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Fall 2009 Nov. Issue of Truman's Uptown Exchange student newspaper.
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Take a stroll down the
technicolor catwalk page 6-7
Almighty Pitas and
West African cuisine page 11
Swine Flu vaccine
arrives at Truman page 3
November 2009 eDITIoN Serving the Truman College and Uptown Community oNe CoPY Free Per PerSoN
see >> POSITIVE page 8 & CrImE maP page 4
The Uptown Exchange
Turning a negaTive inTo a PosiTiveUptown residents Take back Their Neighborhoodby Melissa BrandOpinion Editor
Sheridan Road, from Leland to Lawrence, has gained no-toriety recently due to crime and outbreaks of violence. One recent incident in August, caught on home video
by an Uptown resident, was seen on newscasts throughout the region.
“I was getting calls from ev-eryone, asking ‘Where are you living?’” Uptown resident Tonia Lorenz said.
After the video aired, with little response from 46th ward Alderman, Helen Shiller, residents took to the streets. Positive Loi-tering, in which Uptown residents congregate peacefully to keep watch over their neighborhood, made it known that residents will not accept the violence in their neighborhood. The first night was Aug. 28 at 11 p.m. and about 100 residents came to show support.
Oct. 23 marked the 9th Friday night neighbors met for Positive Loitering, on the corner of Leland and Sheridan. A group of about 18 people and 6 dogs were out from 7 – 8:30
p.m. Richard Thale, CAPS Facilitator for Uptown Beat 2312 and Public Safety Chair of the Uptown Chicago Commission who is one of the organizers, says he is pleased with the results so far.
“We’ve had a big turnout,” Thale said. “Even on the coldest nights we’ve had people here.” When asked if he’ll continue throughout the winter, he stated, “If
the neighbors keep com-ing out, I’ll be out here.”
Neighbors who had just met stood in smaller groups, talking to each other like they had known each other for years. One couple made a run across the street to get coffee at Café Too, a supportive neighborhood restaurant that offers free warm drinks to the people loi-tering.
At one point, James Cappleman, Board President of the Uptown Chicago Commission, asked the crowd to make room so people walking by could pass. “There’s some people when they walk by they get a little suspicious, a little threatened,” Cappleman said. “We don’t want anyone to be threatened.”
Cappleman continued, “we’re all looking out for one another, not trying to push out any groups, just trying to make the area safer.”
Undeterred by the rain, the group stood on the corner of Leland and Sheridan until about 7:30. They then walked to the
sga ouTlines Plans for 2009-10 school YearStresses student involvement, activityby Oliver HuntNews Editor
At a student meeting on September 17, Truman’s Stu-dent Government Association (SGA) outlined plans to build an active and organized SGA.
“Mostly our goals are to get the SGA more organized,” said SGA vice president Marta Aguila. “(We want to) have operating hours so we’re more available, more events like the (student meeting) to reach out to students.”
SGA president Alice-Gray Lewis added that student gov-
ernment sponsored events are intended to inform students of such issues as the 2010 accreditation survey and cuts in avail-able financial aid; and to involve them in student government, as a means of recruiting student senators. She also spoke of the SGA’s plans to lobby in Springfield on Oct. 15, with
Malcolm X College, on behalf of the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant.
Student services employee Nan Sullivan, who’d organized a lobbying trip to Springfield last April, cautioned that organizing such a trip involves a lot of preparation, including securing a bus and advertising.
“(Lobbying in Springfield) is crazy,” Sullivan says. “You have to be organized and flexible.” She suggested that the SGA start early, and possibly lobby within Chicago as well as Springfield. The SGA has since lobbied both in Springfield and at Loyola.
This year’s student government, according to both Sullivan and staff advisor Maegan Reddick, who’s in charge of student clubs, are operating on a higher level of activity than past SGAs.
“I’ve seen more action in this SGA than I have previous-ly,” Reddick said. “These students involved in SGA now have been involved in student clubs and have been trained as stu-dent leaders coming into the position.” ■
“These students involved in SGA now have been involved in student clubs and
have been trained as student leaders coming into the position.”
Maegan Reddick, Coordinator
Student Club Center
“We’re all looking out for one another, not trying to push out any
groups, just trying to make the area safer.”
James Cappleman, Uptown Resident
Photograph by melissa brand
Uptown residents Patty Pater, James Cappleman, Mike Dooley, and Julie Dooley participate in Positive Loitering.
Editor-In-Chief:David Palm
News Editor:William Oliver Hunt
Opinion Editor:Melissa Brand
Arts & Entertainment Editor:
Avelyn Isada
Copy Editor:Serena Heider
Staff Writers:Lauren Barrett
Brian GilJohanna GranoblesBenjamin HeimerMaricar LlamzonMauricio Pineda
Roylynn VillaSan Yem
Editorial Assistant:Oluwafikayo Adeosun
Production & Design Manager:
Phillip Romanello
Chief Photographer & Graphics Editor:Alberto Martinez
Photographers:Mamadou DialloDesireee Galen
Katarzyna Matwiejuk
Artist/Cartoonist:Nefertiti Abdulmalik
Business Manager:Chirag Patel
Student Adviser:Joshua Stackhouse
Faculty Adviser:Benjamin Ortiz
Professional Affiliations:College Media Advisers
Illinois Community CollegeJournalism Association
Student Press Law Center
To place an ad contact our business dept at: uptownexchange.busi-n e s s @ g m a i l . c o m
UPtOWN ExCHANGE StAFFPAGE 2 - UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 section - news
Note from the EditorBecause of an unforeseen issue with
our printer, this month’s edition of the Uptown Exchange was delayed.
The issue is now resolved and we hope to be back on schedule with the December issue. On behalf of the entire paper and its staff, I apologize to our readers for any inconve-nience this delay has caused. David PalmEditor-in-Chief
What is truman art?
