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ISSUE 1. VOL. 145 FALL 2019
THE STUDENT NEWS MAGAZINE
CHRONICLE
1
ISSUE ONE
THE CHRONICLE
The North Central College Chronicle is Editorial Staff
published once a semester by students
of North Central College as a forum for
Madeleine O’Connell Brandon Cruz Noah Cordoba
providing news, opinion and information
of interest to the campus and the greater Editor-in-Chief Arts & Lifestyle Editor Photo Editor
community.
Madison Miller Shealeigh Voitl Peter Hunt Szpytek
The views expressed do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of The Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Assistant Arts & Lifestyle Editor Multimedia Editor
editorial board or of North Central College.
Cheyanne Daniels Maya Bryant Kailee Santoro
News Editor Vision Editor Multimedia Editor
On the cover
Artwork by Jasmine Pomierski Jack Plewa Jasmine Pomierski Kay O’Donnell
News Editor Design Editor Adviser
North Central College Jordan Bradley Jessica Sciabica
©The Chronicle
Sports Editor Web Editor
Erika Rosas-Lopez Jaidene Samiec
Assistant Sports Editor Social Media Editor
22
CHECK US OUT ONLINE
NCCLINKED.COM
Letter from the Editors
We all need a little justice.
(No we’re not referring to the clothing store for young girls).
There’s more to justice than the pink backpacks and sparkly
bows. Justice is our ultimate tool for fighting all things unfair
and unjust.
In this issue, we explore what justice means today. What
exists that deserves more justice? How have people busted
through the chains that bind them?
What are some things that haven’t gotten the justice they
deserve? For some, it’s their favorite show that was canceled
too soon. It’s the anime show their friends give them shit
for watching. It’s queer audiences that continue to look for
representations of themselves on screen.
What are some things that demand justice? It’s the victims
of sexual assault waiting to hear back from the Title IX
department. It’s the victims of wrongful incarceration. It’s
our environment and the millennials pushing to save it. It’s
workers getting paid the absolute minimum while doing the
most.
Our generation is all for enacting justice. We march through
the streets in our pride gear, wearing Black Lives Matter
shirts, a pink Women’s March hat all while drinking out of a
metal straw.
Why do we make picket signs and walk peacefully with a
crowd of strangers? Because if we don’t stand up for the
cause, our power will get lost in the maelstrom of politics.
Whether it be for athletes, equality, diversity, etc. there’s
always something to fight for and there’s definitely plenty
that needs changing.
We changed it up at The Chronicle with this being the first
year having two editors-in-chief. Hopefully, we can do this
issue double the justice.
Madison Miller
Madeleine O’Connell
33
IN THE ISSUE
FA L L 2 0 1 9
The unfinished legacy of the “Me Too Movement” 6
Your metal straw isn’t going to save us or the turtles 10
Fair Pay to Play Act is a gamechanger 12
Canceled but never forgotten 16
The evolution of social justice 18
Marvel movies aren’t the death of cinema 20
Let’s understand, not undermine 22
Is it time to make amends? 28
Strength in self 32
Suburban sex slaves 34
44
The golden gay 38
Getting the minimum 42
Where did Victoria Justice even end up? 44
Please notice me, Senpai 46
Changing America’s favorite pastime 49
Incarceration ... or damnation? 52
Not so Forever 21 55
Faces of NCC 58
Is Title IX dying? 60
55
THE UNFINISHED
Shealeigh Voitl – Assistant Arts & Lifestyle Editor
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
LEGACY OF
THE “ME TOO”
MOVEMENT
66
There was a seismic shift a few years ago Vox reported earlier this year that over 80
beneath the feet of influential people that women shared their experiences of violence
wielded their power in shameful ways. The and harassment committed by Weinstein. The
rumbling began in 2006 when Tarana Burke floodgates had been opened.
started, what she then called, the MeToo Along with celebrities and other Los Angeles
movement, which advocated for those bigwigs, the movement extended itself to
suffering from the trauma of sexual violence every corner of the world where people
and harassment, according to the New York voluntarily shared their own distinct stories.
Times. According to a Pew Research study in 2018,
A little over a decade later, actress Alyssa 14% of all of the tweets posted that included
Milano took to Twitter. The tweet was the hashtag MeToo recalled the user’s
purposefully succinct, no more than 90 individual experiences.
characters of the 140 that, at the time, each “I think the fact that it got to be vague,” said
user was given. She shared a screengrab of Associate Professor of History Shereen Ilahi.
words in front of a plain, white background, “The fact that all you have to say is ‘MeToo;’
stressing the gravity of an insidious societal you don’t have to say what happened. That
problem. creates a sort of safety.”
Milano invited her millions of followers MeToo shaped a moment in which there was
to reply to her message with the phrase undoubtedly strength in numbers, but on the
“MeToo” if they had ever experienced sexual world’s stage, there was still reasonable fear
harassment or assault. Although no attribution that even a million voices could be silenced by
was given at the time of online boom, Burke’s a dominant few.
original movement and purpose was reaching
audiences all over the world. “A lot of times, talking about (MeToo
experiences), there are issues of shame,” said
According to the Pew Research Center, in Ilahi. “You’re afraid that someone will attack
the months that followed, an astounding 19 you, especially a man, may attack you and
million tweets using the hashtag poured in. say, ‘That’s not really harassment’ or ‘you’re
“Especially, if we’re talking about anything misunderstanding.’ Just not validating.”
that has to do with either sexual harassment In November 2017, according to the Chicago
or assault or anything like that, I think when Tribune, actress Aurora Perrineau accused
that happens to people, they do very much Executive Producer and Writer Murray Miller,
feel like: ‘Oh, this is only happening to me,’” of the popular HBO show “Girls,” of raping her
said Assistant Professor of Journalism and when she was a teenager back in 2012. Lena
Media Studies Sabryna Cornish. “And all of a Dunham, the show’s star, immediately took to
sudden, you have all of these people that are social media to defend Miller.
like, ‘Wait, this happened to me too.’”
