The men’s and women’s basketball teams have been on opposite ends of close games this season. See Sports, page 25.
DePaulia
The
Editorial:
The DePaulia is proud to introduce...
Already feeling nostalgic about the 2010s? Take a trip through the decade with our Arts&Life team. See Arts&Life, pages 16-19.
Volume #104 | Issue #10 | Jan.13 , 2020 | depauliaonline.com
A call from the Hall
By Bianca Cseke Online Managing Editor
By Shane René Editor-in-Chief
At the end of 2019, two major events in the Chicago area forced The DePaulia to look inward. The first happened just outside the Chicago city limits in Evanston, Illinois at Northwestern University, when editors at The Daily Northwestern wrote a controversial editorial apologizing for their coverage of a protest on campus. The students were lambasted by journalists across the country for rolling over to angry readers and abandoning their duties as journalists. At The DePaulia, we agreed. But we also felt strongly that those editors had attempted to start a much needed conversation about how journalists should approach their coverage of marginalized communities, and how they can right the wrongs of the past. This conversation has been pushed to the front of our minds at The DePaulia. The second event is the most unfortunate, but the most expected. The Chicago Tribune announced in December that it would be discontinuing its Spanish language outlet Hoy. To the dismay of Latinx reporters and readers across the state, the Tribune was forced to protect its bottom line and removed an essential voice from its coverage. As these two conversations floated around our newsroom, The DePaulia decided to do something about it. Today, we are proud to announce the launch of La DePaulia, a new Spanish language section from The DePaulia.
See LA DePAULIA, page 13
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
Bruno glances at the scoreboard during the 2019 Big East title game. Bruno has four conference titles in six years.
Bruno named finalist for Hall of Fame By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
DePaul’s women’s basketball coach Doug Bruno was named one of the 12 finalists for induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, announced during an ESPN broadcast Thursday night during the Baylor vs. Connecticut game. Bruno joins Debbie Brock, Carol Callan, Swin Cash-Canal, Tamika Catchings, Sue Donohoe, Lauren Jackson, Lucille Kyvallos,
Lisa Mattingly, Paul Sanderford, Bob Schneider and Carol Stiff as finalists for consideration. Some of the 12 finalists will be selected as inductees to the Class of 2020 on Feb. 10 during the 6 p.m. ESPN2 broadcast of Connecticut vs. South Carolina. From there, the Class of 2020 will be announced at the Women’s Final Four in April. This will be the 22nd class inducted into the Hall of Fame since the first ceremony in 1999. Bruno is one of four coaches in
this batch of finalists. Bruno’s legacy at DePaul spans over three decades as a player, member of the athletic department, coach and figure of the university. He first coached the team in 1976 and took the team from 7-12 to 16-6 in two seasons. Bruno left to coach the Chicago Hustle, a professional team in the Women’s Professional Basketball League. There, he coached in the first professional women’s
See BRUNO, page 27
Chicagoans swarm dispensaries in first week of legal cannabis sales By Mackenzie Murtaugh & Shane René News Editor & Editor-in-Chief
By 6 a.m. on New Year’s day, thousands were already lined up outside the many newly-minted recreational cannabis dispensaries across the state. Less than 12 hours later, most Chicago dispensaries were completely smoked out. January 1, 2020 marked the day that more than 250 new laws
went into effect in Illinois. Recreational cannabis consumption and sale has proven to be the most popular with consumers. Adults 21 and over can now buy up to 30 grams — about one ounce — of cannabis flower. Residents can also buy no more than 500 milligrams of THC edibles and five grams of cannabis concentrate products. Wisconsin and Indiana residents don’t need to be too jealous because non-residents are able to buy half of these
amounts. At Sunnyside dispensary in Lakeview, customers on opening day were lucky enough to buy cannabis products until its scheduled close at 10 p.m. — at least those willing to brave the eighthour wait. Starting well before noon, lines stretched down the block and across the street before patrons were led inside Uncommon Ground restaurant and Greenstar Brewery, where the line continued for another four hours.
