THE RMU FOOTBALL TEAM IS HOME TO STAY
Transcription
THE RMU FOOTBALL TEAM IS HOME TO STAY
Bensenville • Chicago • Dupage • Elgin • Lake County • Orland Park • Peoria • Schaumburg • Springfield WHATS ON THE 6th FLOOR? SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE MYSTERIOUS 6th FLOOR CommentarY YOUR FIRST APT. 5 tips for your first apartment RMU NEWS The Eagle Robert Morris University Sept. 2011 | Issue 15.8 THE INTERNSHIP LOWDOWN We interview Suszie McKinney about her recently completed internship page 5 Bensenville • Chicago • Dupage • Elgin • Lake County • Orland Park • Peoria • Schaumburg • Springfield EAGLES MAKE DEBUT TWO NEW PROGRAMS THE RMU FOOTBALL TEAM IS HOME TO STAY FROM SSS By Lashondra Graves Student Support Services launched two new programs for their student body this year, SI (Supplemental Instruction) Leaders and Student Government Board. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an international academic support model developed in 1973 by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. It was originally developed to assist premed and pre-dental students. SI is designed to help students in difficult courses and to increase their study skills. The program provides out of the class review sessions that are held twice a week at no cost to the students. It is currently practiced at several universities including Texas A&M University, Washington State University, and Northern Arizona University just to name a few. Now it is practiced here at Robert Morris University through Student Support Services. Dr. Pinkey Stewart the Director of SSS is always looking for new programs to enhance her student members’ college careers. Cheronda Everett, a SSS Coordinator and advisor of the government board said, “Dr. Stewart felt the SI program would be a great opportunity for students in historically difficult classes at RMU; therefore, it was Photo Credit: John Edwards By John Edwards The much hyped, long awaited debut of the Robert Morris University football team has finally come. On a warm muggy morning the Robert Morris faithful started flocking toward Morris Field in order to support the football team’s first home game of the season. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as they came to see their team score their first victory. Coming off a tough week one loss to Mayville State with a score of 1821, I was able to speak to Head Coach Jared Williamson on how he felt heading into his first home game at the helm of the Eagles. “I feel good. Excited too.” His smirks spoke loud enough about how excited he was and that the loss was behind his team, despite the heartbreak of being so close to having the first victory under their belt. Coach Williamson contin- ued to say how he had not lost faith in his recruits and said, “. . . the talent is obviously there. We just have to get back to fundamentals in order to get a victory.” Seeing the confidence he had in his team made the excitement of the game all the more real. As the fans settled into their seats and waved their pom-poms, the supporters were ready for the boys in gold to make their first home appearance. In a tunnel of gold and maroon pom-poms from the RMU dance team, the squad made their way to the field in waves of players chomping at the bit to show their home crowd what they could do. After the ceremonial coin toss by RMU’s President Michael Viollt, the Eagles elected to receive the ball and made quite an impact as the game got under way. After a short run, the Eagles were able to give the home crowd something to cheer about and the Minnesota State-Moorhead Dragons to just shake and wonder who exactly they had travelled to play. On a shotgun snap, Eagle quarterback Matt Westerkamp, threw to a wide open Deshawn Weaver who scampered more than sixty yards for the touchdown. As pumped as the home crowd was who cheered Weaver all the way to the end zone, the sideline went crazy with hollers and support for their team mate which didn’t stop until the entire team had gotten their congrats to the offensive team’s members who had contributed to the huge touchdown. After the excitement had settled down and everyone realized there was still more than fifty-five minutes left to go, the mind set changed and back to work the RMU Eagles went. Introducing themselves to the Dragons, the Eagles were able to force ITALIAN-FRENCH RIVIERA INDEX NEWS 03 CUISINE 07 ENTERTAINMENT 08 SPORTS & HEALTH 14 COMMENTARY 15 04 the Dragons to punt the ball. Middle linebacker Jordan Tuia was a clear standout as he was involved in many defensive plays and was able to make an impact early, though he was not alone. Dominique Sashington led the defensive back crew while Jay Trappani showed the leading spirit on the defensive line with hard play. These guys helped to lead their team and shutdown the Dragon offense in the first quarter. Heading into the second quarter, the defense had a little more trouble getting off the field and the Dragons were able to drive down the field. This wore out the Robert Morris defense and though they were able to fight the good fight, it didn’t stop the Dragon quarterback Kevin Koch from hooking up with tight end Shawn Marlowe for a nineteen yard touchdown strike See DEBUT pg. 5 CONGRESS CHANGES SPENDING 06 See SSS pg. 3 DON HAYNES By Paul Gaszak On Monday, August 12, Robert Morris University lost a cherished member of our university family to a heart attack. Don Haynes was a part of RMU for over two decades, most recently holding the positions of Assistant to the Provost and Director of Sports Information. During his time here, he also served as Athletic Director, the Dean of General Studies, and an instructor. We at the Eagle would like to send our condolences to Don’s family and friends. He will truly be missed. • CHEESE SCALLOPED POTATOES 08 2 RMU NEWS INTRO THE EAGLE THE EAGLE LETTER IN FROM THE EDITOR Dear RMU Students, Faculty, and Staff: I was recently walking past the newsstand on the third floor of the Chicago campus and noticed something that was just amazing. It was empty! I was so excited to see this as it means that the RMU community is picking up the newspaper and reading it. Even if it is the puzzles that interest you most, we are so excited that you all have found interest in the Eagle. I have quietly (I know many people do not know who I am when I am watching them read the paper) witnessed people read the paper from front to back. This puts a great amount of pressure on the staff to continue to deliver a quality publication. There has also been an influx of students who would like to write for the newspaper. This is a great sign that students see the value in our newspaper and want to be involved. The newspaper is getting stronger with its content and design and it is important that the entire staff consists of strong writers and artists who are committed to producing a publication that is both a news source and a marketing tool for RMU. It is our goal (as most of us are graduating soon) to replace ourselves with a staff that we know will continue with the newspaper’s mission and surpass the current staff ’s success. You will notice that there are more stories about RMU students doing great things. We have heard your requests and concerns are making every change that we can to fulfill the needs of our readers. We assure you that there are more great things to come! I would like to invite you to write me with your praise, constructive criticism, suggestions, and inquiries at [email protected] or just stop me in the hall when you see (if you know who I am) me. I look forward to reading your emails. Sincerely, Rasheeda Wadley Rasheeda Wadley Editor in Chief Paul Gazsak [email protected] DESIGN ADVISOR Jacqueline Carter [email protected] CAMPUS FACULTY David Belotti Lake County [email protected] Beth Gainer Bensenville [email protected] John Flaherty Orland Park jfl [email protected] Nicole Hager Springfield [email protected] Gerard Wozek DuPage [email protected] Jane Wendorff-Craps Peoria [email protected] ADVISORY BOARD Jane Ungari David Pyle Mick McMahon RMU NEWS PUZZLES & COMICS WHATS ON THE 6TH FLOOR? Sudoku/Crossword The RMU Eagle staff investigates. Page 3 The Internship lowdown An interview with a student about her internship experience. Page 4 Twist your brain with these difficult puzzles or get a good laugh out of our comic section! Page 11 CHECK IT OUT MYSTIC BLUE CRUISE SECTION EDITORS Robert Morris University Joins forces with the UN Page 5 WHAT’S ON THE 6TH FLOOR? AN RMU EAGLE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION FRANK N DAWG A Review of the best dogs in down. Page 13 LOCAL NEWS PINK PEORIA SPORTS & HEALTH Peoria is still fighting for a promise after 30 years. Page 6 NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS CONGRESS RAISES DEBT CEILING The US Congress Shifts and Cuts in student aid funding. BEARS SEASON PREVIEW A Preview at the Chicago Bears’ upcoming season. Page 14 COMMENTARY ON THE HOUSE HUNT Photo Credit: Nicole Koskovich & Paul Gaszak Design Student’s New Job Trumps All AN ODE TO SURGICAL TECHS 5 tips for finding that perfect apartment. Page 15 CUISINE CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES A delicious recipe for any occasion HE SAYS/SHE SAYS The National Debt Debate. Page 16 Photo Credit: Nate Daubert MEALS FOR A TIGHT WALLET An affordable recipe for Creamy Millet, Mushrooms and Eggs By Rasheeda Wadley Page 13 ENTERTAINMENT John Edwardds Nicole Koskovich Cassi Petrusevski THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE STAFF WRITERS FALL FASHION Lashondra Graves Andrea Kocher Edith Martinez Patrick McSherry Aaron Nielsen Lissy Pfister Nydia Rivera S RMU JOINS UNITED NATIONS EDITOR IN CHIEF Rasheeda Wadley [email protected] NEW Awesome things to do around the windy city. Page 7 EAGLE STAFF EAGLE ADVISOR THIS ISSUE NEWS 3 A book review of the novel by Phillipa Gregory What’s in and what’s out in fashion this fall. Page 13 THE BROKEN EGG Our mistakes from last month's Issue In the August issue, it was reported that classes in the Health Care Administration concentration in the Master of Management degree program were held on Friday and Saturday nights. Classes are held on Friday evenings 4pm-9pm (dinner is served) and Saturdays 9am-2pm (breakfast is served). Also, students can now contact Fernando Villeda at [email protected] or 312-935-4812. ART DIRECTOR Nate Daubert GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dylan Broll CONTRIBUTORS Augustin Esquivel Israel Colon Sanina Ellison Charisse Hagerman Jenny Jocks Stelzer Bianca Hannah Chris Sekardi Candace Felts Melissa Lee Theresa Marie Robert Morris University (401 State St., Chicago, IL 60605) is an independent, not-for-profit, multi-campus institution of ering associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree programs that focus on integrating theory and applications. Robert Morris University prepares students to be practioners in heir chosen i eld, socially responsible to their community, and a foundation for their family. Robert Morris University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, of which it is a member. The Eagle reports and interprets current issues, provides a sounding board for ideas of RMU students, faculty and staf and serves as a cultural exchange. Views expressed in the Eagle do not necessarily relfect the policies or viewpoints of the administration of Robert Morris University. Content is primarily produced by RMU students, faculty, and staf across all campuses. The Eagle welcomes contributions from all RMU students. All such submissions are subject to editorial revision and publication is not guaranteed. Robert Morris University graphic design student, Nate Daubert, did not have to win on “The Apprentice” to work for Donald Trump. He simply applied for a job and was hired. Even though he is not working directly for “The Donald”, he is working on graphic design projects for the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago. Out of 300 applicants, Daubert, was chosen to work for Michael Coleman, LLC of Chicago. He simply responded to a Craigslist job posting with his resume and online portfolio and SSS cont from pg. 1 brought to the university and offered to students in SSS.” SI was started at RMU in the Spring 2011 quarter in the Accounting 112 class. It was Professor James Coughlin’s class with Phillip Graham, a Robert Morris University graduate, as the SI leader. Everett went on to say that studies done by SSS have shown that students who attend the SI sessions generally pass the course with a C or better. This quarter SSS has two SI Leaders and they are Samantha Villafuerte who is currently an SI Leader in Mathematics 210, and Lashondra Graves who is currently a SI Leader in Communications 101, Professor Michael McMahon’s class. “The SI instructors are able to offer more one on one attention to students, and motivate them to attend and to work hard in class. This program has the potential to be very successful,” said McMahon. SI Leaders must maintain a 3.5 G.P.A. They also have to have pre- received a callback for an interview. Since being hired, he has created animated reader boards for Sofitel, event invitations, large posters, and a host of projects for Trump Tower. Currently, he is working on a print ad campaign for “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Daubert would have been a photographer if it had not been for an accident with a neighbor’s camera that suggested to him that he might be too clumsy for the job. He became interested in graphic design after watching a documentary called “Helvetica.” “Graphic design seemed like the perfect fit for me,” said Daubert. He remembers designing what he referred to as “terrible” flyers for his church in 7th grade. He enjoys working on projects that are publication related. “I really like having lots of content and figuring out how to make it all fit together in an attractive way,” noted Daubert. The design student has certainly proven his talents while working on the Eagle Newspaper. He commented, “I asked my boss why he chose me for the job and he said it was mainly because of the newspaper. The advancement of the design really im- pressed him.” Working for the newspaper has really helped Daubert learn how to design and use InDesign, a page layout software, inside and out. “I think he is awesome! Nate has an extremely perceptive view on how a design should be,” Nicole Koskovich, staff writer and section editor, pointed out. Daubert has been instrumental in the evolution of the RMU student newspaper. With a choice between RMU and Columbia College, Daubert chose RMU for its culture, accelerated program and scholarship opportunities. As the Art Director, he recently received a scholarship for his work on the Eagle that will be applied to three