DePaulia
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Volume #103 | Issue #20 | April 8, 2019 | depauliaonline.com
Second-best of the rest
Faculty Council addresses updated diversity report, student resources By Carolyn Bradley Copy Editor
RICHARD BODEE | THE DEPAULIA
(From left) Devin Gage, Lyrik Shriener and Mick Sullivan walk dejectedly off the court as South Florida celebrate CBI title win.
DePaul falls in CBI champsionship game to South Florida By Andrew Hattersley Senior Basketball Writer
Going for a CBI Title and first 20-win season since 2006-07, DePaul fell behind by as many as 17 points midway through the first half and never recovered from losing to South Florida 77-65 in the deciding game of the CBI finals at McGrath-Phillips Arena Friday night. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow when you don’t win,” Leitao said after the game. “Particularly when the stakes are so high, and so that hurts and it should hurt if you are a competitor, so everybody in the locker room and myself really took one on the chin today and it doesn’t feel good, but that’s part of what this sport and the cruelty of it can bring to you.”
The night started with a three from USF sophomore Justin Brown, and they never relinquished the lead the rest of the evening despite DePaul closing within one point at various points in the game. With six minutes to go in the first half, the Bulls had already built a 37-20 lead. DePaul began to work its way back into the game, however, primarily due to its effort on the defensive end with a quick 14-2 run spanning the final 6:12 of the half as USF missed 12 of its last 13 shots that had a crowd of 1,876 mostly DePaul fans right back in the game as well. That first-half rally was also led by redshirt-sophomore Devin Gage, who returned from a three-game absence to finish with a team-high 19 points, 13 of which came in the first half.
“He was spry, he was excited and he played that way,” Leitao said. “He hit his first two jump shots, which had them hesitate about doing what other teams had done previous to this. He was energetic on offense and kind of moved the ball for us. We didn’t play very well in the half-court today, but it was a difficult position for a while and then coming off a concussion and then trying be in all phases defensively, offensively and just managing the team and moment, but I thought he did a much more than admirable job of doing all that for us today.” After cutting the deficit to one with back-to-back baskets by senior forward Femi Olujobi early in the second half, the Bulls quickly responded with a 9-2
See CBI, page 27
DePaul’s Faculty Council discussed its updated diversity report as well as possible changes to textbooks and tuition at its April 3 meeting. After a request for an updated faculty diversity report, Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs Lawrence Hamer was able to present the report with data from 2018. The report also addressed a reflection of demographics from the School of New Learning. The 2018 data cited 909 full-time faculty members, down from 917. Faculty demographics from 2018 included 573 white faculty members and 62 African-American faculty. Ninety-four faculty are from an unknown racial demographic. Demographic discrepancies that the Faculty Council is concerned about were African-Americans, of whom there are just 62 full-time faculty for 2,072 students and the 573 white full-time faculty for 11,260 white students. The Faculty Council wants to close the gaps so that students are represented by a proportional number of faculty. The report also notes that 4.3 percent of male faculty and 3.0 percent of female faculty are undocumented, and 3.1 percent of male students and 3.0 percent of male students are undocumented, as well. Hamer said not much has changed with the inclusion of the 2018 data.
See FACULTY COUNCIL, page 6
Lightfoot becomes first African-American woman to lead Chicago By Benjamin Conboy Editor-in-Chief
Lori Lightfoot will be the first African-American woman to be the mayor of the city of Chicago, defeating political heavyweight Toni Preckwinkle in a historic landslide election. Lightfoot won the election with 73.6 percent of the vote to Preckwinkle’s 26.3 percent, the largest margin of victory in Chicago’s history. Lightfoot won all 50 wards and 99 percent of the city’s 2,069 precincts. She triumphed over Preckwinkle, the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, by campaigning as an outsider and a reformer. “When we started this journey 11 months ago, nobody gave us a chance,” Lightfoot said in her victory speech while standing next
Take a journey through Chicago’s past iconic mayors. See Focus, Pages 14-15. Critics of Emanuel say his centrist pro-business, downtown-focused policies came at the expense of neighborhoods in need of investment. “We can and we will give our neighborhoods — all of our neighborhoods — the time and attention that we give the downtown,” she said. “And we won’t just invest in our neighborhoods. We can and we NAM Y. YUH | ASSOCIATED PRESS A stoic Lori Lightfoot at her victory rally on April 2. Lightfoot, a first-time candidate for office, won will make sure our neighborhoods against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in a landslide. — all of our neighborhoods and all to her wife and 10-year-old daughter. taking the first step when you can’t of our neighbors — are invested in “We were up against powerful see the staircase.’” each other.” Lightfoot’s optimistic victory interests, a powerful machine and a “This is not us vs. them, or powerful mayor. But I remembered speech emphasized unity and neighborhoods vs. downtown. We something Martin Luther King said sought to contrast herself with See LIGHTFOOT, page 9 when I was very young: ‘Faith is current Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
2 | News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
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News
News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 3
Executive order on free speech complicates school's history of controversial speakers
MARLEE CHLYSTEK | THE DEPAULIA ANNALISA BARANOWSKI | THE DEPAULIA
By Bianca Cseke Online Editor
DePaul officials do not yet know how the university will be affected by a recent executive order from President Donald Trump. Trump’s order requires colleges and universities to “promote free and open debate” on their campuses. Free speech at DePaul has long been controversial, with the university having a history of restricting speakers, signs and more allowed on campus. The university even received the Lifetime Censorship Award from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) in 2016, and the same organization said in 2018 that DePaul might be among the worst universities for free speech, if not the worst. Adam Steinbaugh, FIRE’s director of the individual rights defense program, told The DePaulia that the university’s handling of free speech issues over the past decade hasn’t been great. “It’s difficult to gauge whether DePaul’s commitment to freedom of expression is getting worse or getting better,” he said in an email. “That’s not great news, as the institution’s response to controversy has been lackluster at best.” Among the most prominent examples of the university’s struggle to handle controversial points of view is when the DePaul College Republicans brought conservative speaker Milo Yiannopoulos to campus in May 2016. The College Republicans chapter was required to pay for the security that the university required for the event to be held. After protesters disrupted that event, DePaul banned Yiannopoulos from rescheduling the event, citing safety concerns. The university also responded by creating the Speech and Expression Advisory Committee, which advises the speaker review board on how to uphold the freedom of speech principles outlined in DePaul’s “Guiding Principles for Free Speech and Expression” document. That document states that DePaul aims “to provide a setting in which a broad and diverse range of ideas can be exchanged civilly and respectfully” and affirms “the
“We cannot know the full effect of the order before it is implemented. However, at the point, we do not anticipate any changes to DePaul’s current policy and practice.”
Carol Hughes
University spokesperson right of individuals to express their viewpoints, even at the risk of controversy,” among other points. “When institutions allow students to invite and hear from speakers of their choice, they can’t discriminate based on viewpoint,” Steinbaugh said. “Giving a review board or the university’s administration unfettered veto power is an invitation to viewpoint discrimination, which cannot be squared with any semblance of a commitment to freedom of expression.” Earlier in 2016, DePaul banned partisan chalking on campus after some students wrote pro-Trump messages on the Lincoln Park campus sidewalk with chalk. An email to students said the decision was because of the university’s tax-exempt status, which does not allow DePaul to participate in political campaigns or support candidates for office. “It’s more likely that DePaul simply wanted to avoid potentially offensive chalking during a heated election season — to the detriment of students’ civic engagement, which the university ought to be fostering rather than stifling,” FIRE said in a statement in 2016.
It isn’t yet clear if any of these instances will result in any consequences for DePaul under Trump’s executive order. “We are reviewing the recent federal administration’s ‘free inquiry’ executive order,” university spokeswoman Carol Hughes told the DePaulia in an email. “We cannot know the full effect of the order before it is implemented. However, at the point, we do not anticipate any changes to DePaul’s current policy and practice.” Steinbaugh agreed that it’s uncertain what changes, if any, DePaul or any other private university would be required to make. “The order directs other agencies within the federal government to ‘take appropriate steps’ to further the order’s goals, so it remains to be seen what steps those agencies will take,” he said. The executive order states that institutions of higher education should be “accountable for both student outcomes and for student outcomes on campus.” “Free inquiry is an essential feature of our nation’s democracy, and it promotes learning, scientific discovery and economic prosperity,” according to the order. “We must encourage institutions to appropriately account for this bedrock principle in their administration of student life and to avoid creating environments that stifle competing perspectives, thereby potentially impeding beneficial research and undermining learning.” Also mentioned in the executive order is a requirement for higher education institutions to be more transparent about salaries students are likely to make after graduating from their particular degree programs. It states that “too many programs of study fail to prepare students for success in today’s job market.” FIRE said in a recent news release that although the organization will be watching to see if there will be unintended consequences from the order, it might also help prevent issues of campus censorship. “To the extent that today’s executive order asks colleges and universities to meet their existing legal obligations, it should be uncontroversial,” FIRE said in the statement.
4 | News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
AMY DO | THE DEPAULIA
DemonTHON directors dance the morale dance on stage. The morale dance was choreographed by Claire Black, Morale Director, and is set to a mashup of vines and popular songs. It is played every hour and is designed to keep dancers on their feet.
By Emma Oxnevad Assistant News Editor
From Friday to Saturday, DePaul students shook up the student center for a charitable cause. DemonTHON, founded in 2011, is an annual 24-hour dance marathon in which participants raise money for
Lurie Children’s Hospital. The marathon is completed in two 12-hour shifts, in which donors pledge money for every hour danced by their participant. This year, participants raised a total of $200,848.08. In addition to the dance marathon, there were speeches from families of children treated by Lurie Children’s Hospital, describing how the
Demonthon heats up Student Center
AMY DO | THE DEPAULIA
Dancers stand on the light up floor. DemonTHON's dance marathon requires dancers to be standing for 24 hours. hospital helped their children. This year’s DemonTHON was adjusted in terms of location. While usually held in McGrath Arena, the event
took place on the second floor of the Lincoln Park Student Center, in order to accomodate the DePaul Men’s Basketball CBI Championship Series game.
Left: Dancers close their eyes while listening to a motivational speech from Dianna Kurns, a staff member from Lurie Children's Hospital, and urged dancers to reflect on their privilege and health. Right: Lead singer Isabel Hajjar, a freshman at New Trier High School, stands with guitarist Emma Langas, a sophomore at Glenbrook South High School, and thanks all the participants and people who donated for the DemonTHON on Friday at the Student Center. AMY DO | THE DEPAULIA
XAVIER ORTEGA| THE DEPAULIA
News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 5
'My work matters'
How the minimum wage increase will affect student employees By Doug Klain Opinions Editor
When DePaul University junior Breya Jones heard that Illinois was raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, she felt like it was a validation that her work is valued by the community. Like many studying at DePaul, she’s a student employee at the university. “It makes me feel like even though I’m a studentworker, that my work matters to people, and they know that I’m putting out good work even though I’m just a student-worker,” Jones said. In February, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill that will gradually raise the Illinois minimum wage from the current $8.25 to $15 by the year 2025. Chicago’s minimum wage has already been higher than the rest of the state, being set on a similar path for gradual increases by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2010. The last of these expected Chicago minimum wage increases will be from the current $12 per hour to $13 per hour on July 1. While statewide opposition to the increase has claimed that higher wages will put stressors on businesses, DePaul University administration doesn’t seem too concerned. In a statement from DePaul’s Office of Public Relations, spokesperson Carol Hughes said that the university has adequately budgeted for any changes in the minimum wage, and that “[n]o funds will be redistributed from existing staff payrolls.” “This has happened for numerous years, so it’s kind of down pat in terms of what we need to do,” said Sarah Carbone, the Associate Director for DePaul’s Office of Student Employment. “Since the university has been increasing student employee wages every year since 2010 to keep pace with the required Chicago minimum wage, further increases won’t be a surprise.” “I think the first time it happened there were a lot of questions,” said Carbone. “But since this has happened every year, people know that, ‘ok, this is going to be July 1, this is going to happen’ type thing.” According to Carbone, Hughes reached out to her concerning what she would would say when interviewed for this story. Hughes said this was to make sure answers weren’t duplicated. Something Jones was concerned about with the wage increase was the possibility that DePaul might cut down on the number of student employees hired, but both Carbone and Hughes said this won’t be an issue. “No changes are planned,” said Hughes in an email statement. “Student employment is handled in a decentralized manner at DePaul where students are hired by colleges and departments.” As a part of the Office of Student Employment, Carbone has collected data on the number of overall
MARLEE CHLYSTEK | THE DEPAULIA
student employees and positions filled at DePaul over the years, and has found that these numbers stayed consistent from year to year. For example, there were 4,058 students employed by the university in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. In the 20172018 fiscal year, there were 4,099. Even with $1 increases in the minimum wage each year, the school has maintained fairly consistent numbers in terms of student employment. Jones, who works at DePaul’s John T. Richardson Library, thinks most students are excited about further wage increases. “All the people working here are for the minimum wage increase,” she said. “They think it’s great.” Wages are only a part of the student employee experience in Jones’s eyes though, and an important thing she thinks is lacking is better communication and transparency between the university and student employees. A former Social Justice Advocate at the now-shuttered Center for Identity, Inclusion and Social Change, Jones was blindsided when she lost her university job in 2017. “They kept saying don’t worry about it, we’re not going to close the Center, you’re going to have your jobs,” she said. Jones finished the 2016-2017 school year thinking that when she came back after the summer break, she’d still be employed by the university. “They said we’d still have all our jobs, and then a month before school started, [the administration said] ‘oh your jobs don’t exist, we don’t have the money to pay you,’” Jones said. Jones thinks communication is better now that she’s employed by the library, but she’s still wary of the relationship to the university. “I understand that I’m not a full-time worker, but I still work in this office, I rely on this office to pay me,” Jones said. “I need to know what’s going on.” “Student workers are a big part of making sure this school functions. If you took all the student workers away this school would fall apart.” Even though wages will rise to $13 per hour in July, mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle has already pledged to raise the Chicago minimum wage to $15 ahead of the scheduled Illinois raise. “What I’ve proposed is that we raise the minimum wage 50 cents every six months until we get to $15,” Preckwinkle said in January. Preckwinkle’s opponent, Lori Lightfoot, announced support for a a $15 minimum wage in September 2018, as well as support for a universal basic income in Chicago. Currently, 1.4 million Illinois residents make less than $15 dollars per hour, according to the Chicago Tribune. “For nine long years, there were many forces that were arrayed against giving a raise to the people who work so hard to provide home care for seniors, child care for toddlers, who wash dishes at the diner, and who farm our fields,” Pritzker said before signing into law the new wage increase. “Today is a victory for the cause of economic justice.”
