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Transcript of Buzz Magazine: May 30, 2013
Champaign-Urbana’s community magazine FREE
week of May 30, 2013
more on readbuzz.comStoker review 4 Friday Night Live 6 towN mouNtaiN 8
2 buzz May 30- June 5, 2013
MAY 30, 2013VOL11 NO15
LO-CAL MUSIC
CALENDAR
CROSSWORD
Upcoming shows at The Velvet Elvis and Error Records
Your guide to this week's events in CU
Feast your eyes on this 15 x 15 feat of facts
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ON READBUZZ.COM
E D I TO R ’S N OT EEVAN LYMAN
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52 Weeks in a year.
A n d o n
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THE217.COM
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Discover the Urbana Public Arts Program and Commission in an article by John Milas!
COMMUNITY: Spending your summer poolside? Check out the Community section’s list of pool tips at readbuzz.com.
FOOD & DRINK: Hope you didn’t miss last week’s buzz! Head online to readbuzz.com for stories about everyone’s favorite cupcake shop, Cream and Flutter, as well as some recipes for delicious cupcakes you can make at home.
MOVIES & TV: Coming this week is a new Hidden Gems, the second edition of Cinellaneous and a See It Now featuring Park Chan-wook.
MUSIC: We’ve got reviews of the latest album releases including Vampire Weekend, The National and more!
RETIRED AND UNCHAINED
EAT FLOWERSSTOKER
Every once in a while, I have an experience that reminds me to cherish what I have. Life is fragile and inherently chaotic, and nothing is guaran-teed. Nobody owes you, or me, anything.
Journalists, especially editors, often spend time focusing on the negatives. There’s a tradition in journalism to be watchdogs, to act ethically and to speak for those who may not be spoken for. Oftentimes, when I think of story ideas, I am searching for something that doesn’t work, at least not as well as it should. The reward of the job comes from putting in the effort, entrenching myself in a subject and attempting to gain a better under-standing. Once you have gained that knowledge, you try to help others learn by explaining it in a way anyone will understand.
But sometimes, forces outside of our control can ruin or hinder our best efforts, even when we have the purest intentions. Our writer, Sean Neumann, wrote a fantastic story about Champaign record label Heirship Records a few weeks ago. He inter-viewed one of our favorite local music personali-ties, Isaac Arms, who runs the label. We made it the cover of the magazine and gave the music section the center spread. Dane Georges, our art director, designed an eye-catching cover. The stage was set for a great issue.
If you picked up that issue, you may have no-ticed that the Heirship Records story didn’t make the magazine. An error occurred with our com-puter software and caused the previous week’s pages to be inserted into the magazine in the place of the story. We issued an apology online through our Facebook page and directed readers to the online version of the story. But I still feel bad about that missed opportunity, and I want to apologize in print to Isaac, Sean and Dane. Their hard work should not go unrecognized and I still advise those who are interested to check out the story online at readbuzz.com.
This issue of buzz will be our last issue produced inside our current offi ce. Pretty soon, the staff and I will have to pick apart our home away from home and decide what we’re going to move to our new spot, donate or throw away. All the little trinkets and miscellaneous items that give this offi ce its person-ality will soon disappear, or at least be relocated.
So right now, I’m cherishing this offi ce while I can. And I’m cherishing the opportunity to run a maga-zine that people in the community read and appreci-ate. But most of all, I’m cherishing the opportunity to give back to a community that I truly love being a part of while I can.
Note: buzz will take a one-week hiatus as we move offi ces. Our next issue will be out June 13.
» Foods you only eat in the summer: Charcoal grilled burgers, homemade lemonade, popsicles, hot dogs at a base-ball game. There are so many delicious summer favorites to
choose from. There’s just something about eating a juicy slice of watermelon at the beach that you can’t get any other time of year, and the fresh-off-the-grill cheeseburger that just tastes better when dad grills it in the middle of July. The best part is, summer-specific foods always come with a hearty helping of nostalgia.
May 30- June 5, 2013 buzz 3
HEADS UP!
NatioNal trails Day
Great group of guys.
like Melissa esPañaAssistant Food & Drink Editor
likes, griPes & yikes
Cover Design Dane GeorgeseDitor in ChieF Evan Lyman
Managing eDitor Dan Durleyart DireCtor Dane GeorgesCopy ChieF Thomas Thoren
photography eDitor Animah BoakyeiMage eDitor Dan Durley
photographers Megan Swiertz, Animah BoakyeDesigners Kevin Kuk, Dane Georges
MusiC eDitor Maddie RehayemFooD & Drink eDitor Carrie McMenamin
Movies & tv eDitor Jamila Tylerarts & entertainMent eDitor Imani Brooks
CoMMunity eDitor Maggie SuCu CalenDar Dan Durley
stuDent sales Manager Nick LangloisClassiFieD sales Manager Deb Sosnowski
aD DireCtor Travis Truittpublisher Lilyan J. Levant
buzz staff
on the Web www.readbuzz.com eMail [email protected]
Write 512 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820 Call 217.337.3801
We reserve the right to edit submissions. buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. buzz
Magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of
Illinois administration, faculty or students.
© IllInI MedIa CoMpany 2013
taLK tO buzz
Grab The Daily Illini each Monday or visit us 24/7 at
Pick up The Buzz every Thursday for your weekly arts & entertainment.
KEEPUSpart of
yourSummer
awww.dailyillini.com
Summer’s in the air, and it’s time to head to the great outdoors. Celebrate national Trails day on June 1 by exploring great Illinois hiking trails right in your backyard.
one good place for hikers of all experience lev-els is Kickapoo State park. Many of the trails in Kickapoo are low intensity forest hikes with little elevation change. despite the simple nature of Kickapoo, some of the region’s most beautiful foliage is here. Kickapoo is about 45 minutes east of CU and is well worth the trip.
If you’re willing to make it a weekend outing, Giant City near Carbondale has some breathtaking hikes. The three- to four-hour drive makes this park a little less convenient, but there are plenty of lodging op-tions available, ranging from tent camping to cab-ins. nowhere else can match towering sandstone formations and the beautifully geometric canyon trails. While there are trails for hikers of all skill levels, many of the best trails are somewhat rugged.
My personal favorite is Turkey Run State park in Indiana. It’s roughly a two-hour drive, but offers the best hikes close enough for a day trip. The rocky trails run through shadows of towering trees. The best hikes might be a bit difficult for beginners, but there is nothing too daunting. The park also offers very reasonably priced canoeing, kayaking and wa-ter tubing. When you find yourself sweaty and tired from a long day’s hike, there is a wonderful little ice cream shop just outside of the park entrance.
