DePaulia 3/14/22

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Take a look at the journey to becoming a cannabis influencer on Instagram on page 14.

Read how DePaul students are affected by gender is this special issue

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Volume #106 | Issue #18 | March 14, 2022 | depauliaonline.com

‘I’m optimistic’

Two years on, the battle against Covid-19 continues

By Jackson Healy Nation & World Editor

A whole lot can happen in two years.

On March 11, 2020 — just over two months after the U.S.’s first confirmed case of Covid-19 — the World Health Organization officially declared Covid-19 a pandemic, solidifying the notion that SARSCoV-2 would soon ravage nearly every corner of the earth.

733 days, 457 million cases and over 6 million deaths later, Covid-19 has radically reshaped the world and continues to inflict unprecedented damage as government and public health experts continue attempts to mitigate its mass casualties.

Despite Covid-19’s rapid rise, public health scientists across the globe have cooperated since the pandemic’s impetus to strengthen one another’s efforts against the disease.

“It’s honestly incredible when we think about the fact that every time there’s a new variant, we know there’s a new variant because someone’s sequencing it,” said Paige Larkin, director of molecular microbiology at NorthShore University HealthSystem. “New collaborations have formed.

New communications have formed as a result of this pandemic. We’ve never really had such a worldwide effort to stay informed about pathogens, and that’s really a beautiful thing.”

The U.S. government’s initial response was not nearly as cohesive. As Covid-19 cases spread into every state, the federal government took a particularly hands-off approach regarding public safety measures, forcing state governments to determine and enforce their own protocols.

“There was a time in the beginning where states were bidding against each other for masks and for medical PPE from manufacturers because the federal government wasn’t really distributing what they had and wasn’t going to buy or coordinate,” said Craig Klugman, Vincent de Paul professor of health sciences at DePaul. “So the states were sort of on their own negotiating these things.”

Furthermore, what medical equipment the federal government did have saved in the Strategic National Stockpile was neither sufficient in quantity nor quality to meet the pandemic’s scope and severity, and logistical failings ensured

See COVID, page 10

Pi Day has always been a slice of life

By Amber Stoutenborough Arts & Life Editor

One of the most important holidays and annual celebrations of the mathematical constant π is today. March 14, also known as Pi Day, is a classic American holiday created by Larry Shaw in 1988 and was recognized as an official holiday on March 12, 2009. For Chicago, celebrating Pi Day means supporting local businesses to search for the best pie in the 312 zip code.

One of Chicago’s most popular bakeries, Sweet Mandy B’s, is known for the best sweet treats in Lincoln Park. You can spot the bakery a mile away with its bold yellow exterior and big windows opening up to the teal walls and pastel designs inside. Founded in 2009, they have expanded the business to two separate locations to share the joy with other communities.

“I love that we are such a staple in our community, people have been coming here for years telling us they get their cakes here every year,” said Jenna Collins, a Sweet Mandy B’s employee. “We have a lot of regulars which is amazing to get to know them and personalize their orders.”

Sweet Mandy B’s Streeterville location will be selling pie slices for $3.14 today as well.

While Sweet Mandy B’s continues the Easter classic baker theme, artistic style is not lost on newer pie makers.

For Sarita Hernandez, their pie project called Sarita’s Pleasure Pie shop is inspired by sex postivity in the queer community.

“The pie shop started as a side project with my friends since I would be the one to bake the ‘birthday’ pies dedicated to the

day they came out as a birthday,” Hernandez said. “I want my pies to center around pleasure through food and make pastries that my friends could eat.”

Hernandez’s pies are all vegan and made personally by themselves. What began as a sweet treat for friends became a community favorite in McKinley Park during the pandemic.

“I started selling my pies to people during the pandemic to make some extra money and ended up really enjoying the support and love that I got from my own community,” Hernandez said. “I made themed pies based on stay-at-home orders, like long-distance hug pie, or very lonely lemonade pie.”

Hernandez wants to accommodate everyone’s financial situations so the focus is more on enjoying the pie than the ALISON SCHULTZ & KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

See PIE, page 20

2 | News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

First Look

CAMPUS COVID-19 CASES Jan. 21, 2022 - March 11, 2022

The DePaulia is the official student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily reflect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff.

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News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 3

MICKY BRAEGER| THE DEPAULIA

University Counseling Services Director Tow Yau answers an attendee’s question in his first in person appearence, at a November Student Government Association meeting.

First full time counselor hired — more to come in spring

By Nadia Hernandez News Editor

DePaul’s University Counseling Services made their first full-time hire of the school year.

Two more full-time counselors will begin working in May 2022, according to UCS Director Tow Yau. UCS expects to have a total of nine fulltime counseling positions by this June and will begin to see students in fall quarter 2022, according to Yau. These are the first official full-time hires UCS has made since outsourcing all counseling to My Student Support Program (SSP) in July 2021. Four temporary part-time counselors were hired in January and have been providing 15 hours of clinical services in Lincoln Park and five to the Loop, according to Yau. “We have other applicants and hope to fill all remaining positions by June, though hiring in this area continues to be a challenge nationwide,” Yau said in a statement to The DePaulia.

Yau also confirmed he is continuing to work with the Student Government Association (SGA) to create a mental health task force.

Riley Reed, SGA senator for LGBTQ+ students, said she has heard student concerns over My SSP and available services from the university. The task force is still in its planning phase.

“We, as a student body, want to make sure that people have access to proper mental health care on college campuses because, frankly, as we’ve seen since the pandemic, it has been subpar,” Reed said.

Students may run into insurance issues if they choose to outsource counseling. During fall quarter, UCS would make personalized referrals based on insurance plans, according to Yau. “Students are so frustrated because if you don’t like having certain insurance, it’s really hard to get covered,” Reed said.

DePaul students will have access to My SSP through the end of the academic year, according to Yau, and it is undetermined whether it will be renewed. Yau said that student use of My SSP has wavered throughout the quarter.

“The number of students accessing My SSP has dipped slightly but remains steady,” he said. “In our experience, the number of students accessing the app ebbs and flows throughout the quarter.”

Sophomore Evelyn Hernandez said she was referred to My SSP but was confused

about how it worked.

“It was unclear as to how to set an appointment; there wasn’t much explanation about it and navigating the website to figure out how to even get an appointment in the first place was hard,” Hernandez said.

She has attended three sessions with two different counselors.

“I’ve had two sessions with my current counselor, and it’s been going all right but also weirdly feels like I’m talking to a robot, but it is helpful,” Hernandez said.

My SSP says it is a telehealth service via telephone, app and web, according to its homepage. This quarter, DePaul students had the opportunity to meet with their counselors in person.

“My SSP counselors in Chicago have also conducted 30 in-person sessions with DePaul students,” Yau said.

The Division of Student Affairs held a mental health fair this past quarter, where Courtney James, director of student involvement, talked about how different departments are trying to help students while UCS restructures.

“We all know what’s going on with UCS,” James said in a previous DePaulia article. “This isn’t the only solution. This is a part of what students are asking about, and a part of what we need to do.”

Senior administration has not released a statement regarding UCS. In fall quarter, Vice President of Student Affairs Gene Zdziarski sent a universitywide email about My SSP, but did not explain why they added the resource.

President A. Gabriel Esteban did not address the lack of counselors in his 2021 State of the University presentation.

Provost Salma Ghanem said during the joint university town hall between staff, the Faculty Council and SGA in January that they will “assess the situation as it unfolds,” according to previous The DePaulia reporting.

She also said they did not plan to invest more funding into UCS. “Once positions in UCS have been filled, the university will assess if mental health service needs have been met,” Ghanem said during the meeting.

There have been no updates since then from the administration about UCS. “The higher admin needs to be held accountable for the lack of support they’ve done for their students,” Reed said. “They haven’t addressed it because they think that [My SSP is] working. They need to be held accountable

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD| THE DEPAULIA

Senator for LGBTQ+ Students Riley Reed believes the administration should take accountability for the lack of counseling services these past two quarters. by students as a whole because it’s not working.”

UCS was also present at the mental health fair. Yau said it was a way he could be more in tune with students’ mental health demands.

“These events reinforced how important it is for us to be attuned to the various mental health needs of our students,” Yau said. “It will be helpful to listen to the students and learn about any gaps in support as well as the types of services that would support student success.”

Reed said that she trusts Yau to lead UCS and implement new programs for students.

This includes hiring diverse counselors. “[Yau] was saying he really wants a more equitable approach to [counseling] and getting therapists that actually represent the student body, whether they be queer therapists or therapists of color, ones that can connect with students a little bit better,” Reed said.

UCS will plan to implement group treatment programs for alcohol and drug use, trauma informed care and survivors of sexual violence in fall 2022.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD| THE DEPAULIA

University Counseling Services is located in the DePaul Student Center on the third floor suite 350.

4 | News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

DePaul continues Narcan initiatives through training

By Audrey Leib & Erik Uebelacker public will be more educated and willing to SGA Beat Reporter & Opinions Editor

DePaul is continuing its Narcan initiatives from 2019 by offering Narcan training sessions from the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW) to students and faculty.

Narcan is the brand name for the drug naloxone, an opioid antagonist. It’s available in every building on campus in defibrillator cases. Narcan is a potentially life-saving drug due to its ability to treat opioid overdoses, the leading cause of death in the United States.

“It is the only medication that will actually do what it does,” sociology professor Greg Scott told The DePaulia. “It is the front-line medication for the intervention of opioid-involved overdoses.”

DePaul’s Narcan training ensured that faculty, staff and students could recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and administer the drug correctly. Rita Mookerjee, Ida B. Wells-Barnett Postdoctoral Fellow in African and Black Diaspora Studies, was one of the faculty members in attendance.

Mookerjee said that she wanted to attend the training because of how prevalent opioid addiction has become in the United States, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic taking a toll on mental health.

“We’re all vulnerable to addiction,” she said. “Anyone can get hurt or become ill and find themselves abusing or using substances that they didn’t think were going to be a part of their lives.”

Through sessions like DePaul’s Narcan training, Mookerjee hopes that the general

help those affected by the opioid crisis.

“I think that the threat of this kind of addiction is very imminent,” Mookerjee said.

“The only way we can really start to respond to that appropriately is if we shake some of that stigma off.”

Narcan is available in two forms: as a nasal spray and as an injection.

The Illinois Department of Public Health offers Narcan injections for free to residents. DePaul’s training walked participants through the administration of the nasal spray rather than the injection, since it is simpler to administer and easier to carry on one’s person.

SETH WENIG | AP PHOTO The training also taught participants how A mother reveals to reporters photos of empty pill bottles her daughter accumalted to recognize the signs of an overdose, and before her death. Opioid deaths were up in 2021 with the CDC reporting 100,000 deaths. how to act accordingly. a student at DePaul.”

“The facilitator broke down the warning training as well.

Training sessions like these, as well as the According to Cheryl Hover, associate disigns and the steps really clearly,” Mookerjee said. “Going into the training, I knew what presence of Narcan, are extremely beneficial rector of emergency management, DePaul’s public safety personnel have carried Narcan naloxone was and how it worked… but I in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

“The research is very clear that the pres- for preventative measures since 2019. didn’t really know what you should look for “Over 100 staff members have received in a person, for those signs. That was really ence of naloxone and people trained on how to use it reduces the rate of fatal overdose,” training in administering [Narcan] doses,” helpful.”

Hover said.

Recognizing these signs of an overdose Scott said.

But Scott argues that institutions like DeChicago Public Libraries also carry Naris crucial to administer proper care. Small can in 14 branches and plan to expand into pupils, gray and cold clammy skin, blue or Paul should go even further.

“I think it’s unconscionable for any insti- other areas. purple lips or fingertips, slow breathing or no Opioid deaths were up significantly in breathing and appearing unresponsive are all tution, particularly a university or college in the state of Illinois, where injectable naloxone 2021 from years past. The CDC reported potential symptoms, according to HPW. Scott explained that a good way to test a is available free of charge… There’s no excuse that more than 100,000 people in the United person’s responsiveness is to introduce a pain for DePaul not to be providing naloxone to States died of a drug overdose between May stimulus by rubbing one’s knuckles along every single student, faculty member and 2020 and April 2021 — nearly a 29 percent the person’s gumline or sternum. Mooker- staff member,” Scott said. “I think it should be increase from the prior 12 months. jee confirmed that this was part of DePaul’s a part of your welcome kit when you become

CAMPUS CRIME REPORT: March 2, 2022 - March 8, 2022 LOOP CAMPUS

LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS

School Of Music

John T. Richardson Library

1

2

5

Sheffield Parking Garage 4

McCabe Hall 3

Jackson & State 7 6

LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS

Assault & Theft

Drug & Alcohol

Other

LOOP CAMPUS

March 2 1) A Criminal Damage to Property report was filed for a broken window at the School of Music.

March 3 5) A Battery was reported on the 200 S block of Wabash (Not pictured above).