6| News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
Let's have a kiki
LGBTQIA+ Resource Center opens up discussion for sexual politics By Amanda Sallman Contributing Writer
It can be intimidating and overwhelming to address the topic of sexuality, especially in a society where sexuality is kept extremely under wraps. DePaul’s LGBTQIA Resource Center was formed last February as a safe space to students who identify as LGBTQIA+. When the Center for Identity, Inclusion and Social Change was disbanded, students were left without a support system. “The LGBTQIA+ resource center is invested in supporting all initiatives, education and beyond, for those who hold marginalized genders and sexualities,”LGBTQIA+ Resource Center Coordinator Michael Riley said. The center invited Coriama from Sex Kiki to come host an open discussion (or kiki) on April 3 and 4 to “spill tea” on sexuality, gender and sexual oppression that comes with racism, homophobia and transphobia. Sex Kiki, according to their website, is a, “sex-positive multimedia sanctuary activating erotic arts and culture.” They produce creative pieces and hold dialogues such as the event at the resource center on the taboo topics that come with sexuality. Projects include forums, podcasts, bulletins, a web series, eoritc film platforms and sex positive workshops. Coriama had previously hosted Sex Kikis at other schools, and is
FACULTY COUNCIL continued from front
“On average, our students are more diverse than students at most universities,” Hamer said. “Student diversity is increasing at a much higher rate than faculty diversity is, which is not
considering going on a college tour. “I don’t necessarily consider myself a sex educator,” Coriama said. “I do consider myself a facilitator of sex knowledge. What that means to me is that… it just kind of found me. I went to Roosevelt University… studying MAIREAD KAHN | THE DEPAULIA international studies with a focus on International sex educator Coriama Couture leads a discussion about BDSM, Polyamory, race, rights, gender and activism. So Queerness, Blackness and more on Thursday at the LGBTQIA+ resource center. it’s in alignment. I also used to work at Planned Parenthood. There’s different enough,” offered a student, who chose to should do more to inform students on things I had in my youth that brought me remain anonymous for privacy reasons. topics of identity and sexuality. “I think there’s more that needs to be “It’s not a holistic model,” she said. here.” The event itself was meant to be a improved. If they’re not listening to “It’s very one-dimensional. [Education on genitalia] doesn’t include information therapeutic experience where a diverse students, they won’t ever know.” Bringing guests like Coriama to about intersex people. It’s very limited.” group of students could openly discuss their sexuality and what it meant to be campus are a step in the right direction While society as a whole is slowly for self-acceptance and confidence in getting more accepting, students with sex positive, all over tea and donuts. marginalized identities still feel isolated “The experience of being sex positive DePaul’s student body. “Coriama has a way of talking about and scared to express themselves and is just allowing yourself to fully feel, allowing yourself to fully be and knowing things that I think are often really hard their sexuality. Coriama’s main goal with that in your own exploration you will free to talk about—around sexuality, around Sex Kiki is to put an end to that fear. “I just want [DePaul students] to yourself,” Coriama said. Coriama claimed identity and around pleasure—in a way that sex positivity comes once you begin that these students definitely need,” Riley know that it takes time, and it’s OK to to “decolonize sex,” which means to said. “I was hoping we could create a space explore yourself even though the world undo the systems within our minds that were we could just start a conversation tells you that maybe you shouldn’t,” were formed by society. This includes that I think is desperately needed to have Coriama said. “I just want [them] to be open and to be courageous in their own race, gender and sexuality. Approaching a holistic way of being.” The event itself was very thought- pursuit of understanding themselves and sexuality in a non-conformist way can be daunting, especially since there are provoking and stimulating (no pun their bodies.” The DePaul LGBTQIA+ Center will generally so few resources on college intended). Everyone was welcome campuses for LGBTQIA+ students. and encouraged to talk and give their be hosting similar dialogues in the future, DePaul was the first Catholic institution thoughts, but no one was forced to. including an event on Intersectionality to even have an LGBTQIA+ center, yet Topics such as polyamory, eroticism, on April 9 at 6-8 p.m. in the Levan Center, students on DePaul’s campus still feel masturbation, race and religion were all room 100. discussed respectfully and freely in an For more information on Coriama marginalized. “No school anywhere is doing open and inviting manner. Coriama, too, and her work with Sex Kiki, go to www. believes that higher education schools sexkiki.net.
surprising. Faculty doesn’t turn over nearly as much as students. One of our challenges is how we increase the diversity of our faculty at a higher rate than we currently are.” Hamer said that while the
university is doing well for diversity in some demographics, that doesn’t mean that it is doing well in all areas. Hamer measured the difference between the 909 full-time faculty and the 22,437 students. According to the report, African American female faculty make up 3.7 percent of the faculty, while 5.6 percent of female students are AfricanAmerican. He also noted that white male faculty made up 33.9 percent of the faculty demographic, while white male students make up 24 percent of the student demographic. On average, there is about a 2.5 percent difference between faculty in a certain gender and racial category and students in those gender and racial categories, according to Hamer and the report. Quinetta Shelby, an associate professor of inorganic chemistry, said the problem with using absolute values is that there is some unclear information the report is incorrectly representing. “If I am a student, and I come to DePaul and I see that a percentage
of African-American women students is higher than that for African-American women faculty, as opposed to white male students and white male faculty, the negative is important,” Shelby said. Shelby said it was a matter of questioning the methods of measuring the ratios for facultyto-student diversity. Shelby also noted that in Section 2.3 of the Strategic Plan, one of the goals is to increase diversity of full-time and parttime faculty in every college. “I would guess that in this diversity presentation, indirectly that would be something that you would be addressing,” she said. Valerie Johnson, a political science professor, said only looking at how the university is doing on an overall average treats groups in the same way without addressing trends occurring between groups. “One tells you one thing, another tells you another thing,” Johnson said. Hamer said part of his frustration with the issue is that individual trends and overall averages should both be used without one substituting the other. He said both views are not trying to do the same thing. Shelby questioned whether the average makes the college appear as if it is doing well in its
diversity efforts. “Hidden in that average is that [with] the white male faculty and students, the gap is 9.9,” she said. Later in the meeting, John Berdell offered a proposal of a system in which individual faculty members have an option to have course material built into tuition. Certain math classes, stats classes, economics, finance and accounting have students required to do online work, said Berdell, an economics professor. “It has a lot of early work in the course to probe for deficiencies and problems that the student may need to address, perhaps with the instructor, perhaps with tutors,” Berdell said. He said students who might be at risk for failure might find the online work to be helpful. Berdell also said financially fragile students who don’t have the extra money to purchase the material are frequently the students who find the material most helpful. “I find the financially fragile students are the ones who wind up at the bottom of the heap here,” Berdell said. Each instructor would have the liberty to pick a product to require students to buy to accompany their tuition, Berdell said. Students could use their financial aid.
News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 7
Pothole season plagues city
XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA
Potholes impact California Avenue and throughout the city of Chicago causing a handful of problems with people driving in Chicago.
Budget leaves little room for road repairs as the spring season approaches By Brittney Bray Contributing Writer
In November 2018, the pavement was damp with sleet rain as Rasheem Taylor commuted across Chicago on Kedzie Avenue to pick up a family friend in his vehicle. It had been an average commute until his car jolted and he suddenly bounced up from his driver seat, nearly bumping his head on the roof of the car. Shaken, he pulled to the side of the road and got out of his vehicle to inspect what he had hit in the road. Upon reviewing the situation, Taylor discovered that he had hit a pothole. Taylor’s story is not unusual. Many 311 calls to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have been made to report sightings and unfortunate run-ins with citywide potholes. According to data obtained through FOIA and the Chicago Data Portal, which tracks the repair of citywide potholes, between July 2018 and March 2019 there have been nearly 300 potholes patched along Kedzie Avenue. Similar to the state of hundreds of other major and side streets in Chicago, Kedzie has had its share of potholes repairs. Taylor continues to commute in Chicago on a daily basis for work and now finds himself eyeing the roads more closely to avoid major potholes that appear more often now as snow and rain continue to wreak havoc on Chicago’s driving roads, creating a nightmare for many motorists. “I just get so tired of dodging them during my commute,” Taylor said. “It’s crazy. I mean some of them are like a foot deep and I can’t tell you how many I have had to dodge just this winter. All the dodging that drivers have to do makes drivers even more dangerous to others on the road. You could lose control of the wheel or you could hit your head or anything. People can die that way.” According to public documents from CDOT, potholes are the result of moisture locked underneath road pavement. When the moisture — usually rain or snow — is frozen, it expands. Problems arise when the rain or snow begins to thaw during the warmer months, which causes the pavement to contract. Contractions in the pavement coupled with pressure produced from vehicles causes the pavement to buckle and usually results in the formation of potholes. Oscar, an auto mechanic on Chicago’s South Side, has seen his share of vehicle-related damage related to
the city's pothole problem. “There are several issues that could arise due to a car’s contact with a pothole,” Oscar said. “The front end and suspension system of a vehicle usually sustain the most problems. In some cases the tie rod ends, ball joints, axles, shocks and springs have to be repaired.” Sometimes the effects of potholes on a vehicle do not always appear instantly. “Vehicles can be damaged at any time, as frequently as they come into contact with the potholes. This can cause differences in a vehicle's overall performance over time,” Oscar said. “There is no real way to protect a car from pothole damage. The best that we can do is be fully alert as drivers. If you know that one street or route has too many potholes, try another one, at least for the sake of your vehicle.” CDOT said it is working rapidly to repair the potholes that plague city streets and roads which present constant danger for Chicago motorists. Daily and nightly crews are sent to various locations throughout the city to repair the potholes. Streets with the highest amount of motorist traffic receive immediate attention, while potholes on side streets are repaired on a later time schedule. Documents from CDOT also show that the city’s use of asphalt, rather than concrete, to repair potholes is a decision made to keep repairs at a low-cost. Additionally, asphalt requires less maintenance and installation is more simple and time-efficient. However, some Chicagoans believe the department should do more to reduce the number of potholes across the city. Chicago’s potholes made headlines in 2010 after the city was involved in a lawsuit following the death of 31-year-old motorist Carlo Kintanar. According to court records Kintanar was struck and killed while traveling on 2600 South Damen Avenue. After hitting a pothole that ejected him from his vehicle, Kintanar was struck by a vehicle. His wife, Jane Kintanar, sued the city of Chicago and was awarded $4 million. According to the CDOT's database on potholes repaired in the previous seven days, the aim of the department is to have reported potholes within seven days after they have been reported. Between March 7 and March 12, over 1,300 potholes were repaired. However, data provided by the Chicago Data Portal shows that many pothole repairs have taken place but at a slow pace, with multiple
streets having been under repair for as long as three months. Overall, between July 2018 and March 2019, as many as 20,000 reports of potholes have been reported to CDOT, according to the Chicago Data Portal. Despite the 20,000 reports accumulated within less than a year, the city’s 2019 budget for pavement and pothole repair is significantly small when compared with the overall city budget allocated to CDOT. According to Chicago’s Annual Appropriation Ordinance for 2019 as proposed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and provided by the City Clerk Office, the total budget for CDOT in 2019 is $543,060,487. With a budget of over a half a billion dollars, less than $20 million is allocated to the repair of the city’s potholes. The $14,169,665 budget for these repairs accounts for less than four percent of the total budget for the Chicago Department of Transportation in 2019. This minuscule budget is meant to cover the repair costs of nearly 3,800 miles of Chicago streets. Taylor has become frustrated at the condition of Chicago streets and hopes that more can be done as Chicago elects its new mayor. “I don’t know why [Mayor] Emanuel would think that this is okay,” Taylor said. “I mean, have you seen these streets? It’s ridiculous. But maybe our next mayor can do something different. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it goes.”
8 | News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
The search for student commencement speakers By Erica Carbajal Contributing Writer
The deadline for DePaul commencement speaker applications is April 12, but at a university with a large student body, how are student speakers chosen and what does it take to give an address at commencement? Students are chosen by a selection committee that reviews applications, narrowing down and choosing who they would like to see come in to give a mock presentation of their speech before making their final decisions. Josh Covell, assistant director of graduate student services and a member of the speaker selection committee, said the committee is made up of one representative from each college and student representatives and staff members from the Office of Academic Events. DePaul’s commencement site also lists representatives from student government as part of the committee. The application site outlines some of the guidelines the selection committee looks at when evaluating speeches. This includes a three- to five-minute time length, and an ability to keep the DePaul themes broad since speakers, except for those in business, will be addressing students from another school or college. The submission process requires a one-minute video clip of applicants delivering clips of their commencement speech. Paty Arreola, associate director of graduate student services in the College of Science and Health advising office and a member of the selection committee, said the video is one of the most beneficial elements when reviewing applications. “Seeing them recite their speech is very helpful in narrowing it down,” she said. The number of submissions varies
from college to college. Covell said there were 82 submissions last year. “We’re still not talking a ton of submissions, though, so eligible students who can craft a polished and interesting commencement speech have a good chance of at least being able to audition with their piece,” he said. Chanell Bell, a 2018 masters graduate from the Theater School and commencement speaker said at first she didn’t think her speech would be selected. “I kind of knew I wanted to do something different […] kind of like a spoken word thing, which I actually didn’t think would be selected,” she said. “But I guess I just decided to apply because […] I wanted the committee to see that […] it just doesn’t have to be traditional. It could be something else and it could be more inspiring.” The committee values speeches that take the general college experience a step further and provide a focus on the unique aspects of the DePaul experience. Covell said he asks himself a series of questions when evaluating applications, including “Have they done the emotional exploration to make a speech that leaves an impact?” and “Have they connected to the Vincentian mission in a meaningful way?” Both delivering a speech that speaks to the larger DePaul community and finding balance when incorporating personal stories are key elements from memorable past speakers. Barbara Willard, associate professor of communication studies and chair of the selection committee acknowledged what makes a speaker stand out in the application process. “When a student has content that is able to speak to a broad audience, but also has a compelling story – perhaps about immigration, or overcoming illness or a particular challenge – then that will make them stand out among the pool,” she said.
