Loyola University Chicago’s men’s basketball program is hosting Cleveland State this Saturday at 2 p.m. for their regular-season finale game before the Horizon League Championship starts.

This will decide which team moves on to the championship, which begins next week.

Residents of the 48^th ward can receive a special discounted rate for this game. General admission tickets will be discounted to $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 4-18. This offer is valid until noon on Friday.

Here is the full story from the 48th Ward:
This Saturday, March 2, the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball program will host Cleveland State at 2 p.m. in the 2012-13 regular-season finale for both teams. The game will be pivotal for seeding in the Horizon League Championship, which begins next week.

Residents of the 48th Ward can receive a special discounted rate for this game. General admission tickets will be $10 (regularly $15) for adults and $5 (regularly $10) for youth aged 4-18. Purchase your tickets by 5:00pm tomorrow, Thursday, February 28 for a chance to receive an upgrade to lower level seating. To purchase tickets, click here or call (773) 508-9653. This offer is valid until 12:00 PM on Friday, March 1.

By Laura LeBeau

Crime may be on the minds of many Loyola University Chicago students, given three recent hold ups of students.

But an anti-voilence group is taking solace in the fact that there have been no shootings in Rogers Park for 119 days straight.

CeaseFire, a local group that aims to eliminate violence on the streets of Chicago has been accredited to this absence of shootings.

Here is the story from CBS Chicago:

While shootings and murders have escalated in some Chicago neighborhoods, the north side Rogers Park neighborhood has gone since Halloween without even a shooting — 119 days.

Wednesday night, community residents met with representatives from the group CeaseFire to discuss the streak, and what has allowed it to happen.

“It’s been phone calls saying, ‘Man, if you don’t hurry up and get over here, it’s gonna be something,’ and they end up talking guys and girls off the ledges,” said Ameena Matthews, one of the most prominent of CeaseFire’s so-called violence interrupters.

Matthews symbolizes the controversy that surrounds CeaseFire, a group that has received state funding and is partnering with police in several districts to try to reduce violence. She is the daughter of infamous Black P Stone and El Rukn leader Jeff Fort, and was once a gang enforcer in her own right.

Now, she said, she takes to the streets with a different message: “Listen, you don’t have to shoot.”

Not everyone is sold on the group’s efforts. One teen asked if CeaseFire interrupters are hypocrites because they once embraced the violent lifestyle they are asking others to repudiate.

Willie Dixon of CeaseFire’s Rogers Park branch defended the group’s approach by saying, “It’s easier to be negative. But it doesn’t matter what someone says against us because we know what we stand for. And on another note, everything that I did wrong, it’s only meant for someone like me to come back and try to help my community, because the only people who are going to help us is us.”

Ald. Joe Moore (49) was expected to attend the celebration at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Av., but did not appear. Moore issued a newsletter Wednesday that credits the police, but did not mention CeaseFire, the Peace Angels, or other anti-violence groups operating in the ward.

CeaseFire program manager J.W. Hughes said “it takes a community” to produce such results and said it underscores the need for prevention efforts to work alongside community policing to minimize crime.

Loyola file photo

By Lizet Gonzalez

More than 75 Loyola University Chicago students, faculty, and alumni gathered Wednesday evening as a Loyola alumna and a current freshman spoke about immigration reform.

The forum, at the school’s Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park, was sponsored by Loyola’s Gannon Center for Women and Leadership as part of its annual Ann F. Baum Speaker Series.  It featured Monica Ramirez, J.D., acting deputy director of Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc., and Flavio Bravo, 18, a freshman philosophy (social justice) and political science double major.

Ramirez, a former a Gannon scholar, is currently an immigration activist who brings awareness to the immigration reform and focuses on fighting for immigrant woman.

She shared several stories that she experienced first hand, and pointed out several weaknesses in the current immigration system.

“Our immigration system is flawed, our immigration system is broken. We all agree that it needs to be fixed and there are things that are happening right now to try to change it and thankfully so,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez came to Chicago seeking a more vibrant Latino activist community. When asked why she chose to seek social justice and defend immigrants her answer was simple.

“I dedicate my work to representing those people, who years in the future will not be experiencing the trauma and pain and hardship because of what has happened during this time, which has continued to deteriorate our county and this is unacceptable,” Ramirez said.

Following Ramirez’s speech, Bravo spoke about his passion for immigration reform.

Bravo returned on Wednesday right before the forum from an immigration reform conference in Washington, D.C.

At the Tuesday reform conference, Jesuit university and college presidents, senators, and members of Congress joined more than 50 students and dozens of faculty and administrators to unveil a study titled,  “Immigration: Undocumented Students in Higher Education.”.

Researchers discussed the findings of a Ford Foundation-funded study, Immigrant Student National Position Paper, an endeavor led by Fairfield’s Center for Faith and Public Life in Connecticut, in collaboration with Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Urban Research and Learning  and Santa Clara University in California. The study proposes a new model of leadership in higher education regarding access to education, particularly for the undocumented.

Of the 65,000 undocumented American students who graduate high school annually, roughly 5 to 10 percent of these students enter post-secondary education. Additionally, a handful at the top of their class are awarded merit-based scholarships or find a way to finance attendance at a Jesuit institution, which have a storied history of serving immigrants.

“The findings of this study are important to me personally because they show an active involvement of the Jesuit community on a very sensitive social justice issue—the Jesuit mission at work,” commented Loyola University Chicago student, Carlos Robles. “The fact that this study was conducted shows me that they truly care about providing fair opportunities to all students, regardless of their background.”

