Big Easy reopens after falling on hard times Speakers project future

FRIDAY • NOVEMBER 16, 2012
CHICAGOMAROON.COM
ISSUE 13 • VOLUME 124
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SINCE 1892
EA applications rise for
fourth consecutive year
Sam Levine
Senior Editor
Flu, flu, go away
UCMC Nurse Clarissa Gradilla administers a flu shot to Aramark Customer Service Associate Evelyn
Buehler in Bartlett Trophy Lounge. Many locations on and off campus are offering free vaccinations.
JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON
The College received the most
early action applications for admission in its history this year, the fourth
straight year that the number of early
applicants has increased.
This year, 10,316 students applied
through the College’s early action
program, a 18.6 percent increase from
last year. There has been a 75.4 percent increase in early action applications since 2009, the year James Nondorf took over as Dean of Admissions
and Financial Aid and the year after
the College switched to the Common
Application. Just 3,777 students applied early in fall 2008.
In a University statement released earlier this week, Dean of the College John
Boyer said that the increasing number
of students applying early to the College
signaled that the U of C was the first
choice of more and more applicants.
Because the U of C’s early action program is non-binding, applicants can also
apply to other schools even if they apply early to the College. However, some
of the University’s peer schools, such as
Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton, have
restrictive early action programs, which
prohibit early applicants from applying
early to other private institutions but do
not require them to attend if admitted.
Fourth-year Claire Hou said she
thinks that because the College’s early
action program was non-binding, students who apply early might do so to
have a “safety net.”
“Honestly, I think the mindset of
most of the people who apply is ‘Oh well,
if I get in I have a backup. If I’m able to
get into UChicago maybe I’ll try and get
into even better schools or schools that I
EARLY continued on page 2
Panel gives HEI
Big Easy reopens after falling on hard times
workers outlet for anger
Raghav Verma
Senior News Staff
The U of C student branch of
the Southside Solidarity Network
(SSN), along with multiple RSOs,
hosted a discussion on the University’s continued investment in HEI
Hotel and Resorts on Tuesday.
The speakers included members of a
number of other RSOs and HEI workers who claimed they had been mistreated by the hotel company.
HEI, which manages over 42 full-service, upscale and luxury hotels and resorts, has come under fire for the alleged
abuse and maltreatment of workers. As
a result, many of the University’s peer in-
stitutions, such as Harvard, Princeton,
Yale, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Brown,
have withdrawn investment from HEI,
although the U of C has not.
Administrators explained that the
University’s policies on involvement in
social and political movements were
based on the Kalven Report, a document published in 1967 by a faculty
committee under the leadership of law
professor Harry Kalven that dictates
that the University as a whole must remain neutral on political questions.
Second-year SSN member Emma
LaBounty cited the movements to divest in HEI on other campuses as motivation for U of C to follow suit.
HEI continued on page 2
Speakers project future for
undocumented students
Thomas Choi
News Contributor
A panel of speakers, faculty, and
alumni gathered Monday night to discuss a new federal program that affects
the future of undocumented students.
Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrival (DACA), which was introduced by President Obama on June
15, provides undocumented immigrants protection from deportation
for two years to prevent disruptions
to their higher education.
Tamara Felden, director of the
Office of International Affairs, discussed the changes that have occurred here at the University since
DACA has been enacted.
Speaking proudly about the U of
C’s commitment to its undocumented
students, Felden said, “Undocumented
students are now being more visible in
the [U of C student] population. This
is now a topic that is part of the instituDACA continued on page 3
The Big Easy restaurant on 55th and South Hyde Park Boulevard recently reopened after closing for multiple health code violations this June. One employee now owns a 35 percent share to help cover the costs.
JOHNNY HUNG | THE CHICAGO MAROON
Ankit Jain
Senior News Staff
David Shopiro had a choice to
make: Would he save his restaurant or
his colon?
Shopiro’s Cajun restaurant, The Big
Easy, located on East 55th Street and
South Hyde Park Boulevard, reopened
at the end of October after it was shut
down in June for what Chicago’s Health
and Human Services department called
“critical” violations of the health code.
Meanwhile, Shopiro himself was dealing with the aftermath of a tumor.
The most serious of the violations,
which included rodent infestations,
were issues with faulty appliances.
The walk-in freezer, which had been
running continuously for about 30
years, was not cooling food to a cold
enough temperature for the health
department’s standards, and the sink
was not draining properly. But to fix
these appliances, Shopiro needed
cash that he did not have.
“Every penny we make I have to make
use of for medical expenses,” he said.
Shopiro has the autoimmune disorder Crohn’s disease, which prevented
him from getting insured in 2011 when
he was diagnosed with a tumor in his colon, because insurance companies considered his Crohn’s disease a pre-existing
condition. After the operation, Shopiro
lost 47 pounds, and says he sometimes
faints. Paying for healthcare out-ofpocket has made it difficult to afford the
repair costs to The Big Easy.
While Shopiro was coming up with
the money to fix the appliances the restaurant was forced to shut its doors in
June. After closing, The Big Easy failed
14 health inspections in a row.
“The problem with failing is that they
charge you $50. So when I go to renew
the license, it’s going to cost like an extra
$500,” he said.
Fines were a small cost in the total
bill to reopen. Shopiro also needed to
buy new motors for the freezer and
fix the plumbing of the sink. The cost
of just the motors was over $10,000.
BIG EASY continued on page 3
IN VIEWPOINTS
IN ARTS
IN SPORTS
Bump in the NightRide » Page 4
The truck stops here: Shopping Ellis’s
mobile market » Page 7
Sizek, Maroons to National
Championships » Back Page
Holy Motors shifts metaphysical gears
into automatic masterpiece » Page 8
All-UAA Selections, Fall 2012 » Page 11
Letter: Global Warming Prof.
makes case for PhySci » Page 4
THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | November 16, 2012
2
Mormon students reflect on
interpretations of faith on campus
Alex Hays
News Contributor
A panel of Mormon students shared their
experiences as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and explained some of their key beliefs in Stuart Hall
this past Wednesday night.
One topic that the panelists discussed was persecution and prejudice against Mormons. While they
all said they are generally accepted in the broader
community, they feel they are perceived as different
from other Christians.
The panel also addressed a common question
brought up to Church members concerning the
consumption of caffeine. Officially, it is not allowed in the Mormon faith, although according
to the panelists, practices vary. Second-year Miranda Cherkas said her family simply avoids hot
drinks, such as herbal teas and coffee. A Mormon
audience member, who was drinking a Coke at
the time, said that his family actually doesn’t abstain from drinking caffeine.
Audience members asked about the tradition
of young Mormon men and women becoming
missionaries. The panel explained that missionary work, which can be performed by men and
women, is not compulsory, but is strongly encouraged for young men.
Spencer Duncan, a graduate student in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, spoke enthusiastically about the two years he spent serving as a Mormon
missionary in Puerto Rico.
“I cannot adequately express the impact that it
had on my life,” he said.
Jacob Johansen, a graduate student in the Department of Physics, discussed the belief in living prophets, which is important to Mormons. He said they
believe that today there are prophets who are able to
receive revelations from God, similar to Moses and
Isaiah of the Old Testament.
These living prophets are key leaders in the
LDS church and are able to declare new doctrine, he said. However, according to Mormon beliefs, every person can receive personal
revelations for their own lives.
Speaking about her experience being Mormon
on campus, Cherkas said “the best thing to do is to
be open, honest, and sincere with those around us
about our faith.”
Fourth-year Emily Greenwood added that students often treat her with respect for following her
beliefs.
The other panelists were third-year and Latterday Saint Student Association president Paul
Hawkins and graduate student Nolan Pope.
The discussion was hosted by the Latter-day
Saint Student Association.
New institutes, Logan Center suggested as
reasons behind EA application increase
# of Early Applications
Number of early applications per class year
11,000
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
10,316
LEGEND
8,698
’13: first class with the
common application
2,774 3,058
’10
’11
’12
Hotel worker Tomas Nunez speaks to students about poor working conditions under
HEI management at the La Joya Marriott during a panel on the University’s investment
in the luxury hotel chain, hosted by the Southside Solidarity Network.
JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON
HEI continued from front
Luz Olivas, an employee of 15 years for a Marriott branch, worked before and after the hotel came
under HEI management, and noticed changes after the ownership switch.
“I don’t have time to do anything. I feel awful because HEI cut positions and I’m doing
the work for two or three people. My body
is…I feel so exhausted. I don’t feel like I even
want to spend time with my grandkids. I love
them, but I don’t have time.”
Olivas said that she is expected to clean 100
rooms each day, and that often her bosses have
told her to “shut up” in response to her complaints of being overworked.
Another HEI employee, Pedro Garcia, who
worked in housekeeping at the Hilton in San Diego Mission Valley, said that upon falling sick from
eating the food that was provided at the company,
his bosses showed no concern.
“They never told me that it was okay to go
home. They told me to take something and keep
working,” he said.
University spokesperson Steve Kloehn wrote in
an e-mail that the U of C as a policy does not comment on individual investments. However, he said
that the University’s investment team performs
thorough due diligence to ensure that the managers of its investments have a clean history, but take a
hands-off approach.
“The University does not involve itself in the
day-to-day management of the funds and companies in which it invests,” Kloehn wrote.
Olivas said that she wanted to convey the following to the University’s President:
“Please stop investing money in the company
that treats us like machines, like animals, and don’t
respect us.”
6,960
’14: first class James
Nondorf admitted
4,424
HEI employee to President Zimmer: “Stop investing
money in the company that treats us...like animals”
5,883
3,777
’13
’14
Class Year
’15
DOUGLAS EVERSON
EARLY continued from front
want to go to more,’” she said.
University spokesman Jeremy Manier said in an
e-mail that the “most important new factors” in the
increased number of applications were new opportunities such as those offered through the Reva and
David Logan Center for the Arts, the Institute of
Politics, and the Institute of Molecular Engineering.
Hou speculated that the growth could be attributed to the College’s rising national ranking and the
decision to switch to the Common Application.