What about what not to do? “If you could present your speech any year, you probably need to do a little more to connect it to the present,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that...we want the student speaker’s entire life story, but I think sharing some of what they had to overcome to get there and who was there to help them along the way can be the common thread that connects all of the students in the ceremony.” Once the student speakers are selected, they must attend rehearsals where they are coached by both their faculty advisor, and then the entire committee, on how to improve their delivery. “The preparation process once I was selected, that was shocking, but it was also really beautiful because I felt supported,” she said. “They didn’t just select us and then show up on graduation day and you have no idea what you’re doing.” Bell entered the process with a theater background, which already requires vital public speaking skills, but other students weren’t coming from backgrounds that are as strongly built on public speaking, making the coaching especially useful. “I kind of got to watch some of their speeches really transform into like an actual performance and that was really cool,” she said. The day of commencement, speakers often get to spend some time with the president and vice president. “That part of the process felt like an honor. I guess I didn’t realize how much of an honor being the student speaker is until I got there,” Bell said. Students who are even thinking about being a commencement speaker shouldn’t shy away from applying, Willard said. “Take Nike’s advice: Just Do It. You would be surprised at how you will rise to the occasion.” MARLEE CHLYSTEK | THE DEPAULIA
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT: March 27, 2019- April 2, 2019 LOOP CAMPUS
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
990 W Fullerton 2
McCabe Hall 1
DePaul Center 3
2 4 7
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS MARCH 29 1) A domestic dispute was filed for two students in McCabe Hall.
APRIL 1 2) A theft report was filed for a person at the Post Office located in 990 W. Fullerton.
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
Other
LOOP CAMPUS MARCH 27 3) A harassment report was filed for a person in the DePaul Center.
MARCH 30 4) A theft report was filed for a person in the DePaul Center.
APRIL 2 5) A false fire alarm report was filed for an alarm at the Reskin Theatre.
News. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 9
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AP NEWSROOM
Lori Lightfoot celebrates at her election night rally at the Hilton Chicago after defeating Toni Preckwinkle in the Chicago mayoral election, Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Left: Lightfoot poses for a photo with supporter Carolyn J. Ruff, following a press conference at the Rainbow PUSH organization, Wednesday, April 3, 2019, in Chicago. Right: Lightfoot greets supporters, Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at the Clark/ Lake CTA Station. Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor who'd never been elected to public office, defeated Cook County Board President and longtime City Council member Toni Preckwinkle on Tuesday with backing from voters across the city.
LIGHTFOOT continued from front Preckwinkle began to fall behind after taking some criticism for her first TV ad after the general election, in which she chose to attack Lightfoot’s record as a corporate attorney. Lightfoot opted instead for a positive, issuebased advertisement, though she would eventually run an ad that attacked Preckwinkle’s connections to disgraced Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and indicted 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke. Despite a bitter and aggressive campaign, Preckwinkle struck a conciliatory tone in her concession speech. “This may not be the outcome we wanted, but while I may be disappointed, I’m not disheartened,” she said. “For one thing, this is clearly an historic night. Not long ago, two African-American women vying for this position would have been unthinkable. And while it may be true that we took different paths to get here, tonight is about the way forward.” Preckwinkle had the support of major unions like SEIU-1 and the Chicago Teachers Union and the endorsements of federal and state lawmakers. Lightfoot
had the support of LGBTQ activist groups, progressive policy groups and a five of the mayoral candidates from the general election. Lightfoot was formerly a federal prosecutor, the head of the Chicago Police Board and the Police Accountability Task Force. Lightfoot, 56, was one of the earliest candidates to announce their candidacy for mayor, and would eventually emerge as the most popular of the field of 14 candidates vying to succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel, in what was the densest field of mayoral candidates in the history of the city. Incumbent 43rd Ward Ald. Michelle Smith won her runoff bout against challenger Derek Lindblom with 53 percent of the vote. Smith will enter her third term as alderman of the ward containing DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus. Voter turnout was slightly lower than the Feb. 26 general election, with 31.8
SOURCES: CUNY, L.A. TIMES, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
ANNALISA BARANOWSKI | THE DEPAULIA
percent of registered voters casting a ballot. While voter turnout was low compared to statewide and national races, Chicago has one of the highest voter turnouts among big cities for municipal elections.
New York City’s 2017 mayoral election saw about 18 percent of voters cast a ballot and Los Angeles’ 2017 election had a turnout rate of 20 percent.
10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
Nation &World Čaputová triumphant The 44-year-old lawyer and civil activist will be the first female president in Slovakia's history when she's sworn in June 15.
Here's some of the challenges she'll face and some of the constitutional powers she'll have at her disposal.
PETR DAVID JOSEK | AP Newly elected Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova smiles in a TV studio prior a debate in Bratislava, Slovakia, Sunday, March 31, 2019. Caputova, a liberal environmental activist, has been elected as the first female president of Slovakia. The relative newcomer had 58 percent of the vote in Saturday's runoff election, topping rival Maros Sefcovic, who had 42 percent. By Brian Pearlman Nation & World Editor
The world was shocked when Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Kušnírová were murdered in their home in the Slovak town of Veľká Mača on Feb. 21, 2018. Kuciak had been working on an investigation involving the Calabrian mafia and its ties to influential political and business figures within Slovakia. Thousands filled the streets in the ensuing months, protesting corruption within the government. Among them was Zuzana Čaputová, a then-44-yearold environmental lawyer and activist who in 2016 was awarded a Goldman Environmental Prize for helping shut down toxic landfills in her hometown of Pezinok in western Slovakia. Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose two tenures were marked in part by threats on the press and waning judicial independence, resigned amid public pressure on March 14. (He remains chairman of the ruling center-left SMERSD party.) He was replaced by former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pelligrini; critics warned that Pelligrini, a handpicked Fico successor, would offer more of the same. Amid the scandal, Čaputová announced in May 2018 that she would run in the March 16 presidential election. “As head of state, Slovakia needs a peaceful, calm leader able to make connections, trusting in possible change,” she said, according to the Slovak Spectator newspaper. “I do have this experience, and so I have decided to run.” Among her campaign promises were improved long-term care facilities for the elderly, fighting state indifference towards climate and environmental issues and increasing accountability from the
country’s police forces, prosecutors and judges. International media sat up and took notice when, in February 2019, Čaputová surged to the top of opinion polls before easily winning the first round of elections in early March with 40.6 percent of the vote. Her main rival, Maroš Šefčovič, was backed by the SMER-SD party. She easily won the March 30 runoff with 58 percent of the vote, becoming the first female president of Slovakia. She will take office in June. But it’s unclear how much she will really be able to change in Slovakia, a former Soviet state in the heart of Central Europe that some experts warn is at a crucial nexus between the democratic gains it has made since its split from Czechoslovakia in 1993 and a risk of illiberal backsliding. “Slovakia’s in an interesting situation,” said Dick Farkas, a political science professor at DePaul who specializes in postCommunist countries. “Geographically, it’s bordered by Hungary in the south and Poland in the north. Both of those have decidedly and explicitly right-wing governments that are drifting further and further to the right. I think Slovaks are increasingly influenced by that.” A day before Čaputová was elected, press freedom group Reporters Without Borders warned that despite Kuciak’s murder, “nothing has been done in the past year to improve the environment for the media and strengthen protection for press freedom in Slovakia.” They cited a new law being debated in Parliament that would oblige Slovak media organizations to provide a “right of reply” to politicians for every instance of political coverage in the press. An open letter to Čaputová, co-signed by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and eight other press freedom groups, also warned against
passing the law. And while the investigation into Kuciak and Kušnírová’s deaths remains ongoing, with several people charged so far including businessman Marian Kočner, the European Parliament introduced a March 28 resolution voicing “concern about the allegations of corruption, conflicts of interest, impunity and revolving doors in Slovakia’s circles of power.” “Čaputová won in no small part due to public anger about corruption associated with the current government,” said Erik Tillman, a political science professor at DePaul who studies European politics. “Her status as a political outsider and an anti-corruption campaigner helped her in this regard.” Čaputová’s ability to effect concrete changes may be difficult, however. Under Slovakia’s parliamentary system, the presidency is primarily a ceremonial, nonpolicymaking position. What Čaputová will likely be able to do, according to both Tillman and Farkas, is use her influence to pressure the legislature towards her own democratic, pro-transparency platforms. This includes appointing judges and using her veto power. These presidential powers may be stronger than meets the eye, according to Navrátil Matej, a research fellow at Comenius University in the Slovakian capital Bratislava (from where Čaputová also earned a law degree in 1996) and an associate researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He pointed to a recent example from 2018 where the current president, Andrej Kiska, refused to appoint the prime minister’s nominee for Interior Minister. “This event was a matter of debate during the presidential campaign, when some of the candidates argued that this
precedent gives considerable powers to the presidential office in [the] forming of new governments,” Navrátil said via email. “Hence, [the] powers of the president in our constitution are open to interpretation and could actually be extended beyond what we understand as her/his ceremonial role.” A spokesman for Čaputová’s campaign declined to comment, citing a busy postelection schedule. As many Slovak citizens press their leaders for change, Čaputová will also have to grapple with the rising tide of nationalism and anti-immigrant populism that has surged in other European countries. Čaputová made note of this in her acceptance speech, telling supporters “it is possible not to succumb to populism, to tell the truth, to raise interest without aggressive vocabulary.” It’s a sentiment that, along with her anti-establishment tendencies, may yet define her inaugural five-year term. “People in Slovakia are fed up with corruption, mainly after a number of scandals [that] became apparent with the death of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová,” Navrátil said. “Hence, her anti-establishment changes should be understood in [the] context of Slovakia’s ongoing transition and as a process of further and deeper democratization, where stability and predictability of democratic institutions — formal and also informal ones — is of the highest importance. “This means that she wants to be more vocal on issues that are important in forming [the] internal political life of the citizens and bringing more transparency to the functioning of the judicial system. From her position she can actually shape the political debates and point out what areas are neglected by the government.”
Nation & World. April. 8, 2019. The DePaulia | 11
Tesla seeks affordability with new SUV, cheaper Model 3 By Allegra Acosta Contributing Writer
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is well-known for his company’s eye-grabbing electric cars, most of which are notorious for their hefty price tags. And at a March 14 event in Hawthorne, California, Tesla unveiled a brand-new model aimed at a more affordable market. The Model Y, an all-electric dual-motor SUV that Musk said at the event “would ride like a sports car,” premiered at a starting price of $39,000. It’s expected to go into production in late 2020. In addition, a more affordable version of the company’s flagship Model 3 debuted two weeks earlier. That car, which has a starting price of $35,000, is in the same price range as many familiar brands of sedans, such as the Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Ford Fusion and Honda Civic. It’s all part of Tesla’s bid to court more mainstream consumers, broadening the image of what remains in the minds of many a decidedly luxury brand. “The average monthly car payment in the U.S. is around $530/month, which plants the new Model 3 configuration, that goes for $485/month before the tax credit and fuel savings, firmly in affordable territory,” said Will Thompson, an associate with Minneapolis-based venture capital
firm Loup Ventures. “The new price point opens the doors to a new league of potential buyers and sets the precedent for cost and quality of EVs going forward.” That’s a far cry from the eye-watering $250,000 price tag on the Founders Series Tesla Roadster, which is expected to be produced in 2020. But even though the Model 3’s new base price may be an attempt to appeal to the masses, Tesla announced on Feb. 28 that the company would likely not be profitable in its first fiscal quarter. And in an April 3 press release, while noting that it still had "sufficient cash on hand," Tesla admitted its net Q1 income would be "negatively impacted" due to "lower than expected delivery volumes and several pricing adjustments." The company has faced some issues with production delays as well as allegations of worker mistreatment, and Musk has stated in several interviews that the Model 3 will cost more money to make than it is priced. In addition to keeping investors happy, the company faces challenges ahead in satisfying its customer base and maintaining a balance between exclusivity and affordability. For DePaul students in the market to buy a vehicle, there is now have another megacorp to add to their list of economical brands.
SCREENSHOT OF TESLA MODEL 3 | TESLA.COM Tesla unveiled a more affordable version of its Model 3 sedan on Feb. 28 as well as an SUV, the Model Y, two weeks later. The carmaker is trying to partially branch out from its luxury image.
“When I think of Tesla, I think of the words futuristic and progressive,” sophomore Samuel Heringhaus said. “I would choose Tesla over another brand because I feel like they provide the best driving experience while also being electric. Additionally, their physical aesthetic is incomparable to any other brand.” And DePaul junior Sam Egar believes
that Tesla isn’t slowing down anytime soon. “I think Tesla is going to have to find the balance between luxury and affordability while diluting their brand,” junior Sam Egar said. “However, the precedents they have set in so many spheres of influence in our society will remain growing and thriving for decades.”
