“This is Jim Crow. This is the civil rights movement.”

The enraptured audience passionately snapped their fingers and murmured in agreement with Horace Hall’s statement last Wednesday, May 15, at the “School Closings: The Impact on Children and Communities” panel at DePaul.

Hall, an associate professor of education at DePaul, was one of four panel members who addressed Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposal to close 54 Chicago public elementary schools. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education will vote on the closings May 22.

 “It’s madness, right? It’s crazy!” said Hall.

Hall playfully impersonated Emanuel, diabolically rubbing his hands together in his black limousine and fleeing the scene of a fallen Chicago school.

When the audience's laughter subsided, Hall addressed the safety issues related to the school closings. He said closures are directly correlated with failing communities and increased gang activity. Often, he said, students become gang affiliated to avoid walking alone through gang territories on their way to school.

Closed schools mean students will have to travel farther and through more dangerous territories to get to school, said Hall.

The same day of the panel, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) filed two lawsuits against CPS. The first one was for violating Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act by neglecting to provide adequate time to process individualized education programs (IEPs) for dislocated special education students.

The second suit alleged that CPS violated the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003 by using racially discriminatory criteria and methods to close down the schools.

Federico Waitoller, an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), said that while 47 percent of special education CPS students are African-American, they make up 80 percent of the students most impacted by the school closings.

Special education students are especially sensitive to drastic changes in school environments, Waitoller said. Each special education student is evaluated and given an individual education plan, and teachers’ adherence to these plans impacts the success of the students.

The efforts to improve special education programs will be “compromised,” said Waitoller. This is due to the lack of training for future special education teachers in CPS schools.

In a media briefing released by CPS March 21, officials said 54 underutilized schools would be closed to save the district $560 million in avoided capital costs during the next 10 years and $43 million in operating costs.

The briefing said that these funds will be recycled into the existing schools to ensure every student “has a safe, high-quality 21st century school with updated amenities and the programs and supports every child needs to succeed and thrive.”

Stephanie Farmer, an associate professor of sociology at Roosevelt University and a member of the panel, voiced her disagreement with CPS actions and quoted school officials from Chicago, Sacramento and Philadelphia, highlighting the similar use of language to address school closures.

“There has been an organized effort at the national level to close public schools and open charter schools,” said Farmer.

Farmer said that between the years 2000 and 2012, 76 Chicago schools were closed or reopened as turnaround schools. Within the same decade, 120 new charter schools were opened.

Charter schools are publicly funded, but they exercise more flexibility than traditional public schools in their curricula. Students do not pay tuition, but they are subject to lottery admission if applicant rates are high. Various studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of charter schools, but the results are contradictory.

The panel members emphasized the idea of  “disinvestment” in all public schools and impoverished neighborhoods on the South and West Sides. Hall used Starbucks as an example of signs of investment in a neighborhood, whereas other neighborhoods with high foreclosure rates were absent of businesses and targeted for school closures.

“We blame the parents and the children, but it’s the system,” said Hall.

More than 15 CPS high school students from the South and West Sides joined parents, community members, professors and DePaul students in the audience. Some of them stood to voice their own concerns to the panel, while others snapped their fingers to applaud the speakers.

“It’s crazy what Rahm is doing,” said Ahkeem Wight, a sophomore at Gage Park High School on the Southwest Side of Chicago. “(CPS schools) are already messed up. Why don’t they fix the schools already here?”

Emanuel announced an expansion of a CPS vision program May 10. Working with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) commissioner, Dr. Bechara Choucair, Emanuel pooled $1 million from the fiscal year 2013 city budget to provide 30,000 CPS students with access to eye exams and glasses.

Five days later, Emanuel unveiled the first Arts Education Plan for CPS, funded by $1 million from the City of Chicago.

“Every child in this city deserves a quality education, no matter where they live,” said Emanuel. “Incorporating the arts into all levels of education is an essential piece in helping our children thrive.”

Michael Nelson, a sophomore at Kenwood Academy High School on the South Side, said students don’t need to transfer to new schools. What they need, he said, is resources, such as books and new technology.

Nelson attended the panel as a Harris Fellow member. The Harris Fellow leadership program invites exemplary CPS high school students to engage in citywide conferences, summits, committees and research towards promoting the student voice throughout CPS.

Moises Perez, also a Harris Fellow, said the Wednesday night panel enlightened him on the “mishaps” occurring within CPS.

Perez was a junior at Curie Metropolitan High School on the Southwest Side. Curie is a magnet school, or school with specialized curriculum such as the sciences or the arts. Magnet schools draw students from outside normal school boundaries to reflect diverse ethnic, racial and socioeconomic school bodies.

Perez said his high school, Curie Metropolitan, has been on probation for about a decade.

According to CPS policy, schools receive ratings based on performance in standardized test scores, dropout rates and enrollment in Advanced Placement courses. Schools on probation receive improvement plans and revised budgets to correct the deficiencies. If schools fail to improve, possible CPS actions include replacing the principal, replacing faculty or closing the school.

“Students are indifferent about education and other school closings,” said Perez. As a Harris Fellow, his hope is for people to understand these shortcomings in the system and realize that they have a voice.

DePaul junior and secondary education student Amanda Serice attended the panel discussion because of her passion for equal educational opportunities.

Serice said that the panel addressed the myths behind CPS rhetoric but also provided multiple points of view.

“(It) gave me a well-rounded opinion on the matter,” said Serice.

CTU sponsored a number of marches throughout South Side and West Side neighborhoods during the weekend, the last of which ended in Daley Plaza Monday, May 20.

With the CPS Board of Education vote just days away, the final panel member, Valerie Nelson, held back tears as she told her own story. The mother of an autistic daughter and local school counsel chair, Nelson talked about her daughter’s school, Lafayette Elementary School, which is scheduled to close. 

“It is not just a school,” said Nelson. “Anyone who can help keep our schools open, please do what you can.” 

As the city and university celebrated the news of the $173 million arena development that will relocate the men’s and women’s basketball teams to McCormick Place in 2016, students questioned the worth of the project.

With a team that has not made a NCAA tournament appearance since 2004 and has struggled to attract substantial game attendance the past few years, students argued whether it is the right move.

“Maybe they should get it when they win a few more games,” said Jeph Trout, a junior.  “I guess they have a couple years to get better.”

The 10,000-seat arena, part of the large-scale tourism and economic development project that is reported to bring roughly 10,000 jobs to the city, will be funded partially by DePaul and partially by the city’s Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.

“Where’d they get this money from? If they were a winning team, if they were bringing revenue to Rosemont, that’s one thing — but I think we need to put our money somewhere else right now,” said senior James Hopkins. “People were going to Rosemont to watch them lose. I’m not going to knock our guys, but I’m being real.”

In a statement from DePaul’s Student Government Association (SGA), the organization applauded the partnership and the project. SGA will host a Student Town Hall in coordination with DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti-Ponsetto and DePaul Athletics on May 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the McGrath-Phillips Arena.

“We are confident in DePaul’s ability to participate in this partnership without increasing the price of tuition, a particularly important point given our mission-based student population.” SGA president Caroline Winsett and vice president Casey Clemmons wrote, “We, along with the rest of our fellow Blue Demons, look forward to creating memories in our new home, a true home, for all of DePaul.”

Students who have taken the shuttle bus to Allstate Arena said they were excited to have the team play closer to campus.

“The bus ride to Rosemont is long, and this (stadium) will be closer and more fun for students,” said DePaul alumus Michael Taylor. “I think it will make (DePaul) feel more like a college campus. Although it would be better on campus, we’ll take what we can get.”

Taylor used to attend games at Allstate Arena regularly when he attended DePaul.

“I am very excited about it — it’s about time, as a fan, it's been too long,” said Taylor.

Unlike Allstate Arena, the unnamed arena will be easily accessible by public transit, but not steps away from the Lincoln Park campus.

“I’m glad it's something, and I understand people have to make money,” said senior Caullen Hudson. “The fact that it is closer will benefit students.”

However, the DePaul contribution has some students confused about how the school can front the $70 million and why the city is including the university in such a grand scheme.

“I think this puts pressure on the basketball team,” said senior Cynthia Garcia. “They need to step it up if the city is spending that much money on them.”

This past weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” was filled with many emotions: the usual  laughter, sadness and confusion as to why Ben Affleck depended so much on the teleprompter.

