RICHMOND, Va. — A federal appeals court Wednesday upheld Dylann Roof’s conviction and death sentence for the 2015 racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation, saying the legal record cannot even capture the “full horror” of what he did.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond rejected arguments that the young white man should have been ruled incompetent to stand trial in the shootings at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

In 2017, Roof became the first person in the U.S. sentenced to death for a federal hate crime. Authorities have said Roof opened fire during the closing prayer of a Bible study at the church, raining down dozens of bullets on those assembled. He was 21 at the time.

In his appeal, Roof’s attorneys argued that he was wrongly allowed to represent himself during sentencing, a critical phase of his trial. Roof successfully prevented jurors from hearing evidence about his mental health, “under the delusion,” his attorneys argued, that “he would be rescued from prison by white-nationalists — but only, bizarrely, if he kept his mental-impairments out of the public record.”

Roof’s lawyers said his convictions and death sentence should be vacated or his case should be sent back to court for a “proper competency evaluation.”

The 4th Circuit found that the trial judge did not commit an error when he found Roof was competent to stand trial and issued a scathing rebuke of Roof’s crimes.

“Dylann Roof murdered African Americans at their church, during their Bible-study and worship. They had welcomed him. He slaughtered them. He did so with the express intent of terrorizing not just his immediate victims at the historically important Mother Emanuel Church, but as many similar people as would hear of the mass murder,” the panel wrote in is ruling.

“No cold record or careful parsing of statutes and precedents can capture the full horror of what Roof did. His crimes qualify him for the harshest penalty that a just society can impose,” the judges wrote.

One of Roof’s attorneys, Margaret Alice-Anne Farrand, a deputy federal public defender, declined to comment on the ruling.

All of the judges in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers South Carolina, recused themselves from hearing Roof’s appeal; one of their own, Judge Jay Richardson, prosecuted Roof’s case as an assistant U.S. Attorney. The panel that heard arguments in May and issued the ruling on Wednesday was comprised of judges from several other appellate circuits.

Following his federal trial, Roof was given nine consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty in 2017 to state murder charges, leaving him to await execution in a federal prison and sparing his victims and their families the burden of a second trial.

Last month, however, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a moratorium and halted all federal executions while the Justice Department conducts a review of its execution policies and procedures. The review comes after a historic run of capital punishment at the end of the Trump administration, which carried out 13 executions in six months. A federal lawsuit has also been filed over the execution protocols — including the risk of pain and suffering associated with the use of pentobarbital, the drug used for lethal injection.

President Joe Biden as a candidate said he’d work to end federal executions. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in March that he continues to have “grave concerns” about it.

Biden has connections to the case. As vice president, Biden attended the funeral for one of those slain, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who also pastored the congregation. During his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden frequently referenced the shooting, saying that a visit to Mother Emanuel helped him heal in the aftermath of the death of his son, Beau.

Roof’s attorneys could ask the full 4th Circuit to reconsider the panel’s ruling. If unsuccessful in his direct appeal, Roof could file what’s known as a 2255 appeal, or a request that the trial court review the constitutionality of his conviction and sentence. He could also petition the U.S. Supreme Court or seek a presidential pardon.

___

Kinnard reported from Houston.

Read More

Read More

Some things Mitch Trubisky just can’t get away from.

An infamous tweet he allegedly sent 10 years ago about kissing certain body parts has again become the talk of some sections of social media.

The story, which the former Bears quarterback has discussed several times over the years, came up again during his appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast.

Trubisky was in high school in 2011 when one of his buddies took his phone and sent out a racy tweet saying “I love to kiss ——-.”

“I actually gained a lot of fans from that,” Trubisky said jokingly during the podcast. “So, it was, like, positive in a way.”

Trubisky never identified which of his friends sent the tweet, beyond saying he’s now a member of the White Sox organization. Well, we’re sure it’s just a coincidence that Trubisky’s old friend Kade McClure is a pitcher for the Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte.

“We would always take each other’s phones and text girls, do something stupid, tweet something or put it on Facebook,” McClure told the Sun-Times in 2018. “Yeah, that might have been me, I’m not sure.”

Read More

Let’s weigh the deafening civic demand for Justin Fields to be the Bears’ Week 1 starting quarterback against the worst-case scenario.

Let’s weigh the thought of the rookie being a revelation from the get-go against the image of him being so flattened by a hit that his body could be used as a stretcher.

