BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
A look at the contenders from best to worst, Arts & Life, page 21
FIND YOUR INNER OLYMPIAN
Can’t make it to Sochi? Get off the couch and try the events yourself in the city, Sports, page 26
Volume #98 | Issue #16 | February 24, 2014 | DePauliaonline.com
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Fighting development Lawsuit considered against hospital plan
because of their abnormal height and look for the neighborhood. The tall towers are permitted due to zoning at the Children’s Memorial site, which allows for denser construction for hospital use. “They shouldn’t get the benefits of By Grant Myatt what the hospital got,” Burnes said. News Editor Concerned community members are now looking to file a lawsuit as an action Neighbors remain up in arms against the development plan. following a unanimous vote in favor of “The only thing that will get McCaffery the Children’s Memorial Hospital site to the table is a lawsuit because there needs redevelopment plan on Feb. 20, at the to be a zoning change,” Burnes said. “It’s city’s Plan Comission. our only chance to stop this and get the C o n c e r n e d developer to renegotiate.” community members, The lawsuit claim would both Republican and focus on changing the Democrat, met at the underlying zoning of 43rd Ward Republicans’ this site but could cost office Saturday, Feb. 22 to thousands of dollars, discuss concerns and the Burnes said. next steps in a meeting However, some led by Republican neighbors have stepped Committeeman Chris forward, showing their Cleveland. support. “As Republicans we “On my block I got need to make a decision pledges for about $55,000 — are we going to get COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS from about 15 people in involved?” he said. Alderman Michele Smith. 24 hours.” Lincoln Park The main issues with resident Ben Kadish the plan still include traffic and density said. concerns as well as building heights and Allan Mellis, a director on the zoning issues. However, since the plan is Wrightwood Neighbors Association, supported by Alderman Michele Smith, a group that mostly supports the plan, it is expected to get pushed through city expressed concerns over the lawsuit. council without a problem. “Say you have a lawsuit and then “Michele has put this on the path. they stop the project, then what’s going There won’t be any changes or intelligent to happen?” Mellis said. I’m afraid the discussion. It’s over,” Ed Burnes said, an lot will sit empty again and why would opponent of the project. another developer want to come in?” The two 21-story glass residential See HOSPITAL, page 6 buildings are one aspect that many oppose
Campus Dems, GOP host debate By Kyle Terrell Contributing Writer
Max klEiner | The DePaulia
The St. Vincent mural on McCabe Hall is composed of thousands of 2-inch stamp portraits of alumni, faculty and students. Meet the man behind ‘We are DePaul2’ and get an exclusive look at the work of this Vincentian brother and art professor, FOCUS, pages 14-15.
After a five-year hiatus, the DePaul Democratic and Republican Student Clubs reunited Thursday, Feb. 20 for the first debate since 2009, hoping to reignite the spirit of political debate on campus. Few of the 87 people there attended DePaul the last time the two clubs came together for a debate. Gabie Hart, member of the Executive Board for DePaul Democrats, the group that arranged the event, said the debate was a success considering it’s their first since 2009. “We are all excited to bring the debate back to DePaul,” Hart said. “They’re debating on the issues of gun control, the economy and Obamacare.” DePaul senior Eddie Lawando said he came to hear what proclaimed political pundits had to say about the issues since he is unsure. “I don’t know what I am politically, I guess you could say more Republican,” Lawando said. “I’m really excited to see what they said about gun control.” Considering Chicago’s recent rampant gun violence, cheers from the audience
erupted on both sides of the gun control debate, even though the moderator had to remind the audience not to cheer. The Republican panel said President Obama refuses to execute already implemented gun control laws and the solution doesn’t lie in taking guns off the street. The solution lies in keeping already convicted criminals off the street. “There will be a permanent black market for guns if you take guns away,” the Republicans said. “Guns prevent crime, criminals break the laws. There is nothing more frightening to a criminal or a rapist than an armed victim.” The Democrats fired back, saying we need a weapons ban like we had in the ‘90s. Michael Rance delivered another crowd rouser when he closed the Democrats gun control argument. “We need stricter gun laws,” Rance said. “Purchasing a gun is ridiculously easy. I bought a gun at a gun show and it was a joke. And besides, you don’t need an AK-47 or and AR-15 Assault rifle with 20-round clips to hunt. Those weapons need to be banned.” Sofia Fernandez, a sophomore majoring
See DEBATE, page 5
2 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
First Look INSIDE THIS ISSUE The DePaulia is the official student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily reflect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff.
News
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Michael Corio eic@depauliaonline.com MANAGING EDITOR | Courtney Jacquin managing@depauliaonline.com ONLINE EDITOR | Summer Concepcion online@depauliaonline.com
Illinois governor race
ASST. ONLINE EDITOR | Amanda Driscoll NEWS EDITOR | Grant Myatt news@depauliaonline.com ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Nathan Weisman NATION & WORLD EDITOR | Haley BeMiller nation@depauliaonline.com
Athletic Department's letter to the editor
Republican candidate Bruce Rauner hit with attack ads as the race for governor continues, see page 7.
The Athletic Department responds to last week's front page commentary story, see page 12.
Instagram famous
Stepping up their game
Manny the bulldog celebrates his third birthday for charity, see page 16.
DePaul's football club got new equipment including helmets and more, see page 28.
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News. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 3
News
New food oasis for DePaul students By Hannah Vogel Contributing Writer
A 10-minute walk that’s worth taking this winter is the one to Mrs. Green’s on 555 W. Webster Ave. It’s safe to say that the Whole Foods on the corner of Fullerton and Sheffield will not in fact be “coming soon,” as the signs suggest it will be. The abandoned building set to be up and running in 2015 has left DePaul students with very little options on where to get their food outside of student dining. While waiting for the Fullerton space to rejuvenate, DePaul students could perhaps walk down Lincoln Avenue. Mrs. Green’s, a grocery store that has been under construction since last summer finally opened on Nov. 15, 2013. Mrs. Green’s offers 100 percent organic produce, a bakery, deli and coffee bar, all natural vitamins and supplements and specialty diet samples. According to their website, Mrs. Green’s is “a neighborhood store, passionately committed to clean, natural foods. Dedicated to health and sustainability. Devoted to customers who care deeply about the foods they eat.” The store understands local food is fresher and supports local farmer markets and artisans. The store also buys from suppliers who practice sustainability. “We believe in taking care of the Earth. We source the best local products whenever available — from your favorite groceries to produce and baked goods, we support local,” according to the website. With the local produce, all of the food is organic and uniquely prepared. Alongside the shelves stocked with gluten free products hearty grains and fresh dairy products, are food bars with food instantly available. A salad bar with fresh fruit occupies the middle of the store next to the soup station where you can get anything from Minestrone to Beef Chili. Food bars line the back end of the store where the food-educated employees are readily available to talk about the contents of the food or to promptly whip up a handcrafted sandwich or specialty dish. The store also features a bakery with overwhelming choices and a juice bar with much the same. Mrs. Green’s on Webster is the first one to open in Chicago, but another one is opening soon on the North Side of Chicago, replacing the old grocery store of Fox and Obel that was once there. Other Mrs. Green’s stores can be found in Connecticut, Philadelphia, and New York. Juan Guzman, a Mrs. Green’s employee, says Mrs. Green’s is different from other stores. “We’re fully organic and natural. Other stores have conventional products— conventional meaning normal,” Guzman said. “We have ABF meats, which is antibiotic free; the chicken is organic and is not cross contaminated with any conventional products. All of our fish is wild cut. Our bakery doesn’t have any preservatives added – there’s no food coloring.” Although Mrs. Green’s just opened recently on Webster, Guzman has been with the company for three years. He used to work at a restaurant in Skokie, which was like the Mrs. Green’s grocery store, but there was also a place inside the store where you could readily eat the food.
Mrs. Green's Natural Market opened Nov. 15, 2013 in Lincoln Park at 555 W. Webster Ave. Guzman says there are 30 stores now but they are expected to expand to 90 stores in the next year. Guzman says Whole Foods Market is the main competitor of Mrs. Green’s and that their pricing is somewhat similar with a few differences here and there. Mrs. Green’s employee Huda Alkhateeb though says there are differences in the food. “Whole Foods sells Cheerios that you can get at Jewel but you won’t find that here at Mrs. Green’s.” But how Mrs. Green’s separates itself the most is with its calm atmosphere. On any given Saturday, the store lacks the aggravating hustle and bustle of the common grocery store like Jewel Osco or Trader Joe's. Instead, Mrs. Green’s is peaceful and relaxing to shop in. The aisles aren’t overwhelmed with people grabbing loafs of bread, and the lines to checkout do not snake around the whole store. Mrs. Green’s also separates itself with its foundation based on customer-service. “We are really customer service oriented,” Minta Watts, an employee at Mrs. Green’s, said “It’s really cool because at other jobs usually a manager walks by and gives you the evil eye if you are chatting with a customer. But here, they love to see you interacting with guests. It’s such a nice atmosphere. The managers are very real and down to earth.” Watts said she loves the connections she makes with the customers. “People trust us and we want them to trust us. The people that come here are from the neighborhood and we love seeing the same people,” Watts said. Olivia Johnson, a student at DePaul University, currently works at Mrs. Greens and has been working there since its opening in November. Johnson says she enjoys working there because of its calm and welcoming environment. “There is a good atmosphere at Mrs. Green’s Natural Market. True to its name, the store feels more like a neighborhood market than a big grocery store,” Johnson said.
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
TOP: Mrs. Green's carries all organic produce in their stores and they work to support local farmers. ABOVE: Their store also carries Lorina, a french carbonated soft drink.
4 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Less than perfect
The classrooms not shown on campus tours By Danielle Harris Contributing Writer
Welcome to Chicago, where when it comes to property, you are paying way too much for too small a space. Not so surprisingly, this reality translates over to the classroom as well. While the facilities shown on campus tours are spacious and recently renovated, this is simply not the case for all buildings and classrooms. Although there are pros to having both campuses located in two of Chicago’s top neighborhoods, there are clearly pitfalls as well. Across the board students have complaints about the small spaces provided for them in some classrooms. Byrne Hall is notorious among DePaul students and faculty alike. Located just south of the Student Center, Byrne Hall is home to the University’s Physics and Psychology departments. While any room in Byrne almost always displeases most students, room 551 takes the cake for worst classroom in the university. With a tiny space, too many desks, an unreliable projector and to top it off, a random pole in the middle of the room, most students are unhappy to be paying around $35,000 in tuition for this type of facility. DePaul junior Sabrina DiMaso said “It’s really difficult to focus in such a claustrophobic space.” Freshman Sabrina Bartolomei had a similar experience in Byrne Hall and
said that her instructor moved the class after their first week because “she literally couldn’t stand teaching in there for another day.” The 990 W Fullerton building doesn’t have much room to spare either. Practically every single room is a tiny, windowless rectangle. Classes of thirty are squeezed into these spaces, and with no other layout choices the desks are positioned in a “u” shape in almost every room. This gives students just enough room to squeeze their way behind their classmates and arrive at their seat. DePaul freshman Jordan Lorenz isn’t the building’s biggest advocate. “All the rooms are way too small. In some classes they put so many desks into one room that students have to turn back and forth between a desk facing the wall and the front of the class to take notes,” Lorenz said. While most Loop Campus classrooms are satisfactory, that is not the case for Lewis Center room 1506 where freshman Jake Glover had quite a negative experience. “The desks are way too small and close together,” Glover said. “The layout makes it hard to get in and out of your seat or even write on your desk.” There is an obnoxious noise factor when trains are whizzing by at upwards 55 miles per hour when a class is trying to hear its professor. The classrooms closest to the tracks get the worst of this. Communications professor Jaime Bochantin learned this firsthand when
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
Room 551 in Byrne Hall is one of the university's smaller classrooms. teaching in the Lewis Center. “I was on the twelfth floor, and every time the train went by, I had to stop talking,” Bochatin said. “The class was six to nine, so it was during rush hour everyday.” Although most complaints are about lack of space or abundance of noise, some are simply about the looks of the joint, specifically the Schmitt Academic Center. While the third floor was just recently renovated, the second floor computer labs still leave much to desire. With the offwhite cement block walls providing the only somewhat color to the room and the exposed joists on the ceiling, SAC computer labs slightly give off the vibe of
an old bomb shelter. “I try to ignore my surroundings when I’m in the SAC because it’s so ugly it’s depressing,” freshman Madeline Buchel said about the bland, minimal design of the SAC. “The building is so outdated, it could really benefit from some renovations that would provide a more aesthetically pleasing learning environment.” The reality is that there is no such thing as a perfect campus. Occasionally, students and teachers alike have to deal with minimal color, random poles, crowded rooms or noise distractions. And as for the train, it is doubtful that the CTA will be very concerned with moving it anytime soon.
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News. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 5 DEBATE continued from front page in finance and vice-chair of the Republican club, said the debate was as good-natured as she thought possible. “It went really well and we were all very happy about it,” Fernandez said. “The clubs come from different sides but we really got along.” While political rhetoric can turn bar room banter bloody, the Democrat and Republican clubs put aside vitriol for a crash course in etiquette and aplomb. Fernandez said the Republican club’s plan was to not play dirty. “We wanted to remain collected and substantive in our arguments,” Fernandez said. “It’s respectful and better for the audience especially since we know [Republicans] are unpopular at DePaul.” Coming from Texas, Fernandez said she was surprised at how liberal a big city like Chicago could be, especially the DePaul campus. “It’s hard coming in as a Republican,” Fernandez said. “We know we’re the underdogs so we want to provide the audience with a clear-cut understanding of the issues.” Fernandez said that winning the debate was secondary. The Republicans’ primary goal was to appeal to an audience they anticipated to be heavily democratic and provide them with facts so they could make
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul Democrat and Republican student groups held a debate Feb. 20 for the first time in five years. educated decisions. “We weren’t going to fight a battle we knew we would lose and it’s pointless to shove opinions on the audience,” Fernandez said. “This is going to be a lost battle but we’re focused on winning the war. You have to win over the audience before you can win the war.” Kevin Brooks, a junior political science major and the
membership director for the Democratic Students Club, said the respect between both parties during the debate was outstanding. “We like them [the Republicans] and we respect them,” Brooks said. “Both clubs wanted the debate to be about the ideas, not just us attacking each other.” Brooks said the Democrats
wrote the questions for the Republicans and vice versa. “I think we all did well, both sides,” Brooks said. “I hope we do it again next quarter. If that doesn’t work out then at least I hope we do it annually.” Michael Rance said it was a victory for both sides, even though the Democrats won a whopping 73-13 vote (including votes cast from the panels) from
The staff of the DePaulia took home 16 individual awards at this year's annual Illinois College Press Association awards luncheon, the most in the paper's history. Congratulations to all.