quarters and is renewable as long as he remains on the staff. His goal is to eventually move to Europe and work at a corporate design firm. He added, “ I did a year abroad in Germany and really grew fond of European Design.” Daubert has created work that is way above the skill level of his sophomore status, which means his work can only get better creating even more extraordinary opportunities for him in the future. • viously taken the course they are to be a leader in, successfully passing it with an A. They must attend every class session of the class in which they are a leader and do all the required assignments. Then they must hold two sessions every week covering the material that was taught in class. The second program launched is the Student Government Board. This program, piloted by Everett, is meant to help SSS members become more active in the services that SSS Trio has to offer its members. A team made up of students and Everett developed the board. The SBG has active roles in events and workshops that are hosted by SSS. Since they are members of the student body they have the opportunity to mingle with the students and promote student involvement in these activities and events. The SGB is made up of several positions. These positions include the elected roles which are the President currently held by Lashondra Graves, Vice President currently held by Carmenlita Plowden, the Secretary and Event Coordinator which are both still open. The appointed roles are Senators; there are open senator seats as well. The Senators act as public relations people for the program they are in. Open seats on the board will be filled this Fall through elections and appointment. Several students have already signed up to fill the open positions. The staff and members of SSS are looking forward to the growth of both programs. Students that are members of SGB have the opportunity to develop leadership and professional skills. Some responsibilities of a SGB member are public speaking, event planning, budgeting, group work, and supervising others. “These are all things employers look for in candidates, the experience looks great on a resume, and it’s an outstanding way to develop in the areas mentioned. Students that attend SI have a greater chance to be successful in their classes,” stated Everett. • By Candace Felts Guts. I’d say that’s a word that comes to mind when pretty much anyone thinks of an operating room – guts. Surgical technologists have guts. We see them as well, but we have to have them - a lot of them - to do our job the best we can. The operating room is both the calmest and most stressful place a person can be. It can go from good to bad in the blink of an eye, and everyone in that room has to be prepared for that to happen at any second - there is no room for fear. We have to be confident enough to speak up if we think the patient is in danger, and we have to have hearts of stone when we’re working with an angry surgeon. Surgical technologists are the heart of the OR. We keep the pace going and we keep our surgeons happy. We know their moves inside and out and have to think on our feet if the doc wants something we do not have. We speak for the patient and advocate for their safety while they are under anesthesia. We make sure the sterile field stays that way so the patient doesn’t end up with a post-op infection, and more often than not, we are the first exposure medical students have to what is and is not considered sterile. We are the absorbers of stress and the masters of patience, and we are brilliant at multi-tasking. We may not be performing the surgery, but we are every bit as important as the surgeon. The other day I was in clinical and, after surgery, my patient started to go down. The surgeon wasn’t in the room with the patient - I was. We are there from beginning to end, and we make sure our patients are safe and sound on their way to recovery. People have surgery for countless different reasons, from removal of a benign keloid to heart transplants and it is imperative that they have someone Photo Credit: Candace Felts in the OR looking out for them while they are asleep. They are inquisitive, curious, young, old, and almost all of them are terrified, but we provide solace where there is fear. We are one of the last faces they see before they go under, one of the first faces they see when they wake up, and their voice for everything in between. We have the power to soothe their fear and make it better, and we have the power to keep them safe. Patients and their families like to know that their surgeon is calm, cool, and collected, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes a surgeon is having a bad day or is tired and crabby. We are there to make their job easier. To take some of the hard work out of their job. We are their constants. They walk in and see us, and know that their sutures they like will be ready to go, or that an instrument that isn’t normally in the tray that’s being used is there. We are there to help ease their stress and sop up some of their emotion so the patient does not have to. We are people made of composure and confidence in the knowledge we have, and guts - not just raw, uninhibited, not-afraid-of-anything guts - but courageous guts. The kind that allow us to walk into an OR with a surgeon that we have never worked with before who also happens to be having the worst day of their life, and rock a surgery so well that that surgeon asks to work with us from now on. Those kinds of guts. Surgical Technology week is September 18-24, and we will be celebrating our profession and everything that it encompasses. We will be celebrating what we have accomplished and the good that we bring to the medical community. So if you have ever had surgery, or are having it in the future, take a second to thank a Surgical Technician – because they were your voice when you didn’t have one. • 4 RMU NEWS RMU NEWS THE EAGLE THE EAGLE ITALIAN-FRECH RIVIERA By Melissa Lee On Wednesday, July 13, 2011, the art and culinary students who were studying in Italy proudly presented their photography exhibition, “ItalianFrench Riviera,” at Ganzo in Florence. After spending nearly six weeks studying under Palazzi, a group of academic institutions, which houses Florence University of the Arts and Apicius International School of Hospitality, students hosted a photo exhibit to show off a sneak preview of their upcoming travel guide. Ganzo was an ideal location for such an event. It is a cultural association for art, wine and food owned and operated by Palazzi. The summer study abroad program took students on a three-week journey traveling the French and Italian Riviera, where they visited Cinquale, Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta, Viaraggio and Recco on the Italian side and Menton, Grasse, St. Paul De Vance, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Antibes and Cannes on the French side. The focus of the trip was to learn extensively about the food, history, art and culture of each town, using journaling and photography to capture the true essence of the region. This information was later gathered and used to produce a travel guide that gives readers a sensory experience. Thirty prints were selected for the photo exhibition that gave a glimpse into French and Italian Riviera. There was an eclectic mix of photography ranging from portraits to unusual scenics. Grace Joh, Chair of Journalism, Communications and Publishing at FUA, was “extremely pleased to see the inclusion of telling details, i.e. zany personalities and antique dolls at a French flea market, of the Riviera instead of purely sweeping paranomic shots of the Italian and French coasts.” Joh, who traveled with students and worked on the publication was pleased to see the end product displayed for the public, stating “The opening of the student photography show was an important moment where each individual’s visual translation of the entire travel research experience was finally assembled and displayed to the public as a single tale; I was impressed by the mix of unique styles and overall story told by the photographs.” The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as all the students reveled in their accomplishment and hard work. Jessica Kantak, a culinary student from the Chicago campus, stated “that after six long weeks it is amazing to see everyone’s hard work on canvas. It is a complete success.” Victoria Perkins, also a culinary student from the Chicago campus stated, “All our hard work paid off and, looking back, I can appreciate the rewarding difficulty behind it. Now I am excited to see the final product of our work,” as she and the rest of the study abroad students reflect on their experiences and look forward to the end product. The consensus among the students was the same, with a relief to see the efforts of their hard work being shown and appreciated by the community. The public was equally impressed with the display of photography, many giving positive feedback directly to the students. The photo exhibit will remain on display at Ganzo through September. The travel guide is expected to be released in October. • Photo Credit: RMU Student EYE ON THE The weekend of August fifth through seventh, RMU played host to over 80 high school students for a weekend away at college, this is the largest group the school has seen since it began a few years back. They stated at the dormitories at 2 East 8th Street near the Chicago campus and attended a “through the decades” tour of the Chicago campus on Saturday, August 6, 2011 held by the student ambassadors. High school students were taken to many tourist attractions around the city, including Gino’s East, Navy Pier and Willis tower. The tour through the decades at the Chicago campus was designed completely by the student ambassadors. Each wing on the second, third, seventh and the eighth floors were The internship experience can be challenging, frightening, and even irritating. Students often times find themselves wondering what true value an internship holds. Internships can jumpstart your career if done correctly. However, if completely pushed to the side, an internship can be miserable. As a future asset in the career world it is your job to take charge of your future and land yourself a dream internship. While RMU’s Career Service Center is there to guide you, it is ultimately your responsibility to take the initiative to find, research, and set up your internship to ensure your experience adds significant value to your resume. Suszie McKinney, a current Robert Morris University paralegal student, recently completed a very successful internship at the Social Security Administration’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The Eagle got the scoop on McKinney’s overall internship experience during this Q&A which discusses how she got started, what skills she learned, and essential advice for future internship seekers. How did you land your internship at OGC? Why did you choose this particular establishment? The Career Services Office at RMU sent my resume to the OGC and they offered me the internship opportunity. I took the position because it allowed me the opportunity to assist 50 attorneys and gave me an opportunity to work in a government facility. What were some of your responsibilities in this position and what skills did you acquire throughout this experience? Some of my responsibilities included assigning and analyzing incoming complaints to be inputted into the National Docketing/Management Information System (NDMIS), researching unusual documents received using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system and documenting the results in NDMIS, assisting the paralegal staff with various projects including their archival of closed case records project, and numerous other tasks. Throughout this internship I was able to enhance my communication, initiation, research, organizational, and leadership skills. The internship also helped me to develop the ability to abide by the ethical rules that attorneys and paralegals have to abide by. These skills are crucial within a law firm and if not used correctly, it can end your career. Describe some of the challenges you had to overcome throughout this internship. Some of the challenges that I had to face were maintaining a 40-hour work week at my current job, performing 10 hours a week at my internship, and completing assignments and attending classes at RMU for four classes while maintaining themed with different decades with decorations and entertainment that varied from cds, movies, live singers and impersonators that included Elvis, Michael Jackson, and Princess Leia. They highlighted all the majors that Robert Morris has to offer along with different services that benefit students, including athletics, financial aid, and study abroad programs. The student ambassadors are run through the Dean of Enrollment office by Nicole Farinella and Justin Merrriss. The program began Summer I 2011 quarter after a mass email was sent and an extensive interview process. The program is designed to spread the word about the school and student life at Robert Morris University throughout the community from the active student body. This is the first year of the program and they currently have 15 active members at the Chicago campus. Katie Rose is a Hospitality student here at Robert Morris and a Student Ambassador at the Chicago campus. She introduced the main speakers of the day, Farinella and Merriss. While speaking, she seemed to make the crowd of potential students at ease during her introduction. “Being a student ambassador is the best thing I’ve done while here at Robert Morris. I love speaking and interacting with high school students,” said Katie. The student ambassadors are currently planning one more event for potential students this year, which has yet to be determined. They are also preparing a presentation for the president and other faculty to extend the program for the coming years and to show them what impact they have made • Photo Credit: ICenter One lucky group of Robert Morris Interior Design and Architectural Technology students has been charged with the duty of reviving three areas of the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago located in Logan Square. The organization has occupied its current location since 1955 and serves Logan Square, Avondale, and Humboldt Park. The Boys and Girls Club offers after school services to children ages 6-18 such as mentoring, tutoring, sports, fitness, recreation, gang prevention and intervention, and art programs. The RMU ICenter team that includes Keith Doss, Kaydy Castillo, Clarissa Howard, Donald Rogers, Guillermo Ramirez, Annie Futia, and Katharine Mrugala-Kruczak is working to rejuvenate and reorganize