“The UChicago name and the brand has gotten
out more, and I guess every year you see it in the
rankings,” she said. “And even though the rankings
might not necessarily indicate what they say they
indicate, for people, it’s a prestige factor.”
Last year, early applicants made up 34.4 percent
of the College’s 25,271 total applicants. According
to the New York Times blog “The Choice,” the College accepted 18 percent of those who applied early
in the first round of admissions, while it accepted 13
percent of all applicants.
When fifth-year Alexander Conway applied early
in 2008, he wasn’t sure what his first-choice school
was. He said that he chose to apply early because
there was a higher acceptance rate for early applicants, but chose to apply to other schools after he
was admitted.
“[The U of C] ended up being the best school
that I got into. I ended up applying to other
schools after I got in early, which was a big mistake because I didn’t really want to go to any of
them anyway,” he said.
’16
’17
| THE CHICAGO MAROON
The increased popularity of the College has
meant that housing administrators have had to find
new places to house students that choose to attend
the U of C. In the last two years, more students
than projected chose to attend the College, causing
students to be placed in International House and
New Graduate Residence Hall, dorms not traditionally offered to first-year students. Even though
the College will lose 250 beds when it closes Pierce
residence hall at the end of this year, Manier said that
the dorm’s closure would not impact the number of
students admitted.
“The closure of Pierce will not affect admissions
projections. The plan for relocating Pierce houses
provides the same capacity to accommodate College students in the house system that we have today,” he said.
Manier said that the Admissions Office would
still project an incoming class size of 1,400, a number that has not changed from previous years.
Although the College will accommodate the
same number of students, Hou thought that the
temporary homes for students would affect housing
culture.
“I think maybe you lose a little bit of what I guess
we’re pretty proud of here, which is the house system, which is supposed to transition first years into
college life,” she said.
While the official deadline for early applications
was November 1, the admissions office offered an
extension for applicants affected by Hurricane Sandy. Applicants will be notified of their admissions
decision in mid-December.
Large Pizza
up to 5 Toppings
only
$12!
Carry-out or Delivery
Order online!
www.papajohns.com
Hyde Park Location
1418 E. 53rd Street
(773) 752-7272
Mention this coupon to receive offer
THE CHICAGO MAROON | NEWS | November 16, 2012
3
Owner strives to preserve “legacy” of Big Easy in face of Crohn’s disease NEWS IN BRIEF
man wants to retire. And I don’t want him to
be stuck here until death. But…before he lets it
go, I think he wants to know that someone will
take care of his baby. This is his child. And I have
to show him that I can take care of it and let the
history live on in his name.”
“I think my time has kind of passed here,” Shopiro agreed. “I’m still involved to some degree, but
Jean-Claude is like 28 years old, he’s got energy
and enthusiasm and he knows a lot about food….
I hope to comfortably and safely kind of fade into
the background.”
Pallah, who envisions a more exciting atmosphere at The Big Easy, has already begun to make
changes to the restaurant, including hosting DJ
parties, karaoke nights, and fashion shows. Pallah
also hopes to counteract the unclean reputation
BIG EASY continued from front
“That’s a lot of money. I didn’t have that right
away. And you can’t reopen until you fix things
like that,” Shopiro said.
Shopiro considered shutting down his restaurant. That’s when his former employee, JeanClaude Pallah, approached him with an offer to
buy a stake in the restaurant.
Pallah now owns about a 35 percent stake in the
business. Several other investors own smaller portions of the business. Shopiro still owns the majority share, though he’s eager to move on.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be here in two
to three years,” he said. “You know, once you’re
gone you’re gone, and I’d kind of like the place
to live after me.”
Pallah hopes to buy out Shopiro soon. “The
of the restaurant. When inspectors shut down the
restaurant, they had found 45–50 mice droppings
throughout the premises, indicating a rodent problem that Shopiro says arose from the age of the
building and the lack of access of the basement.
But, Pallah said, he is working to change that as
well. Before the restaurant closed, he said, “Nobody,
beside the cook and David, nobody had a sanitation
license. So they didn’t know what the procedure is
on certain things. Now we have a couple of people
with sanitation licenses that know how to operate
the business and run things smoothly and cleanly.”
Shopiro is hopeful for the long term future of
The Big Easy.
“There are no guarantees of how long I’m going
to be around. So I want this to kind of be a legacy. I
want it to exist after I’m gone.”
Protection for undocumented students reformed but still uncertain, panel says
DACA continued from front
tion and it won’t go away. It’ll keep growing.”
Cindy Augustine (A.B. ’11), the co-founder
of the University of Chicago Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, discussed the recent
work of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and
Refugee Rights (ICIRR), where Augustine now
works. ICIRR has been informing the undocumented student community on what they can
do to capitalize on the federal changes through
information sessions and a college application
workshop held at Navy Pier.
But confusion about how an undocumented
student can apply for protection under DACA—
and given that the initiative only protects students for two years—has led to discussion about
the relative progressiveness of the program.
Augustine and Susan Gzesh, executive director
of the U of C Human Rights Program, both talked about how the program only offers temporary
relief. “It’s not the DREAM Act, not the law, not
an executive order,” said Augustine.
According to Gzesh, “It’s about as much the
executive branch can do at this point. It’s the
first step towards comprehensive immigration
reform.” However, she explained it will be a very
long process, as only the currently Republicandominated Congress has the power to grant such
a change.
The final panelist, Antonio Garcia III, recounted his own experiences as undocumented
students with DACA. A graduate of UIC, Antonio admitted to having initial doubts about the
program, but remains hopeful about the initiative’s prospects.
“I’m going to be acknowledging to the government that I exist instead of hiding like I’ve done
my entire life. Assuming I get DACA it’s going to
feel odd having that freedom.”
The November 13 article “Basement
Bookstore Flies the Coop for a New Nest
One Block East” incorrectly stated that
that the Seminary Co-op Documentary
Project will culminate in an exhibit at the
Logan Center in 2014. The exhibit will
be displayed in the Regenstein Library’s
Special Collections gallery.
CORRECTIONS
The November 13 article “Street Named
for Heroic UCMC Doctor” misstated
the date of Dr. Liu’s death. He died on
August 5.
Weekly Crime Report
Ren. Society sculpts new leader
The Renaissance Society has appointed a new
executive director, Solveig Øvstebø, to start in June
2013 after 40 years of Susanne Ghez’s leadership.
The appointment comes following Ghez’s announcement of her retirement this past May.
Born in Chicago and raised in Norway, Øvstebø
is currently director of Bergen Kunsthall in Norway,
an avant-garde institution of contemporary art of a
similar budget size as the Renaissance Society.
Ghez, who has curated more than 150 exhibits
and cultivated an international reputation for the
Society, will step down in January, leaving Øvstebø to lead the museum’s centennial anniversary in
2015.
The Renaissance Society, a non-collecting museum of contemporary art, is located on the fourth
floor of Cobb Hall. —Joy Crane
Two dorms to absorb Pierce
Residents of Pierce Tower were notified by administration yesterday that the dorm’s four houses
will be moved to International House and New
Graduate Residence Hall (NGRH) after the dorm
closes next year.
Pierce, which will make way for the 2016 opening of a new dorm, has approximately 250 students
split between four houses—Shorey, Thompson,
Henderson, and Tufts. As of now, it is undecided in
which dorms the four houses will be placed.
Because its Resident Heads will be moving on
next year, Tufts may be absorbed into another Pierce
house, according to a meeting among Pierce residents.
NGRH began housing undergraduate students last September because of a lack of housing
in the pre-existing dorms. This year, a total of 72
undergraduates call Midway House in NGRH
home. I-House divides its 146 undergraduates
between two residential houses, Phoenix and
Booth. —Rebecca Guterman
By Rebecca Guterman
This is a series the Maroon publishes summarizing instances of campus crime. Each week
details a few notable crimes, in addition to keeping a running count from September 24.
The focus is on crimes within the UCPD patrol area, which runs from East 37th to 65th
Streets and South Cottage Grove to Lake Shore Drive.
Here are this week’s notables:
Since
Sept. 24
Nov. 8 Nov. 15
10
0
Robbery
0
0
Attempted robbery
5
1
Battery
10
2
Burglary
0
0
Criminal trespass to vehicle
9
1
Damage to property
161
15
» Saturday, Pierce Tower, 1 a.m.—A victim
reported an instance of criminal sexual assault by an acquaintance.
» Sunday, Pierce Tower, 2:30 a.m.—An
underage drinker was transported to the
emergency room for excessive alcohol consumption.
2
1
Simple assault
84
9
Theft
0
0
Trespass to property
27
3
Arrest
YOU’LL
FREAK!
59th
60th
Source: UCPD Incident Reports
62nd
Cornell
57th
Stony Island
Cottage Grove
55th
S. Hyde Park
University
53rd
Blackstone
51st
S. Lake Shore
» Tuesday, 55th Street and
Woodlawn Avenue, 7:15 a.m.—
A male suspect took the laptop
off a customer’s lap in Starbucks
and ran into a waiting car to escape.
» Wednesday, Woodlawn Avenue between 56th and 57th
Street—A male forcibly stole an
iPhone from a victim who was
walking on the street off campus.
The suspect then escaped into a
waiting car, but UCPD officers
arrested him soon after.
Other report
FAST
Ellis
» Monday, 53rd Street between Dorchester and Blackstone Avenues, 3 p.m.—An
unknown male grabbed an iPhone out of
the victim’s hand while the victim was walking on the sidewalk. The suspect
47th
ran away on foot.
Type of Crime
SUBS SO
*Locations of reports approximate
FREAKY FAST
DELIVERY!