Dunham went on to say that Perrineau falsely
Only days before Milano’s social media call to reported the assault, emphasizing that cases
action in early October, Ashley Judd shared like these were extremely rare.
her own harrowing experience in a Beverly
Hills hotel in 1997 with media giant Harvey The following year, Dunham wrote an article
Weinstein. A week later, Amazon Producer Isa for the Hollywood Reporter, admitting to lying
Hackett accused Roy Price, former president about her knowledge of the events of the night
of Amazon Studios, of egregious and lewd that Perrineau detailed, in order to protect
comments and conduct, according The Miller.
Chicago Tribune. “There were some women who resisted,”
Powerful men were suddenly and rapidly said Ilahi. “And women have always sort of,
falling from grace, including actor Kevin historically, assisted the patriarchy or have
Spacey and Republican senate hopeful Roy been co-opted by the patriarchy.”
Moore. Shortly after Judd opened up about Of course, social change is complex, and
her experience in the New York Times, more progress is almost never linear, even when
women accused Weinstein and many others what is right and wrong is seemingly
inside of the film industry of misconduct, objectively defined. A 2018 study conducted
pulling back the curtain on Hollywood’s sordid
history.
7
by Pew Research concluded that 47% of important in the beginning, which was to
American women believed that the MeToo see just how pervasive it was,” said Ilahi.
movement simply made it more difficult for “Men were shocked, and women, generally
men to navigate workplace relationships. speaking, were not.”
To people like Tiffany Talley, ’20, president But there was also a generational gap in the
of the NCC feminist society, this way of way that people perceived the purpose of the
thinking was unproductive, if not outright movement. The same Pew study from 2018
harmful. found that women over the age of 65 were
“If men don’t even want to interact with more likely to believe that communication in
women anymore, or whoever, just because the workplace was made more complicated
they think they’re going to be accused as a direct result of MeToo.
of sexual harassment, then, to me, that “There were women who were critical
means that they don’t have a good grasp and skeptical,” said Ilahi. “I think it was
on consent,” said Talley. “They don’t have a older women that responded that way,
good grasp on boundaries.” and probably because they were further
Talley saw this type of paranoia play out entrenched in a certain misogynistic way of
on her school’s campus, and she wondered thinking.”
how a movement with such a solid and pure Along with the dissonance among women
purpose could be sorely misunderstood. of different ages, there was also a perceived
“Last term, I had a professor, like, put his lack of inclusivity within the movement.
hand on my shoulder, and he was like, ‘Oh! Milano’s initial tweet called on women
Can’t do that now,’” said Talley. “I feel like specifically, but broader terminology needed
people have misconstrued (the movement), to be used in order to reach all individuals
in a sense.” that had experienced sexual harassment and
abuse.
Megan Kordik, ’23, also noticed the same
behavior in her peers — all too cavalier and The Office for Victims of Crime estimates that
sometimes creepy. 23% of men will endure some form of sexual
violence in their lifetime. The Human Rights
“People thought they could do and say Campaign found that members of the LGBTQ
whatever they wanted,” said Kordik. “Saying: community were more likely to be affected by
‘Oh, it’s just a joke.’” violence, including sexual assault, than their
Kordik struggled to find the words to express non-LGBTQ-identifying peers.
how she felt when someone invaded her “It was very she/her pronoun focused, first
space — pushing her and poking her, like of all,” said Talley. “By not using the language
it was some sort of game. She realized that that is inclusive, I think that made people that
wasn’t something that she just had to accept maybe don’t (identify) as female feel isolated
or ignore, and she certainly didn’t have to be or not part of the movement.”
polite when someone was making her feel
uncomfortable and unsafe. Tarana Burke gave life to the MeToo
movement 13 years ago to let the black and
“In high school, I had this one friend who was brown girls in the nonprofit she ran know that
just super (handsy), and it was just weird,” she heard them. In a story she wrote for the
said Kordik. “And it was everything that was Washington Post, Burke expressed her deep
happening online, I think, that allowed me concern that those young girls, and others
to not be afraid and be like, ‘hey, stop it’ and like them, may not know that the movement
stand up for myself.” is for them too.
As MeToo unfolded, Ilahi noticed another In 2014, The Centers for Disease Control and
stark difference in responses. The stories Prevention concluded that women of color
that made up the movement had been an are disproportionately affected by sexual
unspoken secret among many women for violence. However, many of the voices at the
years, an ancient and tiresome battle, but center of the movement, like Alyssa Milano,
for some men who were reading women’s Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd, were white
stories, this was new territory. women.
“I think it accomplished something really
8
“Real change happens when you are able to categories: those who believed Ford and
look someone in the eye and see that their those who did not.
experience is different from yours,” said Talley. A poll done in October 2018 by PBS
The point is that MeToo’s impact is powerful NewsHour/NPR/Marist found that 33% of
but probably incomplete. There’s more work American people believed Kavanaugh was
to do, more stories to uncover and bring to the innocent and should go on to be confirmed.
light — of marginalized folk whose voices were Still, this was significantly lower than the 45%
buried, as Burke openly feared. of Americans that trusted Ford’s testimony.