Starting from his opening monologue, Affleck’s introduction into the “Five-Timer Club” was jokingly underplayed with Bobby Moynihan wearing a “5” t-shirt as the only marker for the occasion, a stark contrast to Justin Timberlake’s grand affair back in March.

The monologue set the stage for the rest of the show, a lackluster performance from Affleck. He was consistently tripping over words, a sure sign he was struggling to read his lines. He’s a fine actor, but live performances are not his forte.

Affleck’s unexciting performance was, however, appropriate for the occasion: the night was about Bill Hader’s and Fred Armisen’s final night on “SNL."

It was announced last week that Hader would be putting his eight-year run on the show to an end, so the expectations were high for his final episode ‒ the anticipation wasn’t higher than in “Weekend Update.”

Seth Meyers, another soon-to-be departed cast member in the second half of the season next year when he takes over Jimmy Fallon’s spot on “Late Night,” was joined by former cast member and “Weekend Update” host Amy Poehler for the sketch. They brought back their “Really?” bit before the moment everyone was waiting for: a guide to New York this summer by Stefon.

His advice ended early, after Meyers did his standard ridicule of Stefon for telling tourists to attend dubious clubs. Stefon runs out, telling Meyers he’s getting married for someone who loves him for him. As Meyers find out as he busts into the church “Graduate” style, Stefon’s beau is Anderson Cooper and every character Stefon has ever mentioned in his “Weekend Update” appearances brilliantly attends their wedding.

It had human traffic cones, Furkels, DJ Baby Bok Choi … and that thing where Stefon and Meyers run back onto the “Weekend Update” stage and are greeted by all of the other “Weekend Update” recurring characters as the two embraced. They, as colleagues and friends (not their characters), exchanged an “I love you” for one of the most heart-warming moments that’s taken place on “SNL” in a long time.

Did I start crying? Maybe.

Fred Armisen’s departure was shrouded in a bit more secrecy; his departure was only rumored last week. Once the show began, it was obvious that this would be Armisen’s last show.

The final sketch of the night brought Armisen’s character of Ian Rubish to the stage for a final time, singing “Lovely Day” as a final farewell for both Armisen and Hader. Armisen’s guitar strap had “TY LM I<3U” written upon it, a likely shout-out to “SNL” creator, meaning “thank you Lorne Michaels I love you.”

The stage filled with a slew of rock stars from Aimee Mann and spouse Michael Penn, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, The Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones, Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis and Armisen’s “Portlandia” cohort Carrie Brownstein.

The final episode ended season 38 on a high note, the swan songs for both Armisen and Hader were pointed and well done, but the cast is left slim for next season. With Kristen Wiig, Abby Elliot and Andy Samberg leaving last season, Meyers’ departure mid-season next year and Jason Sudekis’ unsure status, “SNL” will likely be on uneasy ground for the next couple of seasons as they rebuild a solid cast.

Newer cast members Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong are the standouts of this season’s “Featured Players.” Along with Taran Killam and Vanessa Bayer, they are likely to pave the way for the next couple of years. Can they fill the void of all of the departed cast members? We’ll have to wait for September to find out.

In the midst of music festivals with “safe” lineups (ahem, Lollapalooza 2013) or are overtly trying to prove having “alternative cred” (Pitchfork Music Festival, obviously), the savior to Chicago music festivals has arrived: Riot Fest 2013. Expanding into a three-day festival at Humboldt Park, Riot Fest has only gotten better with age. Unlike more well-known festivals in the city, Riot Fest is known for its diverse lineup centering around punk mainstays and lower prices. With more mainstream headliners such as Fall Out Boy and Blink-182 this year, though, Riot Fest is appealing to a wider demographic, proving that its brand of music festival makes it one of most anticipated events in Chicago.

1.“Grand Theft Autumn/Where is Your Boy” by Fall Out Boy: When the Chicago-bred band took the stage at the Riviera last Friday, bassist Pete Wentz told the audience how “Grand Theft Autumn” is one of Fall Out Boy’s songs beloved by fans around the world. As a single off of debut album “Take This to Your Grave,” the track shows potential for the “emo punk-pop” Fall Out Boy would later popularize with the mainstream success of second album “From Under the Cork Tree.”

2. “Dammit” by Blink-182: When lead singer Mark Hoppus whines the lyric “Well I guess this is growing up,” it shows that even with pop punk band Blink-182’s toilet humor, they still provided the perfect anthem to the woes of, well, growing up. Reuniting in 2009 and releasing sixth album Neighborhoods in 2011, Blink-182’s appearance at Riot Fest is sure to make anyone nostalgic for the late ’90s satisfied.

3.“Time Bomb” by Rancid: Ska punk band Rancid cemented mainstream success with this catchy and upbeat track talking about a boy whose life will come to an inevitable end shortly. Although deceiving lyrically, “Time Bomb” is just one Rancid track that displays the band’s signature style of rebellion against the norm. Riot Fest-goers can expect Rancid’s set to be one of the highlights of the festival, as this is a punk mainstay one wouldn’t want to miss.

4. “The Days of the Phoenix” by AFI: The Bay-area band is known for its melodic take on punk rock. As evident on track “The Days of the Phoenix” from fifth album “The Art of Drowning,” lead singer Davey Havok’s dark lyrics and wide vocal range (including the ability to sustain screaming for long periods) as well as guitarist Jade Puget’s skill for incorporating moody, atmospheric sounds have made AFI one of the most compelling acts to see live.

5.“Walking is Still Honest” by Against Me!: When lead singer Laura Jane Grace (formerly known as Tom Gabel) came out last year as a transgender woman, the last thing her band lost was its punk authenticity. Early signs of the band’s raw authenticity are showcased with track “Walking is Still Honest” from debut album “Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose” as Grace cries “Can anybody tell me why God won’t speak to me?” Fans throughout the years have stormed the stage during this song to join in on Grace’s impassioned plea.

6.“Sorrow” by Bad Religion: Blending intellectual lyrics, vocal harmonies and melodic punk rhythm, “Sorrow” came in at number 56 on Alternative Press’ 100 Best Singles of the Decade in 2009. While the song’s meaning has been debated, lyrics such as “And there will be sorrow no more/ When all soldiers lay their weapons down” discuss the universal experience of pain and suffering. Bad Religion is a band that continuously proves that punk goes beyond its aggressive sound.

Click here for the link to our Spotify playlist for St. Vincent DeJamz 5-20-13

From March 29 to April 28, Chicago-based band Polarcode received nearly $6,950 to make their EP “Supernatural” from 62 willing backers. Why would 60-plus people give money to a band to create an album they know little about? They probably wouldn’t if not for Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is a four-year-old website that allows artists, designers, musicians, filmmakers, actors and just about every creative type in-between to crowd fund their next projects. Backers select their pledge, for which they receive various items provided by the artist.

“We’re getting to do some pretty cool stuff with our fans, and we’re going to be able to make a really great album,” said Eric Stang, lead singer and keyboard player of Polarcode and a DePaul graduate.

For Polarcode, $1,000 bought one backer a Cubs game with the band, $200 bought another a piano lesson with Stang and $10 bought an early digital download of “Supernatural.”

What makes Kickstarter unique are the benefits for both artist and backer. Polarcode received $950 more than their goal for fundraising. Their fans received albums, posters and unique events for the band.

The year 2012 saw unprecedented growth in fundraising on the site – $319, 786, 629 was pledged, a 221 percent increase from 2011.  In addition, 2,241,475 backers funded projects, a 134 percent increase from the year before.

What makes Kickstarter so appealing?

When Canadian musician and former teen television star Alexz Johnson launched a Kickstarter campaign in January of 2012 for a U.S. tour later that year, longtime fan Emily Karnick jumped at the opportunity to donate, contributing at the $100 level.

“I would have bought most of the things I received on that level anyway,” said Karnick, a junior at Aurora University. “But the fact that it helped bring Alexz to Chicago for the first time ever was really awesome. I’d do it again too.”

Karnick has been a fan of Johnson’s since her television show “Instant Star” was on The N, Nickelodeon’s teen offshoot network that brought other Canadian gems like “Degrassi.” After her donation, Karnick received a phone call from Johnson, a mention on Twitter, a signed live performance video of a show on tour, a signed copy of her “Skipping Stone” album and a T-shirt.

“When she called me it was one of the best moments of my life,” said Karnick. “Definitely worth $100.”