By Alex Slifer
» Waka Flocka Flame: I am not hesitant to admit that I have a huge crush on Waka Flocka. I don’t know if he’s into white girls, but I’d do it with no hands for dat ass if given the chance.
ever since I downloaded Waka’s debut studio album, Flockaveli, I have been in love with his gorgeous mane of dreads flyin’ everywhere, and those luscious, luscious lips out of which he spits his remarkable rhymes. He’s told nard-wuar that he invented “punk rap.” I’ve sadly never seen him perform, but the way he goes hard in the paint on youTube makes that hard to deny. and he’s just such a southern gentleman! There’s not much I wouldn’t do to be his main bitch, or even just his mistress. #BRICKSQUad
» balcony hecklers: now that it's summer, I've been noticing an abundance of balcony heck-lers, otherwise known as d-bags, in the area of Champaign that I inhabit.
you know balcony hecklers. They are the ba-dass college dudes who stand on their apart-ment's balcony and shout aggressively at passersby from a safe distance away. They may even spit at you or throw various objects in your general direction. It doesn't matter who you are. you are not them, so therefore you suck, and they can't wait to tell you about it. you're a girl and you're not covered head to toe? They'll call you a slut. you are a guy and a girl walk-ing home from dinner? Well you better answer them when they ask if you'll be having sex im-mediately after you get home. you're wearing a Cubs shirt? The Cubs suck, you idiot. didn't you get the memo? How silly of you for existing and not being someone they know. If you were cool like them, you would have been invited to the balcony-heckling party anyway and thus had the opportunity to drunkenly berate strangers in the middle of the afternoon.
like Maddie rehayeM Music Editor
griPe evan lyMan Editor-in-Chief
4 buzz May 30- June 5, 2013
movies & Tv
GET THE FACTS
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This year’s blockbuster trend to capitalize on global markets has had something of an
inverse effect. Several famous foreign filmmakers have traveled overseas to make English-language movies while big-name franchises have packed their bags for locations abroad. It’s an appealing switch — fan-favorite directors given the oppor-tunity to strike big on the mainstream market.
But the outcome hasn’t been so assuring. Ironically, most of these directors were already
imbued with a strong penchant for American cinema. Kim Ji-woon displayed a great sense for balletic, supercharged action in I Saw the Devil and other Asian films long before his Schwar-zenegger feature The Last Stand hit theaters in January, and Niels Arden Oplev (who directed the Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) got the job for Dead Man Down thanks to his success with tense, gritty thrillers. A trip to Hollywood wasn’t really a new horizon for these guys. At their creative marrow, these movies are a return to their tried-and-true form.
A lot of eyes have circled the horror-drama Stoker, from South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. Oldboy, along with the rest of the “Ven-geance Trilogy,” sits under Wook’s belt as an internationally renowned track record of ultra-violence and dark human nature that honors American filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and John Huston. Who wouldn’t want to see another
beautiful psychological burner from Wook, with a talented cast that includes Mia Wasikowska and Nicole Kidman? Wook, like Oplev and Woon, seemed set to give American audiences a fresh taste of their much-beloved tropes.
So much for hoping. The Last Stand delivered the kick of an iron lung rather than rejuvenating Schwarzenegger's career, and Dead Man Down was more numbing than any of today’s morbid cop series. Stoker prods Wook’s weaknesses for prioritizing aesthetic values and narrative experi-menting at the expense of anemic characters and a waning pace. Usually, it’s hard to care for what-ever’s happening on-screen when the filmmakers seem more interested in the scenes’ framing or their cameras’ lenses. Try to keep a tally of Stoker’s influences (rows and rows that would make any pedantic cinephile, or even winkers like Tarantino and Shane Black, stumble).
In the film, Wasikowsa plays 18-year-old India, a bright but reserved girl who’s unfortunate enough to don black garb for her father’s funeral just days after her birthday. However, India shows no grief. She’s instead curious toward her dad’s mysterious death, punctuated by the first-time arrival of her uncle, played by Matthew Goode. Goode’s Olympi-an looks and suave are more creepy than charming – wonder if his sudden appearance is linked to his brother’s death? You’re good, but hardly Sherlock. Wook and screenwriter Wentworth Miller don’t
take long to reveal his dark nature.India’s contemptible mother (Kidman) falls
for Goode’s looks, but India’s gradual attrac-tion occurs from something deeper within her, strange similarities with her uncle that stem from their unusual talents. Over the course of Stoker, India investigates into her family’s past to discover more about her uncle that may explain her innate disposition. Her grotesque interests and hunting talents stimulate her, and in more ways than one.
Stoker is certainly bizarre, every bit as out there as any of Wook’s past movies. Hopefully, that beguiles audiences (we need for someone other than Tim Burton to give us something Gothic, without the vampires). But the movie’s surprises hardly live up to their mystery, and the filmmak-ers don’t seem that invested either, showing off lots of montages and unusual cutting instead. Waskiowska and Goode are fine actors, and their skills can be seen here. But they inevitably be-come bits to Wook’s window dressing, a display that loses its initial allure fast.
Wook and many other established foreign filmmakers have the potential to revitalize American movies, especially at a much-needed time when summer franchises have become more and more familiar with each passing year. So it’s a shame Stoker and others have so far fallen flat.
