The DePaulia 3.13.2023

GOING GREEN See Arts & Life Page 18

Chicago, a welcoming city to migrants ‘only on paper’

As asylum seekers continue to arrive, city faces strains on resources, lack of comprehensive solutions, say city leaders

By Kevin

In the back of a storefront Adalberto United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park, a 29-year-old man, his wife and young daughter live in a small crowded room in a new city where they hope to carve out a better future.

Like many newly arrived migrants, Dennis Ferreira said he did not make enough money to properly feed his family in Venezuela. Ferreira earned $30 a month as his home country struggles with an economic crisis. So Ferreira decided it was time for him and his family to migrate north, in search of a stable job.

“I was lucky enough to have the chance to be transferred to a refugee shelter in San Antonio, where social workers bought me and my family plane tickets to Chicago,” he said.

Ferreira and his family may be luckier than most migrants that recently arrived in the Chicago area. More than 5,000 asylum-seekers -most of them from Ven -

ezuela have been bused to Chicago from Texas and Colorado since August, according to officials.

Unlike other migrants, Ferreira and his family found a welcoming home. They landed at the Adalberto United Methodist Church, which was turned into a haven for asylum seekers over the last months.There have been recent reports of migrants sleeping in police stations, hospitals and spending their day in warming centers, waiting to find a shelter that has beds available as they’re wait to file their asylum case or find a job.

City officials said that most shelters are full as the Lightfoot administration has constantly advocated for more funding from the state and from the federal government.

The church’s pastor, Jacobita Cortes, said she has welcomed more than 140 recent arrivals into her humble storefront location on Division Street. Despite its

cramped quarters, Rev. Cortes makes sure, “every migrant gets a bed.”

The influx of migrants from Venezuela and other Latin American countries has led advocates to plead for the city to supply sufficient resources to support them.

When city officials announced that more than 200 migrants would be housed for up to two years in a former elementary school in Woodlawn, some residents of the predominantly Black neighborhood, opposed the move.

Though since, churches in Woodlawn have offered to provide social services to the newly arrived. Residents and faith leaders from the neighborhood created the initiative called Chicago 4 All, which will offer migrants bilingual services, and tours around the area to get involved with community projects.

Some migrants are also being housed at a hotel just off of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and fed at a food pantry sponsored by Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian

Luna, Anjolie Towle, Sarina Singh and Jacqueline Cardenas

Contributing Writers and La DePaulia Editor-in-Chief

The Chicago River dyeing and parade took place on March 11. Every year on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, the river is dyed bright green in a tradition dating back over 50 years.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

Chicagoans still face safety concerns as crime continues to rise

By Samantha Moilanen Asst. News Editor

Three years ago, schools across America shut down after the former U.S. President Donald Trump declared a public health emergency due to Covid-19. Now, Chicagoans still fear for their safety, not because of a deadly virus, but because of the increase in violent crimes since the start of the pandemic.

DePaul freshman Carla Barry-Esteban, who has lived in Chicago her entire life, said safety is a crucial issue in the city, especially since the pandemic.

“I feel like the pandemic made taking the train a lot scarier,” she said. “Chicago [already] has a huge problem with violence.”

From 2020 to the end of 2022, crime in Chicago has gone up by 45%, according to the most recent crime report released by the Chicago Police Department.

Of the crimes listed, the report includes robberies, murder, criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery, burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft.

In those two years, reports of criminal sexual assault, robbery, theft and motor vehicle theft all increased substantially.

While some areas of Chicago are less impacted by crime, data shows neighborhoods on the South and West Sides experience higher rates of crime than the rest of the city.

According to city data last updated Jan. 23, 2023, the top five neighborhoods with the highest rates of armed robberies were Austin, North Lawndale, West Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and Roseland.

Xavier Perez, a criminology professor at DePaul who specializes in Latino crime said these neighborhoods experience higher rates of crime due to decades of disinvestment by the city.

“The minority communities are often not invested in, in terms of commerce, economic opportunities, opportunities for the youth,” Perez said. “It's a legacy of racism that exists in Chicago.”

The most recent census data on socioeconomic indicators in Chicago lists all five of these neighborhoods as disadvantaged due to factors like unemployment after the age of 16, crowded living conditions and households below the poverty line.

According to the data, 9.4% of West Garfield Park’s population lives in overcrowded housing, 41.7% of households are below the poverty line and 25.8% of the population over the age of 16 is unemployed.

For Perez, this data is not surprising because these neighborhoods are predominantly Black communities that have been disadvantaged since the 1900s.

“[They’re] some of the most disinvested communities in the city,” Perez said.

Perez attributes the high rates of crime in Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods to redlining practices that began in the 1930s. He said segregation of minority communities and the tendency to invest primarily in downtown areas of commerce have contributed to crime.

“Communities that have higher rates of poverty have less resources, less economic opportunities, so you would see the crime [increase],” Perez said. “These neighborhoods are segregated, not by accident. Decades of disinvestment by the city … and that's principally parts of the West Side that have just been abandoned by the downtown area.”

To Perez, the pandemic greatly contributed to the rise in crime.

“We’re seeing a lagged effect as a result of 2020,” Perez said.

Teny Gross, the executive director for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, a nonprofit devoted to decreasing violence in Chicago, said the city’s increased access to assault weapons has affected crime rates across the city.

“If we had less guns, and if there was a smarter way of who gets them … and they’re not just flooding neighborhoods, we would have a lot less to do,” Gross said.

To Perez, violence prevention programs are imperative to tackling crime systemically, but since these programs could not work during the pandemic, it greatly contributed to the rise in crime.

“Young people come downtown because their neighborhoods aren’t safe,“ Perez said. “If we invested in those communities, made those neighborhoods safer … then we keep kids in their home communities, make it a place where people would want to go there.”

Like Perez, Gross also believes youth programs are influential in helping young people avoid crime and to invest in minori-

ty communities. He said his organization works with the city’s youth to encourage nonviolent behaviors from a young age.

“We try to reach the highest risk young people in neighborhoods we work at [like] Austin, West Garfield [and] Back of the Yards,” Gross said.

However, Gross said access to illegal guns in the city has made their job more difficult. Because they are easily accessible, high risk youth are able to use guns to harm themselves or others because they are surrounded by violence everyday.

“We try [to] offer them alternatives and a way out, [but] sometimes they’re feeling trapped,” Gross said. “There are a lot of guns around them so some of them feel they need them for their own protection.”

Although youth programs and restorative justice initiatives are influential in curbing crime, Perez said poverty, segregation and disinvestment factors must be addressed before communities can combat violent crime rates.

Perez believes the next mayor of Chicago must address these factors if they hope to tackle the rising crime rates in the city.

”The candidate that is able to secure a more centrist argument is actually going to be the most effective,” he said. “Law and order is not going to work in some of the communities that have historically negative experiences with the police.”

According to the census data, the Near North Side area has the highest income rate with an average of $88,669 per year, compared to regions on the Far South and West Sides which have an average income of $10,000 or less.

Perez said these areas are predominantly impoverished, minority communities.

“They’re predominantly African American, they’re predominantly poor,” Perez said. “When you see crime concentrated in those areas, it’s not by accident.”

The two mayoral candidates have contrasting views on how to tackle crime. While Paul Vallas wants to add more police officers to make the city’s streets safer, Brandon Johnson wants to reallocate city funds to increase spending on social services.

Perez does not believe that Vallas’ tough approach to crime will be beneficial for communities on the South and West sides of the city.

“Vallas’ [policies on] law and order, we’ve seen those in the past,” he said. “They might provide some immediate results, but in the long term, we just don't see those policies as effective.”

Barry-Esteban said in her experience, people’s sense of safety is largely impact -

Scan to interact with the map graphic

ed by the neighborhood they live in.

“I live in a privileged place where crime isn’t always very prominent, but I genuinely believe that funding the neighborhoods in which there is the most violence is crucial,” she said.

For Perez, both Johnson and Vallas’ approaches to tackling crime might work for some communities, but not the city as a whole.

“We also need something that’s going to stop people from committing crimes tomorrow,” he said.

Chicago police surround the scene where an officer was shot and killed in the 5200 block of S. Spaulding Ave., in the Gage Park neighborhood of Chicago on March 1.

TYLER PASCIAK LARIVIERE | CHICAGO SUN-TIMES VIA AP

This graphic shows the reported crimes in 2022 by neighborhood by location of all incidents of battery (yellow), robbery (green) and homicide (red).

SAMANTHA MOILANEN | THE DEPAULIA

By Kiersten Riedford News Editor

“So just to clarify, your implementation is for individual students to have their own personal plan on being shot at in their classroom?” Katelyn Laraia, first year College of Law student, responded to Public Safety Director Robert Wachowski after asking what the protocol is for school shootings on campus.

The room filled with widened eyes from students, looking from Laraia to Wachowski.

Wachowski immediately responded by saying no.

“I’m saying that’s one thing we need to do to be prepared,” he said, mentioning that the university does take measures in case a situation like that breaks out. “We cannot be everywhere, every time in the day, in every place.”

Haley Pennington, Student Government Association (SGA) Senator for the College of Law and second year law student, hosted the Loop Public Safety Town Hall on March 8, which was put on by SGA and the Student Bar Association (SBA).

Pennington lifted up concerns relating to safety in the College of Law and for students commuting to campus since her appointment as senator for the College of Law on Nov. 10, 2022. Her goal for this town hall was to bring together law students and anyone else who wanted to speak on public safety at DePaul to give them an opportunity to speak with safety experts, both DePaul-affiliated and not, about their questions regarding safety on public transportation, in the city and on campus.

The panel of speakers at the town hall consisted of Kevin Ryan, the vice president of security for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA); Sean Fleming, the sergeant for the first district for the Chicago Police Department; Wachowski; and Kevin Connolly, the Assistant Director for DePaul Public Safety.

CTA Concerns

Most of the questions were addressed to Ryan, considering many of the attendees’ concerns regarding riding the CTA at night with the heightened level of crime in the city. Many students asked questions of if there could be a car designated to students or if there was a route on the CTA that was

Loop Public Safety Town Hall sparks tensions between Public Safety, students

the safest. But Ryan said that the CTA is safe, especially after the installment of security and police officers among various stops like the Jackson and Fullerton stops.

“Usually, like 5% of the people are responsible for 90% of the crime,” Ryan said. “So we target the right people at the right places at the right time. We eliminate the problem.”

Ryan said the Jackson red and blue stop is staffed 24/7, and sometimes with canines, because that stop tends to be a “crime spot.”

In terms of how students can be safer on the CTA, Ryan said students should be alert of their surroundings and make sure to report anything on the OEMC app or portal

that is suspicious or criminal activity.

DePaul Public Safety

Wachowski said students should communicate with the public safety officers who are at their designated posts in each building in the downtown campus buildings if they have concerns or something that needs to be addressed by the officers. He said these officers can help with writing reports or giving people resources that pertain to each situation.

He said some situations, like one he experienced last year where a woman who was screaming at herself in a mirror and taking a bath in the sink, are situations where students should go to public safety officers.

Wachowski said that if someone is posing a threat to the DePaul community or is not abiding by the safety guidelines for the campus, they can be permanently banned from campus.

While some students were satisfied with this, others mentioned that public safety officers can frequently be seen sleeping at their posts or saying they cannot help with removing people from the buildings because it “isn’t in their power.” Because of this, some students noted they lack trust in the public safety officers.

To this, Wachowski said some of the responsibility does fall on students to be alert, both in classrooms and on their way to classes, but he did acknowledge that the officers should be doing their jobs correctly.

Some students expressed that an easy way of controlling who is allowed to be in public buildings would be installing card readers on the downtown buildings to ensure that only DePaul community members are in the buildings.

Wachowski said this is a good idea, but it cannot be done because the College of Law’s library includes federal documents, which means it must be open to the public if it is to keep those documents.

Shuttle Bus Updates

Ultimately, while there is still hope from SGA about the shuttle buses adding stops at Metra stations, Pennington said the university leaders were close to implementing the pilot program but are now backing off. University leaders told Kellen Brown, the SGA Chief of Staff and senior, that they are unable to allow the pilot program at this time because of scheduling and budget constraints.

Pennington and Brown have voiced that SGA will not be backing down from this and is continuing to make this a priority, as law students have been wanting this resource for an extensive amount of time.

Brown said the way to push the pilot program forward faster, students should reach out to SGA senators so they can take the increased interest to university leaders to gain more support for sooner implementation.

Brown and Kevin Holechko, SGA President and senior, can be reached at kbrow169@depaul.edu and kholechk@depaul.edu.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

Haley Pennington, Student Government Association (SGA) Senator for the College of Law and second year law student, hosted the Public Safety Town Hall on March 8.

Kevin Ryan, the vice president of security for the CTA, and David Harris, the commander of the first district of Chicago Police Department, addressed many city-based safety questions.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

“Usually, like 5% of the people are responsible for 90% of the crime. So we target the right people at the right places at the right time. We eliminate the problem.”

Kevin Ryan

CTA vice president of security

Alexandra Murphy appointed dean of College of Communication

By Kiersten Riedford News Editor

When Alexandra Murphy, interim dean for the College of Communication, was named as acting dean in 2018, it was only supposed to be for two months.

Four years later, she was still in the position.

“During that time, I got to know our staff and faculty in a different capacity,” Murphy said. “I really came to understand how talented and committed they all are. I have had a chance to have a birds-eye view and see different aspects of the college and to get to know students from a broad range of majors.”

On March 7, Provost Salma Ghanem named Murphy as the dean of the College of Communication. She will assume the role on April 1.

Ghanem said Murphy was a great candidate for this role, especially after all the work she has done for the college over the past several years.

“I would like to see Lexa continue to build on the great work of the college which is truly impressive,” Ghanem said.

Ghanem is not the only one who thinks

Murphy has done great work for the college. One of the students Murphy has gotten to know over the past couple of years, Konner Gross, a graduate student in the Public Relations and Advertising (PRAD) program who completed his undergraduate degree at DePaul, said Murphy has been a “solid leader” for the college. Gross said Murphy has also been in the role of dean for his entire college career.

Gross said he remembers receiving an at-home “welcome to DePaul” video from Murphy when he committed to DePaul in 2020.

“I recall thinking, as a nervous Covid graduate, that if all professors were as kind and welcoming as Lexa that I would have no problem acclimating to DePaul once I moved there from my small town,” Gross said. “I’m happy to say that this was the case.”

To Gross, her compassion has not left since she began the role.

“I think that says a lot about a person,” Gross said. “How kind they are to others, whether they know them or not. From the moment I was admitted to DePaul, up to present day, I’ve only ever known Dean Murphy to be sweet. Her leadership style —

understanding and kind, yet action-oriented — also reflects this.”

While Murphy has characteristics that students, faculty and staff like, personality traits are not enough. As the student body evolves and the industries the students are going into change, the college must also adapt. Because of this, there are demands from students like Gross that are going to take longer to change than just a couple of months of action.

Gross said he would like to see the College of Communication continue its national recognition and program development through “curriculum adjustments to account for future shifts the field will see as a result of AI, an influx of accessible communication, converged media, [and] mis/disinformation.” He said he would also like to see some “blurring of the lines between PR, advertising, and marketing.”

“This is beneficial for both the university and the students as they enter their careers with top-notch skills and knowledge,” Gross said.

Two other focus points Gross suggested Murphy and the College of Communication leaders should tune into are emphasizing the importance of recruiting diverse, industry-leading faculty and staff and encouraging bonds between students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds and programs. He said this attempt to make college camaraderie and pride stronger would be in the best interest of everyone in the college.

“As dean, Lexa will be at the forefront of advancing these things and garnering support from the University to do so effectively and efficiently,” Gross said. “I think Lexa’s challenge moving forward will be to maintain the great pace the college is currently running at while simultaneously evolving and planning for its future effectively. I’m confident that she can do so.”

While Murphy has expressed that she will hear out concerns from the students, staff and faculty, she has some goals set up that already overlap with what people within the college want.

She said a big focus of hers is diversifying “our faculty and staff to better match our student demographic as much as possible” while keeping the university budget in mind.

She also wants to be able to get to know the students in the college on an individual level.

“I have the great honor of shaking the hands of students who are graduating as they walk across the stage,” Murphy said. “One goal I have is to make sure that is not the first time I meet them.”

Her third goal is to increase the amount of resources that are available to support students, staff and faculty.

