10/6/14

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one, two Step

‘In the Heights’ review page 18

New competitive dance team takes center stage page 26

Volume #99 | Issue #4 | Oct. 6, 2014 | depauliaonline.com

Alcohol violations soar compared to last year’s reports By Grant Myatt Managing Editor

AMANDA CRANE | THE DEPAULIA

Students protest outside the Arts and Letters Hall on the Lincoln Park Campus Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Gaza conflict extends Divest debate By Matthew Paras & Brenden Moore

Sports Editor & Campus News Editor

Whether it’s in meetings of student government or on the sidewalk outside the Arts and Letters Hall, the issue of divestment keeps popping up, despite the fact that the referendum on the issue took place last quarter. The issue reappeared definitively last Tuesday, as pro-divest students demonstrated outside the Arts and Letters Hall in protest of Palestinian deaths caused by the Israeli invasion of Gaza this summer. Many members of the protest laid on

the ground with a piece of paper with the name of a deceased Palestinian on top of them. As they laid there, a protester read the names of Palestinian civilians who died from the violence while another protester was hitting a gong for every name. “This action was first a means of raising awareness and then urging the administration to take action of the needs and demands of the students,” said Hanna Alshaikh, a member of Students for Justice in Palestine. Not all were happy with the demonstration, however. In a statement given to The DePaulia, Students Supporting Israel President Cameron Erickson condemned the display, stating that “by ignoring the agitator of the

last conflict — Hamas, the terrorist organization that currently rules Gaza and uses its own people as human shields — and instead just smearing the Jewish State, Students for Justice in Palestine does nothing to advance peace and nothing to help the Palestinian people.” “SJP should more accurately call themselves, ‘Students Against Peace and Against the Palestinians’ because rather than examine the countless problems prevalent within Palestinian society and leadership that inhibit the path to statehood, they are only interested in demonizing Israel,” he said. The demonstration, described by

See DIVEST, page 8

Within the first three weeks of classes at DePaul, there was a 175 percent increase in alcoholrelated Public Safety reports compared to the same time period last year, according to campus crime reports. This year, Public Safety has recorded 11 alcohol violations compared to only four reports last year between Sept. 3 and Sept. 24. With this increase in reports, the number of students transported to the hospital has more than tripled compared to last year. For the 2013-14 school year, three hospital transports were made. This school year during the same time period there were 10 hospital transports, according to crime reports. Peggy Burke, the associate vice president for student development, said the university takes these violations seriously. “These types of violations are very serious to us and we are concerned that there are more in these first few weeks of school,” she said in an email. “Our staff in the residence halls talk about alcohol abuse in group meetings and in one-on-one sessions.” Brandon Karpieo, a freshman who lives at Clifton-Fullerton Hall, said he hasn’t noticed drinking being an issue in the dorm. “People’s doors are always

See ALCOHOL, page 4

Queer Peers aim to help new students By Kevin Quin Staff Writer

Arriving to a college campus for the first time can be an overwhelming experience for most freshmen. Adjusting to roommates, hectic class schedules, and getting involved in organizations on campus are only just a few challenges. For a gay, lesbian or transgender student, the process of transitioning to college can be even more daunting due to minimal support available to LGBTQ students. According to 2010: The State of Higher Education for LGBT Students a study done by Pennsylvania State University,

only 7 percent of colleges across the country have resources for LGBTQ students. The study also reports higher rates of depression and suicide among these individuals. To combat this issue, LGBTQA Student Services is piloting a new initiative called the Queer Peers Mentor Program this year. Targeted toward newly enrolled or newly out students, this program aims to foster a mentee/mentor relationship for the duration of the academic year. Mentors will have monthly meetings with their mentees, as well as attend campus events together and provide social support. The main goal of the Queer

Peers mentor program is to go beyond the scope of a regular student organization. Often, students are unable to participate in student organization meetings because of distance or time conflicts. Because mentors in this program are responsible for coordinating meetings with their mentees, the added flexibility eliminates the intimidation that a newly out mentee may feel in a large group setting. Katy Weseman, LGBTQA Student Services coordinator, helped pioneer the Queer Peers Mentor Program by taking into the consideration the many facets of being a college student

See QUEER, page 8

MAGGIE GALLAGHER | THE DEPAULIA

Ashley Valentin, LGBTQA Student Services office assistant and Katy Weseman, LGBTQA Student Services coordinator.


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