©2011 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial & Op-Ed
NOVEMBER 16, 2012
Bump in the NightRide
As it nears the end of its first quarter, the NightRide Pilot Program still has a few kinks in its system
The student newspaper of the
University of Chicago since 1892
JORDAN LARSON Editor-in-Chief
SHARAN SHETTY Editor-in-Chief
COLIN BRADLEY Managing Editor
HARUNOBU CORYNE Senior Editor
DOUGLAS EVERSON, JR Senior Editor
SAM LEVINE Senior Editor
CELIA BEVER News Editor
REBECCA GUTERMAN News Editor
LINDA QIU News Editor
AJAY BATRA Viewpoints Editor
DAVID KANER Viewpoints Editor
EMILY WANG Viewpoints Editor
EMMA BRODER Arts Editor
HANNAH GOLD Arts Editor
DANIEL RIVERA Arts Editor
DANIEL LEWIS Sports Editor
VICENTE FERNANDEZ Sports Editor
MATTHEW SCHAEFER Sports Editor
SONIA DHAWAN Head Designer
BELLA WU Head Designer
KEVIN WANG Online Editor
ALICE BLACKWOOD Head Copy Editor
DON HO Head Copy Editor
BEN ZIGTERMAN Head Copy Editor
JAMIE MANLEY Photo Editor
The University’s NightRide Pilot Program, which replaced the
SafeRide and Evening Shuttle programs, has now been in effect for
seven weeks. As the temperatures
dip and a new quarter approaches,
it’s time to assess whether or not
NightRide has been an improvement over the former system, and
to address what still must be done
in order to provide safe, efficient
travel for all students. Though
NightRide has resolved many of
the problems that plagued the old
shuttle system and SafeRide, it still
fails to address a few problematic
aspects of those services that led to
their replacement.
Last year’s Evening Shuttles ran
on a dependable schedule, leaving
from points on 57th Street at set
intervals, which made it possible to
guess when a shuttle would pass by a
given location. This year, according
to Director of Transportation and
Parking Theresa Fletcher-Brown,
shuttles leave on approximate intervals because they can take anywhere
from 20 to 30 minutes to complete
their routes. Such variability is rea-
sonable given the greater area covered by routes and fluctuations in
ridership throughout the night.
However, this variability renders
catching the shuttles along their
routes a more difficult task. Uncertainty about arrival times has made
the University’s TransLoc Web site
and mobile application indispensable; this dependence, however, is
problematic given that not every
student has access to a smartphone
while outside searching for a shuttle. Even with comfortable knowledge of the route, it is entirely possible that students may have to wait
up to thirty minutes to catch the
shuttle, an inappropriately lengthy
amount of time given potentially
dangerous circumstances relating to
time of night and weather. Furthermore, the TransLoc site and app
themselves are frequently unreliable, with instances of shuttles not
moving to accurately reflect their
progress or displayed at incorrect locations. Updating TransLoc should
be one of the University’s top priorities as they consider changes for
next quarter’s shuttle system.
Though real-time arrival times
can, in fact, also be received via text
messaging, this method requires
knowing the “stop code” of your
location, knowledge students are
unlikely to have on hand. Once the
routes have been finalized, the University could address this shortcoming by designating stops with signs
at each which contain the corresponding stop code. This would not
only help mitigate problems with
TransLoc’s consistency and accessibility, but also provide clear locations for students and shuttle drivers to expect to find one another.
Other points of necessary reform
include removal of the confusing
color-coding of routes and introducing reverse routes. Currently,
both color-specified and non-color-specified shuttles actually service the same routes. Though exact
reverse route shuttles are implausible given Hyde Park’s one-way
streets, new routes running modified reverse routes would deal with
the issue of disproportionately long
waits for passengers living by stops
near the end of routes. The North,
for example, loops all the way up
to 47th Street before coming back
down to more heavily student-populated areas along Hyde Park Boulevard and Greenwood Avenue.
A new survey regarding the current system has just been released
to students, and they should do
their part to actively contribute reform ideas. However, the
promise of and subsequent denial
of reverse routes is troubling, and
brings into question the extent to
which student input will actually
be considered for future iterations of NightRide. The University’s attempts at reform, though
admirable, are still short of fulfilling the needs of students. It
is imperative that the University
listens to student input aimed at
resolving the basic issues—such
as timing and efficiency—that
still prevent the shuttle system
from being the reliable transportation option students need.
The Editorial Board consists of the
Editors-in-Chief and the Viewpoints Editors.
SYDNEY COMBS Photo Editor
JOY CRANE Assoc. News Editor
MARINA FANG Assoc. News Editor
BEN POKROSS Assoc. News Editor
MADHU SRIKANTHA Assoc. News Editor
JENNIFER STANDISH Assoc. News Editor
ALICE BUCKNELL Assoc. Arts Editor
SARAH LANGS Assoc. Sports Editor
JAKE WALERIUS Assoc. Sports Editor
JULIA REINITZ Assoc. Photo Editor
TYRONALD JORDAN Business Manager
VIVIAN HUA Undergraduate Business Executive
TAMER BARSBAY Director of Business Research
QUERIDA Y. QIU External Director of Marketing
IVY ZHANG Internal Director of Marketing
VINCENT MCGILL Delivery Coordinator
HYEONG-SUN CHO Designer
ANDREW GREEN Designer
JANEY LEE Designer
NICHOLAS ROUSE Designer
KELSIE ANDERSON Copy Editor
CATIE ARBONA Copy Editor
KEN ARMSTRONG Copy Editor
AMISHI BAJAJ Copy Editor
MARTIA BRADLEY Copy Editor
SHANICE CASIMIRO Copy Editor
CONNOR CUNNINGHAM Copy Editor
LISA FAN Copy Editor
MAYA HANDA Copy Editor
ALAN HASSLER Copy Editor
Letter: Global Warming Prof. makes case for PhySci
A November 8 Maroon editorial entitled “A New Scientific
Method” argues that the Physical Sciences core classes, intended
for non-science majors, should be
gutted to spare non-scientists the
math that science majors have to
do. This is not a new thought;
the education market is singular
in that consumers consistently
demand less for their money!
The editorial also wonders “what
foundations of knowledge…these
classes (Ice-Age Earth, Environmental History of the Earth,
Global Warming, Chemistry and
the Atmosphere, Natural Hazards,
Foundations of Modern Physics,
Astronomy and Astrophysics, and
The Origin of the Universe) [are]
trying to establish.” I will only
speak directly for Global Warming, but professors talk, so I know
that the goals and approaches of
the other classes are similar.
“
I think it’s a cool
story, and a good
story to tell people
who aren’t going to
take many classes in
the physical sciences.
”
Ask “why” a few times in a row
and the answers get more universal; you end up seeing something
of the universe of the scientific
enterprise in the grain of sand of
a question at hand. The Global
Warming class brings in styles of
thinking from physics, chemistry,
biolog y, Earth and planetary sciences, computer science, and economics, all ultimately described
using mathematics. The physics
of space-time (electromagnetic
radiation), quantum mechanics (true weirdness), the chemistry behind the wondrous stability of Earth’s biosphere, and,
yes, the potential human impact
on Earth’s climate—I think it’s
a cool story, and a good story
to tell people who aren’t going
to take many more classes in the
physical sciences.
The scientific enterprise has
grown to the point that no single
human mind can hold it all, and
it takes years to reach the edge of
science even for a tiny question.
Nevertheless, a well-educated
layperson can learn how to understand and assess the fruits of
science, rather than ignorantly
enjoying them, by seeing the
power of the successive “why’s.”
The PhySci core classes are some
of the best examples of a “University of Chicago style” of thinking
deeply from a beginner’s perspective in science. Although my class
is designed for non-scientists,
it turns out that science majors,
grad students, and professors at
other universities using the textbook (written for the class) are
also delighted to discover how
much they learn from this approach. And Chicago students
in particular, shown all the rungs
of the ladder, will climb right up
and follow me anywhere. This is
why I find teaching non-science
students here so stimulating and
rewarding.
Stay feisty. Stay curious. See
you in the spring.
David Archer
Professor in the Department of
the Geophysical Sciences
SHERRY HE Copy Editor
NISHANTH IYENGAR Copy Editor
CECILIA JIANG Copy Editor
MICHELLE LEE Copy Editor
JONAH RABB Copy Editor
LINDSEY SIMON Copy Editor
A student government of the people
Better representation in SG starts with a better voting public
KAYLEIGH VOSS Copy Editor
ESTHER YU Copy Editor
The Chicago Maroon is published twice
weekly during autumn, winter, and spring quarters
Circulation: 5,500.
The opinions expressed in the Viewpoints section
are not necessarily those of the Maroon.
© 2012 The Chicago Maroon,
Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
Editor-in-Chief Phone: 773.834.1611
Newsroom Phone: 773.702.1403
Business Phone: 773.702.9555
Fax: 773.702.3032
CONTACT
News: [email protected]
Viewpoints: [email protected]
Arts: [email protected]
Sports: [email protected]
Photography: [email protected]
Design: [email protected]
Copy: [email protected]
Advertising: [email protected]
By Taylor Schwimmer
Viewpoints Columnist
In his personal journal, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “When governments fear the people, there
is liberty. When the people fear
the government, there is tyranny.” However, Jefferson did not
write anything about what arises
when people ignore the government, so we unfortunately cannot
draw any conclusions about his
feelings on the U of C’s Student
Government (SG).
It is a harsh reality, but the fact
is that many students and administrators do not much consider
SG’s role in their daily deliberations on University affairs. It’s a
shame, given SG’s integral role in
them. SG is responsible for funding RSOs and, by association,
many major events and programs
that add value to student life. But
aside from a flurry of media coverage and campaigning during elec-
tion season, few people give much
thought to their elected officials
and those who they appoint.
Don’t believe me? Go ahead
name your class representatives.
Don’t know them? What about
your student body president and
his two VPs? Do you even know
why we have two VPs and what
each is responsible for? If the answer to any one of these questions
was “I don’t know,” you’re in for
some bad luck: Even if you go to
the SG Web site, you may have
difficulty finding a list of representatives. At the time of writing,
the list is incomplete.
This is deeply troubling. As it
stands, if a student has a pressing concern, she likely will have
great difficulty communicating
that concern to her representative.
Though ultimately a quibble, not
listing SG officials on the Web site
creates a barrier impeding elected
representatives from doing what
they are meant to: representing
their constituents.