There needs to be a more thorough “So, my initial reaction is that it didn’t do
understanding of what it means to build a safe nearly enough if it’s not making real change
space — in workplaces, in classrooms and on at that level,” said Ilahi. “Keep in mind, I’m
school campuses. Those safe spaces, when coming off of the most recent season of
created, need to be totally inclusive for any ‘Handmaid’s Tale,’ so it seems to me like
progress to be made at all. this is a very real possibility if you stack the
“I think it’s way too soon to really be able to Supreme Court with people with certain
think in terms of a legacy,” said Ilahi. “Because ideologies.”
we don’t know what’s happened yet. But, of There was a big and important movement
course, you’re talking to a historian, so, of where people learned a lot about others and
course, I’m going to tell you it’s too soon.” themselves and how we can all be a bit better,
Ilahi’s knee-jerk reaction is to say that we have but the story doesn’t have to end there.
collectively not experienced the kind of growth “What I’m saying on a very basic level is that
that we should have two years beyond the real, social equality is still not there,” said
MeToo moment. Ilahi. “And I hope that this movement draws
“My first thought when I was thinking about some attention to that and helps significantly
legacy was, well, Brett Kavanaugh still got move the needle on it.”
confirmed,” said Ilahi. “So, I don’t know —
what did (MeToo) do?”
In 2018, Christine Blasey Ford testified before
a Senate Judiciary Committee regarding her
allegation of sexual assault against Supreme
Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The hearing
was exhausting and emotional, and afterward,
the country was split into two polarizing
99
Your metal straw isn’t going to
save us or the turtles
Jaidene Samiec – Social Media Editor
Noah Cordoba – Photo Editor
Illustrations by Jasmine Pomierski
The Earth is dying. character. These days, anyone who away, omitting the staggering
Recent reports from the International is anyone is trading in their plastic amount of waste generated to
Panel on Climate Change, the most straw for a metal one and grabbing produce it all. Every good we
trusted body of climate scientists, their Sharpies and picket signs to consume requires energy, which is
reported we only have 12 years to take to the streets. But just how big is almost always derived from fossil
institute massive global change to the problem? fuels.
avoid a 2.7 degrees fahrenheit global Simply stated: huge. The rate at Whether it be the Chinese factories
temperature increase. which we currently consume and that manufacture Amazon orders
A heightened sense of urgency to pump greenhouse gases into the or the cargo ships that move them
address the climate crisis has led to atmosphere is higher than it has across oceans, it all plays a role. The
waves of six million young people been in 800,000 years, said the quantity of consumer consumption
across the globe participating in National Oceanic and Atmospheric is directly connected to the current
unprecedented climate strikes, Administration. climate crisis. If the mentality
according to The Guardian. People In the U.S. alone, the EPA reports the toward consumer goods continues
from all over the world are calling for average person produces 4.4 pounds to be “consume and discard,” there’s
change, but the question remains: of personal waste per day. Average a troubled future ahead.
What are we changing and how? that figure over a year and that’s Our consumer mentality leads us to
With marches claiming mainstream over 1,600 pounds of used shampoo accept disposability as a norm, as
news headlines, being an bottles, milk jugs and non-recyclable “we take disposability for granted
environmentalist has become Starbucks cups. Note that these in lots of ways that other countries
synonymous with a quality of numbers only include items thrown do not,” said Erin Bergren, visiting
10“The $40 Hydroflasks are exploiting
their own green credentials, water
bottles do not need to cost $40.”
assistant professor of environmental community within America’s society opportunities that are accessible
studies. that wants to reduce its impact and that they feel rewarded when
“It involves us changing our on the environment but remains they do it,” said President of Green
attitudes toward disposability. brainwashed to consumer culture. Scene Anna Halverson, ’20.
Disposability should be a rare, They strut down the hall with For example, “The $40 Hydroflasks
special exception, it should not be their trendy reusable Starbucks are exploiting their own green
a norm … We just take disposability cups, zero-waste kits and bamboo credentials, water bottles do not
for granted and that’s lazy and not toothbrushes. Tossing fast-fashion need to cost $40,” said Bergren.
inevitable in any way.” items and collected to-go containers Instead of falling for consumer
As this theoretical solution to waste in the trash, they order new, traps, what can individuals do to
continues to permeate popular environmentally friendly products participate in the environmental
culture, it garners enormous to be shipped to their houses. Old movement? The solution is to
attention from people who want to belongings are thrown out for new reduce, reduce, reduce, then reuse
reduce their impact. ones, making these people feel as and recycle. This movement is
though they are doing their part. about repurposing old Tupperware,
With this international spotlight on
protecting the planet, the novice But the truth is that when taking not throwing it out for shiny new
environmentalist is subject to a into account the fossil fuel energy stainless steel to-go containers. It’s
plethora of unsolicited Facebook and raw materials used to produce about repurposing old clothes, not
posts and lifestyle blogs about all of these new “environmentally buying a brand new, yet sustainably
where to begin. These solutions friendly” products, it is inadvertently made, $300 sweater.
are often complex and require detrimental to the entire cause. The movement celebrates those
significant individual behavioral Our consumer minds have been small successes without losing sight
changes. This leads many to shoot trained to focus on “recycle” over of more pressing issues like fossil
for the low hanging fruit. “reduce” and “reuse” because of all fuel energy and the mass production
Enter: the VSCO trend. For those the products we continue to collect. of meat, two large contributors to
who aren’t up to date on the lingo, We put our trust into companies greenhouse gas emissions.
the VSCO aesthetic is what NBC’s that often promote or capitalize on “If environmetal friendly choices are
Kalhan Rosenblatt describes as “the environmentally friendly products. presented to us as the obvious thing,
latest teen iteration of ‘preppy’ style Izel Michel, ’20, knows better than the default, people will change their
with a casual beach-inspired flair.” to fall for these company tactics: behaviors. But those decisions have
Buy now, recycle later. to be made on a collective level, on
The VSCO look is never complete
without a Hydroflask and metal “It’s a double-edged sword a social level,” said Bergren.
straws to “save the turtles,” two promoting (environmentally friendly
identity pieces that explicitly products) because on one hand,
communicate environmental (companies) want to say we care
consciousness. about our customers,” said Michel.