Enrollment declines to be central issue in new budget
By 3 p.m., Sunnyside had closed off the line to new customers. Sunnyside employees patrolled the lines all day handing out Sunnyside-branded water bottles, tote bags, lighters and free pizza. Local sandwich vendor Fat Shallot arrived late in the afternoon with a food truck sponsored by Weedmaps — a cannabis tech company with an app that helps medical and recreational cannabis
See CANNABIS, page 6
DePaul has begun its process for preparing a budget for the 2020-21 academic year, and the university says it must take enrollment declines into consideration. The university won’t have a budget until after the Board of Trustees’ meeting in early March, but the process for putting it together began last quarter. The Strategic Resource Allocation Committee (SRAC), made up of nine members chosen by DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban, held executive sessions in November. Their recommendation will then go to Esteban “for his review and endorsement,” university spokesperson Carol Hughes said. A tuition pricing committee weighs in on fees and financial aid, and the Offices of Academic Affairs, the president and the executive vice president gives budget presentations to the SRAC, according to a Newsline article. “If he approves, the budget proposal would go to the finance committee of the Board of Trustees for its endorsement,” Hughes said. “This would occur either at the December 2019 meeting or the February 2020 meeting.” Assuming the finance committee approves, the budget would then go to the full Board of Trustees for final approval. “If the board ratifies, we would communicate the particulars of the budget to the entire university community immediately thereafter,” Hughes said. Hughes declined to provide members of the SRAC for interviews. “It’s a bit premature to discuss at this point since the budget process has just begun and we don’t have a budget for next fiscal year, and won’t until board of trustees approves it in March 2020,” Hughes wrote in an email in November. “For the 2020-21 budget, the [Board of Trustees’] finance committee asked the university to set a budget that is based on conservative enrollment projections and moderate tuition pricing increases,” said Jeff Bethke, DePaul’s Chief Financial Officer and chair of the SRAC, in a Newsline article. Since a peak in 2010, DePaul’s population has declined by 3,334 students, according to a PowerPoint presentation by the provost and vice president of the university on Sept. 20. Declining birth rates in the 2000s are a general concern for higher education. By 2026, Esteban said during his State of the
See BUDGET, page 4
2 | News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
First Look 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 | Shane René eic@depauliaonline.com MANAGING EDITOR | Lacey Latch managing@depauliaonline.com ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR | Bianca Cseke online@depauliaonline.com NEWS EDITOR | Mackenzie Murtaugh news@depauliaonline.com ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Patsy Newitt news@depauliaonline.com NATION & WORLD EDITOR | Cailey Gleeson nation@depauliaonline.com OPINIONS EDITOR | Emma Oxnevad opinion@depauliaonline.com FOCUS EDITOR | Rebecca Meluch focus@depauliaonline.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Ella Lee artslife@depauliaonline.com ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Keira Wingate artslife@depauliaonline.com SPORTS EDITOR | Lawrence Kreymer sports@depauliaonline.com ASST. SPORTS EDITOR | Nate Burleyson sports@depauliaonline.com
Interested in writing for The DePaulia? Contact our Editor-in-Chief, Shane Rene, to see your name in print and get real journalistic experience. Email eic@depauliaonline.com to get started.
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News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 3
Roaring back into the ‘20s
The decade’s glamor and glitz overpowers its racism, crime and economic troubles By Cailey Gleeson Nation & World Editor
A seeming rite of passage in high school English classes involves F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” Flappers, elegance and elaborate parties have become synonymous the 1920s based not only on Fitzgerald’s portrayal, but the majority of depictions of the era in popular culture. A century later, heightened enthusiasm surrounds the start of 2020 with hopes the decade will mirror that of the “Roaring ‘20s.” While it may seem like a magnificent era, romanticism is at the heart of somewhat skewed perceptions. Thomas Krainz, associate history professor, said the ‘20s “emphasized greater consumerism and youth culture,” which contributes to the modern rose-tinted attitudes towards the era. “Part of that understanding of the ‘20s embraces the notion of fun,” Krainz said. “This notion of new technology, automobiles, radio, motion pictures. All of those things were becoming more widespread in America at that time. Having said that, though, there is also a great blind spot to all of the, kind of, neg-
“[The] notion of new technology, automobiles, radio, motion pictures. All of those things were becoming more widespread in America at the time. Having said that, there is also a great blindspot to all of the, kind of, negative things that happened in the ‘20s.
