Loyola Student Dispatch

On the same day Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill designed to crack down on “flash mobs” on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, 12 people were arrested for public disturbances along the upscale shopping district.

Flash mobs have been an ongoing problem for the past two years in the Gold Coast neighborhood, which includes Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus.

Using social media, the mobs gather in the Gold Coast and cause disturbances, including thefts from stores and attacking passersby, typically stealing their mobile devices, police said.

Here is a portion of the latest flash mob story from ABC-7 Chicago:

A heavy police presence was out along the Magnificent Mile Saturday night after complaints of rowdiness on the street.

Police say eleven juveniles and one adult were taken into custody for recklessness and obstructing traffic.

“There was like a huge riot going on – someone held up a phone and the police knocked it out of her hand – that’s all I saw, though. I’m scared for my safety,” said witness Martha Nulu. “I never know what’s gonna happen, and I usually come downtown thinking it’s a safe area so … kind of scary.”

Police say there were no fights or other violence connected with Saturday night’s arrests.

Those arrests come on the same day a new state law was passed to crack down on people who use social media to organize groups for so-called “flash mobs.”

Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill into law Saturday along Michigan Avenue.

It comes in response to an uptick in such crimes in that area in recent months.

By Elizabeth Grande

Loyola University plans to host the 2^nd Annual 5K Run/Walk and Children’s Hero Hustle on June 9 to support children suffering from severe illnesses.

The run/walk will begin at 9 a.m. and then be followed by the Children’s Hero Hustle.

A variety of characters and sports mascots will entertain children 4 and under in a 50-yard dash and children 5 and over in a 100-yard dash during this year’s Children’s Hero Hustle.

Participants will receive T-shirts and ribbons along with refreshments and entertainment for their help collecting proceeds to benefit the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital.

Here is more information about this event from Loyola Medicine:

When Barbara Earnest was 14, her pediatrician noticed abnormalities in an X-ray and CT scan she underwent during a bout with pneumonia. Her doctor recommended that she go to the hospital for further testing, which revealed that she had Hodgkin lymphoma. Faced with this daunting diagnosis, Earnest’s father chose Loyola’s Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital for his daughter’s care.

“My Dad chose Loyola due to its outstanding reputation and the fact that it is an academic institution,” Earnest said. “I continue to visit Loyola for regular scans and tests and am so grateful for all of the love and care that I receive there.”

Thanks to the care she received at the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital, Earnest has been cancer free for more than a decade. She will volunteer at Loyola’s Health, Hope & Heroes 5K Run/Walk to support other children who are suffering from illness. Race proceeds will support the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital.

“These kids deserve the best care and attention,” Earnest said. “It is my privilege to participate in this race and give back to the place that enabled me to have so much success in my life.”

The race will take place at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, on the shared campus of Loyola University Medical Center and Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital located at 2160 S. First Ave. in Maywood, Ill.

The 5K Run/Walk will be followed by a Children’s Hero Hustle at 10:30 a.m. Area sports mascots and characters will be on hand to entertain kids as they race. Children ages 4 years and younger will run a 50-yard dash; children ages 5 and older will run a 100-yard dash. Kid’s activities also will be held at the finish line area from 9 – 11:30 a.m.

Race participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt, and children will get a t-shirt and custom-made ribbon. Entertainment and refreshments will be provided following the race.

For more information about race logistics, registration and fundraising visit http://www.loyolamedicine5k.org.

By Keagan Hynes

Loyola University Chicago is hosting the second annual University Walking Challenge.  Loyola faculty and staff members will compete against one another to see who can walk and log the most miles.

Participants will use WalkingWorks to log their miles, but can keep track of their miles with a pedometer or apps such as logyourrun.com or mapmyrun.com.

Walkers will compete for the top five spots, which include prizes such as a $200 Fleet Feet gift card, a fall semester membership to one of the university’s fitness spaces, FitBit Activity trackers and a $75 massage gift card.

The competition is a “fun way to add a little competition within the University… The challenge is a great initiative to get people up and walking around, we want to get people motivated,” said Renee Jackson, from the Department of Human Resources.

Learn more about how to register and read the full statement here:

Spring is sprung, and Loyola faculty and staff members will hit the pavement for the second annual University Walking Challenge from May 6 through June 16.

Throughout the six-week period, Loyola faculty and staff members will compete against each other to see who can log the most miles. Similar to last year, participants will use the WalkingWorks website to log their mileage. For those who do not own a pedometer, apps such as mapmyrun.com or logyourrun.com can be used to track mileage. Once tracked, participants will then log the information on theWalkingWorks website.

Jackson says this year’s competition will have more social media interaction to encourage competition.

“Every week, if you log miles and you ‘like’ our Facebook page or follow us onTwitter, you’re eligible to win a $25 dollar gift card,” Jackson says. “It will be fun to follow along with social media and see people come together through the competition.”

Registration for the 2013 University Walking Challenge is now open and will remain so through Sunday, May 5. To learn how to register, click here.

For more information about the University Walking Challenge and other wellness initiatives, visit the Human Resources website here.