1. education
2. alumni and reunions

April 22
2015
For the community of the University of Illinois at Chicago
DAY OF SERVICE
UIC students, staff give
back to the community
more on page 15
VOLUME 34 / NUMBER 29
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T. WILLIAM EVANS
LIKES TO MAKE
PEOPLE LOOK GOOD
3
PRIZE-WINNING
TREES AT UIC
5
YOUR BACKYARD
COULD BE BIRDLAND
13
PEORIA STUDENTS
GET A JUMP ON
MEDICAL TRAINING
INSIDE:
CAMPUS NEWS 4
STUDENT VOICE 7
PEOPLE 11
CALENDAR 12
POLICE 14
SPORTS 16
PUZZLES 14
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Elizabeth Vu, a senior in biochemistry, serves a meal at Cornerstone Community Outreach. — Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin
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APRIL 22, 2015
send profile ideas to Gary Wisby, gwisby@uic.edu
T. WILLIAM
EVANS
PROFILE
Making people look good
By Gary Wisby — gwisby@uic.edu
T. William Evans does between 300
and 400 facial aesthetic surgery procedures every year.
“Procedures, not patients — most patients have more than one,” he says, for
example, an endoscopic browlift, a facelift,
a necklift and a chin implant.
“I enjoy seeing my ‘after’ patients,” said
Evans, associate professor of oral and
maxillofacial surgery. “It makes me very
proud to be able to make someone look
better and younger.”
His patients range from age 6 to about
80. Many of the youngest come to Evans
for an otoplasty. Which is? Grinning, he
illustrates by grabbing each ear between
thumb and forefinger and pulling. In
other words, the ears stick out.
Twenty percent of his patients are men,
and 20 percent are from California.
“Some are actors and actresses,” he said.
“I enjoy seeing my ‘after’ patients,” says T. William Evans, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery. “It makes me
“Most are patients who previously had
very proud to be able to make someone look better and younger.” — Photo: Joshua Clark
facial aesthetic surgery in California and
are unhappy with the results.”
Evans has limited his practice to facial
Evans founded Emergency Medical
daughter, Erin Hawkins, is her father’s
sity of Michigan.
aesthetic surgery since 1987. He says he
Associates Inc., one of the first organized office manager in Columbus and handles
Evans is writing a textbook, Maxillofawas the first surgeon in the United States
private emergency physician groups in
cial and Facial Aesthetic Surgery, but he lechis appointments at UIC.
to perform a procedure that splits the
the United States. He was its president
Evans is a private pilot with 2,500
tures internationally “and that has kind of
lower jaw and puts it in the correct positaken away from the book,” he said. “I prob- for 25 years and practiced emergency
hours of flying.
tion, called bilateral sagittal osteotomy.
medicine concurrent with his surgery
He used to breed, raise and race horses.
ably will put it together some day.”
In 1997 he was among 26 oral and
practice for 10 years. He was founding
“At one time I had 74 thoroughbreds,” he
He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. His
maxillofacial surgeons accepted into the
president of the Ohio chapter of the
said. “I had a farm and we raced all over
father was a football and track coach at
fellowship of the American College of
American College of Emergency Physithe country.
Massillon (Ohio) High School and the
Surgeons since its inception in 1913.
“It took me 10 years to get out of the
University of Akron, and Evans won all-city cians.
Most of Evans’ career has been spent
He met his wife, Ruth, in surgery at
and all-state honors in both sports in high
business. I wanted to simplify my life; it
in Columbus, Ohio. He joined the UIC
Ohio State University Hospital when
school.
took a lot of my time.”
faculty in 2012 and drives here twice a
she was an operating room nurse and he
He graduated from the College of
He was once an avid skier who plied
month, arriving Wednesday and returning Wooster, in Ohio, with honors in chemistry, was a resident in anesthesia. She became
slopes for 30 days a year all over the world.
Saturday. But he’s getting busier at UIC
his surgical instrument nurse and contin- But seven years ago he had a hip replaced,
then attended dental school at Ohio State,
and foresees the possibility of being here
ued in that capacity until 1998.
earning his degree summa cum laude. Next
and the second hip came two years later.
full time.
Their son, Erik, served a one-year facame a residency in oral and maxillofacial
“I was a very aggressive skier,” Evans
He came to UIC because “I love to
cial aesthetic surgery fellowship and is
surgery at Ohio State University Hospital,
said. “I couldn’t casually ski, so I gave
teach,” he said, and he’s also on the faculty followed by an M.D. at Ohio State. He has
currently a full-time academic surgeon at it up.”
at Ohio State University and the Univerthe University of Cincinnati. Their
a Phi Beta Kappa key.
“After studying this for awhile, I’m not sure if you
can say that TIF causes economic development, or
that TIF causes appreciation. I think what it does
do is that it accelerates [development]. That vacant
parcel most likely would have been developed
sometime in the future, but with TIF, it increases
the probability that it’s developed more quickly.”
Rachel Weber, associate professor of urban planning
and policy, on the effects of tax increment financing
(TIF) on school funding, property taxes and development in Chicago, April 10 Chicago Magazine
“When your larger message is, you only need five
weeks to become a teacher, it demeans,
it reduces, it oversimplifies what it is that teachers ought to be doing and what they do.”
Eleni Katsarou, clinical professor and director of
elementary education in curriculum and instruction, on the shortage of recruits applying for
Teach for America, April 15 PBS Newshour
“In the end I’m really interested in people and
what we do with our short time here on earth.
I’m interested in the human soul.”
Luis Alberto Urrea, professor of English and
distinguished professor of liberal arts and
sciences, on the fundamental theme of his work
as an author and poet, April 16 Chicago Tribune
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PRINCIPALS, PARENTS WORK FOR LITERACY
By Anne Brooks Ranallo — aranallo@uic.edu
Literacy expert Alfred Tatum believes a new generation of literacy leaders must work with urban school
principals and parents to empower African American
boys.
Tatum, dean of the College of Education, received a
three-year grant of nearly $1 million from the Kellogg
Foundation to improve the literacy of 100 African
American boys in grades 3, 4 and 5 by working through
20 parents and five school principals in schools on Chicago’s South and West sides.
The schools will be selected from those led by principals enrolled in UIC’s Urban Education Leadership doctoral program, which prepares principals to transform
urban public schools. The project begins this fall.
Each principal will choose four parents to assist students in a five-week summer writing institute based on
Tatum’s summer institute for African American adolescent males.
“Essentially, I’m preparing emerging literacy leaders
and parents to do what I’ve been doing, but with younger
students,” Tatum said. “The purpose is to nurture leadership in teaching literacy in the primary grades.
“Although reading education has benefited from 45
years of policy shift, many standardized assessments indicate that educators across the country continually
struggle to advance the reading and writing skills of African American boys in the primary grades, particularly
in high-poverty neighborhoods.”
Tatum said most previous literacy efforts focus on
reading skills, ignoring the need for students to gain in-
“THE PURPOSE IS TO
NURTURE LEADERSHIP IN
TEACHING LITERACY IN
THE PRIMARY GRADES.”
Alfred Tatum, dean of the College of Education, in the UIC Reading Clinic. Tatum received funding from the
Kellogg Foundation for a project to improve the literacy of African American boys. Photo — Lloyd DeGrane
telligence across disciplines. In his project, students will
read materials in 10 academic areas, including science,
math, sociology, philosophy and the classics.
Educators fail to consider the “multiple identities that
boys bring to the classroom — personal, cultural, economic, gender and community,” Tatum said.
