Wacky ballpark food options Sports, page 27
I’m not a regular movie, I’m a cool movie ‘Mean Girls’ turns 10 Arts & Life, page 21
Volume #98 | Issue #20 | April 14, 2014 | depauliaonline.com
The power of Relay
Faculty Council recommends fall 2014 provost search By Grant Myatt News Editor
MAGGIE GALLAGHER | depaul university
Cancer survivors, students unite for annual fundraiser By Haley BeMiller Nation & World Editor
When DePaul senior Teresa Marx was 8 years old, her father was diagnosed with cancer. “When I was younger, I was confused by cancer,” she said. “It was like this huge concept to me. I didn’t really understand what it meant.” She also remembers thinking it a rarity, something that was happening only to her father. But as time has passed, she realizes that’s no longer the case. “If you go into a classroom and you say, ‘How many of you are affected by cancer?’ — you know someone, you’ve had it, you’re a caregiver — everyone will raise their hand,” she said. “And to me, that’s so alarming.” That’s why Teresa spent Friday night at Relay For Life, hosted by the DePaul chapter of Colleges Against Cancer (CAC). She joined the organization at the beginning of her junior year and has done Relay ever since. And each time, her father, Joe, has flown out from their New Jersey home to join her. Joe was diagnosed in July 2000 with testicular cancer, and his treatment lasted until October of that year. He feels fortunate because once upon a time, there was only a 50 percent survival rate for that form of the disease. Now, there’s a 98 percent cure rate, and he calls it one of the best success stories in cancer. The treatment is rigorous, he said, but he knew the odds were in his favor. “You know you’re going to have to go through a tough time, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. Joe’s diagnosis taught Teresa several
arthur ortiz | depaul university
TOP: From left, freshmen Courtney Zsitek, Sofia Truzzi, Amanda Smogoski and Evegeniia Kruopite prepare for Relay For Life Friday, April 11. ABOVE: Cancer survivors take part in the survivor’s victory lap Friday evening. life lessons at a young age, one being the importance of optimism and humor. She remembers having a head-shaving party for her father when he lost his hair, and afterward, she drew a picture of him bald saying, “Help, I have no hair.” Joe remembers that picture fondly and recalls hanging it up in his hospital room along with other paintings from his children. To him, it showed how an 8 year old was interpreting their family’s struggle, and the works of art gave him an immense amount of hope and joy. “There wasn’t a better antidote to cancer than to have that stuff from my kids up in my room,” he said. “It was just a beautiful thing.” Teresa joined CAC in part because cancer had such a major impact on her life, but she
also does it for others. She said she’s blessed to still have Joe in her life and realizes that isn’t always true for others who have known loved ones with cancer. In fact, she said, two survivors who came to Relay last year have since passed away. “It’s a very constant reminder of how real and serious cancer is,” she said. Joe also appreciates events like Relay because it proves that cancer isn’t a hopeless situation. “It’s about remembering and paying tribute, but it’s also about what each one of us can do to try to make a difference,” he said. According to Emily Rosen, president of CAC at DePaul, 32 teams participated in
See RELAY, page 5
DePaul Faculty Council representatives agreed that the university should begin the search for a new provost this fall at their meeting Wednesday April 9. Several representatives cited the need for stability at the university and that there was no benefit to putting off the search. Following DePaul President Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider’s announcement of academic leave this fall, he asked faculty council to provide a recommendation on whether to begin the search for a permanent provost in fall of 2014 or 2015. During Fr. Holtschneider’s leave, Patricia O’Donoghue, current interim provost, will take over as interim president and retire upon Holtschneider’s return. David Miller, dean of CDM, will add the position of interim provost until a permanent replacement is selected. “We just need stability,” one faculty council representative said. “We have had an interim (provost) for several years now.” Another representative added that an additional two years with an interim provost would leave too many question marks. However, several representatives raised concern with Miller splitting his time between both positions and said it was a major “conflict of interest.” “The fact that I’ve just heard that David plans to stay as Dean of CDM while being provost is an inherent conflict of interest … we need to do this search as soon as possible,” another representative said. Concern over instability in the leadership of the university, lots of turnover and lack of a consistent provost were also mentioned by a representative. Donald Pope-Davis joined DePaul as provost in July 2013 following a nationwide search, only to resign six months later. With Miller stepping in as interim provost this fall, he will be the third person to hold the position since July 2012. Faculty Council sent their recommendation to Fr. Holtschneider and a decision regarding the provost search is expected to be made later this month.