“I hope to maximize internal resources and develop more external sources of support for our students through scholarships, paid research opportunities, more support for student organizations, and our commu-

JEFF CARRION |

nication centers and labs,” Murphy said.

While her goals will have to be addressed over the next couple of years, Murphy said she is looking forward to being able to change more in the college now that she has a scheduled amount of time she can plan for.

“I have told people that my time as an acting and then interim dean was a lot like an airport delay when they tell you it will be 30 minutes delayed, then they say it will be another hour, and then another two hours,” Murphy said. “Then, by the time you take off, it has been eight hours. If you would have known that in the beginning, you might have used your time differently … But now, knowing that there is a set amount of time ahead of us, we can really plan.”

As the planning begins and Murphy steps into her role as dean, she encourages students to come to her weekly “Caffeine with the Dean” forum sessions. These are drop-in sessions that anyone within the college can attend. They are offered both via Zoom and in person.

Gross said he strongly encourages students attending these sessions and making outreach so they can connect with Murphy and get more done within the college.

“Administration — including Dean Murphy — is here to serve students and the university community,” Gross said. “Use this to your advantage. Get to know the dean. Come to her Caffeine with the Dean sessions. Join an SGA committee. Voice your thoughts and opinions because our leaders do actually care. You get out what you put into these relationships, so don’t be coy.”

Murphy’s next “Caffeine with the Dean” session is during the first week of the spring quarter. For students who would like to connect with Murphy, they can email her at AMURPHY1@depaul.edu.

Alexandra Murphy will assume the role of dean for DePaul’s College of Communication on April 1.

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

The College of Communication is located in the 14 East Jackson building.

WILL LONG | THE DEPAULIA

“I recall thinking, as a nervous Covidgraduate, that if all professors were as kind and welcoming as Lexa that I would have no problem acclimating to DePaul once I moved there from my small town. I’m happy to say that this was the case.”

Konner Gross DePaul Public Relations and Advertising graduate student

‘We are in a crisis around the world’ International Women’s Day rally brings attention to global inequalities

By Lilly Keller & Kiersten Riedford

Arts & Life Editor & News Editor

Over 50 students, volunteers and organizers gathered outside the DePaul Center to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8.

Organized by Revolution Club Chicago and Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights, the assembly brought attention to issues ranging from countries such as El Salvador that prohibit abortion, Walgreens’ recent ban on selling abortion pills in certain states and the Taliban's near total control over Afghan women.

Jay Becker, a volunteer for Rise Up 4 Abortion, expressed gratitude for bringing awareness to the growing restrictions against women's health care and access to abortions.

"We are in a crisis in this country,” Becker said. “We are in a crisis around the world. The patriarchy is being reasserted with a vengeance against women in this country where we have lost the right to abortion in directly half the country.”

Before Wednesday's rally, Chicago's Rise Up 4 Abortion branch has held routine protests, marches and die-ins — a type of demonstration where attendees lie down in public places as if they were dead and refuse to leave or allow regular activities to proceed — following the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to ban abortions on June 24, 2022.

The group's most recent demonstration was outside of Walgreens’ West Loop office after the company decided to stop selling the abortion medication mifepristone in states where Republican attorneys have threatened legal action. These states include Indiana, Ohio and Montana.

Yet, to Becker, this week's gathering means more than fighting for abortion rights. This gathering acts as a stark reminder of women's resilience in the face of adversity.

"[International Women's Day] is a day where women rise up against the patriarchy and rise up for their rights," Becker said.

"All of our rights have been reduced … This is just an outrage that we should all be out on the streets. That is how we won. It wasn't electing anybody, it was through non-violent resistance, and that's how we will win it back."

Nearly 50 years

have passed since the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, deeming abortion a constitutional right. However, since the Supreme Court's recent reversal of the case, many like Becker continue protesting for a future where all women can once more have equal access to abortions.

"When we're fighting for the right to abortions, we're fighting for every woman and girl to be treated as a full human being," Becker said.

The rally transitioned into a march as its numbers increased, inviting individuals to chant and don green bandanas, a symbol of the movement for free, safe and global abortion rights.

Leaving State and Jackson, the group made the 700-meter walk to Walgreens on 2 N. State Street, where they continued their rally outside the pharmacy entrance.

For participant and Revolution Club Chicago member since 2016, Mollie Brady expressed the importance of holding regular protests and rallies.

"People are very forgetful,” Brady said. “They forget things are happening if they're not constantly reminded.”

Grounded in politician Bob Avakian's Maoist framework, the Revolution Club fights for gender equality, a world without borders and to end capitalism. Branches of the Revolution Club are also active in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York.

"Marches like today bring attention to our rights and the importance of protecting women and other minorities that are being oppressed," Brady said.

One of the rally's first speakers was Patricia Wallin, who has been a member of Rise Up 4 Abortions for over a year.

Wallin's speech invited individuals to celebrate the accomplishments of women while remaining vigilant of those still oppressed.

"We cannot succeed when half of us are held back," Wallin said. "This day is celebrated by many by giving flowers and gifts to women.

But, like I said, every year more and more people know that this day is for demanding our rights, for speaking for those who cannot."

Wallen joined Rise Up 4 Abortion following the Supreme Court's leaked draft.

A

Now she stands at the forefront of the fight for quality and awareness.

"In truth, I'm very nervous to speak in front of people, but I was thinking last night, well if they're asking me, I should do this because I think about the women that are fighting to end unwanted pregnancies or women that just feel like there's no way out and no one to help them," Wallin said.

With divisions in seven other cities, including Austin, Miami and Honolulu, Rise Up 4 Abortion has become one of the fastest-growing anti-abortion organizations since its foundation in January 2022.

For Wallin, the group allows her to bring attention to her home country, El Salvador, where abortion is illegal. Women found guilty of breaking this law are likely to face jail time. Less than a year ago, an El Salvador woman who suffered

a miscarriage was sentenced to 30 years for aggravated homicide.

"In the country [where] I was born, where they don't have access to abortion, there are women in jail because they had a miscarriage, or they had a still born,” Wallin said. “So, I feel like this is why we're out here."

Many women and femme-presenting people share the same sentiment as Wallin, as they gather together not only on the corner of State Street and Jackson Boulevard, but across the globe to protest for women’s rights. Although in many countries, women have gained far more rights than they had 50 years ago, activists like Wallin say the fight is far from over, even after the rights have been gained.

For people looking to attend a protest in Chicago, Rise Up 4 Abortion updates their website with protests and events taking place in the city frequently.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

One of the protest attendees who preferred to be unnamed banged on a snare drum when the protestors were chanting after speeches were made.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

Patricia Wallin, Rise Up 4 Abortions member, invited individuals to celebrate the accomplishments of women while remaining vigilant of those still oppressed during her speech at the protest.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

protest attendee, who preferred to be unnamed, educates a walker about how they can get involved with Rise Up 4 Abortions Chicago and other activistism groups in Chicago.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA Mollie Brady, Revolution Club Chicago member since 2016, attended the protest on March 8.

Vallas and Johnson return to Women’s Mayoral Forum

By Lily Lowndes Social Media Editor

Mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson have been here before, only last time, there were seven other candidates with them.

The two mayoral hopefuls were back at the Chicago Temple on Saturday to talk about women’s issues in the Women’s Mayoral Forum — runoff edition — held by Chicago Women Take Action.

The candidates spoke passionately about their platforms, answering moderators Cheryl Corley and Joan Esposito’s questions while emphasizing women’s interests.

Crime has been a critical topic in the mayoral race. Forum attendee Shirley Moore said it is her number one issue.

“The crime situation is the most important to me, the safety of the community,” Moore said.

Both candidates talked about their plans for public safety.

Vallas said his safety plan includes getting rid of all of the private security on the CTA.

Johnson continued to advocate for the same plan that he has had since the beginning of the race, “treatment, not trauma.”

He said that he would make sure that police officers are not being put in situations that they should not be. Johnson said that police officers should be able to rely on other specialists for support in responding to mental health crises.

Stacey Simon, a leader in Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) attended the forum with other members of her organization to hear the candidates’ stances.

“We wanted to see what the two candidates were doing,” Simon said. “What they’re gonna say, how they felt about women in the workplace and how they wanted to push for more equity for the

women.”

Simon said that COFI was looking for the candidates’ plans to help push equity for the Black and brown communities.

“I think both candidates kind of spoke to what was needed and [reassured] us, the people, that they were going to do something about it,” Simon said.

Vallas spoke about how he supported Black and brown communities during his time as CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). He said that he secured “$1.7 billion in contracts from Black and Latino-owned companies.”

The former CEO of CPS said that he used targeted marketing and worked with labor unions. He said that the model he used can be applied to the larger city budget.

Johnson said that he is looking at helping Black and brown communities by investing in education and not raising property taxes, especially in gentrified communities.

Johnson’s budget plan includes securing additional revenue from state fund-

ing. When asked what he will do if he is not able to get the needed funds, Johnson said that he would look at cutting budget inefficiencies without laying people off. He also took a short detour to insert a jab at Vallas.

The Cook County Commissioner said that Chicago needs a Democrat to build the necessary relationships with members of the state government.

“That’s going to be hard for Paul,” Johnson said. “Just will be. I mean, not that we don't want Republicans, you get my point though.”

Vallas has been called out by Johnson and Mayor Lori Lightfoot for a 2009 interview where Vallas said he identified with the Republican party and would probably register as a Republican.

Vallas hit back at Johnson by talking about his budget proposal. He criticized the proposal for its hiring taxes, taxes on people coming into Chicago from the suburbs and high hotel and motel taxes.

“It’s not a realistic list of tax increases,” Vallas said.

Dispersed between the attacks were moments of unity. Vallas said that both he and Johnson “are in this together,” even going as far as to say they would work together no matter who ends up in the mayor’s office.

“I look forward to, you know, talking with Brandon, whether it's as mayor, having to negotiate with the Chicago Teachers Union, or whether helping him out on the things that I fought through,” Vallas said.

Simon felt that both candidates were willing to put their differences aside for the betterment of Chicago.

“The memorable moment is, even though they were going against each other, they see a kinship of being Chicagoans,” Simon said. “That [feeling of] ‘even though we’re battling against each other for one seat, we still will back each other, whoever gets elected.’”

The runoff election will take place on Tuesday, April 4. Early voting begins on March 15.

Mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson speak at the Women's Mayoral Forum, hosted by Chicago Women Take Action Alliance, on Friday, March 10.

LILY LOWNDES | THE DEPAULIA

Members of Chicago Women Take Action Alliance hunch over a table to look at some questions that audience members submitted.

LILY LOWNDES | THE DEPAULIA

Afrika Porter: Chicago’s proud daughter striving for a better city

By Rose O'Keeffe Staff Writer

On a rainy Friday afternoon, Afrika Porter recalled a quote that invigorated her passion for activism: “Malcolm X said that Black women are the most unsupported, left-outin-the-cold species on the planet. When I heard that, I was so startled. I took that and I said I have to really focus now.”

Porter is not just focused. For over 20 years, she has been dedicated to raising the voices of Black women and men in Chicago.

Porter will receive the Dr. Margaret Burroughs Award for Leadership from the South Side Community Art Center on March 18. This award honors women who have worked to elevate the African diaspora through art, service, or education.

Burroughs has always been a role model for Porter, who now is a role model for many Black youths in Chicago.

“I will have young people there to help me receive the award because it's not about me as much as it is about them, ” Porter said.

Born and raised in the South Side, Porter is an activist, speaker, business owner, filmmaker and teacher whose mission is community leadership.

She is the youngest of six children born to John and June Porter. Her mother was a teacher and her father was a prominent pastor and sociology professor at the University of Chicago.

“Rev. Dr. Kwame John R. Porter and my mom June Porter have worked in civil rights and Black liberation causes for over 70 years,” Porter said. “I learned from the best.”

Her father was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) chapter president for Chicago as well as one of the founding members of the National Rainbow Push Coalition.

With an upbringing shrouded in intellectualism and activism, Porter said she has al-

Porter

exposed to justice, peace, equality and human rights.

Revin Fellows, activist and longtime friend of the Porter family, said that Porter is well-rounded in her activism because of the influential role models she grew up with.

“She cultivates that history of who she is and where she comes from with pride,” Fellows said. “Her name is Afrika, and she carries herself like she’s the motherland.”

Ancestral heritage and cultural pride ground Porter in her many professional endeavors. She is often seen in colorful cultural dress that expresses the pride she feels being African American.

Fellows said that knowing the history and culture of Black Chicago is a key part of surviving as a community activist and why Porter is so well-respected and successful.

“There is no room she can’t get in,” Fellows said. “She can go from the streets to the suites.”

Despite her large network of connections who support and respect her, Fellows commended Porter for her humility and work ethic.

Porter’s activism for Black representation is not restricted to office hours. She is one of 12 people who fought to change what has been known for decades as Lake Shore Drive to DuSable Drive, after Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a Black man of Haitian descent who was the first permanent non-indigenous settler of Chicago.

She and her fellow activists are in the process of erecting a 25-foot statue on Michigan Avenue to commemorate DuSable and his role in Chicago’s history.

Educating people about Chicago’s rich history is the premise for Porter’s work in film. In 2016, she began working as an executive producer on the Emmy-award-winning documentary “Chicago at the Crossroad.”

“She was somebody who understood Chicago and why certain communities have experienced violence and poverty,” said Brian Schodorf, director of “Chicago at the Crossroad.”

The documentary explains the origins of the public housing crisis in Chicago and examines the violence, poverty, and skyrocketing murder rate that has particularly affected

the South Side.

Schodorf said Porter’s work as an executive producer was essential for the film's success because she viewed the subject matter through the lens of her firsthand experience. He praised her as a respected member of the community who brought increased credibility to the film.

“The fact that people in the community trust her was a huge deal and making this happen,” Schodorf said. “She was vital in making sure that the film was accurate and carried the integrity that was needed.”

In 2014, Porter started her own public relations firm called Afrika Enterprises, created to promote people, businesses, art, and activism in the Black community.

Around the time Afrika Enterprises was established, Porter said that negativity online motivated her to showcase positivity.

“YouTube was flooded with ignorance,” Porter said. “Black people fighting each other, Black people arguing with each other and Black people killing each other. These were not things I saw in my life.”

Porter has worked to counter misrepresentations and generalizations about the Black community through public relations and consulting for nearly 10 years, working with people from the rappers to educators, business owners and entrepreneurs.

“Afrika is part of the ecosystem of community partners for our movement,” said DeJuan Kea, CEO of FBRK Brands, a non-profit organization that works with Afrika Enterprises on community promotion.

“She has a very diverse skill set,” Kea said. “I see a woman that can, not just move, but excel and dominate different industries.”

Above all, Porter’s generous spirit and strong work ethic have made her a role model for many young people.

“She covers a lot of areas, role modeling for young Black girls and being a much-needed light for Black men,” Fellows said.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIAN SCHODORF

Afrika

(left) stands with Malik Usef (middle) and Brian Schodorf (right). ways been

MIGRANTS, continued from front page Church, a landmark on N. Michigan Avenue. When a reporter for The DePaulia tried to interview some of the migrants, church and hotel employees asked them to leave and threatened to call the police.

Byron Sigcho-López, the alderman of the 25th Ward, said asylum seekers should be transferred to areas with higher Latino populations to supply them with equitable resources, prevent language barriers and provide higher levels of comfort.

“Infrastructures like bilingual services in schools and health centers for refugees exist in Latino communities, yet the migrants have been located in areas that lack these resources,” Sigcho-López said.

Sigcho-López added that officials have not appropriately assessed the situation.

“We are a welcoming sanctuary city, but only on paper,” Sigcho-López said. “Through actions, we have seen a poor handling of the humanitarian crisis regarding refugees.”

A spokesperson for Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city “continues to respond to this humanitarian crisis and remains dedicated to supporting the new arrivals.”

The goal is to connect migrants to city services, the city said.

State officials are now considering a plan to move more than 650 migrants to a vacant K-Mart on Chicago’s Southwest Side, according to a recent report from WTTW. The plan has drawn objections from local elected officials, including Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar.

In a letter to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Guerrero-Cuellar wrote that she did not believe the former big box store could adequately handle the migrants.

“Many questions remain about whether the facility is prepared to serve as safe housing for this many people,” she said.

Other critics of government responses to the influx of migrants in the area , such as Sigcho-López, say the city needs a comprehensive plan.

Sigcho-López said his administrators and other alderpeople have attempted for

several months to communicate with Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration to create a structured plan, but they have been neglected every time.