movie review
★★✩✩✩
r
StokerBUZZTHURSDAY MAY 30corp note...keep this same size always
1 X 5.4171/8th page
217-355-3456
No passes SHOWTIMES 5/31 - 6/6
S. Neil St. (Rt. 45) at Curtis Rd.
$6.25 BARGAIN TWILIGHT D A I LY 4 : 0 0 - 6 : 0 0 P M * excludes Digital 3D & Fathom events
TITLES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
GQTI.com and on Facebook
SAVOY 16 IMAX
TCHAIKOVSKY’S SWAN LAKETH. 6/6 6:30 PM
AFTER EARTH (PG-13)11:45, 12:15, 2:05, 2:35, 4:25, 4:55, 6:45, 7:15, 9:05, 9:35 FRI/SAT LS 11:25, 11:55
NOW YOU SEE ME (PG-13)11:10, 1:20, 1:50, 4:00, 4:30, 6:40, 7:10, 9:20, 9:50 FRI/SAT LS 12:00
FAST AND FURIOUS 6 (PG-13)11:05, 12:55, 1:25, 1:55, 3:45, 4:15, 4:45, 6:35, 7:05, 7:35, 9:25, 9:55, 10:25 FRI/SAT LS 11:15, 11:45, 12:15D-BOX ADDS MOTION SEATING MAGIC TO MOVIES- D-BOX LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE: 12:55, 3:45, 6:35, 9:25FRI/SAT LS 12:15
THE HANGOVER PART III (R)12:15, 12:45, 2:35, 3:05, 4:55, 5:25, 7:15, 7:45, 9:35, 10:05 FRI/SAT LS 11:55
3D EPIC (PG) $2.50 PREMIUM PER 3D TICKET 9:10
EPIC (PG) FRI-WED 11:10, 11:30, 1:35, 1:55, 4:00, 4:20, 6:25, 6:45, 8:50 TH 11:10, 11:30, 1:35, 1:55, 4:00, 4:20, 6:45
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (PG-13)12:40, 1:10, 3:35, 4:05, 6:30, 7:00, 9:30, 10:00
THE GREAT GATSBY (PG-13) 12:00, 3:05, 6:10, 9:15
IRON MAN 3 (PG-13) 12:55, 3:45, 6:35, 9:25
3D STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (PG-13) 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00FRI/SAT LS 11:55
Used with permission from Fox Searchlight Pictures
by AdlAi StevenSon
126 W. Church St.Champaign
Take the CUMTD Buswww.theCUart.com
The Sapphires (PG-13) A joyful musical adventure From a 35mm print
Fri: 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 Sat: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
Sun: 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 | Mon - Thu: 7:30 PM
Bridesmaids (R) One of the funniest, raunchiest, & most progressive comedies of recent years
35mm printFri & Sat: 11:59 PM | Thu: 10:00 PM
Gimme the Loot (NR) Hip-hop cinema at the ArtWed: 10:00 PM
Week of Friday, May 31 – Thursday, June 6, 2013
May 30- June 5, 2013 buzz 5
food & drink
buzz magazine is CU’s premier Arts & Entertainment Weekly.
A fresh dose of local culture every Thursday.
DanDelion frittersThe art of mixing flowers with foodby Paul angellilo
T here’s a decidedly ironic trend going on in the world of gastronomy. Avant garde res-
taurants that prided themselves on the fresh-est fish flown in daily from Japan, the richest French foie gras and the most expensive Italian white truffles are now turning toward their local bushes and flowers. Forget growing a garden — these chefs, often armed with no more than a
wicker basket, are plunging into meadows and forests and surfacing with ingredients that your average eaters wouldn’t expect to be edible, let alone expect to find on their plates. Foraging is not a phenomenon limited to lush European meadows and Asian rainforests, but one that has even struck the Chicago food scene.
The opening of Elizabeth Restaurant, a pro-
ponent of what it calls “New Gatherer” cuisine, in September of 2012 and its subsequent three star, “Excellent,” rating by Phil Vettel of the Chi-cago Tribune has legitimized the cuisine owner and chef Illiana Regan who once cooked and served out of her house.
The menus, constantly changing with the seasons, center on farm-to-table fare and are accented by ingredients Regan personally picks from sites like La Baugh Woods on Foster and Cicero or, perhaps, as she simply walks to her Lincoln Square restaurant in the morning. From this jumping point, even traditional Michelin heavyweights like Alinea and Moto have incor-porated foraging into tasting menus that often cost upward of $200 per person. While serving locally foraged mushrooms alongside $375 per ounce Alba truffles almost seem like a tongue-in-cheek parody of fine dining, the move toward foraging can only be seen as better for the envi-ronment, not to mention an affordable way for the home chef to cook like the “big boys.”
Though the risks of foraging unknown ingredi-ents can be great, with some plants’ and mush-rooms’ poisonous qualities being well known to outdoor explorers, many everyday petals and stems do have culinary use. Their color, fragrance and perhaps even flavor will surprise the curious cook and amaze guests too. The following recipe from Miche Bacher’s excellent, recently released Cooking with Flowers draws on an ingredient that can be rather easily for-aged in Champaign-Urbana: dandelions. Rather than using the flower as a mere garnish, this recipe makes them the center of attention as a crunchy, delicious fritter.
DANDELION FRITTERSStart to finish: 10-15 minutesServings: 6
Ingredients:» 1 cup canola oil» 1 cup milk» 1 egg, beaten» 3/4 cup all-purpose flour» 1/4 cup cornmeal» 1/2 teaspoon salt» 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (for sa-vory fritters)» 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (for savory fritters)» 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (for sweet fritters)» 3 to 4 cups dandelion blossoms (about 60 flowers)» Maple syrup for serving, if desired
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, warm oil to 375 degrees. Whisk to combine milk and egg in a small bowl. In a medium bowl, stir to combine flour, cornmeal, salt and the op-tional ingredients for the flavor you have chosen (savory or sweet). Gently dip each dandelion blossom in milk mixture and then dredge in flour mixture to coat. Carefully place battered flow-ers into hot oil and fry for about three minutes or until golden brown. Place fritters on a paper towel to blot the excess oil. Serve with or with-out maple syrup.
(Recipe from Cooking with Flowers: Sweet and Savory Recipes with Rose Petals, Lilacs, Lavender, and Other Edible Flowers by Miche Bacher.)Flower arrangement by Campus Florist. Photo by Megan Swiertz
6 buzz May 30- June 5, 2013
Arts & EntErtAinmEntArts & EntErtAinmEnt
summer nightsFriday Night Live entertains downtown Champaign for the second summerby Claire SChroeder
F or the second summer in a row, the Cham-paign County Arts Council, 40 North, will
bring live entertainment to downtown Champaign in the form of Friday Night Live. From May 31 to Aug. 16, live performances will be held every Friday from 6-8 p.m.
While this is only the second year of the Fri-day Night Live music series, the idea came from a movement that began in 2009. According to Kelly White, one of the event's coordinators, 40 North held its first “Art & Sol” program that fea-tured streetside performances throughout the summer. The program was well-received, White said, but the event organizers struggled to make a significant impact because the performances only happened once a month.
BankChampaign discovered the program and teamed up with Champaign Center Partnership and Illini Radio Group to sponsor a weekly summer series. The organizers, according to White, hoped the weekly series would create an environment that would attract both people who live and work nearby, as well as outside visitors. Upon growing into a weekly series, the event organizers decided to change the program’s name to Friday Night Live.