“As a result, literacy reform efforts have underestimated
the depths of literacy needs in both segregated and inte-
grated schools,” he said. “Additionally, institutions of
higher education do not have a strong track record of preparing principals as literacy leaders, especially leaders who
work to advance the literacy development of African
American boys.”
The Early Literacy Impact Project will recruit and
train five UIC graduate students to become experts in
reading instruction.
Campus honored for its 5,300 trees
By Matthew Pozo —mpozo4@uic.edu
For the fourth year in a row, UIC and its 5,300 trees
have received a prestigious award.
UIC was named a Tree Campus USA, an honor bestowed by the Arbor Day Foundation.
“It recognizes college and university campuses that effectively manage their trees, promote student involvement
and develop connectivity with the surrounding community
through forestry efforts,” said Cynthia Klein-Banai, associate chancellor for sustainability.
Each year, about 200 campuses nationally receive the
honor.
To achieve recognition, “you have to demonstrate compliance with five standards and report on finances related
to tree care,” Klein-Banai said.
UIC won the award for its campus tree advisory committee, tree care plan, dedicated tree expenditures, Arbor
Day observance and service learning projects. The campus
has more than 100 species of trees.
Because of UIC’s sustained excellence as a Tree Campus USA, UIC has received more than $10,000 in the
value of new trees and support for Office of Sustainability
volunteers from the Arbor Day Foundation.
UIC was named a Tree Campus USA for the fourth
time. — Photos: Joseph Horejs
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send information about campus news to Sonya Booth, sobooth@uic.edu
CAMPUS NEWS
Sharing water across political, cultural boundaries
By Brian Flood — bflood@uic.edu
Mayors from the Great Lakes and
the Middle East will sign a pioneering
agreement at UIC that links their cities
through a “Sister Waters” partnership
that addresses critical water issues.
The leaders will sign the agreement at
“Water After Borders: Global Stakes,
Local Politics,” a summit Thursday and
Friday on strategies for sharing water
across political, geographical and cultural
boundaries.
“The agreement will enable mayors in
a war torn region to adapt long-standing
models of water sharing from the abundant Great Lakes region,” said conference organizer Rachel Havrelock,
founder of the Freshwater Lab, a new
UIC-based think tank on water issues.
“State-of-the-art conservation technology from the water poor Middle East
will also help U.S. and Canadian mayors
to implement systems that value every
drop of precious fresh water.”
The two regions have much to learn
from one another, said Havrelock, asso-
ciate professor of Jewish studies and English.
“Residents of the Jordan Valley can learn
from the long-standing treaties and binational cooperation of the U.S. and Canada.
“The example of cross-border water
planning in the Middle East can inspire
the Great Lakes region to connect cultural
communities and empower diverse groups
to manage shared waters.”
The partnerships will be facilitated by
EcoPeace Middle East, an Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian environmental peace-building organization, and the Great Lakes and
St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a coalition
to protect and restore the Great Lakes and
St. Lawrence River.
The Water After Borders summit will
be held in 605 Student Center East. Panels and workgroups will cover topics such
as U.S.-Canadian water issues and challenges such as algae blooms, oil spills and
pressures to export water from the region.
Admission is free and open to the public; register at waterafterborders.org
‘WATER AFTER BORDERS’
PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
More than 15 million people in the
United States abuse prescription drugs,
causing the largest percentage of deaths
from drug overdosing.
Student leaders in the College of Pharmacy, in conjunction with the UIC Wellness Center, will present “Prescription
Drug Abuse in Action” today at 12:30 p.m.
in Thompson Room C, Student Center
West.
The program will promote interprofessional dialogue among health care students,
including a group discussion of two simulated patient cases.
A recovering addict will share his journey through — and his return from — prescription drug abuse.
For more information, call 312-4132120.
TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET
The university’s strategic plans in the
face of proposed cuts in state funding will
be discussed at a town hall May 5 with
Chancellor Michael Amiridis and Janet
Parker, associate chancellor and vice provost for budget and resource planning.
The town hall, 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the
Moss Auditorium, College of Medicine
Research Building, is open to all faculty,
staff and students. The event is sponsored
by the Academic Professionals Advisory
Conference organizer Rachel Havrelock (right) with Kellen Marshall,
doctoral candidate in ecology and evolution. — Photo: Joshua Clark
THURSDAY/FRIDAY
605 STUDENT CENTER EAST
WATERAFTERBORDERS.ORG
Committee.
Register by April 27 at uofi.uic.edu/fb/
sec/2024760
EARTH MONTH
Win prizes, recycle personal electronic
devices and enjoy free food, music and
games at EcoJam today, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the Lecture Center quad.
For Bike 2 Campus Week, UIC is competing against 11 other Chicago area campuses for most miles biked. Log your trip
at bike2campus.com for a chance at prizes
that include bike gear and gift certificates.
Get free coffee and bike checks at different
locations around campus through Friday.
For a complete schedule of Earth
Month events, visit sustainability.uic.edu/
earthmonth
IT’S WORLD HEALTH DAY
“Global Food Safety: The Roles of Agricultural, Health and Biological Sciences in
the 21st Century” will be the focus of the
World Health Day Symposium today.
University President Robert Easter, former dean of the Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences, will be the keynote speaker.
The event, sponsored by the UIC Center for Global Health, begins with lunch at
11:30 a.m. in the second floor auditorium,
College of Medicine West.
For more, visit globalhealth.uic.edu
JOIN IT’S ON US CAMPAIGN
The It’s on Us campaign to promote
awareness of sexual violence is seeking
students, faculty and staff to be featured in
a photo campaign about bystander intervention.
A photo shoot will be held today, 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. in 340 Student Center East. Photos will be displayed on posters on campus.
WORLD OF DESIGN
Victor Margolin, professor emeritus of
design history, will discuss his new book,
World History of Design, today at 4 p.m. in
1-470 Daley Library.
Margolin will present the library with a
copy of the work, a two-volume illustrated
global history of design from the prehistoric era through World War II. The result of
15 years of research, it is the first comprehensive history to cover design on a global
scale. The first two volumes, published by
Bloomsbury Publishing, include about 900
images. A third volume in process will
cover design from the end of World War II
to the present.
Margolin will join a panel discussion on
“Design History: Scholarship, Pedagogy
and Practice” with Philip Burton, professor
and chair of graphic design, Amir Berbic,
associate professor of graphic design, and
Jonathan Mekinda, assistant professor of
design history.
For information, call 312-996-2716.
SUAA SPRING MEETING
Edward McMillan, chair of the Board
of Trustees, will discuss the state of the
university at the spring meeting of UIC
chapter of the State University Annuitants
Association Thursday.
The presentation, open to the campus
community, begins at 11 a.m. in the
Thompson Rooms, Student Center West.
For information, visit uic.edu/orgs/suaa
LATINO RESEARCH CONFERENCE
The Inter-University Program for Latino Research, a UIC-based national Latino
research consortium, will host its fifth biennial conference Thursday through Saturday at University of Notre Dame.
The three-day event, co-sponsored by
Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies,
will bring together scholars, artists and cultural leaders for sessions on immigration,
politics, economics, cultural identity, education and religion.
Luis Alberto Urrea, College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences distinguished professor
of English, will give the keynote address,
“Universal Border: From Tijuana to the
World.”
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Make your backyard a home for the birds
By Jeanne Galatzer-Levy— jgala@uic.edu
The plants chosen by residents for their
yards are more important to the diversity
of native birds in suburban neighborhoods
than surrounding parks, forest preserves or
street-side trees, UIC biologists found.
“We were surprised by the diversity of
species we found in people’s neighborhoods — 36 species in all,” said Amy Belaire, doctoral candidate in biological
science and first author on a study published in the journal Ecological Applications.