This is doubly a shame because
instead of having to deal with
millions or thousands of constituents, the four representatives
collectively only represent about
1,500 students. Yet, it seems like
SG reps are less visible and less reSG continued on page 6
THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | November 16, 2012
5
Word on the Street
This week, the Maroon gets the Pierce perspective
will force us out of them.
Tyler Wojak: Don’t give them any ideas.
On Tuesday night, Assistant Vice President for Campus Life Katie Callow-Wright
and Interim Director of Undergraduate
Student Housing Ana Campos held an
open forum with Pierce residents to answer their questions following last week’s
announcement that the dorm would be
closed at the end of this academic year.
After the forum, the Maroon had a conversation with a small group of Pierce residents to hear their thoughts and lingering
uncertainties. Here are some highlights of
the chat:
Chicago Maroon: When you first
heard the news about Pierce’s upcoming
closure, how did you feel?
Cameron Rodgers: I wasn’t particularly
surprised, because they told us about the
possibility last year. I expected it was going to happen either this year or next year.
It would have been better if the news had
been delivered in a more professional manner, but it wasn’t surprising.
Neaka Mohtashemi: I was saddened to
hear it just because I’ve fallen in love with
Pierce so quickly, and I sort of wish that I’d
had more time to be in Pierce. I would’ve
liked to come back to this particular building and this special community next year.
CM: What makes it special?
Neaka: I don’t know, I think just the way
that everyone interacts in Pierce. The ridiculous closeness that you have with everyone
really makes it special, and I don’t think it
can really be replicated in any other building, just because I don’t think they’ll ever
make a building with rooms this tiny that
CM: As a first-year, did you feel at all
blindsided by the news?
Josh Berlind: A little bit. I mean, when
we were doing our housing application it
didn’t say “Pierce [with an asterisk], possibly getting torn down after this year.”
Cristian Saucedo: It would’ve been nice to
know the possibility before we signed up to
live here.
CM: What made you guys choose Pierce to
begin with?
Sam Taylor: It’s a good size—not too big,
not too small. There are enough people
here that there’s always someone new to
meet, but it’s not like there are so many
people that you’re getting lost and swallowed up.
Josh: Plus it had that reputation as a social
dorm, and I didn’t want to be shut in my
room the whole time here.
Cameron: Also, it was close to campus and
had a dining hall in the basement. [All: The
dining hall!] And the fact that those won’t
be part of the dorm next year is a definite
departure from the reasons I chose Pierce
last year.
CM: Pierce residents are headed to IHouse or New Grad next year. How do you
guys feel about those options?
Josh: I-House is supposed to be pretty
crappy.
Cristian: Yeah, I’d be fine with New Grad.
After hearing our RH talk about it, it
seemed like a nice place. It’s kind of far, but
I can deal with it. The rooms are nice, and
it’s going to be changed to undergraduate housing next year. And the house will
be kept together, even if it has to combine
with another house, so it’ll still be a lot of
the same people.
Sam: ...if everybody doesn’t move to apartments.
CM: Have you first-years had to think
about moving into an apartment earlier
than you otherwise would have?
Sam: It’s definitely been put on the table,
and I don’t think it was before. Now it’s
a consideration—maybe not such a huge
consideration, but it’s now an option that
I was not considering before.
Samantha Throsby: I think a lot of the
first-years in particular are worrying about
the fact that, because so many of us are
thinking about moving out, the atmosphere
in our house would be lost. So I think that’s
making people think twice.
Cameron: Yeah, as a second-year, I was already planning on moving to an apartment
at some point, but this kind of just solidified that. If Pierce were staying open for another year, I certainly would stay in Pierce,
but a lot of the value of living here is in the
building itself, in the location. If we’re in a
different dorm, those things will be quite
different, and I’d rather just be in an apartment at that point.
CM: So, since you would’ve left housing
eventually anyway, is it fair to say you feel
saddened by the news but not necessarily
impacted?
Cameron: Yeah, I’m definitely disappointed that I don’t get to spend another year in
Pierce…which is kind of shocking given its
history.
CM: What are your thoughts on Tuesday
night’s open meeting with Housing administrators?
Sam: I guess it was helpful. They really did
just tell us a lot of stuff we already knew,
before it descended into a finger-pointing
fest. Hopefully they got a vibe for how
people were feeling and took that into consideration, even if it was a little bit overthe-top.
CM: This was a lot of your first run-ins
with administration. What is your impression of them based on what you saw at the
meeting?
Sam: I wouldn’t discredit them as much
as some might, because it is difficult, of
course, when they’re running a university, to expect them to run everything by
the students. Obviously, that’s not going
to work. It’s their university, and they’re
going to do what they have to do. That
said, it’s definitely not the best way they
could’ve handled it, at least not when compared with the original plan. (Editor’s note:
Callow-Wright claimed at the open forum
that the initial plan was to make the announcement ninth week, and that it would
have been accompanied by the release of online FAQs, information, and other resources
which have not yet been made available to
Pierce residents).
Cameron: I definitely felt like it was just
a continuation of the problems we had last
year with communication. We were told
that they hadn’t decided where we’d be
moved yet, and that they weren’t positive
that Pierce would be torn down. On the
other hand, President Zimmer was absolutely positive, which is a little strange.
’Tis a gift to be tinsel
Strict holiday separatists must accept that it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas
By Matt Walsh
Viewpoints Columnist
Christmas is the best thing to
ever happen to Thanksgiving.
In the weeks preceding Thanksgiving, the world erupts with
tinsel and good tidings. Reds
and whites sneak into our coffee
shops and advertisements, Macy’s
sets out its window display, and
Bing Crosby takes to the radio.
Yet, there are a select few who
refuse to partake in the holiday
cheer, claiming that it’s all a bit
too premature. And all of them
have the same benchmark for
when it’s okay to start celebrating
Christmas: after Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving receives exactly ten
times more attention from peo-
ple refusing to celebrate Christmas early than it receives from
the rest of us.
I have a few good friends who
participate in this Scrooge-like
holdout, and I know that there
are many more like them. They’ve
been lamenting, as they do every
year, that nobody is respecting
the Thanksgiving-Christmas watershed. I dedicate this column to
them—and to you, dear reader, if
you, too, voluntarily suffer from
the humbugs. I’m not necessarily
arguing that Christmas is better
than Thanksgiving—but, really,
does a bear shit in the woods?—
but I do want to highlight a few
problems with strict adherence to
the “Thanksgiving principle.”
My first problem with the
Thanksgiving principle is that
it limits the celebration of both
holidays. To quote the abusive
headmaster from “Another Brick
in the Wall” in a gastronomically
appropriate way, “If you don’t
eat your meat, you can’t have any
pudding! How can you have any
pudding if you don’t eat your
meat?” This isn’t the logic that
I want to apply to my holidays.
With Thanksgiving, I celebrate
the very eating of meat! I don’t
treat it as a gateway to pudding.
And when it comes to pudding, I
eat it all the time anyway. That is,
I celebrate Christmas whenever
possible.
My second problem is that the
Thanksgiving principle severely
compromises my understanding
of utility. And that’s personal—
it makes my degree (and its corresponding $200,000 price tag )
HOLIDAYS continued on page 6
BENJAMIN LANGE
|
THE CHICAGO MAROON
6
THE CHICAGO MAROON | VIEWPOINTS | November 16, 2012
U of C Student Government less respected, given less power than SGs at other schools
SG continued from page 4
sponsive to constituent concerns than even
federal representatives.
Let me be clear in saying that the fault
does not lie entirely with the representatives themselves. Machiavelli wrote that a
ruler often benefits because most people
care more for their immediate needs than
for politics. To an extent, we can blame
students for not demanding more accountability. Really, we should ask ourselves: If
more students cared about SG, would they
not demand more access to their representatives? The answer is probably yes,
though we risk running into an Ouroboros, wherein we endlessly cycle from blaming elected officials for being inaccessible
to blaming the electorate for failing to
provide them a reason not to be.
I believe there is another major factor
that contributes to students’ lack of interest in governing themselves—namely,
the lack of true influence student government has over campus life. The basis for
this claim may seem somewhat contrary
to what I’ve already said. However, while
SG does have control of RSO funding and
thus influences major programming, I be-
lieve it is a crucial mistake to conflate this
authority with control over more substantive aspects of student life.
“
For SG to become a
meaningful force on
campus, the administration
has to concede its
monopoly on deciding
what is good for students.
”
As I often urge, let us look to peer institutions to establish a benchmark. At
Yale, the college council created a detailed
proposal for the creation of a foreign language certificate program. Princeton’s student government lobbied to reform course
evaluations. And though not directly applicable, I believe there are even better
examples of truly involved student governments at some larger public schools. In
my home state of Florida, schools like the
University of Florida (UF) have extremely
active and expansive student governments
Seasonal debate only brings Christmas to the fore
HOLIDAYS continued from page 5
meaningless! Often, the people who adhere to the Thanksgiving principle claim
to be the biggest fans of Christmas. They
love Christmas so much that they refuse to
celebrate the holiday until it’s time. There’s
some intuitive sense there, but does that
utility function—one that shoots immediately upward from flatline at the same time
every year for a small subset of people—
exist for anything else? For football teams?
For movies? For widgets? Even seasonal
goods like hot cocoa rise with some degree
of continuity or gradation. So be rational!
Enjoy Christmas!
“
There’s nothing that
excites a Christmas
lover more than
defending his or
her side of the
Thanksgiving issue.
”
My final problem is that, in the end,
we’re all actually still celebrating Christmas. There’s the rub. There’s nothing that
excites a Christmas lover more than de-
fending his or her side of the Thanksgiving issue. For example, I wrote this column,
and my jimmies got so rustled from arguing
against the Thanksgiving principle. And
I’m sure that, as the Thanksgiving principle
adherents have been reading this column,
they’ve been systematically dismantling
my arguments. Maybe there will even be a
letter to the editor defending the Thanksgiving benchmark! All of the arguing and
humbugging and feistiness bring Christmas
to the fore. So even if you adhere to the
Thanksgiving principle, know that you’re
still doing your part to celebrate a great
holiday (Christmas, obviously).