The presidents of 24 Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) recently signed a moral statement, pledging their support to the education and care of undocumented students, and many were at the event to support these individuals who were brought to the U.S. as young children by parents who either overstayed a legal visa or entered the country without the authorization of the federal government. Researchers said their obstacles, issues, and desires serve as a to-do list of what any new practices and procedures must address.

Bravo said the most important thing that he learned at the conference was “the impact that students can have on their campuses, such as here in Chicago where there are many Latino immigrants.”

Janet Sisler, director of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership added that she was quite pleased with the large crowd of attendees.

David Blount, 22, a senior sociology and international studies major was looking forward to this forum all week and is interested in immigration for a variety of reasons.

“Specifically with a lot of issues affecting our county immigration needs to be fixed, I feel that it is something that is very close to being fixed, especially with the large media coverage, and advocacy and social justice is important in recognizing this problem,”  Blount said.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Jane Austin’s novel, “Pride & Prejudice,” and Loyola University Chicago hosted a flash seminar on Tuesday to talk about why “Pride & Prejudice“ is still a popular novel for readers of all ages.

Seventeen people came to listen to Dr. Steven Jones, a Professor of English and Co-Director of the Center for Textual Studies and the Digital Humanities. The event was held on the first floor in Cudahy Library at the university’s Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park.

“I have been teaching “Pride & Prejudice” for over 25 years now,” Jones said.

Flash seminars are free, informal lectures that talk about issues that may be of interest to Loyola students.

“We come together to connect and learn about topics that may not be discussed in class,” said Jeannette Pierce, the Director of the Information Commons. “In the past we have spoken about issues of bullying and on past elections.”

They key word during the seminar was adaptation. Since being published in 1813, “Pride & Prejudice” has adapted well to all ages. Its text has remained unchanged but its cover art, title, or format has been changed to appeal to our society’s current readers. There are anniversary celebration editions, teen editions with similar cover art to “Twilight,” fan fiction spin-offs such as “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” and movies.

“The Bollywood film version, “Bride and Prejudice,” adds a layer of hipness that was needed to attract viewers in 2009,” Jones said.

Jones also explained how “Pride & Prejudice“ is widely open to interpretation. It can be read in a satirical manner to uncover the irony and humor of the novel or in an anthropological manner to understand how Elizabeth Bennet, the primary character,  survives her conditions.

Austin uses her novel to describe how crucial and painful society was for women. It is possible that this quiet combat of women during the 19th-century  had been interpreted differently in “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” Instead of defending herself against gossip, Elizabeth defends herself against zombies.

“I came because I am very interested in the novel and was curious. I have some projects that interact with the Center for Textual Studies and the Digital Humanities and I have worked with Dr. Jones before,” said Margaret Heller, 28, a librarian at Klarchek Information Commons.

Loyola University Chicago’s Choral & Orchestra put on its first spring concert Monday night in the Mundelein Auditorium to kick off the Department of Fine and Performing Arts’ spring music line up.

The concert contained performances from the women’s chorus, chamber choir, orchestra, university chorale, and then closed with the chorus and orchestra combined.

Tickets were $5 at the door, and the small crowd was eager to pay it knowing the melodious reward awaiting them.

“Two of the composers that wrote the pieces tonight were writing their entire lives, however they didn’t become popular or famous until their late ’40s,” said Kristen Hedegaard, the director of the women’s and university chorale as she introduced the upcoming songs.  The crowd chuckled as Hedegaard joked to all of the young composers out there that they shouldn’t worry if they don’t become famous for their work right away.

“It was a wonderful concert,” said the Rev. Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J. , the director of the chamber choir. “The combined group had such power, gave me goose bumps on a couple of the higher notes.”

Although there wasn’t a large crowd, it was a good chance for these groups to get back into the swing of performing in such an acoustically sound auditorium.

“Our biggest concerts of the semester will be in April,” Hedegaard said. “Those will draw in the bigger crowds for us, and we’ll really get a chance to show the community what the choir groups are capable of.”

Loyola University Chicago photo.

By Molly Brewer

Customers waited in long lines Monday night for $1 pizza, soda and cream-filled pastries in celebration of Felice’s Roman Style Pizza one-year anniversary.

The event, located at 6439 N. Sheridan Road, featured $1 sodas, bombas, which are Felice’s famous cream-filled pastries, slices of macaroni and cheese pizza and free samples of brand new pizza flavors. The restaurant was filled with at least 30 customers at one time and had a line of people waiting to order that ran up to the door.

The macaroni and cheese pizza was chosen by students in an online survey, according to Ryan Haller, a 20-year-old junior and human services and criminal justice double major who works at Felice’s.

Danielle Marchlewski, 18, a freshman math major, was looking forward to her favorite pizza flavor, macaroni and cheese, although the bombas are really good too, Marchlewski said as she waited in the long line of customers.

“My roommate works [at Felice's] and brings me free pizza after work a lot so I only come and pay for pizza about once every two weeks,” Marchlewski added.

Even with the $1 macaroni pizza, Meredith Rice, 20, sophomore nursing major chose to get her favorite flavor, everything pizza, which she describes as being a mixed assortment of vegetables.

With such a variety in customer preference, Felice’s prepared nearly 200 pizzas, Haller said.

“Normally we make about $1,500 to $1,600 in a given weekend,” Haller added. “I’d say we’re expected to make a good $2,000 tonight at the bare minimum.”