“The state and the city do not see this issue as important,” Sigcho-López said.

A staggering number of migrants coming to Chicago continue to strain the city’s ability to house and support them, Sigcho-López said.

“We have a housing crisis exhibited by the pandemic, unemployment, poverty and violence,” he said.

Similarly, former 26th Ward alderman Roberto Maldonado, who represented the Humboldt Park neighborhood, shared his disbelief in the protocol the city of Chicago created in response to this issue.

“The guidance the city has given migrants if they find themselves on the street is [to] head to the police district or go to a hospital which is insane,” Maldonado said. “What are migrants going to think if we tell them those two options? They are not going to exercise those options because those are not the places for them to stay in.”

However, Maldonado believes the Lightfoot administration has had “good intentions” but the Republican governors’ refusal to collaborate with city officials to create a structured plan when sending asylum seekers to Chicagohas led to the current state of this issue.

“This dumping of migrants in Chicago by Republican governors from Texas and Florida has happened without either of them informing Chicago leadership what these migrants need and how the city can help them in order to build a structured plan. Instead, they are dumping them here because we are a sanctuary city.”

Maldonado said he tried to help migrants by donating clothes, but the city’s protocol on only brand-new clothing items being acceptable to give to migrants was a challenge for him.

“In my house, we had maybe around $300 [worth] of used clothes that were all washed, ironed, some dry cleaned, and the city would not take it. We ended up giving this clothing to local churches in this neighborhood so they could give [it] to any mi-

grants that needed it,” he said.

Maldonado said he is unsure how involved other alderpeople are with this issue because he stopped attending meetings about the migrant crisis in Chicago.

The biweekly meetings with city council members were held through Zoom and Maldonado said “it was all talk” and led to no real solutions.

“At the end of the day, we are 50 members, and if you were to take a poll keeping everyone’s name anonymous, most of them won't give a shit about the migrants here,” Maldonado said. “Many would prefer not to have them here.”

With a new administration set to replace Lightfoot’s, Maldonado believes the next mayor needs to be willing to invest financially in resolving this situation. He said there should be a designated committee that can propose an infrastructure plan to help with the humanitarian crisis.

Ferreira and his family made a difficult, dangerous trek across eight countries to reach the U.S. border with Mexico.

“I came here with only $4,000 and went through many nights of hunger along my journey,” said Ferreira.

Not long after his arrival at the Adalberto United Methodist Church, Ferreira landed a job with the help of Rev. Cortes. Now, he supports his daughter and wife by working daily, nine-hour shifts.

As asylum seekers, most cannot work as they await a work permit and their immigration appointment to follow up with their case, others opt to find a job and work under the table.

Ferreira says he is grateful for the opportunity.

“I value everything we have now,” Ferreira said. “A simple bottle of water. During my journey, there were many times when I could not afford one.”

At the church, with additions like new kitchen and shower installations, Cortes tries her best to make migrants feel comfortable. She said they have no rules about who they can speak to, where they are allowed to go or how long they can stay out.

“I made sure to always respect the liberty these migrants have,” Cortes said. “I did not want this shelter to feel like a jail or detention center.”

New SGA EOB chair strives for voter engagement

By Claire Tweedie SGA Beat Writer

Working in the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) as the director’s student assistant, sophomore Jessica Bergman is no stranger to the leadership skills it takes to promote student engagement.

Student Government Association (SGA) faculty adviser Courtney James saw the same thing in Bergman when she suggested Bergman for the role of SGA Elections Operations Board (EOB) chair.

SGA appointed Bergman as their new EOB chair at the general body meeting on March 9. Members are continuing efforts to increase SGA election voter turnout with the help of a new student leader on their board.

“[Bergman’s] experience in the DePaul Activities Board (DAB) and focus on outreach to the student body is going to be such a strong factor in how she performs in the spring quarter elections,” Magoli Garcia, SGA Vice President and junior, said. “I think because of her expertise, she's going to be able to apply that really well to our student voters here.”

The role of EOB chair is tasked with organizing and planning both spring and fall quarter elections for SGA. This includes creating election timelines, sending out candidate information and promoting events.

Bergman decided to seek appointment for the position vacancy after learning

about its election responsibilities, which she said are the foundation of SGA. Understanding the challenges of past elections and having experience with other on-campus organizations, Bergman believes her passion for politics can bring new ideas to SGA.

“I think one of the big things that keep people coming is that people love what others are passionate about,” Bergman said. “If I’m interested in these elections and I’m excited for them, hopefully I can make other students feel the same way.”

Bergman’s goals are to increase voter turnout by at least 100% compared to last election’s numbers, bringing the total number of voters closer to 1,000 students with the use of more aggressive marketing tactics to increase election awareness

on-campus.

“We are the voice of the students as SGA,” Bergman said. “Everyone should be aware that the elections are happening so if they want to express how they feel or put in their opinion on which candidate is a good fit for the position, they should be able to.”

Haley Pennington, SGA senator for the College of Law and second year law student, said she hopes a new EOB chair will encourage more election promotion for the Loop campus. She believes the Loop campus does not see as much engagement due to the disconnect and distance between campuses.

“The more connections we have through the university means the more resources and outlets we have to advertise through, get ideas from, and to connect with,” Pennington said. “Representatives and people that work in SGA need to be more interconnected with the entire university to be successful.”

In addition to her involvement in OSI and position as the vice president of international affairs for DAB, Bergman said she believes she is equipped for her new role. She said this is because of the knowledge she has obtained as a double major in communication and media studies and political science.

“I love studying elections and campaigns,” Bergman said. “I'm looking to try and bring some of that information in and get some real-world experience with

something that's not as huge as a national campaign but that's local where I feel like I can actually make a difference.”

Bergman was not a member of SGA prior to her appointment but said due to the organization’s ties with OSI, she has helped them with previous elections. A disconnect from SGA is necessary for the position, which only allows Bergman to attend SGA meetings for her appointment or if she has important announcements about the elections she organizes.

“The reason is because we want to make sure there's a clear line of separation between the relationships our EOB chair might form with the rest of our members,” Garcia said. “We don't want any collision between the two due to the nature of elections.”

Bergman will be in charge of the upcoming spring quarter election, where all current SGA members must run again for positions in the 2023 to 2024 school year. More details on election dates and events will be forthcoming but will ultimately show Bergman’s abilities in the role.

“SGA does make a lot of decisions for the student body that I don't think the student body really sees, kind of like politics in real life,” Pennington said. “A strong student government though, with competitive candidates and high turnout, we get not only more backing from the student body itself but also more ‘street cred’ when we bring our issues to administration.”

KEVIN LUNA | THE DEPAULIA

The Adalberto United Methodist Church is a place of refuge for many migrants.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA BERGMAN'S LINKEDIN Jessica Bergman, DePaul sophomore, was appointed as SGA EOB chair.

Nation & World

Biden’s Arctic oil drilling project met with protest

By Ruchi Nawathe Nation & World Editor

As climate change becomes more of a hot topic in the political landscape, many nations are taking steps to transition out of fossil fuel dependency. The Biden administration, however, is set to approve a large oil drilling project in the Alaskan North Slope known as the Willow Project.

The Willow Project has been met with criticism from climate activists and Indigenous activists alike, due to the impacts it could have on the Arctic ecosystem.

“[The pipeline] goes from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, Alaska, and that’s a pipeline that was built through the tundra,” said DePaul environmental science professor James Montgomery. “It’s along migration routes of elk, and it has disrupted those migrations and other things that come along with being an elk, so there’s issues of how it’s impacted migratory wildlife.”

The Arctic tundra in particular has a very delicate ecosystem.

“There are very sensitive and important ecosystems up there [the Arctic tundra] that you don’t find anywhere else because they have adapted for that kind of climate with those being disrupted,” Montgomery said. “Just good old global warming has started to melt the permafrost, and permafrost is permanently or semi-permanently frozen ground, and it often has, trapped in that ice, a lot of methane, and methane is natural gas.”

Methane is the most potent greenhouse gas per molecule, far more potent than carbon dioxide, according to Mont-

gomery.

The Arctic is also warming much faster than the rest of the world, according to DePaul environmental science professor Mark Potosnak.

Even if the U.S. starts the transition to sustainable fuel alternatives, it would still need to rely on oil during the transition phase.

“We’re using a lot of fossil fuels, and there’s a worry that we’re going to start to run out here in the U.S.,” Potosnak said. “So should we drill up there so that we have enough supply in the short term with the understanding we want to move away from them long term?”

It is much more environmentally friendly for the U.S. to drill oil on its own land rather than importing it, according to Tony Kovscek, energy science professor at Stanford University.

“The U.S. needs oil, and it’s arguable that producing those resources at home is better than importing those resources,” Kovscek said. “For instance, the environmental regulations in the U.S., compared to many other producing countries, are pretty strict, so we have some assurance that people follow the laws, and to some extent environmental issues have been mitigated.”

When he first came into office, President Biden vowed to end all new oil drilling projects on public land, according to The Washington Post.

“So the issue is, there are Native American tribes or Indigenous tribes, Indigenous Alaskan tribes up there, like the Inuit, and the Inupiaq,” Montgomery said. “Some are for this, because it’ll bring in more money. But the people in the town … they’re very much against it,

because they’re nervous about spills and pollution and things that come along with drilling for oil, and so they feel like, I think, Biden has gone back on his word.”

Potosnak believes that the Willow Project is a strategic move by Biden to help his approval for the upcoming election.

“Because if [Biden] doesn’t, and then oil prices are really high, and whenever the election is, a year and a half from now, his opponents will say, ‘hey, you stopped drilling, everybody’s paying five bucks a gallon for oil,’” Potosnak said.

In reality, the oil drilling project likely will not have any impacts on oil and gas prices for some years.

“You’re talking probably five to eight years, I read, before any oil that is produced from this would actually come online and hit the market,” Montgomery said. “So it’s not like we’re going to have these millions of barrels of oil flowing next week, so the impact on oil and gas prices is a ways off if there’s going to be any impact at all.”

There is also a small potential for oil spills to occur. Most of the oil will be transported over the land, but the major concern is if a spill occurs once the oil is placed on ships.

“There’s a potential for spill,” Potosnak said. “If the pipeline spills, it’s bad, but it’s on land. But when oil spills happen on water, they’re so awful, but this oil … will get put on a boat and shipped from there.”

Other than oil spills, transportation, such as roads and trucks, could damage the environment.

“[An] important question for this de -

velopment that I don’t know the answer to is where’s the material going to come from, to basically build the pads and build the roads and all that,” Kovscek said. “They’re gonna have to source that, and that potentially can have some impacts? Where do you get the materials from?”

Potosnak, who has worked near an oil rig at the North Slope in the past, observed environmental damage caused by trucks.

“One of the biggest impacts that they experienced is from the road, and you have truck traffic going up and down the road, and that creates a lot of dust, and that dust carries into the ecosystem and ends up changing the ecosystem because it’s different nutrients,” Potosnak said.

Climate change is already having an impact on the Indigenous people of Alaska and Canada, and the Willow Project could further exacerbate the problem.

“This is ancestral land for Indigenous North Americans, you know, both in the United States and Canada, and this is a loss,” Montgomery said. “I mean, climate change in and of itself is affecting these people everything from their fisheries, and it’s really affecting their culture, and not surprisingly, a lot of the young people are leaving their villages, and they’re going to larger cities because they see nothing in the village for them to do.”

Despite all the opposition, it is highly likely that the Biden administration will approve the Willow Project.

“I call it cultural genocide,” Montgomery said.

Michigan State shooter’s note says he felt hated, rejected

By Corey Williams Associated

A man who fatally shot three students and wounded five others on the Michigan State University campus left a note describing himself as being “hated,” “a loner” and an “outcast.”

Anthony McRae, 43, also wrote “I’m tired of being rejected,” in the note, which was dated the day before the Feb. 13 shooting and released Friday by police.

“They made me who I’m am today a killer,” the note read. “I’m a person,” and “They hate me why? why? why? why?”

McRae, who lived in nearby Lansing, had no apparent connection to the East Lansing school. The rampage began about 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 when shots were fired inside a classroom at Berkey Hall on the north end of campus.

Police believe McRae then walked into the nearby student union building firing more shots.

Students were ordered to shelter in place for four hours and — “run, hide, fight” — if necessary as the campus was placed on an hourslong lockdown.

Police put a photo of McRae on social media at 11:18 p.m. A 911 call was received 17 minutes from someone who saw a person matching McRae’s description in Lansing.

McRae shot himself in an industrial area about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) from campus at 11:49 p.m. when approached by officers.

Detectives also found two handguns and ammunition. The note was found in his pocket.

“There’s a group of us, 20 of us and I’m the leader,” also was written on it. “I will be shooting up MSU and some of the other groups will be going to Colorado Springs to shoot up (redacted). Another team of ... group will be going to New

Jersey and they will shoot up (redacted) High school and (redacted) Middle school. They hurted me”

McRae’s claim to be acting with others is unfounded,” authorities said Friday.

“Comprehensive reviews and detailed follow-up” shows that “McRae acted alone and was not working with other people,” authorities said.

Police initially said it appeared from the note that McRae felt he had been slighted in some way by people or businesses, adding that he had no connection to the victims or the school and had worked at a grocery chain warehouse.

Police said Friday that their investigation continues. McRae’s route once he left

the campus still is being reviewed.

About 1,450 911 calls were made to the county’s dispatch center from the start of the shooting to 1 a.m. Feb. 15, police said.

It wasn’t clear how many of the calls were related to the shooting.

Killed were Arielle Anderson, 19; Brian Fraser, 20; and Alexandria Verner, 20, all of suburban Detroit.

Michigan State has said that starting Monday access to most buildings on campus will be restricted at night.

Students, faculty and staff will need to use campus ID cards to get electronic access at buildings, between 6 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. on weekdays. The school said

it wants to make it possible to lock 1,300 classrooms from the inside by the fall semester.

The campus is about about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.

The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17.

In 2019, McRae was accused of illegally possessing a concealed weapon, according to the state Corrections Department, but pleaded guilty to having a loaded gun in a vehicle, a misdemeanor. He completed 18 months of probation.

Ninth grader sues over Pledge of Allegiance confrontation

By Jeffrey Collins Associated

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The parents of a ninth grade South Carolina student who said she was accosted by a teacher for quietly walking to class instead of stopping and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance are suing the teacher, principal, school district and state education officials.

Marissa Barnwell said she was walking quietly to class and decided not to stop for the pledge or a moment of silence that followed.

A teacher yelled at her, confronted her and pushed her against a wall.

Barnwell was then sent to the principal’s office, which she said was humiliating because she feared she was in trouble.

The principal promised to look at the video of the encounter and sent her back to class, but Barnwell said he never let her know that the teacher was wrong and she was right.

“I was completely and utterly disrespected,” Barnwell, 15, said at a news conference Thursday, according to The State newspaper. “No one has apologized, no one has acknowledged my hurt. ... The fact that the school is defending that kind of behavior is unimaginable.”

Barnwell’s parents are suing the River Bluff High School teacher, the principal, Lexington School District 1, and the South Carolina Education Department in federal court, saying they violated the girl’s civil rights and her First Amend -

ment rights to both free speech or not to speak at all.

A state law passed more than 30 years ago requires public schools to play the Pledge of Allegiance at a specific time every day.

But that law also prohibits punishing anyone who refuses to recite the pledge as long as they are not disruptive or infringe on others.

“The thing that’s beautiful about America is we have freedoms,” said Tyler

Bailey, the family’s lawyer. “Students in our schools should feel safe, they should not be feel threatened for exercising their constitutional rights.”

Barnwell said she called her parents in tears and they said the teacher, principal or district never responded.

Lexington School District 1 didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit.

River Bluff High School’s website indicates the teacher and principal are still

working at the school.

Barnwell’s family also released the school surveillance video of the encounter that shows the teacher confront the teen.

“I was just in disbelief,” Barnwell said, adding that she told the teacher “Get your hands off of me.”

Michigan State University student Devin Crawford places flowers at The Rock on campus, Feb. 14, 2023, in East Lansing, Mich.

CARLOS OSORIO | ASSOCIATED PRESS

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Marissa Barnwell, 15, is suing the South Carolina Education Department after a teacher accosted her for not reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Press

Opinions

Being queer isn't a ; quit calling it one

By A lex A ndr A Murphy Contributing Writer

“We are non-affirming. This means we do not agree that the LGBTQIA+ lifestyle is supported by biblical text,” Vessel said in a statement on March 1.