White said the program “not only created a vi-brant atmosphere that encouraged people to stroll around, enjoy live local music, stop in the retail shops...but also gave performers a new type of venue to showcase their talents.”
The series, as a result, provided a great oppor-tunity to share local talent and foster economic activity in the community.
There was a great response to last summer’s Friday Night Live series, so it came back with even more features. It starts earlier this time by kicking off on May 31.
It will include some visual arts, belly dancing and street magic, in addition to the street-side music performances. There will also be more activities for kids this year, including a kid’s sidewalk arts contest later in the summer.
As for the music, Friday Night Live will offer something for every kind of music lover. Performers range in genre from blues, rock and indie to blue-grass, folk and even some a cappella. This year’s series will showcase both returning performers and newly formed groups.
“We also do an open call for performers, and all genres are welcome,” White said. “Space is filling up fast, but we will have a waiting list in case any spots open up throughout the summer.”
The open call for performances demonstrates several of the key benefits of the series. It is ben-eficial to local performers by giving anyone and everyone the opportunity to share their talents. It also benefits people who visit downtown Cham-paign for the shows because it allows for a wide variety in styles, and creates room for people to experience something new every week.
By having three performances occur simulta-neously, there is a great chance that everyone
can find something to enjoy at any time. The multiple locations also encourage movement, so people get to experience several parts of downtown Champaign during the fun and ar-tistic event. Since the program occurs from 6-8 p.m. every Friday, a total of six musical per-formances will occur each week. Each perfor-mance will last about one hour, so each location will have two performances every Friday.
The collaboration between the various stake-holders helps Friday Night Live bring business into Champaign, while offering a fun and inter-esting experience to visitors. The event is also an excellent opportunity to experience and share different cultures and artistic styles, making it a worthwhile activity for people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Judging by last summer’s series, this year’s
Friday Night Live will likely be fun, lively, and beneficial to everyone in the community. Per-formances will take place at the intersections of Neil Street and Church Street, Neil Street and Park Avenue, and Walnut Street and Chester Street in downtown Champaign.
For up-to-date information about the event, as well as line-ups and pictures from each week, visit http://FNLChampaign.com.
Bush Jazz Quartet performing at Friday Night Live last year. Photo by Kelly White
May 30- June 5 ,2013 buzz 7
TICKETS: KrannertCenter.com 217.333.6280 • 800.KCPATIX • 800.527.2849
hello, summerOUTSIDE at the Research Park
// MARQUEE, BROUGHT TO YOU BY KRANNERT CENTER,
FOX/ATKINS DEVELOPMENT, LLC & THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
UI RESEARCH PARK
1816 S. OAK ST., CHAMPAIGN | FREE
Fr Jun 14 Mhondoro Rhythm Success at 6:30pm; Vieux Farka Touré at 7:30pm
Fr Jul 12 Green Fair at 6pm; The Diva & The Dude/ Kathy Harden & Andy Baylor at 6:30pm;
Spuyten Duyvil at 7:30pm
Krannert Uncorked
// MARQUEE
STAGE 5 | FREE
Th Jun 6 High Cotton Bluegrass Band, at 5pm
Th Jun 13 Faye Ballard, ragtime piano, at 5pm
Th Jun 20 BR Trio, jazz, at 5pm
Th Jun 27 Rick Kubetz and Terry Bush, Americana, at 5pm
Th Jul 11 Maurice McKinley, jazz, at 5pm
Th Jul 18 Michael Kammin, solo guitar, at 5pm
Th Jul 25 Musicians TBA, at 5pm
PechaKucha Night
// CHAMPAIGN-URBANA DESIGN ORG
LOBBY | FREE
Sa Jul 20 at 8:20pm; seating begins at 7:30pm
Dance for People with Parkinson’s
// MARQUEE
DRAMA REHEARSAL ROOM, LEVEL 2 | FREE
Fr Jun 14 at 10am
Fr Jul 12 at 10am
Fr Aug 16 at 10am
2013-14 Tickets On Sale
Sa Aug 10 at 10am
Corporate Power Train Team Engine
Marquee performances are supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council—a state agency which recognizes Krannert Center in its Partners in Excellence Program.
40 North and Krannert Center—working together to put Champaign County’s culture on the map.
COMMUNITY PARTNER: PRAIRIE RIVERS NETWORK
BY MADDIE REHAYEM
What: Urbana Basement presents Champaign AtticWho: Grandkids, Santah, ElsinoreWhen: Thursday, May 30, 7 p.m.Where: The Velvet ElvisAges: All agesCost: $7 in advance/$10 at the doorUrbana Basement is an online series that tapes local bands and musicians performing live, usu-ally in a basement in Urbana. Thursday, three local indie favorites will be taped for the series, and anyone is welcome to watch! Hurry though, because while the doors open at 7 p.m., they close at 7:55. Message the Facebook event ad-ministrator for the address.
MUSIC
LO-CAL MUSIC
Who: Woodie, Maid Myriad, Sports Fans, Happy BirthdayWhen: Tuesday, June 4, 7 p.m.Where: Error Records, 702 S. Neil St., ChampaignAges: All agesCost: $3Error Records welcomes two Oklahoma City emo bands, Sports Fans and Happy Birthday (not Kyle Thomas aka King Tuff’s band, but a pretty cool band nonetheless), as well as Ak-ron’s Maid Myriad, whose last show here was a benefit for Error Records. Local mathy “dreamo” guys in Woodie will play too.
Used with permission from Urbana Basement
Used with permission from Elsinore
8 buzz May 30- June 5, 2013
music
SUMMER SAND VOLLEYBALL
SHOWDOWNBROUGHT TO YOU BY JOE’S BREWERY | 706 S. FIFTH STREET, CHAMPAIGN
Sign up between May 15th and June 11th on WPGU.com/summershowdown 6-10 people per team (at least 3 must be female)
$200 per team Seven week league ( June 20th - August 8th ) Location: Volleyball courts on the corner of 1st st. and Stadium Dr. Games played: Thursday night @ 7-10pm
GoinG to townTown Mountain, a North Carolina string band, comes to the Iron PostBy Maddie RehayeM
What does it mean to be a bluegrass band in 2013? As the genre grows quicker than
Earl Scruggs could have ever imagined, many fans and bands ask themselves this question.