March 4 2) A Criminal Damage to Property report was filed regarding graffiti found on the shelves of the Richardson Library.

March 7 6) A Battery was reported at Jackson and State.

March 7 3) A Threats by Electronic Means report was filed for a person receiving unwanted texts in McCabe Hall.

4) A Criminal Damage to Vehicle report was filed for damage to a vehicle parked in the Sheffield Parking Garage.

7) A Battery was reported at Jackson and State. Offender was taken into custody by Chicago Police.

News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 5

Students navigate mask-optional campus for first time

By Milan Opsenica Contributing Writer

This week marks the first two weeks that students have been able to be on campus without a mask since the pandemic began.

The change came on the tide of both the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois also dropping their mask mandates on Feb. 28.

Chicago and Illinois as a whole have been seeing dropping Covid-19 numbers, which DePaul Professor of Immunology Phillip Funk saw as a reason that this was possible.

“All the data is trending down, infections, hospitalizations and ICU beds occupied by Covid-19 patients,” Funk said. “The last estimate I saw was that between 80 and 90 percent of the population has some level of immunity from either vaccination or exposure. Given that cases have typically dropped in warmer weather it seems like we can expect the spring weather to help.”

81 percent of people in Illinois have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at this point and around 95% of Chicagoans could have some form of immunity according to Chicago health commissioner Dr. Allsion Awady. The average daily cases in Chicago are down to 138, which is much lower than this year’s peak average of 6,988 cases after the new year began.

These are the reasons why DePaul students have been comfortable with the changes that DePaul is making. DePaul junior Simi Hill trusts DePaul and the city to make the right decisions when it comes to the mandates.

“The choice to drop their mask mandates overall makes sense given the City of Chicago also choosing to go in that direction,” Hill said. “The use of masks only on school property seems like it would be much less effective if the rest of Chicago is not also

EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA

A mix of masked and unmasked students sit in the Schmitt Academic Center pit. DePaul will re-evaluate the mask mandate after Spring Break.

“I will continue to wear a mask if it helps anyone feel comfortable.”

Simi Hill

DePaul junior following this guideline.

On March 7 DePaul released a Newsline article, “Creating a Mask-friendly campus at DePaul”, encouraging DePaul students to wear masks if they are asked to by someone on campus.

“Those who are immunocompromised or who live with people who are immunocompromised or with children who cannot yet receive vaccines may be fearful of work-

ing in mask-less settings,” Newsline stated.

“With this in mind, DePaul will work to maintain a mask-friendly campus. Out of respect for one another and in the spirit of Take care DePaul, if you are joining a meeting or gathering and a participant asks you to wear a mask, please do so.”

For many, this is a very different sight for a lot of DePaul students who started in 2020 and 2021, who have only known a masked

campus. Most Freshman, and Sophomores at DePaul have never been on the campus without a mask on before.

DePaul Senior Peter Fossa, is happy to finally be able to walk around campus and workout without a mask again.

“It’s made my life easier, it’s nice that it’s only in classes, because it doesn’t make sense if I’m just passing someone in the hallway,” Fossa said. “It’s especially nice at the Ray, because I’m finally able to breathe.”

But other students like Hill will continue to wear their mask out of concern for others, or his own personal safety.

“I will continue to wear a mask if it helps anyone feel comfortable,” Hill said. “I think the vaccination requirement is overall very effective specifically for DePaul students.”

Since March 1, all DePaul students and faculty have been required to have the booster to be on campus at all. These types of guidelines gave Hill the confidence to be on campus without worrying.

Although in spite of all these changes, life on campus has still remained business-as-usual for most of the students and faculty. Funk doesn’t feel like much has really changed in his daily life yet.

“Many people have been teaching remotely and working from home to the extent possible. In the buildings most people are still masking and I suspect that will continue for a while.” Funk said.

This most likely won’t be the end of this change either, as DePaul left the door open for a totally maskless campus in their original statement about dropping the mask mandate outside of classes.

“To avoid disruption, DePaul will continue to require masks in classrooms and labs at least until the end of winter quarter.”

MAKE YOUR SUMMER COUNT. GET ONE STEP CLOSER TO GRADUATION. REGISTER FOR SCPS ONLINE CLASSES AT GO.DEPAUL.EDU/SCPSSUMMER.

6 | News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 7

DEPAULIA FILE PHOTO Kelly’s is one of the oldest family owned pubs since Prohibition was repealed in 1933, according to their website. Late John Kelly’s daughter Megan Kelly now owns the pub.

Kelly’s Pub ­— a Lincoln Park mainstay

By Katie Kostelic, Gina Brennan, Alexandra Murphy & Jackson Healy Contributing Writers & Nation & World Editor

To the untrained eye, the small Irish pub next to the El tracks in Lincoln Park may seem unremarkable, except for the sign depicting a beer mug overflowing with shamrocks. But take a closer look, Kelly’s Pub is a time capsule of Chicago history.

The day after Prohibition ended in 1933, allowing the legal sale of alcohol for the first time in 13 years, what was originally a candy store became the El Side Tavern under its new owners, Frank and Loretta Kelly.

Not much has changed inside 949 W. Webster Ave. A dim green light illuminates the evenings, various sports games play on the TVs and patrons sit around a large bar and tables etched with Greek letters from DePaul’s fraternities. A classic Irish green wall rounds out the pub experience, flanked with family photos from the bar’s past. In the back corner lies a small kitchen where burgers, onion rings and mozzarella sticks fly from the window. On Wednesdays, the wings, now 75 cents, always draw a crowd.

DePaul student Cooper Angell and his friends go to Kelly’s on a weekly basis for their food and drink specials.

Angell spoke about the pub in comparison to the DePaul favorite bar McGee’s, which is across the street.

“People [aren’t] throwing up on the floor,” he said.

Angell added that he believes the cleaner environment and wider range of clientele explain why they favor Kelly’s over McGee’s, which attracts mainly college students.

Anthony Hernandez, a Kelly’s bartender — and customer on his off-days — said the patrons of Kelly’s Pub represent different slices of Lincoln Park life.

“We have the old-school guys who have been coming here for years and then you have the blue-collar guys who work on the houses in Lincoln Park and the CTA,” Hernandez said. “Then you have the DePaul students that have been coming in at night, as well as the DePaul faculty that comes in. It’s a whole mixed bag, and all of us get along well.”

On Wednesdays in particular, the mixed bag is on full display. There’s an ecosystem within the pub: The regulars at the end of the bar near the kitchen, DePaul students

moving tables together to fit their big groups and construction workers huddled in a corner near the door. Even with rap music blasting through the speakers, each group sits in harmony.

One of these regulars, Brian Huebner, sits at the end of the bar, paying no attention to the sea of college students around him. A Lincoln Park native, he became friends with the late John Kelly, who was the owner of the bar until his death in 2019. Now, Kelly’s daughter Megan is in charge.

According to Huebner, Kelly’s used to be a commuter bar but became more popular as DePaul students came from out of state and the Blue Demons basketball team became prominent.

In fact, he described Lincoln Park in the past as “dingy” with mostly blue-collar workers.

While watching Jeopardy! on a Friday afternoon, Huebner recounts some of his favorite memories with his late friend.

Huebner noted that when John Kelly was in charge, the bar remained open every day, including Christmas Eve and Easter, where he would cook hot meals for elderly people in the neighborhood during the 1970s and ‘80s.

One moment in particular that stood out to Huebner was a trip to Key West with John Kelly and their wives.

The winter trip, known as the “Duval Crawl and the Duval Fall,” took place about 10 years ago. According to Huebner, their goal for the evening was to visit every bar on Duval Street, the main drag on Key West.

But as the night wore on, the two imbibed too much. While walking back to their respective hotels, John Kelly — who had poor eyesight — attempted to step over a chain stretched across a driveway, fell and broke his shoulder.

The bar is still owned by the Kelly family, with John’s wife, Paulette, listed as a secretary and treasurer of their company, Clover Corporation, according to the Illinois Secretary of State. Kevin Kelly serves as the president of the corporation.

In recent years, city records show Kelly’s Pub has earned a clean bill of health, passing all city inspections, including the most

DEPAULIA FILE PHOTO Kelly’s is located at 949 W. Webster Ave and increased their wing prices to 75 cents. recent one in October. But a few years back, city health inspectors found some unsanitary conditions.

In June 2016, the pub failed a health inspection due to improper temperature of their walk-in cooler. They also had back-toback failed inspections in 2017 and 2018 for safety issues with their ice machine. According to the report, there was a “black slime” on the inside of the machine during the two inspections. Kelly’s Pub was instructed to sanitize the machine. The problem was fixed, and Kelly’s has enjoyed a clean bill of health from the city ever since.

The DePaul favorite also has a star-studded past with Hollywood. The pub was even featured in the 1986 film “About Last Night,” starring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. Chicagoan Jim Belushi, brother of the late comedy star John Belushi, also has a supporting role in the movie about a one-night hookup that leads to a meaningful romance.

According to Hernandez, Kelly’s built their outdoor patio to accommodate a scene in the film. Owner Megan Kelly said that all of the stars’ significant others, including Melissa Gilbert and Emilio Estevez, came to the pub between filming. Megan happened to be on set as an extra, along with everyone who was at the pub that day.

Pub employees say other celebrities have visited Kelly’s over the years. CSI actor William Peterson, The Bold and the Beautiful actress Lauralee Bell and the heavy metal

DEPAULIA FILE PHOTO The pub is located under the El tracks. group Guns n’ Roses have all stopped in for a drink at the pub.

By the time evening comes around, expect to see a much fuller house — especially on Fridays. Former DePaul student Gabrielle Uluhogian often finds herself there on Friday nights, even though she no longer lives in the area.

“When I was in college, I lived right off Belden and Seminary, so walking distance from the bar,” Uluhogian said. “I ended up spending a lot of time there my senior year of college, and after getting to know the bartenders and other customers, I’d say my friends and I definitely became regulars.”

Uluhogian says that she and her friends still make time to go to Kelly’s at least once a month.

“Even though I’m not in college anymore and I don’t live as close, when I go to Kelly’s, it’s like nothing has changed,” she said. “Honestly, it’s a pretty nostalgic place.”

8 | News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

News. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 9

EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA Junior Pavitra Reddy and seniors Remy Milburn, Angela Sampers and Maria Estevez produced two episodes of their podcast “Lymphaudio” with Lymphoma patients.

Four PR students create podcast for competition

By Catie Barcy Contributing Writer

Junior Pavitra Reddy and seniors Remy Milburn, Angela Sampers and Maria Estevez are representing DePaul as Team Advocate at the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Bateman Competition by bringing awareness to their campaign with a podcast.

The team received The Lymphoma Research Foundation as this year’s campaign client in October and researched lymphoma and the lives of those affected by it until January. They implemented their campaign from Feb. 7 to March 11 and will undergo a judging process until April. After a judging process, three teams are chosen as finalists and will present their campaigns to the client.

The client receives the rights to the winner’s campaign ideas.

Along with their campaign, Team Advocate chose to bring awareness to the lifestyle and struggles of lymphoma patients through their podcast, “Lymphaudio.” Each episode is an interview with a different lymphoma patient. The addition of the podcast brought new perspectives and a level of personal connection to the campaign for the team who previously did not know much about lymphoma.

More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with lymphoma each year, according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

70,000 young adults and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, and lymphoma represents one-in-five of these cancer diagnoses.

“When we initially did research…it was almost hard for us to relate because none of us really knew anyone with lymphoma,” Reddy said. “It took us a minute to kind of like realign our thoughts and…put ourselves into their shoes.”

In the first and third episodes of “Lymphaudio,” “In Conversation with Melissa ‘’ and “In Conversation with Jessica,” patients Melissa and Jessica both claimed to not know much about their diagnoses. The team’s research revealed most people are not at all familiar with the disease or its symptoms.

EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA

Students who pledged to be an advocate wrote their names on a poster board.

EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA

Remy Milburn of Team Advocate speaks to a student about early signs of Lymphoma.

Through the podcast, the team came to understand how each individual’s journey with lymphoma is different.

“The real message that we want to get out to the public is [that] lymphoma is a blood cancer that affects young adults and adolescents…and many people don’t know about the symptoms,” Estevez said. “They can confuse it with their normal daily activities and they don’t go to the doctor.”

Properly advocating for lymphoma pa-

tients was an important part of the team’s campaign. The group used social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, to find lymphoma support groups and connect with patients who were willing to be interviewed. As the podcast gained popularity among the lymphoma community, more people affected by the disease have reached out to the team. The podcast allowed patients to shed light on their individual struggles against the disease.

“Almost all of them have brought up the advice of advocating for yourself,” Sampers said.

Though the team spread their message to DePaul students through their table set up on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, they believe “Lymphaudio” is an important and effective way of encouraging young adults to familiarize themselves with lymphoma.

