Softball bows out of Big East Tournament, fails to make NCAA Tournament, page 28.
SGA released its election results last week, find out who the winners are, page 3.
DePaulia
The
Volume #106 | Issue #25 | May 16, 2022 | depauliaonline.com
New president looks to bring fresh vision By Lawrence Kreymer & Nika Schoonover Editor-in-Chief & Print Managing Editor
Robert L. Manuel was comfortable at the University of Indianapolis. He already spent a decade serving as its president and never applied for another job during his time at the university. But when DePaul announced that President A. Gabriel Esteban would be stepping down after the conclusion of the 2021-22 academic year, Manuel became interested with what DePaul can offer as an institution and what he could bring to the table. Eventually, Manuel was nominated for the job by a friend who works at Georgetown. “I feel like I’m at my best at institutions that have faith based connections,” Manuel said in an interview with DePaul student media on Tuesday. “When you are at good institutions — like the University of Indianapolis, and you are doing well in those institutions — you are not applying for lots of jobs.”
KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA
Newly named President Robert Manuel speaks to student media during a press conference on Tuesday. He was previously president at the University of Indianapolis. Manuel ended up applying for DePaul’s presidency vacancy, went through the entire search process and was officially announced as the university’s 13th president
Tuesday morning. He is the university’s second lay president, after Esteban, and grew up in the Episcopal Church, according to Newsline.
Beyond that, he attended Le Moyne College and Georgetown University, both Catholic institutions. In addition, he has served for the past six years as board member at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory High School and participated in multiple immersive religious experiences, including a service trip with the Jesuits to Kenya. “There is unlimited possibility in what could happen here,” Manuel said. “When I went through the kind of search process and I looked at everything, the only thing that is stopping us is a failure of the imagination. The Board of Trustees “unanimously” voted to approve Manuel as DePaul’s next president on April 21, according to a press release. Esteban will officially step down on July 31 and Manuel will step in a day later. On May 11, DePaul held a farewell ceremony for Esteban and his wife, Josephine, at Cortelyou Commons for faculty and staff.
See PRESIDENT, page 9
City crime has DePaul on alert
Diamonds of drag
By Patrick Sloan-Turner & Halie Wingo Staff Writer & Contributing Writer
AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA
Georgia Rising performs at DePaul’s Annual Drag show on May 12. She was crowned the winner after scoring 82 votes against two other finalists.
Students return to DePaul’s annual show after two-year hiatus By Amber Stoutenborough Arts & Life Editor
“Are you nervous?” Adjusting the straps of their holster to align with the rest of the perfectly planned cowboy attire, Sydryl Denila, also known by the stage name Mr. Trans Former, is getting ready for their drag debut. “Of course I am,” they said. “This is my first ever drag performance.” Denila never imagined being a part of this community, but from helping friends out with their performances to now walking the stage themselves, Denila has made strides into the Chicago drag scene, performing as a senior at DePaul’s Drag Show on Friday. “At first I didn’t think I would get into this, but I moved in with a bunch of my friends
who do drag and became the ‘drag daddy’ making sure everyone was fed and had their lash glue,” Denila said. “Then I assisted for one of their performances and loved it, so I thought I would take a shot and try it as just me.” Performing to “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Mr. Trans Former amps up the crowd with their dance number. Denim shorts matched with a cut off red button-up and signature cowboy hat is the first costume for Mr. Trans Former tonight. Denila’s unmistakable drag look, including the high painted cheekbones, plenty of highlight and the trademark drag eye makeup complete the full effect. DePaul hosted its first drag night after a two-year hiatus on May 12. It’s an 11-year tradition planned and coordinated by DePaul’s
LGBTQIA+ Resource Center, Spectrum and QPOC, involving local professional drag artists and a competition between the DePaul drag students for a cash prize and chance to be DePaul’s 2022 Drag Superstar. Mr. Trans Former, along with six other students, are continuing the beloved tradition and maybe further on into the drag world. Room 120AB in the Lincoln Park Student Center looks unrecognizable, decked out with a long runway, decorated tables with light-up balls, colorful strobe lights and a drink station with all the colors of the rainbow. With the DJ blasting club hits, the room once used for freshman orientation looks considerably like a nightclub in Northalsted.
See DRAG, page 21
Freshman Alex Guyton was sitting in his dorm room bed early in the early morning hours of May 6 when a friend and fellow DePaul student FaceTimed him. Guyton’s friend walked down Fullerton Avenue on their way back to the dorms after visiting a friend off-campus. The two spoke to make sure Guyton’s friend safely made it back to the dorms. When the FaceTime call suddenly hung up, Guyton knew something was wrong. “I tried to text them and call them, and nothing was working,” Guyton said. “I started worrying, but since I didn’t know what the situation was, I didn’t want to call 911.” The call hung up because Guyton’s friend was being held at gunpoint. Around 3 a.m., a white sedan pulled up alongside the DePaul student on Fullerton. A passenger exited the vehicle, displayed a handgun and demanded the student’s belongings, before returning to the car and fleeing, according to the incident’s DePaul Public Safety alert. Afterward, Guyton’s friend made it back to their dorm safe and uninjured. Since the traumatic event, each of the two students has increased concern for their own safety. Now, Guyton and his friends often use DePaul Public Safety services when going out at night. If it is dark outside,
See CRIME, page 4