In closing, I should apologize to any
of you who don’t celebrate Christmas or
Thanksgiving. If you couldn’t care less
about either of these holidays, then more
power to your winter season. Hopefully this
column will give you insight into the silliness of the rest of us. At a minimum, I’ve
seen newspapers used as blankets before,
and the cold is something that we all have
to deal with (especially if you don’t have the
holidays to keep you warm!). So you might
as well hold on to this issue. Merry Christmas! (Or Happy Blanketing!)
Matt Walsh is a fourth-year in the
College majoring in economics and
political science.
CLASSIFIEDS
Classified advertising in The Chicago Maroon is $3 for each line. Lines are 45 characters long including
spaces and punctuation. Special headings are 20-character lines at $4 per line. Submit all ads in person, by
e-mail, or by mail to The Chicago Maroon, Ida Noyes Hall, Lower Level Rm 026, 1212 E. 59th St.,
Chicago, IL 60637. The Chicago Maroon accepts Mastercard & Visa. Call (773) 702-9555.
3 & 4 BED APARTMENTS
Large sunny apartments, corner of 52nd &
Ingleside with gated entry. New kitchen with
stainless appliances, new hardwood floors,
new baths, living room, dining room, sunroom, and large back porch. Apt has in-unit
washer & dryer, A/C, internet & cable & 2
parking spaces. $1950-$2300. Call 773-8511888 for showings.
2 BEDROOM, 3 BEDROOM
2Bedroom $1400, 3Bedroom $1720. Laundry
room on site and off street parking available.
54th Woodlawn. Call Annie 773-667-1568
[email protected]
5BR MANSION FOR RENT
that are ubiquitous in and inseparable
from student life. For example, UF’s student body president is a major player in
university-vendor negotiations. There, a
student government position is truly an
office of action and responsibility.
Meanwhile, our own SG is repeatedly
ignored on issues similar to these, a prime
example being the University’s continued
resistance to a Socially Responsible Investment Committee. Despite students voting to pass a referendum in favor of such a
body, continued activist efforts, and regular media attention, University administrators have done little to officially address even the most basic concerns of the
student body. The same situation exists in
regard to a number of other concerns: for
instance, the condition of Pierce until recent national media attention, and campus
bus and shuttle routes.
The latter issue is one in which student’s
input is allegedly welcomed by administrators, though at a recent joint SG meeting I
attended, Director of Transportation and
Parking Theresa Fletcher-Brown suggested
otherwise. She openly admitted that the University decided to run reverse bus routes at the
insistence of students, but added that they later
decided against them without student input. If
this kind of underhandedness arises in regard
even to a comparatively small issue like campus
transit, it is difficult to imagine SG receiving
farther-reaching abilities.
In order for SG to become a meaningful force on campus, several things must
change. First, the administration has to concede its monopoly on deciding what is good
for students. It must earnestly attempt not
only to engage students, but also to heed
what they say about larger, more impactful issues more than they do now. Second,
SG representatives must be truly available
and responsive to their constituents, being
sure to always put student sentiment first.
Finally, and most importantly, the student
body must care. Everyone already has an
opinion about some aspect of student life.
Students must start to voice those opinions
constructively, no matter how futile it may
seem. Only by having an active, vocal student body will SG be able to assume the
powers it rightfully should have.
Taylor Schwimmer is a third-year in the
College majoring in public policy studies.
SUBMISSIONS
The Chicago Maroon welcomes opinions and responses from its readers. Send op-ed
submissions and letters to:
The Chicago Maroon
attn: Viewpoints
1212 East 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
E-mail: [email protected]
The editors reserve the right to edit materials for clarity and space. Letters to the editor
should be limited to 400 words. Op-ed submissions, 800 words.
choose houston law
YOU belong at the University
of Houston Law Center.
TOP Tier Law School
TOP Tier University
TOP Legal Market
Apply today.
www.law.uh.edu
Spacious Luxury. Chatham near 83rd King Dr
5BR-4Baths-Large Sunken LR, Family Rm
Formal DR, Eat-in Kitchen, Plenty of closets
Marble floors, large Sky-domed-Atrium &
garage. $2200 plus util. 708-214-1990, Ready
now.
4 BEDROOM CONDO FOR RENT
2 full baths, hardwood floors, carpeted
bedrooms. Large living room with separate
dining room. In unit washer and dryer. Front
patio and back porch. Two off street parking
spots included. Rent - $2,100 heat and
electricity not included.
Please call 312 933-3035
dŚĞhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJŽĨ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶŝƐĂŶKͬŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶ͘
ARTS
Trivial Pursuits
NOVEMBER 16, 2012
The truck stops here: Shopping Ellis’s mobile market
South Ellis Avenue has been
occupied. Don’t worry, though,
the invaders come in peace. Well,
actually, they come in trucks.
The
city
has
recently
experienced an incredible boom
in the presence of food trucks,
and these mobile mini-restaurants
have made their way to the U of
C. What began last spring with
a few tasty regulars has grown
into a mouth-watering horde
that descends upon campus each
day around lunchtime, bringing
with it an overwhelming spread
of meal options. Curious about
this fashion of feasting, four of
us tried out a few trucks on our
own. Here are our takes on the
street grub Ellis has to offer.
Beaver’s Coffee and Donuts,
parked just outside the north
entrance of Cobb, specializes in
fresh coffee and mini doughnuts.
The golden-brown morsels come
with a variety of toppings—there
are traditional ones for those with
a taste for simple elegance, and
gourmet ones for connoisseurs
of indulgence. The doughnuts
are surprisingly mini—a little
over an inch in diameter—but
they are certainly fresh. They
have a distinctive, delicate
crunch to them, unlike a run-ofthe-mill bakery doughnut. The
plain powdered-sugar doughnut
definitely ups the sweetness
factor. These doughnuts are
good both for treating others
and pampering yourself, because
they are simply awesome.
Latin Fusion is a small,
unassuming red truck, but don’t
let its subtle exterior fool you.
Their $3 tacos are a flavorful
deal among Ellis’s options. The
veggie taco was especially good,
considering that most taco places
focus their efforts on crafting
meat dishes. The flour tortilla
was filled with onions, peppers,
and zucchini sautéed in a savory
red sauce. Whether you’re
looking for something to tide you
over between classes or a full-on
meal, Latin Fusion’s tacos are a
reasonable choice.
— Tori Borengasser
Arts Contributor
Once my teeth had sunk
through the tough, baguettelike bread of my sandwich from
StopNGo, flavor jumped from
the pulled chicken. An oniony,
peppery, soupy, stewy kind of
zest hit my taste buds—certainly
more than I expected out of a
sandwich in a brown paper bag.
Juices from the thick mess of the
innards had soaked into the bread,
creating a mushy mouthful. For
the price, this sandwich packs a
flavorful punch and a solid deal,
thick enough to satisfy a normal
appetite for a reasonable $6.
“Slop with a biscuit” would be a
more adequate description of the
appearance of the “chicken pot
pie” from the Beyond Borders
Farm to Food Truck. Although
it had a simple appearance, the
savory taste filled my mouth
at the first bite, and brought a
wide-eyed expression to my face.
The peas, carrots, and chicken all
burst with one chomp, exploding
with a salty flavor, blending well
with the heavy, chewy biscuit.
To top it off, the warmth of
this delicious pot pie–imposter
was perfect on a cold, windy
day. Like the pulled chicken
from StopNGo, Beyond Borders
brings a good deal that’s not a
bad portion—although it could
be larger—for $6.
— Sam Zacher
Arts Contributor
Unlike most of the food trucks
on campus, JB Alberto’s is
basically a fast food mobile version
of the chain of pizza restaurants
Nina Rodriguez, executive chef and owner of the The Slide Ride food truck, trades laces for rims in her
mobile ’50s diner throwback.
JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON
that are spread out throughout the
Chicago area. As such, the meals
are for the most part pre-cooked
dishes from the restaurants. The
menu ranges from lasagna to
meatball subs to a decent range
of personal pizzas, with standard
toppings like pepperoni, sausage,
and vegetables. I had a cheese pizza,
while my carnivorous friend opted
for pepperoni, and we agreed that
both were rather good. The crusts
were firm and warm. Overall, the
JB Alberto’s food truck provides
a satisfying quick fix for any pizza
lovers, but if you find yourself with
a limited budget, it might be best
to explore other options—personal
pizzas are $5 each.
— Paola Cardona
Arts Contributor
Apparently,
before
my
experience with The Slide
Ride, I had no idea what a slider
was. When the friendly cashier
chirped my total, I was pleasantly
surprised—a burger for under
$4? But then, removing the foil,
I got it. For those of you who
have never tried a slider, let me
explain my meal to you: The
burger was delicious, the meat
well-cooked, the combination
of bacon and mustard juicily
pleasing. But the whole thing
was packed into a miniature
sesame seed bun no larger than
a tennis ball. My “Bacon Baby
Burger” came together with a
subtle zest that was really pretty
delicious—but the key word here
is “baby.” These things are tiny.
Each burger might cost less than
$4, but you’re going to need more
than one to make a meal.
I’m not sure what drew me to
the Falafel Brothers food truck
as I was meandering through
the maze of nomadic restaurants
the other day—maybe it was the
smell of lamb, maybe it was the
chalkboard menu advertising
“two for $1” baklava, maybe it
was the fact that the truck is
plastered in pictures of falafel.
Whatever the reason, I’m
glad I stopped by. My wellsized meal, a falafel wrap with
hummus, turnips, and pickled
cucumbers, was a reasonable $6,
and perfectly good. The falafel
itself was light and zesty, and the
TRUCK continued on page 8
For young, frustrated lovers, the play’s The Real Thing
Will Dart
Arts Contributor
Left to right, first-year Michael Findley, fourth-year Justin Krivda, and third-year Arielle Von Hippel star in
the UT/TAPS production of The Real Thing.
SYDNEY COMBS | THE CHICAGO MAROON
This weekend in the Logan
Center’s Theater West, UT’s
production of Sir Tom Stoppard’s
The Real Thing will open with a
bang. A door will slam, a house
of cards will crumble, and shouts
of accusation will follow. Clearly,
this is going to be riveting stuff.