Let’s … let’s not. Have you seen the Bears’ offensive line? The kind way to put it is that it’s a work in progress. The not-so-kind way to put it is that it’s a wreck in progress. Do you want to put the kid behind that line, in harm’s way and on a Chicago-wide prayer list?

Andy Dalton as the Bears’ starter in the Sept. 12 opener against the Rams makes perfect sense to some of us – us being Bears coach Matt Nagy, me and, I don’t know, that guy from Accounting whose name you never caught and now are too embarrassed to ask. It’s not a popular opinion. If I might speak generally, Bears fans want excitement and victories, and they’re sure that Fields, the answer to any problem they can think of, is the right way to go. Those of us who think prudence is the correct option heading into the regular season know to mumble our thoughts under our breath to avoid a public caning.

But I’ve asked it before, and I’ll ask it again. Why the rush to give Fields the starting job? Assuming the 2021 Bears aren’t a Super Bowl team, waiting one or two or five games to play him isn’t going to make a difference. If you do think this is a Super Bowl team, then there’s no point in this discussion. If you say 17-0 isn’t out of the realm of possibility, ratcheting back the medication would be my recommendation.

I admit that I’m sitting on a strange, almost cruel perch. By politicking for Dalton to start, what I’m really saying is that his flesh and bones are worth sacrificing in the name of keeping Fields healthy. I take the high road by protecting the kid’s shiny future, but I have no problem throwing the 33-year-old Dalton to a bunch of quarterback-thirsty defenders. Not exactly what you’d call compassionate. But that’s football. We’re weighing what’s best for the team short term against what’s best for the team long term. Thus, the right answer: Bleed for us, Andy!

Fields can outrun almost anybody, and that’s one argument for starting him. But until the Bears’ offensive line gets better, it’s not worth the risk — the risk being whether he can evade the hit that will knock him out of a game, or worse.

On Wednesday, Nagy said what he has been saying since 2018, that he’s encouraged by the way the offense has been performing in practice. Someday, Nagy will get the NFL to compute good practices into a team’s record. That will be the day Mitch Trubisky’s Hall of Fame chances greatly improve.

Nagy also reminded us what he said when he arrived three years ago: It would take time for his offense to blossom. So … do I have this correctly? The Bears’ O is finally peaking?

“We’re at that spot right now,” Nagy said.

I’m for Dalton as the starter until the offensive line proves it can keep Fields from being fed soft food the rest of his life. But I don’t see a Bears offense with Dalton in the starting lineup ever reaching a mountaintop, unless its elevation is 500 feet.

Nagy seems to believe that he has to be over-the-top supportive if he wants his players to follow him, yet he has to know that Dalton isn’t long for the starting lineup. He has to know that Fields will get his turn soon and that there will be some difficult moments ahead for the rookie. Why not bridle that enthusiasm, Coach? We’ve seen the offense struggle for two seasons, both because of a lack of good players and because of poor play calling. What’s changed?

This is going to take awhile, whether the quarterback is Dalton or Fields. One has a ton of NFL experience and the other has a ton of God-given talent. Neither of them has an offensive line for protection. Might as well offer up Dalton until the blocking improves.

Nagy threw Bears fans a small bone the other day when he announced that The Red Rifle would be the Week 1 starter. They likely won’t see Fields against the Rams, but they’ll see a lot of him in the final preseason game, against Tennessee on Saturday. The Titans won’t be playing their starters, which means there’s a chance that Fields will look very good.

And that should feed fans’ delicious sense of injustice for a few more weeks. As any Bears fan can tell you, sometimes pain feels really good.

Read More

At least once a day during training camp, Bears head coach Matt Nagy will walk into general manager Ryan Pace’s office and stare at the depth chart board on the wall.

“It’s a good feeling when you know you have some guys that, unfortunately, you’re going to have to cut that could make your roster,” Nagy said Tuesday.

It has to happen by the league’s new deadline to whittle rosters from 80 players to 53 — Tuesday at 3 p.m. The date is four days earlier than recent years as a result of a restructured offseason.

The Bears’ roster is mostly set, though they’ll evaluate some of the final cut candidates in Saturday’s exhibition finale against the Titans. Here’s how we project their roster to shake out:

OFFENSE (25 players)

Quarterbacks

Starting: Andy Dalton

Making the team: Justin Fields, Nick Foles

Biggest camp development: Fields is ahead of schedule and will push Dalton for the starting job sooner than the Bears first believed. Foles’ impassioned speech at the start of camp didn’t drum up interest from teams looking to trade for a quarterback, though the Bears would still like to move him.