Areas with bird-friendly yards had
nearly twice as many species as neighborhoods whose private yards were less attractive to birds, she said.
The UIC biologists surveyed 25 neighborhoods in the Chicago area during
June’s peak breeding season. They scored
the number and type of birds, plus
bird-friendly landscaping features such as
berry bushes, evergreens, bird feeders, bird
baths and ponds.
Because backyards are private, their impact on bird populations hadn’t been studied before, said Emily Minor, associate
professor of biological sciences and principal investigator on the study.
“The backyards are where people feel
more comfortable landscaping things that
they think are important,” said Minor. “So
a lot of people’s bird-friendly efforts are in
the backyards.”
Belaire walked one kilometer down 25
selected streets near forest preserves
throughout Cook County, stopping every
100 meters to look for birds and listen
for birdsongs. She identified and counted
the birds in each area based on these
observations.
Going house-to-house, Belaire and
undergraduate student Hannah Gin
asked people to fill out a survey of their
yards, identifying environmental characteristics including bird-friendly landscaping.
They also asked if cats or dogs lived
outside.
The researchers found that the neighborhoods most attractive to birds were
those where many yards had fruit or berrybearing trees and shrubs, plus a mix of
evergreen and other types of trees and, to a
lesser extent, other environmental features.
They found that the outdoor animals,
especially cats, kept birds away.
Their research grew from wondering
how many birds from forest preserves fly
into nearby neighborhoods, Minor said.
“Birds are really living out in the neighborhood,” she said. “We found that there
were simple guidelines for people to follow
to increase bird diversity in their own backyards.”
Chris Whelan of the Illinois Natural
History Survey is co-author on the study.
WATCH THE VIDEO
‘THE BIRDS IN YOUR BACKYARD’
YOUTUBE.COM/UICMEDIA
Researcher Emily Minor and her daughter identify birds in their backyard.
— Photo: S.K. Vemmer
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EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS
Training program helps people with disabilities become business owners
By Jeanne Galatzer-Levy — jgala@uic.edu
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities often overlook — or are
overlooked by — the business world. UIC
researchers want to empower them
through entrepreneurship training under a
new, two-year, $300,000 grant from the
Coleman Foundation.
Chicago is home to more than 600,000
people with disabilities. Their unemployment rate is twice that of the city as a
whole. Most employment programs have
focused on placing people with disabilities
in any job, without considering their interests.
“Imagine being told as young as 16, 17
or 18 years old that you might love gardening, but we’re going to put you in a workshop packing boxes instead,” said Sarah
Parker Harris, associate professor of disability and human development in the
College of Applied Health Sciences,
co-principal investigator on the grant.
The new program will expand career
options by bridging the gaps in culture and
language between the business and disability communities.
The training program will be developed
with input from the disability community,
service agencies and small business development agencies.
Disabilities service agencies will get re-
sources and training to demonstrate how business
development can be an option
for those they serve and how to
connect their clients with the
business services they need.
“This will be a unique opportunity for people with disabilities to access entrepreneurship,”
said Maija Renko, associate professor of managerial studies in
the College of Business Administration and co-principal investigator.
The multidisciplinary collaboration between Renko and
Parker Harris began with a pilot
program in 2010, funded by a
UIC Chancellor’s Discovery
Grant. Overwhelming response
forced them to turn away
as many people as they were
able to include, and they
continue to receive inquiries
on their website.
Faculty members Maija Renko (left) and Sarah Parker Harris are developing a program to
Many entrepreneurs start
expand career options in business for people with disabilities. — Photo: Joshua Clark
businesses to help disabled
people.
“What that doesn’t do is emer Harris. “We’ve seen people with disabili- entrepreneurs together with investors.
power people with disabilities to actually
“Some people are just at the idea phase,
ties create successful businesses.”
be business owners themselves,” said Parkand are often told ‘no’ before they can
Too often, she said, they lack the social
networks and the business acumen to even
begin. The training will bring together people from the business and disability fields
to conduct workshops in writing business
plans, marketing and networking.
“This will be a unique project that targets
both people with disabilities looking to be
entrepreneurs as well as their service providers,” said Renko.
The ultimate goal is to make the program self-sustaining, so that service agencies recognize individuals with the
potential to become entrepreneurs and give
them the support and training for success.
The team will develop a model that can
be used in agencies across the country. At
the end of the training, they hope to hold a
business planning competition that brings
even begin because they have an intellectual or developmental disability,” Parker
Harris said. “A lot of building success is
connecting the right people.”
Helping people with disabilities become business owners could change the
face of employment, Parker Harris said.
Besides creating jobs, people with disabilities bring their distinct experience to the
mission of their business and may be
more likely to hire other disabled people.
“I think it’s really exciting that we’re
trying push through not just the policy
barriers and the systemic barriers, but
some of the attitudinal barriers,” Parker
Harris said.
For more information, visit uic.edu/
depts/dhd/PTI
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Want to contribute a story? Email Christy Levy, christyb@uic.edu
STUDENT VOICE
A LOOK AT NEW FILMS WITH
NICOLE CARDOS
NCARDO2@UIC.EDU
VAMPIRE VIGILANTE
Iranian Western takes a surreal look at teenage bloodsucker
The “Twilight” saga has a new rival.
Ana Lily Amirpour’s debut feature film, “A Girl Walks
Home Alone at Night,” released Tuesday on DVD, offers
a surreal look at a teenage girl who uses her vampire fangs
for a good cause.
The first Iranian vampire Western is set in Bad City, a
fabricated Persian ghost town where stereotypes of villainous characters and versions of pop icons roam the streets.
The Girl (Sheila Vand, “Argo”) serves as the city’s vigilante.
She roams the streets of Bad City to feed and in the process eliminate criminals.
The Girl dwells in a disco-lit living space. There are no
coffins, just posters of singers and actresses hanging on her
wall.
In another narrative string, there’s the Persian James
Dean (Arash Marandi). Looking flawless in a white
T-shirt and jeans, he has a cat sidekick. He’s hardworking,
but suffers from living with his drug addict father, The
Gambler (Marshall Manesh).
Narratives combine when the Persian James Dean and
The Girl cross paths. Ironically, he’s dressed as Dracula.
She helps him solve his problems, and he shows her love.
Other characters include the Prostitute (Mozhan
Marnò, “Charlie Wilson’s War”), who looks liked a driedout version of Sophia Loren and tries to survive in a city
of people who want to use her. The Little Boy (Milad Eghbali) isn’t a villain, but seems destined for that path. The
Girl gives him a good warning.
The Rich Girl (Rome Shadanloo, “How I Met Your
Mother”) and the Rockabilly (Reza Sixo Safai) also live in
Bad City. One seeks adventure and the other is gay and
goes largely unnoticed.
The Pimp, perhaps Bad City’s most notorious villain,
reaps financial gain and strength from the weaknesses of
others.
There’s an obvious allusion to human desires and crimes
through the characters. The film personifies those human
tendencies to reflect on cause and effect, forcing viewers to
give the film serious thought and consideration.
Through the slow rise of action in the film, The Girl becomes an icon herself, like the pop stars she idolizes. She’s
stylized through her full chador, which floats behind her as
she follows her prey. She even rides a skateboard.
The film thrives on its cinematography, where black and
white does not seem colorless but alive, and its airy narrative. Not much happens in “A Girl Walks Home Alone at
Night,” making every moment of the film impactful. The
occasional long shots remind viewers of the beauty of simplicity, and the music, ranging from Persian folk songs to
Lionel Richie, accompanies the images like a best friend.
