The DePaulia 6/1/2021

DePaulia

The

Volume #105 | Issue #11 | June 1, 2021 | depauliaonline.com

Fatal campus collision

REBECCA MELUCH | THE DEPAULIA

The collision, which killed a woman, occurred the evening of May 28.

“

Woman killed by car in front of CDM building

By Rebecca Meluch News Editor

In the evening of May 28, a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle on the block of East Jackson Boulevard and South Wabash Avenue, in the crosswalk between DePaul’s College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) and the 7-Eleven.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the suspect was driving northbound on South Wabash Avenue when they hit the pedestrian. South Wabash Avenue is a one-way southbound street and the driver was driving in the wrong direction, according to the Tribune.

The victim, a 55-year-old woman, was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.

The suspect attempted to flee the scene, according to Chicago police.

Jessica Rocco, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department, shared a news release regarding the incident with The DePaulia.

The document says the driver was arrested in the 200 block of South Wabash around 5:30 p.m. after being positively identified as the person who fatally struck the pedestrian with his vehicle. He has since been placed in custody and charged with reckless homicide with a motor vehicle.

The document states that there is no additional information available at this time.

Alejandra Trigoso is a graduate student at DePaul and a member of the DePaul Animation Lodge Facebook group.

She posted about the incident around 5:38 p.m. and was outside of the CDM Building, located at 243 S. Wabash Ave., shortly after the accident.

I think everything took place so quickly that no one could have done anything, honestly.

Alejandra Trigoso CDM Graduate Student

At the time she stepped outside, police and ambulance already blocked off the area.

“A woman was just struck by a car in front of cdm and killed,” Trigoso’s post read. “The driver drove away without stopping. I happened to be outside right after it happened so I didn’t see everything and don’t know if it was someone from our community/don’t have all the details.”

Trigoso told The DePaulia she was at the CDM building because she was trying to finish a film in time for an animation festival.

“I came downstairs to grab a coffee and saw all of the security staff and some others crowded around the door, with like five or six bystanders around the entrance (sic),” Trigoso said.

Trigoso also said she asked one of the DePaul Public Safety officers what had happened, in which the officer shared she didn’t see the accident herself, but another officer witnessed it.

“I think everything took place so

”

quickly that no one could have done anything honestly,” Trigoso said. “I didn’t see security doing anything directly other than helping the police but I also wasn’t there for the whole ordeal. As far as I could see they were doing everything they could. ” Trigoso commented under the original post saying that when she left the CDM building, witnesses were being interviewed in the computer lab in the lobby.

At the time of publication, DePaul has not included this incident in crime reports or issued a public safety alert to its students.

Under the Clery Act, all colleges and universities that participate in all federal financial aid programs are required to disclose timely information and alerts about crimes that take place on respected campuses.

DePaul’s Crime Reporting and Clery Act Compliance policy states that decisions

See CDM, page 7

SGA investigates allegations of election violations

By Theodora Koulouvaris SGA Staff Writer

The Judicial Board of DePaul’s Student Government Association (SGA) held a hearing Thursday to investigate allegations of election violations in its spring quarter election.

David Hupp, SGA’s newly elected senator for disabled students, filed complaints alleging that newly elected SGA President Watfae Zayed accessed and submitted her application early along with newly elected executive vice president Adora Alava, and that Zayed failed to uphold her constitutional duties as vice president to hold a Constitutional Revisions Board (CRB) session.

Hupp also claimed that SGA’s Elections Operations Board (EOB) provided Zayed and her running mate with “better text formatting” when posting their initiatives on SGA’s website and that EOB failed to notify candidates and others in SGA of the election results three hours prior to notifying the public.

Zayed believes the allegations are politically motivated.

“It just seems like the timing of this all the people involved … It just seems very politically motivated because there are people in SGA that do believe in accountability and I feel if they truly did believe in accountability, and it wasn’t politically motivated, they would have mentioned this sooner or there would be other people involved,” Zayed said in an interview with The DePaulia.

While Zayed said that her decision to run for president was to represent Palestinian students and other marginailized communities at DePaul and not for monetary gain, the stakes in the election were high, as the president receives a $10,000 scholarship.

“When I saw that it was an option, although it’s a lot of work, and I knew it was going to be difficult, I recognized that I had such an amazing opportunity to support my community and I had to go for it,” Zayed said. “Scholarship or no scholarship, obviously money motivates, right, but I don’t think that was ever it for me.

When I joined SGA at the beginning, I never knew anyone had scholarships.”

Alava believes the allegations are an attack on women of color in SGA. “This is just another attack on women of color in SGA who have been obtaining leadership positions,” Alava said in an interview with The DePaulia. “I feel as if I was just roped into this for a miniscule software issue and this is being used against me as if I did not run a fair and honest campaign, [for] which I did nothing but honest work.”

Claim that EOB Did Not Notify SGA and Candidates of Election Results The hearing opened with the allegation that SGA’s EOB failed to notify candidates of the results of the election three hours prior to making them public, per SGA’s rules and regulations.

According to EOB’s bylaws, the EOB chair must inform all candidates, the SGA advisor and the president of the election results three hours prior to making the-

See SGA, page 4

2 | News. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

First Look

CAMPUS COVID-19 CASES

Last updated May 30, 2021

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Lacey Latch eic@depauliaonline.com MANAGING EDITOR | Ella Lee managing@depauliaonline.com ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR | Emma Oxnevad online@depauliaonline.com NEWS EDITOR | Rebecca Meluch news@depauliaonline.com ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Sonal Soni news@depauliaonline.com POLITICS EDITOR | Nika Schoonover politics@depauliaonline.com NATION & WORLD EDITOR | Marcus Robertson nation@depauliaonline.com OPINIONS EDITOR | Nadia Hernandez opinion@depauliaonline.com FOCUS EDITOR | Chinyere Ibeh focus@depauliaonline.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Nate Burleyson artslife@depauliaonline.com

SOURCE: COVID-19 DASHBOARD | DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

Visit the COVID-19 Dashboard for information on how to report positive cases on campus.

SPORTS EDITOR | Lawrence Kreymer sports@depauliaonline.com ASST. SPORTS EDITOR | Ernesto Hernandez sports@depauliaonline.com ART DIRECTOR | Alicia Goluszka art@depauliaonline.com PHOTO CHIEF | Eric Henry photo@depauliaonline.com SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR | Jessica Rish social@depauliaonline.com COPY EDITORS | Luke Myers, Corey Schmidt copydesk@depauliaonline.com ADVISOR | Marla Krause mkrause1@depaul.edu

La DePaulia es el noticiero oficial estudiantil en español de la Universidad DePaul, enfocado en proveer una voz para la comunidad latinx.

Nuestras opiniones no necesariamente reflejan las opiniones de la administración, facultad o personal de la universidad.

JEFA DE REDACCIÓN | María Guzmán eicladepaulia@depauliaonline.com GERENTE EDITORIAL | Erika Pérez managingladepaulia@depauliaonline.com EDITOR DE OPINIONES | Bryan Matthew López opinionesladepaulia@depauliaonline.com

FOLLOW US:

CONTACT US: depauliaonline.com

facebook.com/TheDePaulia

thedepaulia

EDITORA DE MULTIMEDIA | Julie Atencia medialadepaulia@depauliaonline.com ASISTENTE EDITORA DE MULTIMEDIA | Tori Smolen medialadepaulia@depauliaonline.com

twitter.com/TheDePaulia

thedepaulia

GENERAL PHONE (773) 325-2285 OFFICE HOURS Thursday: 6-8 p.m.

Friday: 10-6 p.m.

Sunday: 10-5 p.m.

NEWS TIPS news@depauliaonline.com

ADVERTISING business@depauliaonline.com

News

News. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 3

DePaul Faculty Council Raises Budget Concerns GRAPHIC BY ELLA LEE, IMAGES FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

By Sonal Soni Asst. News Editor

DePaul recently announced the approved budget for the upcoming two fiscal years, despite faculty concerns over the issue of shared governance outlined in the faculty handbook. On May 15, a memo sent to the faculty council budget committee outlined concerns over the approved budget and the budgetary process.

Tom Mondschean, economics professor and chair of the Faculty Council budget committee, wrote the memo with the help of Faculty Council members Scott Paeth, Ahmed Zayed and Bamshad Mobasher. “[Shared governance] is sort of an agreement between us and the administration that says that we will respect one another’s areas of primary responsibility,” Paeth, president of Faculty Council, told The DePaulia.

“Now, when it comes to the budget, the budget is not an area of the faculty’s primary responsibility, but it is an aspect of the faculty’s participatory responsibility.”

“In the case of the budget, what that means is that we have a voice, we have a place at the table, but we don’t necessarily have the final say,” he added.

The Faculty Council budget committee serves as liaison between the Faculty Council and the faculty members of the Strategic Resource Allocation (SRAC), provides assistance to those members and helps specify faculty priorities in the budgeting process, according to the faculty council website.

The memo lists several issues concerning shared governance, budgetary constraints and ambiguity in future procedures. The memo also outlines this year’s key changes in the budgetary process.

“The budget process this year was unique in several respects,” the memo reads.

“It was several steps back from many years of shared governance between faculty, staff, students and university executives on both the academic and operations sides. Of particular concern is the way that discussions with the Board of Trustees Finance Committee unfolded resulting in a break with past shared governance traditions and undermining the role of SRAC as the representatives of the university community...”

The first point of contention the memo mentions is that the chair and former chair of the Faculty Council budget committee were permitted to attend SRAC budget hearings but not executive sessions, a change from previous years.

Ahmed Zayed, math sciences professor and faculty council representative for the College of Health and Sciences, has served on the Faculty Council since 2008 and the Budget Committee since 2014. Zayed was the former chair of the faculty budget committee and participated in SRAC executive sessions in the past. He anticipated attending this year’s sessions, as former chairs have in the past; however, Zayed was initially in-

formed that would not be the case.

“I’ve been serving on these committees and SRAC and faculty council Budget Committee for many years, and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Zayed said. “For years, we were allowed to attend the meetings…but this year, they said no. Under a little bit of pressure, they relented a little bit and said okay, the non voting members can attend the meetings, but they cannot ask any questions.”

Additionally, for the first time ever, DePaul’s board of trustees directed the SRAC to approve budgets for the upcoming two fiscal years, instead of one.

Normally, the budget committee drafts a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Members pointed out that forecasting future revenues is especially difficult given the financial turmoil of the pandemic.

“It is one thing to forecast revenue one year in advance under these conditions; to try to forecast two years out makes no sense on rational economic grounds,” the memo reads. “Now that the Board has approved budgets for the next two years, we may have little if any voice in determining, for example, what happens if revenues are significantly higher than forecasted once the vaccination programs allow us to return to normality.”

Also, for the first time, gift and grant revenue were excluded from the budget process.

“We worked in the strategic plan to try to increase gifts and grants to reduce the dependence on tuition,” Mondschean said.

“Now that we’ve actually started showing gifts and grants are up a lot, they’re taking it away... which is contradictory to what our plan was supposed to do. So that’s troubling to me.”

“Probably for the faculty, the most difficult thing is the under investing on new faculty lines for tenure track, because that’s where our best faculty come from, and [these] faculty come to DePaul with new ideas, and replacing them with [short] term faculty or adjunct who teach occasionally is gradually over time going to diminish our quality, and there’s no end in sight,” Mondschean added. “The idea of the trustees is to keep the university on good financial footing by saving as much as possible [and] putting in the endowment for the future… but it means you’re not investing enough now and students are kind of being overcharged to help support the endowment.”

The Board of Trustees also made changes to the school’s return to principal, which concerns revenue from DePaul’s endowment.

In past years, the endowment pull is four and a half percent, where some of that money goes back to the endowment — referred to as the return to principle. The school has a policy of returning the majority back into the endowment; however, DePaul took a two year hiatus from returning the majority

of endowment funds due to the pandemic. “...We’re not going to do a return to principal [this year], which is several million dollars of additional resources…” Mondshean said. “But the year after, we’ll have to start doing it again and we’re doing half of what is normal, and we argue that that was premature.”

Moreover, despite the unanimous vote

by SRAC, their initial proposed budget was rejected by President A. Gabriel Esteban and was not sent to the Finance Committee of the Board. SRAC was not informed of this fact until after the Finance Committee meeting, according to the memo.

Each year the budget committee proposes two budgets to Esteban and the Board of Trustees, the latter budget being more austere. Esteban and the board consider both budgets and communicate any desired changes to SRAC before the final approval. However, this year, Esteban only sent the more austere budget B to the board, to which they made additional cuts without informing SRAC, contradictory to past practices.

“That’s really where the point of contention comes in,” Paeth said. “When it comes to shared governance, [we] believe that we had the right to be involved in the decision about what that final budget looks like and that we weren’t properly consulted on that.”

The memo also calls the board’s additional budget constraints into question.

“I do not want to give the impression that anybody thinks that DePaul University is experiencing a financial crisis,” Paeth said. “... [The board thinks] that if we do not make adjustments now, then [years] from now, we will find ourselves in a situation where we have unsustainable budgets… The board’s attitude is we need to do these things now, in order to avoid a crisis then.”

Mondschean pointed out that a continuation of budget cuts may affect the future of DePaul’s reputation.

“Part of what we’re concerned about is what is the university going to look like in ten years after doing all this?” Mondschean said. “[Will this be] a university that a lot of people want to go to... There’s some real issues out here that faculty are really scared about and students should be too.”

“What’s new is that the governance has broken down… but the austerity kick has been going on for quite a while,” he added.

“Right now, we’re feeling like the university is moving in one direction and saying one thing, and the faculty are saying other things — and the university does not pay attention.

They do what they want to do.”

In the past, faculty have also raised concerns about shared governance, including during last year’s provost search. Despite the Faculty Council’s desire to implement a nationwide provost search, Esteban appointed Salma Ghanem as provost without opening the search to national candidates.

Changes in administration may have

contributed to this year’s inconsistencies in the budgetary process including the death of Lori Holland, former chair of the Board of Trustees, last year, and the resignation of Jeff Bethke, DePaul’s former chief financial officer.

On Wednesday, DePaul’s Faculty Council limited access only to faculty in order to allow for frank discussion and deliberation, according to Paeth. The virtual meeting exceeded Zoom’s capacity limit, and some members were unable to attend.

“The fact that we had more than 300 people interested in the meeting willing to show up on relatively short notice, and to listen and to participate in this meeting shows that people are very concerned about the future of the university, about our budgetary situation, and about these issues of shared governance that we’re raising,” Paeth said.

“One thing that I think is really important for the administration to hear is that faculty are very motivated and energized by these issues and they care deeply about them.”

Also on Wednesday, the budget committee sent an official statement to faculty, outlining the concerns from Mondschean’s May 15 memo.

“The Faculty Council presents these facts and strongly condemns the steps taken by President Esteban and the Board of Trustees Finance Committee that undermined shared university governance in budgetary matters this year,” the statement reads. “We stand with our SRAC representatives and call on President Esteban, the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees, and the Trustees of DePaul University to respect shared governance in all areas of the university and to follow past practice in the budgetary process.”

A council of the whole (COW) — a special kind of faculty meeting, in which all full time faculty have the right to vote — is set to take place sometime this fall to further discuss faculty concerns. Before the COW, the Faculty Council executive committee will meet to discuss possible motions to be considered at the COW. As the Board of Trustees has the final say in the upcoming budget, faculty members highlight that the process should reflect the Vincentian mission as it relates to shared governance.

“I think we all at the end of the day, we’re here because we believe in one form or another in the Vincentian mission,” Paeth said. “…That is what we need to constantly be sort of calling back to, when it comes to these issues of shared governance, is we constantly need to be grounding ourselves in that sense of shared mission. We want DePaul and its administration to show us that they are committed to DePaul’s mission as we are.”

4 | News. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 SGA continued from front page announcement public.

In his opening remarks, Hupp said he filed the complaints after asking EOB to delay the certification of the election results because of the other protests.

“Kelsee [Avery, SGA’s executive secretary] told me that they [EOB] couldn’t delay certification of the results because of the rules when that’s literally not in the rules,” Hupp said. “I felt like I was getting institutionally gaslit, which is a thing that has just repeatedly happened in SGA.” Jane Pallos, SGA’s elections coordinator, said she received the election results Thursday, May 13 at 3:21 p.m. from DePaul Information Services , an entire day before SGA announced the results. Because she worked that day, Pallos said she did not have time to review the results until the next day.

