The DePaulia 5.30.23

TheDePaulia

DePaul's dollars

Most recent tax form highlights costly former employees, Covid-19 impact on school

See DOLLARS, page 14

TOP EARNERS

David Leito $1.5 million

Former men’s basketball coach

Jean Lenti-Ponsetto $1.2 million

Former athletic director

Gabriel Esteban $1.1 million

Former president

Total compensation

ENDOWMENT

In FY’21 the endowment peaked at $957 million $818 million

before declining due to Covid-19 market conditions, and is now according to most recent financial data.

FEST FLOMIX

Cannabis studies minor offers social justice perspective

more likely than white people to be arrested for cannabis, according to a 2018 study from the American Civil Liberties Union.

saw the legalization of cannabis in 2018 and quickly became interested in the plant.

Her passion for it though, even driving her goals to work in the cannabis industry after college, lies less in the plant itself and more in the activism behind it. Finn is now pairing her digital marketing major with a minor in cannabis studies, a new program introduced in fall quarter 2022.

DePaul offers a cannabis studies minor as a multidisciplinary program with classes across multiple colleges, including the Driehaus College of Business and the College of Science and Health. The minor requires four core credits, either Cannabis and Society I or Introduction to Cannabis Studies, and 16 elective credits.

“The stigma around cannabis is something that I’ve always wanted to fight,” Finn said. “When I got the opportunity to explore this program at DePaul, it was a way to educate myself about cannabis. I can advocate for it with a more educated and understanding manner about the industry and history of its stigma.”

Donald Opitz, associate professor and director of cannabis studies in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) originated the idea for the cannabis studies program during a leadership retreat for SCPS in the summer of 2019. He was inspired by the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults in Illinois and saw it as an opportunity for an exciting initiative at DePaul.

“We wanted to emphasize questions of social justice across multiple fields,” Opitz said. “We wanted to prepare stu -

dents not just to work in the cannabis business but also inform them across majors about the sociological and political issues that have long surrounded this topic.”

The minor now has 14 faculty members teaching courses for it and nine students, including Finn, enrolled in the program, according to Opitz.

When discussing her minor with students outside of the program though, Finn said she receives mixed reactions. In her experience, some students are hesitant about the topic and idea of drug use and do not know that the minor focuses on the social justice surrounding cannabis.

“[SCPS] is expected to have credentials and programs that are responsive to trends in the work and industries outside of academia,” Opitz said. “I pitched the idea and asked what it would be like for DePaul to create a marketable credential for something like cannabis studies. People who heard that suggestion, which I really meant as a hypothetical, reacted with humor, surprise and also with interest.”

Finn said many students in the cannabis studies classes seem to be excited to learn more about the unique topics presented in these classes.

“There can be a misunderstanding and misconception about what the minor is,” Finn said. “People don't realize that the program pushes social justice because it's not just the drug you're studying. You’re studying its effects and

repercussions on history and communities. In these classes, it's all people that are eager to dive into and discover everything the program has to offer.”

Senior Jonah Jardiel is not minoring in cannabis studies but is taking four courses this quarter in the program. He learned about the minor while looking for classes to take for elective credit and has always been interested in learning about cannabis.

“There is so much potential in every component of the [cannabis] plant,” Jardiel said. “There’s a lot of social and racial injustice in the history of the plant and its legalization so I wanted to expand my own knowledge about it.”

Cannabis studies is centered on the social justice impact of cannabis’ legalization and decriminalization. Opitz said this focus also allows the program to work within DePaul’s Vincentian mission, which helped ease concerns from university leadership about implementing the minor due to the substance concerns.

“Our interest and DePaul’s leadership interests were both on social justice,” Opitz said. “Because we were in agreement from the beginning, we’ve gotten a lot of support from the university for this program.”

The legalization of cannabis for adults over the age of 21 in Illinois went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 yet the state has the third-highest racial disparity in arrests for cannabis possession. In Cook County, Black people are 10 times

“A lot of the negative connotations surrounding cannabis stem from white supremacy and racism in this country,” Jardiel said. “It's crazy for me to see the amount of ignorance people still have about cannabis today in 2023 like what it is and why we view it so negatively.”

Finn is interested in the sustainability of cannabis which the openness of the minor program allows her to explore. For her minor, she is pursuing an independent study to analyze the sustainability efforts in cannabis from the agricultural and business sides of the industry.

“There is so much to discover and such limited research so it's all very exciting,” Finn said. “This is an up and coming industry with so many different avenues for possible careers and growth.”

The cannabis studies program hopes to introduce certifications into its coursework on topics like the legality, business management and medical research of cannabis. This would allow anyone within or outside the DePaul community interested in cannabis studies to receive training in more specialized areas. More classes are also being considered for the minor to cover a wider array of topics about cannabis.

Opitz hopes to eventually consider turning cannabis studies into a major offered at the university that would potentially study other drug and substance uses in society.

“A study of cannabis is relevant to any and all majors,” Opitz said. “The lessons that students walk away with in these classes are transferable because they’re intertwined with so many other fields like history, environmental justice, medical processes and more. Someone that takes a course in cannabis studies is going to get a broad education in the issues embedded in our society.”

“This is an up and coming industry with so many different avenues for possible careers and growth."

Donald Opitz

Associate professor and director of cannabis studies in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies

450

The investigation found that 450 Catholic Clergy members abused children in the state over a seven-decade period from 19502019.

2,000

The investigation found that roughly 2,000 children were abused by clergy in Illinois from 19502019.

12

Among those accused, 12 individuals were affiliated with the Vincentian order.

Four clergy, including 3 Vincentians tied to DePaul named in investigation into Catholic Church abuse

By Lilly Keller Arts & Life Editor

Four separate clergy with past ties to DePaul were listed in a report released by the state’s Attorney General’s office Tuesday, detailing rampant abuse among Catholic clergy in Illinois. Francis J. Murphy, Daniel Schulte, James (Hugh) Austin and Thomas Parrot all served at DePaul University or Saint Vincent de Paul Parish sometime between the 1920s until the 1990s.

The investigation found that 450 Catholic Clergy members abused roughly 2,000 children in the state over a seven-decade period from 1950-2019, according to the 696-page report.

This is more than four times the 103 credibly accused members publicly disclosed when the state first began its investigation in 2018.

Among those accused, 12 individuals were affiliated with the Vincentian order.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said at a news conference on Tuesday that investigators found the Catholic clergy abused 1,997 children in the state's six dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Chicago, between 1950 and 2019, according to the report.

"It is my hope that this report will shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children, and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse," Raoul said.

The report on Catholic Clergy child sex abuse outlines Illinois Church leaders as grievously slow in acknowledging the extent of the abuse, stating, “its leaders made glaring missteps along the way, and serial predators were at times given

ample opportunity to abuse well beyond the time they should have been removed from ministry.”

It also accuses leaders of hesitating to confront accused clergy members and neglecting to notify parishioners about potential abusers, sometimes decades after allegations surfaced against accused members.

The 2018 review launched under Raoul's predecessor, Lisa Madigan, in response to Pennsylvania's comprehensive 2018 report, which revealed over 1,000 identifiable victims and 300 credibly accused priests across six dioceses.

The review aimed to investigate the significant disparity between the Church's disclosed number of credibly accused clergy members and the actual number.

The report sheds light on the effects of abuse on survivors, specifically mentioning accusers who struggle with suicidal thoughts and resort to substance abuse, such as drugs and alcohol, to cope with "anxiety and feelings of unworthiness."

Raoul stated during the conference that the report aimed to provide "public accountability and a measure of healing to survivors who have long suffered in silence." Additionally, he affirmed that the dioceses had upheld their commitment to cooperate with the investigation.

The DePaulia Opinions Editor Jake Cox also contributed to this story’s reporting.

According to the Attorney General's report, 450 Catholic Clergy members abused children in the state over a seven-decade period from 1950-2019.

"It is my hope that this report will shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children, and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse."

Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General

DePaul spaces renamed to honor a woman who won her freedom from Vincentian slaveholders

By The DePaulia Staff

Two spaces on the DePaul Lincoln Park campus now hold new names.

Room 300 in the John T. Richardson Library and the Belden-Racine residence hall were renamed on Thursday, May 18 to honor freedom fighter Aspasia LeCompte.

LeCompte and her family were slaves owned by Vincentian priests in Missouri in the early 19th century. Formerly, the room was named after Bishop Joseph Rosati, a Vincentian missionary in the U.S. who enslaved LeCompte.

In a ceremony held outside the library’s newly named room, members of a task force of DePaul faculty and staff spoke in honor of LeCompte, before walking together to what is now known as LeCompte Hall, a residence facility on North Racine Avenue. The task force was assembled to address the Vincentians’ relationship with slavery.

Here are photos taken by The DePaulia that highlight the day’s events:

PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | THE DEPAULIA Min. Jené Ashley Colvin (left), Johnson, Karl Naas and Fr. Guillermo Campuzano walk from the Richardson Library to dorm building formerly named Belden-Racine Hall.

PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER | THE DEPAULIA Students, faculty and staff process to Aspasia LeCompte Hall formerly known as BeldenRacine Hall.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

Valerie Johnson, interim associate provost for Diversity and Equity, spoke at the Richardson Library about the renaming of a third-floor reading room.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

The new name for a reading room in the library, the Aspasia LeCompte Room, was unveiled Thursday, May 18.

DePaul raises tuition rates for the 2023-2024 academic year

By Jake Cox Opinions Editor

DePaul announced its annual tuition raises for the 2023-24 school year on May 22.

This communication came later than years past, being announced on April 1, last year, according to past reporting. It is the second consecutive year DePaul has raised tuition rates since the freeze in

the 2021-22 school year due to Covid-19. This time, tuition went up 3.1% for undergrads outside the theater and music schools, and 1.9% for students in the music and theater schools.

In total, increases ranged from 1.9% to 3.1% based on the college, according to student accounts. The lowest increase came in The Theatre School (TTS) and the School of Music (SOM), with an increase of 1.9% – or $804 – since the 2022-

23 school year. Since TTS and SOM have a differential tuition based on a student's year in school, these numbers were compiled from average tuition rates in both colleges and are not representative of every student’s current rates .

In all other colleges, the undergraduate increase was 3.1%, with costs jumping from $42,189 to $43,508, a $1,319 increase — since last school year. In years past, TTS & SOM have had higher tuition rates than other colleges at DePaul, however this year was different. The tuition costs in the other colleges is $258 more than TTS and SOM.

For graduate students, the average increase of tuition per credit hour is $17, or

about a 1.8% increase. The college with the highest increase was the Kellstadt Business School with a $22 increase for the next academic year.

While tuition rates continue to increase annually at DePaul, students at other higher education institutions in the Chicagoland area are facing much higher increases.

Loyola University Chicago increased tuition for undergraduate students by 4.5% and 4.3% for graduate and professional studies, according to Loyola Newsroom. In addition, Columbia College Chicago recently announced a tuition increase of 5%, according to Columbia Central.

A dazzling electronic art installation combining ancient poetry and modern anime—part comic book, part motion picture, part meditation on history.

Illinois legislators push for I-55 expansion, Chicagoans concerned about environmental impacts

By Samantha Moilanen Asst. News Editor

For residents in Chicago’s Southwest Side, air pollution is a constant issue, even more so in the summer months.

In 2020, the city conducted an air quality health report that found transportation is a main contributor to air pollution in minority communities, specifically those located in industrial corridors where particulate matter from diesel trucks is prevalent.

When the I-55 Managed Lane Project was first proposed in 2016 by the Illinois Department of Transportation, environmental activists voiced concerns about how the project will affect already high levels of air pollution in the Southwest Side.