Vessel, a Christian worship group that meets on DePaul’s campus, made this statement on March 1 and quickly received backlash from students about the language used in a response post to comments asking them to publicly disclose their stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The statement also poses the question: why does this kind of word choice really matter, and why is it harmful to the LGBTQIA+ community?

This response post was made following a comment by David Hupp, a DePaul senior, who questioned Vessel in their Instagram comments to press them into disclosing their non-affirming stance.

“I pushed them for more information because I have personally had bad experiences in the past with groups failing to disclose this kind of important information,” Hupp said.

Hupp, who identifies as queer, found out about the group through a friend’s Instagram stories. Since then, he started to ask important questions about why Vessel decided on being non-affirming as a key characteristic of their group. It took a few days of questioning back-and-forth in the comment section until Vessel came forward with an official statement of their views on the LGBTQIA+ community.

When asked about the reason for pushing the Christian group to disclose their stance, Hupp explained how important it is on campus for any club or organization to be transparent about their

values while recruiting new members.

“I don’t want other students to end up investing months or years of their time and energy into a group like this, just to realize only after it has become difficult to leave that the values of the group do not align with one’s own,” Hupp said.

Alongside Vessel, however, there are other Christian student groups at DePaul that hold non-affirming stances, and many have been allowed to register as officially recognized student organizations.

According to Associate Dean Leslie Watland, as long as the religious group does not outwardly discriminate and allows members of the LGBTQ+ community to join, DePaul organizations can hold a non-affirming stance.

Grace Lewandowski, a junior at DePaul, helped start the Change.org petition to have Vessel removed from campus. She also believes there should be a change to

the anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy at the university.

“I think that DePaul lacks in the way that they don’t have a standard for dealing with these situations,” Lewandowski said. “They don’t have a protocol. They have the anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy.”

Women and gender studies professor Laila Farah was shocked to find out that any religious group would be able to meet on campus and call themselves “non-affirming” without a review from the Office of Student Affairs.

“Whatever process they are using to screen student groups obviously needs to be revisited because this is inappropriate, and especially inappropriate for a religious based organization,” Farah said. “There can be no place for this at DePaul.”

The strict regulations are not the only issue that put Vessel under fire from DePaul students. The group used the terminology “lifestyle” in reference to the LGBTQ+ community which has come under much scrutiny from students for being inaccurate and extremely dated for what it truly means to have a queer identity.

For DePaul advocacy group Act Out, the term “lifestyle” makes the assumption that being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is a choice, which members agree is not a term that can speak to the immense struggle and trauma the queer community continues to face each day. One example is the recent legislation affecting southern states like Florida and Alabama who have enforced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

A DePaul Act Out member, who requested to stay anonymous, explained,

“you usually see the word lifestyle paired with lifestyle choices. It makes it seem us being gay, us being trans, or anything in between is a choice.”

Fiona Reed, the interim President of Act Out also spoke about her discomfort with the group’s use of the Bible verse which has had a past of being inaccurate for having differing translations and for the use of the term “lifestyle” in Vessels response post.

“Calling it a lifestyle diminishes the pain, the trauma, and what being queer means in today’s society,” Reed said.

DePaul University came out with the Guiding Principle for Speech and Expression which was officially approved in May of 2017. The principle explains how the university affirms the freedom of speech of students, as long as they are in compliance with community guidelines.

The principles state: “The University may also reasonably regulate the time, place and manner of speech and expression for a variety of reasons, including to allow for the continuance of University business or to ensure the safety and security of the campus and members of the DePaul community.”

According to Farah, this policy was created because of harmful language that was used among certain groups to target minority students. This is why it is apparent, more than ever, for student voices to be heard when any minority group is targeted.

“Student voices are heard times 100 of what a faculty voice says,” Farah said. “It matters.”

“I don't want other students to end up investing... into a group like this just to realize... the values of the group do not align with one's own."

David Hupp DePaul Senior

My experiences as a student worker at DePaul

By lily lowndes Social Media Editor

With graduation impending, my student worker status is coming to an end. I’ve tried out a few different roles and I thought I would share a look inside six on-campus jobs at DePaul.

The DePaulia

I had to start with the obvious. Becoming The DePaulia’s social media editor was one of the best things that I did at DePaul, and one of the most difficult.

If you want to be a journalist, student media is a great way to get experience. At The DePaulia, you can write weekly stories, learn how to work in a newsroom and, one of the coolest perks, see your name in print.

As social media editor, I could pursue new creative directions on our socials, but I caused myself a lot of stress by putting too much pressure on myself to succeed. Having quick turnarounds for stories and working long hours in the newsroom can do a number on you!

Being a part of The DePaulia was an amazing experience overall. The longer I was on staff, the easier it got. The best way to learn more about something is to take a leap of faith and try it out.

The Writing Center

I was a University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL) employee for two years. On my resume, however, I just say I worked at the DePaul Writing Center.

Being a writing tutor was probably the best on-campus position I held at DePaul. I think I only became a stronger writer and more well-rounded person after joining the UCWbL.

All tutors have to enroll in a Writing Center pedagogy course during fall qu arter to learn about how to be effective tutors. That was the most training

I’ve had for any job, on-campus or not.

It was a lovely work environment. Every staff member embodied the UCWbL’s logo: “Good writers, nice people.”

It took some time getting used to finishing work in allotted appointment time slots, but overall, it was an interesting and educational job.

14 East

When I first heard about 14 East, I was sold. Working on multimedia stories about the Chicago and DePaul communities for an online magazine seemed like a cool opportunity.

While there are editor, illustrator and photographer positions, I led fundraising efforts as the director of development and tracked finances as the business manager.

Both roles had a reasonable workload and I could complete my tasks asy nchronously at any time of the week.

What I like most about 14 East is the constant communication and care surrounding each story. Every piece is fact-checked, and an editor works with you throughout the course of a week to polish your story for publication. The newsroom is made up of such kind and talented people!

Student Activity Fee Board

SAF-B is a student board that helps approve funding for student organizations’ expenses relating to their activities and events.

Groups would give presentations about their proposed events and we would vote on the amount allocated. After we finished the scheduled presentations, the board ate a free lunch together.

Rather than being paid hourly, I got a scholarship for being on SAF-B. We met a few times a month in the Office of Student Involvement in Lincoln Park. Residence Hall Council

For anyone interested in working for Housing, feel free to consider becoming an RA or FA, but I think one of the best student roles in the department is being president of Residence Hall Council (RHC).RHC is a student government and event planning organization for DePaul students living in dorms and on-campus apartments. In exchange for compensated housing, I managed a budget, plan events and engage the student community to the best of my ability.

It was a great way to meet a lot of people and create fun events.

Chicago Quarter Mentor

Chicago Quarter Mentor (CQM) jobs last from the beginning to the end of the fall quarter. You mentor a freshman Explore or Discover Chicago class and teach lesson plans about healthy habits and life at DePaul.

The best part was essentially sitting in on an additional class at DePaul, free

of charge. You attend classes and learn about the assigned subject, but have no homework, essays or tests.

The only downside of this job is, unlike every other student position I’ve had, this isn’t an hourly-paid or scholarship-based position. Instead, you have a set stipend distributed to you across the quarter on random dates.You didn’t know ahead of time when and how much was being deposited into your account.

Other jobs

Being a student worker is an ideal gig because of the proximity to campus, flexible work hours and the opportunity to meet new people at DePaul. If you are interested, I would recommend checking out the student job board to see what is available!

Column: Being Christian is not an excuse for acts of hatred toward others

By sAMA nth A MoilA nen Asst. News Editor

I have been a Christian for my entire life.

Because of my religious beliefs and the stereotypes surrounding Christianity, many assume I am adamantly against abortion or that I believe homosexuality or transgenderism is inherently wrong.

Even though I am Christian, these are not my beliefs nor was I ever told to adopt this mindset in the church.

But because some people who call themselves “Christian” choose to hide behind their faith to justify acts of hate toward certain groups, I am continuously forced to justify my own faith due to views of a select few.

It is for that same reason that many people have a negative perception of the Christian faith. It is for that same reason I have to explain myself whenever I tell people I am Christian. It is why my best friend was afraid to tell me her stance on abortion or my closest childhood friend was afraid I would judge her when she came out as bisexual.

That’s why, after reading the post from Vessel, an on-campus Christian group facing backlash stating they are non-affirming of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle, I was angry that a group at DePaul that stands behind the Christian faith would outwardly express their prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community.

I am still angry that after The DePaulia reached out for comment, part of

the group’s response was that they want to “peacefully coexist with those who disagree with the tenets of our faith.”

What Vessel claims is a tenet of “our faith” is a false statement made on behalf of the entire Christian community. The prejudiced views of 15 to 20 people cannot be attributed to all Christians.

To justify the group’s non-affirming stance toward the LGBTQ+ lifestyle, they cited the book of Romans and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. In the new international version (NIV) of the Bible, this verse translates to, “Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

I recognize my experience is not the same as many others, including some of my closest friends who have felt ostracized by the church and those that hid behind their faith to justify their own prejudices and biases toward others. Yet, it is those same people who call themselves “Christian” but outwardly advocate against the LGBTQ+ community or claim having an abortion is an unforgivable sin, that use their faith to ostracize people that are different from themselves.

The full Bible including the old and new testaments was written about 2,000 years ago. Since then, the Christian faith has drastically evolved to cater to the modern society we live in today.

My freshman year at DePaul, I took

a class on the intersection of science and religion. I learned that while the Bible has valuable lessons about humanity, no one should adopt a literal interpretation of the text because it was written by people close to 2,000 years ago, when women’s rights were nonexistent and religious freedom was a foreign concept, always dictated by those in power.

In America, we are fortunate to have the freedom to outwardly practice whatever religion we choose, but some still choose to use their religious freedoms to express prejudice and hatred towards those they deem different.

How can we preach the message that “God loves all people” when our actions continuously show otherwise?

I am tired of having to explain myself because I am Christian. I should not have to tell my best friend I would stand by her side if she chooses to get an abortion. I should not have to feel guilty when another one of my friends tells me she was scared to disclose that she’s bisexual, solely because of my faith.

I don’t want to explain myself anymore. As Christians, and as decent human beings, we all need to do better to not let the hypocrisy of a few individuals taint an entire faith.

MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

Socks Off takes first place in the

band, consisting of singer Ellie Pod, drummer TJ Coppa, guitarist John Kaster, and bassist Jack Riley, released their first EP “JUNCTURE” in early January. Riley felt honored to share the stage with already well-established bands.

that I would drag all the pots and pans covered and grab big wooden spoons.”

A large crowd forms, gathering together shoulder-to-shoulder in the auditorium of the DePaul Student Center in Lincoln Park. They eagerly wait as amps are set ups, sounds are checked and guitars are tuned. They are all ready for the Battle of the Bands. On March 3, the DePaul Music Business Organization and the DePaul Activities Board hosted Battle of the Bands, which was a live concert where five different bands performed and competed. The five bands that performed were Superdime, John Curry, Ocean Child, Western Bisexual, and Zeno Camera and Socks Off. The winner of the show was awarded with opening at FEST. A panel of judges and audience members voted to pick a winning band. Viewers cheered as the much-anticipated Superdime stepped onto stage. This show was going to be much different than their previous DIY house shows.

Maggie Smith, the lead guitarist, explained that most DIY venues take a pretty big cut when they host bands.

“Well like, f*ck it — let’s just do it ourselves, so we just threw a show at my place because we couldn’t find anybody else’s house,” Smith said.

A majority of the attendees stated that they were present in support of Superdime. Christine Hoffmann said she thought and wanted Superdime to win.

“And it’s not because I’m dating the drummer, but because I’ve really liked their music and their chemistry on stage.” Hoffman said.

Superdime quickly jumped into a smooth, Midwest-emo feeling riff. When Nolan Manke began the vocals, the audience knew the lyrics and began to sing with him. Each song they performed had catchy lyrics and vibrant instrumentals. After Superdime left the stage, the stage went dark as the audience waited for the next performance.

Formed by four freshmen in early November of 2022, Western Bisexual has quickly gained traction in the past several months, releasing their second EP “LUCIDITY” last Wednesday. The

“We make music we like and it shows,” Riley said. “It’s huge. I still feel like the kid on the block.”

Western Bisexual has played at local music venues such as Uncommon Ground and sold out venue BookClub Chicago. When John Curry came on stage, a Scott Pilgrim-esque narrator spoke on the speakers, introducing the rock heavy performance of John Curry.

Curry shared some of his inspirations before the show. He named bands like Tool, Foo Fighters, and Muse.

Lights shined down on his bouncing curly hair, reminiscent of the ‘80s metal scene. Bass riffs that brought the heavy, “stoner metal,” sounds to his performance. He encouraged the audience to move with him as he bounced around the stage and screamed his lyrics into the mic. Whenever Curry did a solo, he positioned himself in a rock and roll power stance. “I never really started playing music,” Curry said. “It’s just something I’ve always done, you know?”

When it came time for Zeno Camera and Socks Off to take the stage, all members were present except Camera himself. Ryan Toomey, the bassist, took the mic and gave Camera quite the introduction. Camera did the same for his fellow members after he ran up to the stage and the audience screamed in excitement.

After the band took a break for a few months, they were eager to be back together and performing at Battle of the Bands.

“Definitely very strong competi tion and we know where, yeah, yeah, we’re happy to be considered on their level.” Toomey said.

They jumped into one of their sin gles, all grooving together, and Cam era dancing with the mic under the multi-colored lights. It was clear the audience loved the groovy instrumen tals and smooth vocals.

After all five bands performed, the judges and audience picked the top three to perform one more song. The bands nominated were Superdime, Ocean Child, and Zeno Camera and Socks Off.

Superdime returned to stage with a smooth buildup. As the audience swayed along, the drums started to pick up, and Manke broke out in strong, emotional vocals with fun and

Ocean Child began playing again with a perfectly balanced mix of drums and riffs, which led into a smooth guitar solo. The groovy tunes naturally encouraged the crowd to dance and

Ocean Child’s Chicago-based 21-year-old lead singer Marco Lan-Daverde started his performance with a smooth balance of varying tempos and vocals. The band has performed with acts SALES, Irish-rock band Inhaler and indie-punk trio reappeared and any fatigue in the crowd with their most popular song, “Lips Like Chardonnay.”

The crowd jumped and danced along with the catchy lyrics. Camera shook the performance up by singing bilingually, in both English and Portuguese. When it came time to officially vote on a winner, Zeno Camera and Socks Off took the first place award. The crowd and judges loved their performances, sounds, and stage energy.

“Super thankful to be here amongst the other performances, which were amazing,” Toomey said after the show.

Superdime singer Nolan Manke led with catchy lyrics 90’s grunge and indie.

By Una Cleary, Jonah WeBer and a mBer StoUtenBoroUgh

Focus Editor, Asst. Arts & Life Editor and Multimedia Managing Editor

UNA CLEARY | THE DEPAULIA (Left) Ocean Child Leader singer, Marco Lan-Daverde

the competition to play at 'FESt'

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

AMBER

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA Singer Ellie Pod is one of four members in Western Bisexual,who formed in November 2022. The band has already released two EP’s and performed at several local Chicago venues.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA The annual Battle of the Bands took place on March 6 in the Lincoln Park Student Center.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

Socks Off guitarist Enzo Goodrich (left) and lead singer Zeno Camera (right) won first place award in the 2023 Battle of the Bands on April 6.

(Left) Singer John Curry

La DePaulia

Chicago, una ciudad santuario para migrantes ‘solo en el papel’

tienda pudiera alojar adecuadamente a los migrantes.

En la parte de atrás de la Iglesia Metodista Unida Adalberto en Humboldt Park, un hombre de 29 años, su esposa y su hija viven en una habitación pequeña en una nueva ciudad donde esperan tener un futuro mejor.

Como muchos migrantes recién llegados, Dennis Ferreira dijo que no ganaba suficiente dinero para alimentar adecuadamente a su familia en Venezuela. Hacía $30 al mes en su país de origen donde actualmente están pasando una crisis económica. Fue por eso que Ferreira decidió hacer la travesía al norte con su familia en busca de trabajo estable.

Ferreira y su familia parecieran ser más afortunados que la mayoría de migrantes que recién han llegado al área de Chicago. Los cuales ya incluyen más de 5,000 solicitantes de asilo, la mayoría de ellos de Venezuela, quienes han sido transportados en autobús a Chicago desde Texas y Colorado desde agosto, según las autoridades. Otros llegan por sí mismos, donde esperan obtener ayuda.