World Bank: Women face legal discrimination in workforce By Bianca Cseke Online Editor
Women around the world generally only receive three-quarters of the legal rights that men have, according to a report released by the World Bank in late February. Though several regions have seen improvements in the last decade, according to the report, a lack of equivalent rights as men constrains the ability of women around the world to get jobs or start businesses. “If women have equal opportunities to reach their full potential, the world would not only be fairer, it would be more prosperous as well,” World Bank Group Interim President Kristalina Georgieva said in a news release. “Change is happening, but not fast enough, and 2.7 billion women are still legally barred from having the same choice of jobs as men. It is paramount that we remove the barriers that hold women back, and with this report we aim to demonstrate that reforms are possible, and to accelerate change.” Sub-Saharan Africa saw the most reforms over the past decade, according to the report. The region introduced 71 reforms, more than half related to women’s ability to start jobs and have more say over getting married. “Though this is in part a measure of the large number of economies in the region, it also demonstrates the significant room for improvement these economies had from their baseline,” Sarah Iqbal, one of the authors of the report, wrote in an email to the DePaulia. “In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa had the third-highest increase in the index’s average regional score, moving from 64.04 to 69.63 over 10 years.” In addition, six countries can now say they received a perfect score from the World Bank: Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden. Receiving a perfect score means that the countries give women and men equal rights, according to the World Bank. No country received such a score in the report from a decade ago.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WORLD BANK The Feb. 27 report says that despite gains in legal gender equality over the last decade, "a typical economy only gives women three-quarters the rights of men in the measured areas."
The U.S. has a score of 83.75, which Ann Russo, the director of DePaul’s Women’s Center, said is not a surprise. “The U.S. views itself as exceptional in terms of equality and equity,” she told the DePaulia. “But it’s not true.” Russo said that people tend to forget that women, especially women of color and
women from immigrant communities, do not always receive equal pay or treatment in the workplace. This is because of the systems of power that have been in place for centuries, including patriarchy, capitalism and white supremacy, all of which rely on inequality in order to exist, Russo said.
Iqbal said that one reason the U.S. did not receive a perfect score is the lack of paid family leave, including paid maternity, paternity or parental leave. “The U.S. is the only high-income country without paid family leave,” she said. “However, the U.S. is taking concrete steps towards establishing paid family leave, and there are several proposals currently being discussed.” These systems are not unique to the U.S., meaning that all countries have to combat them to make progress toward equal rights for women. Though there has been progress overall — the global average has gone from a score of 70 to 75 — not all countries are playing a role in these advances. Fifty-six countries did not have any reforms at all to improve women’s equality of opportunity since the 10-year period described in the report began. The country’s region and economic conditions did not matter in this regard. In addition, improvements came slowest in the area of property rights, meaning that women are limited in their rights to manage their families’ assets. The pace of reform is slowest in managing assets because it covers property and inheritance law, which are very slow areas to reform in general, Iqbal said. “It does affect women’s entrepreneurship, because property rights relate to women’s ability to get finance to start and grow businesses,” she wrote. “The link here is collateral. Banks, in particular in developing countries, use property as collateral for loans. And without property rights, women are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting bank financing for business purposes.” In order for women to move forward, regardless of where in the world they are, they can do more to organize collectively to push for change, according to Russo. “Organizing, speaking out, hoping for change — it creates more pressure [for more accountability],” she said.
12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
Opinions
Ocasio-Cortez led Democrats in a valiant charge of environmentalism — straight off a cliff By Benjamin Conboy Editor In Chief
Democrats had found the Golden Ticket — or rather, the Green Ticket. They had in their holster an idea that was so grand, so focused and inspiring that it enjoyed the support of more than 80 percent of Americans from both parties, polls show — an increasingly rare thing in our hyperpartisan political climate. And then, as we have too often seen from the Democrats, they squandered that vote-getting, aisle-reaching, civilization-saving idea. They put it on a silver platter, and before they could hand it to 2020 voters, they loaded it onto a carbon-spewing rocket and fired it straight into the laps of Fox News pundits, who gleefully spin it as a half-baked socialist fever dream. The Green New Deal is supposed to be a revolutionary program, much like its namesake, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal, which employed millions of Americans for public works projects and helped lift the country out of the Great Depression. The Green New Deal would have been a massive overhaul of the United States’ energy infrastructure, mobilizing millions to modernize our country’s energy industries. And when Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, the Green New Deal’s sponsor and ideological mother, finally unveiled her proposal in Congress, it was a stunningly incoherent and meandering non-binding resolution. What should have been a package of legislation so dense it would need to be brought onto the House floor with a forklift was reduced to a paltry 14-page document that should have begun with “Dear Santa.” DePaul political science professor Wayne Steger characterized the proposal as it was introduced to Congress as “an aspirational document that is largely just a series of goals.” One of the goals listed in the proposal is “to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth.” A worthy goal indeed, but maybe Ocasio-Cortez should have stuck to the issues at hand: climate change, unemployment and infrastructure investment and save the cultural issues for another battle. And now, after conservatives have had time to organize their opposition to the plan, it’s starting to lose the broad appeal that it enjoyed in its infancy. The organized Republican opposition makes it unlikely any past bipartisan support can be replicated in future votes, if any actual legislation is ever introduced. Steger said that all
young ideas enjoy higher popularity when they are introduced, but once opponents of it get organized and craft an opposition strategy, they decline in popularity. But because of the Green New Deal’s lackluster and aimless rollout, it will be more difficult to recover from the attacks. “It was inevitable that this thing was going to deflate in its popularity,” Steger said. “I think the difficulty is that it’s deflated and there is still no concrete proposal.” Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell forced a vote on the proposal, which resulted in a humiliating failure for Democrats. It needed 60 votes to clear a procedural hurdle, but got zero. Senate Democrats all voted “present,” essentially choosing not to vote “yes” or “no,” with the exception of Sens. Doug Jones, Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema, who voted “no” with Republicans. McConnell forced the vote so quickly just so that Republicans could bag headlines that they defeated the confident and tough-talking democratic socialist’s first big policy proposal. In other words, by jumping the gun on the resolution, Ocasio-Cortez walked right into McConnell’s trap. Malik Siddiqui, secretary of the DePaul College Republicans, said that he thinks the Green New Deal would be catastrophic for the economy. “I hate [the Green New Deal]. The entire plan is ridiculous,” he said. “It’s going to increase spending, and it’s not a serious problem at the moment. [...] I think it’s a waste of taxpayer money. We have more pressing issues facing young people, like stagnating wages and the opioid crisis.” The cost estimate cited by the Green New Deal’s opponents comes from the
Because of the Green New Deal’s lackluster and aimless rollout, it will be more difficult to recover from the attacks.
MARLEE CHLYSTEK | THE DEPAULIA
conservative think-tank American Action Forum, which put the cost at somewhere between $51 and $93 trillion — in other words, the cost would be somewhere in the neighborhood of the GDP of all the world’s countries combined. Steger called the estimate “absolutely absurd” because there is no way to possibly estimate the cost of something that is nowhere close to having any specific, focused goals. But that hasn’t stopped McConnell, President Donald Trump and Fox News hosts from repeating the figure. If Ocasio-Cortez had waited to submit a full package of legislation, they could have gotten a more accurate cost estimate from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office rather than a partisan think-tank, which would be much harder for Republicans to attack. If the Green New Deal has any chance of becoming a reality now, its sponsors
have to take a step back and let the news cycle move on while they craft a piece of actual legislation. They need to get some Republicans on board like Chuck Grassley, the pro-wind energy Iowa senator, to help counter the conservative attacks. The Green New Deal remains a popular idea, particularly among young people. But what we need now is an actual bill — something Democrats can take to communities and start selling them on how exactly the Green New Deal can positively impact them and leave a better world for their children. The Green New Deal is an opportunity for Democrats to reinvent themselves as the party of bold new ideas and meaningful change. If they screw up the legislation rollout like they did with the resolution, Americans might not believe them the next time they say they have discovered the next world-changing idea.
Opinions. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 13
Acting like the president
EFREM LUKATSKY | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy being photographed on the set of his TV show 'Servant of the People,' where he plays a schoolteacher-turned-president.
A Ukrainian comedian who plays the president on TV is just a step away from winning the office for real — but will voters be the punchline? By Angelina Korniyenko Contributing Writer
While Chicagoans were in the middle of a mayoral election, Ukrainians were embroiled in a presidential election that felt like something of a joke. As Ukrainians went to the polls on March 31, the only real choice they were faced with was between a president many feel is corrupt, and one with a glistening record as president, a man of the people who spends his time rooting out government corruption. This latter candidate sounds perfect, but his only real political experience is acting as the president on television. Volodymyr Zelenskiy is best known as an actor and a comedian, kind of like a Ukrainian version of Ryan Seacrest. Ukrainians are used to seeing him in their living rooms on the small screen, either enjoying his hysterical jokes on shows from Kvartal 95, or buying tickets to see him in a new rom-com. In 2015 though, Zelenskiy took on the role of President of Ukraine in the hugely popular show “Servant of the People.” The show entertained plenty, but art seems to be imitating real life now. Early last year, Zelenskiy’s team founded the new Servant of the People political party. People are voting for Zelenskiy because of his fame instead of the things he has done for the country. This is crazy to see, especially in comparison to the recent Chicago mayoral election where
candidates were trying to prove that they were genuinely the best person for the job by showing how they served the public and how successful their previous projects were. “Humor has always been a sign of intelligence,” Zelenskiy told a group of foreign journalists in a recent interview. The results of the first round of elections came out unexpected to many people, including Volodymyr Zelenskiy himself. "I'm very happy, but this is not the final action," Zelenskiy told the BBC's Jonah Fisher, minutes after exit polls were announced. The primary results give the comedian 30 percent of the vote, putting him in the lead for the first round of presidential elections in Ukraine. At the same time, the incumbent president Petro Poroshenko came in second with just under 16 percent. Because no candidate crossed the 50 percent threshold, Zelenskiy and Poroshenko will face off in a secondround on April 21. Ukrainian people lost faith in their government a long time ago. According to Gallup, 91 percent of people in Ukraine say corruption is widespread in government. So, could it potentially be one of the reasons why Ukrainians are willing to vote for someone who has no experience in politics? Citizens of Ukraine want to see new people, new faces in power who would actually do something for the country rather than pursuing their own personal goals. They want a clean
president who promises easy solutions and quick progress. These aren’t unrealistic things for voters to want; being a fresh-faced outsider is exactly what Lori Lightfoot just ran on to become Chicago’s new chief. But is the best person to be President of Ukraine truly just someone who is good at acting like the President of Ukraine? “In Ukraine we didn’t have as many candidates, only Zelenskiy, Poroshenko, Timoshenko and Boyko,” said Sasha Baranov, a Ukrainian citizen. “Timoshenko is a good candidate and could have been a good opponent for all of them, if only she didn’t have [a] troubling past. She served in prison for embezzlement and abuse of power, and that is something people will not forget.” So, as long as they haven’t served prison time for embezzlement and abuse of power, can anyone win an election nowadays? If you’re famous enough, will that get you an office? If we look back at the U.S. election in 2016, we saw a similar thing with Donald Trump. Before entering politics, Trump was known chiefly as a television personality who could fire people, and rose to political prominence by promoting the “birther” conspiracy about Barack Obama, as he did during an interview on “Good Morning America” in 2011. His opponent, Hillary Clinton, was much more experienced, with years of political experience under her belt. But it seems that if you have the right team of people working for you, creating a certain
appealing picture, then you quite likely would win. People believe what they see in the media and hope for a better future for their country. People want to believe that whoever this new person is, they will be different. As much as people want to believe Zelenskiy is different though, there’s been plenty of reporting about his connections to Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, who used to control Ukraine’s Privat Bank before it was nationalized by Poroshenko. “Poroshenko took away Kolomoisky’s Privat Bank, and it looks like he didn’t forgive him for that and decided to put his person in the election,” said Roman Leyko, Ukrainian citizen. “Of course, it is just a theory, but you can’t deny that Zelenskiy is from Kolomoisky.” So, currently people have to choose between two candidates that both have questionable agendas and questionable reasons for why they want to be the president. It is troubling that, apparently, Ukrainians are voting for someone like Zelenskiy merely because they like him and he is new to politics, despite questions about his relationship to an oligarch like Kolomoisky. People are voting for Zelenskiy because they enjoy the version of him they’ve seen on television. Of course, they are voting for him because many people simply hate the current president. Since the country had a revolution only a few years ago, can they really put up with more political disappointment?
The opinions in this section do not necessarily reflect those of The DePaulia staff.
14 | Focus. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
Focus
‘Are there any great ones?’ A look back at Chicago’s most iconic mayors Ella Lee Focus Editor
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot’s landslide victory over long-time Chicago politician Toni Preckwinkle has been interpreted by many as a change to the way the city does politics. “They didn’t elect a Daley,” said DePaul sophomore Emily Burnett. “And to me, that seems like Chicago wants something new.” But some are not convinced that change has always been a good thing for the city. “Every so often in Chicago politics, you have a very seismic shift, where the earth quakes and the world trembles,” said Richard Lindberg, a Chicago historian and legislative aid on the city’s Committee of Finance. “The city does not adapt well to major shifts in culture, and I think this is going to become a major shift in culture. I’ll find it interesting to see how Lightfoot’s political agenda evolves and how she will be perceived by areas of the city who are completely unfamiliar with her.” While many of the challenges Lightfoot will face as the city’s next mayor may come with the major change she intends to bring, Chicago’s segregated nature brings problems in and of itself. “We almost have two or three cities within one boundary,” Lindberg said. “Where I live up in the far northwest side near O’Hare airport, you can throw bowling balls down the street after 7pm and never hit anything. Now you contrast
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the agenda of the people that live up there versus the troubled neighborhoods where you have warring streets between gangs and homicides of young kids and innocent people. How does a mayor come into office to appease each of these groups and build an effective coalition? That will be a challenge for this mayor; to be a mayor of all the people of Chicago. Few can accomplish it very successfully.” As city hall prepares to swear in Lightfoot as Chicago’s 56th mayor, it seems fitting to look back on those who held the seat before her, to gather where mayors went wrong or made changes that made the city better. But when Lindberg was asked which former Chicago mayors were the greatest the city has ever seen, he offered a bleak reflection: “Are there any great ones?” For students at DePaul, Lindberg’s honest question might be answered with a resounding “no,” as many students are uneducated on the city’s political past. “The only [mayors] I know are Daley and Emanuel,” said Jackson Bahr, a junior studying political science. “Even then, I don’t really know what they did for the city or the effect it has had.” Here’s a look back at some of Chicago’s more memorable mayors so you can decide for yourself.