Ana Lily Amirpour’s Iranian vampire Western tells
the story of a teenage girl who uses her fangs to
kill criminals in a Persian ghost town.
PUNK PERSEVERANCE
Documentary follows the Mekons through 38 years of music without commercial success
Joe Angio’s documentary about the Mekons
follows the group through its ups and downs in
punk-rock music history.
Fame and success have eluded the 18 albums the Mekons have made over the past 38 years. In fact, the group
jokes about splitting the $10 to $15 they make at small
shows.
It’s that humor and spirit that has kept the Mekons
alive since 1977, when the original five University of
Leeds students – Andy Corrigan, Tom Greenhalgh, Mark
White, Kevin Lycett and Jon Langford – started the band.
Some members have left and others were added, like Sally
Timms, Susie Honeyman, Lu Edmonds, Rico Bell, Sarah
Corina and Steve Goulding.
Joe Angio’s documentary “The Revenge of the Mekons”
follows the band through its ups and downs in punk-rock
music history. The film played last week at the Chicago
International Movies and Music Festival and the Music
Box Theatre. For more information on screenings, visit
mekonsmovie.com
The documentary reels in music critics and producers
from across the country and England. Their viewpoints
share a common thread: the Mekons have always tried to
mimic genres, and in getting it wrong they created their
own sound.
So what’s their genre? Some classify it as post-punk,
while others call it cowpunk or even alternative country.
But the Mekons aren’t looking to fit a mold. They’ve always gone after the feeling and expression, and simply did
their own thing.
To take an intimate look at the Mekons, Angio suc-
cessfully brings the creases of their smiles or the wonder
in their eyes to the foreground. One-on-one interviews
with each band member – even the ones who are no longer a part of the group – allows viewers to hear the individual voices and stories of a group, a movement, of
wannabe musicians who brought their own sound to life.
Angio decided to focus his fifth film on the Mekons
after two previous projects fell apart. He’s been a fan of
the band since his college days.
“So many people have never heard of them,” said Angio,
who spent two years following and filming the band.
“They never made it by any conventional way of ‘making it’
in the music industry.”
Two of his favorite things to record were the Mekons’
live shows and their methodology of creating music.
“There’s a very communal thing with the audience,” said
Angio about their performances. “There’s standup comedy
at times, that’s fresh and spontaneous.”
But what shocked Angio the most was that members,
despite living across two different continents, meet every
now and then to create music together.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said Angio. “They go in and only
have four or five days together, and they write these songs
organically.
“It was one the great things to witness and capture.”
And Angio’s favorite song? “Orpheus,” from the “I
Have Been to Heaven and Back” album, which plays
during the documentary’s end credits.
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STUDENT VOICE
Athletes run the gamut from riding to swimming in UIC’s Cycling & Triathlon Club
By Justin Mendoza — jmendo28@uic.edu
the only person who showed a viable interest in competing for UIC.”
Dutczack admired Shah’s dedication
and passed the torch to her. She’s now
president and liaison for the Mideast Collegiate Triathlon Conference.
This year, the team is more triathlon
based, with just three cyclists among the 20
members.
To be a cyclist, “you have to be very
dedicated during regiment workouts,” said
Dutczack, a senior in electrical engineering.
The team goes to work at 5:30 p.m. each
Wednesday in the Physical Education
Building. They spend two hours practicing,
with rock ’n’ roll music blaring in the background and large fans humming to keep
the room cool.
“Warm-ups include running counts,
chest press and squats,” said Diego Vega, a
freshman in computer science and vice
president of the team.
“Our teammates come
from all different kinds
of backgrounds. Some
are ex-swimmers, who
are new to this, and others have done triathlons
in the past.”
The group’s faculty
adviser, John Coumbe-Lilley, clinical assistant professor of
kinesiology and nutrition
and a USA Triathlon
coach, helps the team
members sharpen their
technique, Shah said.
Each practice focuses
on biking, running or
swimming.
“Some days you do a
brick — when you stack
a couple different disciplines, like swim for 40
minutes, then bike for
half an hour,” Shah said.
Sometimes teammates announce they are
going for an extra run or
swim.
“You have to work out
past the pain,” Vega said.
The cyclists also have
a workout plan.
Ricardo Lopez spots Mike Walega during practice in
“Warm-ups can be a
the Physical Education Building.
half-hour easy ride to
Down in a humid basement in the
Physical Education Building, you can find
a group of people trying to reach new
physical and mental heights.
For some time, UIC’s Cycling and Triathlon Cub has been small in number.
There aren’t enough people to have separate
triathlon and cycling teams, so it’s combined. But it works – cycling is one of the
components of a triathlon.
With a little perseverance, one student
is helping the team grow. Anjali Shah
found a closed Facebook group for the
team, and contacted the group’s past president, Michael Dutczack.
“I have done half-marathons in the past.
I was curious to see what other kind of
sports were out there,” said Shah, a sophomore in biology. “After a month or so of
messaging on Facebook, I finally got in
touch with the group leader, who said I was
“The best feeling is to train together,” says Diego Vega. “To belong to something
bigger than yourself.” — Photos: Joseph Horejs
feel the bike out,” Dutczack said.
Indoor practices last about two hours.
When the weather is warmer, teammates
take their bikes outside and ride up to five
hours at a time.
“Indoor practices use stands, called a
trainer. This keeps the bike stationary,”
Dutczack said. “You can set up a movie or
find a racing video on YouTube.”
UIC’s Triathlon club is part of the Mideast Collegiate Triathlon Conference,
which includes colleges in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The team
competes in an indoor season, from November to March, and an outdoor season
from June to October.
“The events usually take place in open
waters, biking on the streets and running
on the streets,” Vega said. “During the winter it’s too cold to be outside. The lakes are
frozen.”
Even though people compete individually, they are still one unit.
Competitions follow a point system
calculated based on distance and time.
During the indoor season, the transition
times — when competitors switch events
— don’t hurt the competitor’s overall time
but it does in the outdoor season.
Every second counts. It’s a race against
the clock. Some people are so devoted to
the sport they will wear a one-piece singlet.
“You rehearse your transition time,”
Shah said. “Some people don’t wear socks.”
The Cycling club also has its indoor
and outdoor seasons. They compete in the
Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference,
against programs from Illinois, Wisconsin,
Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Kentucky.
Cyclists compete in three types of
races: time trials, which measure how far
the rider goes in a specific amount of
time, road races, which determine who
can finish 25 miles the fastest, and the
criterium.
“It is a very fast, aggressive racing style,”
Dutczack said. “The biggest type of race for
cycling. They are very easy to spectate.”
The criterium race site is 1 kilometer to
1.5 kilometers, with city blocks barricaded
to form a rectangle. The objective is to finish as quickly as possible.
The UIC Cycling and Triathlon club
gives its members a sense of community.
“The best feeling is to train together,”
Vega said. “To belong to something bigger
than yourself.”
For more information about the team,
email Shah at ashah210@uic.edu or visit
uicteamcycletri.wordpress.com
APRIL 22, 2015
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UIC NEWS
I uicnews.uic.edu
9
STUDENT VOICE
Making a difference,
one meal at a time
By Matthew Pozo — mpozo4@uic.edu
It doesn’t take a lot to change someone’s day for the
better.
Whether it’s giving a smile to a stranger on the bus
who’s had a rough day or holding a door open for a mother at the grocery store, people are doing good things all
around us.
UIC students are improving people’s lives with homemade sandwiches.
Mitchell Granger, a junior in communications and
member of the UIC men’s tennis team, is the founder of
Students Performing Acts of Random Kindness
(SPARK).