A diferencia de otros migrantes, Ferreira y su familia encontraron un hogar acogedor. Llegaron a la Iglesia Metodista Unida Adalberto, que se convirtió en un refugio para solicitantes de asilo durante los últimos meses.

Ha habido informes recientes de migrantes que duermen en estaciones de policía, hospitales y pasan el día en centros de acogida, esperando encontrar un refugio que tenga camas disponibles mientras esperan para presentar su caso de asilo con oficiales de migración o encontrar un trabajo.

Los funcionarios de la ciudad dijeron que la mayoría de los refugios están llenos. A la vez, la administración de Lightfoot ha abogado constantemente por más fondos del estado y del gobierno federal.

La pastora de la iglesia, Jacobita Cortes, dijo que ha dado la bienvenida a más de 140 recién llegados a su humilde iglesia en Division Street.

La llegada de migrantes de Venezuela y otros países latinoamericanos ha llevado a que los defensores y líderes comunitarios le pidan a la ciudad que suministre más recursos para apoyarlos.

Cuando los funcionarios de la ciudad anunciaron que más de 200 migrantes serían

alojados

por hasta dos años en una antigua escuela primaria en Woodlawn, algunos residentes del barrio predominantemente afroamericano, se opusieron a la apertura del refugio en el barrio.

Aunque desde entonces, líderes de iglesias en Woodlawn se han ofrecido a proporcionar servicios sociales a los recién llegados. Residentes y líderes religiosos del barrio crearon la iniciativa llamada Chicago 4 All, que ofrecerá a los migrantes servicios bilingües y recorridos por la zona para involucrarse en proyectos comunitarios.

Byron Sigcho-López, el concejal del distrito 25, dijo que los solicitantes de asilo deben ser transferidos a áreas con mayor población latina para proporcionarles recursos equitativos, prevenir las barreras del idioma y proporcionar mayores niveles de comodidad.

“Existen infraestructuras como servicios bilingües en escuelas y centros de salud para refugiados en las comunidades latinas, pero los migrantes han sido ubicados en áreas que carecen de estos recursos”, dijo Sigcho-López.

Sigcho-López añadió que los funcionarios no han respondido adecuadamente a la situación.

“Somos una ciudad santuario acogedora, pero solo en papel”, dijo Sigcho-López. “A través de las acciones, hemos visto un manejo deficiente de la crisis humanitaria con respecto a los refugiados”.

Un portavoz de la alcaldesa Lori Lightfoot dijo que la ciudad “sigue respondiendo a esta crisis humanitaria y sigue dedicada a apoyar a los recién llegados”.

El objetivo es conectar a los inmigrantes con los servicios de la ciudad según el reporte.

Funcionarios estatales ahora están considerando un plan para trasladar a más de 650 inmigrantes a un K-Mart vacío en el lado suroeste de Chicago, según un informe reciente de WTTW. El plan ha generado objeciones de los funcionarios locales electos, incluida la representante Angélica GuerreroCuéllar.

En una carta al Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Illinois, GuerreroCuéllar escribió que no creía que la antigua

“Quedan muchas preguntas sobre si la instalación está preparada para servir como vivienda segura para tanta gente”, dijo.

Otros críticos a la manera en que el gobierno estatal y de la ciudad han respondido a la afluencia de migrantes en la zona, como Sigcho-Lopez, dicen que la ciudad necesita un plan integral.

Sigcho-Lopez dijo que su administración y otros concejales han intentado durante varios meses comunicarse con la administración de la alcaldesa Lori Lightfoot para crear un plan estructurado, pero han sido ignorados cada vez.

El gran número de migrantes que continúan llegando a Chicago ha puesto presión sobre la capacidad de la ciudad para albergarlos y apoyarlos, dijo Sigcho-López.

De manera similar, el ex concejal del Distrito 26, Roberto Maldonado, quien representó al vecindario de Humboldt Park, compartió sus desacuerdo con el protocolo que la ciudad de Chicago creó en respuesta a este tema.

“La orientación que la ciudad ha dado a los migrantes que se encuentran en la calle es [que] se dirijan al distrito policial o vayan a un hospital, lo cual es una locura”, dijo Maldonado. “¿Qué van a pensar los migrantes si les decimos esas dos opciones? No van a ejercer esas opciones porque esos no son los lugares para quedarse”.

Sin embargo, Maldonado cree que la administración de Lightfoot ha tenido “buenas intenciones” pero el rechazo de los gobernadores republicanos a colaborar con los funcionarios de la ciudad para crear un plan estructurado al enviar solicitantes de asilo a Chicago, ha causado la crisis actual.

“En cambio, los están tirando aquí porque somos una ciudad santuario”, dijo.

Maldonado dijo que trató de ayudar a los migrantes donando ropa, pero el protocolo de la ciudad de solo aceptar prendas de vestir nuevas fue un desafío para él.

Maldonado también dijo que no está seguro que tan involucrados están otros concejales con este tema porque dejó de asistir a reuniones sobre la crisis migratoria en Chicago.

Las reuniones quincenales con los

miembros del consejo de la ciudad se llevan a cabo a través de Zoom y Maldonado dijo que “todo fue palabrería” y no condujo a soluciones reales.

“Al final del día, somos 50 miembros, y si tuviera que realizar una encuesta manteniendo el nombre de todos en el anonimato, a la mayoría de ellos no les importaría una mierda los migrantes aquí”, dijo Maldonado. “Muchos preferirían no tenerlos aquí”.

Maldonado cree que el próximo alcalde debe estar dispuesto a invertir financieramente para resolver esta situación. Dijo que debería haber un comité designado que pueda proponer un plan de infraestructura para ayudar con la crisis humanitaria.

Mientras tanto, Ferreira y su familia cuentan que hicieron un viaje difícil y peligroso. “Pasé muchas noches de hambre a lo largo de mi viaje”, dijo Ferreira.

No mucho después de su llegada a la Iglesia Metodista Unida Adalberto, Ferreira consiguió un trabajo con la ayuda de Cortés. Ahora, él mantiene a su hija y esposa trabajando diariamente turnos de nueve horas.

Como solicitantes de asilo, la mayoría no pueden trabajar mientras esperan un permiso de trabajo y su cita de inmigración para dar seguimiento a su caso. Algunos optan por encontrar donde trabajar sin tener permiso.

Ferreira dice que está agradecido por la oportunidad.

“Valoro todo lo que tenemos ahora”, dijo Ferreira. “Una simple botella de agua: Durante mi viaje, hubo muchas ocasiones en las que no pude pagar una”.

En la iglesia, con adiciones como nuevas instalaciones de cocina y ducha, Cortés hace todo lo posible para que los migrantes se sientan cómodos. Ella dijo que ellos no tienen reglas sobre con quién pueden hablar, adónde pueden ir o cuánto tiempo pueden quedarse fuera.

“Me aseguré de siempre respetar la libertad que tienen estos migrantes”, dijo Cortés. “No quería que este refugio se sintiera como una cárcel o un centro de detención”.

Afuera de la Iglesia Metodista Unida Adalberto en Humboldt Park en la Division Street donde la pastora Jacobita Cortes creo un santuario para migrantes y les ayuda a obtener empleo.

KEVIN LUNA | LA DEPAULIA

Por Kevin Luna, anjoLie TowLe, Sarina Singh, y jacqueLine cardenaS Escritores Contribuyentes y Jefa de Redacción, La DePaulia

A medida que continúan llegando solicitantes de asilo, la ciudad exhausta recursos, y hacen falta soluciones integrales, dicen líderes políticos de la ciudad

‘PODER’ proporciona educación y oportunidades a la comunidad inmigrante en el sur de Chicago

Por STePhania rodriguez Escritora Contribuyente, La DePaulia

En 1999, Maria Elena Domínguez llegó a los EE. UU. con los mismos sueños que tienen muchos otros inmigrantes: Aprovechar las oportunidades que no están disponibles en su país de origen y trabajar por una vida mejor. Junto con sus tres hijos y su esposo, Marco Antonio Martínez, ella dejó atrás a su familia en la Ciudad de México y al negocio de papelería que ambos manejaban. Pensaron que solo se quedarían unos años para trabajar, pero decidieron quedarse más tiempo.

Mientras Martínez se dedicaba a diferentes trabajos, Dominguez, quien se sintió inquieta, decidió estudiar cosmetología. Esa misma inquietud la ayudó a abrir un salón de belleza en Blue Island, una ciudad al sur de Chicago donde ella y su familia vivieron.

Después, Dominguez pudo terminar en línea los estudios universitarios que nunca terminó en México. Mientras seguía manejando su negocio, obtuvo su licenciatura en desarrollo comunitario, lo cual le ayudó a buscar organizaciones sin fines de lucro y trabajar con ellas.

A pesar de su éxito, Domínguez todavía se sentía limitada por una experiencia común entre muchos inmigrantes: el cambio de idioma. Usando sus habilidades para encontrar servicios comunitarios, encontró la organización PODER en el vecindario de Gage Park.

“Dije, ‘esta es mi oportunidad de mejorarlo [el inglés],” dijo Dominguez. “Me metí a estudiar y lo mejoré bastante.”

A lo largo de casi 26 años, PODER ha ayudado a aproximadamente 14,500 inmigrantes como Dominguez, según su sitio web. En enero de 2023, PODER realizó la inauguración de su nuevo edificio de oficinas centrales, pero sus inicios fueron en un barrio no muy lejano.

PODER fue fundada en 1997 en el barrio Pilsen por el director general Daniel Loftus. Comenzó con el nombre Centro Loyola y fue un pequeño centro de educación para adultos

Países

Por Santiago Gonzalez Tijerina Editor de Deportes, La DePaulia

El ‘World Classic’ es un torneo de béisbol donde compiten los mejores equipos de países para ser coronados como campeones mundiales. La edición del World Classic del 2023 tomará lugar en Japón, Taiwán, y EE.UU., y participarán EE. UU., Cuba, Venezuela, República Dominicana, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Japón, Canadá, Italia, entre otros países.

Esta será la quinta vez que ocurre este torneo desde que fue inaugurado en el 2006. Japón es el equipo que más veces se ha coronado campeón del World Classic, pero EE. UU. ha sido el más reciente, siendo los campeones del torneo del 2017.

Dos de los equipos favoritos para ganar el torneo, según ratings de ELO, son equipos latinoamericanos: República Dominicana y Puerto Rico. Aunque Japón se encuentra todavía un poco por encima de ambos en la tabla de posiciones.

El torneo consiste de diferentes rondas. Al principio los 20 equipos son divididos entre cuatro grupos, donde juegan un partido contra cada equipo de su mismo grupo. Los dos mejores equipos de cada grupo avanzan a las eliminatorias donde juegan un solo partido de cuartos de final y luego semifinal para llegar a la gran final.

Los partidos de la fase de grupos comenzaron el 8 de marzo, y finalizarán el 15 para pasar a las eliminatorias, las cuales serán entre el 15 y 21 de marzo. El

con el fin de servir a los padres de niños que asistían a la escuela primaria St. Procopius y la primera Escuela Secundaria Jesuita Cristo Rey.

La organización ofrecia capacitación en computación, cuatro niveles de clases gratuitas de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL), y alfabetización en español. Pero después se dieron cuenta que aprender inglés a veces no es la prioridad para muchas familias, su prioridad es encontrar ingresos.

“Muchos padres también necesitaban otros recursos,” dijo Griselda Piedras, la gerente de relaciones comunitarias. “Tenían otras barreras y desafíos que incluían el empleo porque estaban desempleados o subempleados y, a veces, esa falta de empleo o ingresos no les permitía continuar con sus clases de inglés.”

A partir de ahí, PODER comenzó a darle más importancia en el currículo al aprendizaje de idiomas. La organización empezó a integrar lecciones para el desarrollo en la fuerza laboral, como habilidades laborales y habilidades para la vida diaria. Hoy, PODER ofrece programas de capacitación para carreras en servicio al cliente, finanzas y ventas de seguros con licencia.

Los adultos con dominio limitado del inglés (Limited English Proficiency en inglés, o LEP) ganan entre un 25% y un 40% menos que los adultos que dominan el inglés, enfrentan tasas más altas de desempleo y es más probable que vivan por debajo del umbral federal de pobreza que sus contrapartes que dominan el inglés, según un reporte.

Este problema también tiene implicaciones económicas.

“Más allá de la tensión de salud mental y la pérdida de capital humano que siente el individuo y su familia, se extienden a los empleadores locales y a nuestra ciudad en general cuando los puestos disponibles permanecen abiertos,” según el mismo reporte.

Los adultos con LEP en Chicago y el noreste de Illinois representan la porción de inmigrantes latinos a los que PODER sirve

en la actualidad. Según el informe anual de 2021, PODER atendió a personas en más de 120 códigos postales. Este es un aumento del 349% desde 2019, cuando atendieron a personas en 35 códigos postales.

“Mis padres son inmigrantes y puedo ayudar a otros como los he ayudado a ellos,” dijo Veronica Morales, una embajadora de PODER. “Estar en la comunidad y poder guiar [a la gente], realmente disfruto estar aquí con la comunidad y el personal.”

Mejorar su inglés ayudó a Dominguez a seguir su trabajo comunitario, y gracias a la recomendación de Piedras, Dominguez hoy trabaja con PODER como embajadora. Sigue soñando en grande y dijo que un día le gustaría abrir su propia agencia para ofrecer los servicios que a ella le han ayudado y llevarlos a donde no tienen presencia.

“Pienso que [aún] hay mucho que hacer con la comunidad”, dijo Dominguez. “Me gustaría llevar estos servicios a lugares donde no hay… por ejemplo, donde vivo en Blue Island, no hay mucho de esto”.

de

el ‘World Classic’ de béisbol

manera. Solo quiero que lo disfruten. Va a estar genial”, continuó.

Aunque la República Dominicana ha sido el único equipo latinoamericano que ha ganado el campeonato, varios equipos han quedado cerca. Puerto Rico ha quedado en segundo lugar en dos ocasiones, Cuba y Venezuela quedó en tercer lugar una vez.

Adniel Orense, un estudiante Venezolano de DePaul, que juega en el equipo de club de béisbol, piensa que este es uno de los mejores equipos que ha tenido Venezuela.

“Creo que [Venezuela está] entre los mejores. También están Estados Unidos, o [República] Dominicana, pero tenemos una oportunidad”, dijo Orense.

partido de la final tomará lugar el 21 de marzo en Miami, Florida.

Cassidy Winston, un estudiante que juega con el equipo de béisbol de DePaul, cree que la República Dominicana se llevará el título este año.

“Siempre lo han comprobado, que alguno del mejor talento que viene al béisbol viene de sudamérica, especialmente la República Dominicana”, dijo Winston.

“ Estaría padre si ganara ‘Team USA’, pero no creo que lo hagan”, continuó.

La República Dominicana ha ganado solo un campeonato de World Classic hasta ahora en del 2013. En él, vencieron a Puerto

Rico en la final con un marcador de 3-0.

Rodney Linares, el entrenador de la banca de los Tampa Bay Rays, fue elegido como el entrenador para la República Dominicana en el World Classic. Esto viene después de que los Rays hicierón historia el año pasado al tener la primera alineación completamente nacida en Latinoamérica en la historia de la MLB.

Linares dijo en una entrevista con el periódico ‘The Tampa Bay Times’ que intentará disfrutar el torneo en vez de solo sentir la presión.

“Con suerte seremos victoriosos. Ese es el plan. El plan es ganar. Tomamos el enfoque de ganarlo todo o nada”, dijo Linares. “Los muchachos lo ven de esa

La República Dominicana enfrentó a Venezuela en su primer encuentro el sábado 11 de marzo, y sorprendentemente cayó por un marcador de 5-1. Sus siguientes partidos son contra Nicaragua, Israel, y finalmente Puerto Rico para finalizar la etapa de grupos.

Venezuela y Puerto Rico jugarán contra los mismos equipos, ya que están en el mismo grupo que la República Dominicana.

Por su parte, Cuba perdió sus primeros dos juegos contra Holanda e Italia, pero todavía podría reponerse.

Los otros países latinos que participarán son México, Colombia, Nicaragua, y Panamá, pero estos tienen un rating de ELO muy bajo por lo que sería una sorpresa que lograrán llegar lejos.

El nuevo edificio de Poder está ubicado en 3357 W 55th St en el vecindario de Gage Park.