John Wentworth
William B. Ogden
As the 21st mayor of Chicago, John Wentworth ranks among the better Chicago mayors, Lindberg says. He organized the first police department in 1861 and was a vocal promotor of Abraham Lincoln as he made his bid for presidential office—and achieved it all in one year. “In the early years of Chicago history, from the Fort Dearborn period up to the time of the Civil War, mayors only served one term—one year of office,” Lindberg said. “There was no real formality about Chicago as a town. It was a frontier town and had its own form of government that was very small and minuscule compared to what we have today. I guess you would say that those early mayors from the 1830s to 40s to 50s were kind of like caretakers of the city.”
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William B. Ogden was the first mayor of Chicago and a Democrat. He was an active advocate for the transcontinental railroad, and was heavily involved in building many railroads, including the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, according to the Chicago Historical Society. He switched to the Republican party after he left office, but later left that party after a dispute with Abraham Lincoln, claiming that his Emancipation Proclamation was premature, according to Wikipedia.
26 Joseph Medill Joseph Medill took office right after the Great Chicago Fire. As the first foreign-born mayor of the city, the Canadian-American was another advocate of Lincoln’s presidential run and used every means available to him to help Lincoln win. Before becoming mayor, Medill was an owner and editor at the Chicago Tribune; Lincoln’s win is largely attributed to Medill and the Tribune’s support. While in office, Medill opened the first public library in Chicago and worked to reform the city’s police and fire departments in wake of the great fire. The Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern is named in his honor.
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21 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Jane Byrn city. She is w ture back to She creat still a popula ists alike. She vating Navy pus, accordin Though s cal prowess ber of his ca renouncing speech, whe the whole go
Focus. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 15
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Carter Henry Harrison III and Carter Henry Harrison IV Before the Daleys were the Harrisons. Carter Henry Harrion III served as the city’s 29th and 33rd mayor, and Carter Henry Harrison IV served as the 37th and 40th. The father and son served a combined 21 years in office. “We’ve had two mayoral dynasties in Chicago: we’ve had the two Daleys and the two Harrisons,” Lindberg said. “The Harrisons forged
a powerful dynasty.” Harrison III was murdered in 1893 on the night before the World’s Columbian Exhibition closed, according to the Chicago Public Library’s records. His son, Harrison IV, graduated from Loyola University and served as a captain with the American Red Cross during World War I in France, according to the same records.
41 43 William Hale Thompson
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48 Richard J. Daley The Daley family dynasty cemented the way politics are done in Chicago today. Lindberg says the city has seen two forms of government: strong mayor/weak council government, and weak mayor/strong council government. “When a strong mayor’s in charge, the city council sort of follows the dictates of the mayor,” Lindberg said. “As much of Chicago is called a “machine town,’ it really has only had a handful of strong mayor, weak council arrangements. The strongest mayor we ever had was Richard J. Daley.” Daley changed Chicago’s skyline by authorizing major building proj-
William Hale Thompson was the 41st and 43rd mayor of Chicago, and was the last Republican mayor of the city. In his youth, he traveled west and became a cowboy for a brief time, before returning to Chicago to manage his father’s estate. Nicknamed “Big Bill,” Thompson for his height and wild personality, the mayor was notoriously corrupt. He garnered support from legendary gangsters including Johnny Torrio and Al Capone, according to the Chicago History Museum.
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ects—something which hadn’t been done since the 1920s—, led infrastructure repairs, and approved the expressway systems, Lindberg says. “He was a dynamic mayor and accomplished a lot, until he really got too old for the job,” Lindberg said. “Then his view of how governments worked was running against the social current of America in the late 60s and 70s.” Richard J. Daley’s son, Richard M. Daley, also held office as Chicago’s 54th mayor for 22 years. His other son, William M. Daley, ran for mayor this year and was runner up to both Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle.
56 50 Lori Lightfoot
Jane Byrne
Lightfoot is the current mayor-elect, and will become the first female African-American and openly gay mayor of Chicago.
ne was the first woman to lead the widely credited with bringing culthe city of Chicago. ted “Taste of Chicago,” which is ar event for Chicagoans and toure also introduced the idea of renoy Pier and creating Museum Camng to WTTW. she gathered much of her politifrom Richard J. Daley as a memabinet, she is famously known for old city politics in her victory ere she exclaimed that she “beat oddamn machine single-handed.”
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51 Harold Washington
Harold Washington was the first black person to take the office. He created the city Ethics Commission, led the movement for a holiday in Dr. Martin Luther King’s honor, and championed underrepresented ethnic groups in the city. The Harold Washington Library in South Loop was of his doing and named in his honor, and it helped to bring that neighborhood back to life, according to the Chicago Public Library records. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ASHLEE REZIN | AP
16 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
Arts & Life
Life doesn't have to be a drag For Chicago queen Omani Cross, drag’s glitz and glam are added bonus to intimate impact
ALL PHOTOS BY MACKENZIE MURTAUGH | THE DEPAULIA
Omani Cross after it was announced that she won the lip-sync and her first competition.
By Mackenzie Murtaugh News Editor
The dimly-lit Berlin Nightclub was mostly empty on a Monday night before its recurring drag competition, Squad Goals, began. A few people gathered in, but the small room did not fill up until about 11:30 p.m. when the performances began. The attendees gossiped around the bar with the bartender, seemingly knowing him from past visits. The more people who pile in, the more connections are made. A community not only showed up on a weekday — late but still there — to support their friends and fellow queens, but also to snap that perfect fit-pic for their Instagram. Enter Omani Cross, a young drag queen who is self-described as “that stupid stoner girl who is just looking for the party.” Born Omar Cruz, she moved to Chicago from the suburb Elgin to study game design at DePaul University. Initially, this was all she had planned until she met her drag mother, Logan Sazz, who took her under her wing — and wig. Growing up in Elgin, just 40 minutes outside of the city, she said she visited the city probably 40 or 50 times during her last year of high school. Now, she can experience more of the drag scene that she couldn’t when she was younger since most of the biggest events happen in the Boystown nightlife scene. For Cross, life isn’t only drag. Not only
does she get herself into drag as often as she can, but she is still a student at DePaul, while other queens might wait for graduation to let their drag careers take off or drop out of school altogether. Most queens want to dedicate the bulk of their time to drag because that’s how queens of the past have made it. Working side gigs at places like local restaurants pays the rent, but drag is what will fund their future, some might say. Cross wanted more than this; she’s been a hard worker since before she can remember, and she knew she has the drive to balance it all. Her job in retail pays the rent, and drag might pay for more in the future. “I’m definitely not able to perform as often as I want to because I have to work and do my schoolwork, but for now, it’s enough,” Cross said. “My gigs are few and far between, that is not a lie. But that doesn't mean I’m not at my apartment, getting my look perfect and practicing my performances.” For Cross and many other members of the LGBTQ+ community, working toward a goal such as this one isn't easy, but it often proves successful with the amount of work you put into it. Drag has long assisted the LGBTQ+ community with inclusion. Cross knew she was different from a young age, and she said that after drag, she is able to present more of herself through her cultivated character. "Before doing drag, I was kind of this shy and reserved kid, and it wasn't easy
to make friends," she said. "I was still so self-conscious, and I didn't have much self-confidence, but after doing drag and seeing the different outlets of expressing creativity, you really do learn a lot about yourself, like how to present yourself and how to really show the world the positive in you versus only the negative." In the most cliche of terms, life became a little easier once she committed to drag. Through the development and execution of her fun-stoner-girl character, the anxieties of befriending those who she looked up to or generally wanted to talk to somewhat subsided. “It’s not just female impersonation or performing—it’s being a part of the community that makes me feel special," Cross said. "I’m able to be my most authentic self through drag, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” Cross' roommate and drag family member Ariana Baltazar spoke about the phenomenon of performing as yourself and your character simultaneously. "I'm enamored with [drag in itself]," she said. "It's glamorous, it's funny, you're having a good time. I know [Cross] is totally being herself in that moment. That's the interesting thing about drag to me is that these girls are really themselves even though they literally are not at the same time. Sometimes it's easier to express how you really feel or look when you're claiming to be something else." Back at Berlin, Cross performed
“Gucci Flip-Flops” by Bhad Bhabie, putting her “stupid stoner girl” archetype into motion. Her controlled and relaxed, but sexy and funny movements brought a sense of composure and engaging energy. A few performances follow, and a lip-sync battle with the other competitors brings the curtain, and Cross took the house with ease. She won the competition, making it the first of her career. With this, she receives a cash prize and, more importantly, a spot in the next Squad Goals as a main performer, not a competitor. "With drag, you can really make it what you want it to be," she said. "Finding a way to express yourself creativity does something for you that nothing else will. In drag, you can develop a character, and sell it, and sell your soul out on stage, and people will love it. There's no one who can tell you you're doing something wrong because, with drag, that's all up to you." In regard to her drag career, Cross is hopeful that it will take off, but she knows it might not come for a while. “Sometimes it seems like I spend more of my energy on drag than my classes, but I know what I have to do to be successful later,” she said. “If drag can make me actual money in the future, that would be excellent, but right now, I’m taking it dayby-day.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 17
Above: Cross (left) and her drag mother Logan Sazz (right). They met as coworkers in retail, and Cross soon asked Sazz if she would take on the responsibility as drag mother, to which she initially replied "no."
Left: Cross moments before the lip-sync battle for the winner of the month’s competition. Soon, she would be victorious, making it the first win of her drag career.
MARLEE CHLYSTEK | THE DEPAULIA
In Cross' Logan Square apartment, things look less neon and more neutral. As she organized a makeup case, Cross described her childhood insecurities and social anxiety and how drag helped her face them.
18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
More than just a rapper
IMAGES COURTESY OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
Left: Nipsey Hussle at a Golden State Warriors NBA game earlier this year. Right: A man touches a mural in Los Angeles depicting Hussle on April 2, two days after his death.
Nipsey Hussle dies at 33, legacy lives on By Bella Michaels Contributing Writer
Nipsey Hussle’s death has not just been reverberating throughout his neighborhood of Crenshaw, but throughout the entire country. “I didn’t even know who Nipsey was until his death,” said Sandra Augustyn, a business major at DePaul. “Every time I get on social media now, Nipsey is all over. So, I had to check this out and see who he was. Once I read about him, I was like woah—this guy inspired—he changed people’s lives.” Born Ermias Asghedom, 33-year-old Hussle was more than just a rapper. He was more than just a Grammy nominated artist for his label debut album Victory Lap. He was a leader to his community where he hustled to provide opportunities for black culture to thrive. When he became successful and famous, he didn’t forget his community of Southside Los Angeles. He made his ties stronger to it and began to reinvest and rebuild. Hussle was fatally shot in a triple shooting on Sunday afternoon outside of the store he co-owned, Marathon Clothing. He was shot in the head and torso in the same plaza that he sought to create change through to improve his community. Numerous celebrities, professional athletes and political leaders erupted with disbelief and vocalized their tributes to Hussle through social media. Professional athletes such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and many more tweeted to pay their tributes to Hussle—who was a huge NBA fan and regularly attended NBA games over the years. Russell Westbrook scored 20 points, 21 assists, and 20 rebounds over the LA
IMAGE COURTESY OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard wears shoes honoring Hussle on April 1. Lakers and dedicated it all to Hussle. NBA athletes Kawhi Leonard and Dwyane Wade honored Nipsey by writing this on their kicks. Chris Nasiadka, a freshman computer science major and avid hip-hop fan at DePaul, was devastated when he found out about Hussle’s death. “I love Nipsey because of what he was trying to do,” Nasiadka said. “Similar to Tupac, he was interested in the community, in positive change and less violence. There are people in the hip-hop community that promote gang-violence, but Nip wanted to reduce it and make this world a better place for future generations.” There are parallels between Hussle and Tupac Shakur. Both artists rose from street lives and used their fame as platforms to fight injustices, and both became victims of the gun violence they rapped about. Hussle had a violent past during his long affiliation with the Rollin’ 60s
Neighborhood Crips, one of LA’s largest street gangs. In recent years, he distanced himself from the gang and mechanized that violent past by working to empower underprivileged groups in his community through real estate investments. Hussle also co-founded a science and technology center for underprivileged youth. “He has the utmost respect of the rap community because he made a positive impact,” Nasiadka said. “He showed upcoming rappers and other artists a prime example of how to use their platform for positive change.” But the immense outpouring of support and praise wasn’t unanimous. “There’s a complicated sense of feelings,” said Poe Johnson, a professor of African and Black diaspora studies. “In one instance he was doing a lot of good work. But as I was talking to my students yesterday—what do we do with the other stuff too—right? He was also someone whose lyrics were homophobic and anti-
women. So how do we address these issues?” Much like his counterparts throughout the hip-hop industry, Hussle’s music is being held to a new standard of what is acceptable and welcome in terms of content. Further, Hussle was unable to fully evolve as an artist, leaving his current discography seem less representative of the philanthropic community member. “What do we do with someone who was unfinished?” Johnson said. “Now we will never see what that closer to the finished product would look like—so what we have is crystalized in the moment of his death—and the crystallization is both positive and negative.” That’s just it. Hussle was unfinished. To bring something up that he did in the past is like bringing up how he was a gang member—but he left that lifestyle. He began to give back and improve his community. Imagine if Hussle was shot before he got the chance to make the impact that he has made on his community that has inspired celebrities and professional athletes as well. You know you did something right if you were a former Crip, yet you had Los Angeles policemen and political figures commemorating you. Whether it is a crystallized image or not, Hussle will be best remembered most for his philanthropism and activism to make his community and underprivileged folks thrive. Apart from his girlfriend Lauren London and children Kross and Emani Asghedom that Hussle left behind, the legacy he embarked continues to radiate through his community and across the nation.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 19
By Kevin Donahue Contributing Writer
To watch every episode of Game of Thrones would take 2 days, 15 hours and 30 minutes. That is over 63 hours of one of the most talked-about shows ever. However, many people may be out of the loop come April 14. That is when the first episode of the final season of Game of Thrones will air on HBO. DePaul senior Kevin Lukehart is one of the people out of the loop. “I feel like I am too far behind to jump into it right now,” he said. Lukehart also explained his thoughts about the hype of the upcoming season. “I’m pretty big on Twitter and everyone talks about the show and makes
references,” he said. “I don’t feel left out, I just feel annoyed because I don’t know what I’m missing out on.” Lukehart, like many others across the country, doesn’t know what he is missing out on by not watching Game of Thrones. DePaul professor Ryan Peters broke down why a show like Game of Thrones is so popular, “There's an appetite for stories that transport us to richly detailed, fullyimagined universes,” he said. “For many viewers, the extraordinary visuals and film quality cinematography set the series apart. For me, it comes down to the characters, who feel more real, embodied and complex—protagonists and villains alike—than in many other fantasy series.” This fantasy world has been built with
The first episode of the series makes it the perfect starting point for anyone trying to get into the show. Peters said that many people watch this first episode and are hooked right away. This episode introduces the major characters of the series to the viewer. It also introduces the audience to themes and setting in which the story will take place. There are knights and kings, but, there is also magic and White Walkers as well. The story lets the audience know winter is coming.