It’s likely that 2013 will be an even bigger year for Kickstarter and its fundraisers with this year’s record-setting project, the “Veronica Mars” movie.

Raising roughly $5.7 million, the project was the fastest project to reach the $1 million and $2 million marks, the all-time highest-funded project in the film category and the project with the highest number of backers, 91,585.

While Kickstarter has helped fundraise for primarily indie projects in the past, 10 percent of the films at Sundance in 2012 were funded by Kickstarter campaigns, and the “Veronica Mars” project brought Kickstarter to a larger stage – Hollywood.

Both Melissa Joan Hart and Zach Braff launched campaigns for their new projects in April. Braff’s campaign is running through May 24, but he’s already surpassed his goal of more than $2 million for his project “Wish I Was Here,” the follow-up to 2005’s “Garden State.”

Hart’s campaign, however, was a flop. Rounding out at just a little more than $50,000 for her pitched project, “Darci’s Walk of Shame,” Hart fell well short of her $2 million goal.

Though Hollywood has started to find its way to Kickstarter, it seems as though they’ll be the exception, not the rule. “Veronica Mars” was a cult favorite. “Garden State” was a prerequisite for anyone trying to be indie in 2005. For now, it’s the little guys that are making big strides, thanks to Kickstarter.

“I’m really happy we met our goal,” said Stang. “Now we’re going to make a really great album.”

Elawa Farm, in Lake Forest, Ill., is an organic garden that harvests annual crops each season. In the kitchen of the farm , products such as soups, pestos, jams and breads are made from the produce grown in the garden. The garden consists of a rainbow of colors and the wind mixes the different smells of the crops and flowers together.

Elawa Farm is one example of many local businesses that work to keep organic food easily accessible. Because more people are choosing organic produce, there has been an increase in organic business.

Laura Erickson, 28, has been the coordinator for the Green Youth Farm Program at the Chicago Botanic Garden.  The Green Youth Farm Program is a youth development program that employs high school students who live in underserved Chicago areas to learn about nutrition, cooking and produce.

“People are more interested in our culture as a whole and becoming more environmentally conscious,” said Erickson.  “People want to eat healthier, and are becoming more aware of the dangers of conventional farming.”

According to the Om Organics website, conventional farming methods include the use of chemicals, pesticides, genetic engineering and the use of antibiotics in the food that can be harmful to people and the environment.  Conventional farming can lead to disease, water contamination, degraded soil and expensive clean up.

“The organic market is being asked about much more frequently,” said Erikson. “It’s crazy, our markets are growing so fast and the demand far exceeds our supply.  The cost though is a big challenge, but we are trying to help because we are a nonprofit organization.”

Erickson’s program sells 80 percent of the produce at community farm stands at a reduced cost.  Ten percent is donated to students or food pantries and the final 10 percent of produce is given to local businesses.

According to the Organic Food Industry Profile, the organic food market has grown by 7.7 percent since 2010 and has reached a value of $26.7 billion.  It is estimated that by 2015 the value of United States organic food market will double to $40.1 billon.

The popularity of organic produce has drastically increased in years, but so has the cost.  The reasons organic produce costs more is because the organic food supply is limited and production costs are higher because more labor and care is needed compared to conventional farming.

The United States accounts for 45.3 percent of the global food market value.  Fruits and vegetables are the largest category of organic foods, which account for 38 percent, according to the Organic Food Industry Profile.

Ruth Palandri, 33, has worked at a local farmers market for 15 years. Palandri said she recommends that people eat organic for some foods, like berries, but not others, like melons, which have a thick skin that the chemicals usually do not penetrate.

“We are a business that carries a variety of foods, and in the past five years or so there has been a large increase in customers asking if certain foods are organic,” said Palandri. “I would say we lose about 30 percent of our business if we do not have something specifically organic.  I can’t believe how fast this market is growing.”

“Soy, wheat and corn are the key ingredients in cheap, unhealthy, junk food,” said Erickson. “It’s time to make the switch to a healthier lifestyle and eat foods that are better for our minds and bodies even if it might cost a few more dollars.”

The latest app sensation has brought Instagram to life. Vine, acquired by Twitter in October 2012, is a video sharing service that allows users to create and post six-second video clips.

These clips can be shared on Twitter and other social networking sites. Currently, the app is only available in the Apple market, and an Android release date has not been announced.

Vine has quickly gained a following as people from all over the world share silly, serious and often outrageous clips of themselves. April 9 marked an important date for the app when it became the most downloaded free app.

Scholars see potential for Vine to change the face of journalism and communication, as anyone can capture and share potentially significant events. Advertisers are thinking up new ways to reach the Vine audience by sending their marketing message out in the form of six-second videos.

Creatives see the app as an easy way to share stop-motion animation. Tribeca Film Festival acknowledged its significance in the future of film as it adopted a six-second films category in which 40 finalists were chosen. The category was split into four sections because there is a wide variety of content on Vine. The “Genre” category features horror and comedy clips, the “Auteur” category showcases artsy and creative videos, the “Series” category features multiple videos strung together to make a trilogy, and the “Animate” category features stop-motion animation.

Vine’s affiliation with Twitter has allowed the app to reach quick success. There are now a handful of Twitter accounts dedicated to the “funniest” or “best” Vines. It allows a much wider audience to view videos on Vine, which markets itself as a fun new technology. Although there have been previous video sharing apps, such as Cinemagram, none have reached the critical success and popularity of Vine.

Vine has been adopted by internet culture as users begin to upload popular culture clips and create their own interpretations. Videos that show Ryan Gosling acting in serious roles on a TV screen and refusing the filmmakers’ hands offering cereal have blown up in popularity.

As with any technology, users have found ways to use the app in inappropriate ways. The presence of pornographic images, drug and alcohol use and other forms of abuse caused Vine to raise the legal age to download the app to 17.

No other social media site has been so widely broadcasted on other platforms. You occasionally see an Instagram post on Twitter and Facebook, but Vine is shared on an even wider scale. All over YouTube, Twitter, blogs and news articles, Vines are posted and shared based on their relevance and creativity.

Once this app expands into the Android market, there will be no bounds to what users will create and explore through their video camera lens.

The Mowgli’s: This eight-piece band based out of Los Angeles is quickly gaining a following, and for good reason. With a sound as upbeat and sunny as California itself, the Mowgli’s have all the qualities to make it onto anyone’s summer anthems playlist.

On Facebook, the band lists love, peace, open-mindedness and good times as their interests, perfectly embodying their carefree EP “Love’s Not Dead.” With eight voices singing together, it's nearly impossible not to want to join in.

Opening with their most popular single “San Francisco,” trumpets, guitars and all eight voices proclaim the band’s love of love. The EP continues on with “The Great Divide,” another upbeat song, “Time” featuring just a guitar and one voice, and “Slowly, Slowly.”

Finally, the EP closes on a strong note with “Carry Your Will”, featuring a strong bass drum, acoustic guitars and powerful lyrics.

The band is releasing their first full-length album “Waiting for the Dawn” June 18. In addition to Lollapalooza, they will be playing Taste of Chicago July 14.

Frightened Rabbit: Frightened Rabbit started in 2003 as a five-part band in Glasgow, Scotland. With four albums and two EPs behind their name, Frightened Rabbit has just recently gotten a taste of the spotlight. The band supported Death Cab for Cutie in a U.K. tour in 2008, and again in 2011 on a North American Tour.

Lyricist, lead guitarist and vocalist Scott Hutchinson started the band as a solo project, later adding the other four members.

With a sound similar to that of The Gaslight Anthem, and lyrics as well-worded as Death Cab themselves, Frightened Rabbit has a lot to offer. 

Highlights include “Late March, Death March,” focusing on Grant Hutchinson’s drumming, “Swim Until You Can’t See Land,” with sweet jingling guitars and a tapping tambourine, and “Old Old Fashioned,” a folkier track with a quick pace and a bass driving the melody.

Whether you’re looking for a heavier indie rock, or a lighthearted folk sound, Frightened Rabbit is versatile enough to fit anyone’s taste.

Ben Howard: Perhaps the most popular artist on our list, Ben Howard has a voice too unique to keep off our list of artists to see at Lolla. With five EPs, Howard finally released a full-length album titled “Every Kingdom” in 2011, which is just now gaining popularity.