The Uptown Exchange is looking for student photogra-phers and artists to feature in upcoming issues. To submit your work or nominate someone else please email:
Send your feedback to:
In the October edition, 2009, The Uptown Exchange published a picture with this caption: “Security Guard talking to a student at the front desk.” The person in question was not an actual student, but Mr. Sundeep Talwar, adjunct instructor of the Biology Department at Truman. The Uptown Exchange sin-cerely apologizes to Mr. Talwar for any harm this in-accurate caption may have caused.
Correction:
Photograph by Serena HeiderKyle Jihenez,6, receives his flu shot without tears.
UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 - PAGE 3News - sectioN
AMERICA RECYCLES WEEKTruEco Makes an Effort to Make a Difference
by Serena HeiderCopy Editor
The 11th annual America Recycles Day (ARD) on Nov. 15 is the only nation-ally recognized day dedicated to in-
forming Americans about the importance of daily recycling and buying recycled products. This is Truman’s first year in participating in the event.
TruEco, formerly The Environmental Studies and Science Club, will kick off their biggest event of the semester with education-al workshops and an art contest.
“Truman is progressing in becoming en-vironmentally friendly, especially with the new McKeon building at silver L.E.E.D status,” says Johanna Granobles, President of TruEco and staff writer of the Uptown Exchange. Having The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.) status means the building has passed the accredita-
tion exam given by the Green Building Certi-fication Institute.
In their second semester as a fully active club, their Fall Agenda states, “We want to fo-cus on mentoring and educating students in the Uptown community.”
Club members have been mentoring stu-dents at Stockton Elementary. TruEco and the Eye, Truman’s art club, have collaborated on an Environmental Art contest focused on re-cyclables. The art contest, named “Recycool,” will include neighboring schools: Stockton Elementary, Graeme Stewart Elementary and John T. McCutcheon Elementary. On Nov. 19, they will host an award ceremony for the students in the front lobby, where the win-ner’s project will be showcased from Nov. 9 to Nov. 23.
The purpose of ARD “is to
promote the social, environ-mental and economic ben-
efits of recycling and encour-age more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment.”
- The National Recycling
Coalition
“We want to establish Green Education for all. We are
bringing a Green Revolution to Truman!”
- TruEco Mission Statement
“Spreading the green word is the best way to promote an eco-friendly campus because only when people realize and understand their own impact will they decide to make a change,” Granobles said.
In their effort to spread the word, TruEco will also be launching a green awareness news letter via PDF email. The club has also been working with the Gaia Movement, a non-profit organization who provides clothing
recycling bins. Truman will have its own bin outside and the recycled clothing will be do-nated to homeless shelters in Uptown.
TruEco hopes to help current and future environmental activists become more aware and knowledgeable about the environment through its green activities.
For more information, you can find TruEco in the Student Club Center, or email the club: [email protected]. ■
Photograph by Melissa BrandTruEco Club Board displays recycled products.
Free H1N1 Vaccinations for ALLSwine Flu Shots at Chicago City Colleges
by Serena HeiderCopy Editor
On Saturday, Oct 24, the Chicago Department of Public Health be-gan giving free public H1N1 swine
flu shots and will continue for the following four to eight weeks at Truman College and five other city college locations.
Truman gave out 1200 vaccination shots on Saturday, Oct 24. Students and the public are advised to arrive early. One woman, who had arrived at 9:10 a.m., received ticket number 958.
By 2 p.m., only num-ber 815 was being served. Jennifer Kim heard about the free flu shots on the ra-dio and decided to bring her two children, Johnah,3, and Jordan, 5. She thought it was important to get the vacci-nation because she is preg-nant and both her children have asthma, therefore they are all “at risk.”
Some decided not to wait any longer and one man gave his lower number tick-et to David Jihenez and his son, Kyle, 6. They had been waiting since just after 9 a.m. and originally had the ticket number 915. David heard about the flu shots through his wife, they are both nurses.
Some will not be getting the vaccine be-cause they think it may cause them to become ill. However, the CDC assures that these fears are unfounded. “The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot.”
The production of the H1N1 vaccine is running behind schedule; Federal health of-ficials said only about 28 of the 40 million ex-pected doses would be available by the end of the month. However, the vaccine should be widely available by mid-November. Because of the shortage, priority is asked to be given to high-risk groups such as pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, children and young adults.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two vaccines are necessary to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 flu vaccine. Though only H1N1 vacci-nations will be given, the CDC is encouraging people to get both vaccinations.
Vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the cafeteria of the college, 1145 W. Wilson Avenue. No appointments are necessary and vaccinations will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Free shots will also be administered at: Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted St.; Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.; Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski Rd.; Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave.; Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave. ■
PAGE 4 - UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 section - news
Clearmap offered by ChiCago poliCe departmentby San YemStaff Writer
Illustration by Nefertiti AbdulmalikArtist/Cartoonist
& by David PalmEditor-in-Chief
The Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) Web site hosts CLEARMAP, a geographic information system pro-viding residents of Chicago with an opportunity to as-
sist problem-solving and combating crime in their neighbor-hoods, according to the CPD Web site.
Our crime map data was collected from the Chicago Po-lice Department at http://gis.chicagopolice.org/website/CLEARMap_rso/startPage.htm. The data covers the two weeks between Oct. 4 and Oct. 16. Crimes are listed from most common to least.
Crime Committed
Theft, robbery and burglary
Drug abuse violations
Simple and aggravated battery
Vandalism
Assault
Fraud
Prostitution
Weapons
The CLEARMAP hosted on CPD’s website lets it user:
search for various crime incidents near or within an •address, community, ward, beat, district, school or park.compare and contrast crime within the city by sum-•marizing crime by community, ward, beat, district or census tract.view registered sex offenders by searching for name, •address, community, ward, beat, district, school or park.view concerns summarized by community, ward, beat, •district or census tract.