STEPHANIA RODRIGUEZ | LA DEPAULIA

WILFREDO LEE | AP

STEPHANIA RODRIGUEZ | LA DEPAULIA

Maria Elena Dominguez empezó a trabajar en PODER poco después de que busco los servicios de la organización para aprender ingles.

latinos tienen altas probabilidades

ganar

La Republica Dominicana enfrenta al equipo Venezolano en el World Classic de 2023 en el estadio LoanDepot en Miami Florida.

St. Patrick's Day in Arts & Life

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA Saturday March 11 marked the 61st annual dyeing of the Chicago River. Residents from all over the Chicagoland came out in droves to celebrate the beloved city tradition.

A boat travels down the Chicago River as the water is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day festivities in the Loop on Saturday, March 11.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

A boat passes under the LaSalle St Bridge as the dyeing begins.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

Thousands flocked to the Loop to kick off a long day of city-wide St. Patrick's day celebrations.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

The Chicago River is over 156 miles long and the only river in the world to be reversed by civil engineering.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

in chicago

Two kids sit and watch boats pass by on the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day festivities.

The river dyeing is sponsored by the Chicago Journeymen Plumber's Union 130 who have funded the event since its founding in 1962.

People dressed head to toe in green to celebrate the St. Patrick's Day festivities in the Loop.

A boat travels down the Chicago River as the river is dyed for St. Patrick's Day festivities in the Loop.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

Spanning from Lake Shore Drive to the fork in the River around Orleans, a fleet of boats circled the water as they sprayed the dye and greeted the crowds of attendees.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA Although officials claim the dye harmless, groups such as Friends of the Chicago River still worry about pollution.

QUENTIN BLAIS | THE DEPAULIA

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

Still Missing

Black Girls Matter event brings attention to disparities in cases of missing Black women and girls

By LiLLy K eLLer Arts & Life Editor

In 2021 521,707 people were reported missing according to the National Crime and Information Center. Of the over half-million cases, 89,020 reports were Black women and girls.

Despite Black women making up less than 7% of the United States population, they account for over 17% of reported missing person cases.

Yet their cases are less likely to be taken seriously than missing white women, whose stories captivate the public and garner high intensity coverage from media outlets.

In 2016, Black women comprised over a quarter of Chicago's 838 missing person cases.

"At the Latinx Cultural Center, we wanted to bring light to the issue of femicide around the world," DePaul junior Frida Campos said. "We did a program in the fall on femicide in Latin America, and so now we want to bring it closer to home in Chicago, specifically focused on Black Women."

Hosted by DePaul's Black and Latinx Cultural Centers, Las Estamos Bordando: Black Girls Matter invited participants to examine the discrepancy in the United States' treatment of missing white women compared to Black women.

"When I personally started thinking about why the United States stays silent about femicides, I thought it was mostly an oppression issue," DePaul junior Teanla House said. "Literally because we're women of color we're not deemed as valuable within the United States."

As individuals immersed themselves in conversations of race, resilience and gender, event goers collected their crochet supplies and selected a missing person poster.

Each paper held the picture and name of a Black woman or girl still actively missing in Chicago. Names were then transferred from paper to fabric, memorializing the lives and legacies of women and girls who deserve to be found.

Beverly Johnson, a 67-year-old, was last seen in South Austin in September 2022. 26-year-old postal worker Kierra Coles vanished after withdrawing money at an ATM in Cottage Grove. 14-year-old Naomi Algarin was last seen in the 3700 block of West Diversey Avenue around 10 p.m. last December.

"I think the reason cases of Black women, girls and fem-identifying people aren't being taken seriously by investigators is because our nation has a history of running off the exploitation of our people." DePaul junior Mikyhia Worsham said.

"The little airtime we do get is mostly spent defaming our character, falling back on harmful and outdated stereotypes, or watering down our stories for the easy consumption of the white palette.”

Despite missing black children comprising more than 35% of missing

children's cases, in the FBI's database as of 2015, they approximate only 7% of media references.

"Until the day comes that white people are no longer the majority in fields like entertainment, media, politics and business … BIPOC women and fem folk will never receive the same attention that white women do," Worsham said.

Additionally, a report published by Georgetown Law Center found that adults perceive Black girls between the ages of five to 19 as "less innocent" and "more adult-like" compared to their white peers.

The study uncovered that the "adultification" of Black girls causes less empathy from adults, projection of harmful stereotypes and harsher punishment from figures of authority.

More likely to be labeled as runaways by law enforcement, Black women and girls are prone to receiving less attention and resources such as Amber Alerts which require proof of abduction or that the child is in immediate danger of severe harm or death.

Gaétane Borders, President and CEO of Peas in their Pods, an Atlanta-based nonprofit committed to giving a voice to missing children of color and their families, believes it’s attain -

able for missing children of color to receive the same publicity and attention as their white counterparts.

"Statistics and figures don't lie, and the reports are indicating that more than 40%of individuals that go missing are of color, but it doesn't align with what we're seeing being represented,” Borders said. “If you were to walk the streets right now and tell them [people] there was money on the line if they could name one missing person of color, let alone three or five, they wouldn't be able to do it."

Borders advocacy began one year after Peas in their Pod's 2008 foundation, after communicating with a parent whose boyfriend recently abducted her three children.

"While I was talking to this woman, my daughter pulled up to my knee, and she's looking at me in the eye while this woman is screaming, 'why won't anybody help me,’" Borders said.

"No one would help her … that's when I realized it wasn't a beeline … that the police didn’t always help."

Rooted in bringing awareness to both active and cold cases, the nonprofit provides free services to families of the missing.

From alert system activations, social media campaigns and organizations of search groups, Peas in their Pod offers immediate action to families and individuals in need.

"The most heartbreaking piece for me is the cold cases, because when the news does report on these [missing person] cases, the news wants recent cases," Borders said.

"When we work with families that have cold cases, we encourage them to continue. You cannot stop. You have to still push the police department to keep the cases open and advocate."

Lakeisha Gray-Sewell, founder and executive director of Chicago-based nonprofit Girls Like Me, illustrated the media's power in bringing attention and resources to the cases of missing Black women and girls.

"There's no educator who compares to the press,” Gray-Sewell said.

“It is the entity that perpetuates stereotypes and stigma. It is also the entity that erases people. The more of us who are able to tell stories to raise awareness and amplify these missing Black girls’ names and stories, then the more we can interrupt the negative stereotypes."

Focused on helping adolescent African American girls deconstruct and overcome stigma and harmful stereotypes, Girls Like Me aims to educate and generate social change in society's treatment of Black girls.

Furthermore, Girls Like Me emphasizes the names and faces of missing women and girls in Chicago.

Other organizations, legislation, and policy working toward increased awareness and resources, such as a task force dedicated to bringing justice to murdered and missing women in Chicago, are also featured on the site.

"What we know is it doesn't matter when something happened,” GraySewell said. “What matters is if you keep the story alive.”

While many may feel powerless to make a difference or bring attention to cold cases, Gray-Sewell and Borders suggest staying up to date on what is happening in your community and sharing information concerning missing-person cases on social media.

However, Gray-Sewell cautions against over-sensationalizing families' losses — a perpetual risk within a true crime-obsessed society.

"People deserve dignity,” GraySewell said.

“They deserve to not be erased or for their stories to be erased and people also deserve closure. So even if it happened 20 years ago, we know that with more attention and resources things can possibly be solved."

Chinatown: An affordably charming cultural hub

By Logan SriharatSa

At the intersection of Cermak and Wentworth, a giant paifang transports visitors from the busy lakeside metro of Chicago to a more eastern Asian neighborhood, one where aromatic scents fill the air and colorful architecture houses many different restaurants and stores.

Located 20 minutes south of the Fullerton L stop, nestled on the edge of the South Loop Area, Chicago’s Chinatown remains a cultural enclave for both residents and tourists who wish to enjoy East Asian culture.

Among the many restaurants, stores, parks and art, Chinatown has a lot to offer to everyone.

“I love living in Chinatown, I can always find something new to do around here,” said Chinatown resident Josephine DiMeglio. “The only downfall is that the whole neighborhood is always busy, even during the weekdays. For people new to Chinatown, I’d suggest going to Chiu Quon Bakery and Strings Ramen, both good in this chilly weather.”

DiMeglio had lived in Lakeview and River North before living in Chinatown but cites it as her favorite neighborhood to live in so far.

“Honestly, my favorite thing to do in Chinatown is just walk around,” DiMeglio said. “Just walking around admiring the neighborhood’s beauty, maybe grab a bite to eat somewhere I haven’t tried. It’s just a nice breath of fresh air to not be somewhere so stale and Midwestern.”

Gift shops doubling as home goods stores, mom and pop shops, museums and novelty stores that

sell tons of cute plushies are all within walking distance in Chinatown. Every day, the neighborhood is bustling with business, people dropping by for a quick bite or tourists admiring the looming concrete buildings while walk - ing down Wentworth.

Among the many stores available in the area, both Miniso and EK Houseware & Gifts receive consistent

business with their focus on selling aesthetically pleasing and cute items such as plushies, figurines and a variety of home goods. Both stores add a modern twist to home good items.

Restaurants like Joy Yee, Dolo and Veggie House follow this trend as well, adding modern twists to classic Chinese dishes.

Restaurants like the Triple Crown Restaurant, Pho Café and Xi’an Cuisine remain staples of the neighborhood, providing a consistent output of classic Asian dishes such as pho and northern Chinese flatbreads.

“I always go to Veggie House when I’m visiting Chinatown, their vegetarian-only food is too good to pass up on,” said Columbia student Hannah Banwell. “Then, I usually just grab some boba and walk around. There are a couple of nice parks around here with some cool scenery and views. When I’m here with my friends we usually go look at plushies or go to the K-Pop store.”

Among the parks in the Chinatown neighbor - hood, Ping Tom Memorial Park is one of the most well known in the area. Just a short walk from Cermak and Wentworth, Ping Tom Memorial Park

is a transformed railyard that is right along the Chicago River. It features a playground, Chinese landscape design elements, plenty of open green area and a view of the Chicago skyline. Combined with the old rail yard relics that remain around the park, this park is one of the most beautiful in Chicago.

“There is a lot to do at Chicago’s Chinatown,” said DePaul International Student Saeed Almheri. “It is a big part of Chicago and there is always something for everyone. Authentic diners, delicious boba tea, supermarkets, traditional medicine etc. I like to think of it as a cool outdoor mall, and I usually hang out with my friends there. Even just walking around is pretty fun.”

Chinatown remains extremely accessible through both the red and orange line trains and buses despite seeming far when you live out west or north of the loop. Visiting Chinatown remains a great cultural experience that is available to everyone. There is a lot to do if you are willing to spend some money, if not, it’s a great place to walk around and enjoy the sights.

LUCAS PAREDES | THE DEPAULIA

Built in 1975 and modeled after the walls of Beijing the Chinatown gateway stands at the corner of Cermak and Wentworth marking the entrace into the community.

Contributing Writer

LUCAS PAREDES | THE DEPAULIA

The Cermak-Chinatown Red Line stop is located roughly 20 minutes from the Fullerton stop.

LUCAS PAREDES | THE DEPAULIA Approximately 53,000 residents live in the Chinatown neighborhood.

LUCAS PAREDES | THE DEPAULIA The Pui Tak Center building on Wentworth highlights Chinatown's unique style of architecture.

Spring Broke: A student’s guide to inexpensive spring break travel

By JuLiet DiPa Dova Contributing Writer

Finals week is here, and so is the impulse to pack our bags and get as far away from school as humanly possible.

Every year, approximately 1.5 million students travel for spring break. According to a 2020 survey conducted by LendingTree.com, 22% of student-loan borrowers admitted to taking out more loans than they needed to fund their spring break trips.

With a few tips and tricks, traveling this spring break can still be fun without breaking the bank.

Plan ahead

“When students approach me with questions, their initial questions are more rose-colored,” said Cara Miller, DePaul study abroad advisor. “They have a kinda romantic view of travel, but then it starts to dawn on them that money is very important.”

Once you have zeroed in on a destination, Miller urges students to do in-depth research on the location. This will give you an idea of how much money you should budget out. Miller also suggests choosing locations that have a lower cost of living than Chicago so that your dollar can stretch further.

“Learn about the place that you're going to because then you're gonna have a sense of ‘oh yeah, this is how much it costs for a cup of coffee,’, or ‘this is how much it costs for a meal out at a restaurant,’” said Miller said.

Miller recommends LonelyPlanet.com, a publication company that posts articles about travel destinations in the U.S. and abroad, linking resources to top restaurants, shopping and other attractions.

Another piece of the planning includes creating a budget. Miller recommends that students establish a daily allowance.

“Take the amount of money you have and divide it by the number of days of your trip to give yourself a daily allowance,” said Miller said. “ For example, ‘I can only spend $20 a day, and you know what? Today I only spent $10, which means tomorrow I get to spend

$30,.’ or ‘Today I spent $50 so I can't spend anything tomorrow.’”

Amy Vasilopoulos, 22-year-old College of DuPage graduate who is currently in Ecuador on a work exchange program, says that she budgets her money by not withdrawing more than she needs.

“I like to go to the bank and get the amount of currency I plan to need,” said Vasilopoulos said. “What I have is all I've got, and I try to use it wisely.”

Flights

Flights are oftentimes the largest expenditure when planning a trip.

Caroline Storey, DePaul sSenior who has traveled to Scotland and Ireland and has done road trips within the U.S., recommends using Skiplagged.com to book cheap flights.

Skiplagged is a flight search engine that allows you to book a flight beyond where you actually want to go. For example, maybe you want to book a flight from Chicago to Orlando but the fares are pricey. Skiplagged can find a cheaper flight from Chicago to Miami with a layover in Orlando. You would book the flight to Miami but get off at the layover.

“It’s not illegal and not unethical because

you’re still buying the flight,” said Storey said.

Miller recommends the website studentuniverse.com that sells flights at student rates.

Although these websites are generally safe, Miller warns students to keep an eye out for scams.

“On the internet, you don’t know who is writing this stuff,” said Miller said. “A big red flag is if a website is trying to get money from you. You don't need to spend unnecessary money on a service that you could do on my own for free.”

Miller also encourages students to not shy away from layovers if they have the flexibility.

“Something I used to do in my twenties was take multiple planes,” said Miller said. “One time I wanted to go to Rome and coming home was Rome to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to London, and London, back to Chicago. It took forever to get home but it was a very cheap flight.”

Alternative accommodations

“There’s never any shame in asking friends to sleep at their place if you are going somewhere where you know someone,” said Storey. “It’s very town and country to be like ‘you need to bring a gift for them,’ but it’s a nice gesture.”

Funnies off Jackson

If you do not have a friend at your destination, Miller suggests that trying out a youth hostel is not only a cheap accommodation, but a way to meet like-minded travelers.

“Staying at a youth hostel is a very cheap way to find accommodation,” said Miller said. “I've stayed at Hostels International in Australia, Paris, and Japan, and typically you're gonna find 10 or 15 bunk beds in a room and a set of lockers. There’s usually communal showers and kitchens.”

Miller says the price of a youth hostel will vary based on the location, but on average one night costs around $30.

Although hostels are based on an idea of community and considered a safe option, Storey recommends that anyone staying in a hostel share their location with their loved ones.

On vacation, grocery stores exist

If you are staying at a hostel, Airbnb or a friend’s place, chances are you have access to at least a fridge and a microwave.

According to a 2022 study by Gobankrates.com, 45% of the 1,037 respondents reported that they spent more than expected on dining while on vacation. This was the largest category of overspending in the survey, surpassing flight fares, accommodations, and activities.

“I think the main [mistake] is when people assume you’ll be eating at a restaurant every night, or just assuming that it’s taken care of,” said Storey said. “The best way to do it is to get groceries and cook [for] yourself.”

Avoid Uber

The costs of Uber rides to and from your accommodation to all the activities you have planned for the day will tally up quickly. Public transportation is a simple fix.

“Try the public transit system,” Miller said. “Iit can help you get places very quickly and more efficiently.”,” said Miller.

However, Miller believes that nothing beats the power of walking.

“I think walking through a city is one of the best things because then you really see it,” said Miller said. “You observe things. You take things in.”