“I like the idea of a one-year, $1 anniversary,” said Matthew Smith, 22, senior, economics major.

“It’s been a great birthday for Felice’s,” Smith said. “As a tour guide, I always tell my tours to come [to Felice's] and get served by someone you can recognize. You get the addition of a friendly face on top of getting great pizza.”

Loyola University Chicago students anxiously stood in line for hours at the Lake Shore Campus Monday afternoon eagerly waiting to purchase their Colossus 2013 tickets.

Colossus is Loyola’s annual weekend-long concert and comedian weekend March 22-23 organized by the Department of Programming. This year’s performers include musical artists Matt Nathanson and Karmin and comedian Aziz Anzari.

Tickets went on sale Monday afternoon and some students were so eager, they were willing to wait in line for hours for the inexpensive seats. Students can purchase $5 for one of the shows or get a special deal and pay $7 to see both. Each student can only buy a maximum of two tickets.

The Department of Programming announced late Monday on its Facebook site that the $7 combination tickets to see both events are sold out.

“Colossus 2013 combo tickets are officially sold out! You can still get individual tickets for both shows for $5 in CFSU! You can also still purchase concert tickets at the TSC info desk for $5!” the statement read.

Despite the popularity of the tickets and the long lines, students said they wer worth the wait.

“I’ve been waiting for over an hour and a half but all I want to see is Aziz Anzari. I’ve never been to Colossus before but when I found out Aziz was the comedian I definitely wanted to go. Even though it’s super hot in here, this line is totally worth it,” said Jessica Decker, 20, a junior studying biology.

Most students were in line only to see Anzari and not really caring about whom the musicians were, however, they were willing to wait in the long line to see the comedian.

“I’ve been waiting for about an hour and 45 minutes but Aziz is the only person I’m seeing. I don’t even know who the musicians are. Last year I saw comedian Jim Gaffigan and thought that was awesome. My expectations for this year are pretty high, I may pee my pants because Aziz is my favorite,” said Chelsea Conley, 20, a junior communication studies major.

Others did not even bother standing in the long line and quickly left when they saw students waiting all the way in the back of the Rambler room up to the front desk.

“I really want to go to Colossus but there was no way I was waiting in line in CFSU for over an hour. I really want to see the musicians and Aziz Anzari but I figure I can go tomorrow or at a less busy time, I’m not really worried about them selling out,” said Nicole Ransom, 19, a sophomore communication studies and international studies major.

Looking for a job?

Loyola University Chicago is holding a Spring Career Fair Tuesday.

The event is open to the public and will be held from 12-4 p.m. in Gentile Arena at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park.

Job fairs allow students to research a careers and network with a variety of employers, leading to possible interviews for an internship or job position.

“To make a good first impression, come prepared.” according to the career development center

For more information contact Elizabeth Globke at eglobke@luc.edu

To register click here

Felice’s Roman Style Pizza will be selling pizza, soft drinks, and bombas for $1 each from 4–9 p.m. Monday to celebrate its one-year anniversary.

Other than the $1 meal deal, Felice’s staff will hand out free samples of a brand new pizza all day.

Felice’s Roman Style Pizza is a student-run and managed pizzeria located at 6439 N. Sheridan Road.

.

Named after John Felice, founder of Loyola’s John Felice Rome Center, the restaurant is characterized by its modern Roman-style experience.

Located on Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus, Felice’s Roman Style Pizza has been giving students and faculty a new dining option.

Here is a portion of the press release posted by Loyola University Chicago:

Felice’s 1 Year, 1 Dollar Celebration
Felice’s Roman Style Pizza Commemorates a Year of Operations by Providing a Dynamite Deal

The Loyola community will wish the bright red storefront seen at 6439 N. Sheridan Road, better known as Felice’s Roman Style Pizza, a happy first birthday at the end of this month.

For an evening of celebration, from 4–9 p.m. on February 25, Felice’s will drop normal prices on a customer favorite pizza option, all drinks, and the beloved sweet treat, bombas, to $1 each. Apart from the afternoon $1 deal, Felice’s staff will hand out free samples of a brand new pizza all day. Modeled after a traditional, old-world Italian recipe, the pizza samples will showcase Felice’s dedication to its Italian roots and convention.

Patrick Hendrickson, president of Felice’s, supports the new recipe and the initiatives that Felice’s is taking towards maintaining their commitment to Roman-style pizza. “Felice’s has made us proud. We’ve brought Roman-style pizza to Loyola, but this year we’re really going to focus on engaging the community, as well as the students, in this unique pizza experience,” said Hendrickson.

Currently, Hendrickson works closely with the 40-person team that keeps Felice’s running smoothly. Each week, the administrative team meets to inspire one another with new ideas to keep Felice’s fresh and up to date. The biggest draw at Felice’s is novelty. Pizza artisans are encouraged to continue recipe development, suggest new marketing tactics, and participate in all aspects of growing the business. “Originality is a part of Felice’s. We add our creative college twists to classics and that sets us apart,” said sophomore Kevin Koprowski, a Felice’s pizza artisan. “Making a pizza is like writing a paper; everyone will do it differently since we all have our own style and know what we like. That’s what we share with our community.”

For the past year, Felice’s has been committed to providing the student body with a new and fresh dining option. Looking ahead, the staff will continue its dedicated service to the student body to keep Felice’s the best late-night dining choice near campus. For more information on the Felice’s birthday celebration, and to vote for what the $1 slice will be, visit our Facebook page. 