“When I finally had a chance to take a look at the document Information Services sent me, I was confused as it was unlike anything they have sent me in the past,” Pallos said. “The numbers were not calculated automatically.”

Pallos added that a new constitutional rule requires EOB to release the percentages and raw numbers of each candidate’s vote count.

“This means that I myself had to calculate these percentages and numbers as Information Services did not do it for me, so this was not an easy task for me,” Pallos said. “The process overall took a lot more time than expected and as a result we admit that the election results were not able to be sent to candidates at least three hours before they were made public.”

“We argue that it was more important for raw numbers and percentages to be of the most accurate quality before they were made public,” Pallos continued. “Ultimately, no harm was done to any candidate, organization, petition or entity as a result of this.”

After Pallos presented evidence, Hupp said his complaint was based on a misunderstanding during his communications with Avery — SGA’S executive secretary who also serves as the chief justice of J-Board but recused herself from the hearing due to her involvement in EOB. “I’m not going to say we’re going to dismiss it, but I would imagine that’s going to be the outcome for this one,” said Marcus Robertson, the acting chief justice of J-Board overseeing the hearing, regarding the allegation. (Editor’s note: Marcus Robertson, who presided as Chief Justice of the hearing, is an editor for The DePaulia. He has no involvement with The DePaulia’s SGA reporting.)

Allegation Regarding Zayed’s Role as CRB Chair Afterwards, the hearing addressed Hupp’s allegation that Zayed, SGA’s newly elected president, failed to uphold her constitutional duties as vice president to hold a CRB meeting this quarter.

During the hearing, Hupp, who wanted to propose a revision to CRB this quarter, claimed that Zayed told him that CRB had decided as a group not to hold a session that quarter. Hupp added that Alyssa Isberto, who served as SGA president this academic year, informed him that CRB met but did not solicit revisions from those outside of CRB. “I spoke to another member of CRB and the other member of CRB said that it was not in fact a group decision,” Hupp said. “I’m not looking for any formal consequences beyond a finding that they did not meet and that they should have met and that failure to me was the failure, and that that matters.”

In her opening remarks, Zayed said she believed that there were other ways to resolve the problem instead of a hearing.

COURTESY OF @WATFAE.KEVIN4DEPAUL ON INSTAGRAM

Watfae Zayed (left) and Kevin Holechko (right) were named next year’s Student Government Association president and vice president.

“I do think a lot of this could’ve been avoided by simply having a conversation,” Zayed said. “I like to consider myself as an understanding, approachable and empathetic person. It’s extremely disheartening to see that individuals have persisted in making it an unsafe environment and uncomfortable for some of our members.”

“I think it’s extremely immature and upsetting that when I was vulnerable to CRB and I mentioned that I was experiencing ‘burnout’ — which were my exact words — that they were sent to parties outside of our private channel without my consent,” she added.

During the hearing, Zayed explained that a precedent had been set that CRB does not typically meet spring quarter due to the reduced number of meetings and that the trial distracted from SGA’s ability to advocate for students.

“In my opinion this is a waste of our time, and at present is preventing our new cabinet from beginning work to serve our students, which we’ve been trying to do for the past two weeks and haven’t been able to,” Zayed said.

“I don’t think that a Slack meeting constitutes a meeting and, specifically, there was an issue that I had about the constitution appealing to people being required to follow the law which is something that is used ... to marginalize all sorts of vulnerable groups,” Hupp responded.

As evidence, Hupp showed a screenshot of CRB’s Slack conversation regarding proposing constitutional amendments to present to SGA’s general body.

Zayed’s witness in the trial, Isberto, who served in SGA from her freshman year until stepping down this year, said CRB typically did not meet except for last year to hold an emergency session but that the constitution states otherwise.

“Looking back at our constitution, it does say ... that [the] Constitutional Revisions Board does have to meet every quarter, at least once,” Isberto said. “I did apologize severely. I apologized for I think like two to three minutes about how this was navigated.”

Zayed’s other witness, Johnny Milas, SGA’s senator for fourth and fifth-year students, said he believed that the Slack conversation constituted as CRB’s meeting this quarter.

“I have been under the impression that we did meet,” Milas said. “As far as I know, Slack has been a formal communication channel of SGA. We have held votes in there. We’ve done other official SGA business through that.”

Allegation Into Early Access and Sub-

mission of Candidate Applications For the remainder of the hearing, J-Board examined Hupp’s allegation that Zayed and Adora Alava, SGA’s newly elected executive vice president of diversity and equity, violated EOB’s bylaws. Hupp claimed they accessed their candidate applications before other candidates had access and that EOB was negligent by not noticing.

“Submitting the campaign applications before the form was officially available gave [them] a time advantage for completing all of the requirements, and therefore, gave a material bias in the election itself,” Hupp said.

Zayed said she did not believe she had an advantage in the application process and questioned the motives of her opponent, SGA executive vice president of facility operations Wesley Janicki.

“If we think about motives of people and who I was running against ... I’m not sure how this put me at an advantage,” Zayed said. “Kevin and I were very prepared.”

“My campaign materials weren’t submitted until after the form opened, which we do have documentation of showing the timestamps,” Zayed continued. “I had known the questions on the application from long before it opened because they’re the same questions every year, and I have experience in SGA. It’s my third year, and Jane [Pallos] had mentioned the questions before.”

Zayed’s Claims about Hupp’s Complaint Zayed alleged that Janicki was the one that gave Hupp access to the timestamps he used as evidence in his initial complaint since only members of SGA were able to access that information.

“My opponent logged into DeHUB 31 times on April 18 and seven times on April 19,” Zayed said. “We could take that as we want to see who actually sent David those timestamps, but the officer access was revoked later that night, so he would have only been able to get those screenshots of me accessing the documents that morning.”

In an interview with The DePaulia, Avery said Hupp had circulated a draft of his complaint to others in SGA. “Before David had issued his complaints, he had sent around a draft to several folks in SGA to ask for feedback, and the link to this draft that he was writing was sent into the elections operations board group chat,” Avery said.

During the trial, Hupp said he originated the complaint, but that there were oth-

ers that did not want to get involved.

Alava’s Remarks Regarding Early Access and Submission of Application In her opening statements regarding early access to the application, Alava viewed the allegations as an attack against women of color in SGA. “Individuals in SGA who claim to be allies for racial justice issues continue to attack and target women of color in leadership positions and this allegation about me intentionally accessing candidate material early for a special advantage is ultimately an attack on my character,” Alava said.

A witness for Alava, Cindy Rocha, SGA’s newly elected executive vice president of student affairs, confirmed this during the hearing.

“I’ve first-handedly seen other women of color and women in general, being spoken over being dismissed, having their ideas dismissed,” Rocha said.

Robbie Merkel, who served as SGA’s executive vice president of diversity and equity this academic year, delivered the opening remarks for EOB. “Those that will argue against this dismissal will only have arguments that are factually inaccurate and continue to be compliant, and conspirators are not seeking accountability, they’re seeking punishment,” Merkel said. “No one should be punished for being human, and making a simple human mistake.”

“The allegations rooted in malice [and] in defamation will not divide, or weaken SGA,” Merkel continued. “In fact, it will make [it] stronger and more unified than ever before as the organization continues to serve the greater DePaul community under a new administration.”

Timestamps show Zayed and Alava Did Not Submit Applications Early During the presentation of evidence, Courtney James, SGA’s advisor, went over the timeline of when officers no longer had access to “Manage Forms and Surveys,” the category that candidate applications fell under.“I went back and looked at my text message logs,” James said. “They all had access to forms until, like, 8:30.”

In addition, James presented timestamps that showed Zayed accessed the form at 12 a.m. CST (1 a.m. EST as Hupp originally stated in his claim) — nine hours before the application was made available to the public — but that she submitted the form on April 19 at 9:46 a.m., after the application opened. EOB approved her application at 10:55 a.m.

James’ timestamps also indicated that Alava accessed the application on April 18 at 3:32 p.m. and submitted it on April 19 at 4:02 p.m. The form was later approved at 6:25 p.m.

“As a non-SGA member, I had no idea what was going to be on the questionnaire,” Hupp said.

The hearing ended by addressing Hupp’s last allegation, that Zayed and her running mate Kevin Holechko received special treatment in the formatting of their campaign materials.

Arantxa Reyes, SGA’s PR coordinator and a member of EOB, said Pallos was the only one that posted candidates’ campaign materials on SGA’s website during the hearing.

“Jane Pallos, the elections operations board chair, posted and formatted all the texts on the SGA election site,” Reyes said.

J-Board has 15 days after the hearing to publicly announce the verdict. If J-Board finds that those alleged committed any of these violations, J-Board could censure them, issue an injunction, expel or impeach them. If they are not found in violation of the allegations, J-Board will dismiss the cases.

News. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 5

Are you in or will ‘U-pass?’

AUDREY CHAMPELLI | THE DEPAULIA

Commuters stand on the Fullerton CTA platform located near the Lincoln Park campus, waiting for incoming northbound trains

Eligible students can now opt-in for summer CTA access

By Lacey Latch Editor-in-Chief

What used to be an automatic fee deducted from tuition for the summer U-Pass is becoming an optional $86 fee for students enrolled in at least one course.

Announced earlier this week, only eligible students who specifically opt-in for the U-Pass by July 20 will be charged a fee, meanwhile the rest of students enrolled in summer courses will not face an automatic fee.

During a typical school year DePaul students spend over $300 on their CTA U-Pass, a non-negotiable fee included in tuition for the academic term. In the past, students who decided to enroll in summer courses would face a similar U-Pass fee. If they didn’t want the U-Pass they could then go through the often time-consuming process of opting out and filing for a refund.

“Summer was always optional, historically it was an opt-out thing, we just switched it,” said Scott Gass DePaul’s U-Pass specialist.

DePaul senior Bridey Jones is taking summer courses for the first time this year and is planning on

opting-in for the U-Pass.

“I think I’m definitely going to opt-in just because I also take the CTA to work everyday so I think it’d just make more sense and be a cheaper option overall,” Jones said.

As a result of the pandemic, remote and online learning options are sticking around at least to some degree at DePaul, meaning that some of the students in those summer courses might not be anywhere near the CTA. Because of this new reality Jones said it’s better that DePaul gave students the choice on the outset.

“I think it was a good idea to make it an option, because I know not everyone is going to be here for the summer, so what’s the point?” she said.

Gass said this change is also due in large part to the lasting impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Because of Covid, the CTA has allowed us to opt students out of the U-Pass and make it an optional fee,” Gass said. “We got a lot of feedback that people being charged for a U-Pass and then having to wait for a refund wasn’t very popular with students so we switched it over to an opt-in process.”

In the summer of 2019, the last year with comparable data because of the pandemic, about 5,000

students used the U-Pass during the summer term.

This year, Gass expects less than a thousand students to opt-in.

The U-Pass fee is calculated using the CTA’s daily rate of $1.25 in addition to DePaul administration fees of 5.3 percent. The cost of the U-Pass can vary year to year depending on available CTA service days, according to DePaul’s website.

In comparison to the $105 U-Pass that offers students unlimited rides throughout the academic year, the CTA offers non-students a 30-day Ventra pass for the same price. As such, the $86 U-Pass for unlimited trips during the summer offers students the best value for their purchase.

Last week the CTA announced reduced fares for their one, three and seven-day Ventra passes for the summer in an effort to encourage ridership during the city’s reopening. The change in DePaul’s U-Pass program was unrelated to these efforts, Gass said.

6| News. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

‘It’s an honor’

DePaul Latino Studies professor recieves Intellectual Award

By Erika Perez La DePaulia Managing Editor

Lourdes Torres, a professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at DePaul, has been named a recipient of the 2021 Frank Bonilla Public Intellectual Award.

The Frank Bonilla Public Intellectual Award pays tribute to the innovative legacy of the late Frank Bonilla, writer and advocate for collaborative research with other scholars of Latin America and Latino studies.

“I was very honored and happy to know that my colleagues thought enough of me to nominate me for the award and then to select me,” Torres said. “Being recognized with this award really makes me feel good when people notice your work and feel like it has an impact on them.”

Torres said sometimes it feels like she’s toiling with the research and it makes her proud because the work is getting done but it’s nice when people recognize the work.

“I’m gratified by that, it’s an honor,” Torres said.

The honor was granted by the Latina/o Studies Section of the Latin American Studies Association, a national association for individuals and institutions involved in the study of Latin America. According to Newsline the award recognizes her leadership as an “anchor of Latinx studies in the Midwest and beyond.” “[Bonilla] is my idea of an activist scholar, somebody whose work is geared towards creating social change and creating a world we want to see, not the world we live in,” Torres said.

Similar to Bonilla’s legacy, Torres feels that her work is closely related to Bonilla’s work as a scholar.

Bonilla mentored students and emerging faculty in Latino studies and was interested in making sure that research projects would engage and have an impact in marginalized communities.

“It’s not research for the sake of it, but research that has something to say and has something to contribute to discussions that are important to have,” Torres said.

Torres research focuses on Latinx queer organizations in Chicago. Through her research she found that there is very little research that exist in queer organizing, specifically in the east and west coast of the United States. Existing research is less focused on people of color and even less on LGBTQ

women.

“I wanted to contribute with literature because I think it’s important for people to recognize that we are here, we’ve been here, and we’re contributing to our Latino and LGBTQ community,” Torres said.

Torres recognizes and appreciates DePaul’s role in her career. “Depaul gave me the opportunity to work on the Latin American studies/Latino studies program which grew to a department,” Torres said. “DePaul’s support of the Latin America and Latino studies department recognizes that Latino’s matter and our histories and our stories matter.

She is the editor-in-chief of the Latino Studies Journal, a publication that writes about Latinos social, cultural and political issues they face both in the United States and internationally.

“I feel privileged to help scholars put their work out and in a venue that is highly read and available in libraries that get the stories of Latinos out there,” she said. “...Not all institutions will support all that work therefore I am very grateful that DePaul has been really supportive of the journal and the department.”

Marisa Alicea, a professor in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, works closely with Torres as associate editor of the Latino Studies Journal.

Alicea meets with Torres to review articles but during the work Torres makes it fun and at the same time she’s vigorous and thoughtful. “She has a great sense of humour,” Alicea said. “[Torres] has a commitment to equity and inclusion,” she said. She’s inclusive of others and welcomes diverse perspectives in the journal.”

The research Torres engages with is Latino and lesbian organizing, along with bilingualism and Spanish in the United States. The work is important to her because it highlights populations that are marginalized.

“We are a diverse community,” Alicea said. “Her work on LGBTQ studies in respect to Latina lesbians both in Latin America and here in the U.S highlights the diversity in our community...I am pleased to see how it shines light on the good work of the department, the university, and most importantly the work she put in.”

Students play a huge role in Torres’ work. Her students keep her on her feet with ideas that turn into possible research.

“To be a better researcher I have to be a

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

DePaul professor Lourdes Torres has been named a recipient of the 2021 Frank Bonilla Public Intellectual Award better teacher and vice versa,” she said.

Torres has a better sense of what is happening in Latino communities because she teaches Latin American/Latino studies and many of her students are Latinos.

“I’m in conversation with folks who are impacted first hand,” Torres said.

Karla Velasco, a DePaul graduate, said that during her first year at the university, she felt like she didn’t fit in with other students. She said that Torres was a great advisor that kept her interested in her independent research.

“Her availability outside of the classroom was helpful,” Velasco said. “She was very open to talk with students, it wasn’t intimidating to ask for questions.”

After taking Torres class Velasco said that Torres continued to help her with her educational goals. Velasco says Torres inspired and motivated her to pursue a PhD. “I can not speak enough for what she has done for me and for the communities she works with,” Velasco said. “She definitely deserves that award no doubt about it.”

DePaul partners with University Center of Lake County, offers new program

By Sonal Soni Asst. News Editor

DePaul’s new partnership with the University Center of Lake County (UCLC) at the College of Lake County’s Grayslake Campus will allow students to begin their affordable educational journey with an associate degree from UCLC and finish up with a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional studies (BAPS) with a major in business administration from DePaul — all while remaining solely on the Grayslake Campus.

Students in the program can achieve an associate of arts, associate of applied science in business or a bachelor’s degree in business administration, which

is offered through DePaul’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) — a long-standing leader of providing educational opportunities for working adults.