Enormous acts like Mumford and Sons hint at bluegrass with their banjo-infused pop. Blue-grass jam-bands like Yonder Mountain String Band branch out and cater to wider audiences, but maintain their roots in the genre.
Town Mountain, an Asheville, N.C., band, have a simpler definition for the kind of music they play.
“We know what we are,” said Robert Greer, lead vocalist and guitarist. “We’re a bluegrass band.”
But even being simply “bluegrass” isn’t as straight-forward as it sounds. Some traditionalists wouldn’t consider Town Mountain bluegrass at all. Artists evolve and build on the music of those before them, especially in this “third generation” of bluegrass mu-sic, Greer said. That’s the case with his band at least.
“The world of bluegrass has got to be more open minded to the expansion to new horizons,” Greer said. “Bluegrass, like jazz, is a young mu-
sic...there are so many untapped areas.”Town Mountain’s latest album, 2012’s Leave
The Bottle, taps into traditional bluegrass instru-ments and sounds while keeping an open mind with original songs.
Recorded mostly live and produced by Gram-my-winning bluegrass bassist Mike Bub, who played with Del McCoury Band, the songs on this album grew into their final form after the band works them out live.
It’s live music that keeps the genre going. As bluegrass grows in popularity, picking parties like those in Asheville’s vibrant scene where the members of Town Mountain met and formed their group, have become more prevalent.
In addition to their original tunes, Town Mountain also has an excellent cover series, including a unique rendition of Bruce Spring-steen’s “I’m On Fire.” A fiddle takes the place of the synthesizer and Greer’s North Carolina accent replaces Bruce’s New Jersey one.
The band will play covers as well as originals at their first-ever Urbana show this Monday at the Iron Post. For seasoned fans of bluegrass as well
as newcomers, it would be a great opportunity to hear some good music.
“It’s a time for exploration in music,” said Greer, considering today’s Internet-dominated music world. “People are hearing stuff they’ve never heard before. Whether it’s true bluegrass or not, maybe there’s a banjo in it or something like that and you enjoy it I would say just go back, do a little research and check those people’s influence.”
That goes for you, Trampled By Turtles and Old Crow Medicine Show fans. The broad reaches of bluegrass include something for everyone. Bluegrass is on the rise, but it is completely de-pendent on its fans’ abilities to accept its differ-ent manifestations for what they are.
Greer put it best: “If it doesn’t broaden, then the genre doesn’t stand a chance.”
brie
f bo
x
Town MounTainthe iron post: 120 S. Race St., URbana
Monday, JUne 3, 6 p.M.
$10
Photo by Jason Beverly. Used with permission from Town Mountain.
May 30- June 5, 2013 buzz 9
community
forARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
EveryThursday
yournumber� O
SOURCE
by Thomas Thoren
It is 9 a.m. on a Wednesday, but the retired Bill Curry has a full day of work ahead of him. He
begins by assisting with an English as a Second Language course at Urbana School District 116’s adult education building. In a basement room, the class starts with 13 students, gradually build-ing to more than 20 as they arrive after finishing their shifts at work. The students come to the free course from all backgrounds and walks of life, from affluent wives of Ph. D. candidates at the University to illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Bill sits forward with his elbows on the head of a cheap fold-up table along with four students: a Korean mother, a young Congolese man, an elderly Kyrgyzstani woman and a young Pakistani woman. He forms an imaginary sphere with his hands, ro-tating them as he explains how students can wrap their heads around many of the difficult parts of the English language. When a student gets hung up on the multiple meanings of “to fix,” Bill leans in to hear better and then explain.
“We often use ‘fixed’ when we talk about food. ‘Have you fixed dinner? Have you made dinner? Have you cooked dinner?’ All this is the same, but
it also means to repair something that’s broken.”The students look back blank-faced at first,
and then slowly soak in Bill’s message before moving around the table to the next student’s turn in their exercise.
Bill, 63, began volunteering with Urbana School District 116 in March 2010, one month before retiring from an 18-year career with the Champaign Police Department that followed an equally long career with the Urbana Police Department. He had always enjoyed traveling the world and learning foreign lan-guages when he could, picking up a little Spanish, French and Italian along the way. He had always frequented Urbana 116’s website to check for any new free foreign language courses he might be able to take. When he was approaching retirement and searching for volunteer opportunities, a posting for Project R.E.A.D. caught his attention.
Bill joined the tutoring organization and began assisting with its GED course. He then began assisting Urbana 116’s most basic level ESL course Monday through Thursday, while still working in the GED class on Fridays.
One day, a question by a Chinese girl in the
GED course left Bill stumped.“Wow, how can I teach English if I can’t answer
this question?” he thought.He looked up the answer, explained it to her and
was surprised to find out she was also enrolled in one of Urbana 116’s higher-level ESL courses.
“You know, you really should do this,” she said to him. “You should teach.”
Bill mulled it over. His only prior teaching expe-rience was in 1980 when he filled in at Parkland College to teach a semester of the police opera-tions course. He wasn’t asked to return because, as he suspects, he demanded too much from his students.
“Maybe you’re right,” he said back. (continuedonpage12)
A Life of LeArningBill Curry is retired, but he's just getting started
BillCurrywiththreestudentsandtheirteacher,KathyMcClellan,inUrbanaHighSchool.ImagecourtesyofBillCurry
10 buzz May 30- June 5, 2013
Online: Click "SUBMIT YOUR EVENT" at the217.com • E-mail: send your notice to [email protected] • Fax: 337-8328, addressed to the217 calendar SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO THE CALENDAR:THE217.COMComplete listing available at
Snail mail: send printed materials via U.S. Mail to: the217 calendar, Illini Media, 512 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820
MAY 30- JUNE 5, 2013CALENDAR
buzz’s WEEK AHEAD
CODY SOKOLSKI/CODY AND THE GATEWAY DRUGS CONCERT
Indi Go Artist Co-op, 9 E. University Ave., ChampaignThursday, May 30, 7 p.m.