Total Cases
25
9
9
7
5
5
3
2
Reference #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Crime Map Legend:
W Irving park RdW Irving park Rd
W Montrose Ave
N W
inth
rop
Av
eN
Win
thro
p A
ve
W Foster Ave
W Winona St
W Argyle St
N B
road
way A
ve
N K
en
mo
re A
ve
W Lawrence Ave
W Leland AveW Leland Ave
N B
ro
ad
wa
y A
ve
N S
he
rida
n R
dN
Sh
erid
an
Rd
W Irving Park Rd
N C
lare
nd
on
Av
eN
Cla
ren
do
n A
ve
W Wilson Ave
W Windsor Ave
W Sunnyside Ave
W Agatite Ave
W Montrose Ave
Uptown
W Ainsile St
W Carmen Ave
W Bittersweet Pl
W Buena Ave
N H
azel St
W Jr Terrace
GracelandCemetery
TrumanCollege
St BonifaceCemetery
W Argyle St
W Winnemac Ave
W Winnemac Ave
W Foster Ave
W Winona St
W Ainslie St
N C
lark
St
N C
lark
St
W Sunnyside Ave
N A
shlan
d A
veN
Ash
lan
d A
ve
W Lawrence Ave
N D
ov
er S
t
N M
ag
no
la A
ve
N R
ac
ine
Av
e
N M
ag
no
lla A
ve
N K
en
mo
re A
ve
W Lakeside Pl
W Carmen Ave
N G
len
wo
od
Av
e
N P
au
lin
a S
t
N H
erm
ita
ge
Av
e
N G
reenview A
ve
N M
arin
e D
r
N M
arine
Dr
N M
ald
en
St
N M
ald
en
St
W Leland Ave
N H
az
el S
t
W Hutchinson St
W Cuyler AveW B
elle P
lain
e Ave
W Gordon Terra
ce
W Eastwood AveW Eastwood Ave
W Margate Terreace
W Belle Plaine Ave
2
7
2
3
4
6
61
8431
14 3
4
11
2
2
2
3
2
6
61
15
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
6
3
1
3
3
4
1
3
1
4
1
4
1
1
1
6
5
2
2
7
5
1
5
3
1
31
1
22
23
3
UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 - PAGE 5news - section
W Irving park RdW Irving park Rd
W Montrose Ave
N W
inth
rop
Av
eN
Win
thro
p A
ve
W Foster Ave
W Winona St
W Argyle St
N B
road
way A
ve
N K
en
mo
re A
ve
W Lawrence Ave
W Leland AveW Leland Ave
N B
ro
ad
wa
y A
ve
N S
he
rida
n R
dN
Sh
erid
an
Rd
W Irving Park Rd
N C
lare
nd
on
Av
eN
Cla
ren
do
n A
ve
W Wilson Ave
W Windsor Ave
W Sunnyside Ave
W Agatite Ave
W Montrose Ave
Uptown
W Ainsile St
W Carmen Ave
W Bittersweet Pl
W Buena Ave
N H
azel St
W Jr Terrace
GracelandCemetery
TrumanCollege
St BonifaceCemetery
W Argyle St
W Winnemac Ave
W Winnemac Ave
W Foster Ave
W Winona St
W Ainslie St
N C
lark
St
N C
lark
St
W Sunnyside Ave
N A
shlan
d A
veN
Ash
lan
d A
ve
W Lawrence Ave
N D
ov
er S
t
N M
ag
no
la A
ve
N R
ac
ine
Av
e
N M
ag
no
lla A
ve
N K
en
mo
re A
ve
W Lakeside Pl
W Carmen Ave
N G
len
wo
od
Av
e
N P
au
lin
a S
t
N H
erm
ita
ge
Av
e
N G
reenview A
ve
N M
arin
e D
r
N M
arine
Dr
N M
ald
en
St
N M
ald
en
St
W Leland Ave
N H
az
el S
t
W Hutchinson St
W Cuyler AveW B
elle P
lain
e Ave
W Gordon Terra
ce
W Eastwood AveW Eastwood Ave
W Margate Terreace
W Belle Plaine Ave
2
7
2
3
4
6
61
8431
14 3
4
11
2
2
2
3
2
6
61
15
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
6
3
1
3
3
4
1
3
1
4
1
4
1
1
1
6
5
2
2
7
5
1
5
3
1
31
1
22
23
3
PAGE 6 - UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 section - feature
didn’t care much about realistic portrayal or techniques of the media. I would never mix my colors on my palette or use non-rainbow colors.”
Schadt, along with 15 others, wake up early on Saturday mornings to express their deepest creative desires at Truman’s 9 a.m. water color class.
Schadt said, “The most important thing about the class is the community, the ex-change of ideas, and having kind of a public. If I was just painting alone, I don’t know if I’d have so much enthusiasm.”
Coming from a background in grid work-ing and detailing, Schadt has attended this same class since 1989 to break out of his pre-cise and scientific methods of creating art and diving into the bleeding world of water color. Determined to break the boundaries of his artistic ability, Schadt has created a variety of paintings that center upon subjects such as women, locomotives, tomatoes, and cats.
Crazy Cats, one of his many projects, portrays cats using complimentary colors and repeating block patterns to bring the viewer into a psychedelic world of varying perspec-tive.
“For some people less is more, for me
Art for the SAke of ArtPainting in Watercolor for 20 years
People who make art do not have to conform to the standards of the art world, in which exposure, method,
and merchandising are key to becoming a suc-cessful artist.
Ken Schadt, a continuing education stu-dent, has unconventional methods of self ex-pression.