About Felice’s Roman Style Pizza
Felice’s Roman Style Pizza, a Loyola Limited enterprise, is a student-run and managed pizzeria in Rogers Park. Opening in February 2012, Felice’s caters to Loyola University Chicago’s students, staff, and faculty, and the surrounding community. Named after John Felice, founder of Loyola’s John Felice Rome Center, the restaurant characterizes a Roman-style experience with a modern flare. For more about Felice’s, visit www.loyolalimited.com/felices.

Read the full press release here: Felice’s Anniversary

Members of the sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha of Loyola University Chicago will be selling bow ties this week in effort to raise money for their biggest philanthropy, the Special Olympics.

The fundraiser will take place Tuesday-Thursday on the Lake Shore Campus in the Centennial Forum Student Union.  The girls will be selling the ties from 11-4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 11-3 p.m. on Thursday.

The Imani Uomo ties, normally priced around $30-40, will be on sale for $25, with more than half of the proceeds going directly to support Special Olympics.

Keeping with the Special Olympics theme, there will be an assortment of blue, green, and orange colors. A variety of ties including solids, stripes, and patterns will be available to the students with a choice of a necktie or a classic bow tie.

Megan Healy, fundraising chairman of Alpha Sigma Alpha, said that the bow tie opportunity was an exciting new approach to fundraising. The Art of Suits local Chicago company reached out to the sorority about the fundraising opportunity.

“We have never done anything like this before; I am having high expectations. Our goal is to make $2,000, but I believe we can surpass that,” said Healy, 19, a sophomore nursing major.

ASA will also be hosting the Ladybug Olympics, 5-on-5-basketball tournament on April 13 that will be raising money for the Special Olympics philanthropy.

Loyola students seem to be excited about the formal attire that will be available for the next week.

“I think it’s really neat because our formal dance is coming up and the boys will need something to wear and they might as well buy something that is going toward a great cause,” said Anabella Lojpur, 19, a freshman political science major.

Loyola University Chicago students learned about different cultures around the world during a Thursday screening of the documentary, Life in a Day.

The documentary, which follows people from across the world for an entire day, was screened by Global Brigades in the Cudahy Library at the university’s Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park.

Global Brigade’s mission is to facilitate sustainable solutions in under-resourced communities while fostering local cultures. It is to inspire and mobilize Loyola students to work together in order to help improve the quality of life.

“We are trying to have more events for students on campus that are related to mission national development work,” said David Collins, 22, a senior biology major and president of Global Brigades.

There are many different programs of Global Brigades such as business, medical, public health, dental, and environmental to be a part of. Countries that group of Loyola students have traveled to in the past are Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua. More detailed descriptions on what each program is about can be found on their Facebook page.

Fifteen people attended the documentary of Life in a Day, a crowdsourced based documentary to represent life across earth in a single day on Jul. 24, 2010. People from all over the world were asked to film their lives in a single day and submit them to YouTube.

“It was a really good way to see people’s perspectives from around the world that you may not have thought of before,” said Michelle Busching, 21, a senior biology and psychology double major. “It was a peek into another person’s life.”

The purpose of the documentary was to emphasize cultural understanding. Watching them are a great way to involve Loyola students and the organization plans on showing a different documentary each month.

“The documentary was a great representation on the little mundane things in life. All over we experience the same feelings, such as love and fear. It unifies humanity,” said Carlotta Fantin-Yusta, 20, a junior biology major.

Site of Subway hold up.
Google Maps

By Natalie Lee

A man suspected of robbing the Subway restaurant near Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus has been charged in a series of armed robberies, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Jose Rosas, 23, was arrested Tuesday following a police chase that began at the Subway at State and Pearson streets.

Rosas allegedly took $200 from the Subway after pointing a handgun at a worker and demanding money from the register, the Tribune reports.

Rosas fled in a car and led police on a chase that ended with officers shooting him in Bucktown, according to the Tribune.

Here is a portion of the Chicago Tribune story:

A man shot by police in the Bucktown neighborhood during a chase has been charged with a string of armed robberies he was wanted for, according to authorities.

Jesus Rosas, 23, is charged with nine counts of armed robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault to police and four counts of attempted murder, according to police.

Rosas was wounded by police Tuesday night after officers followed his SUV from near a downtown robbery, authorities said. Police said the driver tried to run over officers after backing into a squad car on Milwaukee Avenue just north of North Avenue.

Police shot him in the busy six-corner intersection and he was taken to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm. Rosas lives in the 10300 block of South Muskegon Avenue in the South Deering neighborhood.

During Rosas’ last heist, he took $200 from the Subway near Chicago Avenue and State Streets while dressed in all black clothing, according to a police report. He pointed a small black handgun at a female staffer and demanded in Spanish that she give him all the money and that he needed it for his kids and family, the report said.

After she complied, he said he was sorry and fled southbound on State, the report said.

He was spotted by officers working an armed robbery mission who were given his description. Rosas was shot once in the arm by a police sergeant when he drove the SUV in the sergeant’s direction, the report said.

Read the full Tribune story here: SHOOTING

63 Bar & Grill fire.
Photo by Mason Walker.

By Molly Brewer

A fire apparently broke out in the kitchen Wednesday morning in the yet-to-be-opened 63 Bar and Grill in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood.