On May 25, during the last few weeks of the Illinois legislative session, House Joint Resolution 23 supporting the I-55 Managed Lane Project and IDOT’s efforts to pursue the project as a public-private partnership (P3) was adopted by both houses, despite pushback from environmental groups across the state.

The project proposes adding managed toll lanes to a section of Interstate 55 between the Dan Ryan Expressway and I-355. However, activists and legislators raised concerns over how expanding the highway will cause increased pollution in areas already burdened by environmental impacts.

“These are areas that already see super high rates of asthma and other respiratory issues in these communities, including heart disease…[and] that's pretty much directly linked to bad air quality, and you're talking about like a pretty big project,” said Eliot Clay, the state programs director for Illinois Environmental Council (IEC).

According to Andrew Cunningham, the executive director for infrastructure council and legislative relations in the Illinois Cham-

ber of Commerce, the resolution does not create the deal with private partners, but only gives IDOT the ability to pursue the project as a P3.

P3’s allow large-scale government projects to be completed with private funding and can often allow them to be completed faster than expected.

“So the actual deal that might be, you know, years from now,” Cunningham said.

If the Managed Lane Project is completed, the portion of I-55 known as the Stevenson Expressway would be expanded by 1 to 2 toll lanes in each direction along a 25-mile corridor in Chicago’s Southwest Side, according to IDOT. The corridor includes communities like Little Village, Brighton Park, Chinatown, McKinley Park, Archer Heights, Pilsen, and Berwyn among others — all communities impacted by heavy industry.

Clay said a major concern for environmental activists and residents of neighborhoods that extend along the corridor is how the construction of the added toll lanes will increase pollution in surrounding areas.

“That is going to be a heck of a lot of heavy duty equipment sitting on roads, idling for very long periods of time,” Clay said. “And this is the stuff that contributes to really bad particulate matter, and just bad air quality overall.”

To remedy these concerns, IDOT conducted an environmental assessment in 2016 when the project was first proposed. In the report, IDOT claims the project will improve air quality and noise complaints will decrease due to less congestion on the interstate.

“The impacts from the I-55 Managed Lane Project to Environmental Justice communities are summarized as following: the local communities will experience an overall improvement to air quality, the project will result in less impacts from noise with the construction of new noise walls, the lo-

cal communities will experience no changes in the project setting adjacent to I-55, other than potential noise walls and their associated benefits,” the 2016 study states.

For Clay, an environmental assessment conducted in 2016 does not accurately portray how communities will be affected today.

“They were basing some of this off of studies that were done, I mean, back in 2016,” Clay said. “It's been a while since they've actually evaluated this the way that it needed to be. And a lot of the stats that they were giving, we think are just outdated, they needed to be redone again.”

Cunningham said the Chamber voted in favor of the joint resolution because they agree with the environmental assessment undertaken by IDOT.

“We just have to rely on the official report conducted by IDOT, which would show reduced pollution due to the reduced congestion,” Cunningham said.

While IDOT’s assessment claims decreased traffic congestion on the interstate will decrease pollution overall, Julia Lippert – a DePaul professor and public health researcher – said traffic will add to the concentration of pollutants such as nitrous oxides, ground level ozone, and particulate matter.

“All of these have respiratory impacts

such as increased asthma, heart disease and premature death,” Lippert said.

A cumulative impacts bill held up in the Illinois House proposes involving community members in legislative discussions that affect environmentally burdened neighborhoods in Chicago. For Clay, if the cumulative impacts bill was passed, this joint resolution would have involved more public discussion before it was passed, which is a key point environmental activists have been pushing for in other legislation this session.

“And unfortunately, that's just not not the law yet,” Clay said. “There should be a study involved, there should be a lot more public participation involved with this project, if it was going to happen.”

Clay said because the resolution came up late in the legislative session, it was difficult to combat it. He said Senator Rachel Ventura, an avid environmental activist, removed herself as a sponsor when it was brought before the committee last Thursday, May 25.

This project is one of several transportation expansion projects in the country that have been heavily criticized by environmental groups due to the fear of added pollution.

“We definitely fought hard on it, but just couldn't get done,” Clay said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Road construction on I-55 is being expanded into communities who have had environmental justice concerns. Many community member s were upset when they heard the announcement.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

I-55 passes through communities on the South and West Sides of the city.

LOOP CAMPUS

DePaul offers disability accommodations, resources to students

Meyer Fitness Center.

By Olivia Moosey Contributing Writer

DePaul alum Kennedy Healy has a physical disability that requires her to use a mobility scooter to help her with transportation.

Confiscated Cannabis report was filed in Ozanam Hall.

During her time at DePaul, she used the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) to acquire accommodations while pursuing her degree.

Consumption of Alcohol report Munroe Hall.

“I was definitely lonely at times, and it was hard for me to go out and socialize,” Healy said. “I cannot even imagine what it would have been like for students during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Marijuana report was filed for Centennial Hall.

Healy did not need a lot of accommodations, except extra time on tests and smooth rides getting to both campuses safely. She said DePaul accommodated her with CTA train and bus systems.

Possession of Cannabis report was room in Belden-Racine Hall.

She said she avoided taking the buses because it was hard getting on and off of them.

on the Lincoln Park

Healy said CSD granted her the accommodations, but it was difficult communicating with them. She said the office barely responded to her and it took hours to get what she needed scheduled.

Loop Campus Crimes:

LOOP CAMPUS 300 S. Wabash

March 3

1) An Arson report was filed regarding a fire behind the Daley Building. A safety alert was issued regarding the incident. March 6

2) An Assault report was filed in the DePaul Center.

Corey Browers

Head principal at the New Horizon Center

3) A Harassment report was filed in the DePaul Center.

Some resources available to students at CSD

Adaptive equipment

Assistive technology

Braille

The university has several resources available to students, including giving more time for testing and having everyone in classes wear masks in class for immunocompromised students.

for students with disabilities through educational accommodation.

4) A Criminal Trespass report was filed for a person in the Lewis Center.

No one from the CSD office was willing to comment to The DePaulia for this article. Staff members on both campuses reached out for this article.

LOOP CAMPUS

Healy said schools could increase inclusivity by including a sign language interpreter and providing large print books for students with visual impairments.

SOURCE | DEPAUL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE

LOOP CAMPUS

Loop Campus Crimes: Dec. 22

SOURCE | DEPAUL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE

Closed caption real-time

translation

Course selection

consultation

a Simple Battery.

7) A Theft report was filed regarding items taken in Seton Hall.

She also said the university should ensure physical accessibility of classes by giving students specialized elevators, ramps and modified bathrooms.

Illegal Consumption of by a Minor report for a person in Quad. Person was to Illinois Hospital by Chicago incident occurred on block of North It was reported Safety and the Police Department, currently describe it as

Healy said that as a result of her disability, she felt the need to isolate herself from social activities on campus. She said it created emotional problems for her and that other disabled students on campus feel the same sentiments.

Sept. 13

She said on top of the emotional prob lems at DePaul, there are a lot of physical bar riers for disabled students, including a lack of access to bathrooms, classrooms and essen tial facilities in the school.

Healy said the barriers create an unsafe environment for disabled students leading to anxiety, isolation and depression.

Mark Weber, a law professor at DePaul, thinks DePaul has gotten better over the years at accommodating students.

“DePaul is definitely making strides in regard to disability awareness and accommodations,” Weber said.

CSD – according to their website –aims to provide students with disabilities the accommodations they need to be successful while attending DePaul.

1) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the CDM Building.

banned books in America details their activism" incorrectly attributed Lauren Roundtree’s quotes to another program looks to offer certificate programs in the near future" incorrectly said a class was offered at Stateville in corrected.

Loop Campus Crimes: Sept. 8

The office also attempts to raise disability awareness and educate students, faculty and staff about treating disabled people respectfully.

Dec. 28

8) A Theft report was filed for

2) A Theft from Vehicle report was filed for tools taken from a vehicle on the 300 S block of Wabash.

Corey Browers, head principal at the New Horizon Center – a school dedicated to students with severe cognitive and physical disabilities, said it is educators’ responsibility to support disabled students.

1) A Disturbance report was filed for a person yelling in the DePaul Center. Sept. 9

DePaul offers courses for the Special Education majors that talk about how explore the role language plays in determining what it means to have a disability.

2) A Fight was reported in the Center.

“[It is] our responsibility as educators to that, to make sure that trying to support them [and to] not create additional barriers for them,” Browers said.

Browers said his staff at New Horizon Center helps to create opportunities not barriers for their students.

“To see the resilience of our staff, we did it,” Browers said. “They just rose to the occasion. That was powerful for me as an educator.”

4) A Theft report was filed for a bag taken from the DePaul Center.

On-campus dining accommodations

On-campus housing accommodations

Enlarged print

Exam reader

Exam transcriber

Extended time on exams

Preferential seating

Real-time captioning

Scan here to listen to our weekly podcast

By altering the instructional material and delivery of the content in a simplified way while keeping the essential content of the instructions, Healy said schools create a safe and inclusive environment

4) A Simple Battery report was filed regarding an incident that occurred at the entrance to the DePaul Center.

Weber said that regardless of disability status, people should be granted equal opportunity.

“It’s just as important for disabled people than non-disabled people to have an education,” Weber said.

Sign language interpreting

“[It is] our responsibility as educators to that, to make sure that trying to support them [and to] not create additional barriers for them.”

SOURCE | DEPAUL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE

University continues to not offer reproductive services on campus

By Olivia Zimmerman Staff Writer

Despite many universities in Chicago offering reproductive services and contraception on campus, DePaul continues to ban the distribution of any contraception on campus.

According to Catholic doctrine from 1968, contraceptives “are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children.” It also states that contraceptives taken after intercourse, known more commonly as the Plan B pill, are also excluded from being considered morally justifiable.

In a memo from Eugene Zdziarski, DePaul vice president of Student Affairs, in 2018, he said contraceptives are considered “inappropriate materials.”

“DePaul University reserves the right to restrict the distribution of medical or health supplies/devices items on university premises that it deems to be inappropriate from the perspective of the institution's mission and values,” the memo said. “Specifically, the distribution of birth control devices, of any kind, is strictly prohibited on university premises.”

However, the current DePaul mission statement and values do not mention specific Catholic teachings, but rather focus on social justice.

DePaul must follow Catholic doctrine and teachings as a Catholic-affiliated university, according to Zdziarski.

“DePaul is a Catholic university and the Church’s teachings guide our practices,” Zdziarski said in an email to The DePaulia. “As is the case with other Catholic colleges, DePaul does not provide any birth control or contraception on campus.”

Despite this, DePaul does offer information on healthy relationships at their Office of Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW). According to its website, HPW offers courses and programs on healthy relationships and sexual violence prevention.

Denial of contraceptive access also applies to faculty and staff at Catholic institutions. For example, at nearby universities like Loyola University Chicago, a Jesuit Catholic institution, university health insurance does not cover contraceptives, although those enrolled in the plan can get contraceptives at “no additional cost” through a separate Affordable Care Act plan.

Health care policies from Catholic universities denying contraceptive access were bolstered by the Trump Administration era Supreme Court case, Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul vs. Pennsylvania, in which the court ruled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) allowed for religious institutions to deny contraceptive coverage on the basis of religious convictions.

The University of Notre Dame’s student health services website encourages abstinence. However, Notre Dame offers students a health insurance plan, differing from DePaul who does not have a health insurance plan.

DePaul offers information on nearby sources regarding reproductive health and sexual health, including occasional Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) checks.

While the Catholic heritage at DePaul is known among the student body, exactly what that means for student healthcare and reproductive access can sometimes be

taken for granted as a given.