He said it: “We’ve talked about that process and the one thing that I’ll say about Justin is he completely understands it. … The support that he has in this plan, the support that he has for Andy, is pretty neat.” — Nagy

Running backs

Starting: David Montgomery

Making the team: Damien Williams, Khalil Herbert, Ryan Nall, Tarik Cohen*

Outside looking in: Artavis Pierce

Biggest camp development: After starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Cohen still doesn’t seem close to returning to game action after having October knee surgery. If the Bears start the regular season with him on PUP — and that’s the bet here — he’ll have to sit out six weeks.

He said it: “[Montgomery] runs with a chip on his shoulder. I want to ask him, like, ‘What have you got going on personally you know, that makes you run like this?'” — Williams

Wide receivers

Starting: Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney

Making the team: Damiere Byrd, Marquise Goodwin, Dazz Newsome, Rodney Adams

Outside looking in: Javon Wims, Riley Ridley, Jon’Vea Johnson, Isaiah Coulter, Chris Lacy

Biggest camp development: Veterans Wims and Ridley haven’t flashed, but Adams has. Adams’ 146 receiving yards ranks second in the NFL through two preseason games.

He said it: “His skillsets are starting to show..” — receivers coach Mike Furrey, on Adams

Tight ends

Starting: Cole Kmet

Making the team: Jimmy Graham, Jesse James

Outside looking in: J.P. Holtz, Jesper Horsted, Scooter Harrington

Biggest camp development: Signed on the eve of camp, James has produced all preseason long; only two tight ends in the NFL have more receiving yards than his 92. Holtz’s versatility makes him a likely practice squad player if the Bears cut him.

He said it: “I like his size. I like his hands. And he’s a smart guy. … He definitely knows what he’s doing out there.” — Fields, on James

Offensive line

Starting: Jason Peters, Cody Whitehair, Sam Mustipher, James Daniels, Germain Ifedi

Making the team: Elijah Wilkinson, Alex Bars, Larry Borom, Teven Jenkins

Outside looking in: Lachavious Simmons, Arlington Hambright, Dieter Eiselen, Adam Redmond, Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Biggest camp development: The Bears scrambled for a left tackle before signing the 39-year-old Peters, a future Hall of Famer, with hopes he’ll stay healthy. Jenkins, who had back surgery last week, must start the season on the 53-man roster to be eligible to return from injured reserve later this season.

He said it: “The camaraderie and the chemistry are going to come because… I’m not holding his hand, I’m blocking my guy.” — Peters, on helping teammates

DEFENSE (25 players)

Defensive line

Starting: Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols

Making the team: Angelo Blackson, Khyiris Tonga, Mario Edwards*

Outside looking in: LaCale London, Daniel Archibong

Biggest camp development: Hicks, who has refused interviews all camp, is entering the final year of his contract and wants a new deal. Edwards is suspended for the first two games because of a performance-enhancing drug violation and doesn’t count against the 53-man roster.

He said it: “Tonga is everything I love about a player. He’s tough, he’s physical. He wants to learn, he’s eager to learn.” — Nichols

Inside linebackers

Starting: Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan

Making the team: Alec Ogletree, Christian Jones, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods

Outside looking in: Caleb Johnson

Biggest camp development: A free agent when camp began, Ogletree has played well enough to make the team and be its best insurance policy against Trevathan or Smith going down during the season.

He said it: “”Depending on where Danny is — status-wise, health-wise, etc. –we feel good with the way that ‘Tree’s played.” — Nagy

Outside linebackers

Starting: Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn

Making the team: Jeremiah Attaochu, Trevis Gipson,

Outside looking in: James Vaughters, Charles Snowden, Sam Kamara

Biggest camp development: The Bears have been cautious with Quinn’s back dating to the spring, and he missed time after hurting his ankle against the Dolphins. But he’s looked good when he’s been on the field one year after totaling only two sacks.

He said it: “[Quinn] has a certain expectation for himself and he’s got high goals. And for him, he didn’t find last season acceptable.” — outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey

Cornerbacks

Starting: Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor

Making the team: Duke Shelley, Thomas Graham Jr., Desmond Trufant, Artie Burns

Outside looking in: Tre Roberson, Xavier Crawford

Biggest camp development: Vildor and the Trufant are rotating snaps in the only open starting job on the team, but there’s a complicating factor. Trufant has been gone the past week because of the death of his father, whose funeral was Wednesday.

