Student-run newspaper since 1962 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 WWW.NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG VOLUME 39 ISSUE 12 Flamin’ Hot founder speaks PAGE 3 NEWS at Goodwin Lecture Series NEIU social media accused of racist Valentine’s Day post PAGE 6 OPINIONS Minority should vote blue. Here’s why. PAGE 11 ARTS & LIFE Billboard-topping Theory (fmr. of a Deadman) talk new album PAGE 18 PAGE 5 SPORTS Part Two: Greatest matches in Wrestlemania history 2 NEWS | FEBRUARY 25, 2020 NEIUINDEPENDENT.ORG INDEPENDENT Student Veterans Club IN THIS ISSUE: reinvigorated with new leadership Can’s goal as president of the of Veteran Affairs and the Nation- sues, many veterans are left behind. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earnest Beeson SVC is to encourage our university’s al Institute of Health, many suffer While their skills may put them at Matthew Rago Writer veterans to assume an active role in from homelessness, PTSD, suicidal an advantage, the disadvantage of “We’re not what you see in the the future of the university. He also ideations and divorce, often at the not being able to translate those movies,” the newly-elected 23-year- urges veterans and nonveterans same time. skills outweigh any benefit. SECTION EDITORS old president of the Student Veter- alike to support the SVC by joining Can and his team have big As of Jan. 2020, the Department Rachel Willard ans Club (SVC), Gabriel Can, says their ranks. The only requirement plans for the SVC. They have al- of Labor reported veteran unem- Montgomery Blair about veterans. Just last semester, for joining the SVC, he points out, ready begun by increasing mem- ployment at 3.1%. This figure does the Student Veterans Club had only is to support the veteran commu- bership to about 15 active members not include veterans that are not two members. But according to staff nity. (14 veterans and 1 nonveteran). The receiving unemployment benefits. ONLINE EDITOR advisor Anne Ortiz, the club is well The SVC advocates for veterans SVC hopes to recruit many of the Marketplace.org clarifies that labor Ankush Vyas on its way to rebuilding. On Jan. 23, and assists with the academic and approximately 250 military-con- force participation for U.S. veterans the SVC elected a new cabinet: Can, social success of student veterans. nected students currently attending is 49.7%, which means that more Vice President Daniel Firszt, Secre- Despite the skills and training many NEIU as well as nonveterans. than 10 million veterans are cur- PAYROLL MANAGER tary Daniel Lim and Treasurer Enki veterans possess, they are identified The SVC is working on a col- rently unemployed or actively re- Francisco Sebastian Younan. as a vulnerable population by a 2016 laboration with the NEIU Green ceiving unemployment benefits. When The Independent spoke study from the Centers for Disease Conservation Group to restore and Despite not being provided a with Oritz, she explained that the Control and Prevention. Veterans update the Peace Garden. These location, the SVC cites that Presi- WRITERS SVC was almost deemed inactive are often overlooked and forgotten restorations include planting new dent Gloria J. Gibson as supportive Earnest Beeson due to low membership. Ortiz except during election years. plants as well as installing a plaque of these projects. Students that wish A prime example is the Phoe- and eventually a monument. to join the SVC should visit the Vet- Amina Murati hopes to rebuild the Student Vet- erans Club and inspire students to nix VA scandal scandal of 2014. President Can and Treasurer erans Service Center in room D130 Jack Poskus take a more active role in managing Veterans had complained for many Younan have been working with for more information. the club and its affairs. years about average wait times of 3 John “JB” Butler, the director of Can grew up in the Pilsen months to see a primary care man- Corporate and Foundation Rela- COPY EDITOR neighborhood of Chicago, Ill., be- ager (PCM). These complaints were tions, to locate grants to help ac- Daniel J. Lane fore serving in the United States often dismissed as exaggerated. complish these missions. Marine Corps for four years as a Then in 2014 a rare event oc- The SVC’s biggest goal for the corporal and a small arms techni- curred. 