But the title is a deception—this
isn’t the real thing. That’s hidden
somewhere, and we have a good bit
of fun trying to find it.
Our hero, Henry, writes plays.
He’s quite good at it, too; his show
is playing in the West End, and,
from what we can see, he’s got a
fair handle on all the staples of a
good drama. And yet he’s never
been able to write convincing
romantic dialogue, nor, apparently,
speak it. His lovers can’t seem to
understand him, and soon his illconceived, on-stage romances are
playing out in his own living room.
As theater mimics and blends with
reality, we begin to wonder: does art
really imitate life, or is it the other
way around? Which is theater, and
which is “the real thing?”
THE REAL THING
Logan Center, Theater West
Through November 17
A long-time fan of Stoppard’s
work, first-time director and
fourth-year Shelly Horwitz jumped
at the chance to stage this witty
production. The Real Thing proved
particularly appealing, as it dwells
on a few elements quite familiar to
the university student body, namely
our well-publicized difficulties in
certain areas of self-expression. “I
think this type of genre is engaging
for UChicago people—really
smart people who can articulate
intellectual things well, but are
STOPPARD continued on page 8
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | November 16, 2012
8
Falafel that will keep your stomach and your wallet full
TRUCK continued from page 7
mysterious white sauce that came
alongside—oh, that sauce—gave
the wrap a rich, tang y taste. The
baklava, well-seasoned and flaky,
provided the perfect close to a
filling, enjoyable meal.
— Anna Hill
Arts Staff
On the whole, the food truck
experience was a positive one.
Although a bit pricey, the street
treats were delicious (if not
quite filling ) and convenient.
We only got a chance to try
out a fraction of the options
Ellis has to offer, though, so
hit the pavement and do some
experimenting of your own.
Happy automobrunching !
Students purchase lunch at the Don Rafa food truck on South Ellis Avenue.
JAMIE MANLEY | THE CHICAGO MAROON
No accents or airs in Horwitz’s production
STOPPARD continued from page 7
maybe not the greatest when it
comes to actual feelings and, you
know, saying the things they really
need to say,” said Horwitz. This
is, unfortunately, a fairly accurate
characterization, and the reason I no
longer attend frat parties.
Staging The Real Thing’s
complex play-within-a-play conceit
would pose significant challenges
for any director, but Horwitz and
her talented crew have managed to
do so with no more confusion than
the narrative prescribes. Henry is
clearly exporting his life onto the
stage, and so the expertly furnished
living room of the main set requires
only minimal alterations between
fiction and “real life.”
And it’s fortunate that, in a
play that largely revolves around
actors acting like actors, these
actors can act. As Henry’s love
interests, leading ladies third-year
Arielle Von Hippel and first-year
Eleanor Clifford are both quite
adept at expressing their characters’
understandable
exasperation.
Charlotte (Von Hippel) treats
Henry’s cynical humor with
sarcasm and snide remarks, while
Annie (Clifford) does her best to
weather his insecurities with due
patience. And they’ve found an apt
Henry in fourth-year Justin Krivda.
Where his snobbish affectations
might otherwise have been vaguely
annoying, under Krivda’s care Henry
is oddly endearing—charming,
even, in a relatable sort of way.
Krivda is all stage presence, and he
wears a sweater as well as anyone
in private-university theater today.
Fortunately Horwitz has elected to
forego authentic accents, although
the script’s British vernacular
necessarily makes everyone sound
kind of like Cary Grant (never a bad
thing).
Since it is a creation of the man
behind Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
are Dead, it goes without saying that
the script is riotously funny and full
of neat little surprises. Beyond the
convergence of drama and reality,
we’re treated to meditations on
love, infidelity, the value of art and
the nature of unpolished, original
thought. Henry is convinced that
words have intrinsic value, that they
need to be used well or not at all.
As the play unfolds, we’re made to
see that eloquence has its place, but
that relationships—the ones that
matter, anyway—are built on raw,
open expression and simple, honest
discourse.
“Don’t write it,” one character
intones. “Just say it.”
Holy Motors shifts metaphysical gears into automatic masterpiece
Sarah Tarabey
Arts Contributor
An on-screen audience faces the viewer;
it watches intently, as if it is actually the
real-life audience who is in a film. In a
flash, an old man awakes with the urge to
unlock a doorway: He emerges on the other
side into a movie theater, observing from
above the audience watching the audience
watching the audience. Perspective and
perception mingle, and reality is nowhere
to be found.
HOLY MOTORS
Léos Carax
Music Box Theatre
Only the eye and the passion of a true
movie fanatic could have pulled off this kind
of stunt. Laden with an often disjointed yet
fantastical array of autobiographical tidbits,
jumbled film references, silent movie clips,
digital animation, slapstick comedy, and
the occasional musical number, Léos
Carax’s Holy Motors is a cinematic love
letter to the dying art of film. Carax, in
documenting a day in the life of Monsieur
Oscar’s many parallel existences, reinvents
the world as one would encounter it in a
dream—absurdly whimsical, oddly funny,
yet deeply poignant and truthful.
Holy Motors, the French director’s first
film since 1999, is rumored to be a mashup of all the projects Carax did not get to
see through to completion; it is, perhaps,
the diversity and richness of the discarded
endeavors that makes the final cut a
masterpiece. A constantly transforming
yet impressionably fluid Monsieur Oscar
(played by Denis Lavant, who has appeared
in the majority of Carax’s movies), and
the wonderfully no-nonsense, nostalgic
chauffeur, Céline (Édith Scob), come off
as remarkably natural in their roles. Brief
yet strong supporting roles include the
apathetic kidnapped supermodel Kay M
(Eva Mendes), Oscar’s disapproving boss
(famed French actor Michel Piccoli),
Céline (Édith Scob) just can’t get this mask off of her face in Léos Carax’s Holy Motors.
COURTESY OF INDOMINA RELEASING
and fellow appointment-filler Eva Grace
(songstress Kylie Minogue).
Navigating the streets of Paris in the back
of a white limousine (the “holy motor”
itself ), Oscar, the master of disguise, jumps
erratically through a series of random,
purposeless, and disconnected roles. His
perplexing “appointments” include a
haggard old woman begging on the streets
and the subject of a series of virtual physical
exams. There is also a leprechaun who
travels the Parisian sewers, frolicks through
the cemetery, devours flowers, bites off
fingers, hoards a supermodel in a cave, and
generally disturbs one’s understanding of
just where a movie should go. Yet this is just
the tip of his exploits, since Oscar somehow
manages to murder himself—twice. “You
should have deliberately not done it,” he
reproaches himself.
Yes, he is ubiquitous. Yes, he can
completely alter himself in a matter of
minutes, as he moves from one destination
to the next, shifting not only his appearance
but also the nature of his character. Yes, he
shakes off each identity with ease. But
what makes him truly remarkable is that, in
the moments between his transformations,
Oscar embodies fundamentally human
conundrums: how to see, how to act, how
to live. For all his flamboyant imagination,
he is still the sensitive wayward soul that
wearies of his lonely life. It is for this
reason that he can play the roles humans
assume every day: the dying uncle, the
frustrated father, and the beaten man.
Lavant’s greatest achievement is finding
that connection in the fray.
Carax’s dynamic directing only amplifies
this bond. He crudely captures the carnal
and the intimate through the face and
body of a man, and juxtaposes it with the
perennial polish of Paris. He knows just
the right moment to focus in sharply on
the visage of a desperate woman and when
to remain at a distance to observe a family
stare at the sky through their window. He
frames the nonsensical in a very deliberate
and symbolic way, so as to affect a feeling
of reality.
Holy Motors is not fully dreamlike, nor
completely comprehensible. It invites the
individual to follow the rambling thing—
whatever it may be—as it unfolds. It
evolves from elated and fun to somber and
reflective—a shift that is itself indicative of
something within us. Ultimately, though,
it challenges the concept of a film itself:
Should it be tied to tradition, or something
more organically linked to the human state?
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | November 16, 2012
9
The Review continues prestigious literary history south of the Midway
James Mackenzie
Arts Contributor
Over the course of the last two weeks, the
long-running literary magazine, the Chicago
Review, moved its offices from Lillie House, at
the intersection of East 58th Street and South
Kenwood Avenue, to Taft House, near the new
Logan Center for the Arts, south of the Midway.
Founded in 1946 and run primarily by graduate
students, the Review has long been and continues
to be a platform for innovative writing.
Last year the U of C decided that the Review
should be moved from its historic location to
one on campus, despite a relationship with
the publication that co-editor Joel Calahan
described as “benign neglect.”
“It was sometimes easy to imagine that they’d
forgotten about us over at Lillie House,” said
Calahan. “When they had to step in to move us,
though, we were very pleased with how it went.”
Proximity to campus was not the only motive
behind the move, however, as the state of disrepair
in Lillie House forced some action. Despite
being declared a National Historic Landmark in
1976, the condition of the building was far from
ideal, as co-editor Michael Hansen noted in his
reflections on working there.
“Last year, I came to my office and noticed
the window was open. I assumed it had blown
open (a common occurrence), so left it as it was.
I sat down at my desk and worked quietly for
probably close to an hour before I realized that
three baby squirrels were curled up in a ball near
my feet. Baby squirrels can really jump, I found.”
Taft House provides much more than an
escape from squirrel invasions, though. The
Review staff will now have access to a more
contemporary office infrastructure, from better
equipment to conveniences such as a kitchen.
The most significant change for the Review
in its new home will undoubtedly be its new
neighbor: The U of C’s Creative Writing
Committee is also situated in Taft House. This
will give the Review easier access to the writings
of talented students throughout the school,
potentially increasing its output of quality
material. Both the proximity to U of C staff
and increased connection to student work will
undoubtedly bring the publication and school
closer together despite a history of separation
and occasional conflict.
The magazine has historically explored new
frontiers and pushed limits in literary fields.