“I knew [DePaul] was a Catholic school when I chose to go here,” said junior Blake Dreher. “I didn’t really think about what that would all entail, including contraceptives and abortions. I am very much pro-choice, and I do think that it is a little ridiculous given the generation that we’re in, and everything else DePaul is not super hardcore catholic about.”

Planned Parenthood Generation Action at DePaul hosted several “Pillow Talk” events throughout the year, aiming to help students learn about sexual health.

“I really like the Planned Parenthood Generation group on campus, and I know in the past that they have given out condoms,” Dreher said.

Campuzano, vice president for Mission and Ministry at DePaul, DePaul actively encourages panels. He said the discussions further change discussion in the university.

“We are contributing by having multiple conversations on campus, including inquiry, debate, and research, that quite possibly will influence the Church’s doctrine around this issue,” Campuzano said. “The Catholic Church evolves in its understanding and practices around many issues, and an educational institution like DePaul not only studies current doctrine but helps contribute toward future understanding that will influence these practices.”

According to Fr. Guillermo “Memo” MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

"DePaul is a Catholic university and the Church’s teachings guide our practices [...]DePaul does not provide any birth control or contraception on campus."

Eugene Zdziarski Vice President of Student Affairs

MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

Nation & World

U.S. cities reporting fewer killings hope crime strategies prevent a summer surge

By Kathleen Foody Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — An expected bump in violent crime this summer has mayors and police officials around the U.S. rolling out familiar strategies of making officers more visible and engaging with community groups, in some cases leaning on civilians to enforce curfews and keep the peace.

Chicago is among the U.S. cities under scrutiny following a mayoral race that focused on public safety in response to demands for change. Violence often surges during summer months, so this holiday weekend will undoubtedly ramp up pressure on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new administration to deliver short-term improvement along with the long-term strategies that the former union organizer advocated while campaigning to lead the nation’s third-largest city.

“It’s going to take all of us, not just the police, not just city government, to ensure that our communities can live and thrive in peace and safety,” Johnson said at a lakefront press conference promoting the city’s Memorial Day weekend strategy.

Most large U.S. cities are reporting fewer homicides this year, according to data collected by the Council on Criminal Justice, which created a Crime Trends Working Group this spring in hopes of providing more real-time information on crime.

“Where cities are seeing success, they’re generally investing in a balanced approach that includes policing but ... also supports community-based approaches,” Abt said. “They have recognized the need for enforcement but also emphasize prevention and intervention.”

In Baltimore, city officials — not police officers — will enforce curfews on teenagers starting Friday and continuing through Labor Day weekend. The controversial policy has long been on the books but rarely enforced.

“We are going back to the old days,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in announcing the summer enforcement, after two teens were wounded as hundreds gathered on a Sunday night in the city’s popular Inner Harbor district.

That shooting in April, which unfolded while officers were trying to break up a fight at the scene, added to a significant spike in youth violence, which has persisted even as overall shootings and homicides trend downward in Baltimore.

According to Scott’s plan, non-law enforcement staff will approach children and teens violating the curfew policy on weekend and holiday nights. First, they’ll encourage kids to go home, but if that doesn’t work, the children will be brought to a youth engagement center that provides a supervised environment where they can hang out.

“The most dangerous people will be prosecuted immediately in federal court,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said Wednesday.

Following a half-dozen shootings — including one fatality — in the downtown Detroit area over one weekend in April, Police Chief James White instituted a crowd control strategy including increased police presence. In Chicago, mayors face annual pressure to demonstrate a proactive approach to violent crime ahead of Memorial Day, the traditional kickoff to warm weather and summer events where crowds gather.

Johnson promised to move away from a policing-first strategy as he took office at the start of May, but he’s also distanced himself from calls to cut money for policing. He chose a retired department veteran as interim police chief.

Johnson’s holiday weekend strategy includes making officers a visible presence, and even having them check bags at crowded beaches, parks and events. Police rushed to Chicago’s North Avenue Beach on Friday afternoon after a report of gunshots following a large fight. The department said one juvenile was in custody but didn’t provide more infor-

mation. No injuries were reported.

Norman Livingston Kerr led a Chicago anti-violence organization before he became assistant deputy mayor for public safety under Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot. He now consults with cities and nonprofits to develop anti-violence strategies that rely on deescalation or intervention. He’s encouraged by signs that the city and state are committing long-term resources to efforts such as the peacekeepers program.

“This violence intervention work, it can take time for people to see it work and believe in it,” Kerr said. “I’m not going to dwell on the

fact it took years to happen; I’m going to say this is a new day.”

Tamar Manasseh, founder of Mothers/ Men Against Senseless Killings, said her organization has worked to prevent crime around a South Side intersection for nearly 10 years using “positive loitering.” This weekend is no exception, with a neighborhood barbecue and other activities planned.

“We built a community center, our pop-up community center, in a vacant lot,” Manasseh said. “And since then we’ve seen crime drop astronomically. And we feel like that can happen anywhere.”

JAKE COX | THE DEPAULIA Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a campaign rally in late March, prior to the election.

SAMANTHA MOILANEN | THE DEPAULIA

Cloud Gate in Millenium Park in Chicago. The city is heading into the Memorial Day weekend hoping to dispell violence that tends to surge with rising summer temperatures.

Florida’s controversial governor running for president

By Ruchi Nawathe Nation & World Editor

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced his running for presidency using Twitter’s premier audio feature on Wednesday, May 24. He is the first presidential candidate to announce his presidency over social media. The announcement drew in more than half a million audience members initially, and was set to include an exclusive interview with Elon Musk, Twitter’s owner.

The website repeatedly crashed when DeSantis tried to announce his presidency. The announcement was made half an hour later, with a much smaller audience than before.

According to Scott Hibbard, DePaul associate professor of political science, DeSantis was trying to avoid unfavorable feedback from major news outlets by announcing his presidency the traditional way.

DeSantis is known for his controversial legislation as Florida’s governor, including banning an AP African American studies course and several other bills surrounding censorship of LGBTQ+ topics. He also reduced the number of jurors able to recommend the death sentence from a unanimous 12 votes to 8.

“It means demonizing the left, demonizing wokeness, kind of targeting anything that’s outside the norm of a white Christian evangelical worldview,” Hibbard said. “He’s made a big deal about LGBTQ agenda. He’s demonized trans kids, and a lot of legislation he’s passed has fit very well with his great Christian right wing agenda.”

Hibbard said that DeSantis markets himself as a less scandalous, more competent version of Donald Trump.

“There’s a strong Trump coalition, still, that DeSantis is gonna have to work really hard to try to win,” said Anindya Kundu, assistant professor of educational leadership at Florida International University. ”If DeSantis somehow secures the Republican nomination, then I do see most Trump supporters picking him over any other option.”

Many politicians and voters have noticed DeSantis’s lack of charisma in comparison to Trump.

“DeSantis is a very kind of unlikable personality, and he’s not really a people person, which is odd,” Hibbard said.

According to Hibbard, DeSantis does not have much of a relationship with his fellow Republican colleagues.

Earlier this year, DeSantis pulled out of a large business opportunity with Disney due to the organization’s open support of LGBTQ+ communities.

“I think he made a critical mistake in taking on Disney because he keeps getting one up and failing,” said Wayne Steger, political science professor at DePaul. “It makes him look like he’s not capable and competent. So his basic selling point was, I could do what Trump wanted to do, but I’m competent, and now he looks a little less competent.”

According to Steger, Trump has a solid fan base that likes him for his personality, so DeSantis will be competing against all the other Republican candidates for the nomination instead of against Trump.

If he is elected as president, DeSantis will not be able to pass much legislation unless justices and his staff who support his conservative agenda.

“[An] even more conservative Supreme Court is going to be more likely to restrict federal power, particularly with regard to civil rights,” Steger said. “When we talk about a conservative court, we have to talk about basically rolling back the restrictions

on the police and civil rights that came out of the 1960s and the approval of the expansion of federal regulatory power. All three of those things are subject to being reversed.”

Hibbard believes that the restrictions to the rights of minorities is a distraction from DeSantis’s true motivations as a lawmaker. While those laws appeal to Evangelical Christians, they distract from some very real issues that Florida faces, such as hurricanes and floods caused by climate change.

“DeSantis and Trump have very similar economic philosophies, and this is why, in many respects, all these cultural issues are distracting discourse,” Hibbard said.

Many billionaires, including Musk, are supporting DeSantis in the 2024 presidential election.

“Why are [Musk and Peter Thiel] giving him money? What is it about his agenda that you know that they’re supporting?” Hibbard said. “Is it that he has a great policy agenda on anti-woke [and not] teaching critical race theory in school? Or is it that he’s going to deliver them all kinds of tax cuts?”

Kundu is most worried about DeSantis’s educational policy.

“As an educational scholar, I’m worried about what his plans would be for the federal government of education,” Kundu said. “I think he really wants to treat public schools as if they were some kind of denominational school.”

According to Kundu, not teaching young people about their country’s real history is harmful to everyone.

“If we gloss over realities like slavery in this country, because we think that some kids are going to feel bad, we’re doing them a disservice,” Kundu said. “We’re keeping them from being able to critically interrogate their world.”

Kundu agrees that DeSantis is using his controversial legislation to distract from the larger picture in regards to his policies.

“The vagueness of some of these laws is the tactic in itself. It’s to be vague and to scare professionals from feeling like they have autonomy,” Kundu said. “And you kind of see that everywhere through the system, like since the pandemic, DeSantis held public funding for schools that defied his no mask mandate, letting their students and teachers choose whether or not to wear a mask.”

According to Steger, a conservative Supreme Court could also prevent young

people, people of color and urban populations from voting, since those populations tend to vote for Democratic candidates.

“Traditional norms are defined predominantly by white Christian society, and so it’s a very culturally conservative movement that [DeSantis is] trying to latch on and claim leadership to,” Steger said.

In reality, many of the policies that the Republican party is in favor of negatively impacts the same conservative base they are trying to appeal to. DeSantis and Trump have similar economic policies, similar to Ronald Reagan’s trickle-down economics, where tax cuts to major corporations would be pumped back into the economy, benefiting everyone.

“The reality is [companies] just bought back stock and the shareholders made lots of money, the president of various corporations made lots of money, it did not translate into economic growth,” Hibbard said.

Kundu believes that part of DeSantis’s policies are to keep a white Christian base voting Republican.

“Every other democracy around the country has stronger public institutions except for us because we still have this ‘us versus them’ mentality,” Kundu said.

ROBERT F. BUKATY | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a political roundtable in Bedford, New Hampshire on Friday, May 19, 2023.

DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | TAMPA BAY TIMES VIA AP

On May 15, DeSantis signed a bill that blocks public colleges from using federal or state funding on diversity programs.

Nation & World

One year after Uvalde shooting, investigation of police response continues

By Paul J. Weber Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A criminal investigation in Texas over the hesitant police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting is still ongoing as Wednesday marks one year since a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside a fourthgrade classroom in Uvalde.

The continuing probe underlines the lasting fallout over Texas’ deadliest school shooting and how the days after the attack were marred by authorities giving inaccurate and conflicting accounts about efforts made to stop a teenage gunman armed with an AR-style rifle.

The investigation has run parallel to a new wave of public anger in the U.S. over gun violence, renewed calls for stricter firearm regulations and legal challenges over authorities in Uvalde continuing to withhold public records related to the shooting and the police response.