“I’ve heard a few stories of people having itchiness,” Milburn said. “If someone was having those symptoms and they listen to the podcast, that might encourage them to go get checked out because they’re hearing someone’s real story.”

The team’s campaign emphasized advocating for and capturing the attention of people, including college students. Instead of having a popular influencer be the face of the campaign, the team agreed it was more effective to highlight the lives of lymphoma patients who do not have a large social following.

“We thought about trying to find an influential person,” Reddy said. “All four of us kind of agreed that it would be a lot more impactful if we just had a mom from New Jersey.”

Not only had Team Advocate gained connections with the podcast guests, but they also reflected on the impact they made throughout the campaign.

“I don’t think we realized how much it would impact us when we first started planning it and once we got it started,” Milburn said. “But once our first episode [was] released, it really hit home how much this meant to us and the community…When we’re writing our campaigns off like I genuinely feel like we’ve done something.”

Judges will select three team finalists in April and results will be posted to the PRSSA website. The selected finalists will virtually present their campaigns to judges in May, and first, second and third-place teams will be chosen. Winning teams are recognized during the Awards Ceremony at the PRSSA 2022 International Conference in October.

10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

Nation & World

SLAMET RIIYADI | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Workers in protective gear bury a coronavirus victim during a funeral at a cemetery in Yogakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Feb.17, 2022.

COVID, continued from front page that what functioning equipment the government did have would not be efficiently mobilized.

“It turned out we didn’t have working ventilators — the ventilators we had in storage had never been maintained, so they didn’t work,” Klugman said. “We didn’t have as many masks and gowns as we thought we did. We didn’t have a good system for distributing those [either] — nobody had set that up.”

Additionally, the vast spread of misinformation via both traditional and social media outlets — including an excess of falsehoods propagated by then-President Donald Trump — has made it increasingly difficult to create a unified public defense against Covid-19.

According to a November 2021 KFF report, 78 percent of U.S. adults either believe or are unsure about at least one false statement regarding the Covid-19 pandemic or Covid-19 vaccines. On top of this, public perception of protective measures against Covid-19 quickly became a partisan issue as opposed to just a public health one, further splintering the nation’s response to the pandemic.

As the U.S. lacked a collective public health response, Covid-19 continued to spread state to state at breakneck speed. On March 27, 2020, the U.S. reached 100,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases. By April 28, the nation’s case total had risen to one million. As of Sunday, that number has risen to 79.4 million cases.

With such high case rates, hospitals across the country have been severely overburdened for years — a burden that continues to this day.

“It’s not only the doctors and nurses — we have respiratory therapists, physical therapists, janitorial staff, admin — and every single person is important to keep a hospital system functioning,” Larkin said. “And so, I feel like every person in health care has really had to put their work and patient safety first. I don’t think it’s always recognized how everyone’s tried to stay as safe as possible so they could come to work and take care of their patients.

The amount that people have given up and sacrificed to keep everyone safe and keep the health care system afloat — it’s been incredible, honestly, to see that.”

That burden has impacted far more than just health care workers and Covid-19 patients. Excess deaths indirectly caused by the Covid-19 have remained prevalent since hos-

pitals first grew strained early into the pandemic.

“When Covid happened, we told people to stay away from hospitals, stay away from doctors,” Klugman said. “We thought it was dangerous to be in those environments and we didn’t want to burden the system. So people didn’t get colonoscopies, didn’t get mammograms, didn’t get screening for cancer. The result was delayed surgeries, delayed chemotherapy and radiation treatment. So by the time they finally got diagnosed and treated, things were that much worse. That means more people are likely to die, or they’re never diagnosed and they just die.”

Through a combination of patients avoiding hospitals and emergency rooms reaching full capacity due to Covid-19 surges, an estimated 18.2 million people globally have died as a result of the pandemic — over three times more than the reported global Covid-19 death count. In the U.S. alone, experts estimate that 1.13 million excess deaths related to the Covid-19 pandemic have occurred.

By far the most impactful contributor to lowering the risk of contracting Covid-19 and not developing serious symptoms has been the development of vaccines. Prior to the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, no infectious disease had received a successful vaccine in less than several years, and no vaccine had ever been created that could prevent a coronavirus infection in humans. Despite this, the first Covid-19 vaccines were created and safely approved for emergency use within months of initial efforts through the use of decades-old vaccine technologies and shortened wait times during development.

Since Dec. 10, 2020, when the Food and Drug Administration first granted emergency use authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 254.5 million Americans — 77.2 percent of the population — have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

“I’m optimistic,” said Mary Jo Ondrechen, chemistry and chemical biology professor at Northeastern University. “I think that the science can solve the problem if people have the will to implement the solutions — but it will take political will, and it takes commitment by people.”

Currently, that commitment has not been made by much of the population. Largely stemming from the promulgation of misinformation, vaccine hesitancy has seemingly solid-

MATT ROURKE | ASSOCIATED PRESS

A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus in Philadelphia, on Feb. 16, 2022.

ified a group of Americans who outright refuse to take the Covid-19 vaccine, creating a significant roadblock for public health experts attempting to slow the spread of the virus.

“There’s a certain percentage of the populace that simply will not take the vaccinations,” Ondrechen said. “Those lies about vaccination and the lies about the disease were already baked in, and I don’t think those people who believe that stuff are going to believe any technical expert or any member of the current administration.”

Equally as, if not more significant in determining the pandemic’s future, is the global inequity surrounding vaccination rates. Currently, only 14 percent of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of a vaccine, compared to 79 percent of people in high- and upper-middle-income countries.

Ondrechen explains that by maintaining largely unvaccinated populations across the globe, humanity allows the virus to spread more easily, increasing the likelihood of more dangerous variants forming.

“More transmissions [means] more infections [and a] higher chance that a deadlier new variant is going to crop up,” Ondrechen said.

“So it is in everybody’s self-interest to get the world vaccinated and to get viral treatments available worldwide. We need to vaccinate the world, and the countries that can afford it need to donate vaccinations [and fund] the implementation to get crews out there and get the vaccines out there into people’s arms.”

While a lack of political and financial willpower has made it particularly difficult to fund such efforts, there’s been one major hurdle that no amount of money has yet been able to fix: mRNA Covid-19 vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s require particularly cold temperatures in order to avoid degrading.

“If you’re going to sub-Saharan Africa where you might not have access to electricity and it could take you 40 hours to get from the manufacturer to a small village, how do you keep these [vaccines] cold enough when they can only be outside the fridge for a few hours?”

Klugman said.

However, researchers have mobilized to address logistical concerns throughout the entire pandemic, and issues regarding vaccine mobility have been no different. Currently, a number of research teams are developing nasal spray vaccinations that would require little to no training to administer and could be stored at room temperature, bypassing two of the most significant hurdles towards global vaccination efforts.

As citizens across the world head into their third year with Covid-19, massive swaths of the population have grown burnt out due to years of mitigation efforts — however, Ondrechen emphasizes that such efforts are as crucial as ever, as the pandemic remains far from over.

“We’re up against people being very tired of the virus,” she said. “But the virus isn’t tired.

The virus is still here.”

Nation & World. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 11

Visualizing Covid-19 A timeline of pandemic developments

By Jackson Healy Nation & World Editor

Jan. 9, 2020: China reports the first death linked to Covid-19.

Nov. 17, 2019: Chinese government records suggest that the first person to contract Covid-19 may have been a 55-year-old resident of Hubei, China, although ‘Patient Zero’ has yet to be confirmed.

Jan. 20, 2020: A 35-year-old American in Washington contracts the first recorded case of Covid-19 in the U.S., although blood samples suggest the virus likely entered the country’s borders weeks earlier.

March 11, 2020: The World Health Organization declares Covid-19 a pandemic for the first time.

DePaul University cancels all in-person Winter Quarter finals and announces remote learning for all applicable Spring Quarter 2020 courses.

March 27, 2020: President Donald Trump signs the CARES Act into law in response to the economic fallout of the pandemic, passing the largest economic stimulus package in U.S. history.

April 2, 2020: Global Covid-19 case rate reaches 1 million.

U.S. Covid-19 case rate reaches 100,000.

April 11, 2020: The U.S. surpasses Italy as the highest death toll of any country with 20,000.

April 28, 2020: U.S. Covid-19 case rate reaches 1 million.

May 27, 2020: U.S. Covid-19 death rate reaches 100,000.

Sept. 18, 2020: Global Covid-19 death rate reaches 1 million.

Oct. 5, 2020: The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant is first detected in India.

Dec. 11, 2020: The Food and Drug Administration issues Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

Jan. 25, 2021: Global Covid-19 case rate reaches 100 million.

Feb. 23, 2021: The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant is first detected in the U.S.

April 8, 2021: DePaul president A. Gabriel Esteban announces DePaul University will return to full on-campus classes Fall Quarter 2021.

April 21, 2021: DePaul University announces it will require all students who cannot provide valid exemption to receive Covid-19 vaccination beginning Fall Quarter 2021.

Oct. 30, 2021: Global Covid-19 death rate reaches 5 million.

Nov. 24, 2021: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is first reported in South Africa.

Nov. 24, 2021: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is first reported in the U.S.

Dec. 13, 2021: U.S. Covid-19 case rate reaches 50 million.

Jan. 10, 2022: The U.S. records over 1.4 million new cases in one day, the nation’s highest.

Feb. 28, 2022: DePaul University drops its mask requirement outside of classrooms and labs. Masks continue to be required in classrooms and labs at least until the end of Winter Quarter 2022.

KIERSTON RIEDFORD | FOCUS EDITOR

12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

Opinions

I haven’t gotten Covid yet... ...is that weird?

EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA Masked students enter and exit 1 E Jackson Blvd. There have been over 3 million Covid cases in Illinois since 2020.

By Erik Uebelacker Opinions Editor

I’m fully aware that I’m going to jinx myself by writing this. But as of right now, it’s been about two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never been infected.

Granted, I’ve been pretty tame when it comes to pandemic risk-taking over the course of the pandemic. I’ve spent an awful lot of time at home, and wore KN95 masks before Omicron ever came around.

But I’ve pushed my luck here and there. I traveled internationally twice, once for work and once for a family vacation. I’ve flown back and forth between Chicago and my hometown in Maryland a handful of times as well. And I hang out with my friends on a pretty regular basis, who vary in their degrees of Covid responsibility.

I’ve been sick several times, too. I caught a few bad colds, had seasonal allergies and even got strep throat late last year. I get tested pretty regularly, and whenever I feel at all under the weather.

Every single test so far has been negative.

Over 77 million cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the United States. But it’s estimated that the actual number is several times higher due to

the testing shortage and underreporting.

Based on this, I feel awfully fortunate to have never been infected yet, and I’m not alone.

“I feel like I have gotten very lucky,” said DePaul senior Nikki Giatras. “For a lot of the pandemic, I was home. I really avoided getting it because my mom is immunocompromised. I was getting tested, like every week to go home — from August to like May. And I never tested positive.”

As the United States started to reopen, however, Giatras said she had to go back to work and school.

“I have done a lot of normal activities since then,” she said. “I’m not the type of person where I fully avoid all groups.”

Giatras believes that a combination of luck and getting vaccinated and boosted led to her remaining Covid-free thus far. DePaul senior Connor Reid shared a similar sentiment.

“I wasn’t super reserved about where I went,” Reid said. “I feel pretty lucky, but I do trust the vaccine.”

Neither Reid nor Giatras had knowingly been in close contact with people who were infected with Covid-19 throughout the pandemic. I haven’t either, and that has certainly boosted my luck, so far.

The Omicron variant has drastically increased the number of cases that we

likely encounter on a regular basis. On Jan. 11, over 1.4 million infections were recorded in the United States alone. Seeing this, I would imagine that my streak is not going to last forever.

A number that high implies that every American is at least going to come in close contact with Covid-19 at some point. I’ve been careful, but I’ve been far from perfect. I’ve had numerous friends, family members, and coworkers test positive. It just seems strange that I haven’t been sick yet.

According to The Telegraph, there is a possibility that some people are simply immune to Covid-19. A study conducted in the beginning of the pandemic found that a small percentage of healthcare workers experienced low-level “abortive infections.” These wouldn’t be found on PCR tests, as the workers’ T-cells had eliminated their virus before it infected them.

Much is still very unknown about this phenomenon. Frankly, it’s dangerous and irresponsible to assume that you are one of these people, no matter how lucky you’ve felt throughout this pandemic.

It’s fun to think about, though. For now, writing this article is about how far I’m willing to push my luck.

DePaul’s University Counseling Services failed me

By Audrey Leib SGA Beat Reporter

As a kid, I was depressed, and have since continued to be depressed. I thought that coming to DePaul would fix everything. I’ve been in and out of therapy, treatment centers and hospitals since I was in middle school. But out of all the horrific experiences with treatment, the University Counseling Services (UCS) at DePaul has treated me the worst.