Howard’s sound is cool and soothing, typically a bit slower featuring acoustic guitars, a ukulele, a cello and light drums. His voice is similar to that of Ray Lamontagne: a bit raspy, a bit whispery, strong when needed, and always full of emotion.

His well-known single “Only Love” is definitely a highlight and a little more upbeat than the rest of his tracks. Another track to try out is “Wolves.” Here Howard experiments with a bit of vibrato and a heavier snare drum. Lastly, “Promise” is a beautiful slow track reminiscent of a rainy day with a ukulele and an unidentified pitter-patter in the backdrop.

Howard’s slow, powerful sound, unique from the upbeat artists making up the majority of the Lolla lineup, will be a refreshing set to see. 

After two successful weekends at Coachella, an upcoming international summer tour and the highly anticipated release of their third album, Vampire Weekend has a lot to be happy about. But does “Modern Vampires of the City” live up to the already high expectations that were created with the releases of the band's self-titled and "Contra?" After three years of waiting, “Modern Vampires of the City” unfortunately sounds safe and formulaic.

Vampire Weekend went in a new direction with its third album, and although the band fell short in creating a ground-breaking, toe-tapping summer record, “Modern Vampires of the City” still has a few gems that are worth checking out.

The album opens with "Obvious Bicycle," a melodic and catchy track sure to rope you in. Pairing pulsating bass with vocal harmonies seems like it would sound awkward and unbecoming, but frontman Ezra Koenig and keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij successfully pull off the unconventional approach to the song.

Tracks three and four, and probably the most popular, are "Step" and "Diane Young,"  respectively, which were included in the band's setlist at Coachella this past April. “Step” incorporates harpsichord sounds and quirky lines like “Stale conversation deserves but a bread knife,” making the track reminiscent of songs in Vampire Weekend’s past albums. Lyrically, these two songs outshine the rest of the album.

“Diane Young” continues the ever-familiar buoyant sound that Vampire Weekend is known for. But listen for the editing done to Ezra’s voice during the chorus. The combination of his natural vocals and some autotuning is a technique called “format shifting” and the effect definitely makes you squint your eyes and listen more closely. With help from drummer Chris Thomson and bassist Chris Baio, the fourth track is sure to get you dancing.

After “Diane Young,” however, the middle of the album gets sort of muddled. Tracks five through eight are unmoving and forgettable. “Don’t Lie,” “Hannah Hunt,” “Everlasting Arms” and “Finger Back” don’t add any dynamic elements to the album. These middle tracks leave the album feeling a bit hollow, and could easily be replaced.

But this is where “Ya Hey” saves the day. The bouncy bass line combined with Koenig’s boyish and inviting vocals makes this song a crowd pleaser. Not to mention that the “chipmunk” editing done to the chorus will be stuck in your head for days.

As a relatively young group, Vampire Weekend has created a strong following, even if  “Modern Vampires of the City” wasn’t as popular or pleasing as their past two releases. According to the MTV website, the third album “represents a brand-new Vampire Weekend, to be certain...it is a bold reinvention, and, in a lot of ways, a rediscovery, too.” The band certainly has the potential to mature and keep making music.

The floral smells, deep colors and breeze of the Chicago Botanic Garden should calm students escaping the stresses of midterms and bar scenes. One of the most visited attractions in Illinois — with more than one million visitors annually — the nearly 400 acre complex boasts millions of plants, and more than 20 individual gardens and reserves, including Japanese Zen gardens and Evening Island.

Some 25 miles north from the Chicago Loop, the garden provides a flowery oasis from the noise and chaos of city life. Located in Glencoe, students should plan ahead before visiting, as the garden is really only accessible by Metra rail or car. It takes more than six hours to adequately tour the whole garden.

Maintaing such a vast compound is not easy. Some 200 staff and gardeners, and about 1,200 volunteers tame the plants and maintain the facilities.

“We are always looking for volunteers,” said Julie McCaffrey, the media relations manager at the garden. “We have volunteers from all age groups.”

And in an effort to reach younger people, the garden is promoting a comprehensive smart phone app called “GardenGuide,” which provides audio narration about certain gardens, GPS location software to pinpoint individual locations, and information about more than 2.5 million plants. The garden insist the app “is the first of its kind to be developed in the United States with the ability to tap into a botanic garden’s plant collections database.”

“The app can be a companion for visitors,” said McCaffrey. “I don’t think phone screens will distract people from the plants.” With all the smaller gardens, statues and trails, it is easy to get lost. The app should help first-time visitors.

Similarly, the garden is relaunching their Pinterest profile, and an Instagram account is coming soon.

“We want people to explore the garden and feel the plants,” said McCaffrey. “This is an actual museum. A living museum.”

And the visitors do explore. Numerous seniors brought expensive Nikons for photographing, young couples with picnic baskets were sprawled across the terrain and school children leapt from rock to rock.

Owned by the Cook County Forest Preserve and operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society since 1972, the garden is open every day of the year. It is one of the 17 public gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums

Grapevines and Wines, the garden’s first tasting event will be May 30. Tickets are $25. 

This is the the story of a critically acclaimed television show that got cancelled, and the one video streaming service that had no choice but to bring it all back. Netflix is about to unmake a huge mistake Sunday, May 26 as it releases the much anticipated fourth season of “Arrested Development.”

Originally, Fox canceled the show in February 2006 due to weak ratings, but the comedy’s cult following has demanded it back on air ever since.

In summer 2012, Netflix answered fan’s outcries by announcing the fourth season of the show would begin filming a 15 episode season in August, which would all premiere the same day on its video-streaming service.  

Sneak peeks and trailers for the upcoming season show that the new episodes still retain some of the comedy’s original charm.   In one already released scene, an ankle monitor bound-Lucille Bluth avoids getting in trouble for smoking in her apartment and setting off her bracelet by blowing the smoke from her cigarette into son Buster’s mouth, who then runs to the patio to blow it out the window. 

It’s that quirky charm and outrageous comedy that has made “Arrested Development” fans some of the most devoted and eager for the series return.

“I’m so excited to see what they’re doing with the show,” said Jennifer Latshaw, a senior art history major at DePaul.  “I’m ready to catch back up with all the characters.”

Netflix, along with “Arrested Development” creator Mitchell Hurwitz, revealed that the show will be taking place in present day and will explain what’s happened in the six years since the series originally ended.  Fans can also expect some of their favorite recurring gags from the original run, including Buster’s juice addiction, George Michael and Maeby’s romance and the return of the Bluth family’s stair car. 

“I’m ready for the new episodes, but I hope they keep the old things that make Arrested Development great,” said Shannon Daly, a DePaul sophomore theater arts major.  “But I’m worried they’ll rely too heavily on the old comedy and I want to see new things from the show.”

The balance of new and old comedy in the episodes is something the writers will have to deal with to keep fans happy.  The devoted fan base has high expectations for the show’s return.

“‘Arrested Develepment’ is definitely my favorite television show,” said Megan Daley, a senior journalism major at DePaul. “I personally connect with both George Michael and Ann, but I also have a strong belief that there’s always money in the banana stand.”

With just a few days to the show premiere on Netflix, fans are already making plans on how they’re going to celebrate its return.

“I’ve been re-watching the old seasons slowly,” said Latshaw.  “I’ll probably marathon it a bit when it comes back on.”

Daley also plans on marathon-ing the show May 26.

“I definitely plan on bingeing on Netflix and watching all the episodes in one day,” said Daley.  “I’m glad we don’t have school that day because if we did, I’d definitely skip it.” 

We all have our reasons for not going to FEST. Some don’t like the artists, some don’t like the atmosphere and some don’t want to go through the Hunger Games-esque process of getting FEST tickets. Whatever the reason is, those people who aren’t going to the concert shouldn’t worry about being holed up in their room and looking like a hermit—there is plenty for the FEST-less to do Friday, May 24. Friday night is always a night of plenty to do, so here’s a few things you could preoccupy yourself with around Chicago.

Electric Daisy Carnival

In Joliet, a three-day festival of epic proportions begins. The kickoff to the Chicago summer festival season begins with an electronic dance music festival featuring huge names like Kaskade, Noisia and Avicii. There seems to be no information on who exactly is lined up for Friday, but if you are feeling like you have to hear the wub-wub, this would be a great place to do so. You can still buy a one- day ticket for $89 and even get a shuttle from DePaul to Joliet for an additional $55; if you don’t feel like listening to just two artists that do electronic music, go listen to a whole days’ worth.