“I know it’s been difficult for him,” Nagy said. “He wants to be here … We all support him with that. I just think that the one thing that he has is, he has that experience, and we know that.”

He said it: “Obviously we’ve been rotating pretty much the whole camp and everything like that, so I know nothing’s gonna be given to me.” — Vildor

Safety

Starting: Eddie Jackson, Tashaun Gipson

Making the team: Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson

Outside looking in: Marqui Christian, Teez Tabor

Biggest camp development: Jackson [hamstring] didn’t practice for the first time until Aug. 10 and Gipson [groin] missed two weeks. Both are back, though, and played 33 snaps side-by-side in Saturday’s preseason loss. Christian has been impressive in camp and has a chance to stick.

He said it: “[I want to] just be real thoughtful about where [Jackson] is on the field, be real thoughtful about how people are trying to attack us on defense. And try to get him in some spots where he can use his skills to the best of his ability.” — defensive coordinator Sean Desai

SPECIAL TEAMS (3 players)

Starting: K Cairo Santos, P Pat O’Donnell, LS Patrick Scales

Outside looking in: K Brian Johnson

Biggest camp development: Johnson has made both his exhibition game field goal tries, including a 54-yarder. He’ll be cut unless the Bears are motivated to keep a practice squad kicker in case of a coronavirus outbreak.

He said it: “Having another guy here saves me a little bit of my leg, him getting reps. But I know that every rep that I get, I make it count.” — Santos

Read More

Read More

On August 17, a Sun-Times story detailed Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ report on how tax increases countywide are impacting Hispanic and African American communities.

Pappas’ report bundled the tax levies from all taxing bodies (municipality, parks, libraries, fire districts, schools districts, etc.) to show how all these taxes combined add up for homeowners suburb by suburb.

This might have left the impression that local municipalities themselves, such as the Town of Cicero, are wholly to blame for the increases, which is not the case. Cicero, for one, has worked hard to keep taxes low.

I am sure that is not what Treasurer Pappas intended to do.

SEND LETTERS TO: [email protected]. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be approximately 350 words or less.

The Town of Cicero has kept taxes down by attracting new businesses, converting idle lands into bustling industries and commercial areas, and better managing its existing operations. Despite burdens imposed by the COVID pandemic, Cicero has maintained all services without cutbacks or imposing higher new taxation.

By bundling all taxing districts into a single presence, Treasurer Pappas also inadvertently contradicted a report she released August 23, 2021 that clearly shows that during the past two decades, the Town of Cicero, as a municipality, had one of the lowest overall tax increases in comparison to nearly every other suburban municipality in Cook County.

While municipalities have a voice in what other taxing bodies do, they are constitutionally independent. In fact, municipalities that have held the line on taxation, like the Town of Cicero, should be spotlighted for helping to reduce the burden on homeowners and residents. Each taxing body should be assessed individually.

Ray Hanania, spokesman, Town of Cicero

How to reduce vaccine costs

High insurance co-pays can keep seniors, especially minority seniors, from getting any number of important vaccines. It is a problem that should be solved — and it can be, if Congress would act.

A 2016 study, reported in the American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits, found that of 172,977 initial requests for a vaccine, 67,369 were abandoned — the patient did not get the vaccine — and the main explanation for this 30% abandonment rate was cost.

Contrast this to the COVID-19 vaccine, which is free to all. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, more than 92% of Illinoisans 65 and older have had at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Clearly, when cost is not an issue, seniors get vaccinated.

The problem is rooted in the way Medicare is set up. Those who are covered by Medicare Part D often end up sharing costs as part of various Medicare Part D plans. These costs can be as little as $14 and as much as $103 per vaccine, depending on the situation. Almost 24 million Americans are enrolled in these stand-alone prescription drug plans and consequently subject to the cost sharing.

The solution? In Washington, legislation is pending, the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act, that would eliminate these out-of-pocket expenses by aligning Part D coverage of vaccines with Medicare Part B vaccine coverage.

We need Congress to pass this important legislation to ensure that our seniors are getting the medical care they need and deserve. We need it now.

State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago

Read More

Jeppson’s Malort, the notorious spirit Chicagoans love to hate, has been a tavern staple here for nearly a century.

The bitter liquor’s origin can be traced back to Carl Jeppson, who immigrated from Sweden to Chicago in the mid-1880s, according to Malort’s website.