the Logan Square location. The students are working under the supervision of Janet Steidl who is the curriculum chair for the Institute of Technology and Media and a practicing interior designer. The team prepared for the project through brainstorming and assigning positions as many ICenter projects move very quickly due to the ten-week quarters. They are working based on a proposal provided by the Boys and Girls Club. Their preparation also included visiting the site several times to take over 200 photos and creating hand sketches that would later be developed into architectural schematics to work with when planning the spaces. They continue to revise the schematics as they work and will present at least three designs to the organization during week eight for consideration. The focus of the project will be on the Cadet Room, the computer lab, and the library. The team will be working with the existing space at the organization while creating floor plans that better utilize the space with the placement of furniture and new paint colors. “The space will be a little more serene for the children and more organized,” said Steidl. The goal of the team is to reorganize the space as well as find the resources to do so as the organization has limited funds for such a project. The team has become very resourceful when it comes to the budget, soliciting donations of furniture, building materials, and window coverings from local companies. Team member Castillo said, “There’s only a certain amount of things we can do with the budget we have.” Doss added, “The goal is to come up with a design with minimum cost and optimum use of the space.” Doss who works as an independent contractor with Grec Architects first gained experience with space planning when he helped to renovate his own family’s basement. The Boys and Girls Club ICenter project could go beyond the ten-week Summer II quarter, as the team will then have to implement their plans. This will create the opportunity for more students to join the team. Students who are interested in being involved in this or any ICenter project should sign up at the RMU ICenter website located at www. robertmorris.edu/icenter. • THE INTERNSHIP LOWDOWN By Cassi Perusevski Student Ambassadors’ MOCK TRIAL SEES NEW FACES Weekend at College By Nicole Koskovich By Rasheeda Wadley a home and family. These challenges pushed me to maintain my GPA and I received an A in every class during the quarter. What type of feedback did you receive from your internship site? I was told by the Deputy Regional Chief Counsel, Senior Paralegal, and my Paralegal Intern Mentor that I did a great job. I was a fast learner, took great notes, and had a positive attitude. If there was a position available they would have offered it to me. I was told that I would be missed around the office and that they wanted me to keep in touch with them. They also stated that they were happy that they chose me and that they appreciated my eagerness to learn more and that I helped them complete projects that everyone around the office hated to do. What are you doing now that this internship is over? I am currently still working as a Litigation Collection Specialist at Chase Bank. I am also researching information from several law firms for current opportunities to become a part of their firm. I am hoping to land a career within a law firm that practices in multiple areas of law so that I can continue to gain more knowledge and experience in the law industry. What advice do you have for students going through the internship process currently? Some advice that I would give to students would be to make sure that you complete your internship at an organization that you are truly interested in. Don’t complete an internship just to receive the credit needed for graduation. Organizations that offer internships are doing so in hopes that they will be able to offer a permanent position to the student. Don’t look for a company that has nothing to offer you. Always do research on the company before accepting an internship offer. While you are completing your internship, make sure you talk with the current staff to see how they feel about working for the company and pay attention to the culture of the organization. Also, never turn down an opportunity to learn more within the company. Every opportunity to learn more will be beneficial to you in the long run. Always keep a positive attitude and don’t be afraid to ask questions or to show initiative. Do you have any other comments about the overall experience? The internship position has taught me to seek a mentor that is on the same career path or a higher career path than I am. The mentor will be able to help develop a stronger networking group and teach the ins and outs of the job. The internship gives the opportunity to know what is expected of the person that will be hired for a permanent position. I also learned the OGC only offers internship positions to RMU students. • 5 By Lashondra Graves Robert Morris University’s Mock Trial Team had over 10 new members come to their first meeting. The meeting was held at the Chicago campus on Thursday, August 4th in room 818. There were two meetings, one at 2pm and 5pm to meet both day and night students’ needs. In the Summer 1 quarter, the Mock Trial Team put on a mock trial in the Chicago campus auditorium to let prospective member see what the team does in competitions. It was a success, because the first meeting of the Summer 2 quarter was filled with new faces. A few days before the meeting, Ciprian Tucaliuc, the club’s president went to his classes as a human billboard, displaying a sign that informed students of the first meeting. At the meeting, Tucaliuc put on a dynamic presentation for the new members explaining what the club was about. There were lots of questions asked, which showed their true interest. Tucaliuc tells how he felt about the new members, “It’s great to see that so many people have an interest in the club and mock trial. The Mock Trial Club this year will be involved in more fun activities that have some infusion of law in them. Many of the club's current officers are on the verge of graduation and the recent influx of interest reassures us (the current members) that there will be someone to carry on the torch. All in all, I am excited to work with the incoming members and share with them all that I know.” Rasheeda Wadley, the club’s Vice President said, “I’m glad to see that more students are showing an interest. Being one of the founding members of the club it gives me hope that the club will strive!” • WHERE ARE THEY NOW? By Kristen Thinnes Treasurer. Story had already begun to work with the UNA when she presented on “Human Trafficking” for the UNA World Health Service committee and subsequently led a subcommittee on Human Rights. The RMU-UNA has had other international experiences such as sitting in on a recent educational conference with Russian delegates. They learned about higher education standards and practices in Russia with an interpreter present. They will be participating in the “Global Wakeup” hosted by UNAUSA October 28th and 29th at Columbia College Chicago. The Festival seeks to educate, enhance public awareness, and honor those who have sought to address the eight anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals in particular and other human condition improvements in developing countries. On September 24th, the RMUUNA will be hosting an International Humanitarian Aid Symposium to help the country of Haiti that is still ailing after an earthquake ravaged the country. The event will feature guest speaker, Dr. Mona Khanna, from FOX Chicago News who is also and emergency aid worker. There will also be break out sessions on Security Risks, Humanitarian Law, Psychological 1st Aid, Humanitarian Aid Core Concerns, and the Status in Haiti. Students are encouraged to attend this event and also donate emergency aid provisions that will be transported to Haiti. Students who have a passion for international relations in all areas such as economics, health and human rights among others are encouraged to join the RMU-UNA.• Picture it: a 20,000 square foot cardio room, running track, tennis courts, numerous swimming pools (and a hot tub), spin studios, Pilates studios, a driving range, plus multiple restaurants (including a sun-deck), a juice bar, a daycare center, and a salon and spa – it just doesn’t get much better than East Bank Club! Not your typical place of work, but for Steve Rozhon, this is his office. Since 2007 Rozhon has been a personal trainer at one of Chicago’s most renowned health clubs. Rozhon explains he typically sees anywhere from 10 to 15 clients day, plus he teaches a class every Wednesday night called Peak Performance. A class that he himself created, Rozhon explains what it entails: “It’s a very high intensity interval training class. Group fitness. It encompasses everything that the body is capable of doing under a controlled environment.” Sounds intense! So what’s Rozhon’s favorite kind of workout? “The meathead workout!” he exclaims. “Power lifting. I still run my 5ks, 10ks, but a marathon is definitely not in my future.” And when does he squeeze these meathead workouts in? “Middle of the day. Honestly, it’s like I’ve set it aside and at about 2:00 in the afternoon when the gym is empty is when I like to go.” Rozhon explains this is one of the perks of working at East Bank Club. Trainers are allowed to work out with clients (as needed), as well as work out during their breaks or when they come upon cancel- the positivity that was seen during the first half and adjustments they needed to make in order to retain their edge. Upon entering the players meetings, the concentration and determination from all the players was obvious. Intentions of making adjustments to secure the win was important to them so they could show their home crowd what they have been working so hard for all pre-season long. Leaving the locker room with high hopes of securing the victory, the team gave the ball to the Minnesota Dragons. Despite their best efforts, the Eagles eventually gave up a methodical drive to the Dragons as their quarterback Kevin Koch hit his wide receiver Kendall Hendon for a twenty-four yard strike into the end zone. Though the defense was starting to wear down, they never gave up and continued to fight for their team. After several back and forth battles where both teams' defenses were able to hold the offenses out of touchdown range, the Eagles once again hit a miracle that sparked a fire on the sidelines and in the stands. Facing a third down the Eagles set a screen play for LaMont Wims who was able to weave through the defense and break down field. Breaking back in towards the middle of the field, he was able to reach the end zone for a touchdown which would end up being an eighty-six yard run after Matt Westerkamp dumped it off at the last second. Unfortunately this fire was not able to hold as this would be the final score from the Eagles. The Eagles defense in the rest of the game began to wear down and gave up two scores. A fifteen yard touchdown pass from Kevin Koch to Kendall Hendon and another touchdown pass from Kevin Koch which went for twenty-seven yards. Though these scores were the finally dagger in the heart, the Eagles never lost their fighting spirit and the home crowd never stopped cheering. The Eagles had enough time to make a comeback but there just wasn’t enough left in their tank as they had fought their hearts out in every quarter, but were just outplayed physically towards the end. Though the Eagles had added a field goal by kicker Michael Graf during the middle of the game, there was not enough time for the Eagles to dig themselves out of the hole that had been dug progressively throughout the later part of the second half. Though the final score was 28-17, Coach Williamson still had positive words of encouragement to his players at the end of the game meeting. He expected them to take pride in their effort and was proud of the fact they had played hard. Coach Williams plans to get back to fundamentals just as he had dis- Photo Credit: Jill Naskrent RMU JOINS UNITED NATIONS By Rasheeda Wadley What more could Robert Morris University do to prove that it is one of the most diverse university models among private universities? By joining the United Nations. In the spring 2011 quarter, RMU started its own branch of the United Nations Association of the United States of America. Also known as RMU-UNA USA, it is the first Illinois College Consortium branch. Dr. Linda Mast, an RMU Professor, who worked with graduate student, Rachel Story, to gain membership into the prestigious organization, founded the organization. Story, former SIFE RMU president, is now the president of RMU-UNA USA. She leads the organization with Janelle Bryan, Vice President, and Isela Juarez, who serves as the DEBUT cont. from pg. 1 before the end of the half. The tale of the tape was a back and forth battle between the two teams who were defensively strong, both fighting hard for their team in order to secure a victory. Heading into the locker room at halftime, the feeling on the Eagle sideline was highly positive with their good play on both sides of the ball. The huge score in their first series was a confidence booster in their game play. Coach Williamson heading into the locker room said that he could see his boys were giving it their all and that they were doing incredibly well and had made many adjustments since the first game. He also said that the weather and conditioning was going to play a factor in the outcome of the game. The coaches' short meetings in the hallway of the team’s football facilities in Arlington Heights was focused on lations. “It’s a nice luxury. Some gyms schedule you to do this, this, and this – then it really becomes a job, not so much a lifestyle.” And at East Bank Club it’s all about the lifestyle – making time for your health. Rozhon notes that he typically instructs his clients to work out every other day. “That helps them and keeps them on a routine with a little leeway. So they don’t have to quite their daily routines – it’s still a lifestyle, not a job.” As clients and fellow trainers pass by with a smile and a wave (and maybe a weightlifting challenge), it’s apparent that East Bank Club isn’t just a job for Rozhon – it’s a home away from home. As he points out the state of the art facilities available he pauses, intermittently interacting with clients (and client’s children), as he checks on a client’s knee and then helps a little girl find her club ID. This is what makes the East Bank Club such a unique fitness club. And Rozhon can attest! “You know, you get a lot of good people. You have a camaraderie. I mean this is one of the few places you have 40 trainers, of all different elements. You have a level of camaraderie within people who have different goals and different backgrounds, and with that you can do so much more.” • Photo Credit: Kristen Thinnes cussed before the game and eliminate mistakes that cost them some yards. He said “. . . when it came down to it they were just bigger than we were and more physical and we got outplayed towards the end which are things we are going to have to deal with when we play established programs.” He went on to mention that they were there with it the entire time but they just didn’t finish the game. This hinted towards the fact that the talent is there but that it needs to get organized and come together in a way that will allow them to win. There is one thing that goes without saying; the team has heart and miles of it. The team fought every single play without hesitation even with winning the game out of the question. Without this heart, hopes for the Eagles season could be lost and though their record is 0-3, they will never give up. • 6 LOC A L NATIONAL • WORLD THE EAGLE THE EAGLE Adult smoking rate edges Soul food disappearing in Chicago as blacks leave 7 Congress Raises Debt Ceiling, with Shifts and Cuts in Student Aid Funding Impact of a Possible Credit Downgrade Photo Credit: Milo Strawski CHICAGO (AP) Fewer U.S. adults are smoking and those who do light up are smoking fewer cigarettes each day, but the trend is weaker than the government had hoped. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Tuesday, 19.3 percent of adults said they smoked last year, down from about 21 percent in 2005. The rate for smoking 30 or more cigarettes daily dropped to about 8 percent from almost 13 percent during the same time period. The report only compared last year with 2005 and says the decline means 3 million fewer adults were smoking. The CDC earlier reported that the 2009 rate was 20.6 percent and rates fluctuated during the five-year period. The 5-year decline was much slower than a drop seen over the previous 40 years, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Atlanta-based agency. He said any decline is a good step, but also said tobacco use remains a significant health burden. “About half of all smokers will be killed by tobacco if they don’t quit,’’ Frieden said during a news briefing. “You don’t have to be a heavy smoker or a long-time smoker to get a smoking-related disease or have a heart attack or asthma attack,’’ Frieden said. “The sooner you quit smoking, the sooner your body can begin to heal.’’ The 2010 numbers are based partly on faceto-face interviews with almost 27,000 Americans aged 18 and older. Photo Credit: Robert Stevens Declines in federal and state taxes on cigarettes and new clean air laws are among reasons for the drop, said Dr. Tim McAfee, director of the CDC’s office on smoking and health. Those positive trends have been offset by efforts from the tobacco industry, including offering discounts to consumers, McAfee said. If the slowed rate of decline continues, adult smoking rates will reach 17 percent by 2020, far higher than the government’s goal of no more than 12 percent, the CDC report said. Government efforts to further reduce smoking rates include proposed graphic cigarette packaging labels, which are being challenged in court by the tobacco industry. Frieden said evidence from states with strong anti-smoking programs show that tobacco control can be effective. Rates are far below the national average in states with the strongest tobacco control programs, he noted. States with the lowest rates are Utah, at 9 percent, and California, 12 percent, the CDC report found. In a statement, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown said the report shows some successes but also continued disparities. Smoking was most common among low-income, less educated adults and among American Indians and Alaska natives. Matthew Meyers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington-based advocacy group, said in a statement that it’s too soon to declare victory when nearly one in five adults still smokes. • Judge orders NU student emails turned over CHICAGO (AP) A judge in Chicago has ordered that more than 500 emails detailing efforts by Northwestern University journalism students to free a man serving a life sentence be turned over to prosecutors. The emails are communications between former Northwestern University professor David Protess and students at the Medill School of Journalism. Cook County Judge Diane Cannon ruled Wednesday that the students were ``acting as investigators in a criminal proceeding.'' Cannon says that makes the information ``subject to the rules of discovery.'' Northwestern, however, has resisted handing over the emails and argued that the information is protected under the Illinois Reporter's Privilege Act. The school has 10 days to appeal. A Northwestern spokesman says school officials will study the judge's decision carefully before deciding what to do. • CHICAGO (AP) Duct tape covers a large crack in the premier booth at Hard Time Josephine’s Cooking, where waitresses call you “sweetie’’ and customers come for the steaming shrimp bisque and homemade peach cobbler that leaves a hint of cinnamon on the tongue. Not long ago, such an eyesore at one of Chicago’s top soul food restaurants would have been unthinkable. Despite the name, times were good: Chicago was a bustling center of black America and people in the neighborhoods savored southern-style cooking. But in the past 10 years as the city lost more than 17 percent of its black population, one soul food place after another has closed and the surviving few like Josephine’s are struggling. A tradition is dying in a place where southern cooking came north in the major social migration after World War II. “People used to stand outside the door to get in,’’ recalled Josephine Wade, who has operated the restaurant in the Chatham neighborhood for more than two decades. “It’s nowhere near like that. Each year it’s very, very difficult to be in business.’’ The decline is a symptom of the changing identity of a city where blacks have been the largest racial group for decades, making up more than one-third of the population. Now, a visit to one of the traditional spots like Josephine’s seems like a step back into the past. Pictures of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King; the city’s first black mayor, Harold Washington; and soul diva Patti LaBelle cover the walls, along with pictures of Josephine herself, an Arkansas native and onetime maid who wound up running restaurants all over the city’s South Side. The sweet aroma of fresh waffles and salty fried chicken _ family recipes passed down through the generations _ hang in the air. No soda is served, only sweet tea. “The fried chicken is succulent. It’s fresh, got that southern flavor,’’ said Eve Lowe, 59, who comes every Sunday for the brunch buffet of chicken and dumplings, greens and lemon pound cake. “It’s really a lot more than food,’’ said Audria Huntington, 81, who frequents Josephine’s for the liver and onions or chicken and waffles. “Basically, you have the roots of your culture in the restaurant.’’ But places like Josephine’s _ located in a sagging building off a busy commercial stretch_ may number only a half dozen now, having gradually given way to fast food, healthy food and imports like Cajun cuisine, along with the pressures of a bad economy. Also, more middle-class residents are moving to the suburbs, some retirees are heading “home’’ to the South and others are pursuing the economic lures of the Sunbelt, reversing the historic wave that brought southern blacks pouring into Chicago for jobs in industry. The Chatham neighborhood on the South Side shows the change. The rows of onceclassy homes in the black middle-class neighborhood, including a brick cottage that was home to gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, are now pocked with boarded-up windows and vacant properties. Other traditionally black neighborhoods have suffered even more as the population loss and foreclosure crisis have left behind weed-filled lots. One of the most popular soul food restaurants in town, Army & Lou’s, closed this year. “When you lose your base, your foundation, the next generation isn’t there to keep it going,’’ said former owner Harry Fleming. “It’s losing a real strong sense of heritage.’’ Army & Lou’s, which opened in 1945, was famous both for its juicy fried chicken and its role in politics. Washington was a regular in the 1980s. It wasn’t unusual to see the civl rights leader Jesse Jackson, his son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., or Rep. Danny Davis eating there. Earlier this year, the South Side lost Izola’s, known for its seafood. The year before it was Edna’s, a West Side establishment patronized by King. Also gone are the longtime Gladys’ Luncheonette, a popular musicians’ hangout with great banana pie, and Soul Queen. Other cities have great soul food but it’s hard to imagine Chicago, with its special role in black culture, without its thriving soul food scene, said writer Adrian Miller, who is traveling the country researching a book about soul food. In a recent visit to the city, “There was a key element missing,’’ he said. “There was a hole in my soul.’’ Increasing health consciousness has also played a role. Soul food, often fried and made with full-fat ingredients, has gotten a bad rap in recent years. Also, fewer soul food places means distributors no longer make deliveries _ so the cost of supplies has gone up. At Josephine’s, Wade keeps the place going by patching cracks with duct tape, disguising holes in tablecloths and washing the linen herself. She can’t do much to help the sagging building; there aren’t enough customers. “It’s just not here,’’ she said. • Enrollment drops at SIU’s Carbondale campus CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) Photo Credit: Brian Lary Enrollment is down slightly at Southern Illinois University's campus in Carbondale. WSIU Radio reports that the number of students attending the university this fall is down 1.1 percent from last year to 19,817. Officials at SIU blame the decline partly on softening enrollment in graduate programs. But SIUC Chancellor Rita Chen says she believes the university is turning the corner when it comes to undergraduate enrollment. Cheng says new freshman enrollment is up more than 5 percent to 2,344 students. She says SIUC also saw an increase in the number of transfer students this fall. SIUC officials say another positive trend is the first-year retention rate, which stands at 69 percent. • Photo Credit: TripAdvisor By Mark Kantrowitz (Fastweb.com) Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, raising the debt ceiling at the last minute. The debt deal cuts some student loan benefits, especially for graduate and professional students, but avoids a more severe cut in government grants for undergraduate students. The Budget Control Act of 2011 passed the US House of Representatives by a vote of 269 to 161 on August 1, 2011 and the US Senate by a vote of 74 to 26 on August 2, 2011. The legislation was signed into law by President Obama soon after passage. If Congress hadn’t passed the legislation, the federal government would have been forced to cut spending immediately by 40%, eliminating most discretionary spending including all federal student aid programs. Nevertheless, the final legislation includes some cuts to federal student aid starting in the 2012-13 academic year. The debt deal eliminates subsidized interest on Stafford loans to graduate and professional students, effective for new loans made on or after July 1, 2012. It also eliminates all repayment incentives in the Direct Loan program for new loans made on or after July 1, 2012, except for discounts for borrowers who repay their loans via auto-debit. These changes do not affect existing loans. Of the estimated $21.6 billion in savings over ten years, a total of $17 billion is used to address the funding shortfall in the Pell Grant program. The remaining $4.6 billion is redirected toward deficit reduction. The debt deal follows a pattern established by student aid legislation since 2005, in which a portion of savings in student aid programs is used for deficit reduction. The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 shifted funding from lender subsidies to increases in spending on student aid, while diverting billions of dollars to deficit reduction. But with the switch to 100% Direct Lending on July 1, 2010, further deficit reduction comes at a cost of cutting spending on student financial aid. Elimination of Subsidized Interest Photo Credit: Rob Owen-Wahl Previously, graduate and professional students could borrow up to $20,500 in Stafford loans per year, of which as much as $8,500 could be subsidized. (Subsidized Stafford loans for graduate and professional students were also subject to an aggregate limit of $65,500, including any undergraduate subsidized Stafford loans.) Graduate and professional students will still be able to borrow up to $20,500 in Stafford loans, but the loans will be entirely unsubsidized starting with new loans made on or after July 1, 2012. Subsidized interest means the government pays the interest while the student is in an in-school or other authorized deferment period. It does not affect the interest rates for graduate and professional students. But if the borrower defers repaying the loans while in school, the accrued but unpaid interest will be capitalized, increasing the loan balance at repayment by about 16%. Since about one-third of student loan debt owed by graduate and professional students is subsidized, this change will increase the average debt at the start of repayment by about 6% overall (typically between $2,000 and $4,000), plus thousands of dollars of additional interest over the life of the loan. This change affects approximately 1.2 million graduate and professional students a year, slightly more than one-third of all graduate and professional students (35.5%). The impact will be felt disproportionately by professional degree students, with almost three-quarters of law and medical school students receiving subsidized Stafford loans. Of the affected students, about two-thirds are in Master’s degree programs, about a tenth in doctoral degree programs and about a fifth in professional degree programs. Note that undergraduate subsidized Stafford loans owed by a graduate student do not lose their subsidized interest benefit. In particular, the federal government will still pay the interest on an undergraduate subsidized Stafford loan while the student is enrolled in graduate or professional school. The legislation affects only the availability of subsidized Stafford