Research for Champions League Final

While some will be getting over hangovers and pounding headaches, those who do not indulge in FEST have the advantage of having time to get excited over the Champions League Final. One of the biggest matches of the soccer year, involving huge German rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, takes place on Fox at 1:45 p.m. Watching the sporting event may not be your cup of tea if you aren’t into Germany or sports, until you factor in how lively the bars around Chicago will be for this event. A few notable ones to go to would be Cleo’s on Chicago Avenue, or Prost! on Diversey Avenue.


White Sox

Take the Green Line down to 35th/Bronzeville/IIT to see the White Sox take on the Miami Marlins at their Throwback to 1983 Night Friday at 7:10 p.m.. If you hate baseball or you hate the White Sox, then just suffer through it for the great fireworks show after the game; tickets are really cheap. Upper deck tickets go as low as $7, so why miss out on a great value to see some great fireworks or baseball?


Second City

If you feel like laughing all night, you should take advantage of the legendary Second City comedy club. They host their show “We’re All In This Room Together” at 8 p.m. at 1608 N. Wells St. , just off of the Sedgwick  Brown Line stop. The show was written by the performers and Aidy Bryant, who writes for “Saturday Night Live.” The variety show, which plays off of our times lack of social interaction outside of social media, has won Chicago’s most prestigious honors. If you still aren’t impressed, remember that this is the company that produced such stars like Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Scott Adsit. You are guaranteed to laugh the night away at this show for $23.


“Book of Mormon”

One of the hottest musicals in history, “The Book of Mormon” continues its run in Chicago at the Bank of America Theater. The critically acclaimed show, written by “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, won numerous Tony Awards as well as a Grammy Award. If you are a stranger to “South Park,” you might be shocked by the kind of humor used in the musical, but you will no doubt laugh. The show has such a following that for most Chicago dates, tickets are almost impossible to find, however you are in luck for Friday. The cheapest tickets are $65, but it is a small price to pay for such outstanding entertainment.

As graduation quickly approaches, for some, your time in Chicago may be coming to an end. Before you bid DePaul adieu, make sure you've completed The DePaulia's official senior bucket list.

INDIAN FOOD on DEVON AVE

Yes, it is far away; you’re going to need to take a train and a bus from the Lincoln Park campus. But you will be rewarded with some of the best Indian (and Pakistani) food in the area.  Numerous authentic restaurants line Devon Avenue, although I am partial to both Hema’s Kitchen and Indian Garden. When ordering, don’t be afraid of adventure, or better yet go during an “all-you-can-eat” lunch buffet. My ideal meal (at the moment) would be Samosas, a deep fried puff pastry filled with potatoes and peas, for an appetizer, chicken Tikka Masala, a creamy tomato sauce based dish, garlic Naan, a traditional Indian bread, to dip in the Masala, and finally Gulab Jamun, an absolutely delightful pastry that is soaked in a sweet saffron syrup, for dessert.
 

TAKE A SHOT of MALORT

This bitter tasting alcohol originally comes from Sweden, but somewhere along the lines it became the secret Chicago mascot of the bar scene. It’s disgusting and no one you talk to will deny that, but to many it is seen as a right of passage when you come of age in Chicago. So dare to take a shot of this “taste bud assassin” and then order a round the next time your friend from state school comes to visit. But beware, as it says on the label, “It is not possible to forget our two-fisted liquor. The taste just lingers and lasts - seemingly forever. The first shot is hard to swallow! PERSERVERE. Make it past two 'shock-glasses' and with the third you could be ours...forever.”


TAKE TINA FEY'S FOOD TOUR

You guys! If you haven’t heard… Tina Fey spent a little time in the Windy City before getting her big break. Lucky for us at DePaul, some of her favorite food joints are within walking distance of Lincoln Park’s campus. First, head to the Athenian Room and get the roasted chicken. It is all too easy to ignore the places right next door, but this chicken is one of Fey’s favorite recipes in the city. For desert, go to the Golden Apple, also not far from campus, and enjoy a slice of chocolate cake.
 

CHARTER a SAIL ON LAKE MI

No experience is necessary to enjoy a sail on Lake Michigan, if you take advantage of one of the many chartered sailing companies around the city. Most of them often run Groupons that offer a sailing trip for two, for around $125. Treat yourself and take a trip before graduation in order to see fantastic views of the skyline, spend some time on the water and enjoy a bottle of wine as a guide controls the boat. If you time the trip correctly, and plan well enough in advance, you can be out on the water while sailors from around the world are competing in the Race to Mackinac Island.


CELEBRATE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

I have been coming to this museum, especially for the Dia De Los Muertos exhibit, since junior year of high school, yet I continue to be awestruck by the amazing exhibit the museum puts on. Those who are unfamiliar with the Mexican holiday will be able to learn about the background of the celebration as well as see fantastic alters that are made to celebrate people from all different walks of life; from children to even criminals. For an added bonus, find a street vendor once you life the museum and order “Mexican corn” which is a mixture of corn, mayonnaise, cheese and spice. 

The release of kidnapping victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight marks a grave recognition of sex slaves in the modern world. While all three women were held captive and locked in chains for a decade or more, countless others must submit to the hate-fueled world of human trafficking.

We witness stories like these and suddenly realize a forgotten urge to act. We are filled with terror and disgust as we wonder if this could have been our child or sister or friend. But it wasn’t, and as the news cycle pushes fresh atrocities into our frame of view, we forget about the victims while neglecting those who could be enduing similar situations.

The Voices and The Faces project currently credits over 16,000 women and girls as captives of prostitution in the Chicago area. Symptoms of prostitution include a dismissive or fearful demeanor, tattoos located on the neck to signify brands and a dependence on drugs or other substance. Oftentimes those in charge of the prostitutes hook them on drugs as a way to gain power while generating a stronger sense of dependence.

Many women are introduced to the idea of modern-day slavery as a way to escape abusive homes or find a community that promises support. They meet pimps and Johns at such a young age that the game of buying and selling sex only produces a conditioned and objectified response.

“I was not aware that there were that many prostitutes in Chicago, but did assume there were some,” said  Monica Cutrone, senior.

“I feel it might be both women who are forced into this industry or women who have no other options as far as supporting themselves or their families,” said Cutrone.

It’s a rather strange concept, nabbing a human and forcing them to submit to the ill-will that defines sexual prowess as the ability to divide and conquer. Many believed that the issue of slavery was abolished with the recognition of the Eighteenth Amendment. But while the Cleveland girls were not posing as prostitutes prior captivity, those involved with the sex trade cannot escape stigmas and consequently are denied opportunities for support.

“Even if people are aware, they might turn the other cheek or look down upon these women associating prostitution with drug use,” said Cutrone.

As the stigmas grow, the campaign, End Demand Illinois,  has taken notice in a way that should encourage the public to get involved. By decriminalizing the act of prostitution, End Demand suggests that prostitution does not leave the girls at fault, but rather the ones that control them. Rather than objectifying women who have been forced into a marginalized position in society, the campaign works to shift focus.

The campaign promotes slogans like “Human beings are not disposals” as well as testimonials that prove everyone knows someone who has paid for sex.

The grotesque perpetuation of slaves still takes place in Chicago on a daily basis, but alongside End Demand's public awareness campaign, legal and social perceptions could change.

Mom-to-be Kim Kardashian seems to be getting much more media attention ever since it was announced she was pregnant with Kanye West’s baby.

The TV personality is known for embracing her curvaceous body and dressing in a stylish manner.

At 5 feet 3 inches, Kardashian isn’t afraid to hide the weight gain on her small frame or growing baby bump. She still maintains her elegant fashion sense and refuses to wear maternity clothes.

As a result, Kardashian has received a wide array of criticism for being too fat. People have not held back on their comments about her pregnancy, even going far to say her baby bump matches her butt. 

One particular outfit Kardashian wore, a black and white dress, gained so much attention that the Internet exploded with tweets comparing her figure to the killer whale Shamu.

 Kardashian is not alone when it comes to hateful comments about weight gain. Jessica Simpson also received harsh criticism when she gained weight during her pregnancy.   

In case it hasn’t been made clear, pregnant women have to gain weight in order to provide enough nourishment and support for the baby. The media has brainwashed us into believing that women who are pregnant should be able to maintain their figure while sporting smooth, stretch-mark-free skin.