During the 1950s, the Review published many
works that were part of the controversial Beat
movement, including pieces by innovative and
divisive writers like Jack Kerouac and Williams
S. Burroughs. The latter’s inclusion caused a
great deal of controversy in 1958 when the
publication of excerpts from Naked Lunch
prompted the university to censor the next issue
under public pressure. Several editors quit in
protest to found a separate literary magazine
called Big Table.
The issue of censorship remains very serious
in all creative fields, but the Review’s current staff
feels that the danger is now very low.
“We have never had trouble with censorship or
interference, but we are always alert to guarding
against this possibility,” said Hansen. “We want
to have a good working relationship with the
university, but our independence is not a matter
up for discussion.”
While troubling problems of censorship
have not been an issue for the Review in quite
some time, the move to campus and consequent
reconnection with the university should only
help guard against the problem by allowing for
better communication and cooperation.
Despite the many changes that have come and
are still coming for the Review, its fundamental
mission to find and showcase high-quality and
innovative writing will not change. In particular,
the staff will strive to shed light on authentic,
original writing. As Hansen put it, “The
most important question for me, when we’re
considering something for publication, is this:
Does this sound familiar? In other words, could
I expect to see this poem or story in just about
any literary journal on the shelf at the bookstore?
If the answer is yes, I don’t want it.”
Taft House, located at 935 East 60th Street, will serve as the new home for the Chicago Review literary magazine.
JULIA REINITZ | THE CHICAGO MAROON
Become a
Resident Head
In the University
House System
Resident Heads live in the College Houses to provide guidance, advice and
direction to members of the undergraduate House communities. Advanced graduate
students are encouraged to apply. Single, domestic-partnered, or married persons
who are at least 25 years of age can apply. Children are welcome.
Compensation is valued at approximately $18,000 for a single person.
For married persons, the value is increased by the meals and health benefits
provided for spouses and children and has been estimated to be as high as $32,000.
Compensation consists of a cash stipend, furnished apartment for 12 months of the
year, meals when the College is in session, and University student medical insurance
for full-time registered students and their dependents.
Application materials and additional information are available on the Office of
Undergraduate Student Housing website at
http://housing.uchicago.edu
[ Information Sessions \
Information Sessions about this position and the selection process will be held on:
Wednesday, November 28, at 7:00pm – Burton-Judson Courts (1005 E. 60th St.)
Thursday, December 6, at 7:00pm – Burton-Judson Courts (1005 E. 60th St.)
Wednesday, January 9, at 7:00pm – Burton-Judson Courts (1005 E. 60th St.)
Saturday, January 12, at 10:00am – Fairfax (1369 E. Hyde Park Blvd.)
Attendance at one of these sessions is required for all applicants.
[ APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2013 \
THE CHICAGO MAROON | ARTS | November 16, 2012
10
WITH HANNAH GOLD
CALEND
AR
1
7
8
2
3
9 10
4
5
Do What You’re Told
6
11 12
13
14 15
16 17
18 19
20
21 22
23 24
25 26
27
28 29 30
31
Friday | November 16
He walks up to the closet. He’s
close up to the closet. Now he’s at
the closet. Now he’s opening the
closet. To find out what happens
next and understand how small,
enclosed spaces can become the
stuff of legend, attend the Music
Box Theatre’s sing-along to hiphopera drama Trapped in the
Closet. In the 23 installments of
this strange, claustropohobic tale
R Kelly plays Sylvester, a man
who suffers oddly and often
after a one-night stand with a
preacher’s wife. There will be
subtitles on screen lest you miss
any lyric wit, and props, including rubbers and spatulas. Loyal
fans, stay tuned for Trapped in
the Closet: The Next Installment,
slated to drop on November 23.
3733 North Southport Avenue.
Starts at midnight, tickets $12 in
advance.
The munificent Film Studies
Center has organized a viewing
of Gerhard Richter Painting in
the Logan Center’s Screening
Room 201. In the summer of
2009 the director, Corinna Belz
was granted access to Richter’s
studio as the artist was in the process of producing a series of large,
abstract paintings—a departure
from the photo-realistic style he
is widely known for. The event
is part of the FSC’s “What is
Art + Process” screening series
of artist-centric films in honor
of Logan’s inaugural year. (Next
on the docket is PINA, Wim
Wenders’s 3D ode to uncanny
modern dance choreographer
Pina Bausch). With any luck the
Logan Center will open again
next year and we can start this
process all over again. 915 East
60th Street. Starts at 7 p.m., free.
Saturday | November 17
It’s hard to choose between
eating an avocado and going to
the movies—like comparing
apples and oranges—so why not
get your fill of both! Kendall
College presents Chicavo!,
a foodie film festival that will
screen such tasty bites of artcinema as Benevolent Baker:
Doughnuts, Mozzarella Inc.,
and One Macaron At A Time.
Instead of your run-of-the-mill
popcorn and snickers, the concession stand will be stocked
with fresh mozzarella from La
Mozzarella Chicago, Macarons
from Champs Elysees Bakery,
and pizza of undisclosed origins.
Then, at 1 p.m., guests will be
treated to Matt Timm’s Avocado
Takedown in which one talented, competing chef will win
$500 for best dish using avocado
(those who make guac will not
be considered worthy no matter
what). 900 North Branch Street.
Doors open at 12 p.m., $45.
They say a picture is worth a
thousand words, but when I look
at Smitten Kitchen’s lusciously
photographed cooking blog I
just become speechless and then
usually have food-related dreams
later that night. Deb Perelman,
known by hipster home chefs
as the hands in the site’s shots
of dough being kneaded and
potatoes getting peeled, will
be signing copies of her new
venture, The Smitten Kitchen
Cookbook, at The Book Cellar
this afternoon. I’m getting so
hungry thinking about this that I
can’t even say anything else about
it. 4736 North Lincoln Avenue.
3–4:30 p.m., free.
Sunday | November 18
Do we need another
Sunday morning , possibly
premature because it’s only
mid-November, holiday gift
market? The answer to this
question depends on how
well you tolerate snow globes,
BANG
ALICE BUCKNELL
bobble-head reindeer, and
felt hats. But perhaps Vintage
Garage Chicago’s annual,
t wo - day Holiday Tr unk
Show can tempt you with
trinkets that just may have
been under someone else’s
tree in the’80s. That’s right,
Santa’s coming to town and
he’s bringing the ghosts of
decades past along with him.
1134 West Granville Avenue.
11a.m.–6p.m., $5 admission.
West Loop Belgian brasserie Leopold releases its merguez-gravy-doused, gameladen brunch to the general
public for the very first time
today. With a new chef at
the helm (Michael Dean
Reynolds, former chef de cuisine at The Gage), Leopold
is more than ready to begin
turning out poutine from
its regular menu, smoked
trout, pastries made in house,
|
THE CHICAGO MAROON
mimosas, Bloody Marys, and,
of course, “Michael Dean’s
Brunch Punch.” Rumors of
house-corned rabbit hash
with eggs and pickled peppers abound, and with that
level of specificity how can it
not be true? Too bad brunch
only comes once a week (and
sometimes Saturdays). 1450
West Chicago Avenue. Brunch
served 10 a.m.–2 p.m., midrange prices.
PHYSICS WITH A
Free Event for all Ages
University of Chicago
Kersten Physics Teaching Center
5720 S Ellis Ave
12/8/12
Shows at 11& 2
Open House &
Demo Alley 12 - 4
Sponsored by the James Franck Institute, Department of Physics, and Materials Research Science & Engineering Center (MRSEC)
uR
dOc FiLms
dOt OrG
r
doc
Films
(wE sTiLl ExIst tOo)
Richard I. Kaufman DDS &
Louis R. Kaufman DDS & Associates
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
We welcome all new and returning students and faculty!
Call our office today and find more information about our:
• Convenient office hours
• Quick appointments between classes
• Affordable monthly payment options
• Free examinations
• Special discounts for University of
Chicago students & faculty
PROFESSIONAL HOME
WHITENING SYSTEM
Learn how to smile again
Proud member of
Whiten your smile
in only 3-minutes
No Pain, No Shot,
Perfect Smile that will last
over 20 years
Richard I. Kaufman DDS &
Louis R. Kaufman DDS & Associates
1525 E. 53rd St., Ste. 734
Chicago, IL 60615
773-643-6006 • 773-493-3340
www.chicagodentistr y.com
Before
*Tooth contouring may be necessary. Individual cases may vary. ©2008 Den-Mat® Holdings, LLC. World Rights Reserved. 801252400 8/08 MD
THE CHICAGO MAROON | SPORTS | November 16, 2012
All-UAA Selections, Fall 2012
After the men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball seasons came to a close last week, the UAA released
the selections for their 2012 All-Association Teams. Across the three sports, 18 Maroons were named to
All-conference teams, including three UAA first team selections, seven second team selections, and eight
honorable mentions. Here, we take a look at the Maroons who stood out.