107 elected positions at the near future is establishing a vet- GRAPHIC DESIGN cian. As a noncommissioned officer State level were due for election. It erans’ resource center. This is not Frannie Mendoza (NCO), Can was responsible not was then that CNN began asking intended to be just a hangout spot, only for the training and manage- why 40 veterans had died while but more of a relaxed place to do ment of his junior-enlisted subor- waiting an average of 115 days to homework, network and to con- dinates but also for several million be seen by the VA. Suddenly, many duct workshops. dollars worth of government equip- investigations were launched si- Many skills and experiences ment. Today, he’s a sophomore multaneously on the Department that veterans may have acquired The Independent is a public forum studying psychology and hopes to of Veteran Affairs and hidden wait do not translate easily when transi- for all of Northeastern Illinois Uni- earn a master’s degree in psycholo- lists were discovered as well as a tioning to the civilian sector. While versity’s campuses and surrounding gy with an emphasis on substance conspiracy to hide those lists. Transition Assistance Programs are community. The Independent is en- abuse rehabilitation. According to the Department adapting to encompass these is- tirely student-run and is published bi-weekly, except during summer and semester breaks. The editor-in-chief is responsible for the content of the Independent, and views presented do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty and students. The Independent is a member of the ICPA, CMA and ACP. Earnest Beeson Gabriel Can of SVC have big For further details email: plans such as the restoration of [email protected]. the Peace Garden outside the cafeteria with the NEIU GCG. FEBRUARY 25, 2020 | NEWS 3 NEIU social media account accused These incidents occured on NEIU campus property between the dates of 01/22/2020 and 02/18/2020. of racism Earnest Beeson The NEIU police blotter is requested from our campus police for every issue of the Inde- Writer ances and allow respondents to articulate pendent because this publication exercises its right to do so, courtesy of the Clery Act. The possible solutions to various issues. Clery Act is a federal statute requiring all higher education establishments that participate On Feb. 14, NEIU’s Instagram account The social media blunder appears odd in federal financial aid programs to maintain records of campus crime and campus security posted a Valentine’s Day message that some to many because the school is well-known information. Any case that is considered ongoing may not be listed in the blotter. For this deemed racially insensitive. The message to advocate for a strong Hispanic commu- reason, there may be updated reports published retroactively once those cases are closed. portrayed NEIU school mascot, Goldie the nity. According to a 2017 Latino Leaders For more information about the Clery Act, visit the NEIU police department’s webpage. Golden Eagle, with a caption that read “so magazine, 34% of NEIU’s student body is heartsick over you I’m...ill-eagle.” Hispanic. NEIU identifies itself as a Hispan- 01/22/20 - Parking Department alarm at CCICS. Two unknown males ap- Many in the university community be- ic Serving Institution (HSI) which means A student became irate and verbally abusive peared on camera at the entrance vestibule, lieve the post to be in poor taste. One staff an eligible institution of higher learning with parking staff over a parking citation re- but could not gain access to the building. member, who requested anonymity, criti- serving a greater than 25% Hispanic student ceived earlier in the day. He left willingly a Responding officers secured the door. cized the social media oversight: “There are body. It is also recognized as such by both few minutes later. any number of puns that could have been the U.S. Department of Education Title V 02/07/20 – Cashier’s Office used,” they said. “I love you so much, it and the Hispanic Associations of Colleges & 01/23/20 - Parking Lot A A former student was upset with old tuition should be ill-eagle.” Universities (HACU). While exiting an Uber ride, the student charges. Peace was restored. A recent graduate of the university ex- Additionally, the university boasts dropped her Apple iPhone and it was run pressed to the Independent, “Seems a little a campus specializing in educating ESL over by car tire and damaged. 02/08/20 – The Nest racist. The administration or the illustrator students in surrounding Hispanic commu- Well-being check on Nest resident. Student is dropping the ball immensely. Please ad- nities. El Centro de Recursos Educativos 01/24/20 - CCICS Campus was found to be okay. dress this with President Gibson.” (Center for Educational Services) completed Staff at CCICS have been raising concern NEIU did not disclose who was respon- its final construction and expansion project over an unknown male that keeps coming 02/10/20 – Parking Lot C into the building, approaching staff and ask- Police located a suspicious person, who sible for the post. However, President Gloria in 2004. Given that Hispanics are repre- ing for money. He was warned about pan- turned out to be a neighborhood resident J. Gibson stated in a campuswide email, sented not only in the student body, but in handling.