YÙ YÙ BLUE | THE DEPAULIA

'Return to Seoul:'

Trojan horse of disappointment

By CLaire tweeDie Staff Writer

In “Return to Seoul,” this is what our main character Freddie (Park Ji-min) is branded as by her boss, remarking on her Korean ethnicity but French nationality. For a movie born from themes of identity, loss and abandonment, this quickly forgotten term is simply meant to tell audiences exactly what Freddie is when analyzing her cultural identities. A Trojan horse of cultures with nothing inside to make her feel whole.

However, “Return to Seoul” is its own Trojan horse — a facade of “deeper” meaning behind snobbish themes discovered to be hollow after an excruciating two-hour runtime.

The French film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and opened at the Music Box Theatre on March 3. The plot follows Freddie, a 25-year-old adoptee who grew up in France but visits South Korea to find her biological parents. Attempting to discover what identity means across nation borders and cultural divides, the resulting film is nothing but a mess of timelines and motives.

With so little substance to cling onto, all you can do is stare hopelessly at Park’s performance. She thankfully captures viewers immediately with her extroverted juvenility, making lively happenings from mundane situations. Considering the audience unravels Freddie’s intentions alongside her own internal battle of self discovery, having a likable protago -

nist to follow, at least in the beginning, makes the first 30 minutes bearable.

There is little logic behind any of Freddie’s relationships, especially with Tena, played by Guka Han, whose friendship appears to be thrown together by happenstance. Yet, this fallacy makes it easier to fall into the plot. Like Tena, you cannot help but want the best for Freddie, even if that means letting curiosity cloud your judgment on what Freddie wants for herself. Her repeated resistance against any contact with her biological parents despite Tena’s insistence is disregarded, instead used to advance a plot dragging its feet when moving in any direction.

Eventually, Freddie’s gradual mistreatment of those around her as a misguided response to her own anger pulls you out of the narrative. There is no longer a protagonist to root for in the devoid landscape, leaving you empty and want -

ing for a fulfilling ending that will never come.

Foggy landscapes and dreary scenery set the tone for a disconnected film that seemingly holds no warmth. Amid so much overwhelming sadness and discomfort, there is not enough humor or love to alleviate the unpleasantness, apart from the one-off scenes of Freddie carelessly dancing, FaceTiming her adoptive mother and energetic party scenes.

The themes of abandonment and family are thrown in your face throughout, seen in every facet of Park’s performance and every line of overly dramatic dialogue. The general idea behind the narrative is sound enough, an adoptee trying to find belonging in the world. When the execution of something that could be beautiful and moving is done so poorly though, all you can do is scoff at the audacity of their attempt.

The camera work is a bright spot as

the only decisive movement in the film. It is precise, constantly moving around or with Freddie, successfully grounding our protagonist among unfamiliar settings for both herself and viewers alike. There is no satisfying happy ending. You could argue there is no real ending outside of the bare-bones technical meaning of the word based on the minimal character growth and lack of momentous plot. The ending falls exactly as the previous two hours do, flat with nothing to show for it.

What could have been a touching story of belonging is instead an overdone, unloved story about nothing. “Return to Seoul” disappoints more than it delights and with so much wasted potential, you cannot help but feel your own sense of abandonment from a narrative that never seems to care.

PHOTO FROMM SONY

Director Davy Chou's latest drama stars Ji-Min Park as Freddie as she searches for her biological parents.

St.Vincent’s

D e JAMZ

“Spinning freSh beatS Since 1581”

By PatriCK SLoan-turner & una CLeary

Managing Editor & Focus Editor

Kiss us, we're awesome. This week’s DeJamz comes from The DePaulia’s very own Irish-persons in residence, Una and Patrick. Though it’s been a minute since either of us have been to mass, we’re still more than qualified to put together a playlist in homage to the Patron Saint of Being Rad™. So if you’re unsure of what to play this St. Patty’s Day, think about playing some of these jamz that are near and dear to our kelly green hearts.

“Black Velvet Band”-The DublinersUna Brown bread, black irish pudding and barry's tea filled the table of my grandmother's house every morning as she simultaneously was planning a dinner with my 30 cousins, 20 aunts and uncles. My grandmother always left the door open on those hot, sticky days in Yonkers, New

York as neighbors came in and out with Black Velvet Band playing surrounding the walls of the house. As a young girl, those two weeks spent in Yonkers every summer with my family listening to Black Velvet Band and other Irish ballads was an oasis in a time of happiness and love, spent at the Irish diner Rory Dohlans and playing baseball at Tibbets Park. Listening to Black Velvet Band will always remind me of those precious moments spent with my grand mother, a mother of nine children, an Irish immigrant at the age of 16, and the strongest woman I know.

“The Tain” – The DecemberistsPadraig

Though not exactly a background party track for gulping down some green beer on St. Patty’s, I’d be remiss to not mention Colin Meloy’s (how’s that for an Irish name?) “The Tain.” The 18-minute track, based on “Táin Bó Cúailnge,” the Irish mythological epic written around 630 A.D., is laid out in five parts, each paying homage to a tale in the famous Irish chronicle. Like

Crossword

all of my songs on this list, it’s technically American, but still, Meloy masterfully does his usual thing, only this time with our little island across the Atlantic in mind. Using brashly droll lyrics like “salty little pisser” to refer to Irish Queen Medb and later announces the epic’s most famous character, Cú Chulainn with a waltz. Side note: I recommend looking up Cú Chulainn a.k.a. the Hound of Ulster. He’s like an Irish Hercules mixed with The Hulk.

“Come on Eileen”-Dexys Midnight Runners - Una

Nothing is more humbling than a teenage boy taking the phone from your hands because you played “Come on Eileen” on aux at a party, an experience that has shaped the course of my life. While Playboi Carti’s Sky may get the 16-year-old boys riled up, nothing can compare to the utter masterpiece and release of teenage angst that is “Come on Eileen.” The build-up that leads to a release of the chorus feels like an eternal happy moment in time. “Come on Eileen” is a perfect song to blast in your childhood room as

ACROSS

I) Spanish dwelling

5)_ myrtle

10) Ship's post

14) Unknown quote source, for short

15) Edmonton pro

16) Asian housemaid

17) Thirty-twocard game

18) Lasting impressions

19) "Batman" cartoonist Bob

20) Some quick breakfast orders

23) Capital of Rhone

24) Regular writing

25) Carpenters' grooves

28) Helen of_

30) " ... and make it fast!"

3 I ) Expressed awe

33) Blooming loop

36) It's indexed?

40) Sailor's "yes"

41) Attempts at waist removal?

42) Perfect, as one's skills

43) What wavy lines in comics represent

44) Keeps smiling

46) Hindu sage

49) Shish_

51) Bogus monetary unit

57) Stir up sediment

58) Abdominal ailment

59) It can be good, bad or bright

60) Place for a lighthouse

61) Say "I'm thinkin'," e.g.

62) Ardor

63) Exterminator's quarry

64) Lions' prides?

65) Tear with force

you get ready for school, to play on the train platform of the L as get ready to take on your day, and most importantly to play at a party as the pubescent boys yell, “who’s on aux, turn that sh** off!

“I’m Shipping Up to Boston” – Dropkick Murphys - Paddy I know. It’s pretty on the nose. It’s got to be the most over-played song at any St. Patty’s Day shindig, but you’re going to sit there and tell me that familiar riff doesn’t get your blood pumping every March 17? It gets me hyped and I’m not going to apologize for that. Though it’s technically American, hearing this banger (and mashed) after a couple shots of Jameson always makes me feel like getting into a scrap with some occupying Brits. Rest in pieces, Queen Lizzie.

DOWN

I) Playbill listing

2) Egyptian life symbol

3) Emulate eagles

4) Range rover

5) Earth and beyond

6) Poisonous protein in castor beans

7) Thicke and Rickman

8) South American nation

9) Prefix for "while"

10) Place to buy

pies

11) Insect's adult stage

12) Tart flavors

13) The ones here

21) Seeing_ dog

22) Lyrical poem

25) Computer input

26) Like an uncleaned hearth

27) It might begin

"Bet you can't!"

28) Not that

29) Make go "vroom"

3 l) Legal hearing

32) Frequently, to

Shakespeare

33) "Land of a million elephants"

34) Fish-eating bird

35) "Beware the_ of March"

37) Murphy of Hollywood

38) Condensed lifetime account

39) More plump

43) Common breakfast dish

44) Lowers in esteem

45) Damage, as a surface

46) "77 Sunset_"

4 7) Question of possession

48) Hard seed coverings

49) Anne or Calvin of fashion

50) Escape detection

52) Per_ expenses

53) Earthenware jar

54) Run at the light

55) Trimmed of fat

56) Attain, as a job

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIKI

Online

MSOC kicks off spring friendlies against pro club Forward Madison FC

By Patrick Sloan-Turner Online Managing Editor

MADISON, Wisc. – Several longtime staples of DePaul’s men’s soccer team departed following the conclusion of the 2022 season last fall. Since then, head coach Mark Plotkin and staff have been tasked with filling key roles on field.

On Saturday, the Blue Demons traveled to Madison, Wisconsin for a friendly match with United Soccer League (USL) League One club, Forward Madison, to see how the new roster would fare. DePaul fell 3-0 against the pro club, whose team includes players 10 years senior to Plotkin’s squad, but the Demons learned some things about themselves in the frigid matchup at Breese Stevens Field.

“For us, it’s about, you know, having perspective and understanding where we are,” Plotkin said. “And also, it’s about us playing against a professional team and seeing how far off we are and how close our guys are to this [level of] competition.”

Saturday’s game, which was closed to the public, featured new starters at the fullback positions for DePaul, as left back Jake Fuderer and right back David Gripman played their final game for the Blue Demons in November. Freshman Alex Peters started at right back, while senior Kristian Malinich played at the left back spot.

Peters showed some inexperience in his first game on DePaul’s back line, as two Forward Madison goals came from the right side of the defense, showing Plotkin that is a position he and his staff will need to focus on.

“It’s definitely a spot that we know that we’re searching for the answer at,” Plotkin said. “We’ve tried a bunch of guys … and it’s just an area that we’ll have to see who’s going to step up.”

At the other side of the backline, Malinich played with poise, regularly contributing in buildup on the left wing and out-pac-

ing opposing attackers in defense.

While the Demons were not happy with the final score, there were some bright spots for players who are taking on new roles. Freshman winger Felipe Corral saw a significant increase in minutes on Saturday. The speedy attacker had a mix of playing time as a substitute and starter last fall, but played most of the match against Forward Madison.

Corral said he is focused on becoming more of a contributor for DePaul next season and becoming the kind of attacker that will create havoc for opponents in the final third of the field.

“I’m still fairly new — it’s my first year — I’m just trying to get settled in and learn and develop,” Corral said. “I think definitely I’m trying to take on a bigger responsibility and be that guy who puts the ball in the goal for us.”

Corral, who scored his first career goal against UIC last season, showed his talent against Forward Madison on Saturday. In an impressive sequence at left wing, Corral found a seam on the counterattack in the opponent’s back line and received a nice through ball after the intelligent run into the box.

One-on-one with the Madison defender, Corral created space with an impressive stepover and fired a shot towards the net. The shot was blocked and ricocheted out to Corral’s teammate, sophomore midfielder Colin Mackey, but the sequence showed Corral’s ability to create chances against an opponent of significant talent. Last season, DePaul struggled to find goals at times, and Corral could be a key piece in improving the team’s offensive ability.

For the team’s leader on the pitch, graduate midfielder Michael Anderson, Saturday proved a good opportunity for players who are fighting to fill vacancies left by departing players.

“I mean, there’s definitely people on this

team fighting for spots, whether that’d be at forward or on our backline,” Anderson said. “I think you learn a lot in terms of gaining experience against a professional team who’s very quality on the ball.”

For context, a pro club like Forward Madison is a team of higher quality than DePaul is used to seeing. The 3-0 score might not reflect some of the more impressive performances by the Demons. Senior midfielder Jacob Huth cleverly created a handful of opportunities in buildup through the middle, junior standout goalkeeper Ghandi Cruz made a few impressive saves and junior midfielder Cade Hagen touted some controlled touches against Madison defenders.

In one sequence, Hagen showed skill when he escaped a scrum of three surrounding defenders during a build up in the mid-

dle of the field.

In particular, Plotkin said that his two center midfielders showed they have the quality to compete with players like those on Madison’s roster.

“Huth and [Anderson] showed that they can play at this level,” Plotkin said. “And hopefully, being able to be seen by these guys for 90 minutes, gives them a chance to play at the next level.”

Saturday’s match was the first of five spring friendlies. On Friday, April 7, the Demons will play UIC at the Bridgeview dome before traveling to East Lansing, Michigan on April 15 for a game against Michigan State. Then, DePaul hosts Loyola-Chicago on April 22 and will follow up that match with a game in Evanston against Northwestern on April 28.

Return to March within reach for women in 2024

By Preston Zbroszczyk Asst. Sports Editor

Doug Bruno and DePaul finished with an underwhelming 16-17 record, following DePaul’s season finale loss to Villanova on March 4. But as the focus shifts to next season, what is next for the Demons?

Expectations are always high when it comes to any Bruno-led team. In his 37 seasons of coaching the Blue Demons, DePaul has been to 25 NCAA tournaments.

Through the multiple obstacles and questions, this season was definitely challenging for DePaul. As the team grew and learned to play with each other, this only pointed to how capable this team could be next season when they can put it all together.

With sophomore Aneesah Morrow’s incredible freshman season, she was yet again the focal point of this Blue Demon team.

From start to finish, there were plenty of unknowns for DePaul. They introduced four freshmen and two transfers after losing seven impactful players from the 2021-22 season.

“You have to reestablish yourself every season,” Bruno said. “But we run a program here that expects to be in the NCAA tournament every year.”

DePaul started the season 1-2, dropping games against mid-major conference teams like NIU and Cleveland State.

At the beginning of the season, Bruno said that Morrow would have to play an entirely different role due to the fact that this team was not the same from her freshman

season and that teams had more film on her game.

Wrapping up her sophomore season, Morrow adjusted and brought new components to her game. She brought up her scoring from last season to 25 points per game.

Morrow averaged another double-double, adding 25 more to her total from last season in her sophomore campaign.

Morrow reached new heights against Northwestern and Cleveland State, scoring 41 and 45 points, both career-highs.

“It’s a really important part for me,” Mor-

row said. “Coach Bruno always talks about playing to my strengths, and I want to make the three point shot one of my strengths.”

After picking up its best win of the season against Maryland to open the Fort Myers tournament, DePaul closed out its nonconference schedule with a five-game win streak.

Everything changed when the Big East portion of the schedule began. The conference divided itself and figured out who could hang around with who.

Bruno’s squad was projected to rank No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll, tied with Se-

ton Hall.

But DePaul finished seventh in the conference, with just a short window of success in the Big East Tournament with its first round win over Providence and nearly upsetting Villanova in the second round.

For the first time since 1997-98, Bruno finished with a losing season as head coach of the Blue Demons. He also had his team on its first ever four-game streak in Big East play.

As for next season, things look brighter. Morrow and DePaul’s second leading scorer, Darrione Rogers, return for another season.

The new recruiting class features a pair of Illinois natives. A top-50 player in the country, Lisa Thompson from Joliet, Illinois, will bring more depth to the front court — so will Nazareth Academy guard Grace Carstensen, who recently won a state title for La Grange, Illinois High School.

The Blue Demons will lose a vital member to their scoring and a spark plug this past season. Senior Keke Rimmer, who led DePaul’s scoring off the bench, came into this season with hopes to get time on the court following her injuries in her junior season.

“Being able to take my leadership and knowledge from Coach Bruno to cheer on my sisters from the bench, and now applying that on the court changed my whole perspective,” Rimmer said.

As the off-season continues, more and more recruits will finalize their new destination. For Bruno and his squad, getting back to a familiar setting of playing in March will be the primary goal.

PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | THE DEPAULIA Freshman winger Felipe Corral (24) attempts a tackle against Forward Madison FC on Saturday in DePaul’s friendly match. DePaul lost 3-0 to the USL League One pro team.

Sophomore Aneesah Morrow readies to shoot a free throw in DePaul’s win over Butler on Feb. 8.

COLLIN FEASTER | THE DEPAULIA

Uphill battle: Hockey Club’s difficult quest for varsity status

By Juliet DiPadova

Contributing Writer

Despite the DePaul Hockey Club being one of DePaul’s most successful athletic teams, becoming the university’s 16th NCAA team might not be in its game plan.

The team competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) which, according to the league’s website, houses 461 colleges and university-affiliated teams in 48 states and two Canadian provinces. The site states it “provides a structure, regulates operations and promotes the sport of Hockey nationwide.”

