REVENGE OF THE BOOK STORE
‘Mad Men’ forever
Independent book stores are back, page 14.
How will the iconic drama end? Page 22
DePaulia
The
The No. 1 Weekly College Newspaper in Illinois
Volume #99 | Issue #24 | May 11, 2015 | depauliaonline.com
SGA candidates gear up for contested election By Brenden Moore News Editor
After years of presidential candidates running unopposed, the upcoming Student Government Association elections will feature a contested race for president as well as competing slates seeking to control the organization’s executive branch. This year, incumbent Executive Vice President for Student Affairs Vanessa Cadavillo is running against current Senator for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Luke Kula to be the official top representative of the student body. Cadavillo is running on a ticket with vice presidential pick Ric Popp, and in alliance with a slate for cabinet consisting of Adriana
Kemper (EVP of Operations), Patrick Pfohl (EVP of Student Affairs), Kristina Pouliot (EVP of Academic Affairs), and Damian Wille (Treasurer). The opposing ticket, calling themselves Vincentians United, consists of Kula and vice presidential candidate Michelle An, as well as Cara Anderson (EVP of Student Affairs), Joseph Kerins (Treasurer), Lindsay Salter (EVP of Operations) and Tyler Solorio (EVP of Academic Affairs). In the past few years, it has become commonplace for the presidential candidate to run unopposed. Both former President Casey Clemmons and incumbent Matthew von Nida did not have an opponent. Last year, however, a coalition of student groups calling them-
selves One DePaul organized and ran candidates for positions in both the cabinet and senate. While there was some success in getting senators elected, the two coalition candidates running for cabinet lost to candidates, one of them being Cadavillo, supported by von Nida. Michael Rance, the president of the DePaul Democrats and one of the leaders of One DePaul, said while Vincentians United and last year’s coalition probably would agree on most of the issues, there are some key differences. “I think some of the difference is that a lot of the people we ran last year were outside of SGA,” Rance said. “And that’s kind of where our focus was because we
See SGA, page 6
Photos courtesy of STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator Luke Kula (left) will challenge Executive Vice President for Student Affairs Vanessa Cadavillo for the president of SGA. Voting will take place May 18-22.
Condom referendum fails to get signatures By Brenden Moore News Editor
Photo courtesy of DEF JAM
Big Sean was announced as the FEST headliner Thursday. American Authors and Milo Green will also perform.
Big Sean announced as FEST headliner By Kirsten Onsgard Arts & Life Editor
What was once a low-key blues festival on Wish Field drawing a few hundred students has since grown up into a fullblown evening concert and rite for many students. And when FEST turns 30 years old this year, Big Sean will help DePaul celebrate. DePaul Activities Board (DAB) announced the 2015 lineup Thursday at Battle, the annual competition of DePaul bands and DJs. In addition to headliner Big Sean, American Authors and Milo Greene are set to perform. Producers Milo & Otis will play After Hours, a free show at
McGrath-Phillips Arena. “We’re adding a lot of new little things that will make it a special thing that we haven’t done in the past,” FEST Assistant Haley Bensen said. “We’re definitely putting more creativity into the event because it is the 30th anniversary.” At Battle DAB raffled off a VIP package, which includes a viewing area on the patio of University Hall and food. Bensen said artist decisions are partially based on student feedback given on DAB’s annual survey, which circulated earlier this academic year. Though Big Sean is also booked at more than a dozen other colleges across the county — including Princeton University, University of Illinois
and Indiana University — Bensen said this likely was due to his young adult audience demographic. Some Princeton University students protested his performance because they said his lyrics were misogynistic and homophobic. Princeton paid $60,000 to book Big Sean, but DAB would not comment on its artist budget. After the announcement, students at Battle and in the quad voiced their excitement for FEST and Big Sean. Tickets go on sale at Monday, May 11 in the Lincoln Park and Loop student centers and cost $10. FEST is only open to current DePaul students, and attendees may only purchase one ticket.
A petition seeking a change in DePaul’s contraceptive policy failed to get the necessary amount of signatures to appear as a referenda question in the upcoming Student Government Association elections. While 1,556 people signed the petition, which sought “to allow condoms, along with other sexual health products, to be freely available for distribution among the student body,” only 1,339 were valid, according to SGA President Matthew von Nida. SGA’s Election Board Bylaws state that signatures must be submitted 30 days before the start of elections and there must be at least 1,500 valid signatures. “While Feminist Front’s petition to change university policy did not achieve enough student signatures to be placed on the ballot for SGA’s spring elections, SGA will continue working with students and the university to pursue initiatives of student health and well-being,” von Nida said. “Members of the DePaul community have worked tirelessly on initiatives to improve student wellbeing, but we know more work must always be done.” Since DePaul is a Catholic institution, it follows church teachings and policy, which includes a ban on contraception as official university policy.
See SIGNATURES, page 7