Season 1 is the only season that made this list twice. That is because there were events that change the direction of the whole show. This episode is no exception. It begins the trend of having huge events happen in episode 9 of seasons. King Joffrey becomes one of the most loathed characters in the show and will have viewers wishing for his demise for seasons to come.
a budget of $10 million for each episode. However, the story is taken from the book series of the same name authored by George R.R. Martin. What makes this next season so exciting for fans of the book and tv show is the fact that the show has moved past the books. “This last season of the show will be the first opportunity that many fans have to see a conclusion to a story that they have been following since 1996,” Peters said. The story began in 1996 when the first book was released; however, the show began in 2011. The buzz around the next season is huge and everyone will want to be up-todate with the tv show. To catch up now may seem daunting, with most of us not having the time to watch every episode of
the show. However, here are five episodes to watch in order to have an understanding of what is happening come April 14. The final season is bittersweet for fans of the show. People have been following the show for years and can be sad to see the story come to an end. Everyone has something that they can enjoy from this show. “I like the dragons,” said Charlie Carey, a sophomore at DePaul. Like many other people, Carey is excited to see what will happen when the show comes to an end. The thing is, no one will know until the final season begins. So if you are one of those people looking to get into the show, sit down and watch these episodes. You too will really like the dragons.
Although the first three episodes did not introduce you to the character Ramsay Bolton, you will be able to quickly understand why so many fans of the show hate him. What makes this episode so great is the Battle of the Bastards. Filming it took 25 days and required 500 extras and 70 horses. It will go down as one of the most impressive battle scenes from the series. This is a must watch for a newcomer to get the full-scale action that is involved with this show. Also, Dragons.
The season finale of the most recent season sets up what is to come in the upcoming season. By only watching a few episodes, you can feel lost with some of the dialogue between old friends and enemies. However, this is an episode that shows the diplomatic side of the characters. The episode is a setup, but, it will keep you excited about what is to come. Also, Ice Dragon.
Other episodes if you have time (but not enough to watch them all):
Many shows have one episode that makes people talk the next day. This episode still has people speechless over five years later. You will understand how this show deals with the main characters from this episode more than any other. Also, this show is important for new viewers because of how many characters are affected by the events that happen. It is an important domino that falls that has effects across the fictional world.
20| Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
The Beach Bum Matthew McConaughey and Snoop Dogg in a scene from "The Beach Bum," a star-studded stoner flick written and directed by Harmony Korine.
IMAGE COURTESY OF IMDB
A stoner comedy higher than the rest By Michael Brzezinski Staff Writer
Harmony Korine has made a career for himself out of being America’s resident cinematic rule-breaker. Ever since his wildly controversial feature film screenwriting debut “Kids” rocked the way modern youth had been portrayed on screen in the U.S., Korine has gone for the kill in making a brand for himself in his own idiosyncratic, often uneasy view of the weirdos and outcasts in life. Korine broke into the mainstream in 2013 with his huge cult hit “Spring Breakers.” And now, after six years, he follows that up with his first comedy, the bold and gut-bustingly hilarious “The Beach Bum.” “The Beach Bum” chronicles the bizarre and uproarious adventures of Moondog,played perfectly by Matthew McConaughey, a Miami-based poet who finds inspiration in the most debauched and outrageous life situations possible. After an unforeseen tragedy strikes his home, Moondog sets out on a quest to reconnect with his artistic roots and churn out another masterpiece. On this quest, Moondog meets an insane cast of characters, including Zac Efron as a fire-obsessed Christian rocker, Martin Lawrence as the world’s worst dolphin-tour captain and Jimmy Buffett. Think of a loose, modern-day stoner-based adaptation of Homer’s “Odyssey.”
If all of this sounds like your kind of thing, it definitely is. “The Beach Bum” is Korine’s first full foray into the realm of a mainstream comedy, but not once does he ever lose sight of his own perfect artistic sensibilities. Korine’s past works have always has some weird sense of humour but are always tinged with a harsh reality and dark cynicism. It is quite refreshing to see Korine shed that a bit and simply strive to make people happy and relaxed for once. Despite a few moments of stakes and tension, “The Beach Bum” remains one of the most profoundly carefree and liberating films I’ve ever seen. From just the opening sequences, it becomes very apparent that everyone in this film is having the time of their lives. Some of Hollywood’s most respected actors get completely out of their comfort zone for some of the most audacious set pieces of pure cinematic buffoonery—but it’s buffoonery that advertently transcends itself. Everyone is in their highest prime and that’s exactly how Korine wants us to see them and to feel the energy that radiates off of the screen. This isn’t a film that has any concern or regard for cinematic space or time. Our story jumps around from place to place and time to time with all sense of cohesion resting safely at the wayside. This will be understandably frustrating for some filmgoers, but if you go in with an open mind and prepare for a good
IMAGE COURTESY OF IMDB
McConaughey as Moondog, a rebellious stoner, in "The Beach Bum."
time, the rewards will be huge. “The Beach Bum” is simultaneously the perfect stoner comedy, a love-letter to the many rampant weirdos of the Florida Keys and Korine’s own personal study of his unique creative
process. For Korine fans, stoner comedy fans, debauched cinephiles and people who just all-around enjoy having fun; “The Beach Bum” is heaven personified on film.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 21 MARLEE CHLYSTEK | THE DEPAULIA
New year, new Yolk By Holyn Thigpen Contributing Writer
Looking for a new restaurant to check out this quarter? Look no further: Yolk, a celebrated upscale breakfast chain and Chicago staple, is opening its ninth location at N. Fremont St. in Lincoln Park on April 22nd. Since its debut in 2006, Yolk has become beloved by Chicagoans for its colorful, revamped diner décor, and at its Lincoln Park location, founder Taki Kastanis hopes to take Yolk’s chic flair to new levels. Having lived in the Lincoln Park neighborhood for five years, Kastanis says that he “always had Lincoln Park on the radar.” He describes the North and Clybourn area, specifically, as a hotspot for great restaurants which he is excited to soon be a part of. “We’re always trying to improve on the brand in every new location, but especially in Lincoln Park,” Kastanis said. Yolk Lincoln Park will feature woodraftered ceilings and new table dressings, as well as sleek, modern furniture.
"We’re always trying to improve on the brand in every new location, but especially in Lincoln Park." Taki Kastanis
Yolk Founder
If you’re already a fan of Yolk’s trademark dishes — among them the unparalleled red velvet French toast and five-egg rolled omelet — have no fear: all of Yolk’s current menu items will be offered in Lincoln Park, with the addition of items from Yolk’s Bucktown Test Kitchen. Since unveiling the Test Kitchen in 2018, Kastanis has utilized it as a test ground for unique and inventive menu items, as well as a platform for community engagement. Delicious creations from the Test Kitchen have included everything from a bacon and parmesan breakfast mac and cheese to a Korean twist on chicken and waffles. Yolk Lincoln Park will serve Test Kitchen items as they are rotated
seasonally, providing customers with fun new dishes to try each time they visit. Yolk Lincoln Park will also contain Yolk’s most extensive coffee bar yet, complete with a large selection of handcrafted espresso drinks and housemade syrups like pacific coconut mint and cinnamon breakfast. Since the Test Kitchen’s premier, Yolk’s Beverage Director, Scott Bufis, has experimented with new roasts and brewing methods to please even Yolk’s most highbrow coffee drinkers. “We’ll have pour over coffee and guest roasters to mix things up,” Kastanis said. “There’ll be everything from cold brew coffee and kombucha on tap to matcha
lattes. It’s going to be next-level.” Though it’s still uncertain, Yolk Lincoln Park may even offer alcoholic beverages in the future, with Kastanis envisioning brunch mimosas and other fun refreshers. Opening day visitors to Yolk Lincoln Park will receive free, 12-ounce drip coffee all week from Monday, April 22 to Friday, April 26 and get to take part in Yolk’s long-running “Egg Cracking” Ceremony. At Yolk’s inaugural opening, Kastanis chose to forgo a basic ribbon cutting and instead crack an egg over his wife’s head. Since then, the egg cracking tradition has continued at all of Yolk’s new locations, with Kastanis’s young daughters now doing the honors. Guests who stop by Yolk Lincoln Park on opening day will even be able to participate in a raffle, with prizes ranging across Yolk’s menu and merchandise. Kastanis is also excited to soon offer 10% discounts to DePaul students at the Lincoln Park location and establish other partnerships with the school moving forward.
Goodbye balayage, hello silver strands By Joey Cahue Contributing Writer
Rather than trying to achieve the Barbie blonde locks, trend-followers are reaching for the bleach and their grandmother’s purple shampoos to achieve a sleek silver look. Silver-white hair is a trend that started within the last few years. Notable celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Karlie Kloss have been spotted sporting the look within the last year. Tomira Jackson is a hairdresser and bleach specialist in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She works from out of her home and has a salon set up in her basement. Jackson is a certified beautician and hairdresser. She has been doing hair for 16 years. She has noticed a peak in clients asking for the silver-white shade. “I’ve definitely noticed more of my clients ask for it and it’s definitely a trend,” Jackson said. “I think with the popularity of wigs rising, people want to match their color as much as they can to those or the wigs. And nine times out of 10 it’s always the silver-white color.” Jackson says blonde has always been “trendy” and that many people like to be blonde throughout the summer months, but she can see how clients feel influenced by celebrities for their hair. “Everyone shows a picture of a celebrity and wants exactly what they have, it’s clearly impossible,” Jackson said. This trend comes with a price tag and a long process to achieve the results. Jackson prefers to bleach hair in sessions, but Olaplex makes it possible to achieve the desired color within 10 hours. Olaplex is a hair treatment that could be added to bleach to speed up the process without damaging hair. It also repairs the damaged bonds in hair. Jackson’s rates for bleach with Olaplex start at $180, but that’s not including long
KEATON MILBURN/INSTAGRAM
An Instagram post from influencer Keaton Milburn showing off her silver hair. hair charges or extra product. Salon prices could vary. “I believe [salons] charge per hour and that can’t start around $100 an hour with lightening. It’s a very tentative process,” Jackson said. “I personally charge according to the materials I need to purchase, how their hair takes to the product and so on.” Jackson said that people looking to bleach should think about it before making the decision. She says that it’s a “pricey process” and that it’s not something to just try out for fun. “If someone is dedicated to achieving this color, they should take time in doing it, especially if they have dark hair,” Jackson said. “Dark-haired people should gradually go lighter, maybe start with highlights to
lighten and then next time add more and get lighter.” Aili Mannisto, 21, of Chicago has sported the silver-white locks with a hint of lilac since last summer. Mannisto originally wanted this shade because she was just interested in how it looked. “I wasn’t interested in being trendy myself, I’m just really interested in how it looked,” Mannisto said. “I didn’t dive right into it, I’ve done a slower process.” Mannisto walks to the beat of her own drum regardless of what is trending. If more people engaged in this trend, she would keep it. “I probably wouldn’t change it just because more people are using the same
hair color, but I don’t want to blend in with them,” Mannisto said. “I want a unique style that’s true to myself that doesn’t really matter what the trends say.” She gets her hair done in Michigan, where she is from. Her hairdresser uses Olaplex to pull her color up faster without damaging her hair. Sami Waitley, 19, of Bloomington, Indiana, also has transformed her natural blonde locks to silver-white ones. “I think the trend is mostly popular right now because of celebrities,” Waitley said. “I started with my hair blonde, and I progressively kept going lighter.” Waitley uses a purple shampoo to keep her hair bright and to avoid brassy tones. Older women commonly use purple shampoo to prevent brassy tones in their light hair. “I’ve seen lots of pictures of it on Instagram and Pinterest and it influenced me to try that color out,” Waitley said. “I thought it was pretty just from the pictures but I noticed that it’s become trendy because of all the famous people and influencers out there changing their hair up.” She had photos of her hair muses saved to show her hairdresser at LifeSpa in Schaumburg, Illinois. “I showed pictures of Karlie Kloss to my hairdresser, then some pictures of Keaton Milburn, who’s a social media influencer,” Waitley said. No matter how popular the trend becomes and how many people change their hair to this color, it doesn’t bother Waitley and she plans to keep her hair like this. “I don’t really care what other people think or if this becomes mainstream,” Waitley said. “I really like this hair color on me and I don’t see myself changing it for any reason. I also don’t care if people see me as mainstream for following the trend. I just really like it.”