If I had done more research into the practices of mental health care at DePaul, I simply wouldn’t have applied.. I’m paying to go to DePaul not only for the academics, but also to feel safe. UCS does not make me feel safe, it makes me feel like I’m being swept under a rug, that the institution put in place to help me doesn’t want to. I would argue that keeping UCS as it is would be the same as not having it at all.

My first quarter at DePaul was ruthless. I was horribly depressed, unwilling to get out of bed at times. I did my schoolwork and then oftentimes perished in the immense pain, like a gaping hole in my chest. Winter quarter was the same. The first two weeks being trapped in my tiny dorm room began to make me feel like I was in jail for a crime I did not commit.

I had no one at that point. I reached out to UCS, asked them what they had available for counseling. They pointed me towards My SSP. I’ve used My SSP probably five times, and each time, they offered me no real help. It’s always runaround answers and resources. When I speak to them, it feels like my words are getting put into Google translate and regurgitated out in a language the person on the other line doesn’t understand.

Whenever I communicate with My SSP, I leave feeling the same, if not worse. No real help has been administered, just short-term solutions to a long-term problem. There was an incident that happened, and my roommate was worried for my safety. I went to treatment and left feeling so utterly disappointed, that the system has let me fall through the cracks. After this incident, the Dean of Students reached out and offered me more help than UCS ever has.

I’m upset and frustrated that DePaul is not trying to catch up with these other policies. I don’t want to be sent to a call center when I’m feeling low, talking to someone who doesn’t know me at all or the institution I’m at. Talking to someone who just knows my name, phone number, and school on a screen is not helping me. It’s not helping anyone.

I want change for this school, but I can’t be the only one. Everyone who has ever talked to My SSP or UCS has said horrific things about them, and it needs to stop. This is not healthy for anyone, and especially not productive.

The opinions in this section do not necessarially reflect those of The DePaulia staff.

Opinions. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 |13

Drug decriminalization

It isn’t a perfect solution, but it’s a step in the right direction

ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA

By Maddey Martin Contributing Writer

The criminalization of drugs ignores the societal issues at the root of drug abuse, addiction or sale. Addiction to illicit drugs can often be a side effect of living in poverty and mental illness. Decriminalizing them is not a perfect solution, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“There is a social control factor,” said Xavier Perez, a professor of criminology at DePaul. “Drugs have always been commonly associated with people of color...

You could go back and see where cocaine was made illegal in its connection to African Americans, marijuana and its connection to Mexicans.”

“Drugs have always had a very much racialized and a class sort of perspective in our society,” Perez said.

But drug decriminalization may still be part of the answer to a larger historical issue of oppression and mass incarceration in the United States.

“The benefits of decriminalization would include a decline in prison populations,” said Joseph Mello, an associate professor of political science at DePaul.

Mello is currently writing a book about cannabis reform.

People who are incarcerated for drug possession often deal with repercussions long after their time in prison. In some states, people with felony convictions or people on parole are barred from voting.

I would argue that voting disenfranchisement is a violation of civil rights — being a recovering addict (or hopefully recovering, since prisons are far more punitive than rehabilitative) shouldn’t keep you from exercising your rights in a democracy.

Decriminalizing drugs would “signal a move away from the punitive approach to drug use that we have today, towards more of a medical model,” Mello said.

“Under this approach, people suffering

“We failed at these policies, the war on drugs and the tough on crime. Let’s just try something other than punishment as our solution,” Xavier Perez

DePaul University criminology professor from substance abuse and addiction would be encouraged to seek treatment, not put in jail.”

“Decriminalizing drug use would not only eliminate incarceration for possession offenses, but it would reduce the number of people needlessly burdened with criminal records, which make it more difficult to find employment, housing, education, and stability,” said Ben Ruddell, an attorney and director of criminal justice policy at the ACLU of Illinois.

“When those things are lacking, it’s more likely that people will continue to struggle,” Ruddell said.

These struggles may lead people to commit desperate crimes that put them back in prison. The recidivism rate in the U.S. is one of the highest in the world, with two out of three former prisoners being rearrested. Lower incarceration rates would place less of a financial burden on taxpayers.

“Incarceration is expensive, traumatic and ineffective,” Ruddell said. “Investing our resources in community-based resources to help people overcome drug problems costs less and works better.”

Illinois incarcerates “thousands of

people for simple drug possession,” Ruddell said, both in county jails and prisons. “If someone needs treatment, they should be connected to community-based services, which are both more successful and more cost-effective than trying to coerce people out of using drugs, using punishment or the constant threat of punishment.”

“That strategy has failed miserably and compounded the harms associated with drug use,” Ruddell said.

Decriminalizing drugs would also reduce the social stigma around drug use, according to Ruddell. Those who are against decriminalization argue that this would lead to a rise in drug use and other crimes.

“Decriminalization does not mean legalization, and even legalization does not mean drugs are completely unregulated,” Mello said. “It would still be illegal to sell or distribute drugs, publicly consume drugs [or] give them to minors.”

“There would still be people incarcerated for drug offenses, even if they were decriminalized, but it is a safe bet that the size of the U.S. prison population would decline precipitously if decriminalization occurred,” Mello said.

Another fear around decriminalizing drugs is the potential to create a gateway drug scenario, causing more people to use drugs and develop addictions. That may not be the case, according to Perez.

“Some of the European societies that have decriminalized their drugs, even some of the more sort of serious drugs, the more addictive drugs — it’s not ideal,” Perez said. “They deal with their issues of addiction and their issues of crime like everyone else, but it is a fraction of the money and the social cost that’s associated with our policies.”

“I don’t mean to suggest that we’re going to create a utopia by decriminalizing drugs, but I just think that after this failed experiment of our policies for the last 40 something years... It just doesn’t seem like there’s just gonna be any sort of end to it or any sort of positive conclusion,” Perez said.

It’s time to change how we view drug use — not just our own personal stigmas, but on a federal level as well.

“Let’s just pivot,” Perez said. “We failed at these policies, the war on drugs and the tough on crime. Let’s just try something other than punishment as our solution.”

Ultimately, decriminalizing drugs is not the only answer — or even the best one. We need to address the root causes of drug use, like poverty, and continue to fight against racial discrimination in arrests and sentencing.

“We need to stop criminalizing people who use drugs and properly fund mental and behavioral health services statewide,” Ruddell said. “We will need to make substantial and sustainable investments to provide the education, housing, employment and safety that people living in all of Illinois’ communities want and deserve.”

14 | Focus. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

Focus

BECOMING A MARIJUANA

STUDENT RECOUNTS THEIR JOURNEY T

By Hallie Long Contributing Writer

HALLIE LONG | THE DEPAULIA

Senior Caroline Sands lays out her joint paper and filter before placing cannabis into it to roll up with Juicy J papers.

Like many rituals, the motions required in rolling a joint become unconscious the more you do it. Eventually, it gets done without a second thought. For Caroline Sands, a senior marketing major at DePaul, this is certainly true.

She wraps the joint in Juicy J strawberry wrapping paper. She then lights it carefully to test the paper. Sands is testing the joint for a review on Juicy J, a hemp rolling paper company.

Sands created an Instagram account centered around her love for cannabis, where she rolls and reviews different rolling paper brands.

For Sands, social media is a place where she can express her love for cannabis and rolling joints to an audience that’s just as interested as her.

Social media is full of influencers of all kinds, from lifestyle to fashion to cooking,

CANNABIS CALCULATIONS

45

percent of Americans used marijuana once in their lives.

24

percent

of 12th-grade Americans used marijuana this past year.

50.68 percent

more American marijuana users than American tobacco users.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR DRUG ABUSE STATISTICS | SOURCE

HALLIE LONG | THE DEPAULIA

Senior Caroline Sands licks a RAW rolling paper in her bedroom to review RAW’s joint wrapping paper for her Instagram.

Focus. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 15

A INFLUENCER

TO CANNABIS FAME but it is rare to find an influencer who’s centered their brand around cannabis, especially given that cannabis is not federally legal. In 2022, only 18 states have fully legalized recreational marijuana use, along with the District of Columbia.

There is a fine line for the cannabis industry advertising on social media due to the different legal statuses of marijuana across the country, said Steven Kelly, an associate professor and creator of MKT 420, a cannabis marketing course at DePaul.

“Companies that don’t actually deal with the leaf but sell cannabis accessories can advertise whatever they want,” Kelly said. “They may not mention cannabis, but everyone knows what to use them for. I expect a lot of growth to come in from these types of companies.”

In a place such as Chicago, where marijuana is legal for recreational use, Sands saw an opportunity to combine her love of marijuana with a need for expressing her creativity.

Sands explained that she started her Instagram account, @jointsbycal, as a way to not feel so lonely and connect with a community she yearned for during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Samantha Close, an assistant professor in the Department of Digital Communications and Media Arts at DePaul, said many students like Sands use social media as an outlet during times of loneliness.

“Social media allows you to feel closer to people you’re physically distant from,” said Close.

Since Sands created her Instagram account, she’s garnered about 100 followers; though it may not be a large number, it hasn’t prevented her from connecting with other cannabis influencers and more prominent names in the cannabis industry.

One of Sands’ most memorable moments with her Instagram account was when Marlon Francis, another cannabis Instagrammer (@outdatrunk_market) and supplier of Maji Water Rolling Papers, reached out to her.

Francis complimented Sands on her posts and mentioned that he would love to see her use his rolling papers for future posts. From there, he offered to send her a free package full of cannabis accessories, such as rolling papers, cones and even a customized rolling tray with Sands’ Instagram handle inscribed.

In return, Sands filmed and edited a video of her using Francis’ rolling papers to post on her and Francis’ pages.

“I was so excited when I got the package because nobody’s ever sent me anything for free before,” Sands said. “It was an incredible experience for me, and it’s great that we both support each other’s pages.”

Joel Kesselman, the CEO of RAW rolling papers, messaged Sands after she posted a rolled joint using his papers. After talking over Instagram, Kesselman sent Sands a free delivery of authentic rolling papers.

Even without the support from other influencers, Sands loves posting on her account and hopes it can one day be her full-time career. In the future, Sands wants to create cooler posts and more content once she graduates college, which would give her more free time to invest her energy into her account, she said.

With over 6,000 cannabis brands, Kelley believes that cannabis will be fully legalized nationwide at some point in the future, which will allow the industry to grow. We may start seeing more and more influencers specializing in cannabis.

Becoming an influencer is difficult since the social media landscape is constantly evolving. A lot more goes into building an account rather than just posting.

“Social media influencing is not a 9-to-5 job, and it isn’t very stable,” Close said. “You’re dependent on the whims of your audience.”

Close explained that it is all about emphasizing the importance of building connections with people who have similar levels of followers or a little bit more.

For now, Sands sees herself investing more time into her Instagram account to make it into a full-time career.

HALLIE LONG | THE DEPAULIA

Senior Caroline Sands exhales smoke from a rolled joint to test out the joint paper.

DATA ON DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS Take a look at some statistics on marijuana

18

36

states

states

in the United States legally allow marijuana to be

in the United States legally allow marijuana to be

recreationally used.

used medically.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR DRUG ABUSE STATISTICS | SOURCE

HALLIE LONG | THE DEPAULIA

Senior Caroline Sands carefully rolls a joint with a strawberry Juicy J wrap.

HALLIE LONG | THE DEPAULIA

Senior Caroline Sands seals up a Juicy J wrapped joint with a lighter.

16 | La DePaulia. The DePaulia. March. 14, 2022

La DePaulia

Familia venezolana huye de la persecución, establece su propio restaurante para traer el sabor de su patria

Sabe a Zulia es un restaurante familiar establecido en 2019. El restaurante venezolano está ubicado en Belmont Cragin.

By María Marta Guzmán Jefa de Redacción, La DePaulia

Por tres años, Maibeilis Chan, propietaria de Sabe a Zulia, ha traído el sabor de su tierra natal Zulia, Venezuela a la comunidad de Belmont Cragin. Sabe a Zulia es un restaurante familiar que vende comida venezolana como empanadas, tequeños y arepas.

Para Chan, la meta del restaurante siempre ha sido servir la comida casera con la que ella creció en la ciudad de Chicago.

“Nuestros productos son de una cierta región de Venezuela,” dijo Chan. “Queríamos que todos nuestros platillos fueran de Venezuela pero específicamente del estado de Zulia”.

Chan junto a su esposo, otros cuatro familiares y una maleta llena de sueños y ambiciones, emigraron a Chicago desde Zulia en 2018.

Chan, quien es abogada en Venezuela, y su hermana, periodista, tuvieron que huir de su tierra natal y llegar a Chicago debido al gobierno de su país.

“Tuvimos que huir de Venezuela y vinimos aquí a los Estados Unidos”, dijo Chan. “Fue por la persecución, yo trabajaba en el área de la política en mi país y tuve que huir”.