Chicago firefighters were called to the scene at about 8:45 a.m. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

After the iconic Hamilton’s Bar and Grill closed in the fall, restaurateur Matt Fisher has since purchased the vacant space, which has been in the renovation. 63 Bar and Grill was expected to open this spring.

Loyola University Chicago, which recently purchased the building, issued the following statement:

“Today at 8:45 a.m., a fire broke out in a Loyola property located at 6341 N. Sheridan. The fire was contained to second floor apartments, which house nine Loyola students. No one was injured and the Chicago Fire Department quickly arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire.

Student Development is working closely with the displaced students to relocate them. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown.”

Loyola students, who were loyal patrons of Hamilton’s, were anticipating the opening of 63 Bar and Grill.

Students living in the two apartments above 63 Bar and Grill evacuated at approximately 9:20 a.m. according to Katie Hoffman, 20, sophomore, who’s boyfriend is a resident of one of the apartments.

“The apartment next to Mason’s was way worse … They were smashing the windows in over there,” the economics major said of the apartment neighboring her boyfriend’s.

Firefighters on the scene.
Photo by Mason Walker

Robert Jackson, 22, senior, finance and economics double major, was one of the occupants evacuated this morning and believes the fire to have started in the kitchen that is currently being renovated in 63 Bar and Grill.“CFD responded quickly and Loyola has been very accommodating so far,” Jackson said. “But I don’t know what is going to happen going forward yet.”

The damage is still unknown and there isn’t much that can be done, according to Jackson.

Fisher, the owner of 63, recently opened The Boarding House restaurant. He also owns Bistronomic, which is near Loyola’s Water Tower Campus.

Hamilton’s Bar and Grill officially closed its doors in October after serving hundreds of customers who stopped by to have one last drink in honor of the closing.

After 80 years of business, Hamilton’s was purchased by Loyola University Chicago. Hamilton’s approached the university with an offer to sell the bar.

An array of customers including, Loyola students, Loyola alumni and longtime customers filled the bar during its final day to pay their respects to one of their favorite community establishments.

Lisa Madigan

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan will be among the speakers discussing the landmark $25 billion national mortgage crisis settlement during a Friday appearance at Loyola University Chicago.

Madigan, a Loyola alumnae, was among a group of state attorneys general who helped negotiate the National Mortgage Settlement with the nation’s five largest banks over allegations that they signed foreclosure documents outside the presence of a notary public and without really knowing whether the facts they contained were correct.

Details of the settlement are available here: National Mortgage Settlement

Donovan and Madigan will be joined by former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, and former North Carolina Commissioner of Banks/Independent Monitor Joseph Smith Jr.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law/Philip H. Corboy Law Center at the school’s Water Tower Campus downtown.

Here is a news release from the university:

A massive civil law enforcement investigation by state attorney generals, including Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, banking regulators, and  federal agencies has resulted in a landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers. This important settlement—the largest joint state-federal settlement in history—has played a significant role in addressing the nation’s issues around the mortgage crisis.

Join us for a discussion with key figures in this historic settlement who will discuss the housing market collapse, the intricate path to the National Mortgage Settlement, and the independent monitor that has been established to oversee the terms of the agreement and ensure its success.

Distinguished speakers attending include U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, former Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna,

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, and former North Carolina Commissioner of Banks/Independent Monitor Joseph Smith Jr.

The event is free and open to the public. Visit LUC.edu/law/centers/investor/national_mortgage.html for more information.

When:

Friday, February 22, 2013

10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where:

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Philip H. Corboy Law Center

Power Rogers & Smith Ceremonial Courtroom, 10th Floor

25 E. Pearson Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611

Loyola debaters Joe Carroll and Phil Kraft.
Photo by David Romanelli

By David Romanelli

Loyola University Chicago’s debate team finished the regular season with its third consecutive first-round bid to the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence.

The National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence is debate’s equivalent to the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.

The National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence will be held March 17-20 at the University of Nevada Reno.

The top 24 teams in the nation receive this honor. This year freshman Joe Carroll and junior Phil Kraft qualified for the event.

“This is what we were working for from day one,” Kraft said.

This is not the only honor the duo have received this year. Recently the pair was invited to participate in The Elysee Treaty Debates on April 13-14 in Washington, D.C.

The Embassy of France and The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, in partnership with American University and George Washington University, are sponsoring the event. All debaters advancing to the quarterfinals will win an all-expenses-paid study tour of Germany, France and Belgium organized by the Embassies of France and Germany.

]]> http://loyolastudentdispatch.com/2013/02/18/loyola-student-robbed-of-cellphone-at-gunpoint/ Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:32:33 +0000 loyolastudentdispatch http://loyolastudentdispatch.com/2013/02/18/loyola-student-robbed-of-cellphone-at-gunpoint/

Site of robbery. Google Maps.

A Loyola University Chicago student was robbed at gunpoint early Monday while she was walking back from the Klarchek Information Commons at the school’s Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park campus, Campus Safety reports.

The student was not injured, according to Campus Safety.

While walking home from the Information Commons at about 3 a.m. Monday, the student was stopped by two males as she crossed the intersection of Lakewood and Loyola, according to Campus Safety.

One of the men placed a blunt object in her back and the other displayed a gun while demanding her money, Campus Safety reports.

While the student didn’t have any money, the men took her cell phone, according to Campus Safety.

This is the third Loyola student who has been robbed at gunpoint in the past month.

A student was robbed at gunpoint Jan. 30 near the school’s Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park.

