SINGLE’S AWARENESS DAY Valentine’s Day sucks, but it doesn’t have to this year Focus, pages 14-15
Volume #98 | Issue #14 | February 10, 2014 | DePauliaonline.com
Fueling up without the pump
For DePaul legend Aguirre, it’s a matter of degree By Matt Paras Asst. Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of THE LOYOLA BIODIESEL LAB
Visitors on a tour of the Loyola Biodiesel Lab, where DePaul sends its waste cooking oil to be processed into useable biofuel for vehicles.
Student Center cooking oil converted into biofuel By Nathan Weisman Asst. News Editor
On Feb. 1, DePaul started sending its used oil to a new home, the Loyola Biodiesel Lab, to be recycled. The collaboration is part of an initiative by the lab to expand its program to more
universities in the Chicagoland area, including Northwestern and the City Colleges of Chicago. “I saw a partnership between the Loyola Biodiesel Program and DePaul to be an exciting and unique intercollegiate connection,” Megan Hoff, the senator for sustainability
for the Student Government Association at DePaul, said. Hoff worked to connect Zach Waikman, the Loyola Biodiesel lab manager, with James Lee, the District Manager for Chartwells at DePaul. “Essentially, I became the liaison between Chartwells, DePaul’s Dining Service Provider, and Zach, with the hopes that Chartwells would agree to give all of their kitchen grease to Loyola to be converted into 100 percent biofuel,” she said.
“I thought it was a good idea,” Lee said. Lee had been talking to Hoff and Waikman about DePaul contributing to the program since September, but needed to take time to make sure that he didn’t break any previous contracts. DePaul had been selling the oil to other recycling companies that had been turning it into products like animal feed, and Lee needed to resolve those contracts before
See BIOFUEL, page 8
Mark Aguirre had heard it before. The once DePaul star and two-time NBA champion heard it all the time when he was an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. “You should become a head coach one day.” Aguirre brushed off the advice and his life went on. After leaving the Knicks, his focus shifted from the professional game to college. Currently, Aguirre occasionally serves as a mentor to DePaul’s basketball program, helping the big men on the team improve on fundamentals. In the fall, Aguirre decided he wanted to get his degree with one particular area in mind. It was time he listened to what people had been telling him for years. Aguirre finally wants to become a head coach. “I think all my life I kind of shied away from it,” Aguirre said. “But I’ve taught a number of NBA All-Stars, been an assistant GM, coached on three NBA teams and had really good success. I’ve been avoiding it for too long.” “Now, I really am in a
See AGUIRRE, page 26
Compromise reached on Children’s Memorial site By Grant Myatt News Editor
The Children’s Memorial redevelopment plan will move to the city’s Department of Planning and Development on Feb. 20 after compromises were made. Following several community meetings, an agreement was made between McCaffery Interests and Alderman Michele Smith including one major building height reduction. A five-story health club will replace the proposed 11-story residential building along Lincoln Avenue. The health club will be a similar height to the adjacent parking lot. “This will also result in a more pleasing streetscape, as the remaining two taller buildings are set back from the street,” Smith said. “It will also mean less overall height for the project as well as less massing, less density and a meaningful reduction in traffic, especially car and truck traffic.” McCaffery will also pay for traffic improvements on Fullerton, Halsted and Lincoln that will include bike lanes for the
first time at the busy intersection. Neighbors also expressed concerns over parking issues with the redevelopment. McCaffery will provide 35 free parking spots at Lincoln Elementary. Additionally, customers for the retail space will have access to 90 minutes of free validated parking and residential permit parking in the area will be increased, Smith said. The revised plan includes an underground loading dock in a tunnel under Fullerton. There will be no loading dock or truck traffic on Orchard or Burling. The old Children’s Memorial site has sat empty for more than two years. The redevelopment plan was put on hold while Smith focused on the Lincoln Elementary overcrowding situation as a priority. Before the plan is presented to the Chicago Plan Commission, Smith said “representatives of the neighborhood community organizations will work with our office and their residents to finalize a strong community agreement, which will detail protections regarding land use and construction.”
Photo Illustration by max kleiner
The site of Children’s Memorial hospital, in blue, shows where new construction will take place. The city’s Department of Planning and Development will vote on it Feb. 20.