The VSCO identity is fascinating But these companies target willing
not because of what it is but what it customers in order to gain more
represents. The reusable $40 water profit.
bottle and metal straw represents a “You want to give people
11
11Fair Pay to Play Act is a game changer
Madeleine O’Connell – Editor-in-Chief
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
12In the 2017-2018 school year, the National the regulations, it states that players cannot
Collegiate Athletic Association obtained “Accept payment or a promise of payments
more than $1 billion in revenue from the men’s (e.g., cash, prizes, gifts, or travel) for
basketball tournament. Instead of receiving an participation in your sport.” This rule is set to
income for playing, the athletes involved were make the games fair by keeping athletes at an
paid with experience and scholarships. ameteur level.
As of Sept. 30, that changed. Athletes of This makes Steve Sellers, head golf coach,
26 public colleges in the state of California ask the question, “what happens when you
will soon have the freedom to accept paid say, ‘that’s a bunch of semi-pros and we’re just
endorsement deals in order to make a profit going to pay them?’”
off of their image and likeness. In the past, “To a degree, that ameteur status really has
athletes from schools in this state would have hindered some of those athletes in the sum of
been ineligible to play if they accepted any opportunities, which maybe in some respects
form of outside payment. Because of this act, is valid but maybe in some other ways,
California is officially the first state to allow needs to be reviewed to see if it’s something
these players to receive endorsements that that works in today’s society,” said James
align with what professional athletes receive. Kluckhohn, assistant athletic director.
This is the result of passing Senate Bill 206,
which was signed by California Governor Although the athletes are not eligible to play
Gavin Newsom. if they receive income for their image and
likeness, they get a good amount of other
The Fair Pay to Play Act was introduced by benefits. NCAA schools are given almost $3.5
state Sen. Nancy Skinner and will take effect billion in scholarships to divide up amongst
in 2023. Even though this law only applies to student-athletes. On top of that, Division I
California schools right now, nearly a dozen schools may also offer cost of attendance
other states are starting to put themselves in and a Student Assistance Fund. Both of these
the conversation. Colorado, Illinois and New can be made available for students who need
York are just a few states that have a plan to them if their scholarships do not cover other
introduce their own form of Senate Bill 206. essentials they may require.
While this act has been passed already, Because of the new act, the rules will have
current student-athletes will not be impacted to be adjusted to allow athletes to be eligible
by the new law because by the time it takes to play and make deals with sponsors.
effect, most of them will have graduated. The NCAA has not yet announced how its
The Fair Pay to Play Act does not mean rules will shift, but if multiple states look to
schools pay students for playing a sport. put a similar law in place, pressure will be
Instead, according to an article written by put on the association to make a change
Michael McCann in Sports Illustrated, they quickly. If they don’t, their own regulations
can be “paid to sponsor summer camps for prevent athletes from playing in the NCAA
young athletes and sign endorsement deals competitions. This would mean less
with apparel companies, sports beverages, broadcasting which would cost the NCAA too
car dealerships and numerous other much money.
businesses that would pay for an athlete’s Draymond Green, former basketball player
public stamp of approval.” at Michigan State University, expressed his
Several professional athletes have expressed opinions on the new law during the Golden
their feelings for the new law, including State Warriors’ media day.
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Draymond “We spent so much time in college broke,
Green. In response to a tweet by Newsom, with no money. Yet everybody else was living
James said that this recently passed law will very well, universities making a ton of money
“change the lives for countless athletes who off your likeness.”
deserve it!”
In response to the Fair Pay to Play Act,
This is going to cause a dramatic shift for President of the NCAA Mark Emmert said,
both the colleges and the NCAA. The NCAA “The biggest worry is that when you have
has been putting up a fight against this law complete unfettered licensing agreements
because it does not adhere to their rules. In
13or unfettered endorsement deals, the model of college athletics
is negligible at best and maybe doesn’t even exist. Those deals
would be arranged with support or engagement of schools ...
so they do become professional employees of schools. That is
what most member schools are concerned about, not that people
are opposed to have an appropriate way to get some form of
(compensation for athletes).”
Since this will be a major shift in college athletics, there are
some limitations in place. One important limitation is that players
are not allowed to sign with a company that goes against a
sponsorship of the school. If students have to choose between
signing one of these deals or competing in their sport, these big
schools could lose players.
“It could be disastrous for those schools ... a lot of those students
would transfer out,” said Jim Miller, director of athletics. For some
athletes, if the competition isn’t there, they could go somewhere
else to get it.
Something to consider is whether some universities would offer
more for their players with the biggest image and likeness. If it
weren’t for the NCAA, this would be a possibility at some schools,
if they could afford it.
“Only 23 of 228 public schools in NCAA Division I — the most
competitive level of college athletics — made enough money to
cover their expenses in 2012. The other 225 schools subsidized
their athletic programs with student fees, alumni donations and
other sources of money,” said Allen Sanderson, senior lecturer in
economics at the University of Chicago.
If colleges paid their athletes, it could make it seem like they were
employees instead of students playing a sport.
Since Division III students are not awarded athletic scholarships,
they are volunteer athletes. So the possibility of getting a bigger
scholarship than another team member because they have a
greater image and likeness is not a concern for those players.
“We’re talking about maybe 0.5% of student athletes, those major
athletes that can do those things and get that opportunity to make
that money off themselves ... and it’s not fair the NCAA takes
advantage of those kids,” said Andrea Gamarra, head women’s
soccer coach.
According to NCAA research, there are only a small number of
professional athletic jobs available, meaning the likelihood of an
athlete getting a college degree is much higher than becoming
a pro athlete. In April 2019, only 0.9% become a pro in women’s
basketball and only 1.2% in men’s basketball. To get to the
professional level though, the players have to attend at least one
year of college.
“It probably won’t have a big impact on a lot of the players ... you
look at the thousands of student athletes out there, probably very
few will be able to take advantage of an opportunity to receive
funds,” said Kluckhohn.
