STYLES OF SPOOK
Vol. # 95, Issue # 24
October 24, 2011
FOCUS, Page 14
DePaul SGA president speaks on coming out, feels right at home By NATALIA HERNANDEZ Contributing Writer Anthony Alfano, the president of the Student Government Association (SGA) drew in a long sip from his water bottle. He twisted his head to the ceiling and closed his brown eyes. For a second, he was silent. Anthony
smiled and with confidence said, “I came out on October 4th, 2008, at a freshman retreat called ‘Escape.’” Alfano is the first openly gay president of SGA at DePaul, a 113-year-old Catholic institution. “Coming out and being in the position that I am, I think it’s super important that students who either identify that way, or don’t, hear this story,” he said.
As a senior, double majoring in political science and international studies, Alfano described his newly acquired position at SGA as a full-time job. But being in a position of power for Alfano means leading by example and inspiring the LGBT community in light of its recent spikes in high suicide rates. “Being that this is a religious-
based institution, I think it’s awesome that they offer so much for gay students. I specifically picked DePaul because of its diversity,” he said. “For me, diversity wasn’t just various shades of skin or ethnicities but diversity in a sense that everyone has different experiences than me or even different views on life.” “You can be in a position of power and people can respect
you. You can be an influence in the world and it really does ‘get better.’” Alfano says he is adamant about improving the conditions of the university when it comes to diversity, awareness and seeking a better environment for individuals who are not allotted the same opportunities as other See ALFANO , page 6
Servicelearning program among top in nation By COLLEEN CONNOLLY Copy-Editor
When in Rome
CATHY ANN ELIAS | DePaul University
Riots hit Europe as students study abroad By DOMINIC ZINN Contributing Writer ROME- It was the weekend when my friend studying in Madrid finally decided to visit me in Rome. We spent much of Saturday walking around the vast city center and eventually came upon a lookout where Rome’s iconic monuments can be seen side-by-side. There was the Roman Forum, the Arch of
Constantine and the Coliseum. In the distance, though, we saw something that seemed to be out of a movie, rather than a guidebook: thick, black smoke billowing up to the sky, helicopters hovering over the buildings, looking down to what was happening in the streets. That was the day Occupy Wall Street went global, but in Italy’s capital, the movement was overtaken by riots incited by a group of anarchists in black shirts and masks, referred to as “The Black Bloc.”
Windows were smashed, cars and buildings burned, and many of the protestors who had come to demonstrate nonviolently were run off by a mob that was hurling Molotov cocktails and rocks at police. DePaul Music Professor and Director of the university’s Rome study abroad program, Cathy Ann Elias, was one of thousands in the crowd to witness the riots firsthand. Though initially there to see the See RIOTS , page 10
The photos above, taken by a DePaul professor, a car is set on fire by a group of anarchists known as “The Black Bloc” in Rome, Italy. The mob broke up what was a peaceful Occupy Wall Street protest setting buildings and cars on fire and chasing off protesters.
DePaul was recently ranked in the top 25 colleges and universities for the best service-learning programs in U.S. News and World Report for 2012. This is the seventh year DePaul has received a top ranking in this category. The top colleges and universities in service learning were nominated by the college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools around the country. The top 25 were chosen based on the number of nominations they received. DePaul was the only college or university with this top ranking in Illinois. The Irwin W. Steans Center for Community-based Service Learning is largely responsible for DePaul’s consistently high ranking. According to the Steans Center website, the program’s mission is “to develop mutually beneficial, reciprocal relationships with community organizations in order to develop a sense of social agency in our students through enrollment in CbSL courses, community internships and placements, and community-based student employment.” One way the center fulfills its mission is through academic coursework. The Steans Center offers a wide variety of service-learning classes, ranging from philosophy to science to Discover Chicago classes. Students enrolled in these classes are usually required to complete between 20 and 25 service hours throughout the quarter. “If students are taking classes in adolescent psychology, then they’re working at an after-school program,” said Marisol Morales, the associate director at the Steans Center. “It’s a way to pair the theory with the practice in a community-based setting to give See SERVICE-LEARNING , page 9