“When I first started water coloring my paintings were very primitive,” Schadt said. “I
by Brian GilStaff Writer
Photographs by
“It’s not like I’m climbing a mountain. It’s
more like I’m walking around in a field.”
Ken Schadt, Artist
it’s not, it’s less, only more is more, and more is better than less, so I tend to overdo everything. I’m never done with anything until it’s a little overdone,” Schadt said.
Known in his water color class for his wild neon colored cats and color-ful blocking designs, Schadt makes no admission to any particular objective to his paintings other than to enjoy the ride.
As Schadt states, “It’s not like I’m climbing a mountain. It’s more like I’m walking around in a field.”
If you want to take a walk down this Technicolor cat walk, visit http://www.bckat.com/ ■
Watercolor painting is taught by Patricia Otto on Saturdays between 9 – 11.25 a.m., starting Jan. 23, 2010. Call (773) 907-4440 or visit http://www.trumancollege.edu/conted/ to register. The class costs $125.
Photographs by Alberto Martinez
(above) “Ten” from the “Cat’s Eyes” series, painted by Ken Shadt.
(above) “Nine” from the Cat’s Eyes” series, painted by Ken Schadt.
(left) “Eighteen” from the “Cat’s Eyes” series, painted by Ken Schadt.
UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 - PAGE 7feature - section
Photographs by Alberto Martinez
(above) “Ten” from the “Cat’s Eyes” series, painted by Ken Shadt.
PAGE 8 - UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 section - news
Truman Offers CCC alerTCollege administration adopts district wide system
by David PalmEditor-in-Chief
As of the fall 2009 semester, the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) has implemented CCC Alert, an
emergency system designed to warn students, faculty and staff about any on-campus emer-gency.
CCC Alert sends out warnings to all CCC email accounts and all other email accounts and phone numbers listed in the system. “You can list as much information as you want,” said Ira Hunter, head of the security depart-ment at Truman College.
The technical section at the CCC district office has been working on the system for at least eight months, according to Hunter. It was officially implemented at Truman for the fall 2009 semester after being tested over the summer.
Knowing that the system is in place, Truman student, Joseph Lindemann, said that he doesn’t feel any safer “at all.”
Emergency alerts can include threats of violence, chemical hazards, health hazards, weather-related school closings or power out-ages, according to the student FAQ on the official website, http://www.ccc.edu/alert/.
The President of Truman College is ul-timately responsible for what messages are sent, when they are sent and to whom they are sent, said Hunter.
Students are encouraged by the CCC administration to verify personal email ad-dresses and phone numbers online at: http://my.ccc.edu/. ■
>> POSITIVE(continued from page 1)
maP Grant reinstated for spring semesterTruman joins other colleges in rallying for grant
by Oliver HuntNews Editor
On Oct. 18th, Illinois governor Pat Quinn signed legislation to reinstate the Monetary Award
Program (MAP) grant for the spring 2010 semester, giving financial assistance to some 137,000 college students statewide.
Though no numbers have been finalized for Truman students receiving the grant this year, according to Truman’s Financial Aid director, Cynthia Grunden, over 1200 Truman students re-ceived the MAP grant in the 2008-09 school year. However, she also said that next se-mester’s MAP grant recipients will be few-er regardless.
“Even though they’ve reinstated funds for spring, fewer students will be receiving the grants,” Grunden said. “(This is) because they’ve moved the deadline for the year up to May 15.”
Loss of the grant could result in students, who rely on the grant, cutting their credit
hours or dropping the spring semester, which would delay their attainment of a degree.
It could also affect some programs and clubs at Truman, such as Truman’s Student Government Association (SGA). While the MAP grant does not pay for student club budgets, a loss of students could mean a loss of club members.
“A lot of students rely on the MAP grants, including SGA officers,” SGA Vice President Marta Aguila said. “I know I do.”
However, according to Grunden, the cut may have actually increased the student popu-lations in two year colleges such as Truman. “Students at more expensive colleges may have chosen to come here,” Grunden said.
Truman College, sharing a bus with Malcolm X College, rallied on behalf of the grant in Springfield on Oct. 15. Other Truman students attended the commission meeting at Loyola College on Oct. 9th, including Aguila. According to Aguila, student comments at
the meeting were re-corded and forward-ed to state legislators and the governor, to encourage reinstate-ment.
“I think in the wake of all the stu-dent advocacy state-wide, they will cer-tainly think twice about cutting finan-cial aid,” Grunden said. However, she said the state could possibly tighten ap-plication deadlines
for aid, and recommended applying early. “If they wait until the last minute to apply, they (students) will miss out on other forms of fi-nancial aid, not just the MAP grant.” ■
“I think in the wake of all the student advocacy statewide,
they will certainly think twice about cutting financial
aid.”
Cynthia Grunden, Financial Aid Director
Truman College
corner of Lawrence and Sheridan, where they stood for about 20 minutes before heading back to Leland.
Lawrence is the dividing line between the 23rd and 24th police districts. Thale said sometimes suspects will run that way thinking they can-not get caught by the 23rd district police, but they work closely with the 24th district to prevent that from happening.
The crime has not gone away completely – in fact, on a few nights after the loiterers left, violence resumed as usual. Some neighbors said that it is not just at night. When the kids get out of school, between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. there are fights and groups congregating.
However, police presence has become
more visible. “It’s been very good,” Thale said. “They’re as frustrated as we are and we kind of demonstrate that we want to work with them.” During the loitering there have been no incidents. “We’ve had a few shady characters walk by to kind of see what’s going
on, but nothing bad has happened,” Thale said.
Overall, residents say they are happy with the turnout and have taken it to oth-er corners. One of their biggest com-plaints, however, is not having any re-
sponse from Alderman Schiller. One resident, Stephen Bingham, said he has tried to contact Schiller’s office numerous times about issues in the neighborhood, but has been unable to reach her.