14Madison Miller – Editor-in-Chief
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
I WASTED 15 YEARS
GUILTY BEFORE INNOCENT: CYNTOIA BROWN
Cyntoia Brown was sentenced to life in jail after being convicted of killing a man when she was 16. Brown
was convicted of aggravated robbery and first-degree murder after shooting Johnny Allen, who took her
home for sex at a Sonic in Nashville. Brown said she thought he was reaching for a gun and that’s when she
took out a handgun and shot Allen. This case contributed to a greater conversation on protecting minors
who are victims of sex trafficking and are therefore in a daily survival mode. Brown’s case picked up traction
in 2017 after social media posts by celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West were calling for her
release. Brown served 15 years and is now an author sharing her story. Her case, while complex, shows the
importance of juvenile justice and reforming the justice system for victims of sexual exploitation.
15Canceled but never forgotten
Shealeigh Voitl – Assistant Arts & Lifestyle Editor
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
When the beloved television show “Firefly” was “Browncoats,” reveled in the momentary return.
canceled after a fleeting 14 episodes in 2003, “There have always been fans of particular
fans quietly raged. For months after the abrupt shows that have always kind of found each
ending, devotees wrote lengthy letters, pleading other,” said Macek. “There’s this impulse for fans
with executives to bring Malcolm Reynolds and to join together and connect over their shared
the rest of his spaceship’s crew back to their love of a particular program.”
television screens.
A similar phenomenon occurred earlier this year
The Sci-Fi/Western drama, created by Joss to an inarguably more extreme degree. When
Whedon, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” aired on Netflix announced its cancellation of “The OA”
Fox for a brief season and was unceremoniously after two seasons, fans immediately expressed
scrapped by the network due to less than stellar their outrage. According to Refinery29, one
ratings, according to the Hollywood Reporter. woman even began a hunger strike outside of
“The people who loved it, loved it so much that Netflix’s office in Hollywood to advocate for the
they protested, then they brought people back show’s revival.
to do a movie,” said Professor of Communication Massive billboards in Times Square were paid
Steve Macek. “People who love ‘Firefly,’ really, for by supporters through crowdfunding,
really love ‘Firefly.’” according to the Los Angeles Times, and lively
The “Firefly” cinematic spinoff was the 2005 film flash mobs were organized outside of Netflix’s
“Serenity,” which brought the cast of the cult- NYC building.
classic show back together for a proper farewell. So why is it that so many people are left
Fans, who collectively referred to themselves as
16seemingly bereft after their favorite shows 2017, when Mindy Lahiri said goodbye to her
get the axe? After all, it’s only television. The loyal viewers. But Erb can think of so many
characters aren’t our friends. The stories shows she loved that didn’t get the send off
aren’t our own. The imagined worlds are she felt they deserved.
unfamiliar and often unexplored. What’s the “A lot of the stuff that I watched just wasn’t
big deal? popular enough to get another season,” said
America and television are irreversibly Erb. “And with a lot of anime stuff, most of the
intertwined. According to The Atlantic, the time, they get 12 episodes and if people like it,
typical American home views an average they keep going, and if not, they just stop.”
of eight hours of television per day. It’s no Macek said one of the greatest injustices
wonder that when a show is yanked from the in television history, however, was the
air, the aftermath for superfans is heavy. cancellation of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,”
“I think that with really relatable characters, a ’90s drama series starring Jane Seymour.
people can identify with the stories,” said The problem wasn’t necessarily the lack of
Assistant Professor of Communication and viewership, according to a report made by
Media Studies Susan Carlson. “They can Deseret News in 1998 (the year the show was
connect with those characters, and it’s almost pulled), but rather who exactly was tuning in.
like an escape.” “CBS didn’t like the demographics that it was
Carlson recalls being mildly devastated when attracting because it was popular with women
“My So-Called Life” was canceled in the mid- over the age of 40,” said Macek. “They were
’90s after one season. She was a freshman not as desirable a demographic for advertisers
in high school then and the show seemed to as men and women, like, 18 to 24, which was
speak to her adolescent worries in ways that the target.”
no other television show, Hollywood film or Dr. Quinn received a made-for-TV movie in
piece of art did at the time. 1999, and then disappeared from popular
“The characters were going through this culture entirely. The show is now available to
change — going from junior high to high stream on Amazon Prime, potentially reaching
school,” said Carlson. “I connected with Claire viewers that it couldn’t in its first run. And
Danes, just understanding what it was like to perhaps that means that no series is ever
be a teenager.” truly canceled at all. To the audiences with
Carlson needed to savor every last episode in whom they have connected, these shows are
existence. Once MTV started rerunning the effectively eternal.
only season of the series, she stockpiled tapes “I think we develop a relationship with
of every “My So-Called Life” moment in her television when we’re very young,” said
living room. Macek. “It’s something we consume at
“Their promo would talk about how ABC or home in our domestic spaces, and it’s sort of
the critics in general felt that the show was enmeshed in the rhythms of our lives.”
before its time,” said Carlson. “Like it was
too raw and real for primetime television. So,
MTV picked it up just to replay the episodes.”
Leah Erb, ’20, returns to shows she used to
love like they’re old pals. Programs from her
childhood still make her feel the way she did
when she first watched them.
“Imagine all of the people that still reference
‘Drake & Josh’ and ‘The Office,’” said Erb.
“Even if time has passed, and it’s an older
show, it’s still relevant.”
