight Championship titles after the Mayweather fight, but with three wins in a row under his belt, he looks to come back stronger than ever and regain his status as a champion against Cotto.

PredictionThis fight was originally

supposed to be agreed upon in

January, but negotiations fell apart when Cotto’s camp didn’t respond and accept the proposal Canelo’s camp offered. Both camps finalized a deal in August, which made the fight official.

So who has the edge in this matchup? It’s definitely going to be close. Canelo is a younger and slightly taller fighter whose length and endurance can give Cotto trouble. His punches are also more devastating due to his size, and as he continues to mold into his prime, he can only get better.

Cotto on the other hand, is more experienced and may have a better strategy under his new trainer. It’s likely Cotto will try and

bait Canelo into using most of his energy in the early rounds, and when he sees some fatigue he’ll try and hit Canelo with quick combo moves.

In the end, Canelo will prevail with an 11-round KO on Cotto and once again become champion. There is a lot riding on this fight, perhaps more for Cotto than Canelo. A Cotto loss could mean retirement. After all, this will be his fourth fight after stating he would only fight three. The outcome of this fight will hold a defining moment for both boxers’ careers.

Canelo and Cotto Ready to Rumble

Christian Gralak

We have all heard of NASCAR. The beloved racing sport in America that comes every weekend, when 43 Sprint Cup drivers ready themselves to endure continuous laps around a track and do anything they can to win.

Has NASCAR been too lenient with drivers in their attempts at winning though? In past weeks, there have been many retaliatory wrecks caused on the track due to “beef ” with other drivers caused by past incidents.

For example on Nov. 1 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, Team Penske driver Joey Logano was battling to pass up Joe Gibbs’ driver Matt Kenseth, who was already multiple laps down in the race.

On lap 453 of 500, Logano made the pass over Kenseth to increase his lead over Jeff Gordon who was in second place. As he made the pass around turn one, Kenseth rammed his racecar straight into the side and put Logano into the wall. The crowd cheered Kenseth’s dirty deed and Logano definitely didn’t appreciate it.

Gordon would go on to win the race. The wreck cost Logano his seventh victory and a chance to move (further?) up the Sprint Cup standings. Kenseth took the blame for it.

“Yeah, definitely my fault. I got into him.” Kenseth told the Augusta Chronicle on Nov. 4. “I know it’s got to be disappointing for him. It’s a tough sport; some days you’re the bat and some days you’re the ball. I was the ball a few weeks ago and I

was the ball again today, so that part of it is never fun.”

This little rivalry dates back to Oct. 18 during the Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas. Kenseth was leading Logano with five laps to go and Logano was tailing Kenseth’s bumper hard. As Logano kept pressing to pass him, Kenseth spun out and ultimately lost his chance at a win. Instead of finishing in first he placed 14th and Logano ended up celebrating in the Winner’s Circle.

While Kenseth was suspended two races for his actions against Logano by NASCAR, there still is much to talk about in regards to NASCAR’s “Boys, have at it,” policy, which was introduced in 2010. The policy has been around to let drivers settle their differences on the track without the need for NASCAR to get involved.

As safety measures continue to improve for drivers, there is no guarantee one may not get seriously injured if involved in an accident. If drivers continue to take each other out on the track because they feel they need to retaliate, then why not just make the sport a NASCAR death race.

As mature adults there should be no reason to want to attempt to cause an accident and possibly cause severe injury. I, for one, hope a severe injury doesn’t need to occur in order for NASCAR and its road rage drivers to see that what they’re promoting can be seriously detrimental to it’s drivers — even if the fans like the retaliation tactics.

NASCAR Policy Doing More Harm Than Good?

NASCAR is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the drivers.

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Cotto vs. Canelo is set for Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photos courtesy of TheD

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Spencer Jones

When it comes down to college sports teams, there are many topics that quickly spark debate. One of the biggest is the question of whether or not college athletes should get paid to play. There are over 380,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities, it can be argued that the only purpose for athletes is to bring in revenue for the schools. Taylor Branch of “The Atlantic” magazine wrote an article in 2011 in which he went into detail about how he felt that colleges and universities were making millions of dollars off of athletes, and the players see nothing in return. Branch went as far as claiming that “without pay, protection or a voice, college athletes, a large percentage of whom are African Americans, are treated like slaves.” College athletes should not get paid for participating in the athletics department of their respective schools.