Here’s a look at what has happened in the year since one of America’s deadliest mass shootings:

POLICE SCRUTINY

A damning report by Texas lawmakers put nearly 400 officers on the scene from an array of federal, state and local agencies. The findings laid out how heavily armed officers waited more than an hour to confront and kill the 18-year-old gunman. It also accused police of failing “to prioritize saving innocent lives over their own safety.”

All of the students killed were between the ages of 9 and 11 years old.

At least five officers who were put under investigation after the shooting were either fired or resigned, although a full accounting is unclear. The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Col. Steve McCraw, put much of the blame after the attack on Uvalde’s school police chief, who was later

fired by trustees.

McCraw had more than 90 of his own officers at the school — more than any other agency — and has rebuffed calls by some Uvalde families and lawmakers to also resign.

Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell said last week that Texas Rangers are still investigating the police response and that her office will ultimately present the findings to a grand jury. She said she did not have a timeline for when the investigation would be finished.

On Monday, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said he was frustrated by the pace of the investigations a year later.

“They don’t have answers to simple questions they should have,” McLaughlin said of the families.

CALLS FOR GUN CONTROL INTENSIFY

President Joe Biden signed the nation’s most sweeping gun violence bill in decades a month after the shooting. It included tougher background checks for the youngest gun buyers and added more funding for mental health programs and aid to schools.

It did not go as far as restrictions sought by some Uvalde families who have called on lawmakers to raise the purchase age for AR-style rifles. In the GOP-controlled Texas Capitol, Republicans this year rejected virtually all proposals to tighten gun laws over the protests of the families and Democrats.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has also waved off calls for tougher gun laws, just as he did after mass shootings at a Sutherland Springs church in 2017 and an El Paso Walmart in 2018. The issue has not turned

Texas voters

Abbott, who easily won a third term months after the Uvalde shooting.

UVALDE GRIEVES

The Uvalde school district permanently closed the Robb Elementary campus and plans for a new school are in the works. Schools in Uvalde will be closed Wednesday. About a dozen students in the classroom where the shooting unfolded survived the attack. Some returned to class in person last fall. Others attended school virtually, including a girl who spent more than two months in the hospital after being shot multiple times.

Veronica Mata, a kindergarten teacher in Uvalde, also returned to class this year after her 10-daughter Tess was among those killed in the attack.

Some Uvalde families have filed lawsuits

away from

JAE C. HONG | AP

On May 30, 2022, a back door at Robb Elementary School, where a gunman entered through to get into a classroom in last week’s shooting, is seen in the distance in Uvalde.

Inside depaul’s Focus

Top Earners, Expenditures

By Amber Stoutenborough Multimedia Managing Editor

Amid a year of relatively increased awareness regarding DePaul’s financial state, the annual 990 is one of the few pieces of information publicly available that outlines the private institution’s finances.

As a non-profit organization, DePaul is exempt from paying federal and state income taxes but is required to disclose its financial status through a Form 990 — an annual information return that shows the receipts of where all the money is going — to the Internal Revenue Service. This document sheds light into the university’s financial health, including revenues, expenses, endowment growth and its highest paid employees for the fiscal year. The most recent filing — covering the fiscal year — a tax year beginning July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 — was made public in May.

The DePaulia dove into the most recently published 990 form for DePaul’s 2020-21 fiscal year and conducted some analysis. This is how DePaul spent its dollars.

Who were the highest paid employees?

The highest paid employees usually consist of deans, trustees, administration and the president. The three highest-paid employees in the 2020-21 academic year are currently no longer employed at DePaul.

Dave Leitao, the men’s head basketball coach from 2015-2021, who was the highest-paid employee at DePaul University in the 2020-21 academic year, had a tumultuous tenure at the university. In 2021, the year

Leitao was fired for finishing last in the Big East for five consecutive seasons, he earned $1.5 million. In the year previous, Leitao made $1,366,430 — a $102,257 increase in a single year.

The second highest-paid employee was Jean Lenti-Ponsetto, the Athletics Director at DePaul, who earned $1.1 million. Lenti-Ponsetto retired in June of 2020 after serving as Athletic Director at DePaul for 18 years and working for the department for 45 years overall. The bump represents a 154% raise from the previous year, when she made $400,459. According to the 990, Lenti-Ponsetto’s contract was to end on Sept. 16, 2020.

A. Gabriel Esteban, the former President of DePaul University from 2017 to 2022, was the third highest-paid employee at the university, earning $1 million in 2021. The year previous, Esteban made $1.1 million. Esteban left DePaul in 2022, two years earlier than planned. Leading up to his departure, many students expressed being unhappy with the lack of Esteban’s presence on campus. Here are the next highest compensated employees in descending order:

Doug Bruno, women’s head basketball coach: $600,434

Jeffrey Bethke, Executive VP and CFO: $503,257

James Shilling, Dreihaus College of Business professor: $479,536

Jennifer Perea, Dean, College of Law: $459,9598

Salma Ghanem, Provost: $429,959

Misty Johanson, Dean, Driehaus College of Business: $412,310

Hongjun Yan, Dreihaus College of Business professor: $390,514

Robert Janis, VP for Facility Operations: $387,688

Ray Whittington, Dean, Driehaus College of Business: $377,978

How much money did DePaul make and spend in 2020-21?

Total expenses

DePaul spent the majority of its funds on grants and other assistance for domestic students, totaling $279 million. This was also the largest expense in the previous fiscal year, which cost $266 million. The second-highest expense was other salaries and wages at $252 million.

Total Revenue

DePaul University brought in $774 million in the 2021 fiscal year, down from $796 million the previous year due to various contributing factors, including a $21 million decline in housing revenue caused by Covid-19. The loss in revenue in room and board, due to the closure of campus in March of 2020, was one of the University’s biggest financial setbacks, resulting in a $19 million difference between 2019-20 room and board revenue of $23 million and 2020-21 room and board revenue of $4 million. Every revenue category, including student fees, tuition, athletics, recreation center and room and board, saw a decline from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021.

DePaul’s Endowment

An endowment refers to the total amount of a non-profit’s investable assets which are meant to be used for a specific purpose like development or financial aid. A portion of

the endowment is unrestricted and can be pulled for other uses, while other parts are restricted and have stipulations for spending. The endowment peaked at $957 million in 2021 under Estaben’s leadership before declining to $818 million in fiscal 2022 due to Covid-19 market conditions, according to the 2021 fiscal year audit. The endowment for the previous year was $751 million.

Key for Revenue chart:

Tuition and student fees

Contributions, gifts, grants

Investment income

Other revenue

Top five paid

1. DAVE LEITAO, MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

2. JEAN LENTI-PONSETTO, ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

3. A. GABRIEL PRESIDENT & $926,565

Opinions

Tik Tok Ban: National security threat or political maneuver?

By Emily Diaz

Contributing Writer

While juggling Chinese spy balloons and Russian nukes, the United States still has its focus on one national security threat: TikTok. Embraced by nearly half of our country’s population, TikTok has been under heat from both the Trump and Biden administration since the 2020 pandemic due to hazy accusations of user data exploitation at the hands of Chinese spies.

Many states have already banned the app on government-issues devices, with Montana being the first state to ban the app entirely. Users immediately sued the state, claiming infringements on first amendment rights. Though endeavors such as selling the Chinese-owned application to American grounds are unfruitful due to China’s rejection of such a deal. The real question lies whether TikTok is as big of a threat as people claim — both security wise and, for parents, mentally.

Although reports of the app monitoring journalists were revealed, this is not the first social media site to face security vulnerability.

“TikTok probably is as much of a risk as any other app,” said Andy Reeder, a DePaul Cybersecurity Law Professor. “Where personal data could be used to promote targeted attacks."

The threat of banning TikTok is less so a national security concern and more so the cherry on top to a multi-tiered cake of long-standing political games between the U.S. and China. If the Biden Administration were so concerned about data privacy, Mark Zuckerberg would not be leaving the courts unscathed everytime Meta produced another scandal.

“The identification of TikTok as a national security threat may be less of an actual

threat than a politically charged statement,” Reeder said.

The U.S. has not fully weaned off their economic dependency on China, now they propose a ridiculously ineffective ban on an app which fostered community building to many youth in America.

As an avid TikTok user, I am obviously against the ban.

The pathway to banning TikTok is an unorganized waste of time, as the Federal Trade Commission and courts cannot identify clear violations of privacy laws on TikTok’s part.

Reeder has experience dealing with these kinds of privacy laws.

“In the absence of a privacy law specifically targeting social media, I don’t think it will be possible to ban TikTok from all use in the U.S,” he said.

Managing our personal information is fundamental to effective internet safety, far more than restricting every app we come across.

When pressing “I agree” to apps’ terms and conditions, it’s important for us to be conscientious of what exactly we are agreeing to.

“What the End User License Agreement states when signing up for a TikTok account – e.g., what data sharing are you permitting as an individual user?” Reeder said.

Now, if you are a fellow rookie to this tech bro information, you are at least no stranger to the crowd of parents joining alongside the ban on TikTok, blaming it for the mental and emotional woes of today’s youth. Ironic given their Facebook feeds are riddled with moms boasting scary snapchat filters and political rants with poor grammar.

TikTok poses a unique benefit for youth in its easy access to authentically relatable content and outspoken users. I cannot help but remember all the positive ways people

coalesced together during the Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement during 2020, finding solace in shared struggles.

For many DePaul youth, TikTok is also a place of diverse discovery. DePaul student Frankie Jarrett finds many benefits in using the platform to co- run and promote her friend’s app “Unfound”. Created by Yasmeena Faycurry, Unfound is an app where people can discover local restaurant businesses in their city, offering a resource for delicious food and new experiences. For Jarrett, the accessibility of such cultural opportunities is what inspired her to join Unfound’s team.

“Being a part of the Unfound team gave me the opportunity to meet new people within the food industry as well as try restaurants I wouldn’t typically be interested in,” Jarrett said.

Unfound’s TikTok, with its 65,000followers, amassed so many supporters due to the vast community of city-dwellers who use the app on TikTok.

“Since downloading the app, I’ve been exposed to more information than ever before from a diverse group of people,” Jarrett said. “I was able to learn and hear opinions that I didn’t through apps such as Instagram or Facebook.”

TikTok’s uniquely diverse algorithm allows for extensive exposure to niche content that other apps might not. For me, I can confidently say that I have discovered many nook and cranny places in Chicago. It was through a TikTok post that I discovered one of my favorite bookstores called Quimby’s in Wicker Park, a homely space with a cute vintage photobooth and vast collection of locally produced zines.

In a world where multimedia applications are the standard for entertainment, it is only natural we spend a lot of time enjoying the convenience of being online.

But like myself, many youth understand the realities of overwhelming social standards and the potential of addictive and problematic content online.

“I do acknowledge societal beauty standards that are pushed on TikTok,” Jarrett said.

And with this recognition comes the personal responsibility of developing a well-rounded consumer intake to maintain balanced intra and interpersonal relationships.

Adrianne Stoner, a communications professor specializing in “living online” identifies this practice as a healthy media diet.

“It’s not all bad,” Stoner said about TikTok. “But just like any other medium it’s important to be mindful of what you’re consuming, what impact that might have on you, your psyche, your self esteem or your relationships with other people”.

The reality of using TikTok is that yes, sometimes we need breaks from the overwhelming nature of beauty standards and negative news, but if you truly enjoy indulging in the app's fun trends and relatable self-disclosure like me, cutting off TikTok entirely is an ineffective band aid in managing the effects of social media.

My favorite way to supplement my time on TikTok is getting to know myself outside of the online world through new hobbies and hot spots in Chicago. Not only does this give me an eye rest from the screen, but it gives me the autonomy to shape my self-esteem.