When “The Mindy Project” was canceled on
Fox in 2015 after three seasons, Hulu gave the
program a second life on their platform until
17
17The evolution of social justice
Cheyanne Daniels – News Editor
Illustrations by Jasmine Pomierski
When we think of social a society, which slowly it and why, prevailed. most often govern political
justice these days, a lot evolved into the term we Those questions still remain decisions must preserve
of images come to mind: know today. as the basis for the current the “basic rights, liberties,
people protesting in the To find the first time the social justice fight. and entitlements” of all
streets, internet warriors term social justice was used individuals and groups.
demanding equality and In a study conducted by Last, they declared that the
would mean traveling back the American Psychological term encompasses the idea
equity, kneeling football to the Italian Risorgimento
players. But what the term Association in 2010, that all humans and all other
of the 19th century. A Jesuit researchers defined the
actually means and how it’s philosopher by the name species of being are treated
changed over the years, is term as a three-pronged with dignity and respect by
of Luigi Taparelli d’Azeglio concept.
much more than that. is thought to be the first all within society.
The term is a philosophical person to use the phrase. At First, they declared it as When we look to American
concept that points to the the time, debates abounded a state of affairs in which history specifically, there
writings of those such as as the efforts to politically the benefits and burdens are key eras of social justice
Socrates, Locke, Rousseau unify the Italian peninsula of society are dispersed that changed the state of
and Kant. Their writings persisted. Questions about with some set of principles. the nation and the course of
focused on justice within power and who should hold Second, the rules that history.
1776 -
America was founded on the basis of social
justice ... although, perhaps not on the basis
of how we perceive social justice today.
That being said, the Revolutionary War,
the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution that followed all came about
because individuals who felt marginalized
by their home state said, “no more.” These
people took a stance and fought for their
rights. They turned around and began
marginalizing and oppressing others.
1865 -
From the Revolutionary War to the Civil
War. Everyone learns about the Civil War in
elementary school. It is a defining moment
of American and Black American history.
The Civil War dealt not only with the idea
of whether slavery was a viable means of
economic progress, but also about the cost of
such an endeavor.
18
181919 -
The 1900s brought a new kind of social justice
movement: the feminist movement. It was
a movement determined to bring justice for
women through the power of voting rights.
The suffragettes were militant, food-striking,
bomb-throwing, political speakers. It was a
different kind of war, but a war nonetheless.
It was the work of these suffragettes that
brought about the 19th Amendment. It was
the first major milestone in gender social
justice.
1963 -
Forty-four years after the 19th Amendment
provided women with some sense of justice,
Black leaders like the great Martin Luther
King, Jr., Malcolm X, Medgar Evans, and
so many others, fought for the justice of
all marginalized communities. They fought
through sit-ins, strikes and marches to get the
Civil Rights Act passed. This act was perhaps
the most important moment of social justice
in American history. The act constitutionally
provided the social justice for all members of
the country regardless of race, sex, religion
and physical ability.
Up until recent years, social than history originally ends, even as it changes see social media users start
justice in this country had saw, and some of the throughout the years. While whole movements for things
a specific look: some sort attempts are focused on each of these groups fought they believe in — from Greta
of war, either literally or the same things like racial for something specific, Thunberg to the Parkland
through people in the streets and gender justice. But, they all had something in survivors.
protesting — perhaps as our understanding of common: reach the people Now, we see that social
peacefully, perhaps violently. society changes, so does in power. justice has become
Their protests would force the fight for social justice. As technology has a collective ongoing
politicians to change For instance, a new form of improved, however, so movement. The focus of
policies. In other words, it justice is being fought for has the idea that only this movement, however,
was not citizens who were members of the LGBTQIA+ politicians are able to enact remains true to the 19th
responsible for encouraging community. In fact, the U.S. justice. This is where we century philospher’s
justice, but those who held Supreme Court is hearing see celebrities like Colin attempts to redistribute
power. cases for such justice their Kapernick kneeling in the power.
The attempts to achieve first week back in session. name of social justice. We
social justice today have The truth is, the fight see citizen journalists filming
broadened much more for social justice never instances of injustice. We
19
19Marvel movies aren’t
the death of cinema
OPINION
Peter Hunt Szpytek – Multimedia Editor
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
20
20If a gourmet chef ate a Skittle and didn’t like Scorsese dislikes Marvel movies but that he
it, are Skittles no longer considered food? Of disputes their artistic worth.
course not, the chef just doesn’t like Skittles.
“I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema,”
Just because they’re a great chef doesn’t mean
Scorsese told Empire. “It isn’t the cinema of
that they alone get to decide what is and isn’t
human beings trying to convey emotional,
food. Film is the same way: one great filmmaker
psychological experiences to another human
can dislike a certain kind of film, but they don’t
being.”
get to decide its status as art.
Scorsese himself admitted that he doesn’t
In an interview with Empire magazine in
watch Marvel movies so his argument that
October, renowned film director Martin
they don’t count as cinema is flimsy at best. It’s
Scorsese announced that superhero movies,
easy to criticize something that you don’t know
specifically from Marvel Studios, are “not
anything about because you can just make
cinema.” Last year, James Cameron expressed
blanket statements and people will agree with
his critique of the genre by saying that “there
you.
are other stories to tell.” This distaste for
the superhero genre is not a new take for All genres have bad movies in them, but it
well-known directors. Ridley Scott, David isn’t fair to say that a genre as a whole is bad.