Alderman Schiller’s office was unavailable for comment for this article. ■
“If the neighbors keep com-
ing out, I’ll be out here.”
Richard Thale, CAPS facilitator for Uptown Beat
Send your feedback to:
UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 - PAGE 9opinion - section
Lack of Security at trumanStudents’ Safety is Being Put to the Testby Melissa BrandOpinion Editor
Smoke in non-smoking areas, sleep at their desk, talk on their personal cell phone, read the newspaper – I’ll take
“What do Truman Security Guards REALLY do?” for $1000, Alex!!
A lot of people do not feel safe or think security is not doing their job at Truman. There is never a security guard between the tutor center in the basement to the elevators; There are no guards stationed on the 2nd and 3rd floors and it is rare to see one patrolling the hallways. People from outside are not stopped when using the restrooms to clean themselves. Anyone can enter the school – through any of the doors – and just hang all day.
On Oct. 7, 8:50 pm, the only security guard in the lobby was on his cell phone. This was a very busy time – classes ended and the lobby was buzzing with students. That same night, there were no guards anywhere in the back parking lot. The week before, the guard on duty was in his truck with the lights off, talking to a female in another car. Clearly, he was not concerned about anyone’s safety.
When students were asked how they feel, most did not want to talk about it. Josephine Rizzo, a nursing student, said, “I don’t feel safe, especially at night. There’s suspicious ac-tivity outside. I don’t think they’re doing their job. They’re on their phone or talking and laughing with each other. I think they should have more officers patrolling outside.”
Cameron Edwards, a freshman, said, “Hell no! No one is at the back door by the high school, or if there is, he’s sleeping. Also, the bums are lounging inside and out so you can’t tell who goes here. My cousin goes to Kennedy King and he said they card harder than a liquor store.”
LaJena Miller had a different opinion. She looked around and said “Yes, the hallway is well lit and janitorial staff is still around. Security is at both doors. I believe they’re do-ing what they’re supposed to do. I wouldn’t say they can’t improve. I feel safe, but I would like there to be more uniforms like the other Chicago City Colleges.”
When visitors enter Malcolm X College, another CCC college, they are asked for ID. If they have a CCC ID, they can go right in. If not, they can show their driver’s license and sign in. Besides security checking IDs at the main entrances, there is one security guard stationed upstairs near the cafeteria, and through the hallways, you may pass 5 or more guards within just a few minutes.
However, when you enter Truman College – even if there is a security guard at any entrance – they never ask for ID. Toward
the back of the school, there are two more guard stands. The one next to the cafeteria is not always manned. One of the guards at the guard stand by the high school was seen sleeping on a few occasions. Instead of telling
people not to smoke in non-smoking areas, guards have been seen smoking with them.
Ira Hunter, the head of Truman’s security, said things are changing. In response to com-plaints about security not being visible, not knowing who security is, or the guards sleep-ing or on their phones, Hunter said, “Some of that, those are things that people should send me an email for. I need times and dates so I can pinpoint who it is.” Hunter pulled out a log book to show that guards monitor all ar-eas and check in while making their rounds.
Hunter said new uniforms that will dis-tinguish security guards from other staff are coming. Right now, security, maintenance and just about anyone else can wear the same green Truman shirt. There will also be a secu-rity training session during winter break to get everyone back on track.
With the smoking, there are two issues. The first is that people smoke where others are trying to enter the school. Hunter said, “The actual ordinance says you can’t smoke within 15ft of the door, so that actually plac-es you in our walkway. People tend to stand right at the corner of the public way a lot of times and smoke. They actually have the right to do it there . . . but it impacts everybody that walks through.” Secondly, even the secu-rity guards are smoking in these areas. Hunter said he talked to a guard about it and said “If it looks even too close to the legal area, then don’t do it. It’s all about perception.”
He admits that there are issues and Truman is a challenge because it is set up dif-ferently than most schools. “We don’t have a campus; we’re right in the middle of the neighborhood.” ■
This past spring, Truman post-ed signs at the northern en-trance of the building inform-
ing smokers that they may only use the west-ern entrance to smoke. For about two weeks, this was strictly enforced. Now, every time I come to school, I have to hold my breath for about 30 feet just to get inside the building without having a coughing fit. It is not only students who are ignoring the policy: Truman security and faculty are blatantly smoking within steps of the main entrance. Just this morning I saw a Truman security guard and Admissions Office employee leaning right up against the “No Smoking” sign, both enjoying their cigarettes. What kind of message does
that send to the student body? If the employ-ees of Truman are not responsible enough to adhere to the policy, why should students? It is inconsiderate of pregnant women, those with allergies to cigarette smoke, those with severe asthma, and anyone who would rather not have to walk through a screen of smoke just to attend school. If you want to smoke, use the western side of the building. Truman security, step up enforcement and do your job.
Dear Editor,
Letter to the editor
Sincerely,
Cassie Beer,
A Concerned Truman Student
Photograph by Alberto Martinez A Truman security guard talking on the phone at his desk.
Photograph by Alberto Martinez
A scene from Ten Square.
PAGE 10 - UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 section - A & e
Ten Square fallS ShorT of making The equaTionAmbitious, misguided plot misses targetby Avelyn IsadaA&E Editor
“Hope is a dangerous thing,” was one of the more memorable quotes of Act One. However,
it isn’t necessarily true for this production. In fact, it might just be what’s necessary to take this ensemble up a notch.
Ten Square is a play written by Shepsu Aakhu. It is about the demands of the world of the main character named Roosevelt. The play is set in the backdrop of the politics of a new city-state of South Chicago, unofficially called Ten Square. Its name was derived be-cause it is ten square miles of land purportedly rewarded to African Americans as America’s atonement for its history of slavery.