Even though these colleges and universities are making money from the games through television contracts, merchandise, concession stands and ticket sales, the players are getting reimbursed with scholarships, dorms, meals, uniforms, free publicity and free travel when they go to away games. If they’re good enough to play professionally, then they will eventually get drafted. Playing in college should be like playing in high school or in grammar school: it’s just another extracurricular activity.

It’s a fact that the athlete needs the school, the schools doesn’t need

the athlete. Without these colleges, the athletes wouldn’t get the right exposure needed to get into the major leagues. Sure, the schools make their profits, but the players need the universities more than the universities need any one individual player. Reggie Bush needed USC, or another NCAA school, to get to the NFL to make his millions. USC was able to showcase his abilities and put him in a position to obtain a professional career. Without USC, it’s likely that Reggie Bush wouldn’t have gotten into the league, and he wouldn’t have made the money that he did. If the star running back is paid, will the fourth string running back, which never sees playing time, also be paid? If the starter gets paid more, then the backup might just transfer to a school where he can be the starter in order to get paid more money. If football and basketball players are getting paid, Title IX comes into play and women’s college athletes should get paid just as much as their male counterparts.

Schools shouldn’t pay their athletes. How can you pay someone who doesn’t have the mindset to stay and get his or her degree? The Title IX law that states that if male athletes gets paid, then female athletes must do so as well. This includes track and field, soccer, golf and other players. It’s discrimination if you put only the basketball and football players on a salary. In my opinion those who excel in their academics are the students who keep the colleges and universities in high standards.

Should College Athletes Get Paid to Play?

11SPORTSTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

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William Castro

Pro: A 2,000-year-old play is still relevant today.

Con: It's about income inequality.

The rich get richer and poor get poorer, some things never change.

Adapted from the Aristophanes’ play of the same name, director Derek Van Barham takes the 388 BC Greek comedy "Wealth" and reworks it for a modern audience.

The play’s overall theme is wealth, and how it’s been taken by those with questionable morals, leaving the good, and deserving, poor.

The adaptation follows the original play, but only in concept and with certain characters, which is great. Barham worked with the ensemble cast to give the play some modern day humor. They did so by using pop culture references, original music, and occasionally breaking the fourth wall. A great

example would be the monologue given by Cario the servant, played by Israel Moskovits. As Cario is giving his monologue he is interrupted by Chremylos, Stephen H. Kozak. He asks the servant, “Who are you talking to?”

One of the reasons Barham decided to direct the play, was because of the cast. “Wealth” was a group effort, between cast and director, in writing and adapting the play to a modern audience.

“What really attracted me to it, and the reason I wanted to do it was, one of the original goals, when the show was selected, was to have the ensemble build the show together; and knowing that, I was really excited in creating our own version of it,” said Barham.

The play centers on Plutus, Tyler Wynd, the god of wealth, who’s been blind for centuries as a punishment from Zeus for giving wealth to the intrinsically good. When Plutus is given a chance to possess the body of a human, he does so, yet he is still blind. The play starts getting interesting when the body he possessed was one of Chremylos’ party guests. Chremylos is a rich man gone broke, who is celebrating his birthday party with his friends and family. If Plutus’ eye sight is restored he can continue in giving wealth to those who actually deserve it.

“We modernized a lot of the dialogue, and a lot of the Greek constructs are still there. We still had the idea that in middle of a scene, somebody will just step out, and have a speech for the audience. There are also a lot of musical interludes that we created; it’s still very Greek in structure but the spin we put on is a lot more contemporary.”

One of the best aspects of the play was the, Tyler Miles, being the

pianist hired to play throughout Chremylos’ party. Whether it was playing a jaunty tune while the party goers sang, or striking an ominous chord to a foreboding prophesy, Miles composed all the music.

Not only were the songs catchy, but they kept the play from losing momentum. Any possible dip was met with a song and dance, which brought me back, and kept me invested. Though on occasion, there was a contrast between the cast's ability to project when singing; this led to an inability in hearing the lyrics.

The 75 minute play was genuinely fun. The cast was energetic, and ready to entertain. There was singing and dancing, crude humor and cursing. Sort of like a Family guy episode, except it was charming. Perhaps this is due to the play being straight to the point. This wasn’t an overburdened stay; everything that needed to be said was said.