Con esos sueños y ambiciones, Sabe a Zulia se estableció el verano de 2019, cuando Chan y su familia comenzaron a vender comidas caseras venezolanas a través de plataformas de redes sociales como Facebook.

Las primeras recetas que Chan y su familia prepararon eran pastelitos, empanadas y tequeños. Todo cocinado y vendido por la familia.

Chan dijo que ella y su familia decidieron comenzar a vender platos caseros venezolanos ya que tenían su propio restaurante en Zulia.

A los seis meses de comenzar su negocio y operar desde casa, la familia pudo construir su clientela y conseguir suficientes fondos para abrir su propio restaurante.

“Después de ver los excelentes

FOTO CORTESIA DE VANESSA RAMOS | LA DEPAULIA

comentarios de nuestros clientes y cómo administramos [el negocio], decidimos abrir el restaurante”, dijo Chan.

Después de buscar posibles ubicaciones y llenar varios formularios comerciales, las puertas de Sabe Zulia se abrieron oficialmente al público el 16 de mayo de 2020.

Desde que abrió el restaurante, Chan dijo que sus clientes se han expandido más allá de la comunidad venezolana.

“Tenemos clientes que son de Puerto Rico, que son de México, Nicaragua.

Tenemos clientes que prueben nuestra comida y les encanta”, dijo Chan. “Gracias a Dios nuestros clientes han crecido desde que abrimos el restaurante.”

El éxito de Sabe a Zulia proviene de FOTO CORTESIA DE VANESSA RAMOS momentos de sacrificio, trabajo y momentos Una arepa cabimera tradicional venezolana. difíciles para la familia.

Cuando Chan y su familia abrieron las puertas de Sabe Zulia fue en medio de la pandemia del Covid-19. Al ser un negocio nuevo en el mercado de alimentos, Chan dijo que los primeros meses no fueron fáciles.

“Fue difícil”, dijo. “Veníamos aquí todos los días. De lunes a lunes estamos abiertos, nunca cerramos”.

Las restricciones del Covid-19 en la ciudad causaron que el restaurante funcionara con restricciones, como recoger la comida afuera del local y sin servicio en el interior.

“A veces nuestras ventas no eran tan buenas y a veces lo eran”, dijo Chan.

“Nuestros esposos dejaron sus trabajos para protegernos del virus y comenzaron a venir al restaurante”.

Con la ayuda de la familia, Chan dijo que lo lograron.

“Poco a poco lo logramos. Fue muy desafiante y difícil para nosotros porque era nuestro primer año y éramos los seis,” ella dijo.

Las dificultades que Chan y su familia han enfrentado les ha permitido no sólo volverse más fuertes, sino continuar su impulso hacia el éxito. Desde la apertura de FOTO CORTESIA DE VANESSA RAMOS las puertas de su establecimiento, han sido El restaurante Sabe a Zulio fue establecido en el verano del 2019. capaces de traer más familia a su negocio.

La DePaulia. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 17

La Villita continúa su lucha por justicia ambiental, dos años después de la demolición de la chimenea Crawford

By Stephania Rodriguez Escritora, La DePaulia

Décadas de preocupaciones de los miembros de la comunidad de La Villita sobre la calidad del aire y la desinversión económica se enfrentaron con la implosión fallida de la chimenea de Crawford que cubrió el barrio con polvo contaminado en abril de 2020, durante la pandemia.

Después de dos años y una investigación que reveló descuido y falta de disciplina, la comunidad logró una victoria a nivel estatal con el avance de la Ley de Justicia Ambiental de Illinois.

La Organización de Justicia Ambiental de La Villita (LVEJO) publicó un comunicado de prensa anunciando la aprobación de la ley el 4 de marzo en su sitio web.

Según LVEJO, “el proyecto de ley abordaría problemas sistémicos con las leyes de zonificación y uso de la tierra que han arraigado el racismo ambiental y la segregación. Los defensores de la legislación vinculan las leyes de zonificación incumplidas con vínculos históricos con el racismo sistémico”.

La ley incluye varias reformas, como permitir que las comunidades determinen su estado como áreas de justicia ambiental, y expandir la participación pública y comunitaria al requerir audiencias públicas en persona para obtener permisos.

Esto permitirá una mayor responsabilidad de las industrias que contaminan los vecindarios de Illinois e incluirá la posible denegación de futuros permisos para las industrias que cometieron infracciones en el pasado, declaró LVEJO a través de Twitter.

Después de pedirle a la alcaldesa Lori Lightfoot que rindiera cuentas para publicar la investigación completa de la implosión de Crawford, Lightfoot se negó. Ella y otros funcionarios de la ciudad afirmaron que enfrentan limitaciones legales para publicar el informe.

FOTO CORTESIA DE @ALEJANDROREYES | YOUTUBE

La demolición de la planta de carbón de Crawford ocurrió el 11 de abril de 2020. Esta foto fue tomada de un video.

El concejal Mike Rodríguez y los activistas han cuestionado estas afirmaciones.

Según el Sun Times, Rodríguez les dijo a los activistas a través de una entrevista por Zoom que un experto legal le dijo a él que no existen restricciones que impidan la publicación del informe.

Rodríguez le dijo a La DePaulia que estaba “furioso” cuando el informe del inspector general reveló la falta de disciplina y el descuido de los funcionarios hacia La Villita.

“No estoy interesado en pedir el despido de nadie, pero quiero justicia”, Rodríguez dijo.

“Si la justicia es que se les excluya de su trabajo, que así sea. [Una reprimenda escrita] No fue suficiente. Lo he dicho y lo seguiré diciendo”.

La antigua planta de carbón de Crawford, ubicada en 3501 S. Pulaski Rd., ahora está ocupada por Exchange 55, un almacén de

Target. Los miembros de la comunidad enfatizaron que el edificio generaría más contaminación debido al tráfico adicional de camiones diésel.

Después de exigir que el 50 por ciento de los puestos del almacén se entreguen a los residentes de La Villita y los vecindarios circundantes. LVEJO y los líderes comunitarios aún no están seguros de cuántos residentes de La Villita y del código postal 60623 han sido contratados o si Target les devolvió la llamada.

Han creado una encuesta para recopilar estos datos.

La Villita fue la comunidad más afectada por la pandemia en toda la ciudad de Chicago. Los residentes son más vulnerables a las enfermedades respiratorias debido a un historial de mala calidad del aire. No es de extrañar que los residentes se sientan otra vez

preocupados ahora que las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago harán la transición a un protocolo opcional de máscaras para profesores y estudiantes a partir de la última semana del 14 de marzo.

Rocío Rivera, una residente de La Villita, camina y recoge a sus hermanos todos los días de la escuela elementaria Eli Whitney. Ella cree en dejarles elegir si quieren o no seguir usando una máscara, pero dice que siempre lo promoverá.

“En última instancia, depende de ellos si quieren seguir usándola”, dijo Rivera sobre el uso de una máscara por parte de sus hermanos esta semana. “Pero la gente sigue enfermándose y es bueno tener protección adicional, especialmente con la calidad del aire aquí”.

Reseña culinaria con La DePaulia: Cafecito en Lincoln Park

By Vanessa Ramos Escritora, La DePaulia

La primera vez que fui a Cafecito fue con una amiga durante el verano del año pasado; nos encantó el ambiente y la comunidad que tenía.

Esta vez regrese para poder dar una opinión más informada sobre la comida y el ambiente. Fui al Cafecito en Lincoln Park con un compañero y ordenamos un sandwich de ropa vieja que tiene platano, bistec, frijoles negro y salsa de tomate.

También ordenamos sus nachos cubanos y plátanos fritos con guacamole, pico de gallo con mango, frijoles, y mojo crema. Quería probar un licuado pero no tenían las frutas de temporada.

Nos sentamos afuera. Tenían luces, asientos y calentones para preservar el ambiente y dar la opción de comer afuera; el restaurante adentro también es muy amigable pero tienen luces bajas para no quitar mucho de la experiencia.

El estilo también es único — tienen dónde comer afuera, tienen espacio entre las paredes, el color de adentro es rojo y tienen poca decoración. Todo junto te hace sentir como en casa o como que podrías

pasar todo tu día en el lugar.

Nuestra comida llegó rápidamente y comenzamos con los nachos. Llegaron con dos vasitos de guacamole y un vasito de mojo crema para poder probar todo por separado.

Me encanta poder comer los nachos simples o con todos los ingredientes — combinaban bien y ningún ingrediente dominaba a uno más que el otro.

No me podía esperar a que termináramos los nachos para comenzar a probar el sandwich de ropa vieja. Me dio tanta felicidad que comencé a bailar en mi asiento cuando me lo estaba comiendo.

El bistec estaba bien cocinado y el plátano le daba un sabor dulce que no dejaba eclipsar el sabor del bistec, en vez le ayudaba a crear un sabor más memorable.

Nos encantaron los nachos y el sandwich.

El siguiente día decidí regresar para poder tratar algo diferente.

No soy alguien que toma el café religiosamente, en vez decidí probar su Mate Chai Latte, el Pastel de Mousse de Chocolate y un alfajor de dulce de leche con guava.

El Mate Chai Latte estaba dominado por el chai y lo sentía muy simple pero era algo que quería probar para no quedarme

FOTO CORTESÍA DE VANESSA RAMOS | LA DEPAULIA

Cafecito es un restaurante Cubano ubicado en Lincoln Park. con la duda. No sería algo que compraría de nuevo porque era muy fuerte para mí.

Me encantó el Mousse de Chocolate y el Alfajor de Guayaba y Dulce de Leche.

El Mousse era suave y fuerte al mismo tiempo porque podías sentir la riqueza del chocolate. Mientras tanto, en el alfajor se sentía la guava y no era tan dulce.

Al final, recomendaría visitar el Cafecito a cualquier hora del día. Sirven desayuno, almuerzo, cena y tienen opciones para llevar al hogar.Me sentí felizmente sorprendida con los sabores que logran.

Es un hogar muy amigable y te sentirás en casa.

18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

Arts & Life

Born in the wrong century

The fashion and lifestyle of Grace Koehler

By Lilly K eller

friend of Koehler, described her as being devoted to her clothing style.

Staff Writer “Grace is never not in period wear, which is really impressive especially since the Chicago weather has been extremely cold. She also is extremely committed to arbed in a dark bodice having clothes that are that specific time and flowing skirt, fresh- period.” Alaiza said. man Grace Koehler glides through the However, transitioning from tradiquad like a figure straight out of a Monet tional clothing such as jeans and sweaters painting. possessed its setbacks.

Her heels click elegantly across the "The main tension came from my imdry stone pavement as the sun washes mediate family, there was a lot of presover her overcoat; in every sense, she sure that my style would affect both my appears to be a silhouette misplaced in public perception but also my ability to time. receive fundamental opportunities such However, Koehler's journey into the as fitting in amongst my peers." world of 1890s fashion was far from an Since her diagnosis with autism, Koeuncoordinated leap. hler believes it's imperative to both her "I've only been submersed in the identity and fashion. realm of historical fashion for two years," "Autism is very related to the way I Koehler said. pursue the things I'm interested in such "Originally, I had two separate pas- as late 19th and early 20th century clothsions, fashion and history, but through ing," Koehler said.

YouTube I got exposed to the worlds of "Being on the spectrum definitely reEdwardian and Victorian styles." lates to my pursuit of style.

The video platform boasts a range of I've never had a problem wearing channels and recordings, from tutorials clothing that's different from the mainon reconstructing bodices to in-depth stream because with autism you don't explanations regarding the history that process social cues automatically. gave birth to such embellished looks.

Despite being aware of societal pres"My personal favorite creators are sure and judgment, I don't feel affected Bernadette Banner and Zack Pinset,” by it, nor do I notice or care if someone Koehler said. stares or takes it upon themselves to “They're both pretty famous within make a rude comment." the historical costume community, perFor Koehler, fashion and design have sonally I love their unapologetic enthu- become the bridge between anatomy and siasm about their niches and their will- the psyche. ingness to express and share the world of "With autism there is often a disconhistorical fashion with everybody." nect between the body and mind, I don't As for her journey within fashion, always feel comfortable in my own skin,” Koehler explained that it started small.

Koehler said.

"Initially it just began as designing “The clothing has become a way to costumes to take photos in, but honestly, feel at home in my own body by taking I realized that my creations manifested what's in my head and translating it into how the interior of my brain looked out- a physical space." wards which is something that I always As a major within the field of costume wanted but never got the opportunity to technology which centers around the figure out until now." physical act of designing clothes, Koehler Koehler smiles as she pages through illustrates the future of her fashion.

Edwardian Fashions: A Snapshot in Time "I've been looking into a museum from Harper's Bazar 1906 by Kristina studies minor; my goal is to one day work Seleshanko, one of the many style books as a curator in the department of historthat dot her shelves. ical dress."