As of now, there is not much talk within DePaul’s Athletic Department about the hockey club becoming NCAA recognized anytime soon.

“Currently, DePaul is focused on providing funding for its existing 15 sports at a level consummate with Big East Conference peers,” said Taylor Stapleton, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Revenue Generation and Strategic Initiatives. “We must continue to invest in our current facilities and operating budgets to reflect our competitive standards and allow us to recruit and retain high-caliber student-athletes across every sport.”

For DePaul hockey to reach varsity status quickly, a wealthy donor would need to back the program, which head coach Dan Wood said is what happened to Penn State University (PSU). In 2010, PSU received $88 million, left the ACHA and built a whole new facility.

DePaul Hockey currently rents ice time at Johnny’s IceHouse West, located at 2550 W. Madison St. The arena is just 15 minutes from the DePaul’s Loop campus and fans have consistently filled the bleachers throughout the season as the team grows in success.

However, Wood said that if DePaul were to implement an NCAA hockey team, it most likely would not override the current club.

“Historically, what has happened is

as the team moves to Division I, they still keep their club team around,” said Wood.

Currently, Illinois has no Division I hockey teams despite producing the fifth-

DePaul Center 333 South State St.

most Division I men’s hockey players in the nation, according to NCAA.com.

“There’s a lot of players that come out of Illinois that are playing college Division I hockey and going to the NHL, and there’s no Illinois Division I team,” said Asher Motew, DePaul Hockey Club goalie and team president. “I think that DePaul definitely has merit.”

Motew said that most people do not realize how competitive the ACHA is, and that some of his teammates have the talent to play Division I hockey, which they proved out on the ice this season.

The team won the Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) playoff championship on Feb. 10 for the first time in its history and qualified for regionals where its season came to an end after a 6-4 loss against the University of Iowa.

Wood said the team is just now gaining traction in the ACHA and many top programs are reaching out wanting to schedule games. Still, there has been no talk within the program about playing in the NCAA.

While DePaul might have the talent to play at that level, remaining a club sport has its advantages too. Club status attracts dedicated players to the program while teaching players life skills to apply on and off the ice.

“Everybody in the ACHA is playing hockey because they want to play and they’re paying to play on top of their tuition,” said Wood. “That’s the reason why we’re so successful this year is we’ve got a bunch of guys that care.”

are hiring, please inquire on site.

ACHA teams do not receive scholarship funding for student athletes like NCAA teams do, which attracts players who are passionate about hockey and willing to do the work necessary to keep the program alive.

“No one’s making us play, and we’re

not getting scholarships,” said Motew. “We’re playing for the love of the game, and I think that’s what differentiates us.”

Some of the costs associated with maintaining a club hockey team include paying for ice time to hold games and practices, paying for referees and funding travel costs for away games.

Most of these costs are covered by fundraising and sponsorships that are player-led and organized, as well as player dues which add up to $2,500+ per player.

“We streamed our games this year with ads from our sponsors, we hand out program guides that have all of our sponsors in a nice booklet, we did fundraising events like cancer nights and Greek nights,” Motew said. “We get creative to try and raise money.”

This season, the team raised $30,000 through fundraising alone.

“You’re essentially running a nonprofit as a 19, 20, 21-year-old,” Wood said. “An NCAA team would not be student led.”

If the DePaul Hockey Club were to become NCAA recognized, paid positions would substitute the marketing, advertising and coordinating roles of the student athletes.

According to NCAA.com, only about 7% of NCAA hockey players are drafted into the NHL and the percentage for ACHA players is even slimmer. Most ACHA players will become professionals in other fields after graduation, so having a degree backing their future is crucial, and having experience in leading a student organization is only to their benefit.

“It’s important for me that they get what they need from the school and grow as hockey players and as people,” said Wood.

CHRISTINA HAMMERSMITH | THE DEPAULIA Asher Motew (front) leads his teammates to the ice in DePaul’s 5-3 win over Concordia on Jan. 27. The hockey team finished its season 23-7.

What now?

Men’s lackluster season comes to a disheartening end

By Tom Gorski Sports Editor

It’s back to the drawing board as DePaul flew back from New York facing disappointment and heartbreak after its season came to a disheartening end, losing 89-84 to Xavier in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament on March 9.

For a roster in the midst of an overhaul, where does the program go from here?

“I’m proud of these guys and their fight and being a resilient bunch,” head coach Tony Stubblefield said. “These guys went through a lot of adversity throughout the course of this year, and they could have gave into it a lot, dealing with all the injuries that we had and things that happened to our team. It wasn’t what we envisioned it to be over the course of the summer and even in the fall, but these guys really stuck with it.

Injuries are the story of the 2022-23 season as Stubblefield had a completely healthy team for just four games, two of which being in the Big East Tournament against Seton Hall and Xavier.

Junior guard Caleb Murphy suffered a wrist injury prior to the season that side-

MBB, continued from back page

battle.

“I thought we played well enough to win the game,” Stubblefield said. “I think the biggest discrepancy was we won in a lot of areas but we didn’t get to the [free throw] line enough. They shot 27 free throws and we shot seven. There’s a difference of 20 free throws there. Just didn’t get to the line enough and that’s one area where we got beat.”

The first half may have been DePaul’s strongest of the season, shooting nine of 10 to open the game and take a 21-14 lead. The Blue Demons’ lead reached as high as 13 points, which resulted in the team heading into halftime with an improbable 49-40 advantage.

DePaul had nearly a flawless performance offensively in the first half, shooting 69% from the field and 70% from three.

“We were really focused on getting

lined him for months. Senior center Nick Ongenda also suffered a wrist/hand injury that required surgery days before the team’s opener against Loyola (MD).

Ongenda missed a majority of the year but made his return during the final stretch of the regular season, having a significant impact on DePaul’s two tournament games. Ongenda’s game winning block against Seton Hall may go down as one of the program’s most dramatic finishes in recent memory.

As of now, the team has two recruits committed for the upcoming season, which include 7-foot three-star center Babacar Mbengue and JUCO transfer forward Keyondre Young from Triton College.

Babacar was ranked as the No. 19 center in the 2023 class by 247sports.com and is a native of Senegal, where he played with the national team in the 2020 FIBA U18 African Championship.

“Babacar [Mbengue] is a really talented young player with an incredible amount of potential,” Stubblefield said. “He has developed a lot over the last year or so and we are looking forward to getting him on campus and continuing his growth. He is a strong physical presence inside and has

stops more than anything because we were playing good offensively,” Johnson said of the team’s first half performance. “We were just trying to buckle down and get stops.”

Gibson was the star of the first half for the Blue Demons against Xavier, scoring 13 points, highlighted by five 3-pointers. Before fouling out, Gibson ended his final collegiate game with 22 points and six assists, while shooting four for six from beyond the arc and a plus minus of six.

Gibson finished his accomplished collegiate career with 428 3-pointers, ranking 15th in NCAA Division I basketball history.

Xavier bounced back in the second half, outscoring DePaul 49-35 while holding the Demons to a 17% shooting performance from beyond the arc. Around the 16-minute mark, the Musketeers went on a 5-0 run that set the tone for the remainder of the game and found a way to force Gibson into foul trouble for the Blue Demons.

a desire to keep learning.”

Young played in 25 games this past season for Triton with 16 starts, averaging 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, while shooting 40.1% from the field and 31% from beyond the arc. His best performance of the season was on Feb. 2 against Harry S. Truman College where he scored 25 points and made seven 3-pointers.

“We’re really excited to add Keyondre [Young] next season,” Stubblefield said. “Our staff really values the experience junior college players can bring to our roster and Keyondre is no different.”

Stubblefield and his staff are in line to have a busy offseason as graduate guard Umoja Gibson, graduate forward Javan Johnson, senior’s Eral Penn, Yor Anei, Philmon Gebrewhit and potentially Nick Ongenda are all set to depart.

Ongenda has an extra year of eligibility, but it is unclear if he will return.

Gibson and Johnson were the heart and soul of the Blue Demons this past season and replacing them will be no easy task. Based on how the roster is constructed at this moment, logic suggests that junior guard Murphy and freshman guard Zion Cruz are set to have a bigger role

Even though Xavier only led for two and a half minutes, the team would not go away as DePaul struggled to finish off the Musketeers. A 14-2 run, led by Jones running the offense in crunch time, finished the game for Xavier and put a nail in the coffin of DePaul’s season.

“We just kind of went straight set play, and we called [Jones’] and number quite a bit, not just because of his scoring but, number one, he can get fouled,” Xavier head coach Sean Miller said. “Number two, he’s a very good decision-maker. He can pass the ball and I thought the shots he was getting and we were getting going to him really set us apart and in my mind that was the difference in the game down the stretch.

Xavier’s comeback win over DePaul spoke to the group’s resilience — the team’s nine point halftime deficit was its largest of the season.

“We’re thrilled to still be alive,” Miller said. “I thought that DePaul played a great game. Could have easily lost that

heading into next season.

Jalen Terry and Murphy are the favorites to start in the backcourt in 2023-24, but as a four-star recruit, Cruz could find a spot in the rotation if he takes a step forward in his development.

Junior Da’Sean Nelson is the logical replacement to take over for Johnson at small forward, but a lot could change once the roster is finalized. The coaching staff has a long offseason ahead with plenty of decisions that could make or break the team heading into the new year from a schematic standpoint.

After finishing the season with a 1023 overall record and an abysmal 3-17 Big East record, the lack of growth with a veteran-led team was concerning, but Stubblefield has an opportunity to start a youth movement and grow a core that can develop together as a group.

It’s difficult to say if it will come to fruition, but for the first time in Stubblfield’s coaching career at DePaul, the pressure will be on and if the team does not see a sign of growth of the program moving forward, jobs could potentially be at risk. The time to win is now, not tomorrow, and the fan base, administration and coaching staff are well-aware.

game three, five, 10 times over. But I think the resiliency of our group, the experience of these guys sticking with it and finishing the game that, quite frankly, wasn’t going well for us throughout, it’s a difficult task.”

DePaul’s season did not go as planned, but finding a way to win a tournament game could be seen as a step in the right direction for the program.

Stubblefield is the only coach in program history to win a Big East tournament game their first two seasons as head coach.

“By no means am I happy with the year that we had,” Stubblefield said. “I do think we finished stronger, but I think it helped that we had our entire team. Obviously, I was happy with the outcome that we had [against Seton Hall]. I thought these guys put a great fight up for 40 minutes tonight against a very, very good basketball team, and we’ve got to build upon this and take this to the next level. That’s the reality of this.”

JACK DOMBRO | THE DEPAULIA

Head coach Tony Stubblefield hangs his head after the team suffered a 90-76 loss to UConn on Jan. 31. DePaul lost to Xavier, 89-84 in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals last Thursday night.

Sports

Playing Possessed

Demons leave it all on the floor with valiant effort in Big East Tourney

By Tom Gorski Sports Editor

Through disappointment and bittersweet heartbreak, DePaul’s season ended on somewhat of a high note, winning its first Big East Tournament game since 2020.

Senior Nick Ongenda’s game-winning block against Seton Hall brought the fire and determination back into a team decimated by an injury-plagued season that was nearly minutes away from upsetting No. 15 Xavier at Madison Square Garden Thursday night.

“I’m proud of these guys and their fight and being a resilient bunch,” head coach Tony Stubblefield said. “These guys went through a lot of adversity throughout the course of this year, and they could have gave into it a lot, dealing with all the injuries that we had and things that happened to our team. It wasn’t what we envisioned it to be over the course of the summer and even in the fall, but these guys really stuck with it.”

While the matchup against Xavier likely left a bitter taste in DePaul’s mouth, its battle with Seton Hall ended a 12-game losing streak in an inspiring effort.

Seton Hall

In a season full of heartbreaks and underachievements, DePaul pulled off one of its most dramatic victories of the season, upsetting the Pirates 66-65 at the opening round of the Big East Tournament.

Against the odds in the final minute, a wave of improbable plays kept the Demons’ season alive.

“They easily could’ve given up a couple of times during the course of the game,” head coach Tony Stubblefield said. “These guys really stuck with it and put their heads down and our motto has always been ‘find a way.’ These guys were able to get the job done tonight.”

Wednesday night’s wild victory ended

DePaul’s 12-game losing streak and advanced the team to the second round of the tournament where No. 2 seed Xavier awaits Thursday night.

DePaul set multiple program Big East Tournament records, including the most blocked shots in a tournament game (six) and team three-point percentage (50%).

The final minute of the game is where the chaos started. The Blue Demons trailed the Pirates 63-58, when junior guard Jalen Terry connected with a deep, somewhat desperate three-pointer near the logo at the 41.9 mark, narrowing Seton Hall’s 63-61 lead.

Moments later, Seton Hall senior guard Al-Amir Dawes lost the ball while dribbling up court and bounced it off DePaul junior guard Caleb Murphy. The Blue Demons gained possession and as they stormed down court, senior guard Umoja Gibson lobbed an alley-oop to senior Nick Ongenda, but the center couldn’t convert.

Still in DePaul’s possession, Terry inbounded the ball looking for an open man and found junior Da’Sean Nelson, but Nelson missed a hook shot and Seton Hall gained possession with 18.8 seconds left. Stubblefield elected to foul and Seton Hall converted both free throws to make it a four-point game at 65-61.

Down four with 7.2 seconds left, Gibson caught the inbound pass and dished it down low to Terry who made a layup to bring DePaul’s deficit back to two points with six seconds left.

As Seton Hall looked to inbound, Terry made his third — and most improbable —

big-time play of the final minute.

The Flint, Michigan native stole the inbound pass and dished it back to Gibson, who then threw up a three-pointer. Gibson missed, but a hard foul was called on the play and Gibson was heading to the free throw line with 3.9 seconds remaining. Gibson, calm as could be, connected with all three free throws at the line, giving DePaul a one-point, 66-65 lead.

After Gibson’s free throws, Seton Hall inbounded the ball and raced down court for a final attempt. Pirates’ guard Femi Odukale blew past defenders for a seemingly easy layup to give Seton Hall the win, but Ongenda chased him down and heroically blocked the game-winning shot at the rim as time expired to give DePaul the win.

It was initially called goaltending, but upon review, officials stated it was a clean block and DePaul had taken down Seton Hall.

“I knew it was a block,” Ongenda said with confidence. “They made great plays, but that’s what I do, I block. I block everything, that’s my specialty.”

Ongenda ended the night with four blocks, which moved into fourth place alltime at DePaul with 132 career blocks.

DePaul started the game off strong on the defensive side of the ball, holding Seton Hall to just one point and zero made field goals for nearly four minutes to open the game. The Blue Demons controlled the matchup for the majority of the first half, heading into halftime with a 32-28 lead.

The start of the second half is where Se-

ton Hall started to put things together, going on a 8-0 run after trailing, 35-30. Stubblefield’s defense struggled to stop senior big man Tyrese Samuel as he continuously secured second-chance points attempts for the Pirates, keeping possessions alive with his rebounding efforts.

Samuel ended the night recording 16 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and a block, while shooting five for nine from the field and six for 11 at the free throw line.

During the second half, Seton Hall held DePaul without a field goal for nearly nine minutes straight, but graduate senior Javan Johnson went on a 8-2 run by himself, putting the offense on his back, and ending DePaul’s offensive struggles.

Johnson led the team in scoring with 19 points and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Johnson played the entire 40 minutes of action and connected on five three pointers, single-handedly keeping DePaul’s chances at victory alive.

Xavier

After Wednesday’s win, DePaul faced off with No. 2 seeded Xavier the following day with the winner securing a spot in the semifinals.

DePaul shot the best it has in Big East Tournament history at 61%, making 35 of 57 shots from the field. Still, the record numbers were not enough to overcome Xavier’s success at the free throw line, as the Musketeers made 20 free throws and found a way to win after trailing for more than 36 minutes.

The undersized Blue Demons were only outrebounded by one in the gritty performance, equaling Xavier’s point-inthe-paint total and scoring 19 more bench points than the Musketeers.

Stubblefield could not help but feel disheartened following Thursday night’s

See MBB, Page 27

“We’ve got to build upon this and take this to the next level. That’s the reality of this.”

Tony Stubblefield

DePaul men’s basketball head coach

Graduate forward Yor Anei scrambles for a loose ball in DePaul’s loss to Xavier on March 9 at the Madison Square Garden in round two of the Big East Tournament.

PHOTO COURTESY OF XAVIER ATHLETICS