The student was walking in an alley at about 5 p.m. in the 6700 block of North Greenview Avenue when he was approached by two men, according to Loyola Campus Safety.

One of the offenders displayed a handgun and took several items of value from the victim and then both offenders immediately fled the scene, according to Campus Safety.

This followed a Jan. 15 armed robbery of a student in the Rogers Park neighborhood.  A Loyola student was walking in the area of North Shore Avenue and Lakewood Avenue when she was approached by two men, one displaying a silver handgun, who demanded her money and cell phone, according to Campus Safety.

The student complied and the offenders fled the scene with her cell phone and money, according to Campus Safety.

Here is the full report on the most recent robbery from Campus Safety:

The Department of Campus Safety is writing to notify you about an armed robbery that occurred overnight near the Lake Shore Campus.

Today, at approximately 3 a.m., a Loyola student was walking home from the Klarchek Information Commons and as she approached the Loyola Red Line station she observed two males standing outside the entrance to the station. She continued north on Sheridan and then west on Loyola when she noticed that she was being followed by these same two individuals.

As she crossed the intersection of Lakewood and Loyola, one of the offenders placed a blunt object in her back and the other displayed a gun while demanding her money. She didn’t have any money, so they took her cell phone and instructed her to keep walking westbound and not turn around. The victim complied and the offenders fled in an unknown direction. The victim was not injured.

The offenders are described as: two males, dark complexion, 18- to 20-years-old, and 5’7″. The offender displaying the handgun was wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt.

When walking during the late evening hours or early morning, please remember to always walk with a companion or utilize the University’s 8-RIDE service. If you are by yourself after 8-RIDE ends their service, please call 773.508.6039 and Campus Safety will provide an escort from your location to your residence if located within Campus Safety’s jurisdiction.

Sincerely,

Robert Fine
Director, Campus Safety

Loyola archive photo.

Loyola University Chicago’s men’s basketball team is planning a big weekend to honor the schools 1963 National Championship team.

The celebration kicks off Friday night with a screening of the documentary, Game of Change, at 7 p.m. in Galvin Auditorium. Members of the 1963 championship team will be on hand for the screening, and will participate in a Q&A session following the film. All are welcome to attend.

On Saturday afternoon, the current Loyola team will host city and Horizon League rival UIC at 1 p.m., in Gentile Arena. The 1963 champions will be honored throughout the game.

On Saturday night, a celebration dinner will be held at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (1431 W. Taylor St., Chicago) with cocktails to be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $100, include food, drinks, and a commemorative giveaway item, and can be purchased by calling 773.508.WOLF or visiting www.alumni.luc.edu/celebrationgala. The deadline to register is Friday.

Here is the full new release from Loyola:

Fifty years after its historic achievement, Loyola University Chicago will pay tribute to the 1963 men’s basketball team, which won the NCAA Championship, with a weekend-long celebration on February 15 and 16.

On March 23, 1963, the Ramblers stunned two-time defending champion Cincinnati, 60-58 in overtime, to win the national title, and to this day Loyola is the only school in the state of Illinois to have won the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

The celebration kicks off on Friday night, February 15, with a screening of the documentary, Game of Change, at 7 p.m. in Galvin Auditorium. Members of the 1963 championship team will be on hand for the screening, and will participate in a Q&A session following the film. All are welcome to attend.

Then, on Saturday, February 16, the current Loyola team will host city and Horizon League rival UIC at 1 p.m., in Gentile Arena. The 1963 champions will be honored throughout the game. Later that evening, a celebration dinner will be held at the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (1431 W. Taylor St., Chicago) with cocktails to be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $100, include food, drinks, and a commemorative giveaway item, and can be purchased by calling 773.508.WOLF or visiting www.alumni.luc.edu/celebrationgala. The deadline to register is February 15.

Lastly, have you voted for the “Game of Change” as one of the all-time great moments in the history of the NCAA Tournament? If not, please do so today, and each day for the next month or so. As part of a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the tournament, fans can log on to www.ncaa.com/75-moments and vote the Ramblers’s historic meeting with Mississippi State as the greatest moment in the long and storied history of the tournament.

For more on the 1963 champs, including articles from that era, player profiles, etc., visit www.loyola63.com.

More than 3,000 couples have found love over the years at Loyola University Chicago.

So as a Valentine’s Day gift, the university is sending them a special email:

“Rambler love is in the air this Valentine’s Day,” the email reads. ”Whether you first set eyes on your partner from across the Alumni Gym bleachers, or sat in the pew beside them each Sunday at Madonna della Strada, we wish you many happy years together.”

The special valentine has garnered a lot of attention, including this article from the Chicago Tribune:

Loyola University Chicago is using Valentine’s Day to send a little love to some of its alumni — those who found love at their alma mater.

The reminder of Loyola’s matchmaking role isn’t a fundraising pitch, per se, but it never hurts to find unique ways to keep alumni connected, said Dan Gould, associate director of alumni relations.

The Catholic university identified more than 3,000 couples who have “Rambler Romances” — marriages or domestic partnerships, including same-sex couples.

“Rambler love is in the air this Valentine’s Day,” begins the email, which the university plans to send Thursday morning to about 6,000 of its 150,000 alums. “Whether you first set eyes on your partner from across the Alumni Gym bleachers, or sat in the pew beside them each Sunday at Madonna della Strada, we wish you many happy years together.”