22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
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Arts & Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019 | 23
what’s FRESH on Hulu
Shrill
The Act
“Saturday Night Live” staple Aidy Bryant takes the lead for the first time in this Hulu Original series which follows the life of a full-figured young woman who is unhappy with multiple facets of her life and looking for a change with everything but her body. After attending a “Fat Girl Pool Party” wherein plus-sized women relax and celebrate themselves without fear of any judgement, she writes an article detailing the event and finds success for the first time online.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is one of the most morbidly fascinating phenomenons in modern society, in which one fabricates illnesses and disabilities. Now, the most notorious real-life example of this has been adapted for television and is on Hulu. “The Act” follows Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard, an overbearing mother and Joey King as her terminally ill daughter Gypsy Rose.
As she juggles a seemingly dead-end career with a perfectionist boss, insufferable boyfriends and the pressures placed upon women when it comes to appearance, she also finds her voice. Bryant has long been underutilized on SNL due to the nature of a variety program but Hulu has given her that platform she has been waiting for to highlight her plethora of skills as an actress and comedian. “Shrill” is a smart and consistently funny look into the complex lives of young women today, many of whom can much more easily relate to someone like Bryant than to the actresses who usually land leading roles.
LACEY LATCH | THE DEPAULIA
As Gypsy desperately searches for her independence, deep-seeded family secrets rise to the surface, ultimately resulting in the realization that she is in fact healthy. What follows is a story of abuse, tragedy, and perhaps justice depending on who you ask. The Wikipedia page for the Blanchard case has read like a dramatic thriller for years, which is why it is no surprise that this story was able to be brilliantly translated to the small screen. If you’re like me and the Wikipedia page has grown old, this show is the perfect antidote.
LACEY LATCH | THE DEPAULIA
In theaters & upcoming films March 22 “Us” A group of doppelgängers terrorize a family while they are on vacation. Stars: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke
April 5 “Shazam!” A 14-year-old has the ability to transform into adult superhero Shazam at a moment's notice. Stars: Zachary Levi
March 29 “Unplanned” The story of Abby Johnson, the youngest director of Planned Parenthood, as she becomes a prominent pro-life activist. Stars: Ashley Bratcher, Brooks Ryan
April 5 “Pet Sematary” A young couple discovers a mysterious burial ground near their new home. Stars: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz
March 29 “Dumbo” A young elephant with the ability to fly saves a struggling circus but quickly becomes aware of dark secrets held within. Stars: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito
April 12 “Little” A women transforms into a version of her younger self as the realities of adulthood beging to pile up. Stars: Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin
24 | Arts &Life. The DePaulia. April 8, 2019
St.Vincent’s
D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581”
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Explore Reckless Records for these DeJamz and more By Lacey Latch Arts & Life Editor
Following the murder of hip-hop artist Nipsey Hussle, scores of people applauded him for his philanthropic efforts in his hometown. Now, California Rep. Karen Bass aims to cement Hussle’s efforts in the Congressional record. Philanthropy has a storied history amongst the ranks of hip-hop as generations of artists worked their way to the top without forgetting where they were and who was with them when they were at the bottom. This week, we highlight four hip-hop artists who have dedicated their success to empowering others.
1. “Grinding All My Life”Nipsey Hussle After a somewhat tumultuous journey to stardom from the Crenshaw neighborhood in Los Angeles, Hussle found success through his uniquely marketed series of mixtapes. With that success, he used his money and his entrepreneurial ventures to reinvest in the real estate and economy in his hometown. After opening up his store, he actively encouraged further development in the community. Additionally, Hussle had a meeting with LAPD officials to discuss ending gang violence among kids scheduled for the day after his murder.
Crossword
2. “Right Now (Na Na Na)” – Akon Born Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Bongo Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam but better known simply by his stage name Akon, the R&B artist has devoted immense effort to developing underprivileged areas in Africa. Through his foundation Akon Lighting Africa, he provides African villages with renewable energy through solar power. Also, his Konfidence Foundation promotes health and education for kids in Senegal, West Africa and the United States.
Across 1. “Brian’s Song” star James 5. Come out of one’s skin 10. Selfcongratulatory 14. Radius’ comradein-arms? 15. Youngest-ever Oscar winner 16. Folkestone farewell 17. “B 5!” “C 11!”? 19. Took ___ (snoozed) 20. Downed 21. Typing type 22. Considers carefully 24. “Emma” author Austen 25. Hersey’s bell town 26. Place or site 29. Transverse beam 32. Itsy-bitsy bits 33. “In ___ trust” 34. Recipe word 35. Cravings 36. Emulate “Old
3. “Good Ass Intro" – Chance the Rapper feat. BJ The Chicago Kid, Lili K., Kiara Lanier Chancelor Bennett is nowhere near shy when it comes to demonstrating his love for the city of Chicago, as well as often delivering much needed criticism. He has consistently donated to Chicago Public Schools and champions the investment in education at all levels. He also started a 2015 social media campaign titled #SaveChicago to end gun-violence that resulted in a 42-hour period with no gunrelated deaths in the city.
Blue Eyes” 37. Kid’s “seat” on Santa 38. Alternative to .net 39. Less extroverted 40. TV’s “Cosmos” creator 41. Author’s explanation 43. Yuletide songs 44. Backup sounds 45. Random sampling 46. “Monkey Trial” teacher 48. Seafood choice 49. Josh 52. Door section 53. John Wayne character, larger-thanlife? 56. More than suggest 57. Recording studio alert 58. Water sport 59. Some antique autos 60. Family men 61. Bud holder
4. “Run This Town”- Jay Z feat. Rihanna, Kanye West It’s no secret that Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce have been intimately involved in various causes that they care about. But how far back Jay’s philanthropy goes is often overlooked. In 2003, Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, and his mother Gloria Carter started the Shawn Carter Foundation to help underprivileged youth afford a college education. Carter also secretly set up a trust fund for the children of Sean Bell, an unarmed black man that was killed by NYPD officers in 2006 on the night before his wedding.
Down 1. Island south of Florida 2. Dismounted 3. Archer or Heche 4. Endless faultfinder 5. Home of the John Deere headquarters 6. Like beverages at barbecues 7. Al Capp character 8. Fielder’s choice? 9. Trooper’s warning 10. Wood-surface applications 11. Tropical fruit dance? 12. Great Salt Lake state 13. Adjusts, as a spark plug 18. Multicolored gems 23. “___ on Down the Road” 24. Traffic tangles 25. Eagerness 26. ___ the land (how things stand) 27. Alamogordo’s
country 28. Kinshasa drum? 29. Australian bush call 30. Just right 31. Wonderlands 33. Southern breakfast dish 36. Auto despair site 37. Marx or Benz 39. Pirate’s knife 40. Town of many trials and hunts 42. Plains homes 43. Plays with crayons 45. Lecterns 46. Tim Duncan, for one 47. Kind of package 48. Cold spell 49. Nautical mile 50. Not going anywhere 51. Condemn 54. “Put __ Happy Face” 55. Photo ___ (media events)
Sports
Sports. April 8, 2019. The DePaulia | 25
Role players flourish in CBI championship series By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
The old adage “next man up” is a common and overused term in basketball; however, for DePaul that phrase applies perfectly in their recent slate of games in the Roman College Basketball Invitational. The Blue Demons came into the CBI with an already short rotation that only included eight players playing each game. During the regular season three players, Eli Cain, Max Strus and Devin Gage, played over 30 minutes per game, while another three players, Paul Reed, Jaylen Butz and Femi Olujobi were playing over 23 minutes per game. Already without their junior forward Jalen Coleman-Lands for the entire conference season, DePaul could not lose another player to injury this late into the season. Not only did one DePaul player get injured during the CBI but three players got hurt and were forced to either miss games or sit out for most of them: Gage, Cain and Butz. Gage suffered a head injury in the quarterfinals against Longwood on March 25 and was forced to miss the following three games. Cain and Butz got hurt in game two of the CBI championship series against USF. Cain suffered a dislocated elbow and wrist after hitting the ground and Butz suffered a right arm injury. After missing the rest of game two, Cain was ruled out for game three and Butz only ended up playing the first seven minutes in the final game. “Plain and simple, we won that for Eli,” Strus said after game two. “We lost one of our brothers in the middle of the game. We all love him and we had to do whatever it took to get that win out and we all came together and got it done.” Without those three players in game two, freshman Flynn Cameron and junior Lyrik Shreiner stepped up in overtime of game two to help propel the Blue Demons to a 100-96 win. Cameron and Shreiner scored eight of the team’s 18 points in overtime. But the two would also contribute in other ways, Shreiner would finish with seven assists and Cameron secured three rebounds. “It’s a very difficult challenge to get those kind of minutes after not getting as many minutes during the course of the season and [Flynn] played hard and admirable,” DePaul head coach Dave Leitao said after game three. “What growth is about is opportunity and seizing the moment within that opportunity. Minutes became valuable, but he would probably be the first to tell you he could have and should have played better. That will come
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul freshman guard Flynn Cameron drives past USF's David Collins during game two of the CBI championship series. hopefully as he continues to grow and get better.” Cameron saw more playing time in game three and with Butz not being able to play in the second half, the 6-foot-3-inch guard started the final 20 minutes and played all but two minutes of the second half. While the scoring production wasn’t there as it was in game two, both Shreiner and Cameron proved to be valuable assets off the bench and be spark plugs when the team needed them. Shreiner only scored three points in game three but his 3-pointer in the second half helped DePaul get within four points of USF. But that would be the closest the Blue Demons would get to the Bulls the rest of the game. “I’m proud of each and every one of them,” Strus said. “Obviously, unfourntate for Eli and Jaylen Butz to go down, but next manup and they filled in and played good minutes and did what they could.” Even without Cain and Butz, DePaul was able to get back their sophomore point guard
Gage for game three, and he provided instant offense for the Blue Demons. He scored six of the team’s first eight points, with all six points coming from behind the arc. Gage would finish the first half with 13 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field, 2-of-2 from the 3-point line and 5-of-5 from the freethrow line. The second half wasn’t as fruitful for Gage; he would only add another six points, but he finished the game leading the Blue Demons in scoring with 19 points in his return. “It gives me a tremendous amount of confidence, especially with the guys coming back,” Gage said. “Even though I didn’t play the last couple of games I was still mentally in the game. So, I knew coming into this game I would go hard and play.” Gage isn’t the only player who will be returning next season and can benefit from playing in a postseason environment. His fellow sophomore Paul Reed will also be back next season. Reed, who won Big East Most Improved Player this season, has taken
GARRETT JR., continued from back page something Garrett Jr. never experienced. He walked onto campus with lofty expectations and the weight of a tortured fan base on his shoulders, and walked away with a little more than a school free-throw record. Having endured one of the most painful stretches in the history of DePaul men’s basketball—battling sickle cell disease along the way—his college resume didn’t catch the eye of NBA scouts. Now is his chance to prove them wrong, and represent DePaul at the game’s highest level. “I’m very happy for Billy,” senior DePaul guard Max Strus said. “Obviously, I was here his senior year when I was sitting out. Learned a lot from him. Hardest working kid I know. I’m extremely happy and proud for him and proud for this school. That’s big news for DePaul. It’s great for Billy and
JOSH LEFF | THE DEPAULIA
Former DePaul guard Billy Garrett Jr. goes up against a Xavier defender on Jan. 3, 2015 at Allstate Arena. Garrett Jr. finished the game with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting. great for the school.” “There are a lot of people who are extremely happy for him and I’m right at
the top of those people because I’ve seen what he’s been through,” DePaul Head Coach Dave Leitao said. “It’s not easy and
advantage of playing extra games. In game two against USF, Reed scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help the Blue Demons get past the Bulls. His coach, however, has been saying that he rarely calls plays for Reed. In fact, in game two, Leitao only called one designed play for Reed. He didn’t even get the ball on that possession. “He’s growing right in front of our eyes into becoming a potentially tremendous college basketball player,” Leitao said after game two. “I laugh at it and I’m going to tell you we called a play for him late and he didn’t even get the ball, so that was the only time today that we called his number. To get 28 and 16 and you’re not getting fed the ball every other time down the court, it says a whole lot about his level of talent and the best is yet to come because he’s just physically and emotionally just scratching the surface of what he could ultimately become.”
there’s a reason why Max [Strus] is in the same boat as Billy. Going to DePaul and being responsible for turning this thing around and having to absorb a lot of nights where it didn’t go our way and still come back tomorrow with the resiliency to come back individually and get us better collectively. And what it does it teaches a tremendous amount of character. That’s what Max has and that’s certainly what Billy has and that has allowed him to go through the ups and downs, the highs and lows he’s been through since he’s left us and ultimately reach a dream.” For now, the DePaul basketball community—fans, players and coaches alike—will wait eagerly for the next chapter of Billy Garrett Jr.’s career. “He’s in elite company,” Garrett Sr. said of his son. “I guess it hadn’t sunk in for me because I hadn’t seen him play [in the NBA] yet. I don’t know what number he is.”