Come see this local rock 'n' roll band play at Indi Go Artist Co-op! —Imani Brooks, Arts & Entertainment Editor
NO BUZZ
Champaign-UrbanaThursday, June 6, 2013. Free
Sadly, buzz will be taking a break between issues as Illini Media undergoes some re-location and re-organization. But don't you worry! We will still be posting articles on our website, readbuzz.com, and we'll be back in print on June 13. —Evan Lyman, Editor-in-Chief
THE GOONIES The Art Theater, 126 W. Church St., ChampaignThursday, May 30, 10 p.m.$11
After fi nding a treasure map, a group of ragtag misfi ts embark on a wild quest to fi nd the treasure and save their beloved neighborhood. This 1980s classic is a defi nite must-see. —Jamila Tyler, Movies & TV Editor
LEARN TO FISH
Kaufman Lake, 2702 W. Springfi eld Ave., Champaign Every Tuesday and Thursday from June 11 to July 11, 9-11:30 a.m. Free
Feeling fi shy? The Illinois Department of Natural Resources runs a fi shing workshop every Tuesday and Thursday at Kaufman Lake. The program teaches participants about local fi sh species and environmental issues affecting the CU area. All fi shing equipment and bait will be provided free of charge. In order to guarantee a spot, register for each session at least a week in advance. —Maggie Su, Community Editor
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI/PURPLE PILGRIMS
The Highdive, 51 E. Main St., ChampaignMonday, June 3, 8 p.m. $15 in advance/TBA at the door19+
Last year, enigmatic indie sensation Ariel Pink followed up 2010’s breakout masterpiece Before Today with the album Mature Themes, on which he continued his mysterious recording career. Check them out when they swing by Highdive on Monday and you’ll experience nostalgia you didn’t know you had for commercial jingles and pop radio of the past. —Maddie Rehayem, Music Editor
THURSDAY 30
Art & other exhibits From Protest to Peace 9 a.m. Spurlock Museum
Unconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Fil noon Spurlock Museum
Live music & karaoke Live Karaoke Band at Boomerang's Bar and Grill 9 p.m. Boomerang's Bar and Grill
Chillax with DJ Belly and Matt Harsh 10 p.m. Radio Maria
Miscellaneous Warm Flow Yoga noon Evolve Fitness Club
Vinyasa Flow with Al-len Dick noon Amara Yoga & Arts Board Games 3:30 p.m. Rantoul Public Library Is Your Car Ready for Summer? 6:30 p.m. Champaign Public Library
Movies & theatre "One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure" Matinee 10 a.m. Parkland College
FRIDAY 31
Art & other exhibits From Protest to Peace 09 a.m. Spurlock Museum
Unconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Film noon Spurlock Museum
Live music & karaoke Late Night with DJ Belly 10 p.m. Radio Maria
Miscellaneous Power Flow Yoga with Candace Thomas noon Amara Yoga & Arts
May Family Rock Jam 9 a.m. Champaign School of Music
Prairie Skies 9 a.m. Parkland College
Big Grove Zydeco 9 p.m. Rosebowl Tavern
SATURDAY 1
Art & other exhibits Unconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Film noon Spurlock Museum
Live music & karaoke Big Hip Hop Showcase 9 p.m. Canopy Club
MOTES 9 p.m. Mike N Molly's
Salsa night with DJ Juan 10:30 p.m. Radio Maria
Miscellaneous Meet Author Sarah Weeks: Summer Read-ing Kickoff 10:30 a.m. Champaign Public Library
Meet Author Sarah Weeks, Part II 2 p.m. Champaign Public Library
Power Flow Yoga with Kelsey Bourgeois 4 p.m. Amara Yoga & Arts
Tater Tours 9 p.m. Rosebowl Tavern
SUNDAY 2
Art & other exhibitsUnconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Film noon Spurlock Museum
Live music & karaoke Dave Cooper & Allison Branka 8 p.m. Rosebowl Tavern
Open Mic Night 8 p.m. Phoenix
Industry Night 10 p.m. Radio Maria
Miscellaneous Friendshop Bookstore Open 1:30 p.m. Champaign Public Library
Slow Flow Yoga with Lisa Haake 2:30 p.m. Amara Yoga & Arts
Power Flow Yoga 4 p.m. Amara Yoga & Arts
MONDAY 3
Live music & karaoke Canopy Club's Open Mic Night 9 p.m. Canopy Club
Rockstar Karaoke 10 p.m. Mike N Molly's
Miscellaneous Yoga Fundamentals with Linda Lehovec 12:15 p.m. Amara Yoga & Arts
DJ Hero Spin Fest 3 p.m. Champaign Public Library
TUESDAY 4
Art & other exhibits Unconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Film noon Spurlock Museum
Live music & karaokeThe Champaign/Urba-na Singer-Songwriter Collective 9 a.m. The Clark Bar
Canopy Club's Open Mic Night 9 p.m. Canopy Club
Miscellaneous Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Kelsey Bourgeois noon Amara Yoga & Arts
Tuesday Night Trivia 9 a.m. Jupiter's at the Crossing
Movies & Theatre"One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure" Matinee 1 p.m. Parkland College
WEDNESDAY 5
Art & other exhibits Unconventional Bond: The Strange Life of Casino Royale on Film noon Spurlock Museum
Live music & karaoke The SpeakEasy: Live Jazz Every Week! 9 p.m. Canopy Club
Open Decks with DJ Belly 10 p.m. Radio Maria
Otter Just Spinning Records 10 p.m. Mike N Molly's
May 30- June 5, 2013 buzz 11
Place an Ad: 217 - 337 - 8337
Deadline:2 p.m. Tuesday for the
next Thursday’s edition.
Employment 000
Services 100
Merchandise 200
Transportation 300
Apartments 400
Other Housing/Rent 500
Real Estate for Sale 600
Things To Do 700
Announcements 800
Personals 900• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD!
Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion.
• All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time.
• All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student.
• Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment.
• All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual oientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or the fact that such person is a student.
• This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal oppportunity basis.
Deadline: 2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.
Rates: Billed rate: 43¢/wordPaid-in-Advance: 37¢/word
Photo Sellers30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue
Garage Sales30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.
Action Ads• 20 words, run any 5 days
(in buzz or The Daily Illini), $20• 10 words, run any 5 days
(in buzz or The Daily Illini), $10• add a photo to an action ad, $10
INDEX
CLASSIFIEDS
11
ramshaw.com
217-718-3211
5 Bedroom Penthouse APArtments
505 W. University Ave., Champaign
1009 s First st, ChAmPAign Located on the top floor, offering 2 bathrooms and 1,175 sq ft of living space. On the bus line and a short walk to Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall. Free parking space included!
Available Fall 20131 Month Free
www.ramshaw.com
217-742-6130505 W. University Ave., Champaign
202 E. White St, C1009 S. First St, C54 E. John St, C
Hundreds of Apartments to Choose From!