If anything, I was disappointed that the play felt more like a comedy skit, due to how fast it went by. Though, I also appreciated the fact that I didn’t become bored with it. Really, it was an enjoyable time.

Ishtar Yakoo

Violence towards women is something that is difficult to talk about. The Feminist Collective took the first step to bringing about change.

The Golden Eagles room in the Student Union was completely transformed on November 4 in honor of Take Back the Night (TBTN). Take Back the Night is an international organization that organizes rallies, marches and vigils with the goal of ending domestic and sexual violence towards women.

November is the traditional month for these events since November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Feminist Collective members showed up in purple T-shirts, the color commonly used in remembrance of domestic violence victims. They placed their creative anti-violence posters around the room and prepared themselves for the first activity of the night: the peace circles.

Feminist Collective members sat in each circle and would take turns asking the guests questions.

When it was a participant's turn, they were given a talking-stick and an opportunity to discuss their experiences with domestic violence in a safe space. Due to the personal nature, what was said in the peace circles were confidential.

Of the things discussed, it was made clear that being aware of one’s surroundings, mentally and physically was most important, while being prepared. Carrying a physical object, like pepper-spray or a set of keys intertwined within the fingers, like Wolverine claws comes in handy, especially when walking around in the dark. It is always better to try and prevent violence and although some situations may be very traumatic, it is best to remember that staying optimistic and confident.

In connection with confidence, the participants of TBTN were treated to an entertaining session of learning self-defense. Experienced self-defense instructor, Martha Thompson, taught TBTN participants more than just self-defense moves and how to feel and appear confident; she made it clear that self-defense is an active form of self-care. Through self-

care, one is empowered and one makes a habit of being aware and putting more effort into staying safe.

Once the fun kicking show came to an end, the night morphed into something more serious Encouraging guest-speaker, Crista Noel, opened eyes and minds to the true stories of violence. Stories like Melissa Williams', who was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Timothy Russel.

A police officer assumed he had heard shots being fired from the vehicle, and because of this assumption, abruptly decided to chase the car down for about twenty five minutes. The chase ended with thirteen officers shooting one hundred and thirty-seven bullets into the windshield, twenty-four of them ended up in Williams. It is events such as these that are not made known to the public as often as they should be.

It is because of the lack of knowledge within such tragic happenings that violence in Chicago is only growing. It is the manipulation that is thrown into titling and reporting crimes that makes it seem as if crime rates are declining when really, they are

increasing.The Feminist Collective and

guests of TBTN ended the event with a roaring and purposeful march around NEIU’s campus.

Before the peace-circle kicked off the event, participants were asked to write down something

that they had been meaning to let go. After the march, the pieces of paper containing deep, even angry secrets were tossed into a fire and forgotten. As everyone formed a circle, held hands, and shared their final reflective thoughts of the powerful night.

&Arts LifeThe Fight to Take Back the Night!

Photo by Ishtar Yakoo

Members of the Feminist Collective hold a banner while participants watch the secrets they wrote burn in the fire.

Money Makes People Do Crazy Things

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The characters of "Wealth" gather for Chremylos's birthday party.

13ARTS & LIFETUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Pablo Medina

Duke Ellington and Benny Carter's energies were felt onstage with the NEIU Varsity Big Band as they played from the great Jazz songbook.

Jazz Director Mayo Tiana led the band on Nov. 5, through two sets of 16 total songs, embellished with solos from experienced

members of the jazz ensemble and guest soloists. Adding spice to the trumpet section was Ian Torres and Victor Garcia, supplying the dark and rich tone of the tenor saxophone was Josh Therriault, doubling on clarinet as well. And providing the vocals to four songs was vocalist Erica Sauder.

The band rolled through romantic pieces such as "The Touch

of Your Lips" by Ray Noble, and Rodgers and Hart’s "The Lady Is a Tramp," featuring Sauder’s hypnotic singing style. Along with the mix were pieces emphasizing spicy melodic rhythms such as "Moten Swing" by Buster and Benny Moten, as well as Jerome Richardson’s "The Groove Merchant."