• In-Depth Reporting • Column, Excluding Sports
• Sports Column • Sports Game Story • Sports Page Design
• Front Page Design • Feature Page Design
• News Story • Feature Photo
• General Excellence • Sports Game Story • Sports Feature Page Design
• Sports Photo • General News Photo • Spot News Photo
Critical Review (Film)
the audience. “Aside from the rhetoric and differentiating stances on policy, our ultimate goal was to get DePaul students more involved in politics,” Rance said. “I’m proud of both sides for getting this event together.” Though the Republicans lost handily, Alvar Calderon, a senior and president of the DePaul Republicans, who climbed up on stage on crutches because he slipped on ice and broke his ankle, said he was proud of his team. “I enjoyed the bravery of all of them being up on stage,” Calderon said. “It was most important that we got the facts to the audience. They are here to learn from us.” When asked about the heavily tilted Democratic victory, Calderon said he thought the Democrats’ strategy was better. “I was proud of my team,” Calderon said. “I take responsibility for this loss.” Ben Epstein, a professor of political science at DePaul, moderated the debate by weaving both sides through three controversial topics with two questions each. Both sides were given alternating opportunities to open arguments and provide rebuttals on economic policy, Obamacare and gun policy. “First of all, I thought it was a fantastic show from both clubs,” Epstein said. “I was incredibly impressed with how respectful the debate was.”
6 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Cure for TaxPhobia By Gabriella Mikiewicz Contributing Writer
The beginning of a new year is always hectic for anyone who has had a job the previous year. Finding paperwork in the mail, organizing your documents and then filing taxes can seem like the most complicated thing. Emily Brandenstein, sophomore, has never been taught to file taxes and thinks that she would be better off seeking the help of a tax professional. “It was scary to me that the government just took a chunk of my paycheck every two weeks, but I know that there are some tax geniuses out there who could help me,” Brandenstein said. The first thing that first-time filers should know is that the process is not hard, but it takes patience and care to make sure you’re doing the right thing and following instructions. A good starting point is to determine whether or not you actually need to file taxes. A person owes money to the government for every dollar that they receive. In charge of all of this money is the infamous Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to the IRS website, “you must file a federal income tax return if you owe tax.” Basically everyone owes the government a portion of their income. This tax is usually taken out of every single paycheck, usually in several different forms. The amount of tax you have paid is not calculated until the year is up, so you have to file taxes in order to see if you have overpaid or underpaid your required taxes. If you have overpaid, you get a refund. If you have underpaid, you owe the IRS money by April 15. According to Laura Johns, a CPA with H&R Block, a good indicator that you need to file tax returns is getting documents in the mail that say “Important Tax Documents Enclosed.” “(Receiving important tax documents in the mail) doesn’t necessarily mean you need to file a tax return, but it does mean you need to find out. The rest depends on if the student is being claimed on their parents’ returns and how much the student earned,” Johns said. Before you can start filing your taxes, there is a bit of information you have to gather. Find out if your parents have claimed you as a dependent, whether they’ve claimed the American Opportunity Credit for students before, who is paying your loans, if you have any scholarships and any other pertinent questions regarding your financial status. The next step in filing tax returns may be to use a filing software or to go and see a tax professional in person. According to Johns, a tax professional will prepare the necessary forms for you and tell you what you’re doing as you do it. Often, they will file everything for you electronically, and you then get your refund within 8-21 days. There are three different forms that a person can fill out depending on which one is necessary. The shortest form is the 1040EZ; the medium length form is the 1040A; and then finally, the longest one is the 1040. When you talk to a tax professional or put your information into a software program, it will tell you which form you need. Students are entitled to a lot of benefits they don’t know about. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is available for students in their undergraduate programs, and has a maximum annual credit of $2,500 per student which many students are unknowingly eligible for. Even graduate students have opportunities for large savings on their taxes. A Tuition and Fees Deduction, Lifetime Learning Credit and interest on loans can all save students money if prepared correctly. According to the DePaul Financial Fitness Program, you can only claim one of these credits per year and guardians would take the credit if they claim you on their taxes. “I want to caution people to make sure they’re confident in their eligibility for the benefits they receive. I don’t want them paying anything else,” Johns said. “You also don’t want to get a refund, spend it and then realize you weren’t entitled to it and have to give it back.” Another important note is that, even if the IRS says that you are not required to fill out taxes, it might still be beneficial to do so. Just because you do not have to fill out taxes does not mean that you are not eligible for a tax refund: You might still get money back. “The IRS only likes to tell you when you owe them money, but they don’t like to talk very loudly when they can give you money back,” Johns said.
HOSPITAL continued from front page Admitting that the process of the project was flawed, Mellis supported the plan as others in the crowd shook their heads in disagreement. “The business community on Lincoln Avenue has died,” Mellis said. “So now we’re getting retail on both sides that will revitalize the area.” Other highlights of the project include several open, green spaces that have received more approval. Both the Wrightwood Neighbors Association and Lincoln Central Association are two groups that support the plan. However, the MidNorth Association does not support the plan and would probably be the plaintiff on the proposed lawsuit. Alderman Michele Smith and The Mid-North Association were not present at the Saturday meeting and could not be reached for comment. The plan will continue to the Committee on Zoning for a vote before it goes to the full Chicago City Council.
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News. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 7
Rauner under attack in primary By Nathan Weisman Asst. News Editor
Bruce Rauner, the Republican front-runner for the Illinois gubernatorial primary, has been pushed on the defensive by a series of attack ads that have been launched by Political Action Committees (PACs) on both sides of the political spectrum. The attack ads are trying to derail Rauner's image before the March 18 primary. The blitzkrieg of attack ads on Rauner come from at least four different sources and hit him on a variety of different issues. The Illinois Freedom PAC has spent $1.2 million on ads that tie Rauner to corrupt insider Stuart Levine. Meanwhile, the Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs has sent out a 12-page mailer to lay out the case against Rauner. Finally, he is also being attacked by the Jobs and Opportunity for Illinois PAC, which is funded by the Democratic Governors Association with the goal of giving Gov. Pat Quinn a head start in the general election, and a new PAC named the Property
and Jobs Fund that has about $250,000 on hand. “Pat Quinn is the worst governor in America, and the status quo in Springfield is failing the people of Illinois,” Chip Englander, the campaign manager for Rauner, said in a press release responding to the attack ads. “So it’s no surprise that Quinn’s biggest financial backers are spending millions trying to smear Bruce and try to help elect anyone who will continue the failed policies of the past.” “Outside groups can go negative without risk of tarnishing the candidate they support,” Zachary Cook, a political science professor at DePaul, said. Political Action Committees are able to spend unlimited amounts of money to either support or oppose candidates as long as they do not plan or collaborate with a candidate. Cook continued to say that the recent increase in outside spending from Super PACs may be a cause of the influx in negative ads. Rauner is one of four
Photo couresty of AP
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner at the Republican gubernatorial debate Feb. 18. candidates in the Republican primary, but he is the clear front-runner, according to the most recent poll taken by the Chicago Tribune and WGN TV. The poll showed that 40 percent of the respondents supported Rauner in the primary. The closest candidate after Rauner was Bill Brady, with 20 percent supporting him. Despite his lead, Cook believes that the ads will have an impact on the race, but it may be too late to affect the outcome of the primary. “The problem is that the ads tell people not to vote for Rauner, but not who to vote for,” Cook
said. “Unless the other primary candidates are able to rally the votes Rauner loses, it won't matter.” According to Cook, the ads' greatest effect will be that they work to define Rauner in a negative light before the general election. Not only is Rauner ahead in the polls, he is also ahead in terms of fundraising. Between October and December of last year, Rauner was able to raise almost $4 million, according to financial disclosures filed with the state election board. Rauner has, however, dipped into his sizable fortune to fund his campaign. Much of the money
was spent on a large-scale ad campaign to increase his name recognition among voters who have not seen Rauner's name on a ballot before. The campaign left him with $396,000 on hand at the end of the quarter. “It’s pretty clear as a trend that self financing your own campaign is a bad thing,” Cook said. “Rauner, however, seems to be the exception.” According to Cook, Rauner is facing no opponents who are in a position to be able to exploit his vulnerability and has been impressively disciplined compared to other candidates who have self-funded their campaigns.
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT : Feb. 12 - Feb. 18 LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS 1150 W. Fullerton 11
Clifton Fullerton
6
University Hall 3
LOOP CAMPUS Sanctuary Hall 4
2 5
Munroe Hall
Sheffield Square
7
14 13
8
DePaul Center
12
15 1
Student Center
Ray Meyer Fitness Center 10
FEB. 17
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS FEB. 12 1) A disturbance report was filed regarding a woman who was harassing students in the Student Center. Chicago Police was on scene and took her into custody.
FEB. 13
5) A liquor law violation occurred in University Hall. Offender was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital by Chicago Fire Department EMT. 6) A liquor law violation occurred in Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Offender was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital by Chicago Fire Department EMT. 7) A suspicion of marijuana report was filed for a room in Sheffield Square. No drugs were found.
FEB. 15
occurred in January 2014 in University Hall.
8) A liquor law violation occurred in Sheffield Square. Offender was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital by Chicago Fire Department EMT.
FEB. 14
9) An aggravated assault was reported at 1150 W. Fullerton. Chicago Police were on scene.
2) Public Safety was informed of a criminal sexual assault that
3) A liquor law violation occurred in University Hall. Offender was taken by EMT to Illinois Masonic Hospital.
4) A liquor law violation occurred in Sanctuary Hall. Offender was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital by Chicago Fire Department EMT.
10) A battery report was filed regarding an incident on the basketball court of the Ray Meyer Fitness Center.
11) A theft report was filed for items missing from a room in 1150 W. Fullerton.
FEB. 18
12) A verbal threat report was filed for statements made at a meeting in Munroe Hall.
LOOP CAMPUS FEB. 17
13) A theft report was filed regarding a laptop and charger taken from the library at the DePaul Center.
14) An aggravated assault report was filed regarding an
offender in the Barnes and Noble in DePaul Center. Chicago Police were notified.
FEB. 18 15) A disturbance report was filed for an unknown subject
yelling loudly in the Barnes and Noble. Chicago Police were notified.
8 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Chicago startup scene Digital marketplace creates new opportunites for entrepreneurs By Sanjana Karanth Contributing Writer
The growing popularity of web and phone applications has caused the number of tech startup companies to increase in the city of Chicago. A startup is a company that is generally still in the early stages of development, looking for new ways to improve, build and fund their business in a way that puts them on the market. While San Francisco is considered the tech capital of the world, Chicago has been rising up with the recent boom in apps and tech startups. Chicago comes seventh in the top 10 cities for tech startups thanks to successful companies like Groupon, Orbitz and GrubHub, according to USA Today. Chicago’s online startup community, Built In Chicago, reported that funding for Chicago startups increased by 169 percent from 2012 to 2013, with more than $1 billion in funding. It was also reported that there were 214 startups launched in 2013 in Chicago. Software Engineer Abhishek Pillai, 24, joined discount-hub Groupon in May 2012 and keeps up with many other startups around Chicago. “Chicago is definitely the second or third best place in the US to start a company,” Pillai said. He also said that Chicago provides many opportunities for tech startups to thrive, such as universities with Computer Science and Design programs, existing tech companies with
a large influence and a “high density population with lots of tech-savvy people.” One of Chicago’s newest startups called ThreadMeUp was created by three college students in a DePaul University classroom. ThreadMeUp is an online platform for designing, ordering and crowdfunding custom apparel, and was created by Ramzey Nassar, Cory Keane and Paul Salvucci. According to ThreadMeUp’s Director of Business Development Isha Hamdani, most of ThreadMeUp’s employees range from ages 20 to 24. “At ThreadMeUp we don’t believe resumes and grades are the best way to determine a candidate,” Hamdani said. “The rest of the team was selected based off of experience and motivation. When we hire…we are more interested in speaking with candidates so we can understand them better as individuals.” Hamdani also agrees with Chicago’s potential to be a startup hub. “I think there is a lot of momentum that needs to be channeled in Chicago,” she said. “The community is vibrant and the knowledge here is incredible. I think Chicago will continue moving forward as a major startup hub in America.” Senior and Chemical Engineering student at Illinois Institute of Technology Rani Shah acknowledged Chicago’s advantages as well. “The city has a variety of small and large businesses, tech savvy professionals, and a crazy amount of access to universities and museums…if the city and Chicago universities continue their support of startups I think we’ll be in a great place soon,” Shah said. While Chicago is booming with tech startups all over the city, there can be potential problems that come along with it. Some of these problems may include loss
Photo courtesy of THREADMEUP
The homepage of ThreadMeUp a new Chicago startup founded by DePaul students. of trust in the startup company and fear of the eventual drop in demand. “The only issue I see with the startup boom in Chicago is that it must be sustained if we want to be even remotely on par with the West Coast culture of startups,” Shah said. “If the city and local universities don’t sustain a giant push to support startups then I don’t think this ‘boom’ will last long.” “If a lot of these startups fail, investors and users will be fearful of investing and taking risks in startups like in 1999,” Pillai said. With this in mind, it is important for college students and young adults to understand what goes into a successful startup company. When thinking about beginning a tech startup, there are multiple components that go into the idea. Pillai said what goes into a successful startup is a talented team, service with
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real value, quick feedback and a strong, focused vision. “The one piece of advice I would give is to do what we did to get off the ground and that is bootstrap,” Hamdani said. “This means figuring it out without thinking you need a ton of money to bring your idea to life. Be creative and resourceful in your pursuit…utilize Chicago’s business leaders and networking events.” “I think any type of startup culture is important today because understanding that the first step to success is failure is a very important concept,” Shah said. “Tech startups spur creativity and while the startup itself may fail, the face that a new, better idea might come along is all worth it. Being part of a new company allows students to understand how things actually work; the classroom provides theory, not life lessons.”
News. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 9
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
ANGEL PEDRO | THE DEPAULIA
Students walk around the Lincoln Park Campus while wearing shorts when temperatures rose into the 40s this past week.
10 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014.
Nation &World
U.S. speaks up on global warming By Brenden Moore Staff Writer
When an American secretary of state travels abroad, one may expect a few stops along the way complemented by a few speeches on foreign policy. John Kerry, the United States’ top diplomat, did just that last week while in Indonesia. The speech was certainly focused on foreign policy, and yet, it is making waves around the world for what the former Democratic nominee for president called “the greatest challenge of our generation”: global warming. “In a sense, climate change can now be considered the world's largest weapon of mass destruction, perhaps even, the world's most fearsome weapon of mass destruction,” Kerry said, according to the Associated Press. In his speech to Indonesian students, Kerry emphasized the importance of clean energy and even mocked those who don't believe in climate change. “The science is unequivocal, and those who refuse to believe it are simply burying their heads in the sand,” Kerry said, as reported by AP. “We don't have time for a meeting anywhere of the Flat Earth Society.” The statement followed a successful meeting with China in which both countries agreed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, AP reported. The arrangement is part of Kerry's larger plan to eliminate a global dependence on fossil fuels. The Secretary of State's strategy is supported by President Barack Obama, whose administration is currently trying to make an impact while dealing with the political realities of Washington. Nearly every Republican and even some members of the president’s own party are hesitant to enact some of the changes the administration would like to pursue, saying that the only result would be killing jobs. “This message was crafted by wellfunded lobbyist groups that do not want climate legislation,” Kathy Dhanda, a DePaul professor and climate change expert, said. “The special interest groups backed by energy and oil interests lobby for their own self-interest since the environmental legislation would force these companies to cut emissions.” On a divisive issue with a divided Congress, Obama has been largely limited to executive action, making good on a promise made in this year’s State of the Union address to act even with a gridlocked Congress. So far, the president, among other actions, has ordered the EPA to write new efficiency standards for trucks and has pressed world leaders to come up with a comprehensive climate change agreement. For a worldwide climate pact to work, the United States would probably have to take a lead role, as it is the second largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions, ranked only behind China. And with a 95 percent probability that climate change is due in large part to anthropogenic activity, the debate among scientists has largely moved to how fast change is occurring. It can be seen in the nation’s rising oceans and shrinking polar ice caps. According to a study conducted by Ian Eisenman, a climate scientist at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in California,
Photo courtesy of AP
Climate change may be the world's "most fearsome" weapon of mass destruction and urgent global action is needed to combat it, Secretary of State John Kerry said, comparing those who deny its existence to people who insist the Earth is flat.
It is time for our government to stop looking the other way and be proactive and innovative in reducing the overall emissions. Therese Delli Paoli Teacher the ocean grew 8 percent darker between 1979 and 2011. “The effects of the ‘positive feedback loop’ create a domino effect on the environment. The darker oceans mean that there is less ice present that will reflect the heat from the sun back into space,” Therese Delli Paoli, an advanced placement environmental science teacher, said. “With the oceans warming, it changes the dynamics of ocean life. Species are now threatened due to the warmer temperatures with possible extinctions occurring and weather changes, while ocean currents are disturbed, and that affects the climate in such a way as what happens with El Niño.” With a lot of damage already done and seemingly much still at stake, many are trying to find economical and convenient methods to become cleaner and greener. A current market-based method that is used is cap and trade. “A common example is cap and trade, whereby a cap of emissions is set in place and companies trade permits to meet their emissions,” Dhanda said. “In such a system, a clean company can potentially sell its permits in the market to an older company that might need an excess set of permits to cover its emissions.” One potential obstacle for the president in his effort is the current way tax subsidies are given out. Many go to subsidize dirty sources of energy like coal
and gas, according to Dhanda. Until that is changed, she says it will be difficult for clean energy to compete. “The government should give tax incentives to corporations who produce ‘green’ technology,” Delli Paoli said. “It is time for our government to stop
looking the other way and be proactive and innovative in reducing the overall emissions.” While Obama is attempting to take action on his own, cooperation of Congress and members of the world community may be needed to enact meaningful reforms.
Nation & World. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia |11
The difference $2.85 could make
Experts weigh costs and benefits of possible minimum wage increase By Michael Rance Contributing Writer
As President Barack Obama comes off of a tough year for his political agenda in 2013, the administration hopes to refocus the debate on how to lift Americans out of poverty and into the middle class. The president's answer? Minimum wage. The minimum wage, although increased to $7.25 in 2009, still sits far below the $10.10 that Obama recently set for federal contractors through executive action. It also doesn’t provide as much financial support as it used to. According to the Labor Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the minimum wage reached an “adjusted for inflation” peak of $8.56 in 1968. This shows that the minimum wage had more buying power in 1968 than it does now, when accounting for different values of the American dollar from 1968 to the present. Thus, the value of the minimum wage has steadily declined ever since reaching its peak in the late '60s. Gap recently raised its minimum hourly pay to $9.00 and will increase that amount to $10.00 by 2015. Additionally, polls show that a majority supports raising the minimum wage nationally. But despite this, many barriers could prevent Obama’s policy dream from becoming a reality. Many economists, including DePaul economics professor Qi
Hong Dong, believe that raising the minimum wage brings more negatives than it does positives. “In the teenage labor market, a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage depresses teenage employment between 1 and 3 percent,” she said. “Some teenagers who are still attending high school choose to drop out and take jobs due to the higher payment.” For her, real economic reform would include education reform and expanded access to educational opportunities for young people. These sentiments are shared with many in the economic community. According to famed economist Greg Mankiw, 79 percent of economists are against raising the minimum wage. Economics professor Brian Phelan, on the other hand, brought up the benefits that could come with the increase. “There is an extensive empirical literature in economics on this question, and the consensus is that the effect of minimum wages on employment is actually quite small,” he said. However, Phelan also warns about the potential negative effects of a higher minimum wage. “The economic recovery has been hindered by a slow recovery in the labor market, where employment levels remain well below where they were before 2007,” he said. “Thus, the minimum wage is a potentially dangerous policy tool at this juncture given its
Minimum wage rates from 1978-2009
Max Kleiner | the depaulia
Reminder: These numbers don't take inflation or the value of the dollar into account. Thus, the minimum wage of a given year might be worth more or less than what it seems. potential disemployment effects. This is particularly true as firms think about whether they should expand or not.” Strong supporters of raising in the minimum wage, on the other hand, see the labor market as structurally unfair to workers and see the increase as a way for low-income workers to move out of poverty. Democrats in particular believe it could prop up those who need help the most.
“It's not just teenagers that are the line cooks anymore. It also includes single parents trying to support their families and the elderly,” Cameron Erickson, treasurer of DePaul Democrats, said. “Many of the folks that are working now actually fall below the poverty line and need government benefits like food stamps and temporary assistance for needy families to make ends meet. It's the fiscally responsible
thing to do to give workers a livable wage of at least $10.10 an hour.” According to a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), there are arguments for both sides. The CBO estimates that an increase of the minimum wage to $10.10 would cost up to 500,000 jobs in the private sector, the New York Times reported, but would also help 900,000 people out of poverty.
Kickstarter user information obtained through website hack By Clare Edlund Contributing Writer
First Target, then Neiman Marcus and now Kickstarter. These three organizations are part of a growing scare among shoppers and users: hacking. The latest breakthrough occurred Feb. 12 when law officials discovered that Kickstarter, a crowd funding organization designed for users to sponsor personal creative projects, was accessed without authority. The hackers obtained user names, email addresses, phone numbers and encrypted passwords. Credit card information is not stored in Kickstarter, so that remained secure. Kickstarter notified their users Feb. 16 after the search was “thoroughly investigated,” according to a blog post from the company, and was resolved after it urged users to change their passwords. The company uses multiple methods to encrypt passwords. According to its blog, “older passwords were uniquely salted and digested with Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1) multiple times. More recent passwords are hashed with bcrypt.” SHA is used to protect passwords, but actual passwords are never used to authenticate. Instead, hashed passwords are compared to determine if people
are who they claim to be. Since hashes are nonreversible, passwords cannot be determined from its hashed version, according to College of Computing and Digital media professor Jacob Furst. There are four different SHA functions (SHA 0-3), and SHA-1 is the most widely used. However, it’s the least secure and particularly susceptible to attacks. This is due to people knowing how to find collisions — a vulnerability of hash functions — faster than by brute-force searching. “Not much faster, but if SHA-1 has a weakness, it will only get weaker as machines get faster and attacks get better,” Furst said. Because of these vulnerabilities, Kickstarter’s decision to advise users to change their passwords was the best possible action. SHA-1 is still used because it’s too big of a change to make right now, and the dangers are not yet severe enough. “It will happen, but it will take time,” Furst said. As far as Kickstarter is concerned, Furst believes that it was hacked through a possible SQL injection, which Microsoft defines as “an attack in which malicious code is inserted into strings that are later passed to an instance of SQL Server for
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Kickstarter's website was hacked last week, but no credit card data was stolen. parsing and execution.” “This is the most frustrating part about security; too often, the details are hidden and we can’t know exactly what happened, or how to fix it,” Furst said. Regardless of what happened, Kickstarter took quick and appropriate actions to halt the hacking. They contained the attack by deactivating rogue accounts and removing sensitive files. They then tried to find out what happened by looking at log files to see the activity that occurred before and after the attack. Lastly, they recovered
by restoring from backup, alerted users to change their passwords and implemented new security procedures. “Kickstarter seems to be doing the right things, though we’ll never know,” Furst said. Numerous tech companies including computer security companies have been hacked. Therefore, Kickstarter is not alone. “I wouldn’t come down too hard on Kickstarter,” Furst said. “It happens, like tornadoes and floods. You get hit, you pick up, carry on and try to be better prepared for when the next attack comes.”
12 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Opinions
Success through sports
The administration's defense of DePaul's athletic department
Editor's note: This is written in response to last week's sports commentary, "The time for change is now."
The recent front-page editorial in the Feb. 17 issue of The DePaulia represents the pride and interest the student body has in our athletics programs and its success. While the men’s basketball program is the most visible of the 15 intercollegiate programs, the entirety of the program needs to be viewed when assessing the Athletic Department. Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto has elevated the level of commitment for the entire athletic department, including the men’s basketball program. During her tenure, 14 of the 15 programs have competed in an NCAA Championship event. The women’s basketball and softball programs are perennial national contenders. Specific to the men’s basketball program, head coach Oliver Purnell took over a program that was ranked 233rd out of 350 programs in the NCAA RPI rankings. The most recent NCAA RPI rankings as of Feb. 17 put DePaul at No. 120. Injuries and changes to the roster have hampered the team’s performance in recent weeks, but there is still time to get back to the form that saw the team win games against Butler and St. John’s earlier this season in the Big East. Fundraising for athletics is at an alltime high including an increase from 12 endowed scholarships in 2007 to the current mark of 43. Additionally, fundraising has been achieved for new facilities for softball (Cacciatore Stadium), men’s and women’s soccer (Wish Field at Cacciatore Stadium), men’s golf (Ruffled Feathers Golf Club), men’s and women’s tennis (Lakeshore Athletic Club) and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field (Lane Tech Stadium). Cacciatore Stadium also serves the university and local communities for intramural athletics and education courses. The basketball stadium will make basketball more accessible to DePaul students and to the people of Chicago, which should help recruiting, attendance and visibility in Chicago. We also emphasize that intercollegiate
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS
ANAM MERCHANT | THE DEPAULIA
Softball player Mary Connolly and womens basketball player Kelsey Reynolds. These are two of DePaul's teams that have been praised for performance on and off the field. sports are played by student-athletes, for whom success is measured in both athletics and academics. Under Lenti Ponsetto’s leadership, the athletic department has achieved a high degree excellence in athletic competition and in the classroom. The academic success of the student-athletes has been recognized at the Big East Conference level and Blue Demon teams have earned numerous national academic honors on a perennial basis. While the following statistics are rather lengthy, a shorter summary would not manifest the scope of academic achievements across the athletic program. This analysis comes from an email that is sent out quarterly to the entire DePaul University faculty. This excerpt was shared with them in autumn, 2013, and is typical of every year’s achievements. All of these accomplishments represent recognitions earned since the letter shared with them last March. First, the overall GPA of DePaul student athletes for the 2012-13 Academic Year was 3.357, with over 78 percent of student-athletes named to the Big East All-Academic Team, and 50 percent named to the DePaul’s Dean List.
Furthermore, 14 of our 15 teams had a team GPA of over 3.00, with 11 having a GPA of over 3.25 and 5 over 3.50, with no team having a GPA of less than 2.70. Six of our teams, women’s basketball, women’s tennis, men’s tennis, women’s soccer, men’s soccer and men’s golf, achieved the highest GPA in the Big East conference in their respective sport, while two others, women’s indoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field, were tied for the highest GPA with one other institution. This was the most of any Big East member school for the third consecutive year. No other institution had more than three academic teams winning or tying for this distinction. The golf team had a GPA of 3.724, which earned them recognition from the Golf Coaches Association of America and the Division I President’s Special Recognition Award. Before this year, golf had the highest GPA among all Division I schools for three consecutive years. Our women’s basketball GPA of 3.625 was tied for second in the nation. This is not an isolated event. Women’s basketball earned Top 25 status several times over the past decade and is just one of two programs in the Academic Top
25 to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2013. Women’s volleyball also received an Academic Excellence Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for the sixth consecutive season by maintaining a GPA of 3.38. Seven of our teams, women’s basketball, women’s tennis, men’s tennis, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s golf and softball, earned the NCAA Public Recognition Award that is given each year to teams whose Academic Progress Rate (APR) ranks in the top 10 percent in its sport, with five of them having a perfect score. Men’s tennis, whose GPA was 3.55, was one of 86 Division I schools that earned the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic standing, while women’s tennis, with a GPA of 3.79, also received this ITA recognition. Both our men’s and women’s track & field teams have earned academic recognition from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I Cross Country All-Academic Team with our women’s team earning a GPA of 3.38 and the men’s a GPA of 3.12. These academic achievements are the result of the efforts of our student-athletes; our administration; our staff; their coaches; our athletic department; athletic academic advising; and, of course, their professors. In closing, we acknowledge that these achievements are a team effort. However, the climate and tone are established first by the institution’s athletic director. Without this individual’s full support, they could not be accomplished. Accordingly, for the reasons cited in our letter, as well as Jean Lenti Ponsetto’s numerous other qualities, as DePaul’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and Chair of DePaul’s Athletics Board, respectively, we felt compelled to provide a more balanced picture of the successes of both our athletics program and the broadbased role the Director of Athletics has played in achieving those successes.