On-Campus: Studio, 1-5 Bedrooms
Plus many more at
3,4,5Bedrooms
The Best Selection Is Now!Leasing For Fall 2013
S M I T H A P A R T M E N T SNOW RENTING FOR 2013-2014
SCHEDULE YOUR SHOWING NOW!
2 Bedroom511 W. Church, C. $745
1004 S. Locust, C. $825 - $870
910 S. Webber, U. $625(unfurnished)
Furnished, parking available, laundry available.
217-384-1925 www.smithapartments-cu.com
502 South 5th Street, Champaign217-637-3945
1Bedroom, 1 Bathroom. 520 sq. ft., ceiling fans,
Air Conditioning. Security lights, large closet, on bus
line, like new, 4 blocks from the Quad. Dish,
cable, and dishwasher hook-ups available.
$395 $495 $399 $495
2 bed/1 bath3 bed/2 bath4 bed/2 bath1 bed/1 bath
per personrates
217-344-3008www.baileyapartments.com
TH REE BLOCKS TO Th e I lli n i U n ion
310 E. Springfield Near County Market $500
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath1 Bed/1 Bath Apartment available NOW. Clean, Secure, Quiet, with Exercise, Game & Media Room. Apartment facing Springfield Rd.
Rent is $500/month, $200 one time moving fee. Rent is negotiable if
you're ready to sign the lease before end of May. Contact Jen
[email protected] or Frances (847)219-7682 fexume_bitoy@
sbcglobal.net.
3 Bedroom House in Urbana Close to Engineering Campus 905 W. Hill St., Urbana - $780
Fully Furnished, washer and dryer located in the house
with free off street parking. August 2013
ADVANTAGE PROPERTIES www.advproperties.com
217-344-0394
705 S. FIRST ST., CH3 bd w/ W/D for $1045/mo
4 bd/2 ba for $1470/mo Furnished, $40/mo parking
217-367-2009 www.tricountymg.com
906 S. LOCUST ST., CH4 bedroom unit, only $999/mo
Furn, DW, $40/mo parking Great for 2, 3 or 4 people
217-367-2009 www.tricountymg.com
1 bedroom in a 2 bedroom apart-ment for $325/mo (utilities not
included). Near Busey & Green MTD stop, very close to gas
stations, and a healthy walk away from downtown Urbana. Possible
parking spot available. 847-757-5840
Personality Psychology Study on Twins
Adult twins wanted for psychology study on Health and Aging in Twins in Central Illinois (HASCI). If you are
18 years of age or older and your twin also resides in or near the C-U
area, please contact Kathleen, [email protected] or phone
300-0913 and leave your contact information.
STORE YOUR BELONGINGS FOR THE SUMMER! Own Your
Own Storage & RentalsRental Units available now
4x5, 6x7, 9x6 *Student Summer Specials*
217-384-5302email: [email protected]
SUBLETS 440
APARTMENTS 420Furnished
rentalsFOR RENT
HELP WANTED 035Seasonal Jobs
HELP WANTED 020Part time
Library Assistant IPart-time (20 hours/week)
Weekends, Days and evening hours $15.93/hour beginning July 1, 2013
We are looking for a Library
Assistant who has excellent people skills and a high energy level to work
in our fast-paced Circulation Department.
Cover letter is required. See
complete job description and apply online at www.champaign.org
DEADLINE: Sunday, June, 9, 2013
by 5:00 PM.
EOE
PARKING / STORAGE 570
employment
HOUSES FOR RENT 510
SUBLETS 450Summer Only
APARTMENTS 420Furnished
APARTMENTS 420Furnished
APARTMENTS 420Furnished
Looking for help?For only $25, you can place a 25 word ad in both the Daily Illini and
the Buzz magazine as well as online all week!
Call 217-337-8337 to place.
Need to find a sublease for your apartment?
Special student discount. Advertise your sublease in the Daily Illini,
Buzz, and online for just $10 per week. Don't get stuck paying rent!
Call 217-337-8337 to place.
What are you waiting for?
Budget Minded1-2 bedrooms, five great locations, air-conditioning, & off-street parking $425-$660
Extra Value1,2 & 3 bedrooms, courtyards, carports, & on-site laundry $450-$845
Newly Remodeled1-2 bedrooms, some w/lofts, spacious floor plans, on-site laundry, & garages$580-$840
Luxury Locations1-2 bedrooms, beautifully appointed, oasis,fireplaces, balconies, & garages$725-$895
APARTMENTS 430Unfurnished
BUSINESS OPPS 050
Do you need to advertise?Place an ad in the Daily Illini or Buzz
magazine for only 38 cents per word! Ask about fun extras including
bold and pictures! Call 217-337-8337 to schedule your ad!
Want to make your ad pop?Add a logo or a picture for only $1
per day!
APARTMENTS 430Unfurnished
The
rise & designThe Illini Media CreativeWorks department is looking for a couple of talented designers to create marketing materials and print and online ads. Positions start this summer and continue on into the fall. Email your resume & samples to [email protected]
classifieds.dailyillini.com/apartments
Where do you want to live next year?
Find out.
12 buzz May 30- June 5, 2013
Make 'em say uggggghhhhhh
by Matt Jones
“That’s the Thinga”--gotta it?jonesin’
Across1 Ozone layer destroyers5 Rear admiral’s rear8 “Family Guy” town14 Tissue additive15 “Excusez-___!”16 Dethrone17 Xbalanque, for instance?19 Kind of sale or tax20 Fragrant bouquet21 Catty remark?23 West end?24 “Are we having fun ___?”25 The Dalai Lama?30 Outscore32 Hall-of-Fame QB Dawson33 “Dexter” network, for short34 Port type35 In the style of36 Shoe brand ___ McAn37 Talks that may ask “What’s
it like having a palace in Tatooine”?
42 Neutral hue43 President pro ___44 Reznor band, for short45 Season in Bordeaux46 “Whatevs” grunt47 “Relax!”50 Creature that fire-roasts its
own pies?