“Adult learners appreciate the value of pathways that extend opportunities sans disruption,” Tatum Thomas, dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, told Newsline. “With the complement of the CLC and SCPS offerings, graduates will be poised to create impact in their professions and society — they will continue on life-changing paths.”

Students who choose this option pay a tuition rate that is 25 percent less than the university’s undergraduate tuition rate. DePaul faculty teach the cours-

es both on-site at UCLC and online.

DePaul’s classes in this program will meet at UCLC two evenings a week as a part-time program, with some courses available online. When it comes to taking classes, students are assigned to a cohort, which establishes a network for participants to carry out through their careers.

SCPS also provides dedicated advising to students to help them balance work, home and school obligations.

BAPS prepares students for careers in the corporate and nonprofit sectors by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need. Students develop project management, human resources, risk management, leadership, workplace law, globalization, ethical behavior,

data analytics and professional communication skills necessary to excel in their careers.

“This partnership is a great opportunity for working adult students to pursue an advanced credential necessary for the local business needs in Lake County,” Ali O’Brien, UCLC Vice President of Community and Workforce Partnerships, said in Newline.

“The practical business curriculum provides exposure to a variety of interests including technology, project management, marketing and operations, gearing up the next generation of business leaders. But most importantly, it’s an affordable and flexible option for students who are busy working.”

News. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021| 7

Illinois Legislature approves Juneteenth as a state holiday

By Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois is closer to making Juneteenth a state holiday.

Legislation making June 19 a paid day off for all state employees and a school holiday was unanimously approved by the Illinois House last week and by the state Senate last month. It states that if June 19 falls on a Saturday or Sunday the holiday will be observed the following Monday. The measure would take effect immediately if Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs it.

Juneteenth commemorates the date in 1865 when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned from Union soldiers in Texas that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The day is also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. La Shawn Ford, has sponsored similar legislation

in the past. There “wasn’t an appetite” for passing it previously, the Chicago Democrat told the Chicago Tribune.

He says that changed after the murder of George Floyd, who was Black, by a white police officer in Minnesota.

“Now, post-George Floyd, this is the time,” Ford said. “Some would say this is an African American holiday, but it’s an American holiday.”

Cook County, the largest county in Illinois, recognized Juneteenth as a holiday for workers its last year.

Ford is sponsoring another bill to make Juneteenth a holiday, though it wouldn’t take effect until 2022. It has passed the House and is awaiting Senate approval. Ford said if that bill passes the Senate it will be up to Pritzker to decide which legislation to sign.

ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA

Annual conference at Steans Center honors DePaul students

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL

REBECCA MELUCH | THE DEPAULIA

Intersection of East Jackson Boulevard and South Wabash Avenue.

CDM continued from front page whether to issue a timely warning or not, are decided on a case-by-case basis by DePaul Public Safety.

According to Trigoso, DePaul Public Safety officers were aware of the incident as she observed that they were among those crowded around the door after.

The policy states that “The Public Safety Office will post timely warning notices to notify members of the community about serious crimes against people that occur on or adjacent to our campus, where prior knowledge of that serious crime would aid others in not becoming the victim of a similar case. These warn-

ings will be posted if the incident is reported to the Public Safety office.”

Rocco said CPD did not have any information regarding whether DePaul Public Safety was involved or cooperative in the incident in any way and suggested reaching out to DePaul’s Public Safety Office.

“The car accident in the Loop on Friday evening did not meet Clery Act campus reporting guidelines because it was an isolated incident and it did not pose an ongoing threat to the community,” the Office of Public Safety responded.

The Office of Public Safety also referred to the section of DePaul’s annual Safety and Security Information Report, “Timely Warning Safety Alerts.”

The event is co-sponsored by the Steans Center.

By Sonal Soni Asst. News Editor

On Friday, May 28, the Steans Center will present its 13th annual Service Speaks conference, honoring DePaul students who practiced social justice this year facing circumstances unlike any other. The event is co-sponsored by the Steans Center and the Council on Community Engagement.

This year’s conference will take place entirely online, with students and community partners sharing their work. The conference, which runs from 2 to 3:15 p.m., will provide attendees the chance to hear directly from fellows, interns and volunteers, as well as see photos of their community service projects.

Hana Tesfaye, a community partner intern, created an infographic video for RefugeeOne that highlighted refugee rights. “It equips refugees to be more knowledgeable and protected when it comes to their rights​ ,” Tesfaye said in a Newsline article. “Being once a refugee myself, I was able to contribute my experience through the services I was able to offer.”

Additionally, Kimberly Fair, a Steans racial equity research fellow, did research to assess the effectiveness of fellowships and mentorship in combating systematic racism. Andy Klenzman, a community partner intern, also investigated examples of police torture in Illinois and assisted with clemency petition research.

8 | Politics. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

Politics

Civil rights for all EVAN VUCCI | AP

President Joe Biden speaks at Sportrock Climbing Centers, Friday, May 28, 2021, in Alexandria, Va.

Biden restores health care protections for the LGBTQ community Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor

On May 10, the Biden administration announced that they will protect gay and transgender Americans from discrimination in health care, reversing the Trump administraion’s decision to nix federal protections for people of the community.

“It simply says what everyone already should know: You should not discriminate against people,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told CNN. “That includes those based on sexual orientation or gender identity and when it comes to healthcare - we want to make sure that’s the case In June 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal civil rights law prohibit discriminaton against gay, lesbian and transgender workers. With the Biden administration citing that decision, they decided to enforce Section 1557 of the Affordable Healthcare Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national orgin, color, age or disability in covered health programs or activites.

The Trump administration significantly reduced the power of Section 1557, specifically removing the provision that provided equal program access on the basis of sex.

“The Biden administration is going to say unless we can pass a law to actually formalize this non-discrimination, we are just going to reverse that,” said Joel Shalowitz, adjunct professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University. “The problem is that until something is actually passed, it’s going to be going back and forth. So let’s say the next administration [is] Republican — they are just going to change it back. It’s just going to go back and forth.”

Biden has already made numerous policy moves to enhance rights for the LGBTQ community even before restoring Section 1557. In January, Biden reversed

JONATHAN AGUILAR | THE DEPAULIA

A parade participant performs stunts with giant rings at the 2019 Chicago Pride Parade.

Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military.

“We are now starting to see the Biden administration undo what Trump had undone, and kind of go back to the way that law and policy had been moving forward under the Obama administration,” said Ghirlandi Guidetti, staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“But, [just to] say that, it’s not enough.”

Biden has also recently put pressure on the Senate to pass the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury syste. The House of Representatives passed the act back in February, but it has since stalled in the Senate.

“Robust enforcement of the law is one area where federal and state governments can really advance health care protections

for LGBTQ individuals,” Guidetti said. “So making sure that insurance policies that have either explicit or implicit coverage bars for gender-affirming surgery or transition related health care, that those policies are struck down. The providers are required to provide that health care. That’s the next big thing that needs to happen — we need to strongly enforce the laws.”

Even though the Biden administration has promised to expand on LGBTQ rights, some state governments — specifically in Republican-run states — have tried or are currently trying to limit protections for gay and transgender people.

In Arkansas, the government passed a law that will prohibit health care access for transgender youth. The ACLU has recently filed a lawsuit challenging this law. Similar types of legislation have been put forward through state legislatures and the governors’ office in states like Alabama, Florida and Indiana, but ultimately did not pass.

“We are seeing across the country these state laws that would make it criminal, in some cases, for doctors to provide hormones to young people,” Guidetti said.

“These laws are grotesque, to be honest.”

According to Guidetti, the ACLU is trying to convince state governments that these laws are not necessary. In other cases, however, the ACLU will challenge these laws in court if states continue to pass similar measures.

“We have a two-pronged approach to them; first, we have aggressively been lobbying and trying to get public education to convince state legislatures that these laws are incredibly misguided [and] that they are actually harmful to the young people they are trying to protect,” he said.

The issue of protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in health care is not likely to disappear any time soon. Shalowitz compares this movement of trying to pass a federal law that bans all discriminaton when it comes to access to health care to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“The analogy is the Civil Rights Act because there was nothing really the federal government could do, because all those powers resided with the states, it’s a 10th Amendment issue,” he said. “You could do literacy tests, you could do poll taxes — I mean things that today we just would say ‘oh my god, how could you possibly have done that.’ But if the states said you could do it, there’s no federal law contravening it, you could do it and they did it, until the various civil rights acts were passed.

Shalowitz believes that in order to prevent some states of passing their own laws regarding LGBTQ rights, the federal government should pass a law that will give everyone protections across the country.

“And that’s the kind of thing that needs to be done at the federal level with health care rights and non-discrimination,” he said.

Politics. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 9

GOP blocks Capitol riot probe, displaying loyalty to Trump

By Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans blocked creation of a bipartisan panel to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, displaying continuing party loyalty to former President Donald Trump and firm determination to shift the political focus away from the violent insurrection by his GOP supporters.

The Senate vote on Friday was 54-35 — six short of the 60 needed — to take up a Housepassed bill that would have formed an independent 10-member commission evenly split between the two parties. It came a day after emotional appeals for the commission from police who fought the mob, the family of an officer who died and lawmakers in both parties who fled Capitol chambers in the worst attack on the building in two centuries.

The Republicans were mostly but not totally united: Six voted with Democrats to move forward. Eleven senators — nine Republicans and two Democrats — missed the vote, an unusually high number of absentees for one of the highest-profile votes of the year. At least one of the missing Republicans would have voted in favor of considering the commission, according to his office.

The GOP opposition means that questions about who should bear responsibility for the attack could continue to be filtered through a partisan lens — in congressional committees — rather than addressed by an outside, independent panel modeled after the commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

“The investigations will happen with or without Republicans,” declared Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the Republicans who voted to move forward. “To ensure the investigations are fair, impartial and focused on the facts, Republicans need to be involved.”

The vote was in part a GOP attempt to placate Trump, or avoid his reprisals, as he has kept a firm hold on the party since his defeat

by Democrat Joe Biden. The former president told his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his defeat before the siege and continues to falsely say he won the election — claims shouted by his supporters as they stormed the building. Trump called the commission legislation a “Democrat trap.”

Friday’s vote — the first successful use of

a Senate filibuster in the Biden presidency — was emblematic of the profound mistrust between the two parties since the siege, especially among Republicans, with some in the party downplaying the violence and defending the rioters.

The vote also is likely to galvanize Democratic pressure to do away with the filibuster, a time-honored procedure typically used to kill major legislation. It requires 60 votes to move ahead, rather than a simple majority in the 100-member Senate. With the Senate evenly split 50-50, Democrats needed support from 10 Republicans to move to the commission bill.

Speaking to his Republican colleagues, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote they were “trying to sweep the horrors of that day under the rug” out of “fear or fealty” to Trump. He left open the possibility of another vote in the future on establishing a bipartisan commission, declaring, “The events of Jan. 6 will be investigated.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed that commitment, saying Democrats “will find the truth.”

Though the bill to form the commission passed the House earlier this month with the support of almost three dozen Republicans, most GOP senators said they believed the bipartisan panel would eventually be used against them politically. While initially saying he was open to the idea, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell turned firmly against it in recent days, arguing that the panel’s investigation would be partisan despite the even split among party members.

McConnell, who once said Trump was responsible for provoking the mob attack on the Capitol, said dismissively of Democrats, “They’d like to continue to litigate the former president, into the future.”

Still, six in McConnell’s caucus defied him, arguing that an independent look was needed, and Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey would have brought the total to seven but for a family commitment, his office said. In addition to Cassidy, the Republicans who voted to move forward were Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Rob Portman of Ohio and Mitt Romney of Utah.

Murkowski said Thursday evening that she needed to know more about what happened before and on the day of the attack, and why.

“Truth is hard stuff, but we’ve got a responsibility to it,” she said. “We just can’t pretend

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks to the chamber for final votes before the Memorial Day recess, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 28, 2021. that nothing bad happened, or that people just got too excitable. Something bad happened.

And it’s important to lay that out.”

Some Republican colleagues strongly disagree, defending the rioters who supported Trump and his false insistence that the election was stolen from him. A House Republican said this month that one video of the insurrection looked like “a normal tourist visit.”

In reality, the attack was the worst on the Capitol in 200 years. The protesters interrupted the certification of Biden’s win over Trump, constructed a mock gallows in front of the Capitol and called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence, who was overseeing the proceedings inside. Lawmakers hid on the floor of the House balcony as the rioters tried to break in, and senators evacuated their chamber mere minutes before it was ransacked.

Four of the protesters died that day, including a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber.

Dozens of police officers were injured, and two took their own lives in the days afterward.

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed and died after engaging with the rioters, and video showed two men spraying Sicknick and another officer with a chemical.

The Washington medical examiner said he suffered a stroke and died from natural causes.

Senate Democrats angrily questioned how the Republicans could vote against an independent investigation.

“An insurrection without consequences

— without even a proper investigation — is a dress rehearsal for another insurrection,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in Congress. “When the Capitol police, who protect us with their lives, ask for this commission, we are ingrates to refuse.”

The Republicans’ political arguments over the violent siege — which is still raw for many in the Capitol, almost five months later — have frustrated not only the Democrats and some of their Republican colleagues but also those who fought off the rioters. Sicknick’s mother, girlfriend and two police officers who battled the rioters alongside him went office to office and asked Republicans to support the commission.

Michael Fanone, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who responded to the attack, joined Sicknick’s family on Capitol Hill Thursday. In between meetings with Republican senators, he said a commission is “necessary for us to heal as a nation from the trauma that we all experienced that day.” Fanone has described being dragged down the Capitol steps by rioters who shocked him with a stun gun and beat him.

Sicknick’s mother, Gladys Sicknick, suggested those who opposed the panel visit her son’s grave.

In interview on CNN after the vote, she asked of the Republicans: “What kind of country do they want?” ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Colleen Long and Padmananda Rama contributed.

Redistricting process goes to bipartisan commission after June 30

By Nika Schoonover Politics Editor

The redistricting process has unsurprisingly devolved into another partisan debate, and Illinois Democrats are feeling the pressure to finalize their maps by June 30 — or the task will be delegated to a bipartisan commission.

Last week, Illinois Democrats released their first draft of legislative maps which has since drawn staunch opposition from the Republican Party, which says the data used to redraw the maps is flawed.

As a result of pandemic delays, The Census Bureau has not yet sent population data to individual states. This complicates the process for states trying to complete the redistricting process on time.

Nick Kachiroubas, a professor in DePaul’s School of Public Service, says that because Illinois Democrats have had to use population estimates in order to redraw the maps, the controversy is understandable.

“It’s not surprising, though, because, from a political standpoint, the Democratic majority wanted to take advantage of the legislative session and get it done and passed before the constitutional deadline of

“The parties, when they have monopoly power, work to keep that, and that’s what we’re seeing in the state of Illinois and the Republicans in Republican districts are doing the same thingts.”

Wayne Steger

Political Science professor, DePaul University June 30,” Kachiroubas said.

According to the state constitution, lawmakers have until June 30 to complete the legislative remapping. After that date, an eight-member commission is formed, consisting of two members chosen by each of the four party leaders of the Senate and the House. If a new map is not drawn by Aug. 10, a ninth partisan tiebreaking member is chosen by Sept. 5 and a map must be redrawn by Oct. 5.

Since Illinois has not yet received data from the census, Democrats are us-

ing American Community Survey data to draw the maps. The use of this data has garnered significant criticism. Jay Young, the director of Common Cause Illinois, told WTTW that the use of the survey data is akin to using exit polls instead of counting voters’ ballots to determine the winner of an election.

Wayne Steger, a DePaul political science professor, also said that the redistricting process and controversy has been predictable.

“The parties, when they have monopo-

ly power, work to keep that, and that’s what we’re seeing in the state of Illinois and the Republicans in Republican districts are doing the same thing,” Steger said.

After the initial release of legislative maps last week, Illinois Democrats released a revised version in response to Republican criticism and public testimony throughout the week.

The revised map made changes to Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, the North Lawndale neighborhood and some downstate Republican districts. Notably, the changes would allow eight House Republicans to keep individual districts rather than combining several GOP incumbents, which would result in them competing with each other.