Cronenberg and Clint Eastwood, to name a Horror movies get a bad reputation, but some
few, have all echoed the sentiment that movies excellent films have emerged from the horror
in the superhero genre are immature and, as genre. Great films like “The Shining” (1980), “It
Cronenberg put it in an interview with MTV in Follows” (2014) and “Halloween” (1978) defy the
2012, “for kids.” bad expectations that films like “The Wicker
Man” (2006) set. In a similar vein, “Iron Man”
Art is subjective which means that anyone
(2008), “Logan” (2017) and “The Dark Knight”
can have an opinion about it and basically be
(2008) are just a few great superhero movies in
right because it’s their opinion. However, many
a genre of critically acclaimed films.
people on the internet have argued that because
of his status as a veteran film director, Scorsese Films produced by Marvel Studios are going
is right and there’s nothing more to it. On the for mass appeal. A movie doesn’t make $2.796
other side, people say that he’s just jealous of billion, like “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) did if
how much money Marvel movies rack in and it’s not trying to appeal to as many people as
that he simply doesn’t get the appeal. The real possible. The PG-13 rating that every Marvel
answer is somewhere between the two. Studios movie receives means that just about
anyone can go see them and get some level of
Just about any opinion on art is valid because
enjoyment out of the experience.
of the inherent subjective nature that art
possesses. Some people don’t have a taste for Mass appeal doesn’t seem to excite Scorsese
the French new wave films of the 1950s and which is why the movies he directs and
’60s and that’s just fine. Some people don’t like produces are usually rated R with some
action-packed summer blockbusters and that is exceptions. Appealing to everyone is clearly
equally fine. not the goal for Scorsese and that’s completely
fine. He wants to make movies that appeal to
Scorsese seems to fit into the first category,
him which, in his opinion, are about conveying
preferring films that are viewed by critics as
“emotional, psychological experiences.”
having lots of artistic value. He noted in a 2012
interview with Sight and Sound that films such Art will always have a group of elite people
as “Citizen Kane” (1941), “Vertigo” (1958) and looking down on others for liking what is
“The Searchers” (1956) are among his favorites. popular. It’s important to remember that people
It’s no wonder that someone whose favorite should just be able to like what they like and not
films are classics doesn’t like a movie where Iron like what they don’t. Scorsese knows a great
Man and Spider-Man go to space to fight aliens. deal about filmmaking, his accolades include
an Oscar for Best Director and a Golden Globe
Scorsese just doesn’t like superhero movies, for Best Motion Picture just to name a few, but
they have little appeal to him and that’s okay. that isn’t to say that he gets to decide what is
He gets to form his own opinions on what and what is not cinema. Scorsese once said
he likes regardless of what the internet says. that “your job (as a filmmaker) is to get your
Marvel actor Samuel L. Jackson responded audience to care about your obsessions” and it’s
to Scorsese’s comments in an interview with clear that his fans can agree with Marvel fans
Variety saying that, “Everybody’s got an opinion, that they’re all obsessed with movies.
so I mean it’s okay. Ain’t going to stop nobody
from making movies.” The problem is not that
21Let’s understand, not undermine
Jack Plewa – News Editor
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
Racial bias incidents are stacking Affairs, the Bias Incident Response They advance some initiatives on
up. Team, the BSA working group and campus but also start new ones.
NCC has implemented two new more. According to Pleas, the goal is to “see
initiatives on campus this year to Although the college may need to what the needs are of the campus
address challenges and difficulties do more to advance the work of community based on the feedback
with diversity and creating diversity, equity and inclusion on from our campus forums, from focus
constructive dialogue on campus. campus, the goal of the Task Force groups and interviews ... so that
The new Diversity, Equity and is not to just work on the demands we can share what the needs are of
Inclusion Task Force is a campus of BSA. The goal of the Task Force is underrepresented students, faculty
initiative that is working to create a to determine what the needs of the and staff here at the college.”
more inclusive campus community. students are, advance initiatives and The entire Task Force is made up of a
The Working Across Differences hold people accountable. mix of faculty and staff, and there are
Fund is a grant that is working to There is a BSA working group that also three students who are a part of
create and facilitate constructive includes Assistant Dean of Students it, including BSA Co-President Izaiah
dialogue in the campus community. and Director of Multicultural Affairs Webb, ’20. “We really mean for it
Dorothy Pleas, Vice President to be a group that equally provides
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Student Affairs and Strategic input,” said Pleas.
In response to the discovery of Initiatives Kimberly Sluis and
racist material in the college’s Along with the new Task Force came
Assistant Vice President for External the new diversity training module on
archives, bias incident reports Affairs and Special Assistant to the
and the Black Student Association Blackboard. According to Pleas, the
President James Godo. It is separate module was “in the works” before
(BSA) forum last year, President from the Task Force.
Troy Hammond created a new the Task Force was created. The plan
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion “You can definitely tell that the was to implement it this year anyway,
Task Force. The Task Force is school wants to make change so it is unrelated to the Task Force
meant to maintain and improve because, even as a RA, they’ve but coincides well with its purpose.
the college’s goal to “thrive as a been implementing (the Diversity, Pleas strongly urges all students to
diverse, inclusive, and globally Equity and Inclusion training) on us,” complete the training module as soon
engaged community,” as stated in said Lorri Kucharski, ’21, resident as possible. “People need to increase
the college’s Strategic Plan. assistant in Ward Hall. the capacity they have to learn about
President Hammond appointed both diversity issues on campus and how
The Task Force will work to make they can be an ally,” said Pleas.
change on campus in collaboration Pleas and Dean of the College of
with certain campus groups, such Arts and Sciences Stephen Caliendo The Task Force will also work with
as the Office of Multicultural to be the co-chairs of the Task Force. faculty, staff and advisers to remind
2223 23
students to complete the training constructive dialogue on topics that campus to get together and talk,
module in the hopes that the entire are often controversial, political share, relate and overall, begin
campus population will be making or relevant to people’s personal to develop mutual understanding
positive change. experiences. about other’s lived experiences.”
“I really want student feedback about Last year NCC was designated a All students, staff and faculty are
the module and if (students) feel like Changemaker Campus by Ashoka encouraged to attend the movie
it’s helpful (because it’s the first time U. This is the world’s largest clubs as they are not associated
we’re trying something like this),” said community of changemakers with any classes. Free dinners will
Pleas. and social entrepreneurs. Being be served at all film screenings and
Including the online training module, a Changemaker Campus makes dessert and dialogue will follow.