11
FOOTBALL
UAA Standings
Rank
School
1
Washington (MO)
2
Case Western
3
Carmegie
4
Chicago
Record
5–5 (3–0)
6–4 (2–1)
6–4 (1–2)
4–6 (0–3)
Win %
.500
.600
.600
.400
Passing
MEN’S SOCCER
Rank
1
2
3
Player
Rob Kalkstein
Erik Olson
Vince Cortina
School
Carnegie
Case Western
Chicago
Yds
1960
1726
1377
4
5
Eric Daginella
John O’Connor
Washington (MO)
Washington (MO)
1116
130
Receiving
Michael Choquette
Second-year
Midfielder
3 Goals and 2 Assists
on the season
Kyle Kurfirst
Second-year
Forward
Second on the
Maroons with 4 goals
and 3 assists
Jorge Bilbao
First-year
Midfielder
9 goals, 3 assists
UAA Rookie of the
Year
David Cohen
First-year
Goalkeeper
.86 goals against
average and 4
shutouts
Alexis Onfroy
Third-year
Midfielder
Helped Maroons to 8
shutouts
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Rank
Player
1
Tim Kikta
2
Dee Brizzolara
3
Drew Sexton
4
Sean Lapcevic
5
Timoth Swanson
School
Carnegie
Chicago
Washington (MO)
Case Western
Carnegie
Avg/G
80.0
69.4
50.2
50.1
48.3
Rushing
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
Player
Manny Sicre
Patrick Blanks
C. Castellucio
Zak Ross-Nash
Ian Gaines
School
Case Western
Carnegie
Washington (MO)
Chicago
Chicago
Avg/G
80.6
76.2
54.3
50.5
47.3
MEN’S SOCCER
UAA Standings
Rank
1
Sara Kwan
Second-year
Midfielder
10 goals, 10 assists
Led UAA in assists
Third in UAA in points
Brigette Kragie
Fourth-year
Forward
7 goals, 9 assists
Micaela Harms
Third-year
Midfielder
2 goals, 2 assists
Started every game
Jacinda Reid
Second-year
Goalkeeper
.94 goals against
average
3 shutouts
1
1
1
5
6
7
8
School
Brandeis
Record
18–2–1 (4–2–1)
Win %
.881
Carnegie
Washington (MO)
Emory
Rochester
Chicago
NYU
Case Western
13–4–1 (4–2–1)
10–5–2 (4–2–1)
11–7–2 (4–2–1)
10–4–4 (3–1–3)
8–4–5 (2–3–2)
12–7–2 (2–4–1)
3–14–1 (0–7)
.750
.647
.600
.667
.618
.619
.194
Goals
Rank
Player
1
Amdrew Natalino
1
Sam Ocel
3
Dylan Price
3
Lee Russo
4
Max Tassano
School
Emory
Brandeis
Emory
Brandeis
Carnegie
Goals
14
13
11
12
11
School
Carnegie
Brandeis
Brandeis
Rochester
Emory
Assists
11
9
8
6
6
Assists
Rank
1
2
3
4
4
Natalia Jovanovic
Third-year
Forward
6 goals, 2 assists
Meghan Derken
Second-year
Forward
3 goals, 5 assists
Katie Shivanandan
Second-year
Sweeper
13 starts in 16 games
played
VOLLEYBALL
Player
Ben Bryant
Lee Russo
Sam Ocel
Alex Swanger
David Garofalo
WOMEN’S SOCCER
UAA Standings
Rank
School
1
Washington (MO)
Record
18–1–1 (6–0–1)
Win %
.925
2
3
4
5
6
6
8
13–1–4 (4–1–2)
13–1–6 (3–1–3)
12–6 (4–3)
15–4–2 (2–3–2)
10–7–1 (2–4–1)
8–6–4 (2–4–1)
3–13–1 (0–7)
.833
.800
.667
.762
.583
.556
.206
Carnegie
Emory
Chicago
Brandeis
NYU
Case Western
Rochester
Goals
Caroline Brander
Fourth-year
Middle Blocker
264 kills, 80 blocks
.350 hitting percentage
39 service aces
Nikki DelZenero
Third-year
Setter
9.59 assists per set is
third in UAA
47 aces, 357 digs
Eirene Kim
Second-year
Libero
5.16 digs per set is
third in UAA
Maren Loe
First-year
Outside Hitter
421 kills, 316 digs
68 blocks, 42 aces
Rank
1
2
2
4
5
Player
Anna Zambricki
Melissa Menta
Dara Spital
Sara Kwan
Savina Reid
Rank
1
Player
Sara Kwan
School
Chicago
Charlotte Butker
Melissa Menta
Brigette Kragie
Lillie Toaspern
Emory
NYU
Chicago
Washington (MO)
HONORABLE
MENTION
Katie Trela
Fourth-year
Middle Blocker
94 blocks, 144 kills
Katie Huntington
Third-year
Right Side
223 kills, 139 digs
35 blocks
Goals
14
12
12
10
9
Assists
1
3
4
5
FIRST TEAM
SECOND TEAM
School
Washington (MO)
NYU
Brandeis
Chicago
Carnegie
Assists
10
10
9
8
7
VOLLEYBALL
UAA Standings
Rank
School
1
Emory
2
Washington (MO)
3
Chicago
4
Case Western
5
Carnegie
Record
33–6 (8–1)
31–4 (8–2)
29–11 (8–2)
24–11 (5–5)
15–17 (3–6)
Win%
.846
.886
.725
.686
.469
6
Rochester
22–12 (3–7)
.647
7
NYU
20–14 (1–6)
.588
8
Brandeis
21–14 (1–8)
.600
SPORTS
IN QUOTES
“Only a wizard could have predicted that Jeffrey Loria was a scam artist.”
—Former Baseball Prospectus writer Nate Silver on Tuesday’s shocking trade
between the Marlins and the Blue Jays.
Sizek, Maroons head to National Championships
Women’s XC
Madelaine Pisani
Sports Contributor
The Maroons are coming off a
solid season, but they still have
one more job to do: bring home
a championship. While there has
only been one South Sider who
has taken home the prize in the
history of the women’s XC team,
this year’s group is aiming for the
top.
Chicago has just returned from
Regionals where six women were
named All-Region for 2012, including fourth-year Julia Sizek,
third-years Michaela Whitelaw
and Elise Wummer, and firstyears Catherine Young, Brianna
Hickey and Maggie Cornelius.
Chicago placed second overall
in Regionals and first in the UAA
Championship. This marks the
South Siders’ third consecutive
trip to the NCAA Championship,
and most of the upperclassmen are
vets when it comes to pressure.
Last year, the Maroons took
27th place. This year, they are expecting to stand out even more.
“They really do look fresh at
this time of the year,” head coach
Chris Hall said. “I don’t feel we
had to mentally push ourselves
quite as hard last week as we did
a year ago. I also feel that due
to the similar ability level of so
many members of our team they
have been able to lean on each
other in races which has taken
less of a mental toll on them.
“Julia Sizek has been out front
for us all season but the next six
runners on our team have all run
very close together and switched
positions all year.”
While the Maroons have performed well throughout the season, their sights were always set
on the NCAAs.
“Our training has been focused
on peaking for the NCAAs since
the beginning of the summer,”
Hall said. “We got here a little
more comfortably than in previous years and again feel that has
to do with the strong commitment to the team.”
To an outsider, cross country
strateg y might seem simple: run
fast in the beginning, fast in the
middle, and fast at the end. However, by working as a team and
taking the lead early, the South
Siders plan to take advantage of
their depth in the upcoming race.
“The level of competition at the
NCAAs I feel requires a bit of an
aggressive start,” Hall said. “If you
get stuck behind there are too
many runners of high quality to get
past. The plan is to get out fairly
hard but not foolishly fast before
settling into a competitive pace.
Still would like to finish strong.”
The Maroons plan to maintain
the strong performance they have
kept up all year. Like Hall said,
“the time for experimentation is
over.” The Maroons will be showing up in Terre Haute, IN this Saturday at noon prepared to bring
the same level of intensity they
have had throughout the year.
Fourth-year Julia Sizek and the rest of the women’s
squad will be competing in the NCAA Division III National
Championships in Terre Haute, IN, this weekend.
COURTESY OF NATHAN LINDQUIST
End of the line: Whitmore to finish All-American career at NCAAs
Men’s XC
Fourth-year Billy Whitmore will be the only member of the men’s track team competing in the NCAA Division III
national cross country championships.
COURTESY OF NATHAN LINDQUIST
Isaac Stern
Sports Staff
Fourth-year captain Billy Whitmore will
represent Chicago by himself this Saturday
when he travels to Terre Haute, IN to compete in the DIII National Championship.
The whole squad, by finishing sixth in the
regional race, missed out on qualification by
one spot.
“I am disappointed that they won’t get
the opportunity to compete as a group this
weekend but could not be more proud of the
effort they put in this season,” head coach
Chris Hall said. “I honestly believe that although [Billy] will be the only individual
representing our men’s squad this weekend,
he is running for his teammates.”
Whitmore’s 2011 season culminated with
an impressive seventh place finish at the
DIII National Championship; he was also
named an All-American.
Still, Whitmore looks to improve upon
last year’s results. Only one of the six runners
who beat Whitmore last November remains,
with four having graduated and the other no
longer competing.
“I just want to finish as high as I can,”
Whitmore said.
UW–Stout’s Tim Nelson will most likely be the man to beat at the DIII National
Championship. Nelson finished fifth in
last year’s championship, and this year,
he won the Midwest Regional qualifier
(24:24.67), where Whitmore finished seventh (24:38.94).
However, it should be noted that Whitmore has posted better times in the past.
“My expectations are that he gives his
greatest effort,” Coach Hall said. “I am confident he will put himself into a position to
be an All-American again this weekend.”
Despite the heavy competition, it is not
unrealistic for Whitmore to win the race.
But victory would require a pace of roughly
4:50 per mile, perhaps even faster. At this
point, though, the key is mental preparation.
“I’m just going to run my race,” Whitmore
said.
Whitmore came to the U of C after a successful XC and track career at St. Ignatius
High School (Cleveland, OH). He had an
immediate impact for the South Siders, running as one of the Maroons’ top-seven runners and placing second at Regionals in his
first year. Since then, Whitmore has been
nothing short of a sensation for the Maroons, becoming only the fifth All-American
runner in school history.
“Billy has really enjoyed going through
the process of developing as an athlete,”
Hall said. “What I have most enjoyed about
working with him is that he always enjoyed
where he was in the growth process instead
of always wanting to be a finished product.”
However, Whitmore’s time as a Maroon
will soon come to a close. The DIII National
Championship will be the last time Whitmore dons the maroon and white.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” Whitmore said,
“but I have enjoyed every moment.”
A group of fellow Maroons who did not
qualify for the race will make the ride down
to Terre Haute in order to support Whitmore and the women’s squad.
“Having my teammates there is a huge
boost of encouragement,” Whitmore said.
“They push me through the tough miles.”
When asked if there was anything he
wanted to share with the Maroon regarding
the race this weekend, Whitmore had only
one thing to say: “I’m so proud to represent
my school and my team…. I run for all of
them.”
The DIII National Championship men’s
race is slated to begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
NCAA.com will provide a live feed for the
event.