The new maps did not include the state’s congressional districts. Democrats currently have a 13-5 majority in the state’s congressional delegation and, as a result of census data, the total number of delegates will fall to 17. It is likely that Democrats will aim to redraw the districts to preserve their number of delegates while getting rid of a Republican seat.

10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

Nation & World

India in grief

CHANNI ANAND | AP

A relative of a person who died of COVID-19 reacts during cremation in Jammu, India, Monday, May 24, 2021. India crossed another grim milestone Monday of more than 300,000 people lost to the coronavirus as a devastating surge of infections appeared to be easing in big cities but was swamping the poorer countryside.

Covid-19 crisis in India exacerbated by cyclone

By Alayne Trinko Contributor

India is facing one of the world’s most brutal Covid-19 waves in the world, exacerbated by Cyclone Yaas.

Even though India took a step forward with a decline in Covid-19 cases, the country was forced two steps back this past week when a category one storm system known as cyclone Yaas slammed into the country’s eastern coast on May 25, which forced millions of people to evacuate across the coast, sparking concern about another potential influx of Covid-19 infections while people shelter in place.

Covid-19 experts and economists have voiced criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to reopen the economy and relax Covid-safe practices such as social distancing, and the Prime Minister’s decisions backfired by the end of April when the number of Covid-19 cases in India grew rapidly after a three-month stagnation.

The seven-day average of new reported Covid-19 cases in India was just over 15,000 on March 1 and jumped to nearly 400,000 by May 1, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

DePaul Professor Emeritus of Economics Animesh Ghoshal said this is the “worst crisis faced by India since it became independent in 1947.”

“The immediate cause of the crisis was complacency,” Ghoshal said. “Second, the long run cause of the situation being so dire is the underinvestment in public health over many decades.

With India’s low case count from January to March and the start of one of the largest vaccination drives in the world, authorities and residents of India loosened

their enforcement, and the current wave of infection blindsided many in the country.

In addition, some economists thought the Indian government had “misplaced priorities,” according to Ghoshal. While the government was trying to run the industrial sector (e.g., airlines and steel mills) from the 1950s to the early 1990s, economists believed they were neglecting the health and education sectors.

In 2018, the World Health Organization reported India spends only 3.5 percent of the country’s GDP on healthcare.

Modi finally spoke out on April 20, acknowledging the severity of the Covid-19 crisis and putting in place emergency measures to relieve states and hospitals.

But some critics of Modi say it was too late.

According to DePaul professor of international studies Shailja Sharma, there has been a lack of funding put toward public health, worsened by Modi’s slow response to the surge.

“He has not directly engaged with people who have been suffering,” Sharma said.

“He has not reached out to states, which are ruled by other [political] parties than his own. There are no initiatives to alleviate the shortage of medicines, hospital beds, or vaccines. It has been a real abdication of responsibility.”

For many Indians, their religious or cultural practices demand that certain traditions be upheld when a person dies. But because of the long-existing lack of medical infrastructure, some families are not able to find their loved ones after they’ve died, let alone conduct a traditional, religious memorial service.

“At this point in India, all Indians, Hindus and Muslims, are suffering equal-

ly,” Sharma said. “People can’t find the means to cremate or bury their family members. While there is a huge religious and anti-minority issue in India, under Covid, all are suffering and dying in equal numbers.”

India’s infection rate is on the decline.

However, as of May 27, the seven-day average of new cases was just over 200,000, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

At the same time India is wrangling Covid-19, the country is grappling with fallout from another threat — Cyclone Yaas, a category one storm system.

Thousands of emergency personnel were deployed in the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal for evacuation and possible rescue operations in the days leading up to the cyclone’s landing.

In Odisha and West Bengal, before the cyclone touched down on May 25, authorities managed to evacuate people from coastal districts and the Sundarbans mangrove forest days in advance, preventing thousands of potential fatalities, according to West Bengal disaster management minister Javed Ahmed Khan.

“We [had] to evacuate nearly half a million people [sic] to schools [and] government offices, which have been turned into cyclone centers to provide shelter to these people,” Khan said in an interview with Al Jeezera.

With Covid-19 looming in the shadows, Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a televised address the Monday before the cyclone to wear double masks and maintain social distancing practices while in cyclone shelters. Patnaik also requested that disaster authorities distribute masks to the evacuated people.

“We have to face both the challeng-

es simultaneously,” Patnaik said in the broadcast.

India’s air force and navy are also on standby to carry out relief work throughout the country.

The Prime Minister’s office asked in a public address on May 27 that states affected by the cyclone ensure normal life is restored “at the earliest” and relief is appropriately disbursed to people affected by the cyclone.

India reports approximately three cyclone-related deaths, but exact data won’t be available until the country conducts a complete assessment of the cyclone’s impact.

To offset the effects of the pandemic, countries around the world sent aid to India to provide emergency supplies. The U.S. sent supplies at the end of April worth over $100 million, including 15 million N95 masks, over 3,000 oxygen cylinders and concentrators, Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing supplies, among other materials and resources.

Talks with Pfizer company revealed shots won’t arrive in India until July, which means the country will have to rely on and ration aid from allies around the globe until vaccines arrive.

It’s not yet known when or how the country will be able to start rebuilding on its own.

More information regarding how India has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and Cyclone Yaas can be found at www.projecthope.org or by calling Project Hope at 1-844-349-0188.

Nation & World. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 11

Supreme Court to hear case that may overturn Roe v. Wade

By NAdia Hernandez Opinions Editor

Women around the country await the Supreme Court ruling on a Texas abortion case next year due to the possibility of the case upsetting the Roe v. Wade precedent.

The Supreme Court is set to hear a Texas abortion case that currently bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and lets random parties sue abortion providers, according to Women’s March.

If ruling in favor of Texas, it could affect the precedent Roe v. Wade has set for women’s reproductive rights for the past 50 years.

The 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalized a pregnant woman’s right to abortion without excessive government intervention. Abortion rights vary depending on state laws despite Roe v.Wade. Mississppi passed a law that would ban abortions after a 15-week period, according to Women’s March. Fifty-eight percent of U.S. women still live in states with restrictive abortion laws, according to Guttmacher Institue.

“The discourse around that is the quote unquote ‘pro-life’ discourse completely negates the rights of the woman to determine what happens to her own body, in the case of pregnancy,” said Elissa Foster, a health communications professor at DePaul.

Kaitlyn Shelley, a biology major at DePaul, pointed out how a majority of the abortion legislation made comes from men.

“It is absolutely ironic that men come up with almost every bill proposed that attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade and women have no input over decisions about their own body,” she said. “However, this is partially due to the disproportionate representation of women in government.”

Although the preconceived notion is that young girls ages 15-19 receive the majority of abortions, Guttmacher Institue reported that 59 percent of women who receive abortions are already mothers.

“Women’s sexuality, if not valued, is exploited,” Foster said. “Men’s sexuality is

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP

In this June 20, 2019, file photo, the Supreme Court is seen in Washington as a storm rolls in. upheld as the be all and end all but women’s sexuality is feared, exploited and diminished. So that’s why this whole idea of promiscuity comes into play.”

Pro-choice movements emphasize that Texas’ current six-week ban is too short for women to discover they’re pregnant and decide to terminate it. Foster said that menstrual cycle timing is crucial in these cases. “[This is under the assumption that] women have regular menstrual cycles, which is not true for everybody,” Foster said. “Menstrual cycles can be anywhere from 15 to 35 days, you could easily have many cycles that are six weeks long without there being pregnancy involved.”

Along with abortions, contraceptives play a role in women’s reproductive rights. Guttmacher Institute reported that 10 states are introducing bills to expand access to emergency contraception.

However, emergency contraceptives are not fully accessible in all states.

If overturned, there would be little to no barriers between government and child bearing women to legalize safe abortions. In the larger scheme of reproductive rights, contraceptives, Planned Parenthood and emergency services could be federally defunded.

“I use contraceptives to lessen the symptoms of my menstrual cycle,” Shelley said. “By losing access to this resource, I would experience extreme period symptoms and it would take an extreme toll on my physical and mental health.”

“The men making these laws fail to see the many ways that contraceptives are beneficial for women’s health and refuse to recognize that they do not solely just prevent pregnancy,” she added.

Foster explained that in addition to choosing to terminate the pregnancy for personal reasons, there are other reasons abortions past six weeks should remain legal.

“Around 20 percent of pregnancies,

intended or not, result in miscarriage,” she said. “We’re not even talking about the other things that can happen in the course of the pregnancy that lead it to full term but the pregnancy is not viable.”

The pro-life ideology argues that all life should be protected. Most pro-life movements support carrying to term pregnancies even in outstanding circumstances. Many pro-life platforms do not include plans for how to support mothers with unwanted pregnancies after the birth.

“It is just ironic that lobby groups spend so much time and money on this particular question of restricting a woman’s right to determine what is going to happen to her own body and none of the other issues that would matter to childbearing and child rearing women,” Foster said.

The Supreme Court will hear the case in 2022.

Traditional religious participation falters in U.S.

By Hayley DeSilva Staff Writer

A recent Gallup poll found that the percentage of Americans with a membership at a house of worship fell under 50 percent for the first time in 80 years.

As a whole, religion’s influence in the nation has been declining the past several years, which might surprise some, considering the current Supreme Court deliberations on Roe V. Wade.

“Things like patriotism and nationalism...while they’re not usually thought of as ‘religious’ forces, have all the trappings associated with traditional ideas of religion,” said Michael Budde, a religion and politics professor at DePaul. “Notions of transcendence, ultimate purpose, a willingness to sacrifice, prescribed practices of worship and devotion — and more.”

There are several theories as to why re-

ligion’s grip on society is slipping.

“There’s the general rise of secularism, which is to say the recognition of non-adherence to religion as a viable option,” said Scott Paeth, a DePaul religious studies professor. “[Additionally, there] is the general decline in institutional life generally. Religion, insofar as it is housed within institutional forms like churches, synagogues, mosques, or temples, is experiencing the same decline as all other institutions as civil society collapses and people become more isolated and insular.”

Fr. Christopher Robinson, a religious studies instructor at DePaul, believes that it’s not religion in general that’s declining, but traditional forms of it.

“People are more accepting in a variety of ways of the beliefs of others,” Robinson said.

He also said that he sees the decline in

religious participation being partly due to the sexual abuse crisis within the Catholic church and, more recently, the backing of former president Donald Trump by a large population of evangelical Christians.

It appears this is an issue internationally as well.

“The current conflict between Israel, Palestine, and Hamas also interjects a sort of caution regarding any official religious affiliation and the consequences of ‘blind faith,’” Robinson said. “Granted, very few American religions require blind faith but the popular imagination (when it comes to religion) is pretty shallow and shaped by pop culture.”

The pandemic is believed to have also played a hand in the apparent decline, with many houses of worship closed due to social distancing guidelines.

“This allowed literally millions of in-

dividuals to ‘experiment’ with religion without any commitment, affiliation, or even personal identification,” Robinson said. “People could go on-line and visit a mosque, a Catholic mass, listen to High Holy Days chants, and celebrate a virtual Hajj, among many other things.”

While it remains unclear if the pandemic will have a lasting effect on religion’s influence, there is concern on the implication a decline in religious influence can have on the country and its structure.

“For people who believe that religious institutions add something to the common life of a society, I think that the decline of those institutions means that we risk losing something valuable,” Paeth said. “But again, this is as much about the overall decline of institutions as it is about religious institutions in particular.”

12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

Opinions

AUDREY CHAMPELLI | THE DEPAULIA

Cancel culture: More than mob mentality

By Lucas Madlangbayan Contributing Writer

What do Seth Rogen, Rick Santorum and J.K Rowling have in common?

They, and many other public figures from celebrities to senators, have spoken about “cancel culture.” Merriam-Webster defines it as a mass withdrawal of support for someone such as a celebrity to “express disapproval and exert social pressure,” but opinions on the phenomenon vary.

The newly-formed organization Unsilenced Majority opposes what they call the “woke mobs” of “cancel culture” and Rick Santorum was “savaged” by “cancel culture” for his statements on Native Americans. In the world of comedy, Seth Rogen believes that comedians shouldn’t be complaining about “cancel culture”, but confronting and accepting the jokes that may have “aged terribly.”

“Cancel culture” is a polarizing topic among the general public as well. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, there are some who see it as taking accountability for one’s actions, others who believe it is akin to mob mentality.

But cancel culture is more than just a “woke mob” targeting public figures — it’s a newly-empowered public’s way of holding people accountable for the things they do.

“Cancelling is just holding people accountable for their behavior,” said Paul Booth, media scholar and DePaul communications professor. “It’s always ok to hold people accountable for their behavior. But I believe context is also important.”

A piece by Vox notes the term entered the mainstream at the same time as the #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo movements, which brought about change and consequences for some public figures,

such as Harvey Weinstein. Social media and hashtags allow the general public to comment on issues and spread awareness, as well as call for public figures to be held accountable for what they choose to say or do.

“Times change and what is considered ‘acceptable’ behavior changes,” Booth said.

“For instance, J.K. Rowling has abhorrent views on trans people now — her ‘cancelation’ is very different from, say, someone who is accused of mere bad judgement far in the past.”

Cancel culture is not only present in the world of pop culture, it is also a hot topic in the realm of politics, as well.

“There is a large political battle going on, certainly in the U.S and in many other places as well, where there are many claims that different political opinions are being silenced,” said Samantha Close, a professor of communication studies and expertise in fandom, pop culture, and social media.

The Pew Research Center study notes that “14% of adults who had heard at least a fair amount about cancel culture” described it as censorship. In response to this “silencing,” groups like the Unsilenced Majority choose to “fight back”.

“It is a strongly felt opinion, especially for folks who lean more conservative who are saying ‘we’re being silenced, we can’t say this anymore,’” Close continued. “I don’t think that’s a very true assessment, but it’s another reason it’s making news.”

Booth notes that the term is used to describe different situations by both sides of the political spectrum.

“The left use it as a way to talk about punishing people by reducing their cultural visibility because of perceived transgressions of decent social/cultural behavior.

The right use is as a term for silencing people who disagree with you,” he said in an interview over email.

While it may be described as silencing those who disagree, some “canceled” figures continue to work and appear in the public’s eye. According to Forbes, J.K Rowling is the second highest-paid author in the world and continues to publish novels for both children and adults. Rick Santorum appeared on Fox News speaking out about today’s cancel culture and “the intolerance of the left” after CNN cut ties with him for his comments on Native Americans.

Close is skeptical about the term, noting that the phrase “cancel culture” suggests that those who are canceled have serious consequences and are no longer working — but many public figures who have faced cancel culture are still working in some capacity.

If cancel culture is simply a way for “woke mobs” to silence those who they disagree with, the continued presence of “canceled” figures in the public’s eye is proof it hasn’t worked — but what we’ve come to recognize as cancel culture is more than just mobs calling for those who they disagree with to be silenced.

“I don’t think the actual effects that people decry about cancel culture are felt,” Close said. “I think folks get confused about free speech and think that free speech means that you should be able to say whatever you want to say and not have anyone argue back at you or have any consequences, and that’s not what that means.

That’s what it has meant in a broadcast culture, where someone like Rowling writes her books or gets interviewed and puts her views out there and that’s it. You might read it and be angry with your friends, but she doesn’t hear any of that, and that’s no longer the case.”

With social media giving everyday people a way to chime in on the issues surrounding public figures and celebrities, the

question becomes when — or if — people should call for someone to be canceled.

Close thinks it’s unwise to call for someone’s cancellation due to the negative associations with the term, which may possibly “draw ire” from others.

“But otherwise that’s part of being a responsible citizen of the world and citizen of the internet,” she added. “If you see someone doing something wrong or you see someone doing something you disagree with, you can express that disagreement, especially for public figures — that’s part of being a public figure, you are in the public.”

There’s a bigger picture — and a bigger conversation — that we should be having instead of just speaking about “cancel culture.” Instead of looking at cancel culture itself, Close suggests reframing the conversation and the problems surrounding it.

“Instead of arguing whether it’s right to cancel someone or to call for them to be canceled, say “well okay, what are they accused of doing, is that a good thing?,” she said. “Is that something we want to have happen in society?” If yes, then okay, if not, then what changes need to be made?”

Cancel culture won’t be canceled anytime soon: as more and more public figures weigh in with their opinions and social media rallies with —or against— the celebrity in the hot seat, that much is certain.