loans to pay for graduate and professional school starting on July 1, 2012, replacing them with the same amount of unsubsidized Stafford loans. There isn’t much that graduate and professional students can do to prepare for the elimination of subsidized Stafford loans. Federal student loans are still less expensive than private student loans in the long term. Federal student loans also have better repayment terms, such as income-based repayment and public service loan forgiveness. One option for saving money is to pay the interest on the loans while you are in school, if you can, to avoid interest capitalization. Elimination of Prompt Payment Discounts Previously, borrowers in the Direct Loan program could get two discounts. The first discount rebates half of the 1% loan fee for borrowers who make the first 12 payments on time. The second discount is a 0.25% interest rate reduction for borrowers who have their monthly loan payments withdrawn automatically from their bank accounts. The prompt payment discount will be eliminated for new loans starting on July 1, 2012, while the auto-debit discount will be retained. These changes apply to all borrowers of new federal education loans, including undergraduate Stafford loans, Parent PLUS loans, graduate and professional student Stafford loans, Grad PLUS loans and consolidation loans. Historically, less than a fifth of Stafford loan borrowers have received prompt payment discounts. Consolidation loan borrowers were much more likely to receive the rebate, with about half receiving the discount. Pell Grant Program Still at Risk of Cuts Even though the debt deal devotes $17 billion to reducing a funding shortfall in the Pell Grant program and preserves the $5,550 maximum Pell Grant, the Pell Grant program remains at risk of cuts. The Pell Grant program is still left with a $1.3 billion funding shortfall in FY2012 and will probably suffer from funding shortfalls in subsequent years. To address the remaining funding shortfall, Congress must either appropriate additional money for the Pell Grant program or make further cuts in student aid spending. The most likely scenario involves changing the eligibility requirements for the Pell Grant program, such as reducing the eligibility from 18 semesters to 12 and requiring at least half-time enrollment. Congress is unlikely to cut the maximum Pell Grant. But the debt deal also specifies limits on discretionary spending for FY2012 through FY2021. Satisfying these limits may require Congress to enact budgets that include cuts in federal student aid. The Pell Grant represents about 1% of federal spending, making it a big target for cuts. Preserving the Pell Grant may require eliminating other forms of federal student aid, such as SEOG, LEAP and Federal Work-Study. The debt deal also includes a set of automatic triggers of proportional across-the-board spending cuts for FY2013 through FY2021, with exemptions for certain categories of spending and for bills designated as emergency spending by Congress. These cuts will be triggered if the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction does not approve a set of recommendations for reducing the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over ten years by November 23, 2011 or if Congress does not enact the committee’s recommendations by December 23, 2011. It seems likely that the triggers will be invoked, given how difficult it was for Congress to reach an agreement on the debt deal. The triggers could yield as much as a 3% across-the-board cut in spending, which would reduce the maximum Pell Grant by about $167. This wouldn’t be the first time an across-theboard spending cut reduced the maximum Pell Grant. In 2008 the maximum Pell Grant was supposed to be $4,800, but an across-the-board spending cut reduced the maximum Pell Grant by $69 to $4,731. It seems likely that there will be no increases in the Pell Grant or other federal student aid for the next decade. This will contribute to a severe decline in college affordability as college costs continue to increase. Low and moderate income students will be priced out of a college education. Students will shift their enrollments to less expensive colleges or graduate with thousands of dollars of additional debt The three major credit rating agencies — Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) — warned of the possibility of a downgrade in the US credit rating if Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling and adequately reduce the deficit. A credit downgrade could lead to increases in borrowing costs for the federal government and ultimately affect interest rates on most forms of consumer debt, including private student loans. After passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011, Fitch and Moody’s both affirmed the federal government’s AAA credit rating, but lowered their outlook to negative. A failure to reduce the debt to GDP ratio could lead to a credit rating downgrade within the next few years. S&P’s reaction is still pending, but the credit rating agency warned in late July 2011 that less than $4 trillion in cuts would risk a rating downgrade. [Update: S&P downgraded US long-term debt from AAA to AA+ on August 5, 2011.] Even if the federal government’s AAA credit rating remains unchanged, the last-minute nature of the debt deal has raised the profile of political risk in a possible future default on US sovereign debt. The markets may price in a higher risk of political brinkmanship even without a credit rating downgrade, raising the cost of funds to the federal government. Investors are now acutely aware of the possibility that the federal government may default on its debt at some future date, something that was previously unthinkable. Nevertheless, Treasury rates may temporarily remain low despite the increase in perceived risk because they are still the least risky place to park cash. Also, the Federal Reserve continues to manipulate the market to suppress increases in interest rates. US Treasuries are treated as a risk-free rate of return, as a baseline rate that influences the LIBOR index and Prime Lending Rate. Most private student loans are pegged to the LIBOR index or Prime Lending Rate. Increases in the LIBOR index and Prime Lending Rate will increase the interest rates on variable-rate private student loans. An increase of 0.25% to 1.0% in the interest rates on private student loans seems likely. (A 1.0% increase in the interest rates on private student loans will increase monthly loan payments by about 5% for a loan with a 10-year term, about 9% for a loan with a 20-year term and about 12% for a loan with a 30-year term.) Federal education loans will not be affected, because interest rates on new federal loans have had fixed rates since July 1, 2006. However, increases in the government’s cost of funds will cut the government’s profit on the federal education loans, adding pressure on the US Department of Education’s budget. Potential for Future Tax Increases The debt deal does not include any automatic tax increases. However, the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush and temporarily extended under President Barack Obama will expire after the 2012 presidential election if not extended by Congress. (Voter turnout may be higher during the 2012 election, since there will be a clearer contrast between the candidates.) This will present Congress with a tradeoff between a full or partial extension of the tax cuts and the possibility of deeper cuts in spending. If control of Congress remains split, with neither party having a supermajority in the Senate, extending the tax cuts will require compromise between the Democrats and Republicans. Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire would lead to substantial revenue increases, which would reduce the budget deficit and prevent the need for deeper cuts in spending. However, the tax cuts include several provisions relating to student financial aid. These include the improvements to the Hope Scholarship tax credit made by the American Opportunity Tax Credit (e.g., increased the credit from $1,800 to $2,500, expanded it from 2 years to 4 years of postsecondary education and made it partially refundable), the suspension of the 60-month limit on the student loan interest deduction, the extension of the tuition and fee deduction and improvements to Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (e.g., increased contribution limits from $500 to $2,000 and allowed the funds to be used for K-12 education in addition to postsecondary education). • 8 CUISINE ARTS AND CULTURE THE EAGLE THE EAGLE CUISINE ENTERTAINMENT CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES The Boleyn Inheritance FALL FASHION A NOVEL BY PHILLIPA GREGORY A DELICIOUS RECIPE FOR ANY OCCASION By Bianca Hannah Ingredients »» 1 ¼ cup milk »» 8 oz Velveeta cheese »» ½ teaspoon salt »» ¼ teaspoon black pepper »» 2 tablespoons butter »» 1 clove garlic, minced »» ½ med onion, chopped »» 1 cup shredded cheese »» 1 cup bread crumbs »» 1 lbs potatoes »» ½ cup bacon bits Directions 1. Grease pan with butter and set aside. Peel and slice potatoes and steam until just about tender. 2. Sauté onions and garlic in butter until tender, but not brown. Add flour and stir until thick and bubbly with no lumps, add salt and pepper. Stir in milk, cube and add Velveeta to the milk mixture and stir constantly while melting cheese so that it does not stick. 3. Put potato slices in pan and top with cheese mixture. Make sure to stir around so that cheese is between potatoes. Top with shredded cheese, bacon bits and bread crumbs. Bake in oven at 350° until potatoes are tender and top starts to brown. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Photo Credit: FoodLoversDiary Meals for a Tight Wallet Creamy Millet, Mushrooms, & Eggs Fall flavors entice the palate this September with favorites such as apples, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, squash, and many others. Cooking with these earthy flavors in season allows you to prepare a palate pleaser that is both delicious and cheap! Ingredients 1 cup dry millet ½ lb. shitake mushrooms, sliced ½ lb. white mushrooms, sliced 3 green onions, sliced thin 1 Tbsp olive oil ½ cup of half and half 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese 4 eggs Salt and pepper as needed »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» Directions 1. Boil 3 ¼ cups of water, add millet to boiling water, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. 2. Heat sauté pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, let them cook until most of the liquid has been released and the mushrooms look dried out. 3. Add the olive oil and green onions to the mushrooms. Add the mushroom mixture to the millet (which should be creamy in texture). Stir in the half and half and parmesan. 4. Fry up the eggs however you’d like and serve on top of the millet mixture. Season with salt and pepper to your preference and enjoy! Beet, Blue Cheese & Pistachio Salad Photo Credit: Amazon.com By Nicole Koskovich Anne of Cleves was sent from her home and family in Germany to marry one of the most notorious womanizers in history, Henry VIII, the King of England himself. She was 24 years old when she was chosen and raised to be polite and conservative, unlike anything Henry was prepared for. Being new to England, Anne had many challenges to overcome including learning a new language, English, when hardly anyone in her court spoke German and learning the English lifestyle to become a beloved Queen that she never had the chance to be. Lady Rochford, Jane Boleyn, had sent her husband and sister-in- UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM Beet Blue Cheese & Pistacio Salad Photo Credit: Gormet and Healthy Recipe courtesy of Learnvest.com Ingredients 6 medium beets, peeled ¼ cup pistachios 1 ½ Tbsp fresh basil 2 oz blue cheese, crumbled and divided into 1 oz portions »» 2 ½ Tbsp olive oil »» 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar »» ¼ tsp salt »» Pepper as needed »» »» »» »» Directions 1. Shred the beets and toss with the basil, pistachios, and 1 oz of the blue cheese. 2. Make a dressing by whisking the olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and the remaining 1 oz of blue cheese. 3. Arrange the beet mixture on a plate and toss with the dressing and Voile! Enjoy your meal! law to the butcher’s block to save the supposed Boleyn fortune. The Duke of Norfolk, Jane Boleyn and Katherine Howard’s uncle, summoned Jane back to court to help with the arrival of the new Queen Anne, but little did Jane know that she would be another pawn in his game to bring the new Queen down. With the arrival of fourteen-year-old Katherine Howard to Anne’s court, Henry is quickly fooled by her beauty and conveyed innocence. Soon after his wedding to Anne, Henry has the union annulled to marry his “rose without thorns”, Katherine. Not wanting to return disgraced to Germany, Anne stays in England and watches the King fall more in love with Kath- erine and out of love quicker than the affair began. The novel follows the lives of these three women who are fighting to stay alive in the days where the King is mad, and will execute you for just about anything. With the court being a place of plotting and manipulating, the women find their own paths to stay in the good graces of Henry. The women’s ambitions were only achieved if the men of the family or king allowed them to be. Most of the time they were pushed aside and replaced by what the men wanted. Only constant begging would help achieve their goals, but doing so would put their own status on the line and possibly their life when it came to matters with the king. Secrets made life at court more interesting for the bored Ladies and Maids in Waiting. When Katherine gained control of the court there were plenty of secrets to go around, and many from her not so innocent childhood started to swirl. The combination of secrets, plots, and lust add fuel to the fire in this already crazy court. Philippa Gregory’s novel shines with passion and love for the English history that many people don’t know much about, except for the fact that Henry had six wives. Though the book isn’t 100% accurate, Gregory does her best to fill the pages with a more personal view on the horrors that Henry’s wives endured secretly and publicly. The novel was easy to follow with the switching of perspectives each chapter between the three women. The smallest of details bring the readers into the rich and vivid life at court without overwhelming them with too much detail. • By Theresa Marie A lot has been happening in the fashion universe these past couple of months as legendary designers wrap up Summer and showcase their 2011 Fall/Winter collections. Vogue