“I was tired of the amount of inaction I was seeing in
myself and those around me, so I began thinking of ways
to make a difference,” Granger said.
What he thought of was SPARK, a group of students
who come together twice a week to prepare food, such as
sandwiches and chips, for the homeless. Students organize
the food, then hit the streets to deliver it.
“I like the idea of the spark starting a fire,” Granger
said. “That’s what this group is; a collection of tiny sparks
capable of igniting a fire.”
Granger approached teammates and other UIC athletes and pitched the idea of SPARK to them in November.
Maximilian Cederkall, a junior in marketing and
member of the men’s tennis team, decided to join to give
back.
“I’ve always had that urge to help people who are less
fortunate than me, and SPARK was an easy and direct
way to do that,” he said.
Anne Jacobsen, a senior majoring in chemistry and
member of the UIC women’s swimming and diving team,
was also inspired to join.
“A few years ago I made it my life’s mission to positively impact as many people during my lifetime and SPARK
is a great way to do just that,” said Jacobsen, president of
the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
After SPARK’s first mission in late November, people
started to notice what the students were doing. So Granger and the rest of his team created a Facebook page, produced a few YouTube videos and started SPARK.
While most of the
members of the group
are athletes, anyone can
join.
“One of our goals is to
start incorporating more
non-athletes,” he said.
“As we are a new group,
we’re still in the planning
process for recruiting
new members.”
What started as a
small group of eight has
quickly grown and
gained exposure. Thanks
to two features on FOX
News Chicago and another on WCIU, the
group has received about
$4,200 in donations.
“The first few times
we packed sack lunches
we split the cost between
the volunteers,” Jacobsen
“Any act of kindness can begin to change someone’s life,” says Mitchell Granger
said.
(right), founder of Students Performing Acts of Random Kindness.
The group now has 50
members and goes on
two missions a week to feed the homeless, rain or shine.
mented in other universities.
Granger estimates that students feed about 50 people
The organization has left a lasting impression on its
each week.
members.
“Generally, we target State Street in the Loop, as well
“I think other students should join SPARK because it’s
as Michigan Avenue,” Granger said. “With more resourcso rewarding,” said Cederkall. “Everyone I’ve talked to
es and volunteer help we will begin to expand to other
who’s been on a mission to feed the homeless says the
parts of the city.”
same thing: it feels really good to help others.”
The group plans to expand its “acts of random kindAnyone can make an impact, Granger said.
ness” by passing out winter coats, too. They’ve partnered
“So many people talk about changing the world or
with Helping Others Smile Too (Hope) to pass out coats
helping others,” said Granger. “I am hoping SPARK will
on their missions.
shatter that barrier between talk and action.
Still, Granger isn’t satisfied. The group is in the process
“As small as it may be, any act of kindness can begin to
of getting their 501(c)(3) license to officially become a
change someone’s life. In the end, all it takes is a ‘spark.’”
nonprofit organization. They are also working on tradeWant to donate or get involved with SPARK? Visit
marking their name and logo so SPARK can be implegofundme.com/SPARKUIC or sparkchicago.org
Heads shaved in Campus Housing for good cause
By Matthew Pozo— mpozo4@uic.edu
UIC grads Gavin Quinn, John Lullo and Danny Lullo
shaved their heads to raise money for St. Baldrick’s.
As the hair fell to the floor in Stukel Towers, money
was raised to help find a cure for childhood cancer.
At the annual Campus Housing St. Baldrick’s event
March 29, students, employees and alumni shaved
their heads to fundraise for pediatric cancer research.
“We had 31 shavees, one of our bigger years in
terms of number of shaves,” said Gavin Quinn, event
organizer and assistant resident director for conduct in
Campus Housing.
The group exceeded its goal of $5,000, raising more
than $6,600. Quinn shaved his head for the seventh
year in a row.
“It’s become a kind of tradition,” said Quinn, a UIC
alumnus. “I keep shaving my head every year because
of the great work that the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is
involved in. If I can make a difference by simply shaving my head once a year, I’m all in.”
Once his hair is gone, Quinn said, the feeling is
hard to describe.
“One of the neatest aspects is at the very end when
you have 25 or more people with their heads shaved,”
he said. “It’s a sight. It’s always great to see young people coming together and stepping up to the plate to
make a difference.”
Missed the event? Donations are still being accepted at stbaldricks.org/events/uic
uicnews.uic.edu
10
I
UIC NEWS
I
APRIL 22, 2015
STUDENT VOICE
By Shane Murphy — smurph32@uic.edu
Ten years in the U.S. Navy taught Aneta Murphy
about leadership, commitment and perseverance.
“My military experience and training has provided me
with an excellent work ethic and leadership experience
that I would not have been able to learn anywhere else,”
said Murphy, a senior in applied psychology.
Murphy was a surface sonar technician, operating and
performing maintenance on sonar systems, underwater
fire control systems and supporting equipment on a surface ship. She was also responsible for undersea surveillance and aided in safe navigation and search-and-rescue
operations. She used sonar equipment to detect, analyze
and locate targets of interest.
Murphy was stationed on the USS Vella Gulf CG 72,
a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, based out of
Norfolk, Virginia, where she deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She was also stationed at Naval
Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk and the Naval
Ocean Processing Facility in Virginia Beach.
Murphy achieved the rank of Petty Officer Second
Class (E-5). She was awarded two Navy and Marine
Corps Achievement Medals, three Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon,
Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon, Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Enlisted Surface Warfare Insignia.
She left the military in 2013 to pursue her college education. She received her associate’s degree from Tidewater
Aneta Murphy spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy as a surface sonar technician. “My military experience and
training has provided me with an excellent work ethic,” says Murphy, senior in applied psychology.
Community College in Virginia Beach while on active
duty. She transferred to UIC in 2013 and will graduate
next month from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology and a
minor in sociology.
“Being at UIC allows me to be close to my family, as
well as providing the opportunity to experience all the
amazing things that Chicago has to offer,” she said.
Murphy is president of the Student Veterans Association and has also served as the group’s vice president. She
is a member of Psi Chi, the international honors society
in psychology, and a member of the Polish American Student Association.
The countdown to finals begins
By Sarah Lee— slee355@uic.edu
Can you believe there are only a few weeks left in
the semester? And yet still so much to do.
I’m sure other students are feeling the same kind of
anxiety creeping up – all of the deadlines always roll
in at once. I’m grateful that the exams for my classes
this semester have mostly been staggered. But I’m apprehensive about finals week, especially for my cumulative genetics and biochemistry exams – there’s just
so much to know!
From experience, I know I need to start preparations now or the penultimate week of the semester
will be absolutely dreadful.
Not sure how to start preparing? Overwhelmed by
the amount of material? I know exactly how you feel.
Here’s what I would recommend — start from the
source itself. Talk to your professor. Or ask the TA
instead. Figure out if your final exam is cumulative.
Sadly, if you’re in the sciences, it probably is. Make
sure you clear that up and check the syllabus!
Find out exactly what material will be covered and
to what detail. I certainly will be double-checking on
that for my biochemistry class. There’s so much content that it’s hard to know what would even be fair
game. Professors and TAs are usually cooperative in
helping you figure out what broad topics will be covered. Even if it’s just chapter numbers from the textbooks, you’ll have a place to begin.
Next, set up a schedule for yourself – and stick to it.
I have a poor history of following up with this, and
I’m determined to see myself through it this time. As a
second-semester junior, it’s about time, isn’t it? Be orderly and reasonable about your schedule – it’s not
She received the Chancellor’s Student Service Award
this month for her work with the Student Veterans Association. She volunteers with the group at the Anti-Cruelty
Society, training dogs to make them more adoptable.