John McEnroe & Wayne Steger Athletics Board Faculty Representatives
Counterpoint: SGA deserves more credit Editor's note: This is written in response to last week's news piece, "SGA disconnect: Some feel a weak connection with DePaul's student government." I write to you aggravated by your article in last week’s issue about a disconnect between Student Government Association (SGA) and the student body. Seriously? The author makes a claim about a disconnect after interviewing only three students who are not affiliated with SGA. This is a very bold claim to make based on such a small sample of student opinion on the matter. Not only is SGA in constant communication with the student body, it is more so this year than any year in recent memory. I, the Director of Internal Affairs
for Residence Hall Council, was approached – along with members from at least a dozen other prominent organizations and student populations – by SGA in the summer and offered the opportunity to serve as a liaison between my organization and SGA. This reflects their goal to reach more students than ever before. Now, I relay pertinent information from SGA to the whole body of RHC senators, who then are encouraged to share this information with their respective residents. This did not exist in RHC last year, and this is a huge step in the direction of increased visibility for SGA. On top of that, SGA senators now spend their office hours in Brownstones and the DePaul Center, where students can approach them with concerns
about their school experience. They have also drastically increased their presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Every quarter they have open forums where they invite all students to chat and get acquainted with their senators. Just this year, they began sending student-wide emails, providing quarterly newsletters and information about elections to all students. In addition to reaching out to the student body, they have also been hard at work acting on the concerns that students raise to them. They implemented signs at the bookstore to inform students about their rights when purchasing textbooks. They worked with Information Services to fix the “View My Grades” section of Campus
Connect. They addressed concerns about Ventra by hosting a “Let’s Talk Ventra” event where they brought in representatives from Ventra for students to directly voice their concerns. They initiated the double-sided printing standard. They worked to create a graphic representation of Blue Demon Week, as can be seen at the Richardson Library and on the Lewis Center Building in the loop. These are just a few examples, and there is still another quarter in the academic year. Even in the picture you included in your article, the room is packed with people at the weekly SGA meeting. Only about half of those people are actually elected members of SGA. The rest are present to voice their concerns or just to be a part
of the ongoing conversation. I am very concerned that a wild distortion like this was actually published by The DePaulia. Why would you write and publish an uninformed article bashing your own student government, when you could report on the significant progress that they have made and the extensive efforts they have undertaken to benefit their fellow students? Please consider putting some focus on reporting about the positive things going on in the community of which you have chosen to be a part.
Jarrett Long Director of Internal Affairs for Residence Hall Council
Opinions. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 13
Justice still not served for black America By Darartu Mohamed Contributing Writer
Last summer in Jacksonville, Fla., Jordan Davis and his friends were shot at by Michael Dunn. Dunn was annoyed about the loud “thug” music they were playing in their car and got into an altercation with the boys, leading up to the shootings. Unfortunately, Jordan Davis was killed by the shots fired. Michael Dunn was found guilty Saturday, Feb. 15, on two counts of attempted murder of Davis’ friends, but was acquitted in murdering Jordan Davis. Michael Dunn felt that he had the right to shoot at Davis and his friends because he felt they posed a threat to his safety; Florida’s Stand Your Ground law backs Dunn’s claim of selfdefense. Under this law the people of Florida can refuse to retreat if they feel as if harm is to be inflicted upon them. This policy, however, seems to only support the white citizens of Florida. This was evident earlier in 2013 when Marissa Alexander, a black woman, received 20 years in prison for shooting at, but not harming, her husband in an attempt to end his physical abuse towards her. Alexander also used the Stand Your Ground law in her case but got no justice from the jurors. Both George Zimmerman and Dunn took a life when trying to defend themselves in the state of
RICH PEDRONCELLI | ASSOCIATED PRESS
A group of prisoners at Califronia State Prison Sacremento. Statistics show that African Americans and Latinos comprise a disproportionate amount of American inmates. Florida, while in the same state, Alexander received 20 years for killing no one. It’s clear that one group is getting the upper hand in courtrooms. Race is definitely a large factor in the killing of Jordan Davis. However, instead of looking at the individual racism Davis suffered from, it may be more beneficial to examine the institutional racism toward young men of color in America. Few places is this more prevalent than in the American justice system. The Stand Your Ground law makes it easier for white people to imprison or kill young men of color; it doesn’t seem to work in reverse. This is evident beyond the high profile Jordan Davis or Trayvon Martin cases, and even beyond the unjust system of the state of Florida. This
injustice is evident in the case of the shooting and killing of the unarmed Jonathan Ferrell by North Carolina police officer Randall Kerrick. Kerrick found Ferrell suspicious after a call he received about a nearby house robbery even though Ferrell was merely wandering, seeking help for his car. Kerrick was not indicted. Another evidence of institutional racism is the case of the aggressive frisking of Derrin Manning. While walking with friends, he was stopped and frisked, even though the stop-and-frisk policy was deemed unconstitutional due to the disproportionate frisking of blacks and Latinos, which violates the 14th Amendment of equal protection. Although the police officer ruptured the
testicles of Darrin Manning, Manning was still taken to prison for resisting arrest and reckless endangerment. Our justice system is biased against people of color. African Americans and Latinos make up 29 percent of America’s population combined. Yet the amount of African American and Latino prisoners continues to increase beyond 60 percent, showing a direct disproportionality in the American Justice system toward people of color. Ignoring the racist society that exists today only makes us more racist. I am tired of hearing stories of young men of color dying in unjust ways. How many more bodies do we have to lay to rest before America gets tired too?
BOB MACK | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michael Dunn during his trial for killing unarmed teen Jordan Davis. He was eventually acquitted of murder.
CLEMENS VOGELSANG | CREATIVE COMMONS
A protester at a rally against treatment of African Americans in the prison and justice system.
Coming out: Some closets are tougher than others By Zoe Krey Staff Writer
Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Parsons, Andy Cohen, Jane Lynch, Neil Patrick Harris – what do all of these Hollywood stars have in common? They are ridiculously funny and seriously successful. Additionally, in light of recent events, they are veterans of the act of coming out. Within the last few weeks actress, Ellen Page and University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam have been added to the list of celebrities who have gracefully come out to the world. However, there is a stark difference between Page’s coming out and Sam’s coming out: the respective subculture each is a part of. Page is an actress, and therefore has had a long line of Hollywood stars ahead of her that have paved the way. While her act should still be considered brave, it cannot be considered revolutionary. Page knew that, although she may have to face some negativity to her coming out, she wouldn’t face an overwhelming amount of critics. Many fellow actors and actresses even took to Twitter to compliment Page on her empowering speech at a Human Rights Campaign Foundation event. Her announcement of her homosexuality was easily accepted and, for the most part, unquestioned. Page’s raw honesty demonstrated her personal struggle with coming out as she said, “I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My
MATT SAYLES | ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRANDON WADE | CREATIVE COMMONS
Actress Ellen Page and football player Michael Sam, two notable public figures who have recently come out publicly as homosexual. spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I’m standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain.” On the other hand, Sam’s coming out can be considered more of a risky move. The subculture that Sam came out to is one of burly, tough men that don’t have a reputation for acceptance of homosexuality. Furthermore, he did so before the NFL draft in May. Should Sam be drafted, he would become the first openly gay player in NFL history. Sam handled this situation with a perfect balance of poise, collectiveness and outright confidence, declaring, "I am
an openly, proud gay man,” in interviews with ESPN and The New York Times. While Sam’s story has had considerable amounts of positive feedback, there has been negative feedback as well. According to Sports Illustrated Magazine, an NFL player personnel assistant stated, “I don't think football is ready for (an openly gay player) just yet. In the coming decade or two, it's going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it's still a man's-man game. To call somebody a (gay slur) is still so commonplace. It'd chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room." If a comment like this would have
been made in the social subculture that Hollywood celebrities come out in, the community would likely rally to defend whoever is facing the negative comments; hence why Page’s coming out is monumentally different than Sam’s. For many people, including DePaul freshman Emily Becker, Sam coming out should be regarded as a moment to be respected. “Sam is so confident with his sexuality and that is really respectable, especially in the context of his life,” Becker explained. “I think that shunning him would be a bad reflection of your own personal character.” But alas, it’s possible that many NFL teams may take Sam’s sexuality into account when considering whether or not to draft him this spring. Although the coming out process has become a widely accepted act within the last few years, certain subcultures of our society still need brave people like Sam to continue to pave the way and break barriers for homosexual acceptance. Until the act of coming out becomes something that doesn’t warrant so much media attention and dissent in the realms of sports, business, education or other subcultures that are hesitant to homosexual acceptance, coming out will still be considered a significant statement. Although I applaud these strong people for their confidence and selfrealizations, I still hold hopes for a day when people don’t have to declare their sexuality, but rather can live their lives out as who they truly are, no questions asked.
The opinions in this section do not necessarily reflect those of The DePaulia staff.
14 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Focus
Man in th
The nearly 70-foot tall mural overlook but it represents the many faces of Elder, the professor behind the creati By Courtney Jacquin Managing Editor
As tourists pull into the Fullerton station on the Red, Purple and Brown Lines, they’re greeted by a friendly face peering down upon Wish Field that’s often confused for a plethora of different figures. It’s the Pope, right? DePaul is a Catholic campus after all. Not the Pope? Maybe Willie Nelson? Or Jacques Cousteau? These are just a few of the people Brother Mark Elder has heard over the last 13 years as to who is painted along the side of McCabe Hall. But it’s neither the Pope, Nelson nor Cousteau. The answer is even more obvious. It’s St. Vincent DePaul, and Elder is the man who created the 68-foot mural titled “We Are DePaul2” in 2001. But it’s not just St. Vincent DePaul in the mural. It’s all of DePaul — in theory. “I had my idea and I said, ‘What if I developed a concept where a mural could be made of seemingly a limitless amount of component parts of actual pictures of real people at DePaul?” Elder said. “We Are DePaul2” is made completely of a series of rubber stamp portraits of faculty, students and staff members at the university. “What you’re looking at is a huge paintby-number,” Elder said. “There are just five tones, so literally you can take this rubber stamp, take a little paint put it on a glass palette and you pile them up into a tone, and
you go from one section to another.” While “We Are DePaul2” has become somewhat of a landmark, McCabe wasn’t the original canvas. And this mural isn’t the original either. With a name like “We Are DePaul2,” it seems obvious there was once a “We Are DePaul.” And there was. Before O’Connell, Levan and the Schmitt Academic Center were connected as one cohesive building, there was once an open plaza. The original “Big Vinny” as it is colloquially referred to by Elder, sat on the south-side wall. Elder began raising the $35,000 necessary to create the original mural in 1997, a project that was part of DePaul’s centennial celebration in 1998. “It was the type of mural back then where routinely you could walk by it and you would see at least two or three people any time of the day say, ‘Oh I know that guy,’” Elder said. “It naturally dawned on people that as they looked they realized, ‘Oh I’m part of this too.’” But just four short years later Elder got an email from the university’s administration while painting a mural in Rome in the summer. He was told that there was going to be a building contracted on top of the mural, and it would have to find a new home. “We Are DePaul2” may be the most prominent mural Elder has had his hand in on campus, but it’s certainly not the only one. “We used to have a whole bunch, we don’t have as many anymore, but odds are if you see it I probably had something to do with it,”
Vinny by the numbers The massive mural depicting St. Vincent DePaul and overlooking Wish Field took a lot of manpower, hours and planning. Here’s a breakdown of the completion of “We Are DePaul2” by the numbers. Greg rothstein | the depau-
TOP: The blueprint sketch of the design for ‘We Are DePaul2’ was part of the nine months it took to plan and design the mural. RIGHT: The mural was constructed with rubber stamp portraits of students, faculty and staff at DePaul at the time of the mural’s creation. greg rothstein | courtney jacquin | the depaulia
Focus. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 15
he mural
king Wish Field depicts just one man, DePaul, including ‘Buffalo Bro’ Mark ion of the mural. Elder said. “You can pretty much ask anybody, ‘(Did) Brother Mark have something to do with it?’ ‘Oh, yeah, he did.’” Many of the murals that remain come out of Elder’s ART 291 class, a course in the art, media and design program that focuses on mural painting. The most recent works are the murals in Munroe Hall’s lobby and Radio DePaul’s office in the basement of University Hall. Elder, a DePaul alumnus, has been working at the university for the past 19 years. He teaches the ART 291 class and ART 383 (Service Learning in the Arts Internship), as well as varying Discover Chicago courses. He’s also given himself the persona of the “Art Internship Czar,” passing along internship and job opportunities to art and art history majors and minors. “Occasionally when I write these big emails I feel challenged to write something humorous so (students) will actually read what I have to offer,” Elder said. “Last few times I haven’t been able to do that, but I’m feeling more inspired.” It’s no surprise that a man who paints giant scenes on buildings has a giant personality to match. On Elder’s website, which displays his murals and other professional work, the home page has the header “Muralist. Educator. Cowboy.” next to a photo of the “Buffalo Bro” himself. Elder’s first two descriptors are obvious, but if this were a game of “one of these things
is not like the other,” cowboy would be the winner. “The old Buffalo Bro, he’s kind of a performance artist,” Elder said. “If you look into the kind of thing that Buffalo Bill did for his Wild West show … he kind of represents to me the Western Christ figure.” Elder, as a Vincentian Brother, takes the same vow to the church as a priest but isn’t ordained. As the Buffalo Bro, Elder can be seen around DePaul’s campus and beyond in standard cowboy regalia — cowboy hat, suede fringed coat, neckerchief and a silver chain adorned with turquoise and a silver buffalo attached. It’s no surprise he stands out amongst the rest of Lincoln Park, but it’s all part of the show. “I have these weird Western clothes on, (so) it challenges the viewer to look further into the motivation behind it,” Elder said. “What you see, you can either accept it for what it is or reject it. People like to look at the outer markings of people and they make judgments without really talking to them, so I wear this stuff purely to be provocative so that people have to ask at least themselves and be challenged by it in a way.” While Elder’s dress might be a little more Wille Nelson than Jacques Cousteau, just like “We Are DePaul2,” there’s much more than meets the eye.
greg rothstein | the depaulia
greg rothstein| the depaulia
greg rothstein | the depaulia
TOP: Brother Mark Elder, an art professor at DePaul, was the creative genius behind the mural depicting St. Vincent DePaul overlooking Wish Field. MIDDLE AND BOTTOM: Elder and the students in one of his mural classes collaborated with Radio DePaul to create a mural in their office depicting famous musicians throughout time and famous music venues in Chicago.