While cancel culture is making headlines as the hot topic of comedians, senators, writers, and more, we should take a good look at the larger picture. Instead of looking at cancel culture as a punishment, or as mob mentality, we should have a conversation about taking accountability, about what needs to change in the world around us, and what must be done to get us there.

Opinions. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 |13

The DePaulia’s Hot Takes

By DePaulia Staff

From the current state of cinema to who’s the better athlete, The DePaulia staff wanted to list our recent out of pocket thoughts this week. We know that as journalists, we should be as objective as possible. But when it comes to who is the greatest action star, some of us can’t hold back. In Hot Takes, we let it all out, we let our opinions soar.

“We’re in a Dark Age of the arts — movies, music, fashion, etc. — and have been since the 60s/70s. Everything since then has been a repeat of everything before with no original contribution.”

Ella Lee, Print Managing Editor

Some of these range from societal, celebrity and Chicago takes. No need to take these as ride or die, but it’s good to know sometimes what your college newspaper’s editors think about every day things. In fact, we’re just like you! If you have a thought or an opinion, feel free to reach out to this opinions email.

“John Walker as Captain America embodied

what America actually represents, while Steve Rogers embodied what America thought it was and Sam Wilson embodies what it can be.”

Chinyere Ibeh, Focus Editor

“No matter how good the White Sox get, Chicago will always be a Cubs town.”

Ernesto Hernandez, Asst. Sports Editor

“Lady Gaga is overrated and should have faded into obscurity in 2010.”

Lacey Latch, Editor in Chief

“Wrigleyville is one of the worst places in the city.”

Sonal Soni, Asst. News Editor

“Michael

Jordan is better than LeBron James.”

“Love Island is an honest exploration of relationships and gendered dynamics and is also the best show on television.”

Emma Oxnevad, Online Managing Editor

“Jackie Chan is the greatest action star of all time.”

Nate Burleyson, Arts Life Editor

“Harry Styles doesn’t dress well.”

Cailey Gleeson, former News Editor

“LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan,.

Rebecca Meluch, News Editor GRAPHIC FROM FLIKER

We shouldn’t idolize Cheney for speaking out

By Maddey Madeson Contributing Writer

On May 12, House Republicans voted to oust Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney as conference chair. Cheney had been vocalizing her opposition to the “big lie”— that the 2020 election was “stolen” from former President Donald Trump and that there was widespread election fraud.

Cheney should not be idolized or glorified for speaking out against the majority of her party. Although she is a prominent figure in the GOP, we shouldn’t praise our politicians for having common sense and accepting the truth about the election.

In the past, Cheney voted almost exclusively in support of Trump on bills that passed through the House.

“Her voting record places her among the most conservative members of the Republican Caucus,” DePaul political science professor Wayne Steger said.

Cheney voted in favor of the Securing America’s Future Act of 2018, an immigration bill that would have stipulated that the infamous Mexico and U.S. border wall be built. That bill ultimately failed.

She also voted to pass an abortion bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act. Her removal indicates that the GOP is dedicated to sustaining the lies about the election. But for the House of Representatives itself, there are no implications for “the balance of power,” according to Steger.

“Liz Cheney’s demotion is a clear indication that Republican leadership is far more interested in sustaining former President Trump’s ‘big lie’ than in confronting

the truth,” Chris Bury, professor and senior journalist in residence at DePaul.

Ousting Cheney shows that the Republican party is dedicated to a person, and not the ideals the party claims to uphold.

“Cheney’s sin, in the eyes of leadership, was to publicly acknowledge that Trump himself instigated the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 with his relentless lies about the election results,” Bury said.

Because of Trump’s involvement, Cheney vowed to “never again let the former President near the Oval Office.”

For those of us who lean left, it can seem like a breath of fresh air when a Republican disagrees with Trump on a topic.

Illinois District 16 Rep. Adam Kinzinger, also a Republican, sided with Cheney and criticized his colleagues for ousting her..

Kinzinger called it “a low point for the Republican party.”

Kinzinger’s family, in a statement I find to be comedically melodramatic, disowned Kinzinger for his views on the Jan. 6 insurrection.

“Oh, what a disappointment you are to us and to God!” part of the statement read.

“Democrats cheer Cheney, but only because she agrees with them on the matter of the big lie. She won’t get much love from Democrats,” Steger said.

Again, Cheney is not deserving of exaltations because she disagreed with the majority of the Republican Party on an issue. She refused to push a harmful idea, which was obviously a lie. She doesn’t deserve too much praise for having common sense.

The larger implication I’ve been wondering about are the implications of Cheney’s ousting for the Republican party

itself.

Politics and the news cycle move fast, and America might not be talking about Cheney in a week. But her demotion is indicative of a larger pattern in the Republican Party that I don’t think is going away any time soon.

Many Republicans still seem blindly devoted to Trump. He has been accused of assaulting multiple women and has refused to denounce white supremacy, and yet people still follow him.

“Republicans have been operating on big lies for 20 plus years,” Steger said. “This is just a difference in magnitude.

What differs in this case, is that the majority faction of a party is going to great lengths to sustain the lie.”

This could be potentially dangerous for the U.S. since Trump consistently upholds harmful, racist, and sexist ideals about groups of people--and isn’t afraid to show it.

“As long as the Republican Party claims fealty to an individual, a twice-impeached ex-president, instead of a set of ideals, it will face difficulty gaining more traction with American voters,” Bury said.

Most people who are staunchly conservative probably are not going to drop their obtuse devotion to Trump in the near future either. Still, Cheney’s ousting is a clear indicator of the Republican Party’s values — and that their loyalties don’t lie with their ideals, but rather with a disgraced man

who hasn’t said anything of substance for the last half a decade. We shouldn’t make Cheney out to be a hero.

PHOTO BY Wikimedia Commons

14 | Focus. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

Focus

The Unseen Side

By Kalia Butler Contributing Writer

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright are just some of the names of people of color that have fallen victim to police brutality. Their stories are known around the world — their names written down on signs as people march in the street for their justice.

Police brutality appears to be an epidemic. The rapid growth and spread of police violence has a long history. In a digital world, more people are opening up about the mistreatment they have faced at the hands of police.

Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef of the Chicago Activist Coalition, a diverse organization aimed at addressing injustice in Chicago, recounted his own experiences with the police in an interview with The DePaulia.

Yosef said that in his early 20s, he was stopped by Madison, Wisc. police in a south suburb. The encounter occurred before police frequently used video and body cameras, and Yosef said he thought he was on the verge of being killed. His car had stalled, and he called upon police for assistance. To his surprise, officers immediately pulled their guns out on him, he said.

“If I had sneezed or I had coughed, or if I had done anything possible, I was a dead man,” Yosef said. “I was literally terrified.”

Yosef, a Black man, said he was profiled and it could have cost him his life. Those officers returned to work while that interaction will continue to linger in Yosef ’s mind for the rest of his life.

Like many others that have been targeted by the police, Yosef ’s story did not receive media coverage. Daily excessive force used by police is suffered by communities that cannot seem to escape their reign.

One New York University study found that Black drivers are 20 percent more likely to be stopped than white drivers, and once stopped, they were searched about 1.5 to 2 times as often as white drivers.

“The proximity of policing and the criminal justice system is so close in minority communities that if you walk out the door there will be a likelihood you’re just gonna come into contact with them,” said Xavier Perez, a professor of criminology at DePaul.

In an article written by a group of university professors, they determined that “African American men and women, American Indian/ Alaska Native men and women, and Latino men face higher lifetime risk of being killed by police than do their white peers.”

With that, for young men of color, one of the leading causes of death is the use of police force.

Many stories seem to go unshared, unrecorded or have not been picked up by the media.

“Every name that has been subjected to racial cleansing deserves the same amount of equality and respect and justice,” Yosef said. “Every life stolen should receive their day in court. Justice should be blind and impartial.”

In 2020, Black people made up 28 percent of those

Focus. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 15

of Police Brutality killed by police while making up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, according to MappingPoliceViolence.org. In the first 5 months of 2021, 383 people were killed by police — many whose names we do not know.

Rhonda DeLong, a professor of criminology at DePaul, serves as a part-time police officer in Michigan. Her philosophy on policing is community-based and includes a strong belief in listening to and connecting with the community she serves. As she encourages other officers to take part in her philosophy, she addresses concerns within the police department.

“There are officers out there that target people of color because they’ve been socialized into this perception that people of color commit more crime,” DeLong said.

DeLong recalled a situation with a fellow officer who racially profiled a group of teenagers. Groups of teenagers sped past in cars while the officers decided when they should pull one of them over, she said. DeLong said numerous white teenagers passed them, but the officer with her decided he wanted to pull over a group of Latino kids.

The officer had made statements about Latino individuals carrying knives and spray paint with them, giving them a two-in-one opportunity to arrest them, she said. DeLong was shocked by the officer, but said it was not the first time something like this has happened.

DeLong described other situations where she initially responded to the scene: one occurrence with a Latino man and another where a man was trying to commit suicide. In both instances, DeLong said she was able to effectively communicate with the individuals and defuse the situation. When other officers arrived at the scene, excessive force such as use of tasers and being thrown on the hood of a cop car were used immediately without thought to the specifics of the call they had received.

“In my mind, there was no need for that. Verbal communication ... can make the difference,” DeLong said. “There’s compliance and even when there isn’t compliance, why does that amount of force have to be used?”

DeLong believes there is an abuse of power creating a culture in policing that needs to change.

“We need to change the image of what policing is,” she said.

To Perez, this injustice is tethered to a perception around law enforcement that has become justified by the media. Many will side with the police because we have historically positioned policing as a heroic act, he said; TV shows, movies, news and more have created a good guy/bad guy stereotype leading us to believe the actions of the police are on the right side of the law.

“The media in many ways only reinforces very traditional notions of punishment and criminals,” Perez said. “Our natural inclination is to believe the officer and to see it from their perspective.”

Perez believes the media has the ability to shape our perception of police and enhance stereotypes of who is being policed. This works in favor of law enforcement who can continue to operate unjustly.

“It’s the position,” he said. “Authority versus no authority and they have power over this person.”

CHINYERE IBEH | THE DEPAULIA

16 | La DePaulia, The DePaulia. el 1 de junio de 2021

La DePaulia

‘Bomba de tiempo’

OXI.AP | FLICKR

Manifestaciones en Colombia sobre el aumento de impuestos causo un paro nacional.

Protestas en Colombia demandan cambios sociales y reforma policial

By Josephine Stratman Staff Writer

Como muchos otros estudiantes de la Universidad DePaul, Juliana Zanubi se distrae mientras está en clases de zoom desde su casa. Sin embargo, lejos de las distracciones comunes como el ruido de sus hermanos o lo agradable de una cama cómoda. Cuando se sienta en clase, Zanubi, una sophomore en DePaul, oye helicópteros militares, tanques ruidosos y a menudo, grita.

Durante las últimas semanas, Colombia ha experimentado protestas y brutalidad policial en uno de los movimientos de protesta más grandes de los últimos años.

Cali, la tercera ciudad más grande del país y hogar de Zanubi, es el epicentro de estas protestas.

Hasta ahora, al menos 50 han sido asesinados, cientos han desaparecido, incluso hay heridos y decenas de personas han sido agredidas sexualmente por la policía. Las protestas comenzaron el 28 de abril y fueron causadas por una reforma fiscal nacional que ha sido retirada.

Desde entonces, se ha convertido en un movimiento nacional con muchas otras demandas, incluyendo más oportunidades para los jóvenes, el fin de la violencia policial y la retirada de un plan de reforma de salud. “[Cali] era una bomba de tiempo. Y simplemente la bomba explotós”, dijo Zanubi Las reformas fiscales fueron un intento de equilibrar el presupuesto del país aumentando los impuestos a quienes ganan más de $656 al mes y extendiendo el impuesto al valor agregado a productos básicos como huevos o electricidad.

La impopular reforma fiscal desencadenó las protestas, pero la historia de desigualdad severa del país es lo que lo ha hecho último, dijo Luis Martínez, profesor adjunto de la Escuela de Política Pública Harris de la Universidad de Chicago.

Covid-19 ha ampliado la ya cavernosa brecha entre ricos y pobres. El año pasado, la tasa de pobreza en Colombia aumentó del 35.7 al 42.7 por ciento. El número de colombianos que viven en la extrema pobreza aumentó en 2.8 millones de personas. Mientras tanto, la economía del país bajó un 6.8 por ciento, según el World Bank.

Covid-19 obligó a la gente a entrar reprimiendo los problemas sociales. Los altos niveles de pobreza, la falta de atención del gobierno a través del tratado de paz de 2016 con las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, y una economía devastada — han hecho que el descontento se hierva.

Los activistas dicen que hay un vínculo claro entre las protestas y un movimiento anterior en noviembre de 2019, donde los ciudadanos salieron a las calles por las mismas razones.

“Con esta reforma fiscal, la rabia acaba de salir una vez más. Y fue diez veces peor, tuvo tiempo [durante Covid] de crecer”, dijo Zanubi.

Las fuerzas policiales utilizadas para luchar contra los narcotraficantes y grupos guerrilleros han sido ordenadas de vigilar a los manifestantes.

“Las protestas aquí han sido violentas, agresivas, a veces por los manifestantes, pero también por la brutalidad policial”, dijo Juan Felipe Escobar Borrero, estudiante universitario en Colombia.

Los videos en los medios sociales han mostrado a la policía en ropas simples y empujando a la gente en furgonetas y usando la fuerza indebida.

Aunque la mayoría de las protestas son pacíficas, la violencia también proviene de los manifestantes. Zanubi dijo que ha recibido amenazas por teléfono y una señal de advertencia de violencia por venir: Una caja de huevos agrietados.

“Tenemos miedo de nuestros vecinos, miedo de los manifestantes, miedo de la policía. No podemos confiar en nadie”, dijo Zanubi.

Escobar-Borrero, de 20 años, vive en un barrio acomodado de Cali, cerca de donde tiradores no identificados vestidos de civil abrieron fuego contra un grupo indígena el domingo 9 de mayo.

“Vi que los helicópteros del ejército me sobrepasaba y escuché las balas”, dijo Escobar-Borrero.

Los problemas de clase han hecho que el país se haya polarizado .

“Los jóvenes sienten que no tienen oportunidades de continuar con sus vidas.

No tienen educación, no tienen trabajo, algunos de ellos tuvieron que detener su escuela porque no tenían dinero”, dijo Lilibeydy Manrique, profesora de primaria de Cali.

“Puede haber un gran bolsillo de jóvenes sin mucha esperanza”, dijo Martínez. “Creo que la gente quiere algún tipo de reconocimiento de que sus quejas son válidas”.

Martínez dijo que los críticos de las protestas se refieren a las pérdidas económicas y los empleos perdidos que ocasionaron las protestas. Martinez dijo que sin embargo, los costos de las protestas no recaen sobre los manifestantes.

Zanubi trabaja dos trabajos a tiempo parcial, ambos virtuales a través de DePaul para mantenerse a sí misma y a su madre. Su madre perdió la mitad de sus ingresos durante la pandemia, a pesar de trabajar cinco horas más a la semana, los trabajos de Zanubi los apoyan.

En Cali, las huelgas y protestas laborales en curso dan lugar a bloqueos de carreteras que añaden horas a los trayectos normalmente cortos y un viaje a la gasolinera puede tardar cuatro o cinco horas.

“No hay comestibles y supermercados, hay grandes líneas. Y cuando entras, no hay nada dentro”, dijo Zanubi.

“Estar en Cali, ver todos los problemas... es muy diferente a verlos desde Bogotá”, dijo Escobar-Borrero, estudiante de la Universidad del Rosario en Bogotá.

Cali tiene una larga historia de con-

flictos sociales: Históricamente un “cóctel tóxico” de delincuencia, según Martínez, la ciudad está situada en la intersección de cuatro regiones diferentes en el país. Los afrolatinos, un grupo históricamente privado de derechos, constituyen casi la mitad de la población. La ciudad fue el hogar del infame Cartel de Cali, que dominó el comercio de cocaína durante el 1990s.

Además de ir a las protestas, la gente encuentra otras maneras de resistir.

“La educación es mi revolución”, dijo Manrique.

Manrique es cofundador del Colegio La Fontaine, una escuela primaria bilingüe en Siloé, Colombia- uno de los barrios más pobres de Cali. La escuela tiene alrededor de 200 estudiantes.