Murphy is an advocacy intern at Rape Victim Advocates,
where she responds to emergency rooms in the Chicago
area and provides support to sexual assault survivors.
In the fall she will attend Roosevelt University for a
master’s program in clinical psychology.
She plans to pursue her doctorate further from home.
“My plan for the future is to work in the mental health
field with veterans at the VA hospital in Anchorage, Alaska,” she said.
m UIC uic
a
I
e
r
o
Read m go.uic.edu/iam
t
blogs a
going to be any fun or conducive to your memory to
plan to learn five chapters over one weekend. Divide
up chapters/units into components and leave some
buffer time during the last week to do a broad overview of all your notes.
Prioritize your schedule by your finals exam week
schedule. I’m always disappointed because I have finals on that last Friday while most of my friends are
done by Wednesday or even earlier. But use every day
wisely; if a final is on Friday, that’s just more time to
prepare!
So, however busy you are right now, try to tack on
one more thing to your to-do list: finals preparation.
Even 15 minutes a day makes a big difference when it
adds up. A few weeks left to pull it all together, and
then summer. We’re almost there!
APRIL 22, 2015
I
UIC NEWS
I uicnews.uic.edu
11
PEOPLE
Filmmaker wins award for documentary
By Jeffron Boynés— jboynes@uic.edu
UIC filmmaker Edgar Barens received a
Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council for his Academy
Award-nominated documentary, “Prison
Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack
Hall.”
“I am proud to be a representative of the
Jane Addams College of Social Work and
help fulfill its mission through the documentary films we are producing,” said Barens, media specialist in the college’s
Center for Social Policy and Research.
The Wilbur Awards honor excellence by
individuals in secular media for communicating religious issues, values and themes.
The Religion Communicators Council is
REVVED UP FOR ROBOTICS
Sen. Dick Durbin meets the Engineering Design Team, a student robotics organization sponsored by the College of Engineering, when the team invited him
to campus April 19. Durbin toured the students’ workshop and tried his hand
at controlling a robot they created. The team uses mechanical, electrical and
software engineering skills to design and build robots for competition each
year. Their robots are among the top winners each year at the Jerry Sanders
Design Competition, a robotics contest for teams from Midwest universities.
— Photo: Ron Fernandez
AWARDS
james pellegrino, co-director of the
Learning Sciences Research Institute, received the 2015 Educational Research
Award from the Council of Scientific Society Presidents. The award honors a scholar’s outstanding achievement in
educational research that improved children’s learning and understanding.
Pellegrino was also selected to receive
the Educational Testing Service’s Samuel J.
Messick Memorial Lecture Award for
2016. He will speak at the Language Testing Research Colloquium in Palermo, Sicily, in June 2016.
aram kim, clinical assistant professor
of restorative dentistry,won first place in
the John J. Sharry Research Competition
of the American College of Prosthodontics.
The competition recognizes original
research in prosthodontics.
roger weissberg, NoVo Foundation
endowed chair in social and emotional
learning and distinguished professor of
psychology and education, received the
2015 Social and Emotional Learning
Champion Award from Dancing Classrooms. The nonprofit organization offers a
proprietary SEL-based ballroom dance
curriculum for upper elementary and middle school students in the U.S. and internationally.
saria awadalla, clinical assistant
professor of biostatistics, will receive the
School of Public Health’s 2015 Bernard H.
Baum Golden Apple Award at commencement. The winner is selected by public
health students.
sydney blankers, a master’s degree
student in urban planning and policy, received one of four Graduate Student Policy
Awards granted nationally by the Ecological Society of America. The award, based
on Blankers’ resume and summary of Illinois’ benefits from federal ecological fund-
an interfaith association of more than 400
religion communicators.
“Prison Terminal,” set in one of America’s oldest maximum-security prisons, tells
the story of the final months of a terminally ill prisoner and the hospice volunteers,
also prisoners, who care for him.
The documentary was nominated for a
2014 Academy Award as Best Documentary Short Subject. It aired on HBO and is
now available to HBO GO and Comcast
Xfinity subscribers.
“Prison Terminal” received the 2014
Audience Choice Award from the Council
on Social Work Education and a CINE
Golden Eagle.
ing, includes an invitation to the
organization’s Congressional Visits Days
next month.
HONORS
kelly leroux, associate professor of
public administration in the College of
Urban Planning and Public Affairs, was
named associate editor of the Public Administration Review, a journal published by
the American Society for Public Administration.
Ten UIC students were selected to attend University of Illinois Undergraduate
Research Day April 30 in Springfield. They
are among 30 U of I students who will
present their research to Illinois lawmakers
to demonstrate the importance of undergraduate student research.
The students, and their advisers, are:
deborah park, biological sciences,
adviser guofei zhou, pediatrics; nadine
kahl, biological sciences, adviser
alessandra passarotti, psychiatry;
garima shukla, biological sciences,
adviser guy adami, oral medicine and
diagnostic sciences; matthew reeder,
civil engineering, adviser sybil derrible,
civil and materials engineering; lenore
tahara-eckl, psychology, adviser
sangeetha madhavan, physical therapy; erin kohnke, neuroscience, adviser
kara morgan-short, psychology and
Hispanic and Italian studies; aya qutub,
nutrition, adviser lisa tussinghumphreys, medicine; mary cunningham, civil engineering, adviser didem
ozevin, civil and materials engineering;
abdullah adil, biochemistry, adviser
jordi cabana, chemistry; and oluwadamilola bankole, biochemistry, adviser brian kay, biological sciences.
thomas c. hart, professor of periodontics and director of craniofacial population sciences research in the College of
Dentistry, was named director of the
American Dental Association Foundation’s
Volpe Research Center.
uicnews.uic.edu
12
I
UIC NEWS
I
APRIL 22, 2015
Send information about campus events to Christy Levy, christyb@uic.edu
CALENDAR
APRIL 22
ECOJAM
Free food, performances, bungee run
activities, photo booth, bike safety and
maintenance checks and more. Hosted
by EcoCampus, a student organization,
for the Office of Sustainability’s Earth
Month events
10 a.m.–2 p.m. / Quad
sustainability.uic.edu/earthmonth
EXHIBITS
MAY 8 THROUGH
AUGUST 8
THROUGH APRIL 30
Visualizing Uncle Tom’s Cabin : Pictorial
Interpretations of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Novel
After Today
Exhibit includes seven artists’ projects that
respond to the city of Chicago’s social,
political and economic conditions. Curated
by Lorelei Stewart
Examining how characters and events are
represented through the years
Hours: Mon.–Tues. and Thurs.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wed. 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sat. 12:30–4:30 p.m.
Hours: Tues.–Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sat. noon–6 p.m.