I am sure I have not convinced Biden to post a thirst trap on TikTok, but hopefully I have given you some encouragement to give yourself the opportunity to have the best of both worlds with social media and real life. As simple as it sounds, educating yourself about the risks of sharing your personal data and navigating your personal engagement with social media are the ultimate keys to mental welfare and cyber safety.

Now that summer is approaching, open up a good book on the pigeon filled streets of Chicago, sweat your way on the CTA to find treasures at the thrift store, or discover new restaurants with Unfound!

AIDEN HANSEN I THE DEPAULIA

public safety issue: CTA lies at crossroads of housing, mental health crisis

By Na Dia CaroliNa HEr Na NDEz Editor- In-Chief

One of the first pieces of advice I was told about living in Chicago was how to survive the CTA. Other students would offer their insight about which stations were safe, when to ride and which areas to avoid.

Most of this stemmed from concerns about public safety within train cars and stations. Horror stories about being stabbed, stalked and assaulted used to frighten me. It made me weary of riding the Red Line at night and being at the Jackson stop, the Red Line stop to get to the Loop campus.

Two years later, I found that those concerns stemmed from a different concern altogether. I noticed how the presence of people experiencing homelessness and issues due to mental health sparked discourse about public safety on the CTA. Reflecting back on the advice I received, I remembered hearing that if someone was talking to themselves or taking up three seats to sleep were supposed to be warning signs for potential danger.

Katie Prout, a staff writer at The Chicago Reader, saw the same sentiments in news media associating violent crime with unhoused people.

“Doing a story that's about CTA public safety, and then in the second paragraph after citing, violence statistics, talking about the presence of unhoused people has also increased,” she said. “Without saying [it] directly, it's saying it.”

I subconsciously linked the two together. I believed that my safety and security were threatened if someone else showed signs of mental instability or homelessness within the same space. As much as the CTA claims they put the safety of passengers at the forefront,

were they really to blame if those experiencing homelessness chose to seek shelter on the train?

No, the discussion about public safety on the CTA really should not be about safety at all. Our attention should be focused on the city’s lack of affordable and accessible housing resources that lead people with little to no options at the end of the day.

If Chicago has about 3,000 shelter beds available, but caters a population of almost 4,000 people who are unhoused, some are left with nothing.

Our focus becomes shifted toward the individuals who have the least resources. On the platform at Fullerton, I witness my peers point and laugh at people talking to themselves like a spectacle.

“I think it's easier for people to blame another, usually without power or less power than themselves, like a scapegoat,” Prout said.

I read Prout’s piece ‘‘Why you talking to a bum?” about speaking with people living on the CTA who detailed their experiences of being harassed and trying to seek shelter. She saw how the city’s failure to provide equitable resources left people with little to no options.

Chicago currently has 5 public mental health facilities open. How are people supposed to find support in their area?

On a WBEZ Reset segment, Don Washington – executive director of the Chicago Housing Initiative – described the increased presence of unhoused people on the CTA as a policy concern.

“This is a public policy problem,” Washington said on Reset. “And we’ve been trying to depend on charity and private public partnerships and that’s not going to cut it.”

K’Von Jackson, a Chicago native and

student at Columbia College Chicago, understands how the CTA becomes a last resort for unhoused people.

“If it's, you know, 20 below out, and you don't have a tent, or sleeping bags to stay warm. What are you gonna do?”

health crises can lead to violence. On the Brown Line, I witnessed someone start throwing glass bottles across the car.

“I can recall stuff happening on the Red and Blue Line, people fighting, people like just up to no good,” Jackson said. “Just do your best to kind of move away from the situation. If it gets to a point where people are verbally or visually uncomfortable, then contact the CTA employee.”

Even in these circumstances, recommending more policing of the CTA would not solve the underlying issue that people lack access to public mental health clinics or access to affordable healthcare.

“Cops are not going to build more homes,” Prout said. “The issue of people staying on the CTA is by and large that we don't have other places in the city for people to go and we need a variety of housing options.”

Jackson said. “You're gonna sleep in a subway station or you're gonna sit in a train car all night, right? Because it's warm. It's a guaranteed shelter.”

However, crime does occur on the CTA. In a city of almost 2.7 million people, public spaces can become a site of violence. It is important to address that on train cars people smoke, fight and yell.

But that does not make crime committed by unhoused people a pattern.

“There are cases in which someone who is unhoused commits a violent crime against someone else that absolutely happens,” Prout said. “But one individual doesn't speak for everyone and it doesn't indicate a trend.”

In extreme circumstances, mental

Our language surrounding crime, unhoused people and those with mental health issues becomes dehumanizing. If we reduce someone to their housing status or the visibility of their mental illness, we take away their humanity and dignity.

“It creates a really bad culture of how we treat people,” Jackson said. “Because at the end of the day, whether you have a roof over your head or not, you're still a person. You should be treated as such.”

As we enter a new progressive mayoral administration, there is the promise of root causes finally becoming addressed. We should take this opportunity to reflect as Chicagoans how we examine our privileges and how we judge someone during the hardest moments in their lives.

Not a

“Cops are not going to build more homes... The issue of people staying on the CTA is that we don't have other places... for people to go"

Katie Prout Staff Writer, Chicago Reader

Monday for the Masses

La DePaulia

El festival ‘pertenece en Chicago’:

El festival de música Sueños regresó al Grant Park por segunda vez después de dejar su huella en la comunidad latina de Chicago el año pasado, inspirando a los asistentes a bailar al ritmo de una mezcla de reguetón, música regional mexicana y banda.

Durante el fin de semana del Memorial Day, los asistentes al festival bailaron al ritmo de Ivy Queen, El Alfa, Feid y Wisin & Yandel. Entre ellos, El Alfa y Wisin & Yandel regresaron a Sueños tras su presentación inicial en el 2022 y atrajeron a sus fanáticos al evento este año también.

Sueños es el primer festival de música latino en Chicago que se realiza en el centro de la ciudad, y con el 95% de las entradas agotadas este año, según su cuenta de Instagram.

El festival atrajo a un espectro diverso de asistentes ansiosos por disfrutar y estar rodeados de la cultura latina.

Ana Pastra, de 32 años, dijo que regresó a Sueños debido a la representación de la música y la cultura latina.

“Grandes artistas están incursionando en nuestra música, y es increíble ver la aceptación y apreciación que hay ahora por los latinos”, dijo Pastra.

El año pasado fue un momento crucial, no solo para Sueños, sino también para la música latina en Estados Unidos.

Según la Asociación de la Industria de la Grabación de América (RIAA, por sus siglas en inglés), los ingresos de la música latina superaron los $1000 millones de dólares por primera vez.

Los ingresos aumentaron de $881 millones en 2021 a $1100 millones en 2022, lo que hace que la música latina sea más mainstream y demuestra la creciente popularidad del género.

Entre los principales artistas que subieron al escenario este año estuvieron Chencho Corleone, Becky G, Myke Towers, Grupo Firme y Feid, quienes también estuvieron entre los mejores artistas latinos del año

pasado, según Billboard.

El festival no solo presenta una mezcla de estrellas en ascenso, sino que también busca celebrar la cultura latina en Chicago, donde los latines representan el 28.7% de la población.

“Chicago es hogar de muchos latinos y muchas culturas diferentes”, dijo Pastra. “Necesitábamos a Sueños en Chicago. Pertenece en Chicago y seguiré regresando porque es increíble”.

Para otros fanáticos, el festival brindó una sensación de comodidad, haciendo que el largo viaje desde Austin, Minnesota, hasta Chicago valiera la pena para Christian Juárez, de 21 años.

“Este es mi primer festival y me siento cómoda”, dijo Juárez mientras llevaba una bandera mexicana alrededor de su cuello.

Juárez asistió por primera vez este año y lo hizo con un grupo de amigos, con la esperanza de ver a artistas que solo había visto en sus sueños, según dijo.

“Lo bueno de los artistas aquí es que abrazan todas las culturas, como puertorriqueños, mexicanos y colombianos”, agregó Juárez. “Nos hacen sentir incluidos cuando generalmente no lo somos”.

Mientras tanto, Gustavo Rodríguez, de 33 años, quería mostrar su orgullo por Sueños de una manera única.

Tenía grabado “Sueños” en la parte trasera de su corte de pelo desvanecido, resaltando una palabra que tenía un significado especial en su vida.

Rodríguez es un beneficiario de DACA y Dreamer que vino a los Estados Unidos desde Perú y aún pudo acercarse a su cultura en el festival.

“Soy un Soñador, así que este festival me brinda algo con lo que puedo identificarme”, dijo Rodríguez.

Como alguien que creció escuchando a los artistas cuando era niño, fue un momento increíble verlos a todos en el escenario, dijo Rodríguez. “Todos los artistas que están aquí hoy, siento que crecí con ellos”.

Jez Marie, del lado oeste de la ciudad, asistió al festival a divertirse, pero dijo que no

tenía idea de cuánta conexión sentiría con los demás hasta que llegó y vio a multitudes de personas luciendo orgullosamente la bandera de su país.

“Hoy he visto a tanta gente, de diferentes culturas, incluso fuera de la comunidad latina, y es genial ver a todos bailando con nuestra música”, dijo Marie mientras sostenía su bandera puertorriqueña. “Llevo la mía porque soy puertorriqueña y estoy orgullosa de ello”.

A medida que Chicago continúa siendo sede de más eventos centrados en la comunidad latina, como el Miche Fest y el Ruido Fest, este festival del Medio Oeste en particular seguirá reuniendo a las personas y celebrando la cultura latina, afirman los organizadores.

“Amo la cultura”, dijo Pastra. “Amo a los latinos y todo lo relacionado con los latinos”.

Rodríguez contribuyó a la cobertura.

Stephania

ERICK QUEZADA | LA DEPAULIA

El festival Sueños regreso a Grant Park por segunda vez durante el fin de semana de Memorial Day. Sueños presento a varios artistas Latines como Arcangel, El Alfa y mas.

Por Vanessa Lopez Editora de Redes Sociales, La DePaulia

Sueños muestra el reciente éxito de la música latina

ERICK QUEZADA | LA DEPAULIA

FRANKIE PEREZ | LA DEPAULIA

Los artistas Wisin & Yandel cantan sus canciones en el escenario de Sueños. Ivy Queen en el escenario de Sueños.

OPINIÓN: Las hermanas mayores en familias latinas cargan una responsabilidad pesada

Por Alexa Bañuelos Escritora Contribuyente, La DePaulia

Aunque cada hogar latino refleja dinámicas muy diferentes, hay un aspecto que pocas veces cambia dentro de muchas familias: el rol de la hija mayor.

Las hijas mayores toman un rol significativo, especialmente en los hogares latinos de primera generación, porque desde una edad muy temprana, no sólo asumen una responsabilidad por sus hermanos menores, sino también tienen que combatir las barreras culturales.

Nelly Rentería, es una hermana mayor y maestra de una escuela primaria.

Ella indica que al ser la hija primogénita, sintió que tenía que cuidar a sus hermanas para ayudar a sus padres.

“Siento que tuve que guiar a mis hermanas cuando mis padres no pudieron guiarlas”, dijo Rentería.

Sus padres pasaban la mayor parte de su tiempo trabajando.

Ella indica que, por ser la mayor, solidificó su capacidad para darles consejos basados en sus experiencias anteriores.

Rentería añadió que cuando su hermana menor estaba considerando una carrera de maestra, ella le dio su punto de vista y le dio consejos con respeto a su experiencia como maestra.

“He vivido las cosas de primera mano”, dijo Rentería.

La estudiante de DePaul, Esperanza Benavides, expresó un pensamiento similar cuando reconoció que aunque solo es dos años mayor que su hermana, siente que las experiencias únicas que ha tenido, le han ayudó a desarrollar la pericia necesaria para poder ayudarla.