Magazine was proactive in the Fall 2011 Couture fashion show in Paris, “The City of Lights”. Designers, such as Valentino, Givenchy, and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, were shown on a stage that resembled Paris’ wet streets, and the 1,063-foot tall sparkling nightlight, the Eiffel Tower. The collections of fairy-tale like, extravagant and timeless pieces of clothing and fine jewelry were the theme of the event. Another amazing event took place in early July was African Fashion Week in New York: Where Fashion Began. Thirty one designers, including Korto Monolu, the former star of Project Runway, flaunted African details in unique tribal prints, rich textures, intricate embroidery, and artfully crafted designs. Models walked the runway with outrageous footwear by John Ashford. The designers left their hearts on the stage with this show. English soccer player, David Beckham, just signed a deal with H&M to launch a body wear line with the influence of his trendset- ter wife, Victoria Beckham. The line will give ultimate comfort for athletic, business, and relaxed men who can wear this collection underneath their wardrobe. Not only is he making moves and scoring goals on the field, but he is definitely evolving from a sports star to a businessman! The Kardashian sisters partnered with Sears to design fashionable and affordable women’s apparel, jewelry, lingerie, and footwear, which hit stores August 25th. If you are like me, then you created a “must-have” list and you better pre-order some items to get your hands on it first. The Kardashians have also partnered with Nicole by OPI on “Kardashian Kolors” with trendy nail hues for the holiday season. Ladies, make sure you check it out for your scarlet reds, glittery golds, and dark neutral colors! Legendary designers and celebrities are making their marks and their merchandise more affordable to those who know how major it is to rock a jacket designed by Karl Lagerfeld, experience comfortability influenced by David Beckham, or look fabulous from head-to-toe with the Kardashian sisters at the local mall! This Fall, I believe everyone on campus will be very stylish in his or her own creative way. • WORLD CHARTS Recipe courtesy of Learnvest.com Millet, BBQ Pulled Mushrooms Pork Sandwich & Eggs Photo Photo Credit: Credit: Chef WhamBBQ.com Mommy 9 JAPAN 1 Someone Like You Adele 2 Moves Like Jagger Maroon 5 3 Pumped Up Kicks Foster the People 1 Contre Jour Chillingo Ltd. 2 SPY Mouse Electronic Arts, Inc. 3 Angry Birds Rovio Mobile 1 The Crystal Maze 1 Heart Skips A Beat Olly Murs Dynamo Games Feel So Close 2 WhatsApp Messenger 2 Calvin Harris WhatsApp, Inc. Moves Like Jagger 3 Angry Birds 3 Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera Rovio Mobile 1 Over Hey!Say!JUMP 2 GO GO Summer KARA 3 Good Luck My Way L'Arc?en?Ciel top40-charts.com 1 The Help August 10, 2011 2 Columbiana August 26, 2011 3 Rise Planet of the Apes August 5, 2011 1 A Stolen Life: A Memoir Jaycee Dugard 2 A Game of Thrones George R. R. Martin 3 The Help Kathryn Stockett 1 The Inbetweeners August 19, 2011 2 One Day August 19, 2011 3 Rise Planet of the Apes August 5, 2011 1 The Dukan Diet Dr Pierre Dukan 2 Rick Stein’s Spain Rick Stein 3 One Day David Nicholls 1 Million God 1 Kamisama No Karute Aruze Media Net Corp August 27, 2011 2 Modern Combat 2 2 Harry Potter 7 pt 2 Gameloft July 15, 2011 3 Free Music Download Pro 3 Kung Fu Panda 2 Byungsook Oh May 26, 2011 itunes.apple.com boxofficemojo.com 1 Practice Version! Yuki Wakatsuki Teruo 2 Tiger & Bunny Post Media 3 Exceeding their law Peter Sage amazon.com PUZZLES • COMICS NEWS 10 FAKE THE EAGLE THE EAGLE RED LINE CLOSED Chicago Declares “Eagles Day” in Honor of RMU Football By Susie Creamcheese Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city of Chicago have declared September 3 “Eagles Day” in honor of Robert Morris University’s first home football game. During a ceremony held outside the mayor’s office, Emanual declared the day “Eagles Day” saying that, “It is a pleasure and honor for Chicago to have more football teams. After all, no one pays attention to the Bears.” When informed that the Eagles will actually play in Arlington Heights and not Chicago, Emanual said, “Well, yeah. Close enough.” Photo Credit: SportNet Photo Credit: Chicago Report By Ramiro Espino On August 1, 2011 a spokesperson for the CTA announced that Chicago will be shutting down the red line. This announcement has sparked many debates throughout the city as it will affect the lives of many people. There are many pros and cons to this however the majority of Chicagoans seem to be enraged over this announcement. The red line has for a long time, served as an efficient way to travel from the north side to the south side, and this will leave many people searching for new ways to travel. One CTA passenger in particular had this to say, “I take the red line to work every day, now how will I get to work?” While it will be bad for the people who take the red line to work every day, it will be worse for the many CTA workers who will be laid off. It is estimated that 1500 employees will lose their jobs and they are not happy. CTA workers have already begun to strike and have not been working. Thus Chicago is already getting a taste of what it will be like to lose the red line. The strike itself has also caused many debates and CTA has taken notice. Press conferences have been called and it appears the city is demanding a solution. CTA recognizes that the red line is an important factor in many people’s lives and they are doing what they can to find a compromise. When asked why the red line would be closed spokesperson, Jesus Mendez said, “The funding in our budget no longer allows us to keep all of our lines running. Since the red line has often been criticized for its poor maintenance we decided it would be the first to go.” While it is true that the red line is poorly maintained many people argue that it is still important and that they can deal with the small inconveniences that come with it. The aldermen who rule the wards the red line runs through had several solutions to offer the CTA. One thing they suggested was raising the fare from 2.25 to 2.75. However this seemed to cause uproar by spectators and was quickly cast aside. Another suggestion was that the city raise the sales tax by .01 percent. This seemed more reasonable but it would have to be voted on. A press conference has been scheduled for next week Friday, in Millen- nium Park. It is estimated that 2 million people will attend. During this conference CTA will take any suggestions into consideration. The city is fighting to keep the red line and it has become evident that Chicagoans won’t let this go without a fight. Jesus Mendez added, “If the closing of the red line is inconvenient to you, make it a priority to attend this press conference.” CTA workers have agreed to put a temporary hold on their strike on Friday so that everyone can attend. The leader of the strike said, “If this bothers you, stand up and make your voice heard! We can’t let them get rid of the red line; they can’t ignore all of us!” The CTA strikers have also released this statement: “If you cannot attend this important event, please “like” Keep the Red Line on Facebook. Our goal is to get 4 million likes by next Friday. We feel that if we achieve this number of ” likes” that they will have to keep it open.” So there you have it, if you don’t want the red line to close down you have several options. Don’t let these dates pass you by, participate! Otherwise, we may all lose a very important method of transportation. • Pumpkin Flu Sweeps Midwest By Joseph Neuchâtel As fall steadily makes its way into the Midwest, doctors and scientists are warning the public to take caution against the latest epidemic: Pumpkin Flu. The virus, which thrives in the pulpy interior of the seasonal squash, is very contagious, spreading easily through normal contact with hands, handles, and handlebars. Symptoms include sinus congestion, a low-grade fever, and a swollen orange tongue. “First Bird Flu, then Swine Flu. What’s next?” said John Baker, father of three. “Can’t these doctors stop the animals and vegetables from getting us sick?” Scientists advise that one precautionary measure to avoid Pumpkin Flu is to not touch any pumpkins. “Yes, that sounds like obvious advice, but it can’t be overstated! In fact, the scientific community has come up with a simple rhyme to remind the public not to touch them. It goes, ‘If you see something large and orange, don’t touch it.’” Pumpkin flu is not just threatening public safety, but seasonal traditions. At Donegel’s Pumpkin Patch in suburban Aurora, farmer Teddy Skotch says sales will be down both on pumpkins and the farm’s other attractions like the Haunted Barn, Funhouse, and Pumpkin Catapult. “We can’t even use the pumpkin catapult this year. It’d be like biological warfare,” said Skotch. Some of the colorful locals are trying to make the best out of the Pumpkin Flu. Convicted Felon Sandra Thompson said, “Sticking razorblades into candy apples for Halloween was such a chore. It will be so much easier to just give children some pumpkin pie.” • WORD SCRAMBLE SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS Can you figure out what words these are? Unscramble the words and fill in the corresponding blanks! Good Luck! 1. rdgetauh 2. numstemae 3. scsirsso 4. iegnen 5. imrecvwao 6. erequtnf 7. setsroru 8. wdloneegk 9. ysyaeedrt 10. bvanorioste ________ Happy Birthday to you, you smell like a __ , you look like a __ and you think like one too! This month you have psychic powers. Every day fill in the blanks. You will decide your future for that day. hint: think positive. Smiling a lot this month is going to help you fix a problem you have been working on. Of course, smiling means showing those teeth. It is time to get them fixed. You should wear red this month. Before you blow your top, go to the restroom, look in the mirror, stare at your red clothing article and follow the red rule; STOP! Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 23) Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Gemini (May 21 – June 21) Eating Skittles before each test is going to give you great luck, good grades, and a new friend (the dentist). Your team project will go smoothly this month, but you have to stand on your head for 15 seconds before the group meetings. This will help you bite your tongue. Your personal relationships will bloom this month, so it’s time to build some. Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 21) Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Cancer (June 22 – July 22) Take a walk to the lake once a week this month; you need to blow off some steam. Only then will the glass be half anything. Congratulations, you have finally stepped inside the box! It didn’t hurt at all, did it? Wearing the right colors will make your days breezy this month. The wrong colors are going to make your stomach hurt. Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) Leo (July 23 – Aug 22) You know the lock you bought when you rented your locker was blue, not red. Renew your locker lease or you are going to lose some things. Bringing a packed lunch will save you money, time, and heartburn. This month I am prescribing you to give out one compliment a day, you will be surprised to see your strengths pop up afterwards. 7 3 6 _________ ________ ________ _________ _________ ___________ 8 9 3 5 ______ 2 3 3 4 1 9 5 8 8 6 1 7 2 4 2 6 9 2 8 2 1 5 CROSSWORD PUZZLE Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Thu Sep 1 20:28:06 2011 GMT. Enjoy! ACROSS 1) Box earnings 5) Musician’s engagements 9) Not the least bit fresh 14) Financial page acronym 15) Diva’s show-stopper 16) Take into 0ne’s family 17) Handed-down knowledge 18) Drum specialty 19) In great shape, as muscles 20) Grant’s horse’s team? 23) Deuterium discoverer Harold 24) Easy as Z 25) Babble 28) Custard dessert 30) Sawbones’ gp. 33) “Encore!” 34) One past twelve? 35) Penultimate word in a fairy tale 36) Lone rangefs horse’s banner? 39) Shaving cream ingredient 40) Breakfast grains 41) Flight attendant’s beat 42) Cariou 01” Berman 43) “For J‘ (“Abs0lutely!”) 44) Glove‘s cousin 45) Snoopy, in his daydreams 46) Composer Schifrin 47) John Tyler’s horse’s reign? 55) Joe Flacco, for one 56) Political campaign ammunition 57) Tennessee’s flower 58) Subject of media coverage 59) Blade runner 60) Piles up birthdays 61) Superman’s folks 62) Welfare state? 63) Deliverer of much political humor a Queen of Voodoo, who will remain nameless, in the Chicagoland area. Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20) 5 ________ By Madam Natasha Madam Natasha studied with gypsies in France, witch doctors in Africa, and with a well-known master of shrunken heads. Currently Madam Natasha has been working closely with Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) INSTRUCTIONS Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty 0.46) so that each row, column, and each one of the Fill the 9x9 grid withrating numbers nine 3x3 blocks contain numbers ranging from 1 to 9. Good luck! _________ HUMorscopes Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22) 11 LAST MONTH’S SOLUTIONS SUDOKU WORD SCRAMBLE 1. DECEPTION 2. coughing 3. OVERTIME 4. infrequent 5. applesauce 6. acolyte 7. riddle 8. torpedo 9. cabbage 10. invincible CROSSWORD PUZZLE DOWN 1) Bathroom sprinkle 2) “Mine,” in Marseilles 3) Distance letters 4) Corporate bigwig 5) “Maverick” star 6) Device of the wryly humorous 7) River to the Colorado 8) Ice melter 9) Drives home 10) Revere 11) Number of hits in a perfect game 12) Made a mockery of? 13) Some used Fords 21) Title role for Renee Zellweger 22) Bucky Beaver’s toothpaste 25) decongestant 26) Quick like a cat 27) Branch grabber 28) “Twelfth Night” clown 29) “I’m game!” 30) Warning to landlubbers 31) First name in cosmetics 32) “As You Like It” forest 34) Old ruler 35) Opinion column 37) Where Joan of Arc perished 38) Carpenter’s need 43) Hounds’ leads 44) Sweet shoppe treat 45) Scully or Bond, e.g. 46) Generous, as portions 47) Long day’s journey 48) Fortunate fellow 49) Exactly divisible by two 50) Ancient garden spot 51) Go biking 52) Prompt 53) Banker’s protection 54) EXxonMobil brand CHECK THE NEXT ISSUE FOR ANSWERS TO THIS MONTH’S PUZZLES! ADVERTISEMENT: CHECK IT OUT AG O C A ER UN A- PT UniversalSoul Circus Hip Hop Anyone? UniversalSoul Circus will be in Chicago at Washington Park on September 21, 22, and 23rd. This Circus was born in 1994. The idea of the show was to present something different, to create a show that presented a wide spectrum of black talent to a wide demographic of spectators and it successfully did so. Since its birth, the circus has performed its show in 32 cities. Visit universalsoulcircus.com for more information. Jay-Z and Kanye West will be at the United Center on October 7, 2011. Jay-Z is on a tour right and Chicago is one of the stops. The concert is October 7, 2011. Visit eventful.com/ chicago for more information about this concert. WHERE? Washington Park located at 5531 S Martin Luther King Drive Chicago, IL 60637 Loop the Loop Did you know that you can take a free tour of the Chicago Loop every Saturday at 11am, 11:40am, 12:20pm and 1pm? Well you can! Every Saturday from now until September 30th there is an “el” train that loops around the loop for a tour of Chicago Loop free. The train makes the circuit three times. It goes around the skyscrapers downtown Chicago giving viewers passing views of landmarks, including the State of Illinois Building and the Chicago Theatre marquee. R B S IT Y AT O ER I T M N ORRIS U 13 WHAT TO DO IN THE CHI LASHONDRA GRAVES SHARES UPCOMING ACTIVITIES U A G A E R TER CHIC H S THE EAGLE VE R HELP HAITI! HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF If you would like to donate goods, please drop them off at marked locations on campus. For more information about joining UNA-USA at RMU, contact: Rachel Story UNA-USA Student Chapter President [email protected] CHICAGO GOURMET If you didn’t get the chance to visit the taste of Chicago this year this is the treat for you. Chicago Gourmet in Millennium Park is an upscale version of Taste of Chicago -- better food, smaller crowds, and a much higher price tag. This Gourmet food event will be on Sept. 23, 2011: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011: noon - 6 p.m and Sunday, Sept 25, 2011: noon - 5 p.m. WHERE? Millennium Park, Chicago WHERE? Tours depart from the Randolph and Wabash elevated station HIP HOP ANYONE? Jay-Z and Kanye West will be at the United Center on October 7, 2011. Jay-Z is on a tour right and Chicago is one of the stops. The concert is October 7, 2011. Visit eventful.com/ chicago for more information about this concert. WHERE? The United Center located at 1901 West Madison St. Chicago, IL 60612 GO BEARS! Columbus Day Parade The Columbus Day Parade celebrates Christopher Columbus’ historic voyage to America and Italian-American culture. The parade will be held on October 10, 2011. Visit explorechicago.com for more information. WHERE? 805 W Chicago, Chicago IL Photo Credit: Nate Brelsford On Sunday September 25, 2011 our very own Chicago Bears will play the Packers. Where are you going to watch the game? Here are two great places in Chicago loop to show some Chicago Bears spirit and have a nice meal. WHERE? Chicago Theatre at 3145 North Sheffield Chicago, IL 60657 FRANK N DAWG By LaShondra Graves DONATE ITEMS SUCH AS: • Band-aids • OTC medicines (chewable tablets or capsules) • Educational supplies (pencils, crayons, rulers, etc.) WHERE? The United Center located at 1901 West Madison Street Chicago, IL 60612 Ever had a bratwurst sausage, truffle mac “n” cheese with parmesan, brioche bread crumbs and thyme dawg? How about a chicken sausage with shredded romaine, Caesar mayo, black garlic and pancetta crisp dawg? Well here is your chance and it’s decently priced at Franks ‘N Dawgs. Their Haute Dawgs are unique sausages and blends of wonderful cheese, and greens and things piled on a hotdog bun. The first Dawg mentioned is the Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese Dog, the second is the Chicken Ceaser Dog. Franks ‘n’ Dawgs describes their amazing versions of the hotdog as “elevating street food by incorporating the creativity of fine dining chefs, seasonal high quality artisan ingredients and deft attention and execution.” They use locally sourced ingredients by artisanal suppliers. Their buns are a New England style lobster rolls, which are baked daily by a local artisan baker and lightly buttered. This place is not just for the people who want to try a different spin on the hotdog experience, but they also feature a contest for those who have a chef in them. To enter their contest all you have to do is create a hot dog recipe and submit it to info@franksndawg. com with your name and contact information. The winning recipe will be chosen with the creator of the recipe receiving three rewards: The first is a $75 Franks ‘N Dawgs gift card, the second is that the recipe will be featured for a month, and lastly will receive a dollar for every one of the winners creation that is sold during the feature month. Franks ‘N Dawgs is located at 1863 N. Clybourn Ave Chicago Il, 60614. Yes this place is called Franks ‘N Dawgs, but there is nothing regular about the hotdogs sold here. • Photo Credit: Frank N Dawg SPORTS • FITNESS 14 THE EAGLE COMMENTARY THE EAGLE COMMENTARY SPORTS & HEALTH AND IT GOES AROUND... BEARS SEASON PREVIEW Walking among us Andrew Williamson By Charisse Hagerman Photo Credit: Getty Images WHERE IS THE PROFESSIONALISM Photo Credit: SportGuru Football Aficionados Paul Gaszak, John Edwards, and Mick McMahon weigh in on the Chicago Bears 2011-2012 campaign. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Best Unit (ie: WRs, LBs, etc.): a. Paul: RBs. Forte, Taylor, and Barber should be a good trio. b. John: Obviously the running back unit is the strongest unit. A combined 12,150 career yards and each has their own style to throw at the defense. c. Mick: The defensive line. They have tremendous depth, and having Peppers coming off the end improves everyone down the line. By Israel Colon Photo Credit: RMU Athletics By John Edwards Worst Unit: a. Paul: OL. It’s going to be a big issue. b. John: Offensive line. Too many question marks. c. Mick: This is a no brainer: the offensive line. They invested their first round pick in Gabe Carimi to fill in at right tackle, and with the exception of a mediocre Chris Williams, all the line are playing new positions. From: Dallas, Texas Best Roster Addition: a. Paul: Gabe Carimi. If he pans out, he’ll upgrade the line. b. John: Has to be rookie All-American Carimi helping the offensive line. c. Mick: Gabe Carimi. He is showing great potential at right tackle. At least it’s a start in the right direction. He also adds a little mean streak, most of which has left with the departure of Olin Kruetz. Favorite Football team: Dallas Cowboys Worst Roster Addition: a. Paul: Roy Williams. One good season in eight years, yet Bears except him to be their #1? b. John: Flip a coin between Vernon Gholston and Roy Williams. c. Mick: Chris Conte. Angelo pulled the trigger too soon on this guy. How many picks are the Bears going to use on the secondary without finding a silver lining? Will age be a factor in the Bear’s success this year? a. Paul: No, even though they’re aging, they should be fine. b. John: It is a two-headed monster, it means we have experience but are more susceptible to injury. c. Mick: Age is a factor: Urlacher is my biggest concern. Going into the 2010 season, the middle linebacker had pretty much all of 2009 to rest due to the wrist injury. This year, he does not have that luxury. If Urlacher’s age catches up with him, and injuries ensue, the defense may struggle mightily. Will the defense be among the league’s best? a. Paul: Age may impact them a little, but they’ll still be solid. b. John: Think Top 10, not Top 5. c. Mick: Defense among the league’s best: If they can stay healthy, they should be good, not great. Should the Bears have let Olin Kreutz go? a. Paul: No, especially since the replacement they signed isn’t slated to start. b. John: No. Despite being past his prime, he knew the offense and could have helped the newer guys. c. Mick: I’m torn on this one. He was a team leader, but his performance was certainly declining. Would it have been worth it to spend the money on his contract? If Chris Spencer ends up starting, then not spending the money on Kruetz was a smart move. Will Jay Cutler be able to repair his reputation from the NFC Championship game? a. Paul: If he wins games, yes. b. John: People forget “injuries” if you can win. c. Will Chicago fans forgive? If he tones down interceptions in the red zone, and emerges as the leader for the offense, yes. If he continues to throw to the other team while running for his life, then no. What impact will this season on coach Lovie Smith’s future with the team? a. Paul: Management is too devoted to him. He’ll stick regardless of the outcome. b. John: Smith will be in Chicago until we get the reputation of Detroit, i.e. he isn’t going anywhere. c. Mick: I think he’s secure past this year no matter what happens. He has won the division several times, and taken the team to the Super Bowl. Plus, the Bears are quite stingy when it comes to paying for new coaches/players. Lovie stays put no matter what the outcome is this season. RMU Sports: Football Major: Business Management Andrew Williamson comes to the Robert Morris University football team by way of Texas. New to the city of Chicago, he has still found time to explore and claimed that the Field Museum was his favorite attraction thus far because he could relate the story to the man-eating lions to a film he had seen about them. The junior running When asked, “What does RMU need,” many think of improving the facility. Some would like for there to be a more aesthetically pleasing building on the inside. However, I would have to say that underneath it all there is one area that must be improved above all else. It is the standards to which we hold our students. In a school that prides itself on sending its graduates off to the professional world like no other college, there is a lack of professionalism among its students. It is these students who are among the loud minority that have caused frustration and a lack of unity in our classes and dare I say, have caused an impediment in our learning. Our school is one of the few colleges that require that we take an internship. Our classes are designed so that we can act as professionals would in our internships. It is during our internships that we learn the true meaning of working in a real job towards a career and held to the same standard as any other employee. It is this simple fact of truth that has failed to dawn on those who continually treat college professionalism as a joke. Getting in someone’s face, demanding lab items, and imposing upon others is in no way showing competence. Where does rude behavior, belligerence and obnoxious speech come to play in any professional establishment? Does anyone want to be treated in a negative manner? If no, why do students tear down what they’re trying to build up? Will demanding respect in a repulsive manner get you that respect? Rather, isn’t respect gained by first showing respect? Learning here at Robert Morris is an expensive endeavor for many students. Some have to pay out of their own pockets. It is an extreme hardship, but they sacrifice that in order to better themselves and have a degree to show for it. No one is given a free pass; even our students with scholarships must pay with their time spent away from their families. In this place we must learn to show a degree of professionalism and mutual respect towards one another. Students who incite tension that lead to arguments in the classroom only hurt their own reputation and the reputation of the classroom as a whole. In turn, this creates factions that exacerbates to other classes because rumors spread. So why add to that cost by being belligerent and disrespectful that it causes disunity and aggravation? Is this not the place where we learn to be team collaborators? Such disruption is grounds for probation in this school, even expulsion. I do not ask that there be an official change of policy but that there be a change of heart and mind. Everyone reading this article must take a good look at himself or herself, and to raise your standards. We can do better. We must be better. • I was fully prepared to rant regarding the death of Kenneth Harding, the loss of compassion in modern society and how some law enforcement officials may require sensitivity training; although the latter contains my opinion of truth, in the case of Kenneth W. Harding, it seems it may be more like karma. Who is Kenneth Harding you ask? Harding was a 19-year-old man gunned down in the streets of San Francisco by police after giving chase for allegedly not paying bus fare on July 16, 2011. Suggesting not that this young man got what he deserved, its not my place to decide that yet apparently there is more to the victim’s story than being shot in the back 5 times by police in cold blood. “Harding was a 19-year-old man gunned down in the streets of San Francisco by police after giving chase for allegedly not paying bus fare...” A tragedy for Harding’s family and friends but a sigh of relief for some who loved Tanaya Gilbert: Who is Tanyana Gilbert? A 19-year-old woman killed in Seattle 3 days before Kenneth Harding was gunned down in San Francisco. Amidst all the outrage about the manner in which law enforcement officials killed Harding, news of the victim being a “person of interest” in Gilbert’s murder does not soothe the soul about his death; it does for me however, incite the possibility of karma in action. Seattle police have not confirmed that Harding actually committed the shooting of Tanyana Gilbert and those with her in the car that night, yet the survivors reportedly are confident that he was the man in question. The saddest truth is that 2 people have lost their lives, an addendum to this tragedy is that Gilbert reportedly was pregnant and although the court of law says an unborn fetus is not recognized as a person; the expectation will remain with those who love Gilbert, along with the possibilities that will never be. Like with each piece of heartbreaking news we face daily as technology affords us the privilege, we tend to evaluate our lives, if only for a moment. I ask for that moment again, not as a fleeting thought we can’t bear yet as a time to sow more positive seeds into the world we occupy. Starting with us, then those we love as well as others who cross our path day to day: Give a kind word, a pleasant smile or some encouragement. Doing such simplistic deeds can make quite a positive impact in a person’s life and if you believe in such things, creates good vibrations to return. With so much violence and suffering projected, there is a plethora of opportune moments to contribute more good to the world at large. I can honestly say I have witnessed some truth to the “what goes around, comes around” theory or as Alicia Keys sings, “Its called Karma baby and it goes around.” • Photo Credit: KomoNews ON THE HOUSE HUNT 5 Things to Look for When Renting an Apartment By Sanina Ellison Photo Credit: RMU Athletics By Lashondra Graves From: Chicago, IL RMU Sports: Women's Lacrosse 11. Best name on the team? a. Paul: Caleb Hanie. It better be good, because fans will be chanting it after Cutler throws a few more picks. b. John: Amobi Okoye because it’s awesome and he should be able to learn from his All-Pro defensive surroundings. c. Mick: Julius Peppers. The name makes me hungry. Now I want a beef sandwich and a deep dish pizza. Not one or the other, both. Associations: Alpha Sigma Omega 13. Bear-kus (Season Predictions in the form of a haiku) a. Paul: The Bears will not win, the North Division due to, Rodgers and McNabb. b. John: The Bears could win, But they won’t because of the, Strong North Division. c. Mick: Fear creeps in slowly, Cutler’s protection in doubt, Offensive line woes. back, a transfer from Howard Payne University,was more than ready for the season to begin, almost chomping at the bit. He mentioned he isvery excited about being a part a program that was just starting and he thinks the Eagles will be able to show everyone that the long awaited build up for the team will be worth it in the end. While he probably has memorable moments in store for the Robert Morris football team, his most memorable moment in high school was catching a game-tying screen during his senior year. Though they went on to lose the game, being a part of that moment has stuck with him throughout his football career. While Andrew works hard to begin his career here at Robert Morris, we wish him and his teammates good luck in their inaugural season. • WAU: Teresa guia 10. Any thoughts on the Bears playing field? a. Paul: The playing surface is awful and the stadium should have been domed during renovation. b. John: One of the worst playing fields in the NFL. Needs some Scotts and a new groundskeeper. c. Mick: No Comment. 