By the 1920s, Jeppson started to produce Malort — his take on bask brannvin, a Scandinavian liquor distilled from potatoes, grain or wood. He skirted Prohibition regulations by marketing it as a “medicinal” product that could rid the body of stomach worms and other parasites.

Although Jeppson had a cigar shop in the city, Prohibition also forced him to sell his drink door-to-door, or even out of a suitcase on the sidewalk, according to a previous Sun-Times report. By the end of Prohibition, Malort had enough of a reputation that Jeppson was able to sell the formula for the drink with his name attached to it.

And while production of the liquor has shifted from Chicago to Kentucky to Florida and back, its name and notoriety among Chicagoans has remained.

So we asked Sun-Times readers to tell us how they would describe the taste of Malort to someone who’s never had it before.

More than a thousand responses poured in, ranging from creative to disgusting to very, very Chicago. Instead of suffering through a shot of it yourself, read these descriptions that’ll have you wincing anyway.

“It’s a baby aspirin wrapped in a rubber band rolled in pencil shavings and covered with bug spray.” — Tom Kief

“It’s like if shame and regret were left to ferment before being distilled through an old, sweaty shoe.” — Nora Rose Allen

“Pure, unbridled hatred. Like Skittles drenched in gasoline, stuffed into a sock. Then someone beats you to death with that sock. Like how getting dumped in high school feels.” — Mike Amarilio

“Sweat squeezed out of hockey pants then aged for five years the poured on hockey pants squeezed out and aged another five years in a keg tub left over from a frat party that a cat drowned in.” — Mike Smolarek

“Imagine rotten grapefruit with the lingering after taste of a tire fire. Pretty much that.” — Karen Rose

“It’s tastes like when you go camping and walk past someone putting on bug spray and you catch it fully in the mouth. Also grapefruit.” — Tiela Halpin-Moss

“When I was a kid in the 60s we would chase the bug sprayer truck and inhaled the DDT. It tastes like that mixed with licorice.” — Thomas McInerney

“I did several shots of this one trip and decided it tastes like a forest fire, if the forest was made of ear wax.” — Brittany Benson

“Gasoline on the rocks with a twist of regret.” — Gloria Chevere

“It tastes like you mowed the lawn with your face.” — Nick Wright

“You know that taste in your mouth when you have food poisoning and there is nothing else left to vomit except stomach acid?” — Tim David

“It’s like french-kissing a desk from Ikea.” — Lindsey Monroe-Bougher

“Tastes like the Chicago River.” — Patrick John Kane

“Gasoline served in a dirty ashtray.” — Paul Scott

“A slap in the face followed by a warm hug.” — Sara Bergs

“Hipster tears that have been left in the trunk of your Corolla through all of Chicago’s seasons.” — Maritza Lilliebridge

“Like the Dan Ryan Expressway.” — Sean Seamus Somers

“It tastes like old spice mixed with basil. It is tart and makes your mouth feel dry and pinched. It leaves a hint of dried orange peels and newly mowed grass on your tongue.” — Niclas Fohlin

“Imagine doing a shot of vinegar mixed with pickle juice and turpentine.” — Jim Lewis

“Like a stale fart mixed with the juice at the bottom of a dumpster in August.” — Ole Campos

“Like a fermented jolly rancher.” – Brenda Torres-Figueroa

“Nail polish remover.” — Pat Pfaller

“Potpourri and rubbing alcohol.” — Liz Allen

“It tastes like if you took a baby’s soiled diaper after they’ve eaten a jar of cigarettes soaked in liquid smoke, ring it out and get the juices from the said diaper. Mix the juice with the yoke of a rotting egg and strain it through a dirty jockstrap soaked in liver and onions for no less than one year. Absorb the fluid from the mixture in a high school boy’s sock following an August football practice. Bury the sock under the nearest chicken coop overnight. Remove one ounce of fluid with an eyedropper and place it under your tongue. That taste is just a little better than one shot of Malort.” — Thomas Cairns

“It’s like being forced to down Elmer’s glue by grade school bullies with an aftertaste of candle wax.” — Walter Brzeski

“It tastes like crying alone in a bathroom stall.” — Sean McGill

“Throwing up in your mouth then swallowing.” — Bob Abplanalp

“I describe it as taking a full ashtray off the table, dumping the cigarette butts out and licking off all the ash that’s caked on the ashtray. I also add: ‘You should try it!’ in a really cheerful voice after that description.” — Anthony Velasquez