The fun of the performances came mostly from the solos in the

trumpets and the trombones, with another mention to Jacob Jahraus’ baritone saxophone performance. Astounding balance between the horns and the rhythm section brought the bright sound of the ensemble forward, garnering applause after every song.

A noteworthy piece that stood from the performance was the band’s performance of "Oclupaca" from Duke Ellington’s Latin American Suite. Along with being a charming mirror name for Acapulco, the piece brought the Latin zing and rhythm from the original.

Another piece from Ellington was "Harlem Air Shaft," which got its name from Ellington's ability to find inspiration everywhere.

“An air shaft is this space in an apartment building, and you hear lots of different sounds going on from it,” Tiana said.

Coupled with the enthusiastic solos from Robert Alonzo and Therriault, the piece showed to be a fine take on Ellington’s impression of the sounds and community of Harlem.

Sauder’s singing was arranged by Tom Matta, Rodgers and Hart was gentle but proud, and fitting for the bright tone of the band.

The piano solos from Cesar Pino were charmingly nimble, mixing well with the soft beat of Will Gumbiner’s double bass plucks and the drum groove of John Agno’s drumming.

The ‘big’ in NEIU Varsity Big Band is an understatement to their performance. Their double set list and overall expression was cool and smooth and proved that Chicago is still the hotspot destination for good old fashioned jazz and blues.

Viviana Serrano

Every light was directed at the stage. Vibrant colors and a rustic scene brought the old Grace Station to life. An excited hush fell throughout the Mercury Theater, ready to hear the story of the "Man in Black:" Johnny Cash.

“Ring of Fire-The Music of Johnny Cash,” directed by Brian Russell, is a take its audience on a tour of Cash’s life. Set in the imaginary Grace Station, Angela Miller, set designer, created a welcoming and lively place where music became magic.

The highlights of Cash’s life were intertwined with more than 30 of his hit songs. Among them were crowd favorites such as “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line” and “Cocaine Blues" mixed seamlessly in with important moments, including when Cash's music career launched, the loss of his brother, when he met his future wife June Carter and his dark times with drugs.

One part musical, one part concert, "Ring of Fire" takes a tip

or two from other shows such as "Jersey Boys" or "Million Dollar Quartet" and present a musical documentary of sorts onstage, creating a unique experience.

The Mercury Theater required the cast of “Ring of Fire” to preform close together on stage. The cast of eight proved that less is really more. Each actor always had an instrument on hand; electric and acoustic guitars, harmonicas and a bass fiddle where present in each

scene. Kent M. Lewis played an older

Cash and introduced the new facets of Cash’s life to the audience in a short dialogue before each scene. Behind him, the other actors prepared the next scene. Cory Goodrich as Carter and Michael Monroe Goodman as young Cash brought the legendary duo to life.

Together, they performed the moments shared by Cash and Carter, on and off the stage, and

the love they shared for music and each other. The rest of the on-stage cast served as a live band who accompanied Cash on tour and members of the Cash family according to the demands of each scene.

During the performance, there are a number of times when the actors looked to the audience to help them with an applause, or some form of interaction. At one

performance, the audience needed a little bit of an extra push as Lewis waved his hand and nodded his head to hint that an applause was required.

A few “ooo’s and ah’s” were heard from the audience, followed by a few chuckles, as they became a part of the show. Some couldn’t help stomping and clapping to the beat of Cash’s tunes. A fitting tribute to the man who walked the line.

"Get Rhythm" in the "Ring of Fire"

Cory Goodrich as June Carter [left] and Michael Monroe Goodman as young Johnny Cash [right] performing the title song, "Ring of Fire."

Photo courtesy of the Mercury Th

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Michael Monroe Goodman [far left] performs with his band while Kent M. Lewis as older Johnny Cash looks on in fond memory.

Jazz is Alive and Well

The Varsity Big Band performs classic Jazz music.

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14 ARTS & LIFE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

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15ARTS & LIFETUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Alejandra Franco

A plethora of superlatives come to mind at the thought of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. I’ve been a fan of his for many years now and could not wait for his new documentary, “Ronaldo.”

The documentary begins with the Universal Studios credit as “Cristiano Ronaldo” is chanted in the background. The film then delves into the important highlights of his career and his personal life. For those that don’t know who Cristiano Ronaldo is, or think he’s just some rich, good-looking guy who kicks a ball around, or that this film is about yet another athlete who went from rags-to-riches and gets to show it off now, think again. For me, it was more than that.