16 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Arts & Life
DOG'S DAY AFTERNOON
NICOLE CASH | THE DEPAULIA
Instagram's favorite French bulldog celebrates his third birthday By Nicole Cash Contributing Writer
Manny, an Instagram-famous French bulldog, celebrated his third birthday Saturday with his owners and a number of guests, both human and non-human. Manny’s birthday party profited a number of charities and featured several sponsors. The event took place at Paradise 4 Paws, a dog and cat resort, located in Schiller Park near O’Hare. Manny’s owners, his cousin, Cooper, and Cooper’s owners ran the party, while a number of guests arrived with their own French bulldogs and other small breed dogs. Sugar cookies and puppy chow were available for the human guests, and special dog treats sat on the table for the many canine attendees. A portion of each dog registration fee, which was $20, goes to French Bulldog Rescue and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Sponsors such as GNC Pets and Beggin’ Strips dog food also helped bring in donations. Manny, a white French bulldog with a black patch over his right eye, initially became Instagram famous when his owners, Amber Chavez and Jon Huang, began to post pictures for their friends and family to see, Chavez said. “He’s really photogenic and personable … it kind of just blew up from there,” she said. Manny is known for sleeping in the bathroom sink and has
more than 400,000 followers on Instagram, under username manny_the_frenchie. Manny was the last of the litter and a little rambunctious, Chavez said of her dog, but he loves being around people and dogs, which is what makes him so fun. Chavez says they chose Paradise 4 Paws because of their dog-friendly attitude and the pool, which is bone-shaped and sits in the middle of a large, grassy arena enclosed with a white fence. The pool, complete with a lifeguard to keep smaller dogs afloat, has numerous dog toys such as yellow Frisbees and red balls floating in the water. “They really treat them like part of the family,” she said of Paradise 4 Paws. The party also included raffle prizes, such as large gift baskets full of dog accessories, and a Frenchie kissing booth, where guests could donate $1 to kiss the French bulldog stationed behind the booth. According to Chavez, their main demographic is the typical Instagrammer in his or her mid-20s. “There are some 10-yearolds too with their own Instagram account,” she said. Chavez says she and Huang did not try at all to make Manny famous. “It just happened,” she said. “Since he’s gotten so popular, we’re always getting requests like ‘oh you should have a party, we want to meet Manny,’ so … we thought this would be fun.” Chavez said they have also done a Halloween party and an end-ofsummer party, both benefitting
different charities. Cooper, Manny’s cousin, is from the same breeder as Manny. His owners have had him for just under a year, and he is also Instag ra m-fa mous with more than 93 thousand followers. “We try to come up with new ideas, new situations … it’s tough to keep it fresh. My wife is the mastermind … she posts a couple pictures a day,” MinDong Chang, Cooper's owner, said. He believes it’s the captions that make the photos funny and keep bringing in more Instagram followers for Cooper and Manny. French bulldog owner Barbara Pon adopted her dog from French Bulldog Rescue and heard about Manny’s birthday party through the organization. It was her first time attending one of Manny’s events, but Pon plans on attending more. “They have a lot of meet-ups, so it’s, you know, like socializing for the dogs,” she said. “We love French bulldogs,” Abigale Miller, dog owner and party guest, said, while holding her bulldog over her shoulder. Miller’s dog was wrapped in a blanket, wet and cold, as she just finished a swim in the pool. Manny’s third birthday party ended as Manny enjoyed his treats in his special birthday hat, while the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to the guest.
NICOLE CASH | THE DEPAULIA
NICOLE CASH | THE DEPAULIA
Top: Manny's "parents" Jon Huang, left, and Amber Chavez with Manny and his birthday cake. Middle: The birthday boy himself. Bottom: The spread available to guests of the birthday bash.
Arts & Life. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 17
A fresh perspective on the American dream By Clare Edlund Contributing Writer
The stage was dimly lit. On it, a table decked out with a navy New York Yankees cap sat, along with a foot-long trophy and a powderpink tapestry embroidered with parades of white elephants and lucky eyes. The full house of audience members awaited for the arrival of the award-winning actress – the Indian immigrant raised in “Da Broncs,” who popped out in a white tank top, Nike high-tops, and sporting a rose tattoo on her right shoulder blade. Her dark hair was slicked back in a long ponytail. Her square jaw, fierce eyebrows and enticing smile grabbed the audience. And then her powerful voice took the audience aback, as she began her story as an infant held in her mother’s arms, dubbed “a name so difficult that the other Indian mothers would never name their children”: Qurrat Ann Kadwani. Kadwani shared her selfwritten solo story, "They Call Me Q!” at DePaul Feb. 19. In this true story, starring herself as "Q," Kadwani portrayed 13 different characters (including her parents, friends, teachers and bullies), guiding the audience through the trials and tribulations of an immigrant. “They Call Me Q!” is a
comedy that manages to “voice the universal struggles for identity and self-understanding experienced by immigrants of all nationalities.” The event, organized and hosted by the DePaul Center for Intercultural Communication, also held a diversity workshop earlier that morning. At the workshop, Kadwani personally spoke with multiracial students about self-identity. She discussed ideas about individualism vs. institutionalism. This marked the 50th performance of “They Call Me Q!” Along with this, Kadwani has shared her piece with the United Nations. In March, she is headed to off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre in New York to perform twice a week. Her awe-inspiring tale began when Kadwani, “Q,” emigrated from India to New York at a young age. Throughout her life, she felt torn between her family and New York, both cultures conflicting. Her mother always wanted Q to be a top-notch student in her suburban class. Q imitated her mother in a flawless Indian accent: “Ninety-eight? What happened to the other two points, Qurrat? A man wants to marry a woman who is smart.” Q was envied by her peers at school for her intelligence and
Photo courtesy of QURRAT ANN KADWANI
Actress Qurrat Ann Kadwani performed her one-woman show "They Call Me 'Q'!" at DePaul Feb. 19. also questioned about her Indian identity – one of her ex-friends sought out Q after she (who helped teachers grade papers) refused to give her friend a perfect score on a test. Q, fervently hiding from the girl, bumped heads with her after school one day. “Fight-Fight. Fight-Fight. Fight-Fight,” Q huffed in a rhythm
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resembling a panicky heartbeat. Q punched the girl’s face in self-defense. Afterward, a teacher, Ms. Farley (whom Kadwani impersonated by gliding on mismatched lipstick and a pussface), pummeled Q. Later on, Q was ambushed at her own front door with a group of girls. “My sister wants to be a lawyer – why you wanna get in da way of that?” And she sucker-punched Q, leaving a fruitful mark on her lip. From then on, Q had no choice but to toughen up. Kadwani did not have it easy growing-up. Her parents held high-standards for her, while the kids at school were ruthless. Q did not feel a sense of self – in junior high, she went through great lengths to fit in. “I wanted their curly hair and nose rings … I wanted a family who would teach me how to swim and drink beer … so I cut my hair, permed it and dyed it,” a young Q said, putting on 10K fist-sized hooped earrings. “You look like a boy!” cried Kadwani’s impersonation of her mother. “I went through that Latina phase for about a year,” Kadwani told the audience in her talkback Q&A that immediately followed the performance. Though it was no cakewalk, Q decided to “be herself ” again, attempting to embrace both Indian and American cultures. Through time, she lost a dear friend from the debate team in high school, who abruptly committed suicide. She had the American college experience while struggling to learn Indian recipes away from home. She eventually returned to India, after her yogi friend inspired her. “It’s not about your friends or parents … it’s about you – always has been. It’s about love.” The yogi said, passing Q an imaginary joint. After visiting India, Kadwani
was finally at peace with herself. She returned to New York with a smile on her face and a new outlook. “I wanted to mold myself and remold myself like the Play-Doh I played with as a child,” Q said. What made this performance subsequently genuine was Kadwani’s reality. Her impersonations were meant to humor the audience, but the events were all true. “('They Call Me Q!') was beautiful to see how somebody’s culture can present a challenge as trying to live an American lifestyle,” Galen Cook, Depaul student, said. She had attended the event for her multi-culturalism in the U.S. class. Kadwani’s piece intrigues the audience to look within people as individuals, rather than what society labels. “The fact that your parents took a risk and moved to New York to allow you to be an individual was random – the element of chance, it’s complex, yet random,” one audience member spoke out at the Q&A. “They Call Me Q!” took Kadwani about four years to write. When she paid a teacher to read her script and give her constructive criticism, the teacher told Kadwani “it was horrible” and “it could never amount to anything.” Kadwani, crushed by the assessment, was motivated by her parents to continue writing. In the end, Kadwani became so successful that she received “Best Actress Award” at The Harvard Festival in 2012 and “The Best Play Award” at the Maui Fringe Festival in 2013. “Now, that same teacher wants my secrets, and she will never get a response,” Kadwani said. Kadwani encouraged the audience to keep working on something that is true to them, no matter what someone says. "To be an immigrant is to dream," Kadwani said.
18 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Study abroad diaries:
Merida, Mexico By Parker Asmann Contributing Writer
Mayan culture has long been disputed over the years. Who was this ancient culture, what were their beliefs and how has their culture been depicted and portrayed throughout history? There have been various interpretations of this civilization, and who’s to decide which one is entirely correct? It’s hard to say, but we do have evidence available to help point us in the right direction. Just like with anything, the individuals who recount history have a lens that they see it through. They carry with them values and beliefs that alter their perspective on what’s being presented to them. This is a critical component of understanding and describing history that the reader needs to consider when evaluating what is and what is not true. Dr. Adam T. Sellen, a researcher in the Peninsula Centre of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, was kind enough to speak to our class about these very questions this past week with a lecture he crafted together entitled “The Mystique of the Ancient Maya.” “Over time we’ve created these narratives that society has grown to assume are true, but what really is true, what steps can be retraced to try and recreate this truth?” he asked. Dr. Sellen's presentation dealt with the current representation of the Mayan culture and how society has come to these conclusions. From the mid 1800s until present day, a wide variety of explorers have visited the Mayan ruins that stretch from the Yucatan Peninsula, down to Belize and through parts of Guatemala. Each explorer carried with them a different perspective to
see these ruins through. From Jean-Frederic de Waldeck, a French explorer who saw these ruins through a very artistic lens, to John Lloyd Stephens, an American travel writer who depicted these ruins through a very romantic and literary-influenced lens, one can imagine that the understanding of the Mayan culture would vary based on the respective lens being used. A common depiction of the Mayan civilization has been that they were this extraordinarily unique group; however, this is simply untrue. The Mayans shared many characteristics with cultures like the Egyptians, Assyrians and the Greeks. A distinct writing style, history of conquest and conflict, and writings of people of power and significance are all present PARKER ASMANN | THE DEPAULIA in these ancient cultures. Despite that, modern society has completely idealized A restored hacienda in Merida, Mexico, a common sight on old farmland in the country. and sensationalized the Mayan culture presented with the present day depiction culture before coming into such a heavily to help reinforce the narrative that’s been of the Mayans, when in actuality, whose Mayan populated region. The last thing created over time. depiction is this and who's claiming that any outsider wants to do is to hold onto the In simpler terms, the Mayan civilization these depictions are in fact truth? idealizations that are presented to us as fact is being used for contemporary purposes. Perspective plays a huge role in the before seeing the reality of the situation Let’s be honest, if the Mayans weren’t telling of history. It’s impossible to say who first hand. sensationally depicted, would people be has the answers and if they’re right or not, More than anything, my time here interested in their culture today? Another but it is our duty as citizens to question in Merida has taught me a tremendous thing that often goes unconsidered is the these so called truths and dig deeper for amount about perspective and the way I fact that the Mayan people endured around the reality that is trapped beneath these perceive things. At the end of the day, you 500 years of colonization by the Spaniards. representations. can believe what anybody tells you, but It’s inaccurate to connect the Mayans As the group is preparing for our you’ll never actually know what the current back to pre-Hispanic times when such a longest trip of the program down to the state of things are until you look them in significant period of colonization occurred southern state of Chiapas, it’s important to the eye for yourself. after the fact. be aware of these depictions of the Mayan Too often, the Mayan culture is grouped together into one large congregation. The narrative that has been constructed and carried out today is one that does no justice to the true diversity of this culture. When walking into the great historical site of Chichen Itza, guests are
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Arts & Life. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 19
Franco, Bidert visit Northwestern The two discuss 'Herbert White,' Bidert's 1973 poem and now short film directed by Franco By Megan Ogrinc Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of MCT CAMPUS
James Franco speaks during the University of Texas-Arlington Graduation Celebration at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, May 2012.