While pregnancy is a beautiful thing, anyone who has been pregnant knows the extra weight and the stretch marks are all prices you have to pay. This is just one unattainable goal the media sets.  

Many women now are hiring surrogates to carry their baby so they don’t have to gain weight. Actions like these can only make one wonder where a woman is placing her self-worth and if our beauty driven culture is a cause of this.

Celebrities like Beyoncé have been praised for giving birth and quickly shedding their baby weight in time for a concert to show off a toned body and six-pack abs. While all of that is great for her, we have forgotten she has a personal trainer, a dietician, a nutritionist and a group of people whose job is to monitor her diet and exercise decisions 24/7.

For the rest of us juggling full-time jobs, school, activities and other obligations, finding time to lose that extra weight and get fit quick isn’t the first thing on our to-do list.

Regardless of how big a pregnant woman becomes, the extra weight is nothing compared to providing nine months of shelter and nourishment, going through hours of unbearable labor and risking her life to provide another one.

Check the tag on the back of your shirt. Read the part where it says which country it was made in. Chances are it will say something along the lines of “Made in China,” “Manufactured in Vietnam” or “Made in Bangladesh.”

Chances are possible that if it says “Made in Bangladesh,” it may have been produced by the hands of one of the laborers of Rana Plaza, a garment factory that collapsed April 24 due to cheap and inadequate construction. Officials have put the official death toll of this disaster at 1,127.

While this is certainly one of the more attention-grabbing events regarding catastrophe in the developing world, examples of hazardous workplaces are all too common. Five months earlier there was a factory fire that killed over 100 workers. There was another textile factory fire May 9 that killed eight people.

This only accounts for the nation of Bangladesh. Around the world there are countless more people who risk their lives working in subpar conditions, often for a pittance of wages. According to the World Bank, approximately 1.25 billion people worldwide live on less than $1.25 a day.

Some solutions, such as creating regulations, have been proposed to prevent these tragedies from happening.

“Regulations would only work if they applied to all developing nations,” said Ludovic Comeau, a professor at DePaul’s School for New Learning. “With situations (of underdevelopment), there is an urgency to create jobs.  As it is, nations are already competing to get investors for their unemployed masses. I don’t know that there have been any nations that have achieved development without cheap labor.”

If the world organizations were to create regulations that specifically targeted nations such as Bangladesh, it would likely not contribute to the goal of alleviating workforce abuses in the world.

 Instead, it would put Bangladesh at a comparative disadvantage as worldwide job providers moved their production to a cheaper, less regulated nation, thus leaving Bangladesh jobless.

But that does not mean that nothing should be done either. In fact, the power to influence world conditions may involve the decisions of us, the consumers.

“Producers are dependent on the purchasing power of consumers,” said Laura Hartman, a DePaul professor of business ethics. “If producers don’t please them, (they) cease to exist. Consumers can make the ultimate decision.”

By choosing to purchase from producers that follow an ethical standard of production, we ensure that money flows to companies that treat people fairly.

“If you support a retailer that supports bad causes, you are supporting those causes with your spending power,” said Hartman.

For starters, consumers should be aware of where their goods come from. 

“Consumers and governments should work together to bring awareness,” said John Berdell, a professor of economics at DePaul. “Without knowing how things are produced, how can we make inroads to these . . . human rights issues? You have to be able to track the product.”

With ethical consumerism, there are a few worries. The most obvious one is that making ethical choices will, oftentimes, force us, as consumers, to spend more money.

Another risk is stigmatizing products from developing countries, said Berdell. If consumers were to indiscriminately shun products from an area known for ethically poor production, then corporations will be forced to lower production prices in order to raise demand.

Thus, it is important for us to ensure our decisions as ethical consumers are smart, too. Don’t simply shun products made from a certain geographic area of the world. Research your retailers. Know where and how your goods are being produced.

Ethical consumerism is not a new idea. DePaul itself has participated in matters of ethical consumer decisions. In 2001, a number of union members at a Coca-Cola franchised manufacturing plant in Colombia were mysteriously murdered. Corporate leaders failed to investigate this affair. As a result, DePaul became a “Pepsi school.”

“In the same way we hold corporations and organizations responsible for how they spend their money, we should hold ourselves responsible,” said Hartman.

From World War I to World War II, from Desert Storm to the War on Terror, the United States military has been actively fighting to help defend the rights and freedoms of the citizens of this country.

Meanwhile, another war, an invisible war, has continued to wage on within the confines of the military itself since the early part of the 1990s.

Sexual assault has cast a dark shadow over the U.S. military since the allegations of the Tailhook Scandal emerged in 1991. Since then, the media has extensively covered a series of scandals.

After the terrorist attacks in 2001, reports of sexual assaults increased and the early warning signs of an unthinkable problem emerged.

In a 2010 Pentagon study, 19,300 service members claimed to have been sexually assaulted in the past year.

However, the 2013 report conveyed an increase to roughly 26,000 members, a growth of almost a third in only two years.

“No matter what, these situations must be diffused and properly investigated by the officials in charge,” said Zach Ullman, a sophomore at Grand Valley State University.

Countless accounts of sexual harassment go unreported due to the fear the service members have of the repercussions and embarrassment.

Not until recently have more and more members gathered the courage to voice their stories.

While reports of sexual assault are more commonly reported than in the past, the fear of false accusations must be provided with the same level of concern.

In the annual report conducted by the Department of Defense on sexual assault prevention and response, it was concluded that 47 percent of victims indicated they or the offender had been drinking before the confrontation.

We have to question the validity because alcohol is involved.

Statistics have indicated that the problem is, in fact, getting worse. The goal of the U.S. military remains to fight for the rights and freedoms of its citizens.

Undoubtedly, a very serious matter has developed, but new legislation will hopefully change the manner in which sexual assault cases are decided. 

While World War II fighting has been over for about 67 years now, there are many diplomatic holes that exist and disrupt a formal end to the war. One of those holes lies in the relations between Japan and Russia.

In a historical move, the two countries have agreed to negotiate on a territorial conflict that kept them from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their talks in Russia earlier last week for the first time in 10 years, but the talks continue to bring about an end to the tense relations between the countries.

"The leaders of both countries agreed that the situation where, 67 years after the conclusion of (World War II), we have still been unable to conclude a bilateral peace treaty, looks abnormal," said an internationally released joint statement issued after the meeting.

After the 1945 surrender of Japan, the Soviet Army took over four small islands in a chain called the Kuril Islands, which are located off of Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. After the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, Japan had to give up the Kuril Islands, but they claim that a few of the islands are not part of the chain. Russia disagreed, and thus a peace treaty was not agreed upon.

The islands do not have a whole lot of economic or strategic value; DePaul political science professor Dr. Richard Farkas says that the two islands hold a big stake in terms of the countries' world images. “I think it’s largely

symbolic; both of them have experienced military shrinkage. So from the leadership of both countries, the sense is when you don’t have a lot of military muscle, weakness in territorial loss comes a lot more important," he said. "This isn’t about the islands, it’s about world image."

Yet, there is still a sense of uncertainty about if these talks will evolve. The two sides have offered to negotiate many times in their 67-year political disparity, and many things have changed over that time.

For one, the two countries are actually tied together economically; Japan has car factories in Russia, Russian energy companies have worked with Japanese companies to create energy plants. The two also are dealing with the leftovers of Soviet rule in the influence of China, who is in territorial disputes with both Russia and Japan.

However, in a "Japan Times" piece, Assistant Director of International Relations at Temple University’s Japan campus, Tina Burrett, points out that Putin cannot be weak in the negotiations because of his public view.

“At home, Putin’s hold on power is weaker than during his first presidency. Anti-Putin protests since parliamentary elections in December 2011 have added to domestic political instability. In this climate, Putin is unlikely to risk further alienating public opinion by conceding territory to Japan,” Burrett wrote in her article.

While the talks have an unknown time to resolution, many people will be watching and waiting to see if World War II can finally see a formal end.

The Associated Press (AP) revealed Monday, May 13, that the U.S. Justice Department obtained two months of telephone records from a list of reporters and editors associated with the AP. The AP is calling this a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into the way news organizations gather and operate with news.

During the months of April and May, the U.S. Justice Department accessed up to 20 different phone lines of the AP without notification of search and seizure. Gary Pruitt, the Chief Executive Officer of the AP, has demanded that the record of phone calls be returned while all other copies are destroyed.