“Pencil shavings and depression.” — Richard Hunt

“Earwax and shame.” — Jessi Tully

“It tastes fine, then suddenly tastes like someone filtered vodka through burning garbage and finished it with smoke from a tire fire.” — Michael C. Krauss

“Lysol disinfectant blended with hops and bug spray.” — Debra Rose

“Tastes like victory.” — Frank Nova

“Take an old Christmas tree with the lights still plugged in and soak that in grain alcohol for a week, strain through a hay bale.” — BJ Levy

“The love child of licorice and rotting cabbage.” — Chuck Boswell

“Licking the bottom of a well-worn Doc Marten after eating the rind of a grapefruit.” — Becca Cleeland

“Batteries with a splash of gasoline and some burnt rubber on top.” — Monse Rizo

“Take an old, soggy running shoe, fill it with sweat, underarm perspiration, under boob sweat and belly button juice with a shot of toe-cheese.” — Yeni Marlen

“Rotten grapefruit rubbed in motor oil.” — Lisa Streitmatter

“It’s the year 2020 in a bottle.” — Tom Kief

“You don’t. You tell them to do a shot.” — Marc Piszkiewicz

Read More

When I first took my now-husband to Turkey, I tried to prepare myself for anything that could go wrong — delayed flights, language difficulties, digestion issues.

But I wasn’t ready when, as we walked into a beautiful beach club on the Aegean coast, he grumbled, “What are we going to do?”

“What do you mean?” I said. “Lie down, enjoy the sun and the sea.”

“But what about the things to do — beach volleyball, Frisbees, water sports?”

“There isn’t any of that. We’re just here to relax.”

This was the first time I got a sense of our cultural differences. He’s American and I’m Turkish. He needed to “do stuff.” I wanted to chill. Over the years, he became better at relaxing — more Turkish, if you will.

But I started noticing all the ways the imperative to “do stuff” kept marching along in the U.S.

It morphed and migrated into pithy catchphrases like YOLO — “you only live once” — and “rise and grind.” I saw it in the way people bragged about how busy they were, as if it were a badge of honor. And I noticed it in the rise of “hustle culture,” or the collective urge to get as much done in as little time as possible, while always keeping an eye on the next opportunity.

Underlying all of it is the belief that resting or relaxing is a waste of time.

I wondered: How might these attitudes influence people’s well-being? And are some cultures more likely than others to promote such beliefs?

Ruining all the fun

In a series of new studies I conducted with fellow marketing professors Gabbie Tonietto, Rebecca Reczek and Mike Norton, we took a stab at finding some answers.

In one study, 141 undergraduate students participated at our behavioral lab at the Ohio State University. They arrived to complete a series of surveys in which we asked them the extent to which they agreed with certain statements — “Time spent on leisure activities is often wasted time,” “Most leisure activities are a way to burn time” — that measured whether they endorsed the idea that leisure is pointless.

During these otherwise tedious studies, participants watched four funny and popular YouTube videos that were rated entertaining by a different set of participants. After watching all four videos, participants indicated how much they enjoyed them.

We found that participants who believed leisure to be wasteful didn’t enjoy the videos as much.

In a follow-up study, we asked participants to indicate how much they enjoyed engaging in a variety of leisurely experiences — some active, like exercising, and some passive, like watching TV. Others were social — hanging out with friends — or solitary, such as meditating.

We found that those who viewed leisure as wasteful tended to get less enjoyment out of all of the different types of activities. These people were also more likely to be stressed, anxious and depressed.

An attitude that’s tough to shake

In a different study, we wanted to see the extent to which this was a uniquely American phenomenon. So we recruited participants from France, the U.S. and India — countries chosen for being low, medium and high, respectively, on Hofstede’s industry-indulgence dimension, which captures the extent to which a given culture is work-oriented and values self-reliance.

We asked them to indicate the degree to which they agreed with the idea that leisure is wasteful. Consistent with the prevailing stereotypes, there were far fewer French participants who believed that leisure was wasteful compared to American and, especially, Indian ones.

But French people who held a negative view of leisure were as likely to be stressed, anxious and depressed as their American and Indian counterparts. So while Americans and Indians might more readily believe that leisure is wasteful, the consequences of holding this belief are universal.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a pronounced effect on the way we live, work and socialize. During this period, many people have taken a step back and reevaluated their priorities.