As I said, I’m a fan of Ronaldo. I’ve done my fair share of research into his life, his upbringing, and his career. What this film did was put a visual to a Ronaldo I felt that I already knew.

For example: I knew Ronaldo had a son and will not reveal the identity of the mother. In the film, there was a scene where he is yelling at reporters about them wasting their time asking for the mother because he will not reveal who she is.

It’s no secret that every celebrity

– athlete or otherwise – wants to keep their privacy from the media. I would argue that Ronaldo goes above and beyond with this desire, protecting his privacy. It’s because of his mentality about this that I went into the film doubting that much would be revealed more than what fans already knew and I was not wrong.

Yes, the film shows some exclusive footage, but everything I saw in this film, I already knew: from his ambition to the struggle of making it as an athlete, even the injury Ronaldo was hiding during the World Cup in Brazil.

Ultimately, I think the film was a brief but deep look into the life of this superstar. I think this documentary was more of a way to commemorate his legendary 2014 season and also put an end to the criticism he has constantly faced. However, he didn’t want to let the world in too much and that’s fair. After all, he is one of the most famous athletes in the world.

So I’ll say that “Ronaldo” was a good film and I would recommend that those who hate him – you know who you are – watch it. You see the man for who he is.

For the fans who have been around as long as I have, this was but a small treat into the world of a man whom we already know.

Hailey G. Boyle

“Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear” is the warning drivers have on their side mirrors, reminding them of any oncoming danger. For Shedrick Yarkpai, it is a painful reminder of the dangerous past he left behind and the fear that it could catch up to him.

When playwright Charles Smith attended an Australian production of his play, “Free Man of Color,” he met Shedrick Yarkpai, the young Liberian actor in the lead role. As the two talked, Yarkpai told Smith about his childhood in war-torn Liberia and the long, demanding journey through several refugee camps throughout Western Africa before finally relocating in Australia. After hearing Yarkpai’s story, Smith said, “I have to write this play.”

“Objects in the Mirror” is the result of their conversations. Smith the playwright worked with director Chuck Smith to bring Shedrick’s harrowing tale to life.

From Shedrick’s youth on his grandfather’s plantation to the loss of his male cousins to the child armies, and from the raucous fun he had with his cousin Zaza to the

death of Zaza and his mother at the hands child soldiers. “Objects” lays out a dark and gritty path for Shedrick as he struggles with his sense of family and self and the actions he took to escape Liberia.

Charles Gardener shines as Shedrick, pulling the audience in as the guilt of stealing his cousin’s identity to get to Australia and guilt of betraying his uncle who got him there begins to eat away at him.

As part of the Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival, “Objects in the Mirror” is a new play being workshopped at Goodman along with “Mother Road” by Octavio Solis, “King of Yees” by Lauren Yee and three staged readings; “Lady in Denmark” by Dael Orlandersmith; “The Amateurs” by Jordan Harrison and “On the Exhale” by Martín Zimmerman.

The festival is an annual “celebration of innovative new plays, and is designed to give playwrights an opportunity to take risks and experiment,” according to the Goodman website.

After the performance, the audience had an opportunity to ask Smith questions and express their thoughts. Their response was unanimous; they loved it.

“I cried during that phone call with his mother,” said one woman about the climax of the play.

“Objects” was powerful. It painted a potent picture. It portrayed brutal violence without actually showing any of it. It depicted deep heartache without beating the audience in the head with it. It had deep symbolism

representing Shedrick’s struggle without being too obvious. An unofficial rule that every writing teacher and mentor I’ve ever had, told me “show, don’t tell.”

There’s an old cliché, “Paint me a picture.” “Objects” does just that. It treats its audience like intelligent people and allows them to decide for themselves whether Shedrick

made the right decision.The festival ended on Nov.15.

The writers and directors of all the plays have gathered their notes about what worked and what didn’t. “Objects in the Mirror” may get a rewrite or two, but I see great things in its future. It does what a good play does: it tells a good story.

Objects May be Closer Than They Appear

Luopu [Lily Mojekwu] says goodbye to her son Shedrick [Charles Gardner.]

Photo courtesy of The G

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A View into the World of “Ronaldo”

Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about his life in "Ronaldo."

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