2014 March 3 — LinCoLn park Campus
March 4 — Loop Campus
Cortelyou Commons
DePaul Center Concourse
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Get up-to-date info on Commencement Weekend 2014 • Be photographed in cap and gown or business attire • Order your official DePaul University class ring • Shop for graduation announcements and gifts • Meet vendor representatives • Meet DePaul Alumni Relations staff • Meet with other DePaul departments • Make hotel inquiries
CoMMENCEMENT DATES College of Law Sunday, May 18 [Rosemont Theatre] Processional at 1:30 p.m. College of Education Saturday, June 14 [Rosemont Theatre] Processional at 8:30 a.m. School of Music and The Theatre School Saturday, June 14 [Rosemont Theatre] Processional at Noon School for New Learning Saturday, June 14 [Rosemont Theatre] Processional at 3 p.m. College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and College of Science and Health Sunday, June 15 [Allstate Arena] Processional at 8 a.m. College of Communication and College of Computing and Digital Media Sunday, June 15 [Allstate Arena] Processional at 12:30 p.m.
For more information visit go.depaul.edu/commencement2014.
The Poetry Foundation, along with the Chicago Humanities Festival, presented actor and writer James Franco and poet Frank Bidart to discuss their passions for poetry, writing and film Wednesday, Feb. 17. A true triple threat and A-List actor, Franco directed a short film titled “Herbert White” in 2010 after Bidart’s famous poem from 1973. Fans of Franco and Bidart anxiously waited outside of the doors to Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern before the event. “We’ve been with James from the beginning … since the James Dean movies,” Mr. Snyder, who declined to give his first name, said as he waited in line outside of the entrance with his wife. The couple has traveled with Franco throughout his career and has seen him grow as an actor, writer, director and now, a poet. Along with about 100 other fans, the Snyders had plans to meet Franco after the show for a book signing. “I am excited to see the program as whole and spend a couple of minutes with James and see what he is really like as a person,” Mr. Snyder said as he and his wife entered the auditorium searching for open seats. As expected, the Snyders were the oldest of the crowd. Mostly surrounded by college students and young women, the auditorium filled with eager fans of Franco. It was clear that Franco was the main attraction of this event ,but surprisingly Bidart, 74, also embodied the same wit and charisma as Franco. The two seemed to have a bit of a “bro-mance,” meeting years ago after Franco met with Bidart about adapting his poem
into a film. After an eight-hour dinner, Bidart became excited to work with Franco. “James’ performance in ‘Pineapple Express’ is genius,” he said. “It’s beyond categories.” Franco also showed respect for Bidart and his works of poetry. "I was getting these tingles from the poem (“Herbert White”)... so I thought 'I'll adapt this poem,'" Franco said. Bidart and Franco’s passion for poetry, film and writing came through as they discussed their projects. “I wanted my poems to be like films in the fluidity with which they put together material,” Bidart said. Bidart read his poem “Herbert White” at the event, mentioning that it was only the third time that he has ever recited the poem in public. The poem features a deranged murderer who hides his secret from his family. "'Herbert White’ is not, I assure you, autobiographical," Bidart joked to the sold out audience of 700. Franco read three poems from his upcoming poetry collection “Directing Herbert White,” which will be released this April. The poems relate to his directing experience as well as his opinions and ideas about Hollywood. The audience left the event feeling like Franco had become more than an actor to them. “It was definitely something I wasn’t expecting. I knew he (Franco) had a deeper side through his films and books, but his poetry revealed a different side of him that I respect,” Emily Fife, senior, said. Bidart will continue to work on poetry, as Franco will be in Chicago for the next month rehearsing for "Of Mice and Men" on Broadway.
Driehaus College of Business Sunday, June 15 [Allstate Arena] Processional at 4:30 p.m.
No registration required to attend.
t h e U N i v e r s i t y o F F i c e s o F: ac a d e m i c a d m i N i s t r at i o N • a l U m N i r e l at i o N s • s t U d e N t a F Fa i r s • ac a d e m i c e N h a N c e m e N t • s G a • d e PaU l c e N t r a l • c a r e e r c e N t e r • s t U d e N t r eco r d s • d P U B lc
James’ performance in ‘Pineapple Express’ is genius. It’s beyond categories. Frank Bidart Poet
20 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
Goodman's 'Buzzer' a devastating joy By Emma Rubenstein Staff Writer
Betrayal, sexism, racism and fear are only a few of the social epidemics that society grapples with on a daily basis. They are rooted in the very foundations of our culture but have somehow become taboo; we close our eyes and mouths in hopes that they will dissipate. However, the Goodman Theatre’s newest endeavor, written by Tracey Scott Wilson and directed by Jessica Thebus, faces them head-on. “Buzzer� provides a chronically heartbreaking, often hilarious, and always human view into the lives of three distinct individuals. As they grapple with their identities, iron out personal turmoil and wrestle with their roles in the process of gentrification, we can’t help but see a little of ourselves in every facet of their authenticity. The production follows the journey of its three main characters intimately. Jackson (Eric Lynch) is a young and affluent African American man who moves into his ever-changing childhood neighborhood with his girlfriend, Suzy (Lee Stark), and his best friend Don (Shane Kenyon). Jackson’s former neighborhood is still blighted with poverty and crime, though the wealthy individuals who have begun to inundate it create a troubling incongruity that blurs the line between right and wrong. From the get-go, anxieties and apprehensions fester. The relationship between Jackson, Suzy and Don is deep and loving, though already strained by racial discrepancies, past encounters and the impending process of gentrification that all three immediately become immersed in the moment they move into their new home. As the story unfolds, all three are dragged more closely to their personal limits and when they
reach the edge, their bonds are tested by the seething chaos that ensues. I had the privilege of speaking with cast member Andy Lutz to gain even more insight into the Goodman’s beautiful new production. Lutz is a member of the ensemble as well as an understudy. “I think that my main purpose is to understudy the character of Don,� Lutz explained. “That’s an amazing job, it’s an amazing character, and I feel so lucky to be in on rehearsals and see the performance grow and be ready to go on if they need me to. The ensemble character that I play is very, very quick. He is a tenant of the building that the characters have moved into in this neighborhood and he walks on a couple of times. I think my function is to show that they aren’t alone in the gentrification of this neighborhood. They are not an isolated entity; there are other people like them moving into this neighborhood. I also do a walk-on at the end of the show, which really puts a magnifying glass on the deeper meaning of the play.� “Buzzer� is Lutz’s debut at the Goodman. He is a long-term admirer of the theater and his first experience working within its walls has already surpassed his expectations. “It’s a place that I would work yearround, my whole life if I could,� he said. “It’s amazing. They take care of the artists so well. There is an investment in quality of life and there is an investment in artistic exploration there. It is really a place where I feel so proud to be an actor. I feel really taken care of and supported. I moved to Chicago four years ago and the Goodman is the theater that is always on my radar in terms of a place that I would want to work. It’s been an amazing experience, and I feel very lucky to have this employment. It’s one
Salam means Peace
Photo courtesy of LIZ LAUREN
Eric Lynch as Jackson in "Buzzer" by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Jessica Thebus at Goodman Theatre. of the best theaters I’ve ever been to, and it’s one of the best theaters that I’ve ever worked at. The Goodman is so much of a personal community where I actually know people who are involved with the theater. I feel like I not only have support professionally but I have support personally. I am developing lasting friendships within the organization.� Lutz’s experience with “Buzzer� has been profound, and he was hard-pressed to pinpoint a single favorite aspect of his involvement in this production. “Being involved with the discovery and development of the story just as an onlooker has been extremely educational and rewarding to me as an artist,� he said. “I know that I will carry what I have learned to my future endeavors.� While “Buzzer� tackles issues that are deep and often devastating, it is also
abidingly hilarious. Its honesty creates an almost voyeuristic sentiment; there is a sense that you are witnessing something real unfolding, and that realism is sometimes tragic though it is also sidesplittingly funny. “Don’t be afraid to respond and laugh,� Lutz said. “It’s very funny and there are some very human dynamics in the play. I would encourage audiences to feel free to have vocal responses and laugh and enjoy watching the relationships unfold.� “Buzzer� is a treasure of a show; it holds up a mirror to our most personal experiences and blurs the line between the stage and reality. It is a touching, striking and relentlessly poignant production that would be an absolute shame to miss. “Buzzer� will run at the Goodman until March 9.
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Arts & Life. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 21
Oscar rundown: Best Picture By Courtney Jacquin
1. “12 Years a Slave”
Managing Editor
1
If there’s one thing I take seriously, it’s awards season. There are few things I enjoy more than the Academy Awards, a glorious night of all things film. This year, the Academy chose nine films for contention for the illustrious Best Picture Oscar. Because seeing movies is expensive in Chicago, you likely haven’t seen all nine nominees (the cheapest it could be done in Chicago would be for $81). Because I care, I’ve seen all of these films for you and ranked them in order of best to worst.* *I am not the Academy, a film critic or anyone important, I just like watching movies and saying things about them to my friends — well, mostly Twitter. Take this list at your own discretion.
There is no film better than Steve McQueen’s absolutely gutwrenching drama. “12 Years a Slave” is based on the true story of Solomon Norfolk, a free man from New York sold into slavery. Chiwetel Ejiofort’s performance is guaranteed to make you cry at least two to five times. If Lupito N’yongo does not win an Oscar for her role, all Oscars heretofore are meaningless. If you can only see one film that’s nominated this year, it’s this one, hands down.
2. “Dallas Buyers Club”
It’s the cinematic counterpoint to last year’s best documentary nominee “How to Survive a Plague,” “Dallas Buyers Club” shows the brutal reality that was living with AIDS in the late '80s. Matthew McCaunaughey plays an arrogant, self-important, homophobic AIDS patient who forms an unlikely team with Rayon (played by Jared Leto) to sell memberships to the Dallas Buyers Club — a a pseudo-legal way to sell illegal drugs not yet approved by the FDA proven to treat AIDS to victims by selling them memberships. Leto’s work as a transgender woman is outstanding, and the runaway favorite, deservedly, for best supporting actor.
3. “Nebraska”
Probably the most beautifully shot film of the bunch, Nebraska is full of sprawling black and white shots of the plains and small towns. Will Forte takes on a still comedic, but much more serious role than those of his past (this is certainly no McGrubber) and is in good company with the great Bruce Dern. Dern plays the very disconnected recovering/not recovering alcoholic who believes a Publisher’s Clearing House promise for $1 million is true, ignoring the fine print. Forte, who plays one of Dern’s sons — the other played by Bob Odenkirk — goes on a road trip from South Dakota to Nebraska to claim his “prize.” Dern’s wife, played by June Squibb, is the stand-out role of the movie, full of sass and a take-no-s--- attitude.
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4. “Her”
The real winner here? The comeback of high-waisted pants in our future. A divorced Joaquin Phoenix is lonely and depressed, and finds love and compassion with his operating system, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. While “Her” might not cause tears like “12 Years a Slave” and “Dallas Buyers Club,” it causes a deeper, more existential sadness and loneliness. If your computer won’t love you in the distant-not-sodistant future, who will? For all you hip kids with your “indie rock,” Win Butler from Arcade Fire did the score, and Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s sings the “Moon Song.”
5. “Captain Phillips”
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Have heart problems? Don’t see “Captain Phillips.” This film, like last year’s Best Picture winner “Argo,” manages to keep things extremely tense even though the viewer knows how the story ends (it’s not a spoiler alert that Captain Richard Phillips lives, he wrote the book about this incident). Tom Hanks is Tom Hanks; therefore, he delivers a predictably strong performance as the captain of a shipping boat that gets boarded by Somali pirates, staying impressively calm throughout. Barkhad Abdi as Muse is one of the breakout actors of the year.
6. "Philomena"
This might seem like a feel-good movie, but it’s not, I promise. If it were, it would be at the end of the list because I hate feel-good films because I hate feeling good. Dame Judi Dench has ascended into adorable old lady territory, but really that’s all right. Another based-ona-true-story film, Steve Coogan plays a journalist who helps Philomena (Dench) find her son who was taken from her and adopted by an American family. If you like journalism and realizing how messed up the Catholic church can be, this movie is for you.
7. "Gravity"
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Alfonso Cuaron’s technical masterpiece this year is visually striking and the first 3D movie to not make me want to throw up. I’m usually admittedly against 3D, but “Gravity” makes the viewer look and feel like they’re in space with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. However, it would have been better if Bullock and Clooney weren’t there. In a film full of suspense and breathtaking shots of the abyss of space, acting falls flat and at times nearly ruins the film. How Bullock is nominated for Best Actress floors me.
8. "The Wolf of Wall Street"
In a word: quaaludes. “Wolf of Wall Street” does a good job of making the viewer feel like they’re just as coked up as Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and associates, but as a multidimensional Oscar-worthy film, it falls flat. The film illustrates the height of power and excess in Wall Street in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, but on the questionably-legal side of penny stocks. I’m a big Leo fan (still mad he wasn’t even nominated for his role in “Revolutionary Road”), but this isn’t the role for which he should or will win an Oscar. By no means is this a bad film, it’s certainly a fun and eye-opening watch, but it’s not an Oscar-winner.
9. "American Hustle"
8
9
Do not be fooled — this is not a good movie. Maybe I didn’t get it, maybe I’m not the film connoisseur I’ve pretended to be all this time. The story was weak at best. It had something to do with something to do with a fraudulent scam, a New Jersey mayor, Louis CK never finishing a story about ice fishing, and Jennifer Lawrence playing a manic-depressive housewife fairly well. Oh and PSA: when taking about one’s relationship to Long Island, it’s ON not IN.
22 | The DePaulia. Feb 24, 2014
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Arts & Life. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 23
Radiohead latest band to release music app
Photo courtesy of BJORK
Photo courtesy of UNIVERSALEVERYTHING.COM
Photo courtesy of MOTHERBOARD
Photo courtesy of M. WARD
Clockwise from top left, Radiohead's "Polyfauna" app, the cover for Bjork's interactive album "Biophilia," the cover of M. Ward's album "A Wasteland Companion," the crowd at a Dan Deacon show where the audience is using his "crowdsourcing experiment" iPhone app.