We wondered whether people’s attitudes toward leisure had shifted. Since we had data from both pre- and post-pandemic studies, we were able to compare the two.

To our surprise, we didn’t find any evidence of these beliefs declining after the pandemic.

To us, this revealed how entrenched the belief that leisure is wasteful can be.

Not all leisure is equal

In the studies I described above, we focused exclusively on what psychologists call “terminal leisure” — leisure that takes place purely for enjoyment.

This differs from “instrumental leisure” — leisure that might serve a larger purpose, like making friends or staying healthy, and therefore feels more productive.

So we explored whether the negative attitudes toward leisure would be less detrimental for instrumental leisure activities.

In 2019, on the Monday after Halloween, we asked participants to recall what they did and tell us how much they enjoyed it. We found the belief that leisure was wasteful was particularly detrimental for the enjoyment of terminal activities like going to a party. On the other hand, it boosted the enjoyment of instrumental activities, such as taking their kids trick-or-treating, which could be seen as a bonding experience.

The good news? Whether a particular activity is terminal or instrumental leisure is relative and depends on the person and the situation. For instance, people may exercise for fun (a terminal motivation) or to lose weight (an instrumental motivation). The frame can always be changed.

It might not be easy to change what you believe about leisure. But by reframing leisurely activities as instrumental, more people can hopefully reap their true benefits: satisfaction, recuperation, improved mental health — and, yes, chilling on the beach for the sake of chilling on the beach.

Selin Malkoc is an associate professor of marketing at The Ohio State University.

This article originally was published on The Conversation.

Send letters to [email protected].

Read More

St. Rita’s hold on the preseason No. 1 will be thoroughly tested the first three weeks of the season with games against Mount Carmel, Loyola and a talented team in Louisville, Ky.

Mustangs coach Todd Kuska is counting on Ohio State recruit Kaleb Brown, a game-breaking receiver/running back, to help elevate the entire team.

“He brings the level of confidence up for everyone else,” Kuska said. “When you know you’ve got the best player it makes everyone play to a higher level.”

1. St. Rita

St. Rita’s Kaleb Brown (3) watches the ball into his hands at practice, Monday, August 23, 2021.Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

Star power and playoff experience should be a successful combination for the Mustangs, led by Brown, three-year starting quarterback Tommy Ulatowski and offensive lineman Valen Erickson. Read more on St. Rita.

2. Warren

Warren quarterback Aidan Lucero looks for his receiver at practice in Gurnee.Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

The Blue Devils were unbeaten in the spring and return 10 starters on defense and eight on offense, including quarterback Aidan Lucero and running back Maurice Edwards, a Vanderbilt recruit. Read more on Warren.

3. Brother Rice

Running back Aaron Vaughn (5) of Brother Rice looks on in front of quarterback Jack Lausch (8) during practice.Quinn Harris/For the Sun-Times

Jack Lausch, a Notre Dame recruit for baseball and football, is back at quarterback. Illinois recruit Henry Boyer, a 6-6, 235-pound tight end, is a blocking force. The Crusaders added one of the best running backs in the area in Aaron Vaughn, who transferred from Providence and have multiple starters back on the offensive line. Read more on Brother Rice.

4. Loyola

Loyola’s Marco Maldonado (18) runs through an opening created by the Ramblers’ offensive line.Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Several experienced players return on offense, including running back Marco Maldonado. Junior quarterback Jake Stearney played a bit last season and showed off a big arm. There are more questions on defense, where the only notable returners are lineman Mike Williams and linebacker James Kreutz. Read more on Loyola.

5. Lincoln-Way East

Lincoln-Way East’s Jack Tremblay (15) and Max Tomczak (18) celebrate Tremblay’s touchdown against Bollingbrook.Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The Griffins will be much younger than usual, but the program has a tradition of reloading. Senior Brennan Stolarek won the quarterback job and has a pair of talented, experienced receivers in seniors Trey Johnson and Jack Tremblay. Cornerback Jon Guch and lineman Michael Cardilli are returning starters on defense, along with junior linebacker Jake Scianna. Read more on Lincoln-Way East.

6. Marist

Marist’s Dontrell Jackson, Jr., (1) drops back to pass the ball against Brother Rice.Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Dynamic quarterback Dontrell Jackson Jr. has an experienced line in front of him, led by Northwestern recruit Deuce McGuire. The inexperienced defense will have to learn quickly. Read more on Marist.