"My clothes make me feel like who I Like artwork, historical garments was always meant to be, it's a good feel- are imperative to understanding the ing." past."When you truly see a piece of clothDePaul freshman, Michelle Alaiza, a ing beyond its shape on the body, you can

G

learn a lot about the time it was crafted in, from the socioeconomic status to resource shifts and social traditions." Koehler said.

Like many members of DePaul's student body, Koehler finds both self-expression and jubilation in her dress style.

However, many still struggle to step out of their boundaries when it comes to

the daunting world of fashion.

"Dressing for yourself in a way that makes you feel good is incredibly fun and freeing.

There is truly nothing more authentic than putting on an outfit for yourself rather than those whose path's you cross."

As for fear of judgment, Koehler's

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 19

[Clockwise from left] Grace Koehler poses with her handmade hat.

Koehler shows off her long furby named Deirde that she made herself.

Koehler displays three of her Victorian hats in her dorm.

In addition to fashion, Koehler enjoys pasttimes such as tea.

Koehler stitches together a new piece. In order to attain her rare look, sometimes she needs to take matters in her own hands.

Koehler walks DePaul's quad on a sunny afternoon. She is sporting what is for her a regular tuesday outfit.

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY WILL KLEIHEGE

"My clothes make me feel like who I was always meant to be, it's a good feeling."

Grace Koehler DePaul Freshman

message remains simple.

"It's your body, not anyone else's,” Koehler said.

“It's a hard understanding, that sometimes people want to place their specific way of life on others, but once you know what works best for yourself, it becomes easier to ignore unwarranted scrutiny."

For Koehler, adorning widebrimmed hats and lacy collars has

become as routine as waking up, making her feel the way she was always supposed to.

When asked for any lingering thoughts, she remained true to herself.

"If you have something that makes you happy, definitely pursue it. It doesn't matter if people deem it unnatural, in the end it's what you want, not them," Koehler said.

20 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

ALISON SCHULTZ | THE DEPAULIA

A collection of pies are displayed together from multiple pie shops and bakeries like Honey Pie bake shop, Sweet Mandy B's, and Sarita's Pleasure pie shop.

“I started selling my pie to people during the pandemic to make some extra money and ended up really enjoying the support and love that I got from my own community,”

Sarita Hernandez

Owner of Sarita's Pleasure Pie Shop

ALISON SCHULTZ | THE DEPAULIA

Two Sweet Mandy B's employees, Olivia Kennedy [left] and Avery Lauer [right] pose while holding up two baked pies from Sweet Mandy B's Lincoln Park location.

PIE, continued from front page worry of not affording it. “​​That's often seen in community organizing care spaces, and I want you to have access to these resources,” Hernandez said.

“Everyone makes different incomes and so if you can pay more, if you can't there's a lower cost option, because I’ve been there and I just

want people to have access to good food.”

Pleasure Pies isn’t the only bakery that started during the pandemic; Beard & Belly opened in April of 2020 in Edgewater.

The location is a combination of two separate businesses, Beard & Belly and Honeypie Bake Shop.

Kyle Scharge, Jim Torres, Andrew Barbera and Valeri Lucks came together after years of friendship between the four owners.

“When we opened in the beginning of the pandemic, the community was extra supportive, going out of their way to support restaurants,” Barbera said. “Most neighborhoods are oversaturated with bars and restaurants and that's why Edgewater is so great because it’s mainly small businesses.”

Honeypie Bake Shop was originally a

bakery in Milwaukee created by Lucks. Beard & Belly wanted to merge together to include pies within the restaurant.

“We always wanted to open a business with her [Lucks] because we wanted to bring these pies from Milwaukee down to Chicago,” Barbera said. doesn't always Day Pi a cherry include

filling. NathanielWilhelm, a sophomore at DePaul, doesn't want people to forget the best pies don’t always have to wait till dessert.

“People forget about chicken pot pies and shepherd’s pies that you can eat for dinner,” Wilhelm said. “A pizza is inherently a pie, and we live in Chicago where deep-dish pizza was made, you can’t forget that on Pi Day.” Wilhelm has always favored pie over other baked goods. Wilhelm has searched far and wide for the best pie in Chicago, but nothing compares to his girlfriend's apple pie.

“I used to have my mom make cherry pies for my birthday and that's what we have for my grandpa's birthday as well,” Wilhelm said.

“Luckily my girlfriend is a great baker and makes me pie as well.”

For those who don’t have significant others that are bakers, Pi Day in Chicago is always filled with locally owned pie shops fit for everyone’s taste.

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 21

Where to have your finals week meltdown

By Corey Schmidt Copy Editor

As the winter quarter dwindles to an end, many DePaul students feel the pressure of an untraditional, hybrid quarter coming to a close.

For some, their blood boils in fury as they feel inadequately prepared to write that final paper or fill in the circles on their final’s green and white Scantron form.

While for others, emotions rise with water building up in the tear ducts only to splash out in a crying episode.

We sat down with the brain behind the @DPUaffirmations account to determine the best places to have your own meltdown experience right here on DePaul’s campus. Due to the anonymity factor of the affirmations account, we will refer to the account’s administrator as @ DPUaffirmations.

“We [wrote] a final paper about Cuban filmmaking in the ‘50s,” @DPUaffirmations said, recalling their last messy finals week cry.

“I just had no idea what was going on and I was completely breaking down at my desk. My roommate was around that and [I was] like, ‘No, everything's fine.

Like, don't worry about it.’ It was horrifying. And I got the paper out, whatever, but I just had no idea what was going on.

It was extremely stressful. And a lot of tears shed sadly.”

The Quad Despite the unpredictable weather, sometimes all you need is a breath of fresh air. While the quad can have significant traffic during peak class time hours, it can provide the perfect cover to cry. Many people simply walk through on their way back to their dorm or scurry back to class, so most people don’t have the time to stop and stare.

You may have someone ask if you’re okay, but @DPUaffirmations likes its public environment. It also allows you to be in an environment where you can be by yourself, without the presence of a roommate.

“The quad benches… at night, [so] your roommate won't hear you. But you're also like, kind of outside,” @ DPUaffirmations said. “Like, if someone walks by they can be like, ‘Oh my god, are you okay?’ And you know, sometimes you need that.

That sounds so weird. But also, if you need to make a phone call. You're private and you're not in the dorm where it can, like, go through the vents.”

Vincentian Circle When talking about the quad, it didn’t take long for us to naturally transition into Vincentian Circle. It contains the same outdoor vibe as the quad, but it is a tad more concealed.

Yet, you can still spectate all the action going on in the quad.

While you’re there, make sure to greet St. Vincent de Paul himself, considering the statues will happily keep you company.

“You're kind of private, but like, you don't feel like you're cut off from the world,” they said. “And you can make phone calls and there's a little place to sit.

I don't know, it feels very secluded.”

John T, Richardson Library, FourthFloor Balcony There aren’t a lot of places on DePaul’s campus that provide a dark academia-type vibe, but the third-floor nook right off the stairs is probably the closest thing we have.

That said, the balconies overlooking this nook can make for a good spot. You can overlook those studying below you, yet you’re covered by the tall railings in front of you.

However, the seats can be quite uncomfortable so it’s only good for a quick outburst of sorts.

Student Center, Third Floor When pursuing the third floor of the Lincoln Park campus Student Center, you are destined to find one-off lounge areas with couches right outside room 319. These out-of-the-way spots receive little traffic, allowing you to let out your misery in solitude without having to make the trek all the way back home. The tall greenish-blue chairs provide a more uplifting vibe to the overall experience.

DePaul Center Lower Level Bathroom When arriving at the DePaul Center, walk through the Barnes and Noble, past the stairs and head down the elevator and walk straight until you see a sign signaling the restroom.

These bathrooms are usually empty and require a DePaul ID, so you won’t have to worry about crossing paths with the general public. This location allows for the classic bathroom meltdown experience with added seclusion benefits.

Holtschneider Performance Center (HPC) After discovering I am a music student, @DPUaffirmations was quick to ask if the rumors of the practice room cry are true. For some, they are, but I personally don’t think they pass the vibe check.

Instead, walk into the building and take the elevator up to the third floor, take a right and continue down straight down the first hallway.

Continue to the end until you see a turn immediately before the printing station. You will find a nook filled with a couple of relatively unused lockers. Here, you can sit on the windowsill decorated with sneaker scuff marks overlooking Lincoln Park’s fancy, multi-million dollar homes, creating a picture-perfect view destined to control any emotion of anger and/or frustration.

The opera hall entrance is another great location, since nobody goes over there during the day or after 9 p.m. so you’ll be disturbance-free.

Departing thoughts No matter how you go about your finals week stress, @DPUaffirmations left a piece of advice to get through the week and make the most of your meltdown experience.

“My advice for crying on campus is just let it out,” they said. “Don't be afraid to go to your friends. Don't be afraid to like talk about it. All I do is just talk about my entire life and experience on campus, [just] like anybody's experience.”

ART BY NATE WILHELM

22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

The mystery man behind the mask EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA

Dylan Lawerence dressed in a Spider-Man costume, prepares for a run around Lincoln Park campus. Lawerence wears the Spider-Man costume to to lift the spirits of DePaul students.

By Audrey Leib SGA Beat Writer

Although Spider-Man may be fiction, Dylan Lawrence is real. You may have seen him running around in his Spider-Man costume, warmly smiling warmly at those passing bypassersby. He may have stopped to talk to you, making sure you were okay or wishing you a good day.

Dylan Lawrence is a screen writing major here at DePaul who became inspired by a hometown hero.

“We had this guy in our town who would run around in a Superman outfit,” Lawrence said. After feeling depressed for a long time, Lawrence decided that enough was enough.

“I remember I woke out of bed one morning and I was like, [no]. I’m done feeling this way.”

Originally, Lawrence had a Spider-Man jacket that he would use for a while. He knew that he had found something special when a random man off the street approached him asking to take a photo with him. “I wasn’t doing it for fame. I was doing this just to make people happy because I was through a

really tough time.” He graduated into the Spider-Man costume we see today soon after the man asked him for a photo.

“I’ve loved Spider-Man ever since I was a kid,” Lawrence said. He was bullied throughout school for his extroverted and loud demeanordemeaner and found comfort in Peter Parker as he went through the same thing.

Lawrence also found comfort in a saying from Spider-Man. “With great power comes great responsibility. If you have the ability to change either yourself or the world around you, do it in however way you can.”

“Anybody could do this. It’s just a matter of how you are going to take full advantage of the life you’re living,” Lawrence said. He wanted to emphasize that mental health matters, that it is important to living a sustained and healthy life.

Two bystanders, Maura Mitchell and Mikala Durall, spoke about how Spider-Man has made an impact on them.

“It’s kind of bonding for all DePaul students because I know whenever I see him I take a video and I send it to my friends,” Mitchell said.

EMILY SOTO | THE DEPAULIA

Dylan Lawerence waves to the passing CTA bus driver as he walks down Fullerton Avenue.

“He brings such good energy,” Durall said. “It’s nice having him here because he’s always waving and it’s just so cool.,” Durall said.

Of all the fame Lawrence has encountered, he said that it was weird.

“I did this fully knowing that college kids

were going to look at me and be like what the hell are you doing?” Yet, he said that all of thefeedback has been positive.

So, the next time you see Spider-Man, remember the man behind the mask, Dylan Lawrence.

What’s Fresh

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 23

Kanye's creative process throughout his career

By Chinyere Ibeh Film and Music critic “jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy” follows the almost 30-year career of Kanye West, a rapper, producer and newfound fashion mogul. This three-part documentary captures the intricacies of West both personally and professionally. Naturally, the audience sees West evolve from his humble beginnings to his latest successes and controversies.

The first installment of the documentary, “act i: VISION,” follows a young Kanye as he travels to New York to establish his career. The episode begins with various aspects of Kanye’s entire career edited quickly together, with both video and audio overlapping. The narrator, Kanye’s close friend Coodie, then says “every great story begins with a vision.”

A popular moment that made its rounds on social media shows Kanye playing “All Falls Down” for people at Roc-AFella Records. He walks into the record label and plays the song for various people, one being Carline Balan who was an executive assistant at the time. People didn’t give the song the time of day and no one did anything with the song.

This becomes a consistent theme throughout the documentary: Kanye knew he had something special, he just needed to convince other people of that. Roc-A-Fella eventually signed him, but they respected him more as a producer than as a rapper.

The second installment, “act ii: PURPOSE,” follows Kanye when his career starts building up. This installment sees the initial hit of fame as he made a music video for “Through The Wire,” which led to Roc-A-Fella finally getting a release date for Kanye’s debut album, “The College Debut.” Roc-A-Fella didn’t help whatsoever with the video as they didn’t release Kanye’s budget — at the music video release party, Kanye explained that he had to pay $33 thousand for the video out of his own pocket.