“Recuerdo crecer tomando las riendas”, dijo Benavides.

Esta responsabilidad y presión para tomar

las riendas la sienten muchas latinas que se preocupan por los hermanos menores que dependen de ellas, especialmente en una cultura tan centrada en la familia como es la nuestra.

Abril Alvarez, estudiante de ingeniería en la UIC, dijo que se identifica mucho con su rol de hermana mayor porque siente que su familia siempre fue muy dependiente de ella.

A causa de esto, el rol que toma como la hermana mayor tiene mucha influencia en su identidad y siente que todo lo que hace lo hace consciente de su hermana menor.

“Todo lo que he hecho en toda mi vida, creo que lo he hecho por mi hermana”, dijo Alvarez.

Pero no solo siente una responsabilidad como hermana mayor, sino también como

hija mayor.

Como consecuencia, siente mucha responsabilidad por el bienestar de todos sus seres queridos y hasta ha impactado su decisión de estudiar ingeniería.

“Lo bueno de la ingeniería es que entiendes muchas cosas sobre cómo funciona el mundo y siento que eso es lo que necesitaba saber para cuidar de mi familia”, expresó Alvarez.

Alvarez dice que a menudo se pregunta si hubiera elegido estudiar ingeniería si no fuera por su familia.

Dentro de este contexto se puede entender las presiones que las hijas mayores sienten para no fracasar y anhelar una educación universitaria para así fijar un ejemplo para sus hermanos y poder aprovechar de las

oportunidades que sus padres tal vez no tuvieron.

Alvarez dijo que la presión que siente de siempre estar disponible para ayudar y ser un recurso para su familia le ha hecho sentirse muy sola en ocasiones.

“Puede sentirse muy impotente y solitario porque la mayoría de nosotras hemos internalizado este papel de lo que se supone que debemos ser y lo que se supone que debemos hacer”, expresó Alvarez.

Dentro de este contexto es importante cultivar un mayor aprecio y reconocimiento de las hijas mayores.

Ser la hermana mayor en una familia latina puede no ser fácil, pero es un rol que sirve como un pilar para el núcleo familiar.

Residentes del lado oeste da mixtas reacciones sobre el nuevo centro de entrenamiento del Chicago Fire

por Santiago Gonzalez Tijerina Editor de Deportes, La DePaulia

El equipo profesional de fútbol soccer Chicago Fire acaba de firmar un acuerdo con la ciudad para comprar un terreno al oeste de la ciudad, donde construirán un nuevo centro de entrenamiento que costará alrededor de 80 millones de dólares.

En el sitio del futuro centro de entrenamiento, estaban ubicadas unidades de vivienda pública, las cuales fueron demolidas en su mayoría en 2007.

En aquel entonces, la Autoridad de Vivienda de Chicago (CHA), había prometido usar esa tierra para construir unidades de vivienda asequible, pero al final no se cumplió.

Esto ha traído críticas al nuevo acuerdo de convertir el lugar en un centro de entrenamientos para un equipo de fútbol.

En septiembre del año pasado, se llevó a cabo una reunión del concejo donde fue aprobado el centro de entrenamiento 37 votos contra 11.

El Concejal Jason Ervin, cuyo barrio alojará esta instalación, votó a favor del acuerdo.

“Nuestro trabajo al final del día es representar a los residentes a quienes estamos obligados a hacerlo, y los residentes aquí están a favor de este empeño” dijo Erivn a Block Club Chicago.

El mes pasado hubo una ceremonia de rompimiento del suelo para empezar la construcción.

Aunque fue atendida por muchos de los que estuvieron de acuerdo, como Ervin, la ex alcaldesa Lori Lightfoot y la gente de Chicago Fire, también aparecieron los que se oponen a este movimiento.

Entre estos el activista, manifestante y director ejecutivo del Lugenia Burns Hope Center, Rod Wilson, que estuvo presente junto a sus colegas para protestar la ceremonia.

Wilson dijo que aunque se necesitan otras cosas aparte de la vivienda, ese no es el trabajo de la CHA, y no deberían estar subsidiando estos proyectos con tierra que fue designada para unidades de vivienda pública.

En cambio, Paul Cadwell, jefe de instala-

ciones de Chicago Fire, cree que esto beneficia a todos los involucrados.

“Esto no solo sería bueno para Chicago Fire, sino también traerá unos recursos que se necesitan para la gente que vive ahí”, dijo.

Según Cadwell, se había vuelto evidente que esta tierra no sería usada para construir viviendas públicas a menos de que alguien invirtiera más dinero, dado que ha estado vacía por varios años.

Cadwell agregó que el acuerdo entre la Ciudad de Chicago, CHA y Chicago Fire, incluye el pago inicial de ocho millones de dólares en inversión comunitaria. Estos recursos se esperan usar para restaurar hogares en la comunidad en el oeste de la ciudad.

“Esos ocho millones de dólares fueron

algo que se necesitaba mucho para empezar la restauración y renovación de las viviendas actuales”, dijo Cadwell.

Cadwell agregó que el contrato también incluye otros 40 millones de dólares que serán invertidos por parte de la CHA para construir vivienda pública en la comunidad.

Por último, Cadwell aseguró que este centro de entrenamiento también será de beneficio para los habitantes del área, ya que proporcionarán diez puestos pagados al año en los que los habitantes podrán trabajar y hacer parte de la organización del Chicago Fire FC.

Se espera que el centro de entrenamiento termine su construcción en verano del 2024.

MAYA OCCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

La instalación planeada de entrenamiento para Chicago Fire FC.

Arts & Life

Flo Milli becomes first Woman of color to headline FEST

By Claire Tweedie Staff Writer

For an event marketed simply as an end-of-year concert, FEST is so much more than the $10 ticket and big name performances on the quad. This year’s event featured opener Emblem3 and headliner Flo Milli, both of whom did their best to keep the energy up and students entertained for the long night ahead of them. FEST 2023 proved worthwhile but only for those willing to dance along to unfamiliar music and try everything the main event and After Hours had planned.

The three student openers — Superdime, Ocean Child and Zeno Camera + Socks Off — showcased some of the best music student bands at DePaul and rocked the stage like professionals. Despite the few students willing to show

up right at the 4:00 p.m. opening to hear them, it was arguably one of the most talented parts of the event.

Showing up early also meant a better chance for attendees to explore all of the booths FEST had to offer. The most interesting and exciting included free Jeni’s Ice Cream, an air brush t-shirt station and TwistiCity Giant Bubbles.

The main event of the night’s concert was lackluster. Only a marginal part of the audience actually knew any of the artists’ music, meaning the majority of attendees simply bobbed their heads along and dampened the energy. It proved hard to get a crowd that size with that amount of unfamiliarity to the music properly hyped up but both Flo Milli and Emblem3 did their best with what they had.

The logistics of the concert proved to be messy with delayed performance and unimpressive placeholder acts. Flo Milli

was supposed to start performing at 8:30 p.m. but as 9 p.m. hit, students became bored with local DJ Festus’ unimaginative set. You can only hear so many overplayed popular songs clumsily mixed together before you start questioning how much longer you are willing to wait for the headliner. The delay also meant Flo Milli’s set was shorter than expected, only lasting until roughly 9:45 p.m. when FEST transitioned from the concert to the FEST After Hours event.

While students went to FEST to hear Flo Milli’s stellar rapping, they were more likely to hear her backup tracks blasting through the speakers. The microphone she was actually rapping into was programmed way too quietly for anyone past the front of the crowd to hear her. When added to the fact that everyone was squeezed together so tightly you could barely see anything past the heads of

those in front of you, it made the entire performance slightly off putting.

In Flo Milli’s defense, attendees could be heard commenting that while they may not know her songs, at least she was better than last year’s FEST headliner 2Chainz. Her more popular songs did inject the crowd with some necessary adrenaline and her energy carried through until the end of the concert. In lieu of her tagline, thankfully Flo Milli was not shit.

The fog machines were an odd addition to the concert. You could see billows of smoke puff up from random people in the audience and some were even scented, though some definitely smelled better than others. For such close proximity in the crowd, it was an odd choice to even have the fog machines in the first place.

Continued on next page

ERICK QUEZADA | LA DEPAULIA

Hip-hop artist Flo Milli performs for hundreds of students at FEST on Friday. Students enjoyed the lineup of singers more this year compared to last years set of attending artists.

If it made the experience more enjoyable for some though, who cares about the people standing right next to you getting a face full of smoke. Maybe next time just use the fog machines outside of the gated event.

The FEST After Hours event made everything entirely worth it. A tip for all the FEST first timers though, unless you are absolutely dying to hear the headliner’s entire set, go early to the After Hours party. The line filled up quickly for both check-in and the food station so unless you wanted to stand around for 30 minutes hangry, maybe skip the last song and secure your spot for the potato bar. The event also featured DePaul student DJ Horde who deserved the stage time DJ Festus had during the concert. Unlike the latter, Horde actually knew how to keep the party going and how to curate a solid soundtrack.

If food and music were not enticing enough for students during FEST After Hours, there was also a ping pong table, photo booth and karaoke set up in room 120 AB of the Student Center. The karaoke

room saw some stellar performances, including a Frank Sinatra ballad and duet from the show “Victorious,” letting students sing out the rest of their energy from the night’s festivities.

It was entertaining to see Flo Milli and Emblem3 perform live but the real heroes of FEST were the students actually running the event. Student employees from the DePaul Activities Board (DAB) could be seen darting around the entire night sporting “staff” t-shirts and ensuring everything ran smoothly. While everyone else got to stand back and enjoy FEST as the end of year concert, they were getting things done.

FEST 2023 ended the year on a high note, especially if you explored everything there was to offer. With various artists, free merchandise and the good times provided, there was something for everyone if you knew where to look. Even if the music was not to your taste, the $10 spent was worth it for the After Hours event alone. FEST 2023 was a triumph but it was ultimately on the individual attendee to make it fun.

ERICK QUEZADA | LA DEPAULIA

Emblem3 opens for Flo Milli at FEST on Friday, May 26. The rock group out of southern California entertained the crowd of DePaul student attendees with a mix of their top songs.

ERICK QUEZADA | LA DEPAULIA

DePaul band Zeno Camera + Socks Off helped kick off FEST before the headliners.

ERICK QUEZADA | LA DEPAULIA Students flooded the Quad from 4 p.m. until the performance ended at 9 p.m.

DEPAUL ACTIVITIES BOARD

By Vanessa lopez

Sueños Music Festival returned to Grant Park for the second time after leaving a footprint on Chicago's Latine community last year, inspiring attendees to move their bodies to a mix of reggaeton, regional mexican, and banda beats.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, festival goers danced to the music of Ivy Queen, El Alfa, Feid, and Wisin and Yandel at the onestage venue. Among them, El Alfa and Wisin y Yandel who were both back to Sueños from its initial performance in 2022, but that did not discourage fans from returning.

Sueños is Chicago’s first Latin-based music festival, and with 95% of tickets sold out this year, the festival attracted a diverse spectrum of festival goers eager to embrace and be surrounded by Latine culture according to their Instagram.

Ana Pastra, 32, said she returned because of the representation of Latino music and culture.

“Big artists are getting into our music, and it is incredible to see the acceptance and appreciation for Latinos now,” Pastra said.

Last year was a watershed moment not only for Sueños but also for Latino music in the United States.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Latino music revenue surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

The revenue increased from $881 million in 2021 to $1.1 billion in 2022, making Latino music more mainstream and demonstrating the genre’s growing popularity.