By Robert Martin Contributing Writer
In the wake of Flappy Bird’s final flight earlier this month, English altrock legends Radiohead released their first smartphone application, Polyfauna. More visual experience than video game, Polyfauna offers users an interactive playground of looping colors and sounds. Each new area explored features different layers of the band’s 2011 track “Bloom.” Developed in collaboration with software design studio Universal Everything, the band states that the app “comes from an interest in early computer lifeexperiments and the imagined creatures of our subconscious.” The free application is yet another in a recent trend that finds high-profile artists taking to the Apple App Store and Google Play platforms to create new experiences for listeners. Icelandic avant-garde artist Björk released her own experimental app, Biophilia, in 2012. The application retails for $13 and features games, animations and essays based on each of the tracks on her 2012 record of the same name. Bjork’s vision for the application came about when she was unable to curate an entire museum exhibit dedicated to the album. The 48-year-old artist composed much of the record using a tablet computer, and viewed the device as the most relevant method of bringing her vision for Biophilia to life. Independent musicians have also managed to make a place for themselves in the app market. Many have even gone as far as to create new concepts that go beyond their own catalogues. Baltimore electronic artist Dan Deacon introduced a companion app
in support of his 2012 American Tour. Labeled a “crowdsourcing experiment,” Deacon asked fans to download the app and hold it up at specific moments during his performance. The app responds to audio calibration tones used in the live set and creates a synchronized smartphone light show. The company behind the app, Wham City Lights, went on to release software that allows anyone to create a custom light show that works with Deacon’s free application. Across the country from Deacon, Portland-based singer-songwriter Matthew Ward released an application in support of his own 2012 record, “A Wasteland Companion.” The app features a standard set of options seen in many artist downloads. A list of M. Ward’s tour dates and a link to the guitarist’s Twitter feed accompany a button that signs users up for the official mailing list. The standout comes in the form of a “Public Radio” icon on the app’s home screen. The option gives users free access to a sizable database of public radio stations from around the country. Completely unrelated to Ward or his music, the feature only leads to non-commercial stations that the artist claims are both valuable and unbiased. The music industry has already harnessed the power of mobile phones in nearly every way, from concert ticketing to streaming services and even audio recording. The application market is still a budding platform for the artists themselves and creative possibilities are nearly endless. Only time and further experimentation will show whether musicians continue to embrace the smartphone as a method of reaching listeners. If Radiohead’s Polyfauna is any indication, the future will be a trip.
24 | The DePaulia. Feb. 24, 2014
St.Vincent’s
D e JAMZ
“Spinning fresh beats since 1581”
Graphic by MAX KLEINER | THE DEPAULIA
Find DeJamz playlists on depauliaonline.com and spotify By Stefanie Safahi Staff Writer
Festivals are coming! Festivals are coming! We may still be stuck in this weird winter-tospring weather limbo, but festival season is coming and its forecast guarantees good music. SXSW, Coachella, Ultra, Sasquatch, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Summer Camp, Governors Ball, Firefly and now Bonnaroo have all announced
their lineups for the 2014 season. Wow, do they look good! This week’s playlist is a compilation of some of the noteworthy acts performing at each of the festivals. It also doubles as a great playlist for all us broke college kids who can’t actually afford to attend any of these festivals but want to be there in spirit.
3. “She Don’t Use Jelly” by The Flaming Lips 4. “Eyes Be Closed” by Washed Out 5. “Me And You” by Jake Bugg 6. “Mouthful of Diamonds” by Phantogram 7. “Finger Back” by Vampire Weekend 8. “We Exist” by Arcade Fire 9. “One Way Trigger” by The Strokes 10. “When A Fire Starts To Burn” by Disclosure
1. “Rosa Parks” by Outkast 2. “Rocket Man” by Elton John
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1. Buzzkill 5. Buggy for Brits 9. Furbys, once 12. Dog tag info 13. Pro ___ 14. Pitching star 15. Chowhounds have big ones 17. Virtual citizen of PC gaming 18. It's tapped 19. Better or best 21. Bakery supply 24. Marathon 26. Dominate, in sports lingo 27. Printer's amount 29. Unrespected writer 33. "The best is ___ to come!" 34. Campaign creators 36. Freight weight 37. Metallurgist's materials 39. Jets or Sharks, e.g. 40. Be outstanding? 41. Is worthwhile 43. Enough, and then some 45. Bridges in Hollywood 48. Itinerary part 49. Cause of inflation? 50. Covetously 56. Ozone hazard, for short 57. Jack and Jill's burden 58. Stead 59. Congressional vote 60. Pound the keys 61. Check
1. Chain letters? 2. Sound at the door 3. Hi-fi component 4. Nerdy types 5. Goody two-shoes 6. Snitch 7. Did lunch, say 8. Stone worker 9. Allegro, in music 10. Battery fluid 11. Showroom model 16. Aquarium beauty 20. "That's disgusting!" 21. It has its ups and downs 22. Still-life piece 23. Add to the pot 24. Buddhist priests 25. A comet, to the superstitious 28. Wired 30. Straddling, maybe 31. Hooded garment 32. Baby bouncer? 35. Dame Marsh of mystery 38. Cloak-and-dagger sort 42. Masterful 44. Stake drivers 45. Delicate, in a way 46. Board game or magazine 47. Bicolor sea predator 48. Beneath contempt 51. Dissenter's word 52. Big shot 53. Canine command 54. "Malcolm X" director 55. Music to the cook's ears
Sports. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 25
Sports
Men's basketball loses overtime thriller to Marquette By Eric Domingo Contributing Writer
Brandon Young led all scorers with 29 points, but DePaul's men’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker to Marquette, 9694 in overtime Saturday. Billy Garrett also had a stellar game, scoring 26 points and Durrell McDonald chipped in with 13. Although Young, Garrett and McDonald played well, it wasn’t enough to hold off the Golden Eagles. Davante Gardner led the Golden Eagles with 22 points. He got help from Todd Mayo, who had 19 points, and Jamil Wilson, who had 18 points. DePaul (10-18, 2-13) didn’t start the game well, allowing five quick points. Juan Anderson, forward for the Golden Eagles (16-11, 8-6), had a steal for an easy dunk and Jake Thomas, guard for the Golden Eagles, had a 3-pointer. This quickly caused head coach Oliver Purnell to call a timeout with 2 minutes into the game. DeJaun Marrero, DePaul Freshman Forward, scored the Blue Demon’s first point at 13: 48 on a free throw make. “Early on, we couldn’t match their energy, so it made it tough for us,” Garrett said. DePaul was able to stay in the game with an efficent performance beyond the arc in the first half, shooting 40 percent
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
Brandon Young's 29 points weren't enough to stop Marquette from pulling out a 96-94 overtime victory. (6-15). Also, they outrebounded Marquette 20-13 and beat them in second chance points, 5-3. The game was wire-to-wire at the half with Marquette ahead, 44-41. The start of the second half was much like the start of the game with the Blue Demons struggling. Marrero turned the ball over for an easy fastbreak dunk and before DePaul fans knew it, the Golden Eagles made an 8-0 run. Purnell couldn’t take anymore and called a timeout at
16:59. “We didn’t start well in the second half. We didn’t finish off with free throws and taking care of the basketball,” Purnell said. Even though it looked like DePaul was going to let the game slip away, the Blue Demons rallied to make the game a nail biter and tied it at 68-68 at 6:14 behind Garrett’s fearlessness to the basket. The Golden Eagles were up by as many as 15, but Young
and Garrett had an answer. Gardner didn’t allow his team to be bullied by the dynamic duo, however. He attacked the paint with relentlessness and it seemed no big man Purnell threw at him could stop him. It caused DePaul’s big men Forrest Robinson and Sandi Marcius to get into foul trouble and foul out late in the game. “We were doubling him, trying to get it out of his hands, but he’s so strong that he shoots
and misses and pushes you under,” Purnell said. In the late seconds of the game, with the Golden Eagles up 82-79, it appeared Marquette was going to walk out with the victory. Fortunately, Garrett hit a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left and the game went into overtime. During these extra minutes, the momentum swung DePaul's way at first. The Allstate Arena was loud and the energy was high. Fans were cheering, “We are DePaul” and the Golden Eagle fans were quiet. The duo of Young and Garrett seemed to be all we needed to carry the Blue Demons to the “W”, but Garrett missed 2 big free throws late, which started an uphill clime for DePaul. Gardner made 2 free throws late to push Marquette’s lead to 95-89. McDonald made a huge 3-pointer to make the game close at 95-92. After Golden Eagle’s Derrick Wilson made 1-2 free throws and we scored a quick two, DePaul’s chance of an upset faded on a missed heave by McDonald at half court that caused the Blue Demons to lose 96-94. “It’s tough, but we’ll keep fighting and we’re looking forward to the next game,” Young said. DePaul’s next game is at Allstate Arena Tuesday February 25 at 8 pm when they take on Seton Hall.
Blue Demons beat down Bulldogs By Ben Gartland Staff Writer
After having their nine-game winning streak snapped by Marquette on Wednesday, the Blue Demons got back on track Saturday by throttling the Butler Bulldogs, 97-64. “It was really important that we got back on track after the tough night we had at the hands of Marquette on Tuesday,” head coach Doug Bruno said. “I’m really proud of the way the team fought back and came back tonight.” DePaul (21-6, 13-2) was using their defensive prowess to their advantage early, wracking up four steals in the first four minutes. They also forced a shot clock violation coming out of the first media timeout and had nine of their first eleven points off of Butler turnovers. Over the next few minutes the Blue Demons turned on the offensive intensity. They went on a 22-4 run over a five minute stretch, making DePaul's lead 29-8 at the midway point in the first half. Junior Megan Rogowski then hit a quick transition layup, forcing the Bulldogs (12-14, 7-8) to call timeout. For the next ten minutes the Blue Demons never allowed the lead the dip below 15 points. The Blue Demons ended the half with a Jessica January 3-pointer, going into the locker room with a 51-24 lead. January led all scorers with 13 points while Rogowski put in 11 of her own.
DePaul steadily built their lead up at the start of the second half. The Blue Demons capitalized on the Bulldog’s ten turnovers in the first ten minutes of the second half, gaining an 80-48 advantage at the midway point of the half. By this point, DePaul had forced 24 Butler turnovers in the game. They would end up with one more, which Bruno said is their goal every game. “Because we have to overcome our size disadvantage we have to force turnovers, this is the style we play,” He said. “We have a goal of a 25 turnovers every game.” It was more of the same for the rest of the game. DePaul continued to pressure the Bulldogs defensively and ended up with 32 points off of turnovers. That total would account for nearly a third of their points as they finished off the Bulldogs with a final score of 97-64. Rogowski finished as the game’s highest scorer, notching 22 points alongside four assists. January hit her career high point total with 17, breaking her old record that she also set against Butler in January. Chanise Jenkins finished with a nine to one assist to turnover ration, an impressive statistic that she says is “very important to her.” “I love giving my teammates the ball and I love watching them score but at the same time I want to be able to give them the ball efficiently and put them in places to score,” Jenkins said. Despite having a solid eight points and seven rebounds, she still considers it her
role to make sure she’s getting the ball to her teammates. “If you’re open, you’re going to get the ball, and it’s my job to get you the ball,” Jenkins said. Next up for the Blue Demons is a twogame road swing starting off in Philadelphia to take on Villanova on Tuesday, then they head to St. Johns for a battle with the two top teams in the Big East conference. Even with the finale of the season drawing closer, Rogowski said that they’re still taking each game one at a time. “These next few games are important and it all started tonight with Butler. Our philosophy is ‘Butler is the best team in America,'” she said. “Now, Villanova is the best team in America. We just have to stay in the moment and work on Villanova before any other games.”
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
Megan Podkowa (top) and Jessica January combined for 26 points in DePaul's rout of Butler Saturday.
26 | Sports. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia
XXII Winter Olympic Games Coverage
Olympic blues? Here are some to-do's
By Lindsey Murphy Contributing Writer
The 2014 Winter Olympics came to a close this weekend with the United States racking up 28 medals. Viewers who spent two weeks watching as their countries competed in events such as snowboarding, skiing, curling, and many more. But little did they know, they can participate in these same events over 5,000 miles outside of Sochi. Chicago offers different facilities at the disposal of residents to channel their inner Olympian. The North Shore Chicago suburb of Northbrook is home to Chicago’s Curling Club, at 555 Dundee Road, a facility that houses different levels of curling. The facility offers leagues for more advanced curlers, as well as Learn2Curl sessions for those wanting to get involved in the sport and use the facility for the first time. “Members can curl, depending on membership level, on either a limited basis, which basically means one night during the week and any time on the weekends, or as a full member, as much as one wants,” Jessica Thompson, director of communications and publicity at the Chicago Curling Club, said. The organization had roughly 110 new members this year alone and sees a significant increase in members. “There is a much greater interest in the Learn2Curl sessions,” Thompson said. Although you must be a member of the club to participate on the ice, the Learn2Curl program gets you up to speed on the sport before the first time you hit the ice. The program is per person and is offered on select weekends throughout the curling season, which is October through March, with the general duration of two and a half hours. According to their website, the sessions include a short video on the history of the game, stretching and warm up prior to curling, one-ice instruction under USCA certified instructors, a two-end simulated game, food, and an overview of membership opportunities. “Together, through the tireless effort of volunteers, we work toward building a social community whose members are brought together solely by a shared love of the sport,” Lloyd Yanis, President of the Chicago Curling Club, said. Chicago also offers the Chicago Outdoor Hockey League that provides rinks on the South and North Sides so that residents can get a chance to emulate their favorite hockey players from the Sochi Olympics. The Chicago Outdoor Hockey League is a coed recreational hockey league for those 18 years old and older, according to their website. The leagues have weekly games from December through March. Returning players registration fee is $195 per person
Hit the
Get ready to participate in the Olympics. You may not be a top-flight athlete, but here are a few options if you're looking to get in on the action now that the Sochi games have come to a close.
RINK Outdoor
Hockey
The Chicago Outdoor Hockey League is open to any adult who wants to play competitively or learn how to play the game the way it was meant to be played.