“La gente con poder, se olvida de las necesidades de la gente”, dijo Manrique.

Para ella, proporcionar una educación en inglés significa darle a sus estudiantes empoderamiento.

Como resultado de las protestas, el ex ministro de Hacienda Alberto Carrasquilla y la ex ministra de Relaciones Exteriores Claudia Blum dimitieron a principios de este mes, así como todo el gabinete del alcalde de Cali. Tanto las reformas fiscales como las de salud han sido descartadas.

“La legitimidad del gobierno se acaba de romper”, dijo Martínez.

La calificación de aprobación del presidente Ivan Duque ha disminuido considerablemente durante la pandemia.

En general, este movimiento de protesta puede mostrar la fuerza de las generaciones más jóvenes, dijo Manrique. Con el advenimiento de las redes sociales y un aumento global de la desigualdad, este movimiento es sólo uno de muchos.

“No es la primera vez que sucede. No será la última vez que suceda. Y no sucede aquí. Esto es algo que sucede en todas partes”, dijo Zanubi.

La DePaulia, The DePaulia. el 1 de junio de 2021 | 17

Los activistas de la justicia ambiental logran una victoria contra General Iron, pero su lucha continúa

By Jackson Healy and María Marta Guzmán Staff Writer & La DePaulia Editor-in-Chief

Mientras que Reserve Management Group ha intentado trasladar la instalación de General Iron en Lincoln Park al Sureste de Chicago, activistas y residentes de la comunidad se han opuesto a sus esfuerzos.

El 7 de mayo, después de que el jefe de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos “fuertemente recomendó” a la alcaldesa Lori Lightfoot que detuviera el proceso de permisos para permitir un análisis de los posibles impactos en la salud de la comunidad, Lightfoot aceptó de inmediato y retraso el permiso.

“Mi reacción inicial fue de sorpresa, porque no esperábamos ese tipo de participación de la EPA”, dijo Peggy Salazar, directora del Grupo de Trabajo Ambiental del Sureste. “Pero una vez que superas eso, te estás preguntando, ‘Está bien, ¿qué está pasando? ¿Es esto solo un intento de estancar a la comunidad? ¿O están en serio y quieren intervenir y asegurarse de que se haga lo correcto? ‘” Los activistas de la justicia ambiental como Salazar han destacado la mudada propuesta de General Iron como un ejemplo de racismo ambiental, señalando un motivo de instalaciones industriales que se están moviendo de comunidades blancas, más ricas a comunidades afroamericanas y latinas más pobres.

“Están revitalizando el lado norte”, dijo Salazar. “¿Qué están haciendo en el lado sur? El lado sur, al parecer, iba a acomodar la revitalización pero para no participar en la revitalización. Entonces, pensamos, ¿qué tan injusto es eso? Somos un área postindustrial, y si alguien necesita revitalización, es nuestra comunidad ”.

Mark Potosnak, presidente del Departamento de Ciencias y Estudios Ambientales de DePaul, señala que debido a la historia de Chicago como ciudad industrial, muchas de estas instalaciones estaban ubicadas en comunidades tanto en el lado norte como en el lado sur. Sin embargo, a medida que más comunidades del lado norte se hicieron más ricas, la industria se vio obligada a ser urbanizada y el lado sur quedó fuera.

“El caso decisivo es cuando existe este proceso como con General Iron”, dijo Potosnak, “Donde se quedan en la ciudad porque la ciudad quiere estas industrias — quieren que los trabajos permanezcan — por lo que en realidad llegan a acuerdos como, ‘Usted no puede permanecer en Lincoln Park — ¿adónde se va ir usted?’ Terminan en comunidades afroamericanas y marrones la mayoría de las veces”.

Sin embargo, no solo los habitantes de Chicago se han dado cuenta — dos investigaciones federales separadas (realizadas por EPA y el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano)

geografía de la Universidad DePaul.

“Por ejemplo, inundaciones. Cuando observas las reclamaciones de seguros contra inundaciones, es principalmente en las comunidades afroamericanas y latinas”.

El Center for Neighborhood Technology, una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada al desarrollo sostenible en Chicago, hizo exactamente eso. Los resultados son sorprendentes: el 87% de todas las reclamaciones utilizadas en el conjunto de datos eran en comunidades de color.

Otro problema crítico del cambio climático que se espera que afecte particularmente a los vecindarios afroamericanos y latinos no solo en Chicago, sino en todo Estados Unidos (EE.UU), es el calor.

Un estudio del 2019 nota que 108 áreas urbanas en los EE. UU. destacó que, en promedio, los vecindarios que alguna vez fueron víctimas de ‘redlining’, ahora son cinco grados más calurosos en el verano que las áreas que se consideran óptimas para préstamos de vivienda.

Grandes cantidades de asfalto abierto y muchos menos árboles contribuyen en gran medida a estas “islas de calor”. Dado que estos vecindarios todavía son hogares a individuos afroamericanos y latinos de clase baja, y dado que el cambio climático crea veranos más calurosos y más largos.

Un estudio reciente sugiere que los veranos pueden durar hasta seis meses para el año 2100, es probable que la MATTHEW KAPLAN | INSTAGRAM peor parte de estas olas de calor más Activistas del Sureste de Chicago protestan contra General Iron para detener la largas y más fuertes se arroje a las comunidades de color ya marginadas. injusticia ambiental sucediendo en sus vecindarios.

Salazar señala que mientras la conciencia sobre el racismo ambiental ha aumentado, el cambio debe seguir.

“Han tardado muchos años en llamar la atención, pero está empezando a [ser reconocido]”, dijo Salazar. “Se trata de que nos agobien frente a otros que no se ven afectados y no tienen que preocuparse. Todas estas cosas existen, pero solo un grupo de personas tienen que lidiar con la carga”.

Aún así, agrega que la pelea continúa.

“No nos vamos a ir. Nuestra organización definitivamente no va a deDdirectora del Grupo de Trabajo Ambiental del Sureste saparecer”.

Después de que el jefe de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los están investigando si las prácticas de materiales tóxicos al aire de la región. Estados Unidos “recomendó” a la alzonificación y uso de la tierra de Chi- Y en el lado oeste, los residentes de caldesa Lori Lightfoot que detuviera cago violan los derechos civiles de los La Villita han alegado que el racismo el proceso de permisos para permitir residentes del lado sureste bajo la ‘Ley ambiental jugó un papel en los funcio- un análisis de los posibles impactos de Vivienda Justa’ después de que ac- narios de la ciudad que aprobaron los en la salud de la comunidad, Lightfoot tivistas comunitarios solicitaron un permisos para que los contratistas de aceptó de inmediato y retraso el permayor escrutinio de las acciones de la Hilco demolieran una chimenea en la miso.

Mientras que Reserve Manageciudad. comunidad — una decisión que cubrió ment Group ha intentado trasladar la Aún así, los activistas dicen que de polvo varias cuadras del vecindario instalación de General Iron en Lincoln abogar por el racismo ambiental debe en medio del Covid-19 pandemia.

Park al Sureste de Chicago, activistas ir más allá de un edificio.

También hay un problema que se y residentes de la comunidad se han El sureste es un sitio que contiene espera que afecte de manera desproopuesto a sus esfuerzos. desechos tóxicos como plomo, arséni- porcionada a ambos vecindarios en co y escoria que contaminan la tierra y una variedad de formas dañinas: el las aguas subterráneas. Dentro del lado cambio climático. sureste, una gran cantidad de plantas “Ya estamos viendo el impacindustriales continúan bombeando to”, dijo Heather Smith, profesora de

“Entonces, pensamos, ¿qué tan injusto es eso? Somos un área postindustrial, y si alguien necesita revitalización, es nuestra comunidad”.

Peggy Salazar

Arts & Life

18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

‘Swipe Fat’ podcast embraces ‘fat’ label in dating scene

By Corey Schmidt Copy Editor

Being insecure about weight brings a whole new dynamic to the dating scene, which is something that influencer Alex Stewart and her friend Nicci Nunez quickly bonded over.

The two felt comfortable talking about their dating lives together, which is something they felt they couldn’t always share with their straight-sized friends — what they call someone with a thin build — due to the complexities that fat-identifying women experience when dating.

After griping about the unique elements of dating while overweight, Stewart and Nunez realized the podcast world didn’t have a place for plus-size women to call home when talking about their unique dating experiences.

This eventually led to the creation of their podcast “Swipe Fat” which can be found on Spotify and iTunes.

“It’s important for people to know that their experiences and feelings are valid,” Nunez said. “That other people go through the same things as they do.

We’ve created a community of women that don’t feel alone and that feels special.”

For the podcast, Stewart and Nunez often sit down together, drinking rosé while having a typical conversation — just with a microphone running.

Being plus-size made the two women feel as if they were different from society’s standards, so they aim to show how they are the same as everyone else, and that these conversations are normal.

Not only that, but Nunez and Stewart hope to help inform the straightsized on the unique challenges that plus-size women face.

“It’s equally as important for people who aren’t in marginalized bodies to realize what we go through dating as plus-sized women,” Stewart said. “One great thing I’ve felt that has come out of doing this podcast is that a lot of my straight-sized family and friends now realize that dating for me is just a tiny bit harder than if I were in a thin body.

Thin privilege is real, and this podcast has helped people in my life see that.”

During the pandemic, people were isolating themselves to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

As a result, not many people were meeting up and starting new relationships, which made finding a new romantic partner all the more difficult.

Eventually this led to a rise in popularity for online dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge. These apps create new challenges for plus-size singles.

“It’s more stressful because we have to go through more steps than a straight-sized person,” Nunez said. “We can’t post pictures that are too flattering because then we’re a fat-fish [also known as] a fat catfish.”

Stewart and Nunez have implemented several strategies to ensure they don’t create any false impressions on their profiles.

“We have to make sure we have full body shots, photos with our straightsized friends to show proportions and then have to decide if we want to put a

SWIPE FAT ON INSTAGRAM

Nunez (left) and Stewart (right) create a space for fat-identifying women to embrace the struggles that they face when dating. fat warning in our bio just in case they don’t realize we’re actually fat from our photos,” Nunez said.

Despite these challenges, Stewart and Nunez are full of laughs and create a lighthearted vibe for their podcast, hoping that plus-size women will understand that they are not alone in their anxieties about dating.

“Even though I have never so much as seen the screen of a dating website, I found myself nodding along, fully engaged because so much of their content is relatable to me as a fat woman, regardless of my relationship status,” blogger Katie Cloyd wrote. “I even felt myself getting a little jealous that they get to be friends in real life and I have to be just a listener. Alex and Nicci are the totally honest, funny ‘fat best friends’ I’d love to have in real life.”

In addition to tackling dating issues, the two co-hosts work to spread body positivity, showing that being plus-size is perfectly okay and normal.

The two co-hosts are taking back the word fat to combat the negative connotation it holds.

“We say fat in our show because we are trying to sort of take back the demoralizing [and] dehumanizing way it is now used in society,” Stewart said.

“We have women who ask us why we use ‘fat,’ when they prefer ‘plus-size’ or ‘chubby.’ To us, those [are] just the same words as fat just made to seem nicer.

Why does fat need to be a bad word?”

“Swipe Fat” hopes to bring a more relaxed approach to plus-size dating, taking the added pressure off plussize people from the comfort of their streaming service.

“I think also remembering that the people you are going out on dates with are just people too,” Stewart said. “They

SWIPE FAT ON INSTAGRAM

Nunez and Stewart talk about dating and adult life on their podcast together. also have insecurities and are nervous and just want to meet someone great. I think we as fat women usually go into the date thinking, ‘I hope he likes me.’

We are conditioned by society to think no one will. In reality, we need to be

looking at this like an opportunity for him to wow [us] too.”

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 19

Prequels polarize audiences at the box office

By Sofia Leal Contributing Writer

Last week, Warner Bros. announced that actor Timothee Chalamet willto play Willy Wonka in the upcoming origin film “Wonka,” which pulls from Roald Dahl’s original story “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The reactions from the general public were unsurprisingly negative.

Contrary to what you might be thinking, this negative feedback has less to do with casting choices and more to do with the company’s decision to make a prequel film about an iconic character, a character who has consistently formed emotional connections with varying audiences for multiple generations.

In the last decade or so, prequel films, specifically, origin stories, have become Hollywood’s favorite story to tell. Including the new Disney film “Cruella” about the origins of the 101 Dalmations villain. Funnily enough, they also happen to be the hardest narratives to pull off successfully. Prequel films seem to be judged more harshly by audiences and critics alike, but why? Why are people so keen on showing a strong dislike and rejection towards prequel films?

After “Wonka” was announced, a pop culture critic wrote in Vogue magazine: “There’s just something that doesn’t thrill me about a pre-tale tacked onto an existing (and well-loved) character, rather than striving for an original moment or unknown destination.

We all know where Willy ends up.”

Although many people today are familiar with the 2005 film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” where Willy Wonka was portrayed by Johnny Depp, the original 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” starring actor-comedian Gene Wilder goes down in history as the most iconic of all portrayals. Wilder’s embodiment was so great it left a longstanding image of a beloved, and crazed, candy wizard audiences came to love.

Perhaps this is why audiences seem suspicious of the upcoming origin film.

“I think a lot of it is skepticism,” said Michael DeAngelis, professor of media and cinema studies at DePaul University. “It can feel almost like a betrayal of one’s original experience narrative.”

When you experience an original story for the first time, and especially if it is a much-anticipated narrative — such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Planet of the Apes or, Star Trek and many others — you form an emotional connection to your experience. Similarly, ambiguity within a film allows you to interpret the actions and personality of a character in a way that aligns with your own beliefs.

Take the character Darth Vader for example;, the mystery surrounding his rise to power in the original films made for imaginative and intricate theories from fans, particularly pertaining to the idea that Vader’s turn to the dark side was complex and deeply rooted in betrayal. The prequels didn’t exactly live up to

IMDB

Emma Stone in “Cruella,” a Disney+ and theatrical release on May 28. The film follows Stone in the origins of Cruella de Vil. this notion.

“You can see every Star Wars narrative that’s available, and you can watch the prequels and still not be satisfied that any of this is really attesting to the depth or intensity of your own emotions and experience,” DeAngelis said.

Though prequels tend to address character and narrative ambiguity in a way in which it alters how fans interpret the original story, another problem prequels seem to face is their ability to come off as disingenuous.

Sometimes, they are seen as nothing other than a way for production companies and corporations to make more money.

“All the way from the very beginning filmmaking was always a business,” said Benjamin Aspray, professor of media and cinema studies at DePaul University. “The decision to make a prequel movie telling the backstory of a character from a franchise that already exists — that’s a business decision.”

The way some people see it, prequels and origin stories are a way for companies to capitalize on their own investment in an original story.

In looking at origin films like “X-Men: First Class,” the prequel film allowed for Marvel to spark an X-Men reboot with fresh faces as well as continue to cash in on a franchise that so many people already loved.

Ultimately, prequels solve the problem of aging, casting and reviving a stale narrative.

As a result, companies can do a really great job of re-creating a franchise such as what they did with X-Men, but other times, the end product is virtually unrecognizable and unrelated to the original story that initially drew the crowd in.

Though nowadays it feels like audiences and critics have more negative things to say about prequel films and origin stories than

IMDB

X-Men: First Class hit the box office in 2011, looking to revive the X-Men series. they do positive, it’s important to remember that there is an abundance of great prequel films that exist, ones that don’t tarnish the original story or narrative.

“The Godfather Part II” for example was critically acclaimed as one of the best crime dramas ever filmed. Doubling as both a prequel and a sequel, this film continues to infiltrate discussion amongst cinephiles sparking debates as to whether or not it’s better than the original film. “[Prequels] have the potential to be compelling and they also have the potential to be a useless, empty corporate product just like any sequel or any film might be,” said Blair Davis, a media and cinema studies professor at DePaul University. “Hollywood makes bad films every year— prequels are among them.”

As for why audiences continue to resist

the idea of their favorite characters getting their own prequel film, a variety of other things can be said, but it all comes down to the rational fear that an origin film will only tarnish or ruin the character from the original story. In the case of Willy Wonka, it’s hard to say for sure what the origin film will do to the beloved character, or how it’s going to change perceptions of the original film.