Roosevelt is a first-class sharp shooter – or a “trigga nigga,” as he is colloquially re-ferred to in the play. His duty is to enforce the South Chicago border, presumably to take down those attempting to pass through it. Therein lies Roosevelt’s central conflict be-tween his status in society, his family, and his love-life.
While the earnest effort to create a show that should hit home is apparent, Ten Square’s most glaring setback is its misguided ambition in attempting to portray, according to the pro-gram: “not so much a world in the making, as it is a world already made.” The production is a social commentary but with a very limited perspective. Ten Square sees the world in only two shades. The play was saturated with talks of the “haves” and “have-nots” which some-how translated to “whites” versus “blacks.”
The plot aside, the production’s cast was a light in the darkness. Although the open-ing interaction between the two characters, Lieutenant Truth and Roosevelt, played by Carla Stillwell and Leonard House respective-ly, appeared forced, it took just a little bit of warming up in later scenes with other charac-ters to get the ball rolling. The most enjoyable part of the play was Roosevelt’s interaction with his family. Of special note is the per-formance of Sati Word in his performance as Clyde, Roosevelt’s younger brother, Daryl Charisse as Mama, the mother of Roosevelt and Clyde, and Nambi E. Kelley as Talia, Roosevelt’s girlfriend.
Ten Square is directed by Mignon
McPherson Nance. It is presented at the Pegasus Players at 1145 W Wilson Ave. Shows run around $17-$25 at 8p.m. on Thurs-Sat and 3p.m. on Sun. The production is sched-
uled to run until Nov. 22.For more information, contact the
Pegasus Players: 773.878.9761 or visit http://www.pegasusplayers.org ■
native americans celebrated at foster underpass muralDepiction of a cultural heritage unites allby Chirag PatelBusiness Manager
Remember the creepy feeling you get while walking through an underpass? The Foster Avenue underpass along
Lakeshore Drive used to evoke that feeling, but over this summer it was transformed to a unique artwork called “Indian Land Dancing.”
At 3400 sq ft., it is the largest mural in Chicago and the only one depicting Native American art and culture. It is a bricolage of symbols depicting sacred plants and animals, historic tribes and elders, Mohawk ironwork-ers who helped build skyscrapers, and the current generation of Native Americans who grew up in urban areas. It also lists the treaties that affected the Chicagoland area between early 1795 and 1833 and the Potawatomi Trail of Death.
The mural itself is rich in symbolism. It contains the image of the rising sun forever in welcome and depicts the hard covering of a giant turtle, a representative of the earth on which we roam. The corn that nourishes us is also portrayed (keep in mind that, yes, almost all animals that are consumed are fed corn.) There is also the image of an eagle, soaring high above on the mural, ready to take our prayers to the heavens, as well as the picture of a circle, which, besides carrying a number
of other connotations, symbolizes the circle of life.
The mural’s namesake poem, “Indian Land Dancing” by E.Donald Two-Rivers, is on the center of the south wall. It depicts a scene of Native American land. There is also another poem that pays respect to mothers called “We Are the Mothers.” At the center of the mural along the north wall is its excerpt: “With our strong arms, we form a circle, and in that circle, we embrace the world.”
The designs were provided by commu-nity members, the American Indian Center at Wilson and Ashland, the Mitchell Indian Museum in Evanston, the Trickster Gallery in Schaumburg, as well as various historians and elders of many tribes.
The Indian Land Dancing mural was made possible through the collaborative ef-fort of Alternatives, Inc., the Chicago Public Art Group, and 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith, and residents of the area.
Alderman Smith first came up with the idea of building a mural and funded the proj-ect through her discretionary funding and helped coordinate the different groups work-ing on the project.
Alternatives, a youth and family agency, trained the youth that worked on this mural. They have worked on the different murals at Alternatives and also the Bryn-Mawr under-pass prior to this mural as a part of their pro-gram to teach troubled youth the values and
importance of leadership, team effort, and building and maintaining trust.
The dedication ceremony was on Aug. 22 2009. Mayor Richard M. Daley, Alderman Smith, the different groups involved, resi-dents of the area and members of the Native American community had attended. The ded-ication ceremony was followed by a powwow.
A powwow is a Native American cele-bration held around equinoxes and solstices. Traditionally, it is the welcoming of new be-
ginnings in spring. It is a meeting where peo-ple can come together and settle arguments between different tribes, renew old friend-ships, and make new ones. Naming and hon-oring ceremonies are also held at this event.
The annual powwow is on Nov. 7 and 8 at the UIC Pavilion. Anyone can attend. Tickets are available at the venue. Advanced tickets are available starting Oct. 1 at the American Indian Center at 1630 W Wilson Ave. ■
Photograph by Alberto Martinez
The mural was composed of various materials ranging from ceramic tiles to photo-graphs. Local children and community volunteers helped with its creation.
Photograph by Alberto Martinez A customer tries the Combination Plate at Alma Pita.
Photograph by Alberto Martinez
Food is served cafeteria-style and ordered from the counter.
UPTOWN EXCHANGE - NOvEmbEr 2009 - PAGE 11A & E - sEction
Almighty Pitas at Alma PitaModesty, tasty ethnic food combineby Avelyn IsadaA&E Editor
Alma Pita has a delicious offering of Lebanese and Middle Eastern Cuisine… and yes, even fajitas on
pita bread.You can get a quick lunch for under $10
with their sandwich and burger meals, which come with chips and just a few bucks more for drinks (Your tab will just be a little over $5 though, if you can settle for free tap wa-ter.) Economy aside, if you can overlook green peppers that are a tad overcooked, their chicken fajita is recommended. The juicy and flavorful chicken is sautéed with green pep-pers and onions in olive oil and soy sauce. It is perfectly matched with and nestled inside the pocket of a huge warm pita bread. This chicken fajita on pita is definitely less messy than its tortilla-wrapped counterpart.
