WALK IT OUT
Enjoy the weather and walk between campuses, really. Focus, page 14.
Up in smoke
Marijuana legalization should be at the forefront of political debate today.
DePaulia
The
Opinions, page 12.
The No. 1 Weekly College Newspaper in Illinois
Volume #99 | Issue #19 | April 6, 2015 | depauliaonline.com
BACK in BLUE Coach Dave Leitao returns to ‘finish the job’ COMMENTARY By Ben Gartland Sports Editor
With a smile, an abundance of thankfulness and a proclamation of a mission to win, Dave Leitao was re-introduced to the DePaul community last Monday. For a hire that does not feel particularly inspired, Leitao’s comments were optimistic and refreshing. Although the hire came as a surprise to him, even Leitao believes he is the right man for the job and can take this program back to the postseason. “I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and make you proud,” he said. “Whether you’re on board, on the fence or need to be brought on board I dare you to give it a try because we are absolutely going to
make you proud.” It’s a win-now mentality that needed to be heard for a fan base that has been starved for a relevant basketball program. Leitao and Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto made it very clear that this was not a rebuild and that success not only could, but should come for the Blue Demons in the very near future. After five years of an Oliver Purnell era that never got off the ground, this was refreshing to hear. But now, he needs to back it up. “To our players, this is a new day,” he said. “What I heard about you and what you heard about me, we’re all starting with a clean slate. I challenge them to go out and realize your dreams and let us dream together.” Leitao’s hire was not met with much outside praise. It’s been called “cozy,” a hire that reeks of settling when other, more exciting candidates were available. And when young and hot candidates like Bobby Hurley of Buffalo and Bryce Drew of Valparaiso were linked to the program, it’s hard to not feel let down by the re-hiring of Leitao, who has not been mentioned to any other head
See LEITAO, page 26 JOSH LEFF | THE DEPAULIA
Youth program pedals on despite budget cuts By Brenden Moore News Editor
It is just past 3:30 on a Monday afternoon. Students are just getting out of school, the evening rush about to begin. It is a particularly warm day out, the first of the year. With the shine of the sun accompanying the thawing temperatures, people are out and about. Chicago is more than ready for spring than usual after a bitterly cold winter defined by subzero wind chills and snow. Yet many in the neighborhoods worry about safety. After all, the old mantra is that crime rises with the temperature. The lack of jobs and resources often leaves young people in these communities with nothing positive to do. This is no doubt a concern for the residents of Belmont Cragin, an impoverished neighborhood on the city’s Northwest Side. But hidden away on a side street just off Armitage Avenue in the predominantly Hispanic
See BIKES, page 6
There’s a chaplain for that By Julian Hayda Contributing Writer
Maybe it’s the classes, or other work or maybe a tough breakup. There are many ways college life can be stressful and transformative, beyond simply the steps it takes to get a diploma. To help students cope, there is a team of chaplains positioned strategically around DePaul to walk students through those challenges in a spiritually productive way. “A chaplain serves the spirituality of students, faculty and staff,” said Katie Brick, director of the University Ministry’s Office of Religious Diversity. So far, chaplains are attached to three of the colleges within DePaul, and the two main campuses have full-time chaplains working with students. Different religious groups also have on-staff representatives that work closely with the university on issues of spirituality on campus. However, as an increasing number of students reject traditional notions of religion, the university ministry is learning in stride how to best serve the spirituality of students. And, in many ways, DePaul is breaking new ground nationally on working with non-religious students. “An increasing number of students are coming in undeclared, or spiritual but not religious, or just non-religious,” Brick said. ”University Ministry as a whole feels very compelled from a Vincentian perspective to serve them, and support their spiritual
Photo courtesy of university ministry
Abdul-Malik Ryan, DePaul’s Muslim Life Chaplain, talks about Muslim rituals at the quarterly Inter-Religious Celebration in November. path, which may not be a religious path.” DePaul takes its Catholic identity very seriously, but its mission and values shaped around St. Vincent DePaul emphasize meeting students’ personal needs foremost. “Most Catholic schools embrace supporting the spirituality of nonCatholics, and most Catholic schools have a certain percentage of non-Catholics. DePaul and a handful of other schools have decided to hire in-house chaplains to minister to different religious traditions,” Brick said. “There’s a space for that carved out here that can’t be carved out at other schools.”
“(Chaplains) care for students holistically. So in addition to making sure they’re academically successful, or have friends, we want to make sure they’re engaged in a meaningful conversation as part of their academic experience here at DePaul,” said Quang Luu, coordinator for residence hall ministry. “We’re educating the mind as well as the heart, and I think that’s very Vincentian.” While DePaul is very open to serving students of all religious backgrounds, it still doesn’t want to reject its own identity.
See CHAPLAIN, page 4