Daley Library Special Collections
go.library.uic.edu/Exhibit
Gallery 400, ADH
LECTURES
APRIL 22
APRIL 22
APRIL 23–24
World Health Day Symposium
Design History: Scholarship, Pedagogy
and Practice
Water After Borders
University of Illinois President Robert
Easter discusses “Global Food Safety:
The Roles of Agriculture, Health and
Biological Sciences in the 21st Century.” Sponsored by the UIC Center for
Global Health
Noon / 227 CMW
Victor Margolin, professor emeritus of design history and
author of World History of Design, volumes 1 and 2; Amir
Berbic, associate professor of graphic design; Jonathan Mekinda, assistant professor of design history; and Philip Burton, professor and chair of graphic design
Discussion on trans-border water systems, with an
emphasis on the Great Lakes and Jordan River
waterafterborders.org
4 p.m. / 1-470 Daley Library
SPECIAL EVENTS
APRIL 23
APRIL 27
APRIL 28
Pop-Up Pantry
Great American
Songbook
Tuesdays-at-One:
UIC Chamber Music
Showcasing its graduating
seniors as soloists, the UIC
Jazz Ensemble, directed by
Andy Baker, offers its own
twists on a selection of classic jazz literature. The Jazz
Workshop, directed by
Chris Madsen, opens the
concert
The spring series closes with
solo and chamber works
performed by UIC music
majors. Conducted by Andrew Lewis. Free lunchtime
performance sponsored by
the School of Theatre &
Music
Food pantry service
for registered UIC
students, sponsored
by the Wellness
Center and Undergraduate Student
Government. Bring
i-card
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
604A, SCE
7:30 p.m.
UIC Theatre
1–1:50 p.m.
L060 ETMSW
FOR MORE UIC EVENTS, VISIT EVENTS.UIC.EDU
APRIL 22, 2015
I
UIC NEWS
I uicnews.uic.edu
13
The Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center develops new medical teaching devices, improves medical training methods and provides new ways for students to
learn. The second floor is a virtual hospital with six patient rooms, two intensive care units and an operating room – all with real equipment.
Leap, skip and a Jump
in medical education
By David Haney — dhaney@uic.edu
Since the Jump Trading Simulation &
Education Center opened its doors in
downtown Peoria less than two years ago,
the state-of-the-art medical training facility
has provided 553,000 hours of learning to
more than 52,000 people.
In that same timeframe, Jump — as it’s
dubbed for short — has developed and patented new medical teaching devices, conducted research to improve medical training
methods and fostered new ways for student
learning. Whether you’re a medical or nursing student, a teacher directly involved with
medical education and health care training,
or your only experience with medicine is
being a patient — it’s a place to marvel.
“We are far exceeding our expectations,”
says John Vozenilek, Jump’s chief medical
Jump has provided real-world
training to 52,000 people.
officer and the Duane and Mary Cullinan
professor in simulation outcomes for the
College of Medicine at Peoria. “The number of learners and the level of education,
the grants and collaboration taking place,
the innovation — we already are seeing
benefits as it relates to patient impact as
well as financial benefits by offsetting hospital expenses.”
The $51 million facility is a collaboration between the College of Medicine at
Peoria and OSF HealthCare, one of the
college’s primary affiliates. In terms of size,
Jump is among the top five in the nation.
In terms of scope, it is among the top three,
says Vozenilek, who visited similar centers
around the country and world as Jump was
being designed.
The second floor at Jump is a virtual
hospital with six patient rooms, two intensive care units and an operating room. All
the medical equipment is real. All the disposable supplies are real. Need to make a
call from an inpatient room to the nursing
station? Pick up the receiver – it works.
Need medical grade air or oxygen? Turn
the valve on the wall — it’s the real deal.
The anesthesia machine in the operating
room — it’s real, too. And the medical
simulation training at Jump involves actors
trained as patients or high-tech manikins,
many of which can simulate crying, sweating, breathing and blinking, some with
pupils that dilate.
Taking advantage of this virtual hospital,
College of Medicine faculty last year piloted a new “intern boot camp” for fourthyear medical students before they headed
to residency. Students went on simulated
rounds through the patient unit, responded
to emergencies in the ICU and discharged
patients without breaks between to simulate “a day in the life” of what they will ex-
An intern boot camp gives medical students a chance to go on simulated rounds
to get a preview of what their residency experience will be like.
perience as a resident working in the
hospital.
“Because of the boot camp’s success, the
course has been approved by the UIC faculty senate to become a required two-week
experience for all UICOMP graduating
seniors,” said Gerald Wickham, assistant
dean for medical education and evaluation.
But the simulation center is more than
just a virtual hospital. The first floor of Jump
holds an anatomical skills lab for use with
human and animal tissue; a transport center
with an ambulance and fully-furnished
apartment for paramedic and home health
care training; and an innovations lab, where
physicians can work with engineers to design, improve and build medical and training devices.
Cameras throughout the building record
training for educational purposes, providing
the ability to teach medical procedural skills
at a distance, whether in a rural Midwestern
hospital or in a clinic around the world.
“Jump has already proved itself as an
enormous asset to our students, residents,
faculty — and really the community at
large,” said Sara Rusch, regional dean for
the Peoria campus. “Visitors are amazed at
what’s taking place here and what’s planned
ahead — and just to see it is a great tool for
recruiting.”
Advanced Medical Transport, a primary
emergency and scheduled ambulance service provider to residents and communities
throughout central Illinois, is partnering
with Jump to provide paramedic pre-hospital care simulation training. A pilot project
with Intel-GE Care Innovations is partnering with Jump to look at the connection
between patient data from the home with
data collected in clinical settings. The college’s Center for Outcomes Research just
finalized a report showing simulation education saved the hospital an estimated $1.5
million in the first year by improving efficient education and lowering complications
related to a particular procedure.
“We’re doing a lot and we will continue
to do more,” said Vozenilek. “We’re lowering health care costs through innovations,
providing solutions for population health
management, making available a pathway
to clinical space for designers and builders
of medical devices and technology, and
moreover improving the education for tomorrow’s physicians and health care providers, which in turn improves health
outcomes for patients.”
uicnews.uic.edu
14
I
UIC NEWS
I
APRIL 22, 2015
Dentistry researchers ask: could
green tea fight cancer in smokers?
SUDOKU: EASY
Sudoku Puzzler by Ian Riensche, www.sudokupuzzler.com
By Sam Hostettler — samhos@uic.edu
Use logic and process of elimination to fill in the blank cells using the numbers 1
through 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and 3x3 block.
Find the answer to this week’s puzzle online at go.uic.edu/puzzle422
Can green tea fight head and neck
cancer in smokers?
A study by UIC researchers wants to
find out.
Green tea is made from leaves of the
Camellia sinensis plant, which are heated
after harvest to destroy enzymes that
break down catechins, natural antioxidant
substances that may prevent or delay
some types of cell damage.
Combined with the caffeine found in
tea, catechins have been shown in animal
models to be effective in preventing lung
and other cancers.
Guy Adami and Joel Schwartz, associate professors of oral medicine and diagnostic sciences in the College of Dentistry,
want to see if green tea can induce a protective process of cell death called apoptosis, which occurs when cells of a living
organism are damaged — by carcinogens,
for example.
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The researchers will analyze RNA collected from cells in the mouth and cheek of
study participants to determine, based on
gene expression, the cell pathways that are
regulated by moderate levels of green tea
consumption.
To enroll in the study, subjects must be
between the ages of 20 and 45; smoke
more than 10 cigarettes per day; have
smoked for at least five years; and willing
to drink five cups of green tea each day.
In an earlier study, Schwartz discovered
increased apoptosis in cells taken from the
tongue of tobacco smokers after a month
of exposure to the catechins from green tea.
“We believe the cathechins found in
green tea are a possible daily preventative
approach for head and neck cancers,”
Adami said.
For more information about the study,
call 312-355-4311 or e-mail DENTSGreenTea@uic.edu
312-996-2830
312-413-9323
Visit the UIC Police crime map
uiccrimemaps.org/map
and the Chicago Police CLEAR Map
gis.chicagopolice.org
APRIL 13–19
CRIMES REPORTED TO UIC POLICE
Theft: 7
Robbery: 1
Battery: 1
Motor vehicle theft: 1
Narcotics possession: 1
Criminal trespass: 3
Disorderly conduct: 1
Criminal damage: 1
DUI: 1
ARRESTS BY UIC POLICE
robbery at 1350 S. Halsted St. A woman
April 14: A woman was arrested for
narcotics possession at 1:40 a.m. at 1600 W. was arrested for disorderly conduct at
10:27 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion.