If you’re willing to shell out just a bit more, their 3-Way Combination entrée is worth it. For $9.50, you will get a plateful of delicious chicken kabob, kifta kabob, and shish kabob served with rice, vegetable stew, salad, and pita bread. A friend and I shared and we did not leave hungry. It didn’t leave me feeling too good about my breath after-ward, but I guess you can’t have it all.
The baklava for dessert, however, is a must. For those who are not familiar, a bak-lava is layered buttered filo pastry with nuts and spices inside, topped off with a drizzle of honey and ground pistachios. There are varia-tions of this pastry in other regions. However,
as someone who is not much for desserts, this baklava had left me craving for more in later days. It was that good.
Vegetarians aren’t left out at Alma Pita. The restaurant offers the Everyday Vegetarian Special for $5.95. It includes rice, a different vegetable stew daily, salad, and pita bread. There is also the falafil (apparently pro-nounced “fuh-la-fle” – NOT “fah-la-feel.”) It is made of seasoned ground chickpeas that is rolled into a ball and can either be fried or baked. The falafil sandwich comes with four falafil balls, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes all wrapped in – wouldn’t you know it – pita bread.
Alma Pita is a neighborhood spot, through and through. The owners, a married couple who service both the kitchen and the counter, greet each and every customer with a smile. It wouldn’t be unusual to overhear either owner ask customers about how their days are going or how their families are doing. Many customers even stop by the counter to thank them and say goodbye before leaving.
A quick survey of Alma Pita isn’t impres-sive: after ducking under the yellow awning and opening the glass door, there are square tables with floral plastic table covers, metal chairs, ceiling fans, a tray to leave your plates along one wall, and a fridge on the corner by the counter. However, it is a place where you can expect to feel at home – almost like stepping inside someone’s kitchen – with the warm welcome of a filling meal.
Mon-Fri: 11a.m.-9p.m. Sat: 11a.m.-9p.m. Sun: Closed
4600 N Magnolia Ave, Chicago 60640 (Entrance on W Wilson Ave). ■
IyAnzé ServeS UP WeSt AfrIcAn eAtS for A SteAlAffordable pricing, casual lounging an incentiveby Avelyn IsadaA&E Editor
If you are craving for a taste of West Africa without leaving the continent, much less a hole in your pocket, consider
planning a trip to Iyanzé.Inside this loft-style restaurant, the bright
orange on the canopy is continued in theme and is splashed on the walls. There are steel fans that dot the ceiling; wooden furniture in neat rows and a black staircase that climb the far wall. The eclectic mix of decorations, from flat-screen TV’s, colorful paintings to the Barack Obama picture, whisper “earthy” and whistle “contemporary.” Lounge music waft through the air, giving a laid-back feel to the atmosphere.
If you’ve never had a taste of African cuisine before, like me, fear not. The restau-rant offers free samples and the staff will be more than willing to explain their menu. The food, pre-cooked and laid out cafeteria-style, is labeled and listed on a chalkboard behind the counter. However, this restaurant seems to pack more beauty than punch.
Among their selection are various dishes of rice. Be warned, the Coconut Rice had an interesting flavor but was too moist to pair with other food. The Fried Rice looked sur-prisingly like the generic Chinese take-out va-riety and tasted accordingly. The Jollof Rice though, was flavorful. It had a subtle hint of spice that complemented other components
of the meal.There is an array of meat and fish op-
tions as well. The Goat dish had a nice depth in flavor, but was unfortunately too tough. It swam in a chili-based sauce and was pecu-liarly sold for $1.49 per chunk. Alternatively, the Jerk Chicken is a nice option. Although it is unexpectedly lacking in heat, its season-ings do not compromise and was among the few dishes that wasn’t stewed. However, both the Tilapia and the Catfish dishes, which ap-peared to have been both simmered in toma-to sauce, chilies, and little else, were on the blander side and, riddled with fish bones, a battle in themselves.
For something relatively lighter, their ap-petizers section should be sampled. The Meat Pie was a treat. This was baked pastry, making for a more aesthetically appealing appetizer. The filling, which was ground meat and pota-toes, melded into the light, buttery, and crum-bly crust. It is an appetizer that doesn’t battle for center stage in flavor, but is very filling nonetheless. On the flipside, their Chicken Pie should be tried with caution. The crust is similar to the Meat Pie and is reminiscent to, not too surprisingly, Chicken Pot Pie, but friends swear that it had a fishy smell and af-tertaste.
Nevertheless, Iyanzé serves warm, if only passable, home-cooked meals without pre-tense. The staff is very friendly and accom-modating. It is a place to sit back and eat your fill while staying within the budget. Individual food orders range from $2 to $10 and meals could generally be constructed for under $10. Their $4.99 lunch specials are worth noting. Currently in the works are their breakfast of-ferings.