26 | Sports. April 8, 2019. The DePaulia
Bases loaded jam leads to nine-year partnership By Cailey gleeson Contributing Writer
DePaul’s associate head softball coach Joe Yegge’s first memory of Natalie Halvorson was when she was at the state tournament in eighth grade. “She came in bases loaded to pitch against Kendyl Lindaman, who is one of the premiere hitters in college softball now, Yegge said. The pitching coach went, ‘Do you know what you just did? ‘And I vividly remember saying, ‘Well we’re going to find out if Natalie is any good or not.’” Halvorson was good—so good that she got a ground ball out and got them out of the inning. But this was just the beginning of the journey for Halvorson and Yegge, as they remain a duo nine years later. “I would consider him almost an uncle to me,” Halvorson said. “I’ve been with him for so long.” Their softball journey began at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids. While most players and coaches would part ways following graduation, Halvorson and Yegge continued on at Kirkwood Community College. Off the mound, the two spent holidays together, with Yegge quickly becoming a family friend of the Halvorsons. When Yegge began at DePaul in 2018, he discussed goals for the upcoming season with head coach Tracie Adix-Zins and Halvorson’s name inevitably came up. JONATHAN AGUILAR | THE DEPAULIA “We were talking about what we Sophomore pitcher Natalie Halvorson winds up for a pitch during DePaul's Feb. 9 game against Green Bay at the Total Control Sports needed,” Yegge said. “And I said, ‘Well, Invitational. Halvorson leads the team both in wins and in ERA so far this season, with a record of 13-5 and an ERA of 3.41. there’s Natalie.’” Yegge chuckles as he recalls Halvorson telling him that she was staying in Chicago things easier at times because he is like a whether or not she joined DePaul’s team second dad to her. It doesn’t really impact after she made the trek up her apartment’s our team, which is nice, because it’s not that they treat each other any differently. It’s just three flights of stairs with her couch. a unique communication between them.” Shortly after, she The duration of committed to DePaul their relationship as a sophomore— has created not with her couch only culminated in nestled safely in her countless successes, apartment. but a variety of fond “If I didn’t take memories and sense the job, Natalie of deep appreciation wasn’t coming here,” between the two. Yegge said. “I think “The thing about Tracie said she was Natalie is that she is going to try to get such a sweetheart,” here anyways but I Yegge said. “One time was like, ‘No she’s she was pitching in staying with me.’” high school and hit a Adix-Zins says kid. She literally tried that the situation is to walk across the field especially unique for in the middle of the her, as she has never game and apologize to encountered a coachher.” player duo that has Halvorson says lasted for so long. that Yegge has taught “This is actually her countless things my first time with DePaul pitcher that have aided in her this,” Adix-Zins said. success on and off the “You’re really going mound. Aside from to ever see that in these lessons Yegge provides, Halvorson the state of Iowa because they play softball also appreciates the colorful “one liners” he in the summer and everybody else in high says on and off the field. school plays in the fall or spring.” “Last year at Kirkwood, we were playing Even though the duo is together at a not-so-great game and there was a girl DePaul, they don’t work as closely anymore on the outfield on our team that tripped,” because Adix-Zins handles pitchers. Halvorson said. “He turned to the umpire “Working with someone else more and went, ‘Hey Blue call off the snipers.’” with pitching allows us to have a different Although it seems their journey is far relationship,” Halvorson said. “I think he from over, Halvorson said she will always doesn’t have to worry about what I’m doing appreciate all Yegge has done for her. as much, and I don’t have to worry about “In high school, he believed in me what he’s doing as much.” which was something that I needed, ” Despite this the two remain close, as Halvorson said. “He let me come play at Yegge says they still talk every day—which has helped Halvorson’s transition on the Kirkwood for him and Kirkwood was his team—especially with her relationship with baby. He developed into a great division two junior college program. He took me here to Adix-Zins. “Since Joe has that relationship with DePaul. He’s provided me with so many Natalie he can get after her a little bit more opportunities and I will forever be grateful where I’m still building that relationship for that.” with Natalie,” Adix-Zins said. “It makes
"In high school, he believed in me, which was something that I needed. He let me come play and Kirkwood was his baby."
Natalie Halvorson
Sports. April 8, 2019 The DePaulia | 27 MCGRATH continued from back guard Max Strus said. "But it was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it, and hopefully we can keep playing at home." Strus likes playing at McGrath-Phillips for another reason. In the five CBI games that Strus played there, the 6-foot-6-inch guard averaged 28.6 points per game on 45.6/32.4/95.72 shooting splits. "I love playing here, as you can tell, [because] it's a shooter's gym," Strus said. "The crowd has been great, the fans have been awesome. We have some supporters here; hopefully they keep coming back. They are definitely helping us win these games." During the Blue Demons’ win against Central Michigan, a peppy student section tormented Chippewa star guard Larry Austin with chants of “Loser Larry” throughout the game. Austin appeared rattled, gesturing at the student section when he did make a basket as if to say “I told you I'm good.” The jeers were particularly intense when Austin shot free throws, leading to a 4-for-10 day from the line from the already bad free-throw shooter. "At McGrath-Phillips, you have close encounters with the players that you can’t have at Wintrust unless you are seated on the floor," Blue Demons fan Patrick Sperry said. "Wintrust is beautiful and if the Demons keep improving, I am sure it will develop the electric atmosphere that an on-campus facility has." "The atmosphere is great," DePaul Associate Director of Development Sam Provenzano said. "The crowd is able to get involved a bit more, as it’s smaller than Wintrust and the cheerleaders are standing in the aisles with signs. The food and event under the El was a nice touch. I took a few alumnus with me and they are enjoying themselves." Fans have found many ways to create a memorable atmosphere throughout the CBI tournament. The Screamin' Demons Pep Band, usually at the forefront of any
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
Fans and students pack the bleachers during DePaul's game against South Florida on Wedensday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena. cheer, began wildly yelling “Shabooty” when the public address announcer introduced Longwood Lancers guard Shabooty Phillips. DePaul fans laid a Bronx cheer upon Coastal Carolina forward Josh Coleman when he botched an easy layup and repeatedly chanted “soft” at several Chanticleers players after touch fouls. McGrath-Phillips turned into a madhouse of shouts, cheers and everything
in between as DePaul fended off Longwood down the stretch. The decibel level in the building was even higher against Coastal Carolina after Strus crossed a defender over and finessed in a circus layuphen, Paul Reed slammed in an alley-oop shortly after. After investing heavily in Wintrust, DePaul isn't suddenly going to pivot and move permanently into McGrath-Phillips. But the atmosphere McGrath-Phillips has
delivered throughout the CBI is the type of home-court advantage the Blue Demons hope they can enjoy someday at Wintrust Arena on a nightly basis, no matter the opponent. As for now, scheduling conflicts that prevented Wintrust from hosting CBI games are looking like one of the happiest coincidences of the Blue Demons 20182019 season.
CBI, continued from front page run to take back control of the game and continued to give the crowd little to cheer about in the second half, when USF led by as many as 14 late in the half. Despite a late rally that cut the margin to seven, that was as close as the Blue Demons could get inside the last two minutes. Less than 48 hours after senior guard Max Strus scored 32 points while playing 45 minutes in an overtime win in game two, he struggled in this one finishing with just 16 points on 2-of-16 shooting. While disappointed in the result and falling short in a championship game, Strus said he was optimistic about where the program is heading in the future. “It’s unfortunate the way tonight ended,” Strus said. “I think program and our team is moving in the right direction and I think people can start to realize that, so you should be excited for the future and excited for the new guys coming in and the guys that are coming back to lead this school and keep winning and keep playing in postseason games and be excited for that.” The senior guard finished the season with 705 points to rank third on the alltime single season scoring list joining Mark Aguirre as the only other player to score more than 700 points in a single season. As DePaul begins to look to the future, Leitao added that the next step for the program is to learn from the experience of postseason play and to reflect on not only what the team did, but what it could have done to be better. “I think when you come up short you could easily say it’s for this reason, that
RICHARD BODEE | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul head coach Dave Leitao and seniors Femi Olujobi, Eli Cain, Max Strus recieve a runner-up plaque after game three. reason; the truth of the matter is it’s for a lot of reasons,” Leitao said. “It might be something that you decided that you didn’t do as well Dec. 4 or Jan. 12 and it becomes a culmination of things that require you to be good every day. I’ve said this many occasion: If I asked you to be your best tomorrow and it was a monetary gift, are you going to make the NBA for that 24 hours? Would you be your best
if I told you, ‘I guarantee you day after tomorrow I’m going to get you to the NBA or whatever the case may be' if for those 24 hours [you gave your best] and they could do it.” Leitao added that the good players and programs are able to repeat this every day and is something the players need to understand with more expected of them in the future.
DePaul played this game without senior guard Eli Cain, who missed his first game as a DePaul player after suffering a dislocated wrist and elbow in game two of the series. The Blue Demons finished the season 19-17, which was still good enough to secure its first winning season since 200607.
Sports
Sports. April 8, 2019. The DePaulia | 28
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul students hold up the demon horn sign in the second half of game two of the best-of-three CBI championship series on Wedensday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
No Wintrust, no problem: McGrath brings the love By Paul Steeno Senior Basketball Writer
COMMENTARY In many ways, McGrath-Phillips Arena is a glorified high school gym. From the pull-out bleachers lining two sides of the court, to the electronic scoreboard instead of a Jumbotron, to banners honoring All-Americans and team championships lining the white-brick walls instead of exclusively hanging from the rafters, the setup feels a lot more like what you'd expect at a prep basketball game than at a college basketball event. However, with Wintrust Arena playing host to several private events, the Blue Demons have relied on McGrath-Phillips Arena to host their home games for the College Basketball Invitational tournament. The cozy, intimate nature of the old Lincoln
Park gym created an endearing atmosphere and a transparent home-court advantage for the DePaul Blue Demons throughout CBI play. "Our fan base is phenomenal," Blue Demon head coach Dave Leitao said after DePaul defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas on March 20. "They turned out in droves, they were loud. It helped our guys, when we made consecutive shots, when we went on runs you could feel it in the gym. It was tremendous. I give all the credit in the world to the fans for turning out. Hopefully, we can play more games so we can have that again." DePaul basketball has endured welldocumented attendance problems since opening Wintrust Arena in October 2018. The smaller CBI crowds that the cavernous Wintrust Arena would have swallowed up fit much better at McGrath-Phillips improving the aesthetic by eliminating the visual of all those empty seats. A crowd of 1173—like
there was for the Blue Demons matchup against the Central Michigan Chippewas— fits a lot nicer in McGrath-Phillips Arena than it would have in the 10,387-seat Wintrust Arena. An even sparser 939-person crowd that showed up to watch the Blue Demons battle Coastal Carolina on March 27 would have looked awful spread out among the sea of blue Wintrust Arena seats. In the first three rounds of the CBI there were still empty seats at McGrath-Phillips Arena, but it neither looked as bad as it would have at Wintrust nor affected the atmosphere much. "It was loud, but to be honest I was underwhelmed at all of the open seats [McGrath-Phillips Arena holds about 3,000 people at full capacity]," DePaul fan Joe Breslin pointed out. But once championship time rolled around against South Florida, McGrathPhillips Arena wasn’t only just packed with students and fans but it become a raucous
environment as well. The smaller, more compact facility that McGrath-Phillips Arena offers also means the smaller crowd becomes louder. The trombones and trumpets of the Screamin' Demons Pep Band resonate louder. Everyone in the building can hear the cheerleaders and dance team. The crowd becomes more of a factor and the players notice it. It's simple acoustics, players can hear fans better in a smaller building and both parties feed off the other's energy. "For me, I mean I played here a couple of times freshman and sophomore year, but like Max said it was way louder [than Wintrust] and really electric," DePaul senior guard Eli Cain said. "I hope we play here again." Other Blue Demon players offer similar assessments. "It was way louder [than Wintrust]; obviously it's a smaller gym," DePaul senior
See MCGRATH, page 27
Billy Garrett Jr. signs 10-day contract with Knicks By Shane Rene Managing Editor
When Billy Garrett Jr. told his father he was getting called up to play for the New York Knicks, his namesake didn’t fully believe him. “He said ‘I got a callup’ and I said ‘a callup where?’ And he was like I’m playing for the Knicks,” said DePaul assistant coach Billy Garrett, recounting the once in a lifetime conversation with his son. “I didn’t know if it was an April Fool’s joke, so I didn’t really buy into it. I wasn’t going to get too excited. The next day, when I saw it on Twitter, I knew it was true.” Garrett Jr. signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks on Tuesday, April 2, and joined a rare breed of former DePaul men’s basketball players to play on an NBA roster. The 2017 graduate will join Wilson Chandler, the last player drafted out of Lincoln Park onto an NBA team in 2007, as the only two former Blue Demons in the league. 2016 graduate Myke Henry signed a two-way contract with
the Memphis Grizzlies last season, but now plays in the Israeli Premier League. In his NBA debut against the Magic, Garrett Jr. dropped four points, shooting 2-6 from the floor in 11 minutes of action. He then saw his workload increase to 25 minutes the following game against the Rockets, in which he posted 8 points. “It felt great,” Garrett Jr. said to the media after his debut “Once I got out there it just felt like a regular game. My adrenaline was running just coming into the arena and warming up and everything, but it’s just basketball once you get out there. “I put [my first shot] up and it kind of rimmed in a little bit and I kind of got nervous and everything froze for a second,” he said. “Then it went in and I was like, ‘you’re here now.’” Garrett Jr. says he’s taking the opportunity to prove his worth to the Knicks organization and show that he can play at the NBA level. But, as his father says, playing in the NBA is one thing, staying in the NBA is another. “He knows he’s got to keep working hard.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS
Former DePaul guard Billy Garrett Jr. was honored by fans before his final game at Allstate Arena. Garrett Jr. played at DePaul from 2013-2017. Garrett Sr. said. “That’s cliché, but right now he needs to take care of his business. He needs to be where his feet are and be in his moment right now and not worry about what’s next other than you have this opportunity to realize your dreams. You want to stay in that moment.” Garrett Sr. said his son has met his goal
of playing in the NBA and now wants to stay in the NBA. Back at DePaul—the program he grew up watching his father coach and ultimately started four years for—the Blue Demons are beginning to show some signs of life,
See GARRETT JR., page 25