12. Worst name on the team? a. Paul: Major Wright. If he plays poorly, he’s a major wrong. b. John: Roy Williams. Bears fans will be complaining all year. c. Mick: Chris Williams. Why? He’s a disappointing offensive lineman. 15 Major: Management Teresa Guia is a Robert Morris University Women’s Lacrosse player. She was born in Mexico, but was raised here in Chicago. Her major her at Robert Morris is Management. She is almost at the end of her journey as a Graduating Senior. Teresa has been a Lacrosse player for two years, the duration of her time here at Robert Morris. When asked if she would continue to play Lacrosse after she graduate Theresa replied, “Yes!” Lacrosse isn’t the only thing Teresa is interested in. She was the Vice President of SIFE here at Robert Morris. She was also a student ambassador. She has been on the Dean’s list several times and she’s an alumni SSS (Student Support Services) member. Presently she tutors for SSS and is one of their Supplemental Instruction leaders. I asked Teresa what she does with her free time. Teresa is also the founder of the Theta chapter of her sorority which is Alpha Sigma Omega. Her sorority is not recognized at this school but in her free time she was still able to put in her service hours. “I was able to put in my service hours by empowering women all over the world by creating my own philanthropy. I did this by becoming a member of Girlup and raising money for women in developing countries,” said Teresa. What more is there to Teresa, she speaks three languages; Italian, Spanish, and English. Her final words to her team were, “Good luck this season and get ready to ‘hustle’.” • Searching for your first apartment can be a very exciting, yet intimidating experience. I found my first apartment when I was 19 years old. I was so excited to be out of my parent’s house that I jumped at the first apartment that accepted my application. Apparently, they were just as happy to have me as tenant as I was to have an apartment. I didn’t stay there long! I wish I had a checklist of things that I should have looked for when I was a searching for my first apartment. As I became more experienced in this process, the second time around was much easier. There are many questions that you should ask and many things that you should look for. Where do I start? How do I know if I have found the right apartment? Should I use an apartment finding service? Here are my tips for finding an apartment: Location Everyone has different reasons for renting in a certain area. Consider your needs. Are you familiar with the area? Is it close to school/ work/the grocery store? Is the neighborhood safe? Will there be a problem with noise/light? Even if the immediate street looks safe, take a drive around the area at night and see if it looks significantly different at night than it does during the day. Your block may look quiet on a Wednesday morning but turn into a club scene or crime scene on a Friday night. Utilities Have you considered that your utilities may be separate from your rent? There are some apartments where the utilities are included in your rent. If that is a concern of yours be sure to inquire in the beginning of your search. While this is a nice luxury, it is rather uncommon and I would not expect it. Find out how much the average utilities are throughout the year. Heat can be very expensive in the winter, and electricity can be very expensive in the summer if the unit has central air conditioning. So be sure to include this in your fixed monthly expenses. are a lot of landlords that are willing to waive the security. I would not expect this and, if this is the case, do your homework on the building because it may be in foreclosure. Expect to pay at least one month’s rent as a security deposit. school districts, crime statistics, and the history of the building, etc. Use them as a trusted resource since you do not have to pay a fee for their service; the landlord pays the Realtor for bringing them a tenant. Finding an Apartment Check your local newspapers, Craigslist, apartment finder or online search engines. It is a good idea to use a local Realtor. A local Realtor can give you information on the neighborhood, These are a few things to consider when renting an apartment. Had I known these things in the beginning I could have avoided a real nightmare situation with my first apartment. I hope this helps you in your search. Happy hunting! • Price Set a budget and stick to it! It is very important to consider all of your costs, not just your rent. Based on your monthly income determine how much you can afford to pay for rent and stick to it! Add up your other expenses including credit card bills, groceries, entertainment, transportation, books, household toiletries, etc. Paying your rent should not leave you broke! The standard rule is that rent should not be more than 30% of your monthly income. Be sure to consider when you are moving you will need significantly more money to move than you will need each month. You will need first and last month’s rent and a security deposit along with start-up fees for utilities. Security Deposit Is a security deposit needed? 99% of the time the answer is yes. In the current economy there Photo Credit: E.I.N.N. 16 COMMENTARY THE EAGLE SO FRESH SO GREEN WORDS OF THE MONTH By Jenny Jocks Stelzer This July, Robert Morris University students and employees took it to the streets on their bikes for the City of Chicago’s “Bike to Work Week” and the Active Transportation Alliance’s “Bike Commuter Challenge.” The event pitted Chicagoland businesses, organizations, and universities against each other to compete at various participation levels for the bragging rights to having, essentially, the most sustainable commuters. The RMU Sustainability Council entered the competition on behalf of Robert Morris University in an effort to raise awareness of the positive environmental and health effects of biking to work and school. The council’s team leader, student Patrick Wingert, organized the team and rallied RMU students, staff, and faculty to participate. Through Patrick’s leadership, the RMUSC was able to secure locker-room and shower use for all participants, and then share the week-long experience with followers via the Sustainable RMU Facebook and Twitter pages. The participants requested indoor storage space for their bikes on the Chicago campus, but building safety policies made the request impossible to grant, despite the team leader’s best efforts. Participants in the Bike Commuter Challenge reaped the benefits of biking to work, including: Achieving numerous health benefits like fitness, reduced depression and anxiety, and relaxation. 2. Creating virtually zero carbon foot print with their commute. 3. Saving money on parking, car maintenance, or public transportation costs. 4. Gaining an appreciation for the places that they live, commute, and work by interacting more closely with the environment. 5. Having fun on their commute. Upon attendance at a team leaders’ luncheon, Patrick learned that the Robert Morris University team had logged enough bike commuter miles to win our category: College/University, 25-99 employees/participants. According to Patrick, “Overall, I am really proud of the inaugural RMU Bike Commuter Challenge Team. Everyone gave it their best effort and obviously, it paid off for us with a win. I believe we would’ve won by an even greater margin if we had more bike racks and/or indoor bike parking to encourage more riders, but that it still on my list, among many other things. I urge staff and students alike to ride their bikes as much as possible. I am very much looking forward to participating again next year and I hope you will join us!” The RMUSC would like the entire RMU community to consider the important benefits of commuting by bike and, perhaps next year, to join yet another winning RMU team! • 1. AUTUMN! GERMAN Herbst SAY IT IN 14 LANGUAGES ITALIAN autunno ARABIC JAPANESE 秋 AFRIKAANS herfs POLISH jesieN CHINESE 秋 PORTUGUESE outono DUTCH herfst SPANISH otoño FILIPINO taglagas SWEDISH hösten FRENCH l’automne ںازخ مسوم فيرخلا لصف FULL HOUSE Overslaugh [ov• r'•slô] verb e RMU ON TWO WHEELS URDU NATE DAUBERT “Sure” To pass over or disregard (a person) by giving a promotion, position, etc., to another instead. Example: I was overslaugh when they gave my former assistant the promotion. Origin: Derives from the Dutch overslaan, with slaan meaning “to strike.” URBAN DICTIONARY Meatox [mee•täks] noun The act of abstaining from eating meat for a period of time, usually after heavily indulging Example: After eating 5 hot dogs and 2 hamburgers at my aunt’s house I’m going to meatox for the next few days. HE SAYS SHE SAYS THE NATIONAL DEBT DEBATE The economy has hit the fan so to speak and it is our own damn fault. What are we doing about it? We’re still fighting like pubescent teenagers running back to our parties for support. The Democrats want to continue social services, lower the interest rate, and pump imaginary money into the economy. What does this all mean for you? Higher taxes, hyperinflation, and more problems down the road. Better buy yourself a wheel barrow, because you’re going to need it to carry enough cash to buy a loaf of bread. Thankfully we’ve got some smart people in high places. Republicans are voting to cut or eliminate social services which were only meant to be temporary in the first place, and lower corporate taxes to increase jobs. More jobs mean more personal income and more personal income means potentially more revenue for the IRS. I vote we do a combination of both. Cut social services and raise taxes for a period of up to 15 years. That will kick our multi-trillion dollar loans in the arse. Let’s go back to raising money the way our great grand parents did after they floated across the pond. They worked their tails off to pay off their debts and make a name for themselves. I do it, I’m working 60-70 hours a week to pay off my loans. We as a country need to do the same. Get off your ass, stop using your Link Card, cancel that welfare check and get yourself at least a minimum wage job. It may not be the same 50 G’s you were used to making as a paralegal at Johnson, Johnson, and Berringer or wherever you used to work, but if you keep cashing that Welfare check, you’re part of the problem. • JOE HALBOTH “Would you vote for someone soft-hearted” Aaron Nielsen IRA-LEE NESBITT Lissy Pfister Welcome to the United States were we mismanage and misspend ourselves into 14.5 trillion dollars into debt. How did this happen you ask? For years now, the government has lowered taxes and increased spending. What about that debt ceiling that was put into place years ago? Every year when the debt increases, Congress just raises the debt ceiling higher and higher. To add to that, interest rates are not on the government’s side. When someone takes out a loan, even when it’s the US government, there is interest that must be paid on that loan. Billions of dollars in debts from other countries, primarily China and Japan, are demanding higher interest rates that are killing us. Yes, Japan and China, countries that we have a less than positive relations with. The only reason that we have been mildly ok until this point is because social security was on the government’s side. Hundreds of thousands of baby boomers were paying into social security when only a fraction of that number was of an age to collect it. Logic tells us that the government would have put this money aside to aid in funding social security when the numbers weren’t in the their favor but yet again the government ignores logic for a quick fix. Every single day for the next 19 years 10,000 people will reach the social security age. Professors at the University of Chicago recently calculated the combined pension liabilities for all 50 states. The government will eventually owe $5.17 trillion in pensions, there is only $1.94 trillion set aside for such expenses. For those of you without a calculator that is a $3.2 trillion deficit. Welcome to the United States. • AMY MALDONADO BRIANNA SCHWAB “If I said “yes” I’d be lying” “No, green party” “Hell no, I’m voting for Palin and Beck” 1 Will you vote to re-elect Obama? 2 “Make a dog with 6 If you were God for legs” a day, what would you do? “Build another content and watch everyone fight over it” “I would eliminate scientology and Oprah” “I would make everything from buffy the vampire slayer real life” “Get rid of my little pony” 3 “I picked up my sister What is the worst from a bar once and thing you have ever she threw up on me” smelled? “Dog sh*t after it digested an entire jar of peanut butter” “A diaper full of burning hair” “Old gym bag from swim team that was lost for like a year” “The smell when you don’t take out the garbage and there is food in there” “Embrace the Martian – KiD CuDi” “Jonathon Mathers” “D.J. Ryson” “Lights – Ellie Goulding” “Noises of the 202 computer lab” “Mooove B*tch, get out the way” “PTFO” “Get F*cked!" “I’m going to throw up on you” “That guy’s my hero” 4 What are you currently listening to? 5 What is your favorite phrase of the month?