Mon-Wed: 11a.m.-9p.m. Thurs-Sat: 11a.m.-11p.m. Sun: 11a.m.-7p.m. 4623 N. Broadway Ave, Chicago 60640. ■
November caleNdarMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
•Reach for Success: Understanding Aca-demic and Financial Aid Holds, 2-3pm @ Truman College, Lecture Hall B•Journalism Speaker Series Featuring: Greg Kot, 11:45am @ Truman College, Rm 2961•”I Never?”8pm @ The Spot
•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•CAPS Meeting: Beat 2311, 7pm @ Truman College Cafeteria•”Homolatte,” 7:30pm @ Tweet•”buROCKracy’s Run-ning Gag,” 8pm @ The Spot•Chicagoland and Fishnuts, 8pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•Triple Feature, 8pm @The Annoyance Theatre
•Health and Career Fair, 9am-3pm @ Truman College•Reach for Success, 2-3pm @ Truman Col-lege, Lecture Hall C•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•CAPS Meeting: Beat 2322, 7pm @ Buena Library•”Graceland,” 7:30pm @ National Pastime Theater•”The Mercy Seat,” 8pm @ Profiles Theater•”Messing with a Friend,” 10:30pm @The Annoyance Theater
•Reach for Success, 11am -noon @ Truman College, Lecture Hall B•”Orphans,” 1-3:30pm @ Truman College, Novar Hall•Hollywood Undead, 6:30pm @ Aragon Ballroom•”Graceland,” 7:30pm @ Natn’l Pastime Thtr•The Mercy Seat, 8pm @ Profiles Theatre•The Black Crowes, 8pm @ Riviera Theatre•Terrapin Flyer w/ Tom Constanten, 9pm @ The Kinetic Playground•”Co-Ed Prison Sluts,” 10pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•Free Flu Shots, 9am- 2pm @ Truman Col-lege, Cafeteria•Reach for Success 11am-noon @ Tru-man College, Lecture Hall B•”Orphans,” 1-3:30pm @ Truman College, Novar Hall•”Graceland,” 3 & 7:30pm @ National Pastime Theater•”The Mercy Seat,” 8pm @ Profiles Thtr.•AFI, 8pm @ Riviera Theatre•”Skinprov,” 11:59pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•”I Never?” 8pm @ The Spot
•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•Reach for Success, 5-6pm @ Truman Col-lege, Lecture Hall B•”Chicagoland and Fishnuts,” 8pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•Reach for Success, 11am-noon @ Truman College, Lecture Hall B•CAPS Meeting: Beat 2313, 7pm @ Clarendon Park Field-house•Triple Feature, 8pm @The Annoyance Theatre
•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•”Graceland,” 7:30pm @ National Pastime Theater•”The Mercy Seat,” 8pm @ Profiles Theater•”Messing with a Friend,” 10:30pm @ The Annoyance Theater
•”Graceland,” 7:30pm @ National Pastime Theater•Wolfmother, 7:30pm @ Riviera Theatre•”The Mercy Seat,” 8pm @ Profiles Theater•”Co-Ed Prison Sluts,” 10pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•Free Flu Shots, 9am-2pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•”Graceland,” 3 & 7:30pm @ National Pastime Theater•”The Mercy Seat,” 8pm @ Profiles Thtr•”Skinprov,” 11:59pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•Journalism Speaker Series Featuring: Esther J. Cepeda, 11:45am @Truman College, Room 2961•”I Never?,” 8pm @ The Spot•Last day for student initiated withdrawals
•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•CAPS Meeting: Beat 2312, 7pm @ Café Too•”Homolatte,” 7:30pm @ Tweet•”buROCKracy’s Run-ning Gag,” 8pm @ The Spot•Chicagoland and Fishnuts, 8pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•Chancellor Search Forum, 3pm @ Richard J. Daley College•CAPS Meeting: Beat 2323, 7pm @ Center on Halsted•311, 8pm @ Aragon Ballroom•Triple Feature, 8pm @The Annoyance Theatre
•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•”Words That Kill,” 7pm @ The Spot•”Early Weekend Show,”8pm @ Holiday Club•”Messing with a Friend,” 10:30pm @ The Annoyance Theater
•Pixies, 7:30pm @ Aragon Ballroom•”Co-Ed Prison Sluts,” 10pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
• Free Flu Shots, 9am-2pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria•Pixies, 7:30pm @ Aragon Ballroom•”Skinprov,” 11:59pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•”I Never?,” 8pm @ The Spot
• The Cranberries, 7:30pm @ Riviera Theatre•Triple Feature, 8pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
• Thanksgiving Day •“Co-Ed Prison Sluts,” 10pm @ The Annoyance Theatre•Thanksgiving Holiday
•Free Flu Shots, 9am-2pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria
Sunday
•Graceland Walking Tours, 10am-noon & 1-3pm @ Graceland Cemetery•”Orphans,” 1-3:30pm @ Truman College, Novar Hall•Uptown Poetry Slam7pm @ Green Mill Jazz Club•”UFC: Under Forced Closure,” 8pm @ The Annoyance Theater
•”Orphans,” 1-3:30pm @ Tru-man College, Novar Hall•”Graceland,” 3pm @ Ntn’l Pastime Theater•Uptown Poetry Slam,7pm @ Green Mill•”The Mercy Seat,”7pm @ Profiles Theatre•”UFC: Under Forced Closure,” 8pm @ The Annoyance Theatre
•”Graceland,” 3pm @ National Pastime Theater•Uptown Poetry Slam,7pm @ Green Mill Jazz Club•”The Mercy Seat,” 7pm @ Profiles Theatre•”UFC: Under Forced Closure,” 8pm @ The Annoyance Theatre• America Recycles Day
•Rob Zombie, 6:30pm @ Aragon Ballroom•Uptown Poetry Slam, 7pm @ Green Mill Jazz Club
•Uptown Poetry Slam, 7pm @ Green Mill Jazz Club
•Spring 2010 Credit Classes Registration, 12:30-6:30pm @ Tru-man College•”I Never?” 8pm @ The Spot
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7654321
•Free Flu Shots, 3-8pm @ Truman College, Cafeteria
Aragon Ballroom: 1106 W Lawrence•Big Chicks: 5024 N Sheridan•Black Ensemble Theater: 4520 N Beacon•Fat Cat: 4840 N Broadway•National Pastime: 4139 N Broadway•
Pegasus Players: Profiles Theatre: 4147 N Broadway•Riviera Theatre: 4746 N Racine•The Annoyance Theatre: 4830 N Broadway•The Green Mill: 4802 N Broadway•The Kinetic Playground: 1113 W Lawrence•The Spot: 4437 N Broadway•
VenueLocations