Both the first and second installments of “jeen-yuhs” follow a similar theme: Kanye desperately trying to jumpstart his career. Not only did he hustle to get his album released with little to no help from his label, but he also wanted to represent Chicago. Coodie and his friend Chike started “Channel Zero,” a show based in Chicago that gained popularity in the late 90s and early 2000s. In one segment of the show, Da Brat says that rap isn’t just the east and west coasts. The overall sentiment was clear: Chicago needed to be put on the map in regards to the rap scene.

The last segment, “act iii: AWAKENING,” deals with the most recent aspects of Kanye’s life. At this point in the documentary, Coodie and Kanye are not as close considering they went eight years without speaking. When the second installment ended, Kanye didn’t bring Coodie along on a tour.

PHOTO BY IMDB

Kanye West in his own documentary titled "jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy" about his life.

Through the ups and downs of Kanye’s his life and career. Understandably, his career, the documentary does well with divorce and relationship with Kim Karhumanizing the rapper. The documenta- dashian didn’t receive much screen time as ry features the media coverage of Kanye that situation continues through the court attempting to run for president in 2020, system.

The documentary has a home video some outlets said that he may have been experiencing a bipolar episode during a rally vibe, especially in the first and second installments. in South Carolina.

The older cameras and quality adds to People say they want the “old Kanye” back, but Coodie makes the argument that the nostalgia of Kanye’s earlier career. The the way Kanye has been acting may be an- shift from the older, handheld camera from other aspect of Kanye’s personality. With the early 2000s to the newer camera of the that statement, the audience can under- later 2010s gives the documentary the proper evolution. stand that Kanye isn’t one-dimensional.

After eight years of not speaking to or When people say they want the “old Kanye,” they refer to the times Kanye was seeing Kanye, Coodie says that he knows more humble and socially aware. One such Kanye but he hasn’t met “Yeezy.” Not only moment came during Hurricane Katrina does that distinction allow for a multi-facwhen Kanye boldly stated that President eted Kanye, but it speaks to the evolution of Kanye’s career.

George Bush didn’t like Black people. “jeen-yuhs” allows for important inThe documentary also touches on Kanye’s mental health struggles. We see sight into Kanye’s upbringing in the music the various outbursts at his concerts as industry as well as the most iconic mowell as his presidential rallies. We see all ments of his career. The documentary alsides of Kanye in “jeen-yuhs” and it doesn’t lows for the understanding of a person that shy away from the troubling times in both may feel misunderstood.

Stars align, planetarium reopens

By Samantha Moilanen Staff Writer

Chicago’s Adler Planetarium reopened its doors to the public on March 4, and is now offering free admission to Illinois residents every Wednesday evening.

The Adler is 92 years old and was the first planetarium to open in the Western Hemisphere. After two years of forced closure to prevent the spread of Covid-19, people are excited to visit one of Chicago’s landmark museums once again.

“Whenever I step into a planetarium it's like I'm in a different world,” DePaul transfer student Ruchi Nawathe said. “If you have an interest in learning about [the solar system] it's a really cool, educational [experience].”

Ryu Mizuno, the vice president of marketing and business strategy at the Adler Planetarium, said he was ecstatic to see so many people come to the Adler’s reopening this past weekend.

“Whether it was a little kid, family, or retiree, everyone was just saying how excited they were to come visit the Adler again,” he said.

Although the Adler was closed during the pandemic, they did open some of their sky shows last summer.

“Over last summer, we did open up some of our sky shows, but granted that wasn't a full reopening [and] the last two years we have been working hard to still engage with the public,” Mizuno said.

To continue engagement with the public as a non-profit museum dedicated to the study of astronomy and astrophysics,

Mizuno said the museum reopened this March because it was an opportune time with both the city and CDC mask and proof of vaccination mandates being lifted simultaneously.

He emphasized the Adler is a mask-friendly place and they understand everyone is at different comfort levels regarding mask wearing.

“We had to take into consideration what is best for the institution both from a business and financial standpoint and the safety of our staff,” he said. “Now was that time, and this past weekend, we saw people coming back in droves.”

In addition to a few new policies, the Adler added new exhibits upon its reopening.

This includes the largest telescope available to the public in the Doane Observatory and the Chicago’s Night Sky exhibit. Mizuno said the planetarium launched the exhibit right before the closure in 2020 to encourage curious people to look up at the sky and witness how light pollution impacts the solar system.

PHOTOS BY INSTAGRAM | @ADLERPLANET “Whether you are somebody with a Adler planetarium staff poses for grand re-openining after two years on March 4th.

Ph.D. or have no idea what the solar system is, we are a place that encourages that the Adler developed a digiMizuno said the planetarium was able kind of curiosity and questions, so that we tal platform during the pandemic. to bring a majority of their staff back for can make sure that [for] whoever engages their reopening. with us, we have the opportunity to help “What makes the Adler really spe“We did security everyday over the [them] reach their full potential,” Mizuno cial is not just the contents within the two years [we were closed], making sure said. “That's a special role we play in our museum, but our staff, and our ability to no one got into the building or destroyed environment today, where facts can get a connect with the people and the public,” anything,” said Janet Anderson, a member little blurry.”

Mizuno said. “Especially during the pan- of the security team at Adler Planetaridemic, that has extended in the digital um. “It was nice to see people back in the space as well.” building and having everything open.”

24 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

St.Vincent’s

D e JAMZ

“Spinning fresh beats since 1581”

By Amber Stoutenborough Arts & Life Editor

This is part two of the DeJamz breakup season. On the first breakup DeJamz, I primarily focused on female rage after a breakup, as I feel it’s a major part of getting over a lover. This time I wanted to go through all the stages after a breakup.

From grief and anguish to anger to finally moving on, here are my recommended songs to help you through a tough time.

Strange - Celeste This song kills me everytime. Shamefully, I first found it on TikTok and everything about this song perfectly reflects how quickly relationships come and go. “Stranger to friends, friends into lovers- strangers again.” This is the first stage after a break up where the world

feels like it’s falling apart. So don’t worry, just put your headphones on and re-enact the scene of depressed Bella from New Moon.

Favorite crime - Olivia Rodrigo My favorite song for crying in the shower. I can’t justify the amount of times I’ve listened to this song in the past seven months, but I feel this is a mutual feeling among most women in their twenties confused as to why they still relate to a 16-year-old’s break-up anthem. While new to the long history of breakup songs, Rodrigo took the lead and made it to my list of best breakup songs, just don’t listen to the unreleased version because it will hurt.

Tell Me it’s Okay - Paramore Throwback into emo Amber from 2012. Paramore was — and will always be

Crossword Word Salad by Alejandro Arakelian

— a fan favorite for breakup songs. This is the part of your transition out of love to where it’s awkward to still be upset about the breakup when the rest of your friends and family expect you to move on. This also is the shift from sadness to slow anger, the next phase after the breakup.

Night Shift - Lucy Dacus The silent anger, the slow burn, this song is the perfect explanation of missing someone but wanting absolutely nothing to do with them, never to see them again. This is the full rage portion of your breakup journey. You hate them and uproot your whole life to move on. Cut your bangs and leave your day job because we are getting over it.

Smile - Lily Allen This is the final phase of getting over the breakup. You move on, could care less

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIKI

about the ex and live your life. I love how cheerful this song is compared to the lyrics. “At first when I see you cry, it makes me smile.” While songs can’t change your love life completely, this song is as close as it can get.

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Casual goodbyes 6 Duke's conf.

9 Hibernator's home 12 Arabic expression meaning "God willing" 14 Plural is 15 The land down under 16 Tree with needles 17 Smallish batteries 18 Like movies not for kids 20 Online K-pop fan 23 Walk heavily 25 Rat 27 Where pizza was invented 31 Shark flipper 32 Thai or Tibetan, say 34 Singer Carly ___ Jepsen 35 "What's ____?"

"Nothing much what's up with you?"

37 Political term for a broad coalition 39 After now 41 "___ only known!"

42 Daily game where scores are shared in emoji grids 45 Golfer's average 47 Aladdin's monkey 48 They may attract 53 Online chuckle 54 Pickup line?

55 Director Spike 56 ___-X 57 Schemes

1 International FBI 2 Shiba ___ (dog breed) 3 Donkey 4 Two-way baseballer Shohei 5 "Waitress" composer Bareilles 6 Last word of the Pledge of Allegiance 7 North African capital 8 Fairy tale prince 9 Foolish 10 New York's canal 11 Dweeb 13 Rodeo ropes 19 Well suited 20 Texter's "Be quiet!" 21 Get high 22 Texas ___-M 24 Native American group 26 Follow behind 28 Region 29 Come down 30 Abominable Snowman 33 Apple earbud 36 Vintage 38 Exhilarate 40 Cone-shaped home 42 Former Berlin structure 43 Clarinet cousin 44 Govern 46 Rapper Rocky 49 Calligraphy tool 50 Spanish uncle 51 Young newt 52 Ave. crossers

Sports

Sports. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 25

Softball maintains positive outlook through tough stretch

By Joshua M. Hicks Asst. Sports Editor

As DePaul’s softball team approaches the halfway point of the season, the team is experiencing highs and lows that currently have them under the .500 mark.

The team started the season strong, winning their first five games, including going undefeated (4-0) in their home tournament that led to sophomore third basewoman Nicole Sullivan winning Big East Player of the Week.

But the setbacks have since kicked in, losing 12 of their last 16 games. One of the main reasons the team has been losing is due to playing a very competitive schedule, according to head coach Tracie Adix-Zins.

“We’ve never played this competitive of a schedule since I’ve been here,” AdixZins said. “We have a lot more flexibility in pitching and offense this year, so you have that aspect with playing a more challenging schedule.”

The team has played top-tier talent, but they have also done some serious traveling across the country. Outside of the opening home tournament, the team has frequently traveled for weekend games, sometimes spending only a couple of days a week on campus before going back on the road. The daily routines of constant travel within different time zones and playing against the best of the best every weekend can take a heavy toll on the team and players individually.

“We haven’t had that challenge yet until this year,” Adix-Zins said. “We have a lot of players that haven’t experienced that type of travel, type of pitching and facing a lot of top-tier hitting and teams that are in the top 75 in RPI. It’s a lot.”

Oregon State, Florida, Minnesota and Ole Miss are just a few teams that are currently in the top 75 of the NCAA’s Ratings Power Index (RPI) that DePaul has faced within the past month. Yet, the games have all been close.

Despite the challenges, the locker room remains positive. Playing against top-tier talent has been a dream come true for sophomore catcher Zoie Rettig.

She expressed excitement for the way the schedule played out.

“When the schedule first came out, we were all excited honestly to be able to compete with these teams,” Rettig said.

“We were putting up good numbers. Even though we weren’t winning, they were all close games. It’s been a good experience.”

Sullivan echoed Rettig’s sentiment, stating that the roller coaster of wins and losses is actually beneficial to the team’s growth.

“I don’t think there is any discouragement around the dugout,” Sullivan said.

“We are going to big time places and we are not playing badly. If anything we are just more motivated by the way we are producing because we know that when conference season comes around it is going to help us.”

Throughout this stretch, the players have learned different things. For Sullivan, it’s about how humane the players from other teams are.

“We all put our pants on the same way,” Sullivan said. “Going into games realizing that even though these are big schools, we are playing against people that do the same things we do. Going into games like we have nothing to lose and we are here to compete, taking that mindset to every game, at bat and treating everyone’s bats as if they are our own

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS

DePaul sophomore Nicole Sullivan has 15 hits and 16 RBIs on the season and was named Big East Player of the Week on Feb. 14.

Upcoming schedule Butler March 18, 19 & 20

Notre Dame March 23

UConn March 25, 26 & 27 DARCY WASKIEWICZ | THE DEPAULIA

MONTANA CLASSIC Friday vs. Montana

W 11-8

• Skylor Hilger and Tori Meyer - 3 hits • Brooke Johnson - 2 hits, 3 RBIs • Anna Wohlers - 2 hits, 2 RBIs • Maranda Gutierrez - 2 hits

W 4-0 • Maranda Gutierrez - 2 hits, 2 RBIs • Zoie Rettig - 2 hits, 1 RBI • Riley Pool - 1 hit, 1 RBI

Saturday vs. Seattle

L 3-1 PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS

DePaul softball sophomore Nicole Sullivan had a dominant freshman season. only helps us for conference.”

When it comes to Rettig, these games don’t discourage her, but boost her confidence.

“As I’m going into these games, being able to compete with these other girls from the other teams gives me a boost,” Rettig said. “Being able to stick with these teams is a huge confidence boost as we go into our conference schedule.”

Adix-Zins is pleased with the team’s positivity, elaborating on how

the team as of late has been playing very good overall defensively and believes that the team’s offense is close to reaching its potential. But her concerns are related to the inconsistencies throughout the stretch that has led to those tough losses.

“The hardest part of the stretch is that we are up and down,” Adix-Zins said.