Among the top artists who took the stage this year were Chencho Corleone, Becky G, Myke Towers, Grupo Firme and Feid, who were also among last year’s top Latino artists according to Billboard.

The festival not only features a mix of rising stars, but it also aims to embrace Latine culture in Chicago, where Latinos account for 28.7% of the population.

"Chicago is home to so many Latinos and so many different cultures," Pastra said. “We needed Sueños in Chicago. It belongs in Chicago, and I will keep coming back because it is so amazing.”

Sueños embraces Latine musical success across the charts

For other fans, the festival provided a sense of comfort, making the lengthy drive from Austin, Minnesota to Chicago worth it for 21-year-old Christian Jaurez.

“This is my first festival and I feel comfortable,” Juarez said while wearing a Mexican flag tied around his neck. “I feel like me.”

Juarez was a first year attendee with a group of friends, hoping to see artists he'd only seen in his sueños, meaning his dream, he said.

“The thing about the artists here is that they embrace all cultures, like Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and Colombians,” Juarez added. “They make us feel included when we usually aren't.”

Meanwhile, Gustavo Rodriguez, 33, wanted to show off their Sueños pride in a unique way.

“Sueños” was imprinted on the back of his faded haircut, highlighting a word that carried a special significance in his life.

Rodriguez is a DACA recipient and Dreamer who came to the United States from Peru and was still able to embrace his culture at the festival.

“I’m a Dreamer, so this festival gives me something that I can relate to,” Rodriguez said.

As someone who grew up listening to the performers as a kid, it was an unbelievable moment to see them all on stage, Rodriguez said. “All the artists that are here today, I feel like I grew up with them.”

we are hiring, please inquire on site.

Jez Marie, a West Side native, came to the festival to have fun, but she said she had no idea how connected she would feel to others until she arrived and saw the crowds of people

proudly wearing their country’s flag.

“I've seen so many people today, all from different cultures, even outside of the Latino community, and it's cool to see everyone dancing to our music,” Marie said holding her Puerto Rican flag, “I’m wearing mine because I'm Puertorriqueña, and I'm about it.”

As Chicago continues to host more Latino-centered events such as Miche Fest and Ruido Fest, this Midwest festival in particular will continue to bring people together and celebrate Latino culture, organizers say.

“I love the culture,” Pastra said. “I love Latinos and everything that has to do with Latinos.”

Stephania Rodriguez contributed to the reporting

JACK DOMBRO | THE DEPAULIA Wisin & Yandel perform in Grant Park on Saturday night. The two artists returned for the 2023 Sue ños music festival.

VANESSA LOPEZ | THE DEPAULIA

Sueños concert-goers cheer on the assortment of Latin and Spanish artists that performed.

JACK DOMBRO | THE DEPAULIA paopao performed a mix of her most popular songs for the huge crowd of fans.

Sufjan'Reflections'Stevens takes us to the Ballet

By Jonah weBer Asst. Arts Life Editor

Composer and songwriter Sufjan Stevens released a new collaborated album with Timo Andres and Conor Hanick. The album is titled “Reflections” and released on streaming platforms in May of 2023. I first listened to “Reflections” while commuting on the blueline home. I picked out an ambient mix made by Spotify, hoping to find something relaxing and calming while I read up on some upcoming assignments. Before I knew it, I was engrossed in the fifth song on the album, “Rodinia,” a song that transported me to a Hayao Miyazaki film. No longer focusing on

performs music that falls in the indie and alternative genres.

The album opens up with “Ekstasis,” which means ecstasy in Greek, and “to stand outside of or transcend oneself,” according to Britannica. The intro to this album sucks you in right away with fast pace and rhythmic piano playing. There are two pianos playing together, and it mirrors the image of a group of ballet dancers working together in choreography.

The seven song album goes by quickly. It has a total runtime of 30 minutes. Originally I was disappointed to find this out after listening through the whole album the first time, but it works when you remember it was composed for a ballet, which tend to run for thirty minutes to two hours. I also found it to be the perfect commuter and reading album. As far as album interpretation though, I recommend taking your time and listening to it closely.

On my first listen, I found it to be a little repetitive. It felt like all the songs started the same, and I questioned whether I had an ear for classical music.

Historically it is not my go-to genre, yet I persevered through the album. I’m thankful I did.

Rather than being repetitive, the songs actually transition incredibly smoothly from one to the next. Each song has a unique, cathartic feeling. The notes are intense and loud but slowly smooth out as the songs go on.

After three intense songs, the fourth track, “Mnemosyne” feels like a breath of fresh air. Rather than banging piano keys, the sounds are soft and fast.

You can picture hands running across the ivory keys and ballerinas dancing in synchronization so clearly when this song comes on. “Mnemosyne” means “the goddess of memory” in Greek mythology.

It is always exciting when a musician tackles a different genre of music, in this case going from indie and alternative to classical. Stevens brings a unique and exciting new feeling to his discography with “Reflections.”

The album is titled “Reflections” and released on streaming platforms in May 2023.

PHOTO | SPOTIFY

‘The Little Mermaid’ makes a surprising splash in this reviewer's heart

By K assem w. ossman Contributing Writer

I’ll be honest — when I sat down to see “The Little Mermaid” live-action remake opening day, I was not excited. However, as I left the theater, I was surprisingly satisfied with it. The movie itself is an enjoyable rendition of a classic film with a few questionable changes.

If you haven’t been living under a rock (or a coral reef), then you’ve heard of the redheaded siren who sacrificed her voice for the handsome Prince Eric by making a deal with the sea witch Ursula. This rendition of the classic film, however, stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as the charming Prince Eric, along with other big names such as Melissa McCarthy, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina and Javier Bardem.

The movie set designer outdid themselves with the island Eric and his kingdom live on. The vibrant, bustling tropical feel could not have been

done with animation. The sequence of Eric showing Ariel around the village through a chaotic marketplace with pushy vendors visually highlights Ariel's inner thoughts and allowed the audience to see the world through her eyes. Here I saw a real charm that I didn’t get from the original when watching, allowing me to connect with how she already feels at home in this strange new world.

The casting for this movie was perfectly done, Melissa McCarthy did a phenomenal job playing Ursula, paying homage to Pat Carroll in the 1989 animated film with a gravely alto voice that is iconic of the sea witch. McCarthy’s performance in “Poor Unfortunate Souls” eased my worries over the casting decision. Along with her, Halle Bailey was a creative choice that I wouldn’t have originally thought to play Ariel but worked so well. Bailey’s energy was bubbly as well as oblivious, encapsulating the naive mermaid from the original film well.

A lot of the changes to the film connected us more to the above land world, which I enjoyed. Nothing was major, cutting a couple of songs underwater, fleshing out the conflict of the islanders' fears of the oceans and other minor details that allow us to find the charm on land, putting us in Ariel’s viewpoint.

Some of the alterations, however, either made no sense whatsoever or just didn’t work the way they were intended. A lot of the musical numbers in the film felt bare without the addition of the ensemble. We were left with a duet and trio in songs like “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl” instead of a sea full of singing aquatic animals. While the warm tenor of Daveed Diggs and bright timbre from Halle Bailey worked well, it would’ve been amplified with other voices backing up their duo.

I could forgive all of that if the editor simply raised the exposure when editing by five notches. Throughout the movie, I couldn’t see parts of the scenes

simply because it was just too dark. I remember when the trailer came out, I was talking to a friend about how the movie felt just dark and that it didn’t feel like the classic colorful bright colors that Disney is known for, however, this has been a trend for most Disney live-action remakes. To make the film seem more mature, they suck the color out of the movie and darken it, which not only makes it feel lackluster but it doesn’t feel full of joy and passion as the originals.

Go see the movie. It does a good job of changing a story enough that you are still on your toes wondering what will happen next. Some of the changes I will say were not my favorite, and personally the lack of “Les Poissons” hurt me to the core, but I still think that it is a surprisingly good watch. Three out of five stars.

Funnies off Jackson

YÙ YÙ BLUE | THE DEPAULIA

St.Vincent’s

D e JAMZ

“Spinning freSh beatS Since 1581”

By lilly K eller

Arts & Life Editor

While pride month is not yet upon us, I find it best to be prepared. Lilly, you may ask, how does one prepare for Pride month? I'm so glad you asked because I have one word for you: cowboys. This might seem cryptic, but all will be revealed after you listen to this week's Dejamz. Now, I invite you to saddle up your steed and polish off your spurs because we are in for a wild ride, my dear readers.

"Cowboys Are Frequently Fond of Each Other" by Willie Nelson

Lately, I have been grinding on that Willie Nelson vibe, making everyone I know listen to this song. I've been forcing it on my dad, my grandmother, and even my middle school best friend, to whom I no longer talk. Nobody can escape me subjecting their ears to this song. All I'm saying is that Nelson deserves a Pulitzer

Prize for this certified banger. This song has fundamentally changed the trajectory of my life, and I'll conclude with that.

"Fist City" by Loretta Lynn

Though not as direct as my previous track, I am steadfast in my belief that Loretta's music is queer-coded. Arguably the original girl boss, "Fist City" depicts one of the most iconic diss tracks. While we may not know who the song's mysterious homewrecker is, we know Lynn stuck to her promise and physically fought her. I don't know about you, but all I can say is I'm jealous of the woman who went to the fist city.

"Kansas (Remembers Me Now)” by Orville Peck

You thought I would write a gay western DeJamz without including Orville Peck? You fool. Funnily enough, it was my mom who introduced me to the glory of Peck's music. Everybody says thank you, Jennifer. While this song may not appear

Crossword

gay on the surface, it's all about the subtext. Told from the perspective of real-life murderer Perry Smith on the eve of his execution, Peck's lyrics exude something equal parts romantic and horrific, giving it a place on this week's Dejamz.

"The Maker Makes" by Rufus Wainwright

OK, not precisely Western — sue me — but oh my god, this song. Appearing on the "Brokeback Mountain" soundtrack and playing during the film's end credits, this song makes me want to run into ongoing traffic. The epitome of queer love, loss and heartbreak, "The Maker Makes" makes me feel gutted and crave a stiff drink.

"He Was a Friend of Mine" by Willie Nelson

We get it, you like Willie Nelson and "Brokeback Mountain" is your favorite movie. I'm telling you, if you have not yet watched this movie or read Annie Prou -

ACROSS

1) The silent Marx

6) Less dicey

11) Triangular sail

14) In-demand group

15) "Skyfall" singer

16) "_ been had!"

17) "Purple Haze" singer mentioned in "Rock and Roll Heaven" 19) Soccer star Hamm

20) Fraternal group

21) Japanese noodle soup

23) San Diego community

27) Steering system

parts

29) How pills are taken

30) Life's work

31) Co-op alternative

32) Threedimensional

33) Scott Joplin piece 36) "Lucky Jim" writer Kingsley 37) Board game turns

38) Split apart

39)_ Palmas

40) Sugar portions

41) Saran don of "Bull Durham"

42) Prison warden

44) Danson's role on "Cheers"

45) Weighttraining partner

47) Edison's 1,000+

48) Sullen sort

49) Brand with a four-ring logo

50) Start of the Musketeers' motto

51) "Dock of the Bay" singer mentioned in "Rock and Roll Heaven"

58) Go slaloming

59) Acme's opposite

60) Opera role

61) Solo of "Star Wars"

62) Reaches across 63) Shangri-las

lx's short story that inspired the film, we cannot be friends. One of the most moving pieces of literature and film I have ever seen, I will defend "Brokeback Mountain" until I am six feet underground.

DOWN

1) Leon Uris novel, with "The"

2) "Aladdin" prince

3) Salt's place, in a margarita

4) Tire gauge meas.