Pleas will be implementing in-person NCC “a community of leaders and Within the club, there are three
trainings for first-year and transfer institutions that work collectively teams in place: the Design Team,
students. Pleas and her staff are to make social innovation and the Implementation Team and the
currently working on putting out a changemaking a new norm in higher Research Team.
climate survey on campus and are education and beyond.” “The Design Team is responsible
developing a race and ethnicity ally- NCC is one of 44 Changemaker for coming up with the format and
based training program, similar to Campuses among 10 countries, agreements of the movie club while
Cardinal Safe Zone for the LGBTQ+ some other schools being Brown the Implementation Team is tasked
community. University and Cornell University. with coming up with dialogue
“It’s crucial that we actually create a NCC was also selected by Ashoka questions. The Research Team
more progressive mentality,” said BSA U to receive the Working Across collects ... data from participants
Co-President Alexis Reese, ’20. Differences Fund grant, supported after the movie clubs,” said Shah.
Reese mentioned that it’s important to by the Fetzer Institute, along with The Design Team could make
talk about these types of things in the only five other institutions in the changes for next time.
classroom because it can change the world, one other being Central Every movie presented will be
culture to be more inclusive. Queensland University in Australia. chosen by the student organization
“The culture of diversity and “The Working Across Differences that is co-hosting the event. Shah
inclusivity needs to be reflected Fund provides one-year grants to hopes to work with three different
by what’s actually happening on post-secondary institutions for student organizations this year and
campus,” said Reese. creative and innovative campus- to have them help implement and
wide initiatives that accelerate facilitate the movie club.
She talked about how there are two the creation, development, and/or
things that everyone can do to make To get involved, students need to
application of methodologies that show up and participate. “I think
a change on campus: first, educate build bridges across difference,”
yourself, and second, actually do having conversations ... is super
said Ashoka U. important and understanding one
something. “It’s really hard to change
something when you’re only learning Part of this initiative to have another because if you don’t talk
about it and not actually seeking to constructive dialogue is to host about it then it’s always going to be
change the structure of it,” said Reese. movie clubs on campus. The idea a problem,” said Kucharski.
to start a movie club started in the In addition, students can become
At the beginning of the school year, a Department of Education last year.
forum was held to inform the campus a part of any of the movie club
community about different initiatives “The purpose of these movie clubs teams by reaching out to either
that the Task Force will do. The forum is to have a space for dialogue on Shah or the other lead person on
also allowed people to give feedback campus where students, faculty the project, Assistant Director of
to the Task Force about things that and staff can all come together Multicultural Affairs Stephania
they still need to address. to discuss difficult topics related Rodriguez.
to race, class, gender, nationality, Campus initiatives have been jump-
Right now, the Task Force is focused immigration and other topics,” said
mainly on race and ethnicity. “As time started this year. With continued
Assistant Professor of Education acts of microaggression and bias
goes on, we’re going to widen that Jennifer Shah. She serves as a
scope to other underrepresented incidents occurring on campus,
coordinator for the movie club, with there is more to come in terms of
groups,” said Pleas. the hopes of having two to three addressing these problems.
Working Across Differences movie clubs this year.
Other than addressing diversity “The purpose that we hope these
on campus with the Task Force, movie clubs serve is for a third
the college is also working to have space for people from all over
24
24“THE CULTURE OF
DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSIVITY NEEDS
TO BE REFLECTED BY
WHAT’S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING ON
CAMPUS.”
25
2526
Graphic by Jaidene Samiec27
Is it time to make amends?
Cheyanne Daniels – News Editor
Illustration by Jasmine Pomierski
Written 200 years ago, the Constitution of the Meanwhile, the Democrats are taking an
United States of America is the foundation this entirely different approach.
country is built upon. Despite the significance of “Traditionally the liberal ideology is more
such a document, or perhaps because of it, the about larger federal government intervention
Constitution remains the most discussed piece of and having federal government policies,” said
writing in the U.S. with one specific amendment Chod. “Where again, as the Republicans are
at the forefront of the discussion. more for states’ rights, and also thinking about
From the Constitution of the United States of the Second Amendment (and) interpreting it in
America — The Right to Bear Arms: “A well a different way.”
regulated Militia, being necessary to the security The interpretation of the Second Amendment
of a free State, the right of the people to keep is vital to the debate. When interpreted
and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” literally, the Second Amendment is not really
It is perhaps the most controversial amendment about guns. It is about maintaining a militia,
of our time, sparking both political and private should a time come when citizens must rise up
debates. On one side, hard-hitting Republicans against a tyrannical federal government.
and Conservatives are wholeheartedly pro- But the argument about one’s “right” to
Second Amendment. On the other side, own guns has not been about maintaining a
Democrats and Progressives are passionately militia for a very long time, for voters or for
declaring the amendment to be outdated and politicians.
dangerous.
Stephen Caliendo, professor of political
And in the midst of it all, students and victims science, said as the Republican Party became
of gun violence demand to end the debates and the party representing rural interests, which
take action. The problem is, those affected by is often a pro-gun culture, voter perspectives
gun violence protest based on their right to live changed.
in a gun-free area. Those who are pro-gun use
the Second Amendment to justify their right to “In other words,” said Caliendo. “If I feel like
own guns. I’m a Republican and I live in those areas and
I hunt and I have guns in my home, I’m going
“A lot of this stems from the question of to want to ask candidates the degree to which
federalism and the size and scope of the federal they’re willing to protect my right to have
government and what they are allowed to tell those guns.”
me I can and cannot do,” said Suzanne Chod,
professor of political science. Add in the National Rifle Association and this
is where the partisan divide starts to become
The cross between strictly following the Second more apparent.
Amendment or the federalist idea of states’
authority pushes the Republican Party’s agenda. Caliendo said the NRA overwhelmingly offers
28
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