7. Joliet Catholic

Joliet Catholic’s Malachi Hood runs a drill during football practice on August 12, 2021.Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The Hilltoppers return eight starters on defense, which should lead to plenty of wins when combined with a high-powered offense led by running back Jordan Anderson, an Illinois recruit. Read more on Joliet Catholic.

8. Hinsdale Central

Hinsdale Central’s Sean Allison (3) runs drills at football practice on August 13, 2021.Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

An experienced offensive line and backfield, led by Thomas Skokna and Nick Fahy, will help the growing pains at quarterback. The Red Devils have a solid core back on defense in linebackers Sean Allison and JT Pyle and lineman Micah McCurry. Read more on Hinsdale Central.

9. Wheaton North

Wheaton North’s Mark Forcucci rolls to his left and fires a pass upfield for a completion against Batavia.Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

There’s nothing like a third-year starting quarterback. Holy Cross recruit Mark Forcucci was one of the keys to the Falcons’ 5-1 finish in the spring. He threw for 919 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception during the abbreviated season. Six total players return on offense and four on defense. Read more on Wheaton North.

10. Maine South

Maine South’s Chris Petrucci throws the ball during practice on August 10, 2021. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Quarterback Rowan Keefe, running back Mike Sajenko and tight end Chris Petrucci are major weapons on offense and the defense is more experienced than it appears, led by lineman Thaddeus Gianaris. Read more on Maine South.

11. Mount Carmel

Seventeen starters graduated, so it is a new start for the Caravan. It may take a few weeks for the talented young newcomers to figure it out, but the potential is high. Junior Blainey Dowling is expected to start at quarterback and keep an eye on running back/defensive back Darron Dupree, a standout sophomore.

12. Cary-Grove

Fullback Nick Hissong dominated in the spring and is the perfect fit for the Trojans’ option attack. QB Jameson Sheehan and running back Wade Abrams also return. A deep senior class anchors the defense.

13. Naperville Central

Mike Ulreich takes over as coach and has a ton of offensive talent, including quarterback Owen Prucha, receiver Reggie Fleurima and an experienced line. The defense will be the question mark early.

14. Glenbard West

Only two starters return on offense and three on defense, but this is a program that knows how to reload. Keep an eye on junior running back Joey Pope.

15. Neuqua Valley

Junior quarterback Mark Mennecke is a possible breakout star. Running back Matt Williams and receiver Grant Larkin will help anchor the offense. Keep an eye on senior defensive back Palmer Domschke.

16. Batavia

The defense, led by junior linebacker Tyler Jansey, should be strong. The running game will need to help stabilize the offense, but the Bulldogs are one of the area’s consistently excellent programs and return 10 starters.

17. Fenwick

There’s talent all over the field for the Friars, who have a lot to prove this season with 19 starters returning. Quarterback Kaden Cobb, a Ball State recruit, is joined by receivers Eian Pugh (Illinois) and Max Reese (Eastern Michigan). Highly-recruited Jimmy Liston anchors the offensive line. The defense is also full of future college players.

18. Palatine

Senior wide receiver Jake Bostick, an Iowa recruit, is joined by sophomore running back Dominick Ball on a powerful offense. Linebacker Mitch Larkin and lineman Jhermari Mabry lead the defense.

19. Wheaton Warrenville South

Another traditional power with a new coach. Sean Norris takes over and has eight starters on offense back along with an experienced defensive backfield.

20. Barrington

There’s a lot for the Mid-Suburban League champions to replace, but most of the new starters saw some action last season. Expect the Broncos to reload, led by experienced offensive linemen Will Warman, Adam Krieps and Peter Hutchison.

21. Huntley

The Red Raiders were undefeated in the spring and should be solid on both lines. Quarterback Sam Deligio transferred in from Jacobs.

22. Evanston

Lineback Sebastian Cheeks, a North Carolina recruit, is one of the state’s best players. He’s one of 11 returning starters for the Wildkits, who have a third-year starting quarterback in Sean Cruz.

23. Hersey

Quarterback Jimmy Makuh and running back Ben Clawson will give opponents fits. Keep an on defensive back Josh Bontje. Nearly all of last season’s starters return.

24. Shepard

South Suburban Red conference champs return running back/defensive back Kendrick Washington and defensive end Roy Williams, a NIU recruit.

25. Morgan Park

The Mustangs only played three games last season, but almost the entire team returns. Quarterback Aaron Warren and speedster Tysean Griffin were breakout talents in the spring. Read more on Morgan Park.

Read More