The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

Newsletter for March 3

Sophia King’s big win; an Olympian in MoS; RAs to receive salaries; Latina-focused sorority resurges; and CC reps invite Zimmer.

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Good morning. It’s ninth week.

College Housing has changed its compensation policy for resident assistants (RAs), which provided little or no incentive to become RAs for some students whose room and board was already covered by need-based financial aid. RAs will be compensated with a free meal plan under the new policy, but instead of providing free boarding, Housing will pay RAs salaries equal to or greater than the first-year room rate (currently $9,084 per year) as student employees. (bit.ly/2lkS6ot)

Fourth Ward Alderman Sophia King will retain her seat after a commanding performance in Wednesday’s election. She did slightly better in precincts in the Bronzeville community areas in the middle of the Ward, and somewhat worse in Kenwood and South Loop, at the Ward’s southern and northern extremities. But let's be clear: King, armed with incumbency, a bulging campaign chest, and an endorsement from President Obama, did well everywhere, securing a majority in all but one precinct. (bit.ly/2m68A2L)

Lambda Pi Chi, a Latina-focused community service sorority, initiated eight new sisters last week—its largest intake class in the history of the chapter. Before this class, chapter president Marielena Segovia was the only member. “I think for us and for our organization as a whole, it’s always been quality over quantity,” Segovia said. (bit.ly/2mhbr9w)

There were two protests on campus this week against both Trump and the University. On Wednesday, demonstrators gathered outside of Levi Hall to demand better conditions for campus workers. (bit.ly/2mRUcbP) Yesterday, Fair Budget UChicago made a wall at Hull Gate as part of a visual protest that compared Zimmer to Trump. Check out our video: bit.ly/2m2a3VL.

In the Divinity School publication Sightings, Editor Brett Colasacco defends his decision to publish professor Rachel Fulton Brown’s recent article supporting Milo Yiannopoulos, arguing that “it is all the more crucial that [the publication] give space to a variety of viewpoints—even views some readers are likely to find deeply offensive.” (bit.ly/2mRVljC)  On her blog, Brown reflects on some of the responses to her stance on Yiannopoulos in a post titled “Turning the Other Cheek.” (bit.ly/2mzmI5T)

IN VIEWPOINTS

Editor Sarah Zimmerman writes in:

Members of College Council (CC) penned an open letter to University President Robert Zimmer regarding his comments in a recent Wall Street Journal article in which he stated he would be fine if white nationalist Richard Spencer were to give a speech on campus. CC has invited Zimmer to discuss UChicago’s free speech policy and its implications on the University community. “[I]t is paramount that we fully understand the scope and boundaries of the University’s free speech policy,” the letter reads, in part. (bit.ly/2mgHdTS)

Columnist Jasmine Wu notes the toxic and sexist culture that pervades Silicon Valley and specifically Uber. “By devaluing women, companies like Uber are degrading their intrinsic worth,” she writes. “How much press does a company need to finally take action over a toxic culture? Our society does not benefit from systematically excluding half the population from STEM.” (bit.ly/2mgJ1wf)

The political establishment has not died under Trump and is our best hope for democracy, according to contributor Case Nieboer. “Trump seems to be a singular event in American politics that will not leave a substantial legacy,” he writes. (bit.ly/2mgHNBa)

IN ARTS

Editor Alexia Bacigalupi writes in:

In this week’s Manual of Style, Olympic swimmer and second-year student Naomy Grand’Pierre discusses thrift shopping before it was cool and being inspired by Kanye. (bit.ly/2mMHeNd)

Third-year Grace McLeod’s play Watch Your Language, Cunt was a poignant and nostalgic reflection on sisterhood and growing pains. (bit.ly/2lG0riD)

The Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality hosted an all-female panel last Thursday to discuss the interaction between the personal and the political in art. (bit.ly/2lkEOIA)

IN THE NEWS

The inaugural head of the University of Chicago’s Level I trauma center reflects on his first months on the job in an op-ed in the Sun-Times. Like heart attacks, Selwyn Rogers writes, the risk factors for violent death are understood and can be mitigated. “This takes community and civic engagement. This takes thought leadership and grand ideas. This takes guts and the willingness to make a difference. This is how we turn helplessness to hopefulness.” (bit.ly/2m0MTRC)

Third-year Matthew Foldi, president of College Republicans, makes an appearance in a NowThis video from CPAC captioned “Young Republicans detail the 'horrors' of being conservative on a college campus.” Wearing a GOP elephant-patterned blazer, Foldi says, “Trump supporters are ashamed on college campuses to the extent where even if they support him, they would never vote for him.” (bit.ly/2lGjbyr)

In the conservative publication The Federalist, Nick Saffran, A.B. ’16, a research assistant at the American Enterprise Institute, argues that the debate over restricting Muslim immigration to the United States is too focused on terrorism. He says that we should instead be more critical of Muslim immigration due to the Muslim world and the West’s radically different views on many social and political issues, from the appropriateness of homosexuality to the appreciability of political liberalism. He argues that these differences can make it difficult to assimilate Muslims that immigrate to the U.S. (bit.ly/2luu4Ds)

CHICAGO LETTERS

The Gate interviews political science professor William Howell, who is an expert on the executive branch. On when courts strike down executive orders: “In federal judiciary, at the district, appellate, and Supreme Court level, cases that were brought before the courts to amend or overturn an executive order come out in favor of the president about 83 percent of the time. Then the question is, what do we make of those findings? One story is that the president can get whatever he wants. His Congress rolls, and the courts get out of the way. That’s not the right conclusion to my mind. Rather, much of what happens is that presidents act strategically.” (bit.ly/2mgKJxy)

The South Side Weekly features Wells House, a Bronzeville housing cooperative at 41st Street and Michigan Avenue. It’s named after Ida B. Wells, a leader of the Civil Rights movement and a former Bronzeville resident. “Over the past months, as Wells’ interior has accrued comfortable furnishings and bulk containers of grains and other vegetarian staples, its new residents have begun to adjust to the home, as well as the at-times unconventional ethos of the co-op lifestyle.” (bit.ly/2m1dIF6)

The Shady Dealer has a “Message from the Editorial Board.” … “On February 24, the Trump administration denied The New York Times, CNN, Politico and other major news outlets access to a major White House press briefing. We at The Dealer were deeply concerned by this; the free and open press is a cornerstone of American democracy, and President Trump’s media ban strikes at the heart of one of our country’s founding principles. So, after giving the matter serious consideration, The Shady Dealer has decided to stand with our peer institutions and cease to attend all future White House press briefings.” Let it be known, The Maroon will also not be attending any upcoming White House press briefings. (bit.ly/2mh82Yh)

AGENDA

Tonight at 7:30: The University Chorus & Women’s Ensemble will perform a concert at the Logan Center based on the theme, “Home.” Free admission for all.

For more events, check out our Events page.

A new app will allow browsers to check out UChicago library books from their smartphones. (bit.ly/2mM9rDX) iTunes: (apple.co/2mkewWI) Android: (bit.ly/2lFBt37)

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