Campbell Sports, Inc. 2000 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60616 773-789-7177
Curling
If you're interested in taking part in a curling match, or just want to watch, the Chicago Curling Club offers both. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes are offerred.
Chicago Curling Club 555 Dundee Rd. 773-789-7177
PHOTOS COURTESY OF COHL AND CHICAGO CURLING CLUB
and new player registration fee is $250 per player. Chicagoans can register as individuals or as teams. If you’d rather watch some hockey, tickets for the Chicago Blackhawks and their minor league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, are available for fans of all ages. Another very popular outlet that Chicagoans can use to keep the Olympic spirit is to utilize the ice skating rink right at our
fingertips in Millennium Park. The rink is located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison and has been available since November 15th of last year and will continue to be open until March 9th. Residents can use the rink casually with friends, or like Elizabeth Chitjian, a DePaul University student, to brush up on their figure skating skills.
“I started skating when I was about six years old,” Chitjian said. She later quit when she began feeling overwhelmed by the time commitment. Having left the sport nearly seven years ago, the DePaul senior says that the Olympics inspired her to relive her passion for the sport and start again. “The Olympics have definitely motivated me to work harder
when I practice, also, when I get the chance and when the weather permits I’ll go to Millennium Park, but it can be difficult to practice there if there are too many tourists on the ice with me,” Chitjian said. With the holidays passed, the rink is less likely to fill up. If you need to rent skates, they are available for $10 and the rink is free if you have your own. The ice is regularly Zamboni’d to keep a smooth surface, therefore at times skaters will be asked to step off the ice. “If you’re a beginner, I think it’s a great environment to learn in, there’s no pressure and everybody is having fun,” Chitjian said. With limited indoor ice skating rinks, during the winter months residents are given more opportunity to practice and enjoy figure skating as those participating in Sochi did. Chicago residents in general aren’t the only ones with Olympic themed events at their disposal, DePaul University students in particular have workshops they can participate right at their very own campus recreation center, the Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center. As a part of their campus recreation, there is an outdoor adventure program open to students that allows them to escape the city life and explore and experience outdoor activities. During the winter months, the program offers a ski and snowboarding trip to Devil’s Head Resort in Merrimac, Wisconsin and an alternative spring break trip to Colorado National Monument and Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Students wanting to work towards the skills of Shaun White or Jamie Anderson, who won the gold medal for the United States in the women’s slopestyle event in Sochi, can sign up for the ski and snowboarding trip to Devil’s Head by signing up at The Ray. All trips are guided and are mostly ran by student trip leaders, however, John Washo administers the program. “Our programs are not competitive in nature, but are instead experiential opportunities,” Washo said. Therefore, instead of a competitive snowboarding or skiing trip, students engage in a healthy, learning experience including sports they’ve watched for the last two weeks coming out of Sochi. The activities are open to all students and fill up fairly quickly, the skiing and snowboarding trip to Devil’s Head filed up three weeks before the deadline and is currently on a waiting list for anyone interested. “The spring break is also a partial service trip in which participants will be helping to restore camp sites and camping areas within Colorado National Monument,” said Washo. The Olympics may be coming to an end but that doesn’t mean our enjoyment that the events give us has to.
Sports. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 27
COMMENTARY
Tanking not the answer for Bulls By Kevin Martinez Contributing Writer
The 2013-2014 NBA season has officially reached the stretch run and the Chicago Bulls find themselves with a 29-25 record. In other words, stuck in mediocrity once again. So what comes next? The rest of the season should look a lot like last year. Despite trading away long time Bull Luol Deng and losing superstar Derrick Rose to another knee injury, they could still find themselves with the sixth or seventh-best record in a weak Eastern Conference when the playoffs start this spring. Depending on who they face in the first round, they could potentially reach the Eastern Conference semifinals and give a team like the Indiana Pacers or Miami Heat a scare. Even without Deng or Rose, the Bulls have shown that they have too much pride to give up in what some might believe is a lost season. Some fans believe the Bulls should purposely lose games in order to solidify their place in the draft lottery. Drafting Jabari Parker from Duke, Andrew Wiggins from Kansas or even a guy like Julius Randle out of Kentucky would solidify the Bulls future and give them another piece to develop along side players like Tony Snell and Jimmy Butler. Sure, it would be nice to land a top-5
pick in what promises to be one of the best draft classes since the 2003 draft that featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. But how long would it be before the Bulls start winning again if they blow everything up and rebuild through the draft? I don't believe tanking is the way to go. Realistically, the Bulls are only two or three players away from being considered contenders again. A core group of Rose, Butler, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah, is capable of beating any of the league’s top teams on any given night. The elite defense will be there as long as coach Tom Thibodeau is on the sideline. Rose might not ever regain his league MVP form, but he could still be a dominant player on most nights. Their biggest concern is acquiring some help on the offensive end which could be an easy fix, if Bulls management is willing to spend some cash this summer. If the team were to use its amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer, they would have some extra money they could throw at a guy who could actually score in the paint. Both the Detroit Pistons Greg Monroe and the Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol, who are both free agents this summer, would be a great complement to Noah on the interior. There is still a little bit of value in veterans Kirk Hinrich and Mike Dunleavy Jr., the Bulls would be wise to swap those two out and acquire quality shooters
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS
D.J. Augustin (14) is one of several Bulls trying to keep the team afloat as they sink into mediocrity without star point guard Derrick Rose available to play. that can give Rose the room to operate. Of course none of these moves make any difference if Rose’s knees choose not to cooperate, but at this point the organization has to trust that he’ll be able to give regain form. The past two seasons, the Bulls have proven to be a capable and feisty bunch with less talent than most other teams. Why not go all in and try to make the most of what they already have? Just a few months ago they were considered one of the few teams that
could knock off the Heat this upcoming postseason. Besides, there is no guarantee that if the Bulls were to land in lottery, that their pick would live up to expectations. For the Bulls to advance to the next level and once again be mentioned amongst the NBA's elite, they need to be patient and do what they know how to do best, play hard every single night. Everything else should fall into place, as long as they keep competing and playing the game of basketball the right way.
DFC, continued from back page
GREG ROTHSTEIN | THE DEPAULIA
Using advanced statistics has Doug Bruno on the cusp of the NCAA tournament for the 12th year in a row.
STATS, continued from back page played. It’s a lengthy process that takes time. To evaluate offense, Bruno says it takes him about two hours to crunch the numbers and study them. Defense, on the other hand, takes him as many as three or five. Studying defense takes longer, he says, because there’s a lot more ways to examine what makes an effective defensive player. “You can sign and delegate that, but you know what?” Bruno asked. “When you watch it yourself, you know your team better.” Other coaches have started to play the numbers game as well. In men’s basketball, Brad Stevens and Jim Larranaga are two coaches who pride themselves into being number-based guys. The NBA’s landscape has shifted to where management positions often use analytics when constructing a
team. Synergy Sports, a technology company that specializes in sports technology, makes preparation for coaches easier. Synergy has cameras that track player movement and can then produce what tendencies players have, as well as cutting specific plays into clips. Many schools, DePaul included, use the program. “I don’t want to stop what I’ve always done because of Synergy,” Bruno said. “I still want to watch things from front to back … I think what Synergy has done is make coaches that were formerly kind of lazy, now they can get from Synergy what some of us were doing with a lot of effort. ” So has the emergence of all these numbers and technologies overcrowded the game of basketball? “I think the game has gotten better,” Bruno said. “I think there’s more guard play. There’s better guard play. There’s more
comprehension from player one to five.” It’s all about finding the balance, Bruno said. Bruno rarely shares the numbers with his players. Bruno records and then watches each practice twice, but when he’s on the practice court at McGrath-Phillips Arena, players don't hear about what percentage they make from inside the arc or out. “I want my players playing freely,” Bruno said. “You can’t be sitting there thinking about numbers when playing basketball. There’s certain times in a year when a player is trending poorly, and if I’m trying to get my point across, I’ll share it with them. But I try to keep it out of their heads. “When coaching with guts, the guts is created by knowledge that is instinctive,” Bruno added. “A coach has got to be instinctive, but your instincts are developed through preparation.”
we’re legit and this is actually happening.” Halligan and head coach Carlos Jones fielded questions and interest from potential students as they let people know they were a team. They recently acquired 50 helmets and 50 practice pads. They have around 35 members right now, but Halligan and Jones are hoping they can add five to ten new players before the start of next season. It has been a long process for DFC to get to this point, who found themselves in the spring of 2013. DFC has had to recruit teammates, secure funding from the Student Activity Fee Board and obtain an indoor practice facility. The team’s finally approaching their goal. “We’re actually behind the eight ball,” Halligan said. “Most schools we’ll be playing are already established. All these other teams have a coaching staff and tackle pads. The one thing they’ll have that we don’t is experience.” DFC will be competing with the likes of Robert Morris University, Southern Illinois and even cross-city rival, Loyola. Other universities that have established Division I football programs also have club football teams such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State. “This is our first year doing this,” Jones said. “These programs have been around five or seven years. We’re the rookies coming in.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF DFC
Head coach Carlos Jones talks to his team during a practice. “We have a talented nucleus to build around, but talent will only get you so far,” Halligan added. The team has spent the last months preparing for a fall debut. While they have not had any full-contact practice yet, Jones is getting his team to work on conditioning and have done position orientated drills. DFC also has put in 35 plays to run. These are all steps so that DFC doesn’t fizzle out within one or two years of becoming a team. Halligan pointed to other universities that established a club football team, but ended up stopping because they came in unprepared. He wants the team to be a long lasting product. In fact, Halligan says that DFC could have scrambled to put together a team and compete during this past season. Yet, they are clearly taking their time to make sure everything is in place. DFC wants to win. “We expect adversity and we expect a struggle, but we expect to win,” Jones said. “We expect to give a good product.”
Sports
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Sports. Feb. 24, 2014. The DePaulia | 28
A beautiful mind
Advanced analysis sets Bruno apart By Matt Paras Asst. Sports Editor
DePaul women’s basketball head coach Doug Bruno sat at his desk scattered with materials and examined the stat-sheets of DePaul’s next opponent, starting with the basics. One afternoon, he noted that one of the team’s players scores a lot of points but only has a small number of assists. To Bruno, this means that she has the tendency of not sharing the ball. For the coach in his 28th year as DePaul’s head coach, this is only the beginning. When it comes to preparing, Bruno spends the next two hours to go beyond simple observations. Bruno crunches a variety of basketball statistics to help with player evaluation, including using a system that produces how efficient a player is overall. Amazingly, Bruno still does this by hand. “I realize that we can program, that we can use the computer to spit out the numbers,” Bruno said. “However, by doing the numbers longhand, I can understand the specifics about every player.” Bruno’s preparation heavily involves the use of advanced analytics, in which detailed numbers can help coaches and players further understand the game of basketball. Advanced analytics have revolutionized the way basketball has been thought of in the last decade, even now becoming a mainstream focus due to the movie "Moneyball." However, studying the
numbers is something Bruno says he has been quietly doing since the 1980s. “I tried to look at the stat-sheet and not just look at it, but I tried to figure out what it meant for each player,” Bruno said. “After a game, there’s a line. Players, when they don’t know what they’re doing, often run and look at how many points they scored. There’s so much more to it than that.” Bruno emphasized that much of playing basketball is without the actual basketball. The players who don’t have the ball can be just as effective as those who do. He uses the numbers to calculate areas such as offensive rebound percentage, the amount of offensive rebounds a player gets when on the floor. Bruno often analyzes the numbers by himself. He delegates scouting reports to his staff, but those rely upon more traditional basketball methods like noticing what type of plays are run. Digging into the numbers, Bruno uses formulas to help him evaluate. One of those formulas is the system Tendex. Tendex, which was invented by Dave Heeran in the 1960s, gives evaluators a solid rating on a player’s performance based on adding, subtracting and then dividing a plethora of stats. The exact formula is adding together points made, total rebounds, assists, blocks, steals and then subtracting turnovers, missed field goals and free throws and then divided by minutes
See STATS, page 27
One step further: club football suits up By Matt Paras Asst. Sports Editor
There’s something about the newness of an item that attracts people—the new car smell, the feeling of new shoes, the feel of freshly printed-paper. For DePaul’s Football Club (DFC) team, that newness is helmets. The club football team unveiled the helmets in the student center, attracting those who didn’t know DePaul had a club football team. The team is now one step closer to being ready for their debut of playing organized football in September with the National Club Football Association. “I don’t think people really took us seriously until now,” Riley Halligan, DFC’s Club Football founder and president, said. “Initially pretty much all of our face time was through social media and things like that. Now that we actually have helmets and we’re strapping up, people see that
COMMENTARY
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL FOOTBALL CLUB
The DePaul club football team unveiled their brand new helmets in the Student Center to
See DFC, page 27 specifically draw interest from students that were milling around during the day.
LYNNE SLADKY | AP
The saga of Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin has revealed locker room culture.
NFL bullying opens a new can of worms By David Webber Sports Editor
NFL locker room culture has now entered the public's consciousness. Should we even care? To an extent, yes. But not because Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin have brought adult bullying to the front lines. Not even because we feel sorry for people who get bullied. We should care because there is so much more at play than simple verbage and hazing. This is about respecting people with disabilities you can't see. The reports that revealed the bullying that took place in the Miami Dolphins' locker room showed that while Incognito did inexcusable things, it was apparent that Martin suffered from mental issues and anxiety problems. When we hear "mental issues," we tend to associate that with serious conditions that affect everyday functions in a very noticeable way. But Martin was neither dangerous nor ineffectual—he simply didn't respond well to harsh criticism. It's not his fault. It's just the way he's wired. People like Incognito, unfortunately, can't understand that not everyone enjoys homosexual barbs and quips about one's mother. Some people, like Martin, are not equipped to take that kind of abuse. The worst thing we can do in this situation is blame Martin. Yes, he's a football player. Yes, he's supposed to be the creme-de-la-creme of manhood in American society. But it's simply wrong to criticize him for not living up to that standard. Was Incognito wrong? Yes, though he probably wasn't aware of the impact of his bullying. Still, we must look at the situation from both sides and realize that people react differently in many situations.
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