“The implication for the First Amendment is people can come to journalists to publicize their concerns. Whether it be whistle blowers, corruption and problems the Attorney General has threatened that relationship,” said DePaul journalism professor Jason Martin. Government officials have not revealed why the records were tapped; however, the U.S. Department of Justice has admitted to searching for the source of a particular story.

The AP released an article May 7, 2012, about a foiled terror plot that took place in Yemen and was designed to stop al-Qaida from detonating an airplane bomb headed for the United States. According to Attorney General Eric Holder, the release of this information marked a major threat to national security.

James Cole, Deputy Attorney General, made the decision to enter the private phone lines. Both Holder and Cole failed to make specific reasons as to why this story posed a threat to Americans and their sense of security.

“If students would like a sense of what it was to be alive at the time of Watergate, this is it,” said Bruce Evensen, a journalism professor at DePaul. “This can only have a chilling effect on the public's right to know. The courts in the past have ruled a free press and the public's right to know are core values protected by the First Amendment. One can hope that that is as true in the 21st Century as it was in the 20th.”

According to the AP, among those whose numbers were retained were the 5 reporters who worked on the May 7, 2012 story as well as the editor. While the phone tapping marks “a serious interference with AP’s constitutional rights to gather and report news,” according to a personal letter from Gary Pruitt, president and CEO of The Associated Press, the Obama Administration has investigated six other “disclosures of classified information to the media” during his administration, according to the AP.

“This might lead to less phone interviews and encourage more face to face interaction with sources. They can’t go into your brain and take out stuff ... not yet,” said Daniel Gaitan, DePaul journalism graduate student. On Monday, the White House admitted that its only source of knowledge regarding the Justice Departments actions came from press releases.

"They had an obligation to look for every other way to get it before they intruded on the freedom of the press," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the investigative House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in an interview with CNN. The Justice Department requires a subpoena to be approved by the attorney general prior to gaining access to the records of news organizations.

A subpoena will only be considered if "all reasonable attempts" have been made before gaining access to the required information; however, the AP is uncertain of what happened in this particular case.  A letter notifying the AP that its phone records had been obtained was sent by the U.S. attorney general in Washington, Ronald Machen, Friday, May 10.

According to the AP, a subpoena to the media must be "as narrowly drawn as possible" and "should be directed at relevant information regarding a limited subject matter and should cover a reasonably limited time period." Pruitt defines this investigation as “overboard,” while begging the question, “How would narrowing the scope of the phone records have compromised their investigation?”

These regulations have been developed to not only avoid an infringement of the first amendment, but to also avoid impairing the function of gathering and developing news. Generally, subpoenas are submitted to news organizations prior to the initial investigation. The AP was not told about the investigation because the government believed it posed a “substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation."

FEST is finally here.

This Friday, students will be able to celebrate the school year winding down with a three-artist line up that gives DePaul their own mini-festival. This year it’s Diplo, Minus the Bear and Yelawolf that will be playing in the quad.

However while it might feel like Lupe Fiasco, last year’s headliner, just finished playing to some, members on the DePaul Activities Board (DAB) have been working all throughout the year on the actual production of the FEST. 

Even this week, there’s a lot of work that involves actually setting up the stage itself.  DAB’s behind-the-scenes mentality has one simple goal – put on the best production possible.

“This will show what DePaul is made of,” said Joe Kosin, DAB’s Fest Coordinator. ”We kind of have this lack of community, lack of affinity, and a campus-wide event like FEST gives you a great opportunity to show DePaul what exactly we are in terms of  a college campus and community.”

Here’s a closer look at the work that happens leading up to May 24.

Starting from after finals last June, Kosin and DAB went to work to plan this year’s FEST. With an increase in production budget, DAB used that money to improve layouts of the actual stage.

“Whenever you set up a stage like this, safety is obviously a primary concern,” said Kosin.

Kosin referred to events in Indianapolis in 2011, when seven people were killed in a stage collapse, that made festivals and authorities rethink how to make their events safer. Kosin described volunteers that help unload audio equipment, but it’s the professionals DAB hires that are left to setting up the stage. There are also new codes in place to make sure the construction of the festivals meets regulatory guidelines.

Kosin mentioned that subtle improvements to the stage’s lights and sounds will see improvements as well. “It’s a pretty elaborate set up this year,” said Kosin. “There’s more sound and more lights. There’s more effects to go with the feel of the show.”

To set up the stage, DAB uses a middle man, Concert Ideas, to help find a private contractor who is responsible for setting up the stage. Concert Ideas, which has suggested private contractors to other college festivals, contracts with the agencies that are responsible for the artists as well.

Production companies were looked at between January and February with DAB finally deciding on which company to use in March.  This year’s production company, which remains private due to DAB policy, uses 25 to 30 people for the production of the stage.

The actual setting up the stage begins at 8 a.m. Thursday. Trucks from the production crew roll in and they get to work, laying down the foundation of the stage and setting up the lights. Typical work shifts range from 8 to 12 hours a day.

Friday around 8 a.m. the roof is raised above the stage. Two massive speakers on the left and right sides of the stage have to be set up, along with the subs underneath.  The crew also sets up “The front of house,” which is located at circles of the quad and deals with lighting and sound control. At 11 a.m., the production company begins to build the actual stage. With the concert beginning at 5 p.m., the crew just has six hours to make sure everything is up and running.

“I’m really excited,” said Kosin. “There’s a lot of things still to do, but we have a great team over here and everyone knows what needs to be done.”

In the heart of Little Italy on a warm spring evening, patio lights illuminate picnic tables and the faces of smokers and diners crowded outside of the bar. People gather at Three Aces to raise a glass to good food and good people, enjoying exceptional bar fare inspired by fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Inside the pub, tattooed bartenders and servers maneuver around each other, creating drinks and delivering meals with a relaxed purpose. Diners lounge in black leather barstools and booths, reading menus by candlelight as the house system provides an indie rock soundtrack. A vinyl turntable and Pioneer mixer rest at the end of the bar, hinting at the night’s future entertainment (other nights feature live acts).

The cuisine is a hodge-podge of gourmet Italian plates with the familiarity of comfort food and the boutique flare of a gastro pub. The menu categorizes dishes by farm, mill, sea and barn, also with a “pizzetta” section and selections of sides and bar bites until 1 a.m.

The farm section highlights harvested delights like duck egg (with “fontina fonduta”, prosciutto and scallions) and kale salad with roasted beets, candied pecans, goat cheese and salmon roe. The mill dishes accentuate the versatility of grain in dishes like chicken thigh tortellini, mint gnocchi and carrot risotto. Broiled head-on shrimp with salsa and sunchoke puree, and Allagash White-soaked mussels with grilled ramps and lemon zest dominate the sea group.

The most coveted delicacy of Three Aces from the barn section called the Ace Burger is a juicy seasoned beef patty topped with aged cheddar, signature bacon jam, trimmings and aioli. I’ve seen a diner order one meal and then order the Ace Burger halfway through his first entrée.

 “Every time I think I want to try something different, but I always end up with that burger,” said the diner.

Brunch is served until 4 p.m. daily – an appreciated rarity outside of chain diners.  Early day diners devour down-home brunch classics, ranging from pancakes (with strawberry-rhubarb preserves) to fried eggs (with bacon, ramps and shallot). Heartier options include pale-ale biscuits and gravy, breakfast poutine with egg and bacon Sriracha, and thick pork belly with cheddar grits and fried onions.

Three Aces allures a regular clientele not just through the menu, but also by being a neighborhood waterhole with a humbly extravagant collection of American craft beer, many of them local brews. The list updates with the newest micro blends and creations, like Not Your Father’s Root Beer, a 10 percent ABV (a 19.5 percent option also exists) herbed/spiced beer , brewed in Illinois, that  goes down like a creamy glass of root beer with a bit more potency – and alcohol content.

Three Aces is one of those places where you want to become a regular, if for no other reason than to try every item on the menu and beer list.

This week’s mixtape features 10 tracks from bands playing this year’s Blackout Fest. Enjoy!