A Loyola staff member pitched the idea after she and her husband received a similar mailing from their alma mater, Miami University of Ohio, Gould said. Loyola tracks married alumni through self-reporting and information submitted to “class notes,” for example.

“This message won’t directly ask for a gift. It is a way of stewarding alumni who already give and those who may be interested in the future,” Gould said.

While Gould said he expects most of the recipients to enjoy the surprise card, some may not appreciate the reminder of how they met.

“We are anticipating that some people will tell us they are no longer married,” Gould said.

Brittany Langmeyer.
Loyola School of Communication photo by Lindsay Blauvelt

By Cheryl Hwang

Brittany Langmeyer, 25, the Director of Marketing and Design at StreetWise, recently spoke to a journalism class at Loyola University Chicago to inform students about International Street Paper and Vendor Week.

Langmeyer, a 2011 Loyola graduate with degrees in journalism and theater, shared her experiences with StreeWise, a nonprofit magazine which hires the homeless to sell the publication. Their purpose is to support and nurture the homeless to a stable environment.

StreetWise sells the magazines to the vendors for 90 cents, and the vendors sell them to the public for $2. Vendors keep the profits to find housing, and hopefully new job opportunities, Langmeyer said.

Speaking to a class at Loyola’s School of Communication Convergence Studio, Langmeyer told a story of a once homeless man who was offered a full-time position at a company based on his great marketing ability to sell the magazines.

Langmeyer said some homeless people just starting out vending may earn less than what they would make begging on the streets, but often times, they look to receive dignity and eventually making a stable income to support themselves.

“Not only do we help them with the needs, we help them help themselves,” Langmeyer said.

“There are many organizations like StreetWise all around the world.  This network is called International Network of Street Papers (INSP) … International Street Paper and Vendor Week is a celebration of these organizations,” Langmeyer said.

“We want to get as much information out there as possible about the social issues around the homeless,” Langmeyer said.

Langmeyer also introduced that selling these magazines have been catching up to the technologically savvy era.  The vendors are handing out digital codes to customers for digital versions of the StreetWise magazines.

“It’s great because now we are becoming more digital,” Langmeyer said.

At the end of her presentation, Langmeyer also sneaked in advice and encouragement for the undergraduate students to not only intern and work for StreetWise but gave advice necessary for aspiring professionals.

Loyola Student Dispatch photo by Esther Castillejo

Loyola University Chicago will be commemorating Ash Wednesday with a number of Masses and Services at both the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses.

Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but nonetheless is a solemn occasion for beginning the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence for Roman Catholics.

Here is the schedule from the university:

Lake Shore Campus

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Water Tower Campus

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Loyola students, faculty and staff at the Water Tower Campus also will have an opportunity to attend Ash Wednesday Masses and Services at nearby Holy Name Cathedral. Here is the schedule from Holy Name:

Masses are scheduled at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., and 8 a.m; at 12:10 p.m., when Cardinal George will offer the Mass and will preach before an anticipated full Cathedral; at 2 p.m. when the Catholics from the Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School will also be present; and at 5:15 p.m.

At prayer services, the blessing with ashes will be given at the conclusion of the 10-minute prayer.  This year, we will offer many prayer services 30 minutes apart on Ash Wednesday.  The prayer services are scheduled for 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.

The Spelling Bee for the Orphans is a philanthropic fundraiser designed to assist kids in need. The event is a three-hour spelling bee where students have the opportunity to spell their way to a $100 gift card.

The event will be held  Tuesday from  6 p.m. until a winner is announced in the Bremner Lounge in the Centennial Forum Student Union.

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a national honor society that recognizes the top 20 percent of students in each class; the society’s pillars are service, leadership, and academic excellence. The Muslim Students Association is a student organization that strives to represent and introduce Islam and  promote friendship and understanding with other student organizations.

The cost to spell is $5, and only $2 to watch.

Vatican photo

Pope Benedict XVI is planning on resigning by month’s end, The New York Times  is reporting.Here is a portion of The New York Times story:

Citing advanced years and infirmity, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the Roman Catholic world on Monday by saying that he would resign on Feb. 28 after less than eight years in office, the first pope to do so in six centuries.

After examining his conscience “before God,” he said in a statement that reverberated around the world on the Internet and on social media, “I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise” of his position as head of the world’s one billion Roman Catholics.

A profoundly conservative figure whose papacy was overshadowed by clerical abuse scandals, Benedict, 85, was elected by fellow cardinals in 2005 after the death of John Paul II.

Read the entire story here: POPE

Ald. Joe Moore of the 49th Ward announced that beginning next month, the City will collect recyclable material (paper, bottles, cans, and some plastics) from all 49th Ward households that currently receive City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation garbage pick-up.  The collections will begin on either March 11 or March 18, depending on which area of the ward people live.

The recyclables will be collected separately from household garbage on a regular basis every other week.

The City will deliver the blue carts to all eligible 49th Ward households beginning the week of February 25.  Included with the delivered cart will be information about the program, including the type of material that can be recycled, the collection schedule.

Moore also is co-sponsoring a community meeting with the City’s Department of Streets and Sanitation to inform 49th Ward residents of the program and to answer questions about recycling.  The meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 20 at the Rogers Park Library, 6907 N. Clark (at Farwell) 2nd floor.

Here is Moore’s message to 49th Ward residents:

I am pleased to report the City of Chicago’s Blue Cart Recycling Program is expanding to the 49th Ward.