Taylor St.
April 18: A man was arrested for crimiA man was arrested for criminal trespass
nal
trespass at 2:08 p.m. at the UI Hospital.
at 2:20 p.m. at James J. Stukel Towers.
April 19: A man was arrested for DUI
April 17: A man was arrested at 2 p.m.
at 2:05 a.m. at 500 W. Western Ave.
at Science and Engineering South for a
UIC News Staff
Published on Wednesdays during the academic year (monthly during summer) by the Office
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uicnews.uic.edu
APRIL 22, 2015
I
UIC NEWS
I uicnews.uic.edu
15
UIC HELPS OUT ACROSS CITY FOR DAY OF SERVICE
By Christy Levy — christyb@uic.edu
Students and employees cleaned up beaches, set up
fresh markets and served meals Saturday during the UIC
Day of Service.
More than 200 people helped out at 24 sites throughout the city, said Olivia Desormeaux, graduate assistant
for community service in Student Leadership Development and Volunteer Services.
“It was really exciting and fun to talk to students at the
Michael Price volunteers at St. Margaret’s School
Saturday. — Joshua Clark
sites and see that they not
only saw a purpose in what
they were doing but that
they were also having fun
helping others,” she said.
Berenice Jimenez led a
group of volunteers at the
Latino Union of Chicago’s
Albany Park Workers’
Center. She and her team
helped the organization
keep up with its data entry
and mailed more than 500
letters to donors.
“I signed up because I
wanted to help an organization and be a representative as a UIC student,”
said Jimenez, a senior in
Anna Calix cleans up North Avenue Beach. — Photo: Joshua Clark
sociology.
She plans to volunteer
more often in her community.
was at the conference, and meet a broad group of partici“This experience meant a lot to me in making me be
pants — ESL teachers, people getting their GEDs,” she
more involved and make a difference,” she said.
said. “It was interesting to see how they all interacted
Josephina Frankovich led a group of 10 volunteers at
with each other.”
the On the Road to Literacy conference co-hosted by the
Jamel Russell, president of Minority Students for the
UIC Center for Literacy and Literacy Volunteers of IlliAdvancement of Public Health, cleaned up North Avenois on campus in the Education, Theatre, Music and Sonue Beach with other members of her student group.
cial Work Building. They set up the conference, greeted
“Part of being in public health is also being aware of
guests and directed them to parking and rooms in the
the environment and keeping it clean to have safe places
building.
for people to enjoy themselves,” said Russell, a senior in
“Probably the biggest project was setting up lunch,” said
public health.
Frankovich, a graduate student in social work and public
Student Leadership Development and Volunteer Serhealth. “We had 200 participants standing in a hallway
vices hosts at least one volunteer event each month. The
and we needed to keep them standing in an organized
next activity: helping May 2 at the Greater Chicago
fashion and ensure that everyone got their food.”
She was excited to learn more about UIC’s literacy cen- Food Depository.
Sign up to receive information about volunteer opporter and meet conference guests.
tunities by emailing sldvs@uic.edu
“I got to take a picture with Gov. Bruce Rauner, who
Planting at the Xochiquetzal Peace Garden, one of 24 sites where more
than 200 students and employees volunteered. — Photo: Miguel Vazquez
Jyothi Tirumalasetty (from left), Sara Mehta and Kat Marz prepare food at the
Cornerstone Community Outreach Lunch. — Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin
16
uicnews.uic.edu
I
UIC NEWS
I
APRIL 22, 2015
SPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
ADDS STAFF, PLAYERS
By Mike Laninga — mlaninga@uic.edu
University President-elect
Timothy Killeen throws out
the first pitch at the Flames vs.
Milwaukee game
6 p.m. Friday Granderson Stadium
TEXAS STARS
Brendan Mullins joins UIC as assistant basketball coach after spending the past five years at Wright State.
“He brings an intimate knowledge of the Horizon League,” says head men’s basketball coach Steve McClain.
UIC head men’s basketball coach Steve McClain hired
Brendan Mullins as assistant basketball coach and signed
Texas standouts Hassan Thomas (F, 6-7, 200, Dallas,
Texas) and Michael Kolawole (G, 6-5, 185, Garland,
Texas) to National Letters of Intent to play for the
Flames next season.
KNOWLEDGE OF
HORIZON LEAGUE
Mullins, a native of Downers Grove, spent the past five
seasons as a staff member at Wright State.
“I am excited to have Brendan on the UIC basketball
staff,” McClain said. “He brings an intimate knowledge of
the Horizon League and the type of high-level energy we
need.”
Mullins was promoted after two seasons at Wright
State from the director of operations to assistant coach.
During his five years at Wright State, Mullins helped the
Raiders post back-to-back 20-win campaigns and two
postseason tournament appearances. He also helped
Wright State reach 10 wins in league play three times.
Before Wright State, Mullins spent a season as the
director of operations at Green Bay. During the 2009-10
season, the Phoenix went 22-13 and finished third in the
conference standings with a record of 11-7, including a
postseason trip to the College Basketball Invitational.
Mullins was an assistant coach at Mercyhurst College
in Pennsylvania for two seasons before heading to Green
Bay.
He was a four-year letterwinner at Saint Michael’s
College in Vermont, where he became one of the most
prolific three-point shooters in program history. He ranks
fifth on the school’s all-time leaderboard with 200 career
triples. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saint Michael’s in 2007 and a master’s
degree in organizational leadership from Mercyhurst in
2009.
Mullins was recently inducted into the Downers
Grove South High School Hall of Fame. He led the
Mustangs to an Elite Eight appearance in 2003.
His father, Mike Mullins, is the director of the Illinois
Wolves AAU program and his brother, Bryan, is the director of men’s basketball operations for Loyola-Chicago.
The Flames’ two new basketball players are highly rated.
Thomas comes to UIC as the No. 3-ranked power forward in Texas, according to ESPN.com. He chose UIC
after receiving offers from SMU, TCU, UTEP, Wyoming
and Fresno State.
Thomas earned 5A first-team All-State honors his senior season, along with All-Region and All-District accolades. He was also a candidate for Texas’ 5A Mr.
Basketball.
Thomas played high school ball for head coach Patrick
Washington at Woodrow Wilson, where he averaged 13
points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game this past
year. He also played for the Dallas Mustangs on the AAU
circuit.
“Hassan has a very high ceiling and will be a great fit
for our up-tempo style of play,” McClain said. “He has a
knack for rebounding and his instincts are tremendous.”
Kolawole received scholarship offers from Fresno State
and George Mason, but ultimately decided to play for
UIC. He is a two-time District MVP and beat out Ohio
State-signee Austin Grandstaff for the honor this season.
Kolawole averaged 22.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5
assists per game during his senior year at Rowlett High
School under the direction of head coach Jason Busch.
While at Rowlett, he also earned All-State Honorable
Mention and All-Regional laurels. Kolawole played with
Thomas as a member of the AAU Dallas Mustangs.
“Michael has the ability to score in many different ways,”
said McClain. “He has a smooth outside shot and a very
advanced skillset.”
UIC Athletics granted Burak Eslik and Garrett Bye
their release from the basketball program. Eslik and Bye
signed with the Flames in November.
Hassan Thomas (left), the No. 3-ranked power forward in Texas, and Michael Kolawole, a two-time District
MVP, signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Flames next season.