“I think that the curiosity factor will eventually win out over people’s supposed hatred and disgust online,” Davis said. “If you end up loving [a prequel], it will only complement the original if you end up hating it, I don’t think it should detract from your enjoyment of the original in any way.”

20 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

ALUMNI DISCOUNT geico.com/alum/duaa | 1-800-368-2734 | Local Agent Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. The GEICO Mobile app and site received #1 rankings according to the Dynatrace Q1 and Q3 2019 Mobile Insurance Scorecards. Average savings amount based on national GEICO New Policyholder survey data through February 2020. GEICO is the second-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States according to the 2018 A.M. Best market share report, published May 2019. Customer satisfaction based on an independent study conducted by Alan Newman Research, 2019. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2020 GEICO

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 21

How Lollapalooza compares to Rolling Loud

By Kalia Butler Contributing Writer

Music festivals are back, and people are excited. This summer marks the first time in almost a year the states will have in-person music festivals. People are booking flights from all over to be able to experience a few days’ worth of sore feet and ringing ears. Some notable festivals coming this summer 2021 are Rolling Loud and Lollapalooza.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced earlier this month the return of Lollapalooza.

The Grant Park festival will be at full capacity and will take place July 29-Aug. 1.

Each year, the lineup is always a topic of hot debate. This year, Lollapalooza hits a variety of genres in its lineup.

Their headliners include popular artists Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Tyler, the Creator and the Foo Fighters. Both Tyler, the Creator and Post Malone are returning artists from the 2018 lineup looking to draw in a crowd for hip-hop fans.

Lollapalooza is a big event for Chicagoans and suburbanites nearby, and some patrons are planning to fly in from other states for a weekend of fun. The event typically hosts up to 400,000 people annually.

This year, one of these attendees is Alexandra Rainis, a 20-year-old college student from New Jersey.

This will be Rainis’ first music festival and one she cannot wait to go to. After hearing great reviews of the festival from JOSH LEFF | THE DEPAULIA family members in Chicago, she decided Quavo performing at 2017 Lollapalooza with rap-trio Migos. Migos won’t be performing at Lollapalooza or Rolling Loud this year. she had to go herself.

Rainis plans to get a two-day pass but it’s 100 percent hip-hop for me.” and is most excited to see headliner Miley Michael Radowski, a student at the Cyrus.

University of Kentucky from Naperville, “I’m excited to experience a new atmo- Illinois, would agree with him. Radowski sphere and be around people again after won’t be making it to Rolling Loud this the pandemic,” Rainis said. “I’m excited to year but says he had an amazing experihear live music, especially Miley, who has ence when he went in 2019. an amazing album.”

Having attended both Rolling Loud The festival, which features over 170 and Lollapalooza, Radowski knows his performances on eight stages, will follow way around music festivals. specific Covid-19 guidelines for its ful“The festivals are totally different,” Raly-capacity intentions. In order to attend dowski said. “Different people attending, the event, attendees must be fully vacci- different artists. Rolling Loud is more connated or provide a negative Covid-19 test trolled and has better food and drinks. It’s result within 24 hours of each day attend- totally worth the experience if you are into ed. rap and hip-hop.”

Taking place a bit further south than Unlike Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud has Lolla, Rolling Loud’s lineup has been re- not yet announced any Covid-19 safety posted on Instagram stories for weeks by protocols, but is working with local and hip-hop fans. The festival will take place state officials to devise a plan.

July 23-July 25 at Hard Rock Stadium in On April 23, Rolling Loud posted to its Miami Gardens, Florida.

Instagram announcing that tickets for this Rolling Loud has taken place in Miami summer are sold out. The three-day festifor the past three years in a row with the val sold tickets for nearly $450 to attend exception of 2020. This year’s lineup will the whole weekend. feature A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott and Post Lollapalooza four-day general admisMalone, who will be exiting the stage and sion passes are currently going for $375 heading to Chicago for his second head- and have not yet sold out since its lineup line spot at Lollapalooza just a few days announcement on May 13. later.

These festivals have only a four-day Rolling Loud presents primarily hip- time period separating them. As two of hop/rap artists that many attendees look the top summer music festivals, the deciforward to — especially the younger de- sion on which to choose will be difficult mographic. The average age at Rolling for avid music lovers or those that want Loud is 24 years old and the event typical- post-lockdown fun. ly hosts over 200,000 people.

Attending both festivals for their full Blake Miller, a 21-year-old Florida duration might leave quite a dent in the native, will attend his fourth Rolling Loud wallet. But this summer, some people may CALLIE CRAIG | THE DEPAULIA festival this summer.

The Weeknd headlined Saturday during 2018’s Lollapalooza festival. be okay with taking that financial risk.

Miller says he is a huge fan of the lineAs of now, it seems as though Rolling up this year but is especially looking for- Loud is taking the lead over Lollapaloo- are generally listening to pop and hip-hop hop music. ward to seeing Don Toliver, Lil Durk and za. Rolling Loud was able to sell out their music.

These close statistics leave a hard Rod Wave, all notable hip-hop artists.

A Statista research study found that choice for festival-goers this summer. tickets in just about four days. Lollapaloo“The lineup is definitely way more hip- za, now on its 15th day since releasing the 52 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds and 54 Though Lollapalooza offers a variety of hop based,” Miller said. “The majority of lineup, has not sold out. percent of 20- to 24-year-olds are listen- genres including rap and pop, the Rolling the lineup is all rap genre if not all of it.

Both festivals typically attract 18- to ing to pop music. Meanwhile, 48 percent Loud rap-heavy lineup seems to attract Lollapalooza has a plethora of artists rang- 24-year-olds. This young demograph- of 16- to 19-year-olds and 54 percent of the young demographic of ticket buyers. ing from all different categories of music, ic that makes up a majority of their sales 20- to 24-year-olds are listening to hip-

22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

TERENCE PATRICK/HBO MAX VIA AP

This image provided by HBO Max shows Matt LeBlanc, from left, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow in a scene from the “Friends” reunion special.

‘Friends: The Reunion’ fails to address the show’s problematic history

By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor

We all like to remember the best moments of our lives. We all like to come back to those moments years later to recall those events. It can become easy to remember all the good.

It’s also easy to forget all the bad memories. We try to forget all the negative experiences, but it’s a part of us — like it or not.

And that’s what “Friends: The Reunion” is all about: remembering the good, forgetting the bad. After postponing the release of “The Reunion” last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it made its long-awaited debut on HBO Max on Thursday.

The issue with the show, however, was that it glossed over some bad moments and only focused on what made the show so popular.

Sitting on a couch in Central Park, the six main actors from the original “Friends” — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — went down memory lane to go through their rise to stardom. They were also joined by other stars like Justin Bieber and David Beckham.

Through all the stories shared and the nostalgia that it proved, “The Reunion” failed to address the ugly side of “Friends.”

It was disappointing to see that “The Reunion” glossed over the show’s lack of diversity and its history with homophobic, transphobic, racist and misogynistic comments. A true “reunion” doesn’t pick and choose what to remember and what to leave out.

Maybe it’s naive to expect these actors to address a difficult topic when, according to Business Insider, they were each paid $2.5 million to appear in this show.

And before the pandemic hit last March, this reunion was supposed to help premiere HBO Max.

The show was hosted by James Corden, which made for an awkward dynamic between him and the other actors. Corden would often bring back talking points already addressed by the other actors; he would have been better suited setting up a topic and allowing the cast to do the rest.

There were moments when the six actors were given the space to talk freely and go over moments that were special to them. That would have been the perfect time to also discuss some of the troubling parts of the show.

For example, in 1999, Amaani Lyle was one of the few Black women employed on the show, becoming a writers’ assistant who was fired after four months.

She then filed a lawsuit, which was later dismissed, alleging that her supervisors told racist and sexually graphic jokes, including of other female members of the cast.

These are issues that plagued the show for a long time but have largely gone untouched. Besides a couple of times where the writers of the show were asked to address these issues, it has mostly escaped any deep conversations.

Considering the issues that America has been trying to tackle in the last year with police brutality and racism, this would have been the perfect platform to speak openly about the ugly side of the show. Alas, we got none of that.

Instead, the show spent 105 minutes hearing from other celebrities who adored the show, which created some cringe-worthy moments, and occasional scenes where the cast got to speak to each other. In the scenes where the actors got the chance to open up — especially when Perry talked about the pressure to generate a laugh and the pressure of a joke landing — there were no extended conversations to explore further into these matters.

Maybe the cast isn’t as interesting when they are forced to be themselves

TERENCE PATRIC/HBO MAX VIA AP

This image provided by HBO Max shows Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc embracing during a scene from the “Friends” reunion special. rather than in character. Maybe that’s why Corden was there to keep everything moving along, even though it didn’t really work.

In certain moments, it felt like that cast felt scared to get too personal with the crowd. Then what’s the point of a reunion?

And that’s the issue with “The Reunion” — it didn’t involve much of the cast and it failed to engage in deep conversations. Given a year to produce this show, the production should have been better and the cast could have put in more effort to show they care about these issues.

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 23

Students find joy in the outdoors amid global crisis

By Eli Schmitt Contributing Writer

It’s the first warm day of the year and the park is empty.

DePaul freshman Camelia Verni-Patron sits on a blanket beside the North Branch of the Chicago River, quietly looking out towards the opposite bank. The Metra whizzes by, and they wave, though no one is waving back. For Verni-Patron, there is solace in the outdoors; it’s a place to rejuvenate and recenter themself. It hasn’t always been this way though.

“Before the pandemic, I was just leaving high school,” Verni-Patron said. “It was my last semester of senior year. I was really scared of being alone. So I would go out in nature as a group activity, mostly just to get out of the house. It was an excursion instead of something I regularly did.”

Having lived in Chicago their whole life, it’s rare that nature ever comes to them. But a year ago, Verni-Patron, along with the rest of the world, retreated to the safety of the indoors. We isolated ourselves and narrowed the scope of our lives and in this narrowing, many DePaul students rediscovered the simple joys of the outdoors.

In the first study of its kind, researchers in Vermont found that adults report walking 70 percent more during the pandemic than before. Wildlife watching is up 64 percent and relaxing outside alone 58 percent. The study “suggests that nature may play an important role in coping during times of crisis.”

“I had a pretty okay relationship with nature. But it wasn’t something I would seek all the time,” said DePaul freshman Dale Cheney.

When the pandemic hit, her relationship with the outdoors shifted dramatically.

“It was an escape,” Cheney said. “I would

ERIC HENRY | THE DEPAULIA

Residents out on the Lakefront Trail back in February 2021 when temperatures rose above 50 degrees for the first time in the winter. try to go on walks by myself. Try and spend as much time outside as possible.”

Cheney is a fast walker. When she gets a destination in mind nothing slows her down, aside from a cute cat. So when the sun is shining on clear blue days, nothing can dampen her mood.

A native of Indianapolis, Cheney always had a large yard growing up. She had wide shaded sidewalks and green space abound. Cheney now lives in a small and near-windowless Airbnb situated behind a

vacant storefront in Roscoe Village.

“Now I like going outside when I’m going somewhere,” Cheney said. “But I don’t seek out going to a park anymore. Just because I find more sanctuary inside.”

That’s the big question for the Vermont researchers: if the changes in values and behaviors during the pandemic are here to stay or not.

It might still be too early to tell. But for Verni-Patron, it isn’t. On nice days they wander up and down alleys, reclaiming un-

wanted furniture. Over half of all the furniture in their sunny Logan Square apartment has come from this new hobby, and they hope to carry these new habits into the postCovid world.

“I’m always outside. It’s part of my mental well-being,” Verni-Patron said. “Now being inside is like a prison. It’s a privilege to be outside and walking around a park. It’s my favorite part of my day.”

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

Arts & Life. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 24

St.Vincent’s

D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581”

By Emma Oxnevad

out.

Online Managing Editor

Despite the recent chilly weather, by

summer is right around the corner! With Covid restrictions looking to lessen this summer, I am thrilled at the prospect of letting loose and enjoying all that summer has to offer — including some great jams! Here are my predictions for the songs of the summer (so far), all of which I have been playing on repeat.

Kiss Me More- Doja Cat ft. SZA

I was first exposed to this song on TikTok and have not gotten enough of it since. Featuring quotable lyrics and a great beat, the real highlight of this track is the interplay between Doja Cat and SZA, with the former’s cheeky rapping meshing perfectly with the latter’s rich vocals. This song is great for a number of activities, from exercising to a night

Levitating- Dua Lipa ft. DaBa-

Yes, I know everyone has heard this song ad nauseum. Yes, I know it’s an obvious choice, but this is my list, damn it. While the original version of the song is great, DaBaby’s presence elevates the entire track. His energetic delivery adds life to the track and makes it impossible to not want to dance. While I can’t dance at all, you can bet I will be moving to this song all summer long.

Save Your Tears- The Weeknd & Ariana Grande On their own, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande are proven hit-makers — together, they guarantee a smash. I’ve really enjoyed The Weeknd’s gradual shift towards pop, which I find to be a better fit for his voice. The production

Crossword 1

2

3

4

5

12

6

7

16

22

23

24

27

33

34

37

38

41

46

11

31

32

54

55

17

19

26

10

14

18

45

9

13

15

21

8

20

25

28

29

35

30

36

39

40

42

43

47

44

48

49

50

51

52

53

56

57

58

59

60

61

on this song is perfect, with the duo’s voices floating over the instrumentation flawlessly. I can only hope that we see more collaborations between these two in the future.

Mr. Perfectly Fine- Taylor Swift

I don’t use the phrase “cultural reset” lightly, but this song qualifies. Perhaps I’m biased because “Fearless” is my favorite Taylor Swift album, but this track — featured on the first of her re-recordings — is absolutely perfect. The chorus is impossible to not sing along to, which is one of the best assets any pop song can have.

good 4 u- Olivia Rodrigo

While I found “SOUR” to be something of a mixed bag, I can’t deny that this song is great. Another track making waves on TikTok “good 4 u” is a shot of mid-2000s pop-punk nostalgia, which I can always get behind. I have yet to skip

ACROSS 1. Corner chesspiece 5. Bailiff ’s concern 9. Bled, like dye 12. Face form 13. Fabled runner-up 14. Good ___ boy 15. Soaks in sauce 17. Bill’s partner in love 18. Acrobat catcher 19. Reserved 21. Cavalry weapon 24. Simon ___ 26. “___ ideas?”

27. Goes head-to-head 29. Waste, as time 33. Base bed 34. ___ Island National Monument 36. Vamp’s accessory 37. Cap site 39. Just in case 40. Advantages 41. Minimalist’s goal?

43. Havens 45. Mine passage 48. Corn holder 49. Musician’s asset 50. Moves in waves 56. Glade shade 57. It may get into a jamb 58. Make a cake, e.g.

59. Opener 60. Competitive plus 61. Culminating point

PHOTOS FROM WIKI

this song when it comes on shuffle, and I imagine I will be playing it all summer, even when I’m pissed off.

DOWN 1. Computer acronym 2. Female gametes 3. Sculler’s need 4. “Dave” star Kevin 5. “Come again?”

6. Teller 7. Tick off 8. Best left alone 9. “___ of Ages” 10. Cream additive 11. Bright light on Broadway 16. Chutzpah 20. It can’t hurt to do this 21. Type of race 22. In a bit 23. Memory unit 24. Tennis champ Monica 25. Tag sale tag 28. Misery causes 30. Nile bird 31. Individual 32. Aberdeen miss 35. “Cheers” prop 38. One with a pole position?

42. Practice piece 44. Addis ___ 45. Pursue 46. Robust 47. General assembly?

48. Pickle 51. Common consent 52. Cat hater, stereotypically 53. Kind of dance 54. Manage, with “out” 55. Census datum

Sports

Sports. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 25

‘Momentum’

Red Stars’ new kit builds on Chicago tradition

By Ernesto Hernendez Asst. Sports Editor

The home opener for the Chicago Red Stars on May 22 against NJ/NY Gotham FC was a game of firsts for the home side.

Not only was it the Red Stars’ first game at SeatGeek Stadium this season, but it also marked the debut of their new jersey, the “Momentum” kit.

In keeping with the tradition of the previous two kits, the new design once again drew heavy inspiration from the city. On the front of the black jersey, it prominently features an L train with Chicago’s four six-pointed stars underneath it.