53 “Was ___ das?”55 “Like that’ll ever happen!”56 Fair ___ laws57 “Affliction” star Nick59 1975 “Thrilla” city62 End of a deep sleep?64 “___ always money in the
banana stand!” (George Bluth)
65 “Bravo!” relative66 Yacht spot67 Bank patrons68 6-pt. scores69 A portion
Down1 Beauty bar brand2 Got redder3 Clifftop howler4 Fashion line?5 “I love,” to Caesar6 Easy Listening or Classic Rock7 They come in and out8 “Huh?” from Jose9 Sight ___10 “Ad ___ per Aspera” (Kansas
motto)11 They, sometimes12 Granola piece13 Bell competitor, back in the
day18 Peace Nobelist from Poland
22 2008 Pixar robot26 Like those dressed as nuns27 Instructional video title start28 Self-help site29 CD- ___31 Clothing company founded
in 199235 Cash source36 Alec’s sitcom co-star37 Versatile army vehicle38 Dramatic introduction?39 USSR head known for his
bushy eyebrows40 ‘60s jacket style41 Boys’ Choir home46 Composer Gustav47 Eternal48 “The Sopranos” consigliere49 Admiration51 Name on African maps (at
least up to 1997)52 Neckwear for a Mystery
Machine passenger54 ___ Haute, Ind.58 “Clumsy me!”59 Everest, K2, et al.60 “A clue!”61 Beast of burden63 My, in Marseilles©2013 Jonesin’ Crosswords
Stumped? Find the solutions in the Classifieds pages.
(continued from page 9) Bill didn’t have any English teaching credentials
beyond being a native speaker, however. He used his love for travel and went to an English school in Querétaro, Mexico, for a 40-hour course spanning five weeks to become a certified ESL teacher.
He returned to Urbana and was then able to offer his own ESL courses. Urbana 116 receives minimal funding, so the winter break between semesters usually spans six weeks in order to cut down on expenses. In his first year, Bill decided to form a small group of students who wanted to continue studying during this hiatus. It was so popular that they kept it going until the following May.
Since retiring, Bill gets antsy and bored when he goes too long at his home in Philo, Ill. When he is teaching, he knows he is impacting his students’ lives.
“It makes you feel like you’re doing something worthwhile, as opposed to just doing something.”
Former students send Bill thank you cards and offer gifts as exorbitant as a Nook e-reader. He has never accepted any other forms of payment, how-ever, because he says the most satisfying part of his volunteering is seeing his students succeed in learning a new language. Other students stay in touch whether they advance to the next ESL course or move out of the country.
“Hey, Pablo! What’s going on, man?” Bill asks a former student while leaving his morning class and the student enters for his advanced ESL course. Bill’s morning class finishes at 11 a.m., and he moves on to his next class at 1:30 p.m., another ESL course he leads at the Champaign County Jail in Urbana.
“Hola, cómo se llama? De dónde es?” Bill asks a new student for his name and where he is from. Many of his students, who are primarily Hispanic, are only with him a couple of times before they are sentenced or released. Sometimes they are even released mid-class.
“School’s out!” a guard once yelled while entering 20 minutes into a class, informing Bill’s only student that day that his case had been dismissed and that he was free to go. The student didn’t leave before telling Bill he intended to enroll in Urbana 116’s ESL adult education courses the following fall.
Another student, Antonio Serrato-Perez, was with Bill for the first five months of the course while awaiting his sentencing on charges for possession and intent to deliver 60 grams of cocaine. By the end of his time with Bill, Antonio’s yellow folder was overflowing with worksheets and other study materials. His English-Spanish dictionary had be-come well-worn, but he said he was determined to continue using it long after he said goodbye to Bill.
Even in his final days of the class, with a 12-year sentence hanging over his head, Antonio was able to share laughs while learning the multiple uses of the word “just.”
“Why do so many guys carry a prophylactic in their wallet?” Bill asked.
“Condón?” Antonio asked.“Why do so many guys carry one in their wal-
let?” Bill asked again. “Just in case!”In a different class, Antonio joked about how he
might be able to use his English skills to reach out to an unlikely source of help.
“I’ve got the address for Barack Obama. I’m gonna write him a letter!”
“He doesn’t have time for that,” Bill joked back.When Antonio was at his lowest point while
worrying about his upcoming stint in jail and likely subsequent deportation, Bill lent a sym-pathetic ear. But that didn’t stop him from cor-recting Antonio’s grammar.
“My dad already went to Chicago and got his lawyer to make this appeal and all that,” Anto-nio said. “He asked me if I signed the sentenc-ing, but I didn’t sign anything. But they say you don’t have to sign nothing no more.”
“You don’t have to sign what?” Bill asked.“The sentencing.”“Yeah, but you don’t have to sign nothing? Or
you don’t sign...”“Anything!”“Ah, bingo!” Bill and his inmate students come from differ-
ent worlds, and they look it. Bill with his white goatee and head of receding hair stands in stark contrast to Antonio’s jet black, neatly trimmed goatee and wavy hair that is long enough to be tied up on the crown of his head, while shaved on the sides. Bill stands at the whiteboard in his usual blue jeans and button-up shirt rolled up at the elbows, ready to teach. Antonio wears a blue jumpsuit and orange slippers while sitting in his drab, tan plastic bucket seat at the plastic fold-up table, ready to learn.
Bill was raised in Jacksonville, Ill., while Antonio, now 30, did not come to the U.S. until he was 17. He earned his high school diploma in Mexico, while Bill has traveled there with his family multiple times. It is the only country they have traveled to more than once because they enjoy it so much.
The jail’s class finishes at 3 p.m., when Bill rushes to Urbana High School for his third and final ESL class of the day, assisting the same teacher as in the morning.
In room 3158, a math classroom, they teach a class exclusively for the parents of Urbana students. They are almost entirely Hispanic, and on this day, primarily mothers as well. It is never discussed, but Bill believes many of his students are also illegal immigrants.
Like in the morning class, there is coffee and snacks in the back of the room so the students can endure the two-hour class. The students face the chalkboard in a semi-circle and listen to today’s lesson: body idioms and how to ex-press different forms of pain.
Because Bill doesn’t lead the course, he is able to float throughout the classroom to check in on students and clear any misunderstandings while the larger lesson proceeds. He is able to converse with his predominantly Hispanic students in Spanish when needed.
“I have one foot, two feet,” he says to a student confused by the pluralization. Two students qui-etly try to help each other out, unsure how to pro-nounce the end of “stomach” before Bill crouches down next to them to help them. As they all silently work on an exercise, Bill stops to lean over every-one’s shoulder to ensure their comprehension.
The class ends at 5:15 p.m. If it is a Wednesday, then Bill is able to begin his weekend, though that does not mean any less work. In his spare time, he studies to improve his foreign languages, which he considers to be at “intermediate” levels. He is en-rolled in three Coursera online courses in history and English composition, totaling at least 12 hours of work per week.
(Read the full article at readbuzz.com)