Beginning next month, the City will collect recyclable material (paper, bottles, cans, and some plastics) from all 49th Ward households that currently receive City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation garbage pick-up.  The collections will begin on either March 11th or March 18th, depending on where you live in the 49th Ward.

The recyclables will be collected separately from your household garbage on a regular basis every other week.

The City will deliver the blue carts to all eligible 49th Ward households beginning the week of February 25th.  Included with your delivered cart will be information about the program, including the type of material that can be recycled, your collection schedule, and your very own Blue Cart refrigerator magnet

I am co-sponsoring a community meeting with the City’s Department of Streets and Sanitation to inform 49th Ward residents of the program and to answer questions about recycling.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 20th, 7:00 p.m., at the Rogers Park Library, 6907 N. Clark (at Farwell) 2nd floor.

For the program to succeed it is very important to get the word out.  I am working with the City to identify volunteer “Recycling Block Captains” in the 49th Ward to help spread the word about the recycling program to their neighbors, answer questions, and provide feedback to my office and the City about how the program is working in their area.  The Block Captains will be provided materials to help promote the program, including yard signs and door hangers.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Recycling Block Captain in your area, please reply to this email or call my 49th Ward Service Office at 773-338-5796.

Blue cart recycling will be available only to those household that currently receive City of Chicago garbage pick-up (households residing in one- to-four-residential-unit structures).  If you live in a larger multi-dwelling-unit rental or condominium building, your household refuse is collected by a private scavenger.

All rental and condominium buildings that receive private refuse collection are required by law to offer recycling to their residents.  If your building does not offer recycling collection, please advise your landlord or condominium association of their obligation under the law.  If you still have trouble convincing your landlord or association to offer recycling, please contact my office at ward49@cityofchciago.org or 773-338-5796.

For those who do not receive recycling pick-up or who wish to bring their recyclables to a drop-off center, the 49th Ward Streets and Sanitation Yard at 6441 N. Ravenswood (behind the police station on Clark Street) will continue to provide large dumpsters into which you can drop off your recyclables at any time.

The expansion to the 49th Ward and the far north side represents the first step in Mayor Emanuel’s plan to expand recycling citywide by the end of the year and represents a fulfillment of my 22-year effort to bring recycling to the 49th Ward.  I was a strong and vocal opponent of the City’s failed “Blue Bag” recycling program in the 1990s and introduced an ordinance in 2005 to implement a citywide program similar to the current Blue Cart program.

In response to the mounting pressure, Mayor Richard Daley initiated the Blue Cart program on a pilot basis in 2007 with a pledge to cover the entire city by 2012.  However, expansion of the program soon stalled and today only about one-third of Chicago households enjoy the benefits of Blue Cart recycling.

Last year, I launched a petition drive, urging the City of Chicago to expand the blue carts to Rogers Park and other Chicago neighborhoods that did not enjoy the benefits of curbside or alley recycling.  In less than a month’s time, we collected nearly 1,000 signatures and were well on our way to our goal of 5,000 signatures.

suspended the petition drive when Mayor Emanuel announced his plan to expand the Blue Cart program citywide by the end of 2013.   I want to thank the Mayor for fulfilling his pledge and choosing the 49th Ward as the first location for Blue Cart expansion.

I also congratulate the hardworking laborers from the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation who reduced the City’s recycling and garbage collections costs by over 35 percent.  The savings have been used to subsidize the expansion of recycling at no additional cost to the taxpayers.

In the words of the Mayor, “No longer will Chicago be a tale of two cities when it comes to recycling.”

Sincerely,

Joe Moore

Site of rescue

A dog was rescued from the icy waters of Lake Michigan in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, Fox News Chicago reports.

Here is the story from Fox News Chicago:

A dog was rescued from the waters of Lake Michigan in the North  Side Uptown neighborhood.

The dog was reported in the water near 5133 N. Simonds Drive,  Fire Media Affairs reported. The animal was safely taken from the water.

The dog’s owner was on the scene, according to Fire Media, but no further  details were immediately available.

A man was wounded in an early morning shooting near Rush Street and Chicago Avenue near Loyola’s downtown campus, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The man was stepping into a vehicle at about 5 a.m. near the 800 block of North Rush Street when a gunman approached and shot the man in the knee, the Tribune reports. The man drove himself to the hospital, according to the Tribune.

Loyola’s Campus Safety issued a release saying the shooting had no connection with the university:

Loyola Community,

The Department of Campus Safety is writing to notify you about a shooting that took place early this morning, near the Water Tower Campus.

According to preliminary information, between 4:20 and 5:40 a.m., the victim, who is not affiliated with Loyola, was near the intersection of Chicago and Rush when he was shot in the knee by an unknown offender. The victim immediately left the area and drove to a south side hospital for treatment.

The Chicago Police Department is currently investigating the incident, and at this time believes this to be an isolated incident between two individuals who were familiar with one another. If you have any information on this incident, please contact the Chicago Police Department via 9-1-1.

Sincerely,

Robert Fine Director, Campus Safety

Here is a portion of the Chicago Tribune story:

A man was wounded early this morning in a shooting in the Gold Coast neighborhood, police said.

The shooting happened just before 5 a.m. as the man was stepping into a vehicle near the intersection of Rush Street and Chicago Avenue, Police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak said.

A gunman approached and opened fire, striking the man in the knee, according to police.

The man, who is about 20 years old, drove himself to the University of Chicago Hospital, where he was listed in good condition.

Read the complete Tribune story here: SHOOTING