1.      “Chrome” by New Age

2.      “I Don’t Wanna Be” by Unnatural Axe

3.      “I’m On Fire” by Dwight Twilley Band

4.      “Rocket to Nowhere” by Mike Rep and The Quotas

5.      “I Was There” by Tommy Jay

6.      “Love Goes Underground” by Pezband

7.      “Wizzard Sleeve” by No Mongo

8.      “Blocks” by Tyvek

9.      “Eat Skull” by Space Academy

10.  “Shut the Hell Up” by Buck Biloxi and the *ucks

Rebecca Zemans’ studio is a medieval world unto itself. At one end, a medium-sized anvil sits ready for use, on the right a wooden table with countless drawers, all filled with intricate tools. Out of one drawer, Zemans pulls out a coiled metal wire. “This is what I start with,” she said.

Located in the Lillstreet Art Center, Zemans’ has been making jewelry in her studio for five years. She makes an assortment of things – everything from wedding rings to necklaces.

Oftentimes she meets with clients in person to come up with custom designs, especially for wedding rings. “Some grooms come in too,” said Zemans. “And for many of them it’s the first time they’re buying any kind of jewelry.”

Zemans, a self-confessed tomboy, is ironically wearing matching pink-purple Converse sneakers and a similarly colored flannel shirt. As a mother-to-be, she is also five months pregnant.

She jokes that it’s most likely a girl, saying that would explain today’s matching pink outfit. Zemans gives a short tour of her studio and points out the various materials and tools she often works with, some looking like they belong in a dentist’s office. Looking around, one would think they had woken up in the home of a medieval blacksmith if it weren’t for the shiny modern iMac sitting on the left side of the room.

The iMac is occupied by Zemans’ assistant, Lisa Gut, who is busy building a new website for Zemans’ jewelry. Zemans looks over and nods with approval.

“It looks really good Lisa!” said Zemans.

Zemans originally studied sculpture while attending the University of Michigan where she earned a degree in metalsmithing and anthropology. During her studies, she took an interest in jewelry after being introduced to the art through a class.

“Jewelry-making wasn’t exactly what they were trying to steer our focus towards especially for a career,” said Zemans. “But I ended up making jewelry and it became the focus of my studio five years ago.”

Since opening her studio, her work has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Chicagoist, American Craft and other news sites and magazines. Initially, word of Zemans’ jewelry spread by word of mouth alone. Now a number of boutiques in the Chicago area stock her work.

Despite being made out of gold and silver like most jewelry, what sets Zemans’ creations apart is their unique look. Much of her jewelry looks organic, and upon closer inspection her work exhibits the kind of curvature often found in nature. This design is intentional, and should be familiar to anyone who’s taken a biology class.

“Much of my work is inspired by the microscopic world, especially the single cell organism. I’ve always been fascinated by how these cells have to band together to ‘make the machine work,” she said. “I’ve always liked to explore the idea of where the machine begins and the human ends in my work.”

This kind of influence makes a direct influence on some of her jewelry. Zemans explained that a circular piece of metal can represent a cell while its gemstone symbolizes the “perfect nucleus.” Among other things, her jewelry is inspired by quantum physics.

Other times, Zemans is inspired by the precious stones that adorn some of the pieces. Before making a piece, she will put a good deal of thought as to what kind of design and metal might work best with the intended stone.

Zemans considers herself, first and foremost, a sculpture designer, but she has not let that specialization confine her. She instead bridges her intended art medium over to jewelry.

Zemans employs a few different methods depending on the kind of jewelry she’s making. These methods range from wax carving to fire soldering, and forging – physically shaping a piece of metal with hammer and anvil.

When making a necklace, Zemans starts with coiled metal wiring, either silver or gold. She then hammers wiring into a desired shape. This is then followed soldering during which a protective mask is worn. After that is done, the piece is placed in a jar that contains a mix of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide that cleans the metal. Sandpaper may also be used to clean the piece but might take longer.

Further hammering or pressing with different tools may then be done to further the design. For example, if a piece may require a seat for a precious stone. After the stone is placed the seat is tightened and closed, setting the gemstone in place.

“I’ve had people come in with only a precious stone that might have been kept in the family, looking to use it in a new jewelry design,” said Zemans. “My overall goal is to make art that is accessible to everyone, something beautiful that I can offer to people.”

Watch how Zemans employs the method of wax carving to create a rink in the video below. See more videos on her blog, and more examples of her work on her website.

Chicago indie label Hozac Records has released some high quality fuzzed-out rock ’n roll since forming in 2006. They have also put the same level of quality into their Blackout Fest lineup, which is held annually at the Empty Bottle.  

This year’s festival lineup could be its best one yet. Experimental post-punk electronic musician and pioneer, Helios Creed, will be headlining with his legendary band Chrome at the festival Saturday. The band’s work is considered by many music critics to be ahead of its time.

Their sound, a mixture of Stooges punk and hissy tape loops, is often seen as a precursor to what became known as industrial rock. Chrome has influenced countless bands including Nine Inch Nails, Ministry and Butthole Surfers.

Blackout Fest runs until May 19. Single day tickets are available for purchase here. Listen to “Static Gravity” from the band’s amazing 1980 album “Red Exposure” below.

The release of the new Knife Party EP, “Haunted House,” has brought them back to top of the electronic dance community. Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, formerly part of Pendulum, have been releasing a lot of astonishing tracks, such as “Internet Friends”, “Destroy Them with Lasers” and “Fire Hive.”

The Australian duo did not cease to amaze, especially with their new house track titled “LRAD.” A mix of their sound at128 bpm, and a climax produced by an astounding cord combination, created this big-room house masterpiece. Knife Party has played in Chicago numerous times, and this year will be no exception. The group will be headlining Perry's stage at this year’s Lollapalooza, closing the last day of the festival for EDM fans.

Since 1980, DePaul’s men’s basketball has played right next door to O’Hare International Airport in Allstate Arena. Now, with the unveiling of a new McCormick Place arena plan, DePaul’s Class of 2017 could see the Blue Demons play closer to home.

At 11:43 a.m. Thursday, May 16, DePaul President Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider sent an email to the DePaul community announcing the city’s plans for building a 10,000-seat events and convention facility, which will also serve as DePaul’s arena for both our men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that this arena is a part of a large-scale tourism and economic development project, which will be located near McCormick Place. The construction of this project will produce 3,000 to 5,000 permanent jobs, as well as 5,000 construction jobs for the building. DePaul will contribute $70 million for design and construction. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority will contribute the other $70 million of the $140 million cost.

In a statement from DePaul’s Student Government Association (SGA), the organization applauded the partnership and the project. “We are confident in DePaul’s ability to participate in this partnership without increasing the price of tuition, a particularly important point given our mission-based student population.” SGA president Caroline Winsett and vice president Casey Clemmons wrote. “We, along with the rest of our fellow Blue Demons, look forward to creating memories in our new home, a true home, for all of DePaul.”

The change in basketball location was a goal proposed during DePaul’s Vision 2018 strategic plan last year in hopes to bring the DePaul men’s basketball back into the city. The construction on the new building is expected to start in 2014, and DePaul hopes to have the 2016-17 season kick off in the new arena.

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m.

DePaul Athletic Director Jean Lenti-Ponsetto took to the podium hours later at the McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park to give details of the plan. SGA president Caroline Winsett joined her, women’s basketball head coach Doug Bruno, and men’s head coach Oliver Purnell. In attendance were several current student-athletes, as well as former Blue Demon and NBA player Bobby Simmons.

“This is obviously a very historic and prideful day for all of us at DePaul,” said Ponsetto.

The plan is a culmination of over a year of negotiations and deliberation, all in the name of bringing DePaul basketball back to the city of Chicago. DePaul’s new arena will be part of a massive development project to re-energize tourism in the South Loop.

Bruno, a former student-athlete who is entering his 27th season at the helm of the women’s team, was especially appreciative of the university’s effort to localize DePaul athletics.

“Every day is a great day to work at DePaul University, and today’s a greater day to be a Blue Demon. Today is a special day,” said Bruno.

Purnell has presided over an underachieving men’s squad for three years, but looks at the plan as the biggest factor in bringing in better recruits.

“It’s clearly our goal here at DePaul to have a top-notch men’s basketball program,” said Purnell. “I really believe that this is the next, best step.”

The new stadium will be especially beneficial for Simmons, who owns a business minutes away from the prospective building site.

“I think it’ll be great,” said Simmons, a former NBA forward who averaged nine points per game in ten seasons, including 16.4 per game in 2004-2005. “The location is very key, the South Loop, for commuters. You have the train, you have cabs, car service, you all the freeways.”