“Pitching is on but the hitting is off. Hitting is on, but the pitching is off. We are still trying to piece things together.”

• Nicole Sullivan - 2 hits, 1 RBI

Sunday vs. Seattle

W 7-4 • Tori Meyer - 2 hits, 4 RBIs • Nicole Sullivan - 2 hits, 1 RBI • Brooke Johnson and Anna Wohlers - 1 hit, 1 RBI

26 | Sports. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022

Track and field assistant completes coaching journey at DePaul

By Salvador Salazar Contribuiting Writer

Most track and field coaches dream of the glory associated with their athletes zooming across the finish line. A satisfaction that can only be met by the taste of victory that for some often seems to never come, or at least not when you want it to.

For others the glory is in the journey to victory, the process. The relationships made. The shared wins and losses. Most importantly, the practices, when the only competition is your previous run time.

It is coaches like DePaul’s new head of track and field Geoff Wayton who champion this coaching style. It is his various relationships over his decades long career as a coach that have defined him.

“One of the greatest tragedies in coaching is that you see student athletes unfairly through what you see their potential to be,” Wayton said. “You also want them to appreciate the grace of success they just had. That requires a steady and growth mindset.”

Whether it was his mentor, U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Hall of Famer John McNichols, who initially encouraged Wayton to coach when he was a student athlete. His wife is former Indiana State cross country AllAmerican, Jessica Crowder, or former college teammate and DePaul track and field assistant coach Brandon Murer.

Wayton managed to make an imprint through his athletic and coaching career.

Finding the value in being a mentor outside of the at times seemingly endless meters his athletes run.

Even in one of his first coaching jobs as the sprints coach at his alma mater, Indiana State, Wayton put his care for his athletes above the competitive nature of his job.

“The rest of the staff did not want any part of these young people, and those student athletes treated me very poorly for the first season, but I loved them just the same,” Wayton said. “Those challenging situations are where you learn the most in life. When things are going well, it is easy, you are not learning much. So, I learned, and I learned under both my college coaches John Garland and John McNichols.”

Wayton continued this trend as a graduate assistant, coordinating the NCAA cross country championships. His goal was to recenter the event to cater more to athletes.

“Spectators are important, but athletes are most important,” Wayton jokingly said.

“Coaches are a distant second behind.”

In the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many athletic departments around the country began to shut down, Wayton stood strong by his athlete’s side.

“I became hyper focused,” Wayton said. “My student athletes, with their mental health. The best coaching I ever did in my career was in 2020-21. I am not dissatisfied with my student athletes. I am dissatisfied with what I could accomplish there.”

In August 2021, Wayton was contacted by one of his former college teammates and lifelong friend, Murer.

“Brandon was a thrower, and I was a distance runner, which is indicative of the beauty of track and field,” Wayton said. “It is the greatest metaphor for America when done correctly. You have different people, from all diverse backgrounds, different personalities. There is a difference in personality generally between a thrower and a distance runner but they all must compete under the umbrella of one team.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS

DePaul track and field assistant coach Geoff Wayton helped the team have success at the Big East Indoor Championship.

Murer is not the only sentimental connection that Wayton has made over the years. Wayton has tried to never miss a wedding and tragically on one noted occasion, a funeral.

The student was Emilie Hobbs of Rose-Hulman, who passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition while on a recreational run.

Wayton remembers fondly his introduction to Hobbs as she bolted into his office with adolescent passion in what Wayton called a “dog and pony show” of why she should be on the team.

“We only had four women,” Wayton said. “I needed one more to have a cross country team.”

Her vast improvement was noted when her 6k time eventually surpassed her 5k time from high school. Hobbs eventually became a part of multiple all-time lists for 5000 meter run, distance medley relay, and 10000 meter run.

“Emily’s passing, it solidified this is a co-curricular activity,” Wayton said. “All the things you face in the sport of distance running are going to help you reach your potential eventually in life. To be quite honest with you, she would have workouts that were inexplicably poor. You wonder as a person who is an educator if that was her heart condition. It haunts you. In a positive way it will forever change the way I work with student athletes. I eulogized Emily and when you go through something like that as a coach it just forever changes your outlook on things. You value your time with everybody, every moment, the best you can.”

Wayton continues to blossom in his relationships with student athletes. Even in his brief time at DePaul, his impact has already been imprinted on several student athletes.

“I do not think we would have done as well as we did without his assistance throughout January and February, so I am excited for what the future holds,” senior Shane Knanishu said. “He has already done an excellent job so far and a lot of us trust him a lot. So just building on that relationship and success will work out for a powerful outdoor season.”

According to Knanishu, history seems to be something that he has seen his colleagues rewrite on a regular basis.

He hopes that in the next 10 years, all the current top 10 lists are re-written by

people Wayton has trained.

The Blue Demons saw success at the recent Big East Indoor Championships as DePaul athletes shattered school records and took top prizes.

“I was on the distance medley relay, and we placed the best DePaul has ever placed,” junior Nina Amicon said. “We got second and set the school record, which was an incredible experience. I run the 800 mile and I feel like [Coach Wayton’s] training has made me into a well-rounded athlete that gives me confidence on the line.”

Amicon’s work with Wayton was unexpected, as she is a recent transfer

student from Roosevelt University and was initially recruited by the previous head coach.

How far Wayton, his staff, and most importantly, his athletes can scale the record books in the remainder of this year’s seasons is still unclear. The potential, according to Wayton, is up to the hardest muscle to train, the mind.

“This sport hurts. It can be uncomfortable, if you make it through the sport of distance running you can make it through anything in life. The answer is no longer if something is good or bad, it’s to keep going. The answer is always to keep going.”

DePaul Center 333 South State St. Welcome Back DePaul Students Hand Tossed

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Sports. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 27 TENNIS, continued from back page outside, and we’ve been playing inside lately.”

Athletes might have certain superstitions or odd rituals before games, and the women have the men beat for keeping things lively and upbeat.

“We’ve done the macarena dance,” Nobbs said. “We did it before Georgetown, and we won seven to zero, so that’s something fun that we do.”

“We’re trying to raise the energy before a match. I think dancing is the best way to do it. Kind of like a warmup,” Jovicic said.

The men’s team traveled to hot and sunny Las Vegas on Thursday to prepare for two matches over the weekend. On Saturday, the Blue Demons played University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), losing 4-3 to UNLV Rebels.

On Sunday, DePaul played against Seattle University, where the Blue Demos were victorious 6-1. The Blue Demons swept in singles competition, while fifth year student Luke Wassenaar and sophomore Lars Peder Minsaas won in double competiton.

The DePaul men’s team finished the weekend with a 6-8 overall record. Wassenaar is optimistic about the rest of the season.

“We’re doing pretty good this year.

I’m confident in our team,” Wassenaar

said. “We’re playing really well.”

While Wassenaar is optimistic about the rest of the season, there are some differences between this year’s team and last year’s. The men’s team boasted a conference title in the 2019-2020 season, the first time the men’s team brought home a title for DePaul.

“We’re getting used to the new formation of the team. A lot of last year’s seniors had graduated, so there are new freshmen we’re working with,” Wassenaar said.

Despite challenges with matching the different energies of the players, the men’s team is playing every game “as if playing in the finals.”

“For the next two matches, we’re approaching it as if we’re playing the Big East,” Wassenaar said. “Coach is getting us used to playing outdoors, with the wind, heat and sun.”

The team is away for several matches before returning to Chicago in April. On April 2, they’ll face Creighton at the XS Tennis Village. The Blue Demons then face off against Marquette on April 3.

In regards to the new facility at S. State St. and E. Garfield Blvd., Wassenaar hopes it gets DePaul students and fans out to see them play.

“We’d love to see fans and Depaul students come check us out,” he said.

“We’re trying to raise the energy before a match. I think dancing is the best way to do it.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS

Women’s tennis graduate student Marija Jovicic celebrating at a match this season.

Marija Jovicic

DePaul women’s tennis graduate student

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, continued from back page “UConn is the obvious, great team, but the rest of us are really, really strong teams,” Bruno said. “We played enough people from the other leagues that I know that we’re a good enough team to play in the NCAA tournament for sure.”

The Blue Demons success in non-conference play and defeated high-level teams such as Northwestern and Kentucky, who secured their automatic bid to the tournament after winning the SEC title.

The team struggled to stay consistent against Big East competition. They began hot and won their first four games against conference rivals before an overtime loss to Marquette severed that streak. And while the Blue Demons bounced in and out of the win column towards the end of the season, “We played a very difficult schedule,” Bruno said. “Let’s start with the Big East.

This is a really good league, and this is a really tough league top to bottom and I don’t think we get recognized enough for that.”

Like Marqutte, Dayton is likely to throw everything they have at freshman forward Aneesah Morrow, who started in all 32 games this season, and averaged 21.7 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

She had double-doubles in 23-straight games before that streak was snapped at the Big East Tournament, and finished the season as the Big East Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Big East First Team.

Morrow was also named to The Athletic and Sports Illustrated’s All-American second team, as well as The Athletic’s Freshman of the Year. Additionally, she is a finalist for the John Wooden Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

DONALD CROCKER | THE DEPAULIA

DePaul freshman forward Aneesah Morrow started in all 32 games this season and was named the Big East Freshman of the Year.

However, the Blue Demons will need other members of the team to step up in order to move forward into March Madness.

Senior guards Sonya Morris and Lexi Held, along with graduate student guards Deja Church and Dee Bekelja, will each need to be strong on both ends of the court.

Morris finished the regular season averaging 17.9 points, a member of the All-

Big East First Team and as a finalist for the 2022 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.

Additionally, younger members of the team will have valuable roles as well.

Sophomore guard Darrione Rogers had a strong season, starting in 31 games and averaging 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Junior guard Kierra Collier was a valuable offensive player off the bench down the

stretch, while sophomore guard Kendall Holmes’ aggressive game brought a spark off the bench.

Each member of the team will have an important part to play as the Blue Demons return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Sports

Sports. The DePaulia. March 14, 2022 | 28

Swinging away

PHOTO COURTESTY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS/STEVE WOLTMANN

DePaul women’s tennis graduate student Marija Jovicic is 9-10 overall in singles competition and has won her last two competitions against Georgetown and Middle Tennessee.

DePaul men’s and women’s tennis gear up for spring matches

By Brandon Tejeras Contribuiting Writer

As the snow thaws and spring draws nearer, DePaul men’s and women’s tennis teams are hungry for wins to propel themselves into the Big East Conference this April.

The women started a two week break on March 7, before they travel to Los Angeles to face Loyola Marymount University (LMU) on March 22. The women’s team is having a winning season so far, with a 5-4 record overall.

DePaul senior Marija Jovicic loves the team’s energy.

“I think the team culture is on a very high level, and I think everyone is very motivated this season,” Jovicic said.

“This is going to be a good break for us to kind of work on things that we’re kind of maybe missing and can improve on in

the previous matches to be at our best.”

The women plan to take this opportunity to hone their skills before their trip to Los Angeles. It will be Spring Break for their LMU match, but the trip will be by no means a vacation.

For first year player Eleanor Nobbs, she’s looking forward to the next match and wants to keep her energy through tough, back and forth sets.

“My [last] match went to a third set, and it was very up and down, but I was proud of how I fought,” Nobbs said.

When she feels drained, she can count on her teammates to keep her motivated.

“All my teammates were cheering and supporting, so that helped a lot,” Nobbs said. “LMU will be a different challenge as well. [The matches will be]

See TENNIS, page 27

PHOTO COURTESY OF DELLA PERRONE/UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Luke Wassenaar swinging through a hit against the University of Illinois in May of 2021.

Women’s basketball set to play Dayton in NCAA Tournament

By Darcy Waskiewicz Sports Editor

After a tough schedule, the DePaul women’s basketball team has secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament after missing the tournament last season. The Blue Demons are set to take on Dayton in the First Four play-in game of the 68team tournament on March 16 in Ames, Iowa.

Dayton finished with an overall record of 25-5 and 14-1 in their conference play, while the Blue Demons finished 22-10 and 14-6 in Big East play.

The Blue Demons entered the Big East Tournament last week with the goal to extend their season as the No. 4 seed.

There, the No. 1 seeded UConn loomed as the biggest threat at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. However, it was

Marquette who proved to be the bigger obstacle.

The Blue Demons fell to Marquette 105-85 in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament on March 5 Marquette went on to lose to UConn, who secured an immediate ticket to the NCAA Tournament with a 70-40 win over No. 2 seed Villanova. Along with UConn, Villanova and Creighton also made the NCAA Tournament.

Following DePaul’s loss in the Big East Tournament, head coach Doug Bruno believed the team could make the NCAA Tournament based on their tough matchups all season and 22 wins.

While he knew it would be a challenge, he never lost faith in his team.

DONALD CROCKERI | THE DEPAULIA

See WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, page The Blue Demons are set to take on Dayton in the First Four play-in game.

27