On the train itself, the destination was “MKOT,” which stands for “My Kind of Town” and is the team’s hashtag on social media. The club said the new kit was “a reflection on where this historic club has been and a bridge to where we’re going.”

Julie Newkirk, the Red Stars graphic designer, was the person behind the design of the new home kit. It was a concept that was a year in the making.

The fan reception to the new home kit has been largely positive, keeping in line with the reaction to the two previous home jerseys.

“I recently went to a match and bought the black jersey,” said Red Stars fan Jesus Trejo. “Overall, I’m fond with it, but could do without the cameo sleeves. The white one is a toptier NWSL [National Women’s Soccer League] jersey.”

Owing to that reception is the Red Stars’ ability to come up with a design that represents Chicago and uses the city as its focal point — a concept that has not gone unnoticed by fans.

“It definitely sets them apart from other jerseys around the league,” Trejo said. “I like how each takes on something Chicago-based, whether it’s the grid, the Loop or the neighborhoods, it’s a great touch.”

Anthony Guagliardo, the former graphic designer for the Red Stars, was the person behind the designs for the 2019 “Elevated” jersey as well as the 2020 “Neighborhood” edition.

Both his and Newkirk’s jerseys were designed in-house, which worked to their advantage.

“There’s a perspective that you don’t have when you go through an agency or Nike,” Guagliardo said. “They’re very good at what they do, but someone based out of another city would have a hard time making a design that’s truly ‘Chicago.’”

On his website, Guagliardo provides some background on the idea behind the design of both jerseys. For the 2019 version, the first in the trilogy,

he said that the main aspect he wanted to incorporate was Chicago. He used the L design as well as incorporating the skyline. The jersey sold out in less than 24 hours after it was released and outsold the total sales of the 2018 kit in the month it was released.

The following season, he wanted to focus on the Chicago roots. Utilizing people’s pride in their neighborhoods, he came up with the idea to use all 77 of Chicago’s neighborhoods to make up the stripes of the city flag. It was another success, as it sold out the night of the release.

While creating a concept and design in-house does have its advantages, there is also a lot more interaction during the creative process.

“The design process was vigorous,” Guagliardo said. “There was a lot of back-and-forth with my boss and much of the front office. It started with inspiration hunting: finding kits that worked and were well received and pulling their successful aspects to see how we can incorporate them in our design. Then from there it was a lot of trial and error.”

Identity is a significant part of sports culture. One of the simplest ways to build that identity is with the kit, or uniform, of the team one supports.

Being able to incorporate Chicago into those uniforms is something unique the Red Stars have been able to do over the years.

“I think the Red Stars, and the NWSL, have been hitting a high standard as of late in terms of logos, renames and jersey rollouts,” said Red Stars fan and DePaul alum Sergio Arroyo. “The league feels fresh and hip, and it has to be to keep up with legacy teams from Europe.”

Even in a city like Chicago, which has franchises in the four major sports leagues, the Red Stars have managed to stand out. On the day of their launch, the Chicago Blackhawks helped to promote the kit by having three of their players take a few pictures wearing the jersey.

With the success of each of the last three home kits also comes added pressure — the pressure to one-up themselves. So far so good, but fans are already looking forward to what will be worn next season.

“I hope they keep the white jersey consistent with only slight modifications,” Trejo said.

“I’m expecting the other jerseys to rotate and maybe have a new baby blue design. I just really hope they keep that Chicago theme, aside from just having the flag on it in some capacity.”

ROBIN ALAM / ISI PHOTOGRAPHY

Chicago Red Stars forward Kealia Watt goes after the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC.

DANIEL BARTEL / ISI PHOTOGRAPHY

Chicago Red Stars Mallory Pugh goes to kick the soccer ball during a game against NJ/ NY Gotham FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, IL.

26 | Sports. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021

Voices of the game becoming more inclusive

By Lauren Uhlrich Contribuiting Writer

In 1924, the Chicago Cubs made history when Hal Totten broadcasted the entirety of the Cubs’ home season from Wrigley Field with station WMAQ. In becoming the Cubs’ first play-by-play announcer, Totten shifted the coverage of major league games from postgame newspapers to live coverage.

A few weeks ago, nearly 100 years later, Beth Mowins became the first woman in Cubs’ history to call a regular-season game. This historically significant event made her one of only five women total to have called play-by-play announcements of a Major League Baseball game.

The great thing about sports is it’s all merit-based,” Mowins said in an interview with the MLB Network. “You have an opportunity to go prove yourself.

And that’s kind of how I approached broadcasting. And when I saw that there weren’t any other women calling playby-play, I didn’t see that as an obstacle; I saw that as an opportunity.”

In 2017, Mowins also became the first woman to call a nationally televised NFL game; this made her only the second female play-by-play announcer in NFL history. The first woman to call an NFL game was Gayle Sierens in 1987.

Both of these are considered spectacular feats for women in sports; they were progressive moves played by an industry dominated by men.

“The biggest issue is that the people who run news outlets look like me. They are predominantly white men,” said Colby Marchio, a graduate journalism student at DePaul and host of “Women in Sports Podcast.”

The 2018 Associated Press Sports Editors Racial and Gender Report Card evaluated over 75 newspapers and websites before determining that the news outlets failed their test in regard to gender hiring practices. One of the most significant conclusions made in the study was that only 10 percent of sports editors and 11.5 percent of sports reporters are women. There has not been an APSE Racial and Gender Report Card since 2018, but the conclusions that were made in this report follow a pattern seen in previous reports of a slow escalation of women in prominent positions within sports.

Women’s sports are also underrepresented in media coverage. In a study of women’s sports representation spanning 25 years, the conclusions showed that local news outlets spend 3 percent of their airtime covering women’s sports while ESPN spent only 2 percent of its coverage on women’s sports.

The sports industry needs to “hire more women and be more inclusive.

They can’t just say that they are going to be more inclusive without [implementing] any action,” Marchio said.

For women in the sports industry, the goal of an equitable workplace is just another glass ceiling needing to be shattered.

“I feel like I have to work so much harder than my peers, or the people sitting next to me in the press box, because I’m younger and I’m a woman,” said Lexi Almeido, sports editor of Boise State University’s newspaper, The Arbiter, and co-host of podcast, “Hold the Mic.” While women remain a distinct minority throughout the sports industry, the consistent celebration of milestones that women reach may not be as helpful

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO CUBS’ TWITTER

Beth Mowins and Jim Deshaies take a picture together during the Cubs’ game against the Pirates at Wrigley Field.

“You have an opportunity to go prove yourself. And that’s kind of how I approached broadcasting.”

Beth Mowins

Sports broadcaster as we think.

“The more we don’t think about it, the better; teams need to stop making a big deal out of it. If you are good at your job, nothing else should stop you,” said sports communication and PRAD professor at DePaul, Dan Azzaro. “The more people that get in, the more normalized it gets. People can show up and show that they can do a good job, then the next step is equalized pay.”

The pay gap in the United States has remained steady for the past few years.

In 2020, women earned 84 percent of what men earned, according to an anal-

ysis of median hourly earnings done by the Pew Research Center.

While this is significant for women in any industry, a key problem found more predominantly within the sports industry is the objectification of women. Both athletes and journalists face this incessant sexualization within the sports industry, guided by the public’s view of the appeal that women should have when seen by a large audience.

Between articles ranking the most attractive ESPN reporters and features on the fashion choices of sports journalists, a common idea that is very clear is

that women, especially within the sports industry, are judged on their appearances. This is also consistently opposed by the lack of regard for the value of appearances that men face. Male journalists in the sports industry do not have to face articles critiquing their style nor their sexuality as it impacts viewers.

There has also never been speculation that a man got a job reporting in sports based on his appearance or how attractive he is. The scales in which men and women are judged throughout the sports industry are entirely different.

Overall, overt sexism within the sports industry can only be combated by holding those in power accountable.

“We need more people to speak out,” Azzaro said. “Most people don’t say anything because they are worried about themselves and their own jobs.”

Sports. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 27

BASKETBALL, continued from back page learned from a pure basketball perspective is how fine-lined the margins are between having a really good year that puts you where you want to be, which is the NCAA Tournament, and not being in the NCAA Tournament.”

Those slim margins put DePaul as one of the First Four out teams for the NCAA Tournament, forcing them to participate in the NIT. Even in that tournament, the Blue Demons wound up losing both games to Saint Louis and Drake.

Part of the reason that the Blue Demons struggled to win in the last month came down to their inability to make key stops in the fourth quarter. For the season, DePaul finished in the bottom of the Big East in scoring defense, field goal percentage and rebounding defense.

“We did not defend well at the end of the year; we did not defend well much of the year,” Bruno said. “We did not rebound well and I thought our sharing of the ball, which is a trademark of what DePaul ball is all about, I didn’t think we shared the ball as efficiently as our previous teams [were] sharing it.”

The way that the Blue Demons play, which involves a lot of full-court pressing and a fast-tempo offense, puts them in position to give up more points than most NCAA Tournament teams. That style of play has led to success in the past, but when the defense failed to generate stops and turnovers, the offense also suffered.

“If we are going to play a style that’s going to create up-tempo and create multiple possessions, by design, you are playing a risk-reward defense,” Bruno said. “A risk-reward defense means you are never going to have great defensive metrics.”

In the loss to Butler, the Blue Demons gave up 86 points to a team that averaged only 57.2 per game all of last season. Then in the loss to Drake in the elimination game of the NIT, Bruno’s team allowed 100 points.

Even though DePaul has never had an elite defense by the numbers, this year’s team allowed up nearly seven more points than the 2019-20 team.

Bruno attributes some of last season’s struggles to limited practice time throughout the season. Due to the pandemic hitting

NCAA, continued from back page occasions and had eight student-athletes compete in the NCAA West Prelims.

Still, it was a bittersweet ending for coach David Dopek.

“It’s bittersweet actually,” Dopek said to DePaul athletics. “We acknowledge and are pleased with the success we had this year, especially with our returning seniors who have had such a difficult end to their college experience. As we look towards the future, we have already begun to prepare to turn the “what ifs”of this year into what it needs to be going forward.”

DePaul, like every other university in the country, had to deal with the fallout of Covid-19. However, some used the uncertainty for inspiration.

“It’s actually a blessing in disguise because I don’t think I would have ran as nearly as fast as I am now,” Mastrangeli said to The DePaulia. “It took me over a year to train and I just trained through everything and came back and wanted to do my best.”

Mastrangeli was one of the seniors who exercised his extra year of eligibility after DePaul’s 2020 season was shut down.

Coach Dopek felt that some of the seniors who chose to return did it because they believed there was still more work to be done. They also wanted to end their

Season by the numbers W/L

14-10

Conference 11-5

PPG 81.5

FG% 42%

ERIC HENRY | THE DEPAULIA

DePaul women’s basketball head coach Doug Bruno shouting instrustions to his players during a game against Kentucky on Dec. 16, 2020 at Wintrust Arena. last year, DePaul lost out on practice time in April and May that is usually spent working on conditioning.

DePaul, who never had to shut down team activities last season due to a positive Covid-19 test, suffered multiple injuries that shrunk the roster size. Graduate student Courtney Fredrickson didn’t play a single game last season and freshman Kendall Holmes, who was one of the first players off the bench, suffered a season-ending injury Jan. 4 against Villanova.

“Courtney Fredrickson would have played a lot of minutes for us last year, had she been healthy,” Bruno said. “And then, Kendall Holmes, who put up big numbers in an early season game, was a very valuable

reserve guard that we lost. So, we really didn’t have the numbers to play the way we wanted to play.”

Looking forward to next season, DePaul is hoping to get Holmes and Fredrickson back from injury while adding new players to the roster. Aneesah and Nazlah Morrow join Kaitlyn Ammons as the incoming freshman for next year. In addition, Deja Church and Dee Bekelja will be staying another year after the NCAA granted seniors an extra year of eligibility.

“Every year is a new year,” Bruno said.

“You are not going to go to the tournament every year because you went 18 straight times. You have to earn it every single year.”

3FG%

32.2%

FT%

76.5%

collegiate careers on their own terms.

“I think the seniors who felt like they had unfinished business were very quick to express their interest and to the department’s credit and the university’s credit, they were able to provide that opportunity for the experience they’re having right now,” Dopek said to The DePaulia. “We’re fortunate that a lot of them have put in so much work that they want to end their career on their terms, not Covid’s.”

The season was not without its drawbacks as the student-athletes were not able to develop a normal sense of camaraderie that is key for teams.

“I feel like the team’s really separated this year,” Mastrangeli said to The DePaulia. “I feel like there’s, like, certain people on the distance team I’ve never even talked to who [I] don’t know their name, and [that] probably will never change because we’re never able to hang out.”

But the Blue Demons made the best of a bad situation and were still able to accomplish a lot this season all things considered. It is something coach Dopek made sure to stress after the final event on Saturday.

“After a long week of championship track and field, we have come to the end of our most unusual season,” Dopek said.

“A season that began with so much uncertainty and stress ended as one of the better ones we have had recently.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS

DePaul sophomore Olivia Borowiak broke the school’s 500-meter record during a track and field meet this season.

Sports

Sports. The DePaulia. June 1, 2021 | 28

Looking forward Women’s basketball eyes to improve next year after disappointing 2020-21 season

By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor

Winning has become a staple of the DePaul women’s basketball program. At this point, it’s an expectation that the Blue Demons will win at least 75 percent of their regular season games.

For 18 straight years, DePaul qualified for every single NCAA Tournament, winning six Big East regular season titles and five conference tournament championships. Winning has simply become tradition for head coach Doug Bruno’s program.

That, however, slightly changed this past season. In a much shortened season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, DePaul went 14-10 overall, 11-5 in the Big East and finished fourth in the conference. The Blue Demons also suffered a poor run of form in the last month of the season, losing four of

the last five games, including the first round game in the Big East Tournament to Villanova.

A home loss to Butler, who only won two games all season, to close out the regular season hurt DePaul’s metrics when the NCAA committee evaluated each team.

A bad stretch to end the season ended up forcing the committee to leave the Blue Demons out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. In an interview with The DePaulia, Bruno talked about his team’s finish to the year and looking forward to the 2021-22 season.

“I hoped we learned some valuable lessons from last year,” he said. “First of all, I want to compliment our team for the way they managed and the way they executed Covid discipline last season. And that secondly, a lesson

See BASKETBALL, page 27

ERIC HENRY | THE DEPAULIA

Track and field finishes middle of the pack in NCAA Preliminaries

By Ernesto Hernendez Asst. Sports Editor

DePaul’s track and field team finished their participation in the NCAA Preliminary Championships held in College Station, Texas. The four day event was a gathering of NCAA west region’s best athletes.

The competition officially kicked off on Wednesday, but the Blue Demons did not see action until the following day.

On Thursday, sophomore Tori Carroll took part in several events. She competed in the 100m dash, finishing 44th with a time of 11.65, Carroll was only a tenth of a second off from her season best. In the long jump, she leaped a distance of 6.03, which saw her finish in 34th place.

Grad student Rebecca Chouinard

participated in the hammer throw. Chouinard hurled a distance of 55.42m and finished 30th in the field. Meanwhile, sophomore Mackenna Orie finished 41st in the shot put with a throw that traveled 14.83m.

Seniors Kiersten Walker and Kyle Mastrangeli closed out the day for DePaul. Walker competed in the 400m and finished in 37th place with a time of 54.53. Mastragneli ran in the 100m dash and came in 41st place with a time of 10.54.

With proceedings postponed on Friday, DePaul’s men’s 4x100 relay took place on Saturday. Representing the Blue Demons was the senior quartet of Ashton Claire, Adam Nelson, Brendan van Vorrhis and Mastrangeli.

For the second time this season, DePaul broke a program record as they fin-

ished with a time of 39.90 to earn 15th place. The squad entered the meet with the 20th fastest qualifying time and finished second at the Big East championship on May 15.

They broke the previous school record of 39.91 that was set back in 1995 when DePaul competed in the Pacesetter Sports Invitational.

More records were broken in the women’s discus event as Orie posted a distance of 51.58, which was a personal best and broke her own record in the process.

DePaul ended the 2021 Outdoor Track & Field season on a high note. The Blue Demons won four Big East titles and claimed 14 podium finishes. They broke program records on nine separate

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS

DePaul senior Kyle Mastrangeli broke

See NCAA, page 27 two school records this year.