5) Shakespearean Moor

6) Early decaf brand

7) Tosses in

8) In favor of, in dialect

9) Inventor Whitney

10) Former co-host of "At the Movies"

11) "Light My Fire"

singer mentioned in "Rock and Roll Heaven"

12) Like some college walls

13) Pork go-with

18) TV rustic _ May Clampett

22) "Facts_ facts"

23) Kind of anesthetic

24) Kitchen allure

25) "Me and Bobby McGee" singer mentioned in "Rock and Roll Heaven"

26) Early auto maker

27) Old wives' output?

28) Camera or eye part

30) Nightclub charge

32) Like a designated driver

34)_-garde

35) Chromosome units

37) Donkey-horse offspring

38) Hold sway over

40) Colorful bits in some cakes

41) Vegged out

43) Munched on

44) Put together

45) Hard tennis shot

46) Welk tune

47) Feline utterances

49) A, _ "apple"

52) Gregory Hines specialty

53) First lady McKinley

54) Defective firecracker

55) Hotel freebie

56) "Delta of Venus" author

57) Petrol, stateside

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIKI

Volleyball finalizes recruiting class for 2023 season

By Preston Zbroszczyk Asst. Sports Editor

DePaul volleyball head coach Marie Zidek and her staff have made significant moves during the offseason, actively recruiting versatile and talented players to the team’s roster for the highly anticipated 2023 season.

With the majority of last year’s team set to return, the Blue Demons have focused on fortifying its squad, making only minor adjustments to the lineup. The result could be a formidable team boasting a wealth of experience.

The Blue Demons experienced some growing pains after finishing last season with a 10-20 record, but the outlook for the 2023 season can not be ignored with the nucleus of returning athletes.

“We are so proud of the group coming back and super excited to add these four incomers,” Zidek said. “Folding in these new additions should compound this program’s progress exponentially as we head into the fall, and we are eager to see what this group is capable of as one DePaul volleyball team.”

The Blue Demons added four players from the class of 2023: defensive specialist and libero Nora Mannion from San Francisco; Yagmur Yavuz, an outside hitter from Turkey; Meghan Scholz, a middle blocker from Wisconsin; and graduate transfer Audrey Kemp from Loyola Marymount.

These four add versatility for the team in 2023, with a chance to grow while watching and learning from the 13 on the team already.

“The 2023 incomers will add depth in playing pieces and competitive personalities that will help the returning group get back into the hunt for a postseason championship opportunity,” Zidek said.

Headlining the class is Scholz. After a stellar career at Tomahawk High School and being named a three time All-Conference First Team member, Scholz registered over 1,000 career kills with 455 of which came in her senior year. She took her team with a 30-8

record to the regional championships.

Yavuz, from Turkey, originally started her collegiate volleyball career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after redshirting her freshman season, giving her the full years of eligibility.

Prior to her arrival in the U.S., Yavuz won three European Championships at the youth level and participated in the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival in Slovakia.

“Yagmur brings seasoned volleyball experience from her development days in Turkey,” Zidek said. “She comes from a tremendous sporting family. What I am most excited about in Yami is her thirst to be great. She has all of the skills needed to be a high-level

Elijah Fisher should improve DePaul’s recruiting process moving forward

By Tom Gorski Sports Editor

COMMENTARY

For the past two decades, DePaul basketball has been perceived by many as an afterthought in the realm of Chicago sports. With regular low attendance figures and limited local media coverage, the team has struggled to make a lasting impression in the college basketball landscape.

However, a new chapter is unfolding as the program seeks to break free from its underwhelming reputation, seeing a glimmer of hope with head coach Tony Stubblefield landing former Texas Tech five-star recruit Elijah Fisher from the transfer portal this offseason.

The last time DePaul was able to secure a five-star prospect was in 2017 with the commitment of point guard Tyger Campbell. Unfortunately, it did not last long as five months later, Campbell reopened his recruitment, eventually leaving DePaul for UCLA.

Stubblefield has not had much success on the court over his first two seasons at DePaul, owning a 25-39 record finishing in the bottom half of the Big East Con-

ference. Nevertheless, prior to joining the Blue Demons, Stubblefield’s reputation as an assistant at Oregon was his ability to recruit at a high level, which was one of the main reasons he was hired at DePaul in the first place.

Being able to recruit a player of Fisher’s caliber is rare for a school like DePaul, but doing so could be the new norm for the program moving. It is often said that a single player has the power to transform an entire program, and if Fisher lives up to expectations, it may pave the way for other high-profile recruits to consider committing to DePaul.

Fisher did not see much playing time this past season because of how deep Texas Tech roster has become over its recent NCAA Tournament success. The Red Raiders made it to the National Championship in 2019 but lost to Virginia. Since, the program has landed eight four-star recruits, which arguably played a factor in Fisher’s limited court action.

The 6-foot-6 standout guard reclassified and opted out his senior season to enroll at Texas Tech early. During his final season at Crestwood Prep as a junior, he averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds, while also coming away with three steals per game.

point scorer, and her passion for her own development and willingness to help the team is what is going to propel her there. I am thrilled to have Yami here already working with the team and am excited to help her rise to expectations.”

Returning 13 players from last season brings depth along with experience that will be key for the Blue Demons to compete in the Big East and potentially the NCAA Tournament.

Assistant head coach Maddie Beal said she’s excited for the direction the program is heading.

“You know, going into the fall, we’re feeling really good and we’re really excited

to get our 2023 newcomer kids to join the team as well.

As the 2023 season slowly nears, DePaul volleyball will look to emerge as a resolute force, and prove its worth on the court. With Zidek’s leadership, a cohesive blend of returning athletes, and fresh talent, the Blue Demons are prepared in its pursuit to make noise in the Big East.

“It obviously wasn’t our best year going from fourth in the conference to not having your best season this past season in the fall,” junior libero Rachel Krasowski said. “But at the end of the day, I genuinely think it helped us just to be hungry for the spring season.”

Fisher also made his Canadian national team debut last summer, helping Canada win bronze at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup and winning MVP honors at the BioSteel All-Canadian game in Toronto with his 28-point performance.

Stubblefield has shown success in the transfer portal since his arrival, recruiting Umoja Gibson from Oklahoma and Javan Johnson from Iowa State, who were DePaul’s biggest offensive producers from this past season combining for 30 points per game.

Not only could Fisher’s recruitment help attract other top recruits, but his presence and production alone could

bring success into the win column immediately. The program has not seen a player with the potential of Fisher in some time, and having him with three seasons of eligibility is pivotal for the program.

While it remains to be seen how Fisher will perform at DePaul, his recruitment alone has already generated excitement and optimism among the fan base and Chicago community. If Fisher lives up to expectations and delivers on his potential, he could become a catalyst for the program’s resurgence, attracting more high-profile recruits and ultimately leading DePaul back to prominence in Chicago sports.

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

DePaul volleyball will add 4 players and return 13 for the 2023 season. Zidek will be entering her sixth season as coach.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA Men’s basketball coach Tony Stubblefield at a press conference in November.

Track & Field competes in NCAA prelims after historic season Sports

By Preston Zbroszczyk Asst. Sports Editor

DePaul’s track and field team sent four athletes to compete in the NCAA first round in Sacramento, California. Sophomores Alex Bernstein and Darius Brown represented the men’s team, while senior Tori Carroll and freshman Jaiah Hopf took part for DePaul’s women’s team.

The events each athlete competed in varied. Brown competed in hurdles events, while Hopf took part in the long jump — the event in which an athlete takes a running start and jumps as far as they can into a sand pit for distance.

Carroll was in the triple jump, which is the event in which an athlete makes a horizontal jump for distance. Finally, Bernstein competed in the hammer throw, which consists of a throw with a metal ball on a steel wire for distance.

Head coach David Dopek is concluding his 13th season at DePaul and has developed a specific philosophy putting an emphasis on education to recruit his athletes.

“It’s about the culture here,” Dopek said. “The long lasting lessons. We recruit talented athletes who are also academically motivated.”

Dopek’s players’ significant focus on academics has shown throughout this season. The team’s cumulative GPA for the men was 3.5 and for the women was 3.2.

Dopek’s connections to DePaul stem back to his days as a track athlete. In 1995, Dopek was the school’s first individual or team participant to win an NCAA championship in the 200-meter.

In this season’s Big East Tournament, the men placed second, and the women placed third in the competition that took place May 11-13.

Although only four were able to qualify for the NCAA preliminary first round, the work by the rest of the athletes did not go unnoticed.

Senior Olivia Borowiak won the Female Athlete of The Year in the 2023 Billys, and Brown won Male Athlete of The Year.

Additionally, the men’s track and field team took home DePaul’s team of year award at the Billys, which captured the overall talent of the team throughout this season.

In comments made by Dopek, he said that it is easy to get caught up with all the individual work, but track and field is really a team sport.

After the results of both top three finishes for the men’s and women’s teams in the Big East Tournament, Dopek was pleased with the team’s performance.

“They did excellent,” Dopek said. “It was going to take a perfect effort. The men and women showed up and kept fighting.”

The athletes have been breaking records and setting personal best numbers all season long.

Bernstein, from Preston, England placed first in all four of his outdoor events and first in the Big East Tournament. His hammer throw events consist of him being able to throw a weighted ball on a steel wire for distance.

“Everyone loves track and field,” Bernstein said. “It’s the ultimate sport that tests human physical ability.”

In his NCAA preliminary debut he placed in the top 25 with a final mark of 63.01-meters.

His teammate Brown has also been able to replicate the same success this season.

Brown competes in over four events, but his primary focus is the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdle. He has broken records in the 110-meter hurdle, 60-meter and 400-meter this season.

Qualifying for the second time in consecutive years for the NCAA first round, Brown placed 11th with a time of 13.66.

Brown values his family and always keeps them close to him, wearing a necklace in honor of a deceased relative.

“It has something to do with this lowkey [pointing to his cross necklace],” Brown said. “Because this is my cousin, and he used to hurdle a long time ago, and he’s passed away, and they passed it down to me.”

As for Carroll, the only senior participating, her hard work and humble approach has guided her towards her success.

She brought home her second Big East Championship in the long jump qualifying for her third NCAA preliminary event.

The senior placed in the top 30 over the weekend ending her season.

“So much different competition, a lot of pressure, but I feel I belong,” Carroll said. “My spiritual background, God and Jesus at times have helped me out, and I believe in everything that happened for a reason.”

For Hopf, in her first season as a member of the Blue Demons, she had a time of 12.11 in her triple jump event.

Her success slowly built throughout the season, with the indoor and outdoor events, as she finished her first year campaign with multiple first place finishes.

With the 2023 season now concluded for these four athletes, three of them will continue at DePaul with more years of eligibility remaining and more personal

goals to be achieved.

Bernstein said that a goal of his for his senior year is to compete for a NCAA championship, and it is something that he feels is a very realistic goal with his confident ability.

“Outside of them being one of the most naturally gifted athletes, they are four of the most coachable athletes,” Dopek said. “They process critiques, work hard and

spend time resting and recovering.”

Dopek had high remarks for this season’s team saying this team came together collectively and much more organically then any other team he has led.

For the 2023 season, over 15 separate records were broken combined between the two teams, which is the most in recent history and surpasses last season’s total of 10.

@DEPAULXCTF | TWITTER Sophomore Darius Brown finished in 11th place of the Men’s 110-meter Hurdles during the Quarterfinals on Friday with a time of 13.66 seconds.

Freshman Jaiah Hopf competed in the Women’s Triple Jump on Saturday, May 27.

@DEPAULXCTF | TWITTER