Thomas Krainz
Associate history professor ative things that happened in the ‘20s.” Krainz said these romanticized views of the past exist because people “don’t like to dwell on unpleasant topics.” “People do re-enactments of Civil War battles,” Krainz said. “These were horrific events, yet people re-enact them and people watch these things. These were terribly bloody affairs. There is a tendency, I think, to wash over negative aspects even in something like a battle.” Similarly, Colleen Doody, associate chair of DePaul’s history department, said the emphasis on progress makes the era stand out today. “ T h e economy was very good for certain people,”
Doody said. “People in urban areas did very well. Farmers were suffering, but I think a lot of that suffering was not necessarily obvious to people in the cities.” Despite what seemed like progress, crime marked the decade as prohibition took effect. Krainz said marginalized communities were the true targets of law enforcement of prohibition rather than mobsters. “That gets lost in our popular culture,” Krainz said. “In this kind of romanticism of the gangster culture.” Doody said these individuals were also targeted through the rise of the second wave of the Klu Klux Klan, who targeted essentially anyone who wasn’t a “white Anglo-Saxon.” “They did bring the racism of the earlier Klan, but they extended it beyond just African Americans being the targets to all of these other groups that they say cannot possibly by a part of the
American nation,” Doody said. History professor Emily Romeo said the fight for women’s suffrage was “much darker and more violent than most people are aware,” as suffragists who were arrested would be usually be sent to workhouses, like the Occoquan Workhouse prison in Virginia, where they endured abuse and “cold, unsanitary and rat-infested cells.” “It was only after news of the conditions in the prison reached the news media that the government began to relent, and President Wilson, seeing the PR nightmare that would result, began to support passage of the 19th amendment,” Romeo said. Amy Tyson, director of the American Studies Program and Professional History Internships, said the “most salient” component of suffrage following the ratification of the 19th amendment in 1919 was the failed ratification Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
“The ERA is in the news even today because it looks like Virginia is poised to ratify the amendment, which would give it the three-fourths majority of states required,” Tyson said. “But the Justice Department is saying that this is a no-go because hitting that mark will have come 38 years too late.” Remnants from the failures of the era continue to be seen in other ways as well, as Doody said that the “true dark underbelly of the 1920s” is nativism that remains apparent today. “Think about say Charlottesville,” Doody said. “The white supremacists who were marching in Charlottesville were very much making the older 1920s argument about blood and race. And who is it for them? Who is an American?” Despite its dark side, Krainz said the depiction of the roaring ‘20s in popular culture –such as Fitzgerald’s classic—celebrates certain values of society today. “It does capture a slice,” Krainz said. “A slice of this consumer culture. A slice of a group in society not interested in social reform, just interested in partying. This notion of superficial status. These are all things that are a part of the twenties and ‘The Great Gatsby’ does demonstrate that. The problem is that the discussion stops there.”
4 | News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 BUDGET continued from front University address in October, there will be a sharp decline in 18-year-olds. And of the 18-year-olds, less are attending universities, with a projected 18 percent decline in Illinois high school graduates by 2029. Although enrollment in higher education nationally is declining at about 4 percent, Illinois is seeing a decline of nearly 17 percent. DePaul has seen a roughly 12 percent decline since 2011, Bethke said during a town hall meeting in September. Nathan Grawe, an expert in demographics trends at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, said a combination of low fertility rates and immigration and interstate migration patterns will affect most universities, with the exception of highly competitive colleges. Less competitive schools tend to draw their enrollment from the regional population, such as DePaul, which has an acceptance rate of about 70 percent. Schools could turn their recruitment efforts toward regions that are seeing growth, like the Southwest, Grawe said. At the October town hall meeting, Interim Provost Salma Ghanem said that because many of DePaul’s students are from out-of-state, specifically Texas and California, the university has increased marketing initiatives in those areas, as well as hiring DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. on-the-ground recruiters in those states. However, he also said recruitment relevant to students’ interests and helping shouldn’t be universities’ primary response create a sense of belonging. to increasing or maintaining their enrollments; they should also make a strong DePaul has been focusing on increasing effort to retain the students they already what officials call student affinity, which is have. essentially school spirit. “We need to come up with new ways of Ghanem said at the time that the unirunning our enterprises,” Grawe told The versity is “trying to be purposeful” about DePaulia. engagement, saying that both enrollment This includes serving underrepresentand retention happen at the student and ed groups through additional resources, professor level as much as it does at the adchanging curriculums to make them more
BIANCA CSEKE | THE DEPAULIA
ministrative level. The university also has several new academic programs in the works, including the new Grace School of Applied Diplomacy and programs focusing on health care, such as speech language pathology and occupational therapy, Ghanem said during the town hall. Grawe also mentioned provisional acceptances as a way to potentially increase enrollment.
DePaul has a partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, called the DePaul Harold Washington Academy, in which participants who complete their associate’s degrees at Harold Washington College will be offered admission to DePaul at the end of the program, according to the 2019 President’s Report.
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A decade of covering climate News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 5
Media abandons deniers as crisis escalates worldwide By Lauren Parris Contributing Writer
Climate change is a story that is complex, multifaceted and big — perhaps the biggest issue of our time. It’s a story that doesn’t end, at least not anytime soon. Its effects surround us but are not always visible from our front porch. Yet, it is a story that has often been neglected, misrepresented and abused. But many journalists have been working over the last decade to tell the true story of climate change. Journalists have always played an important role in shaping the way in which the public and decision makers understand and prioritize climate change. In a fastpaced world, most don’t have the time to dissect mounds of data or read through various scientific reports about the changing climate. People turn to news organizations – rightfully so – to gain a better understanding of what is going on in the world – in 900 words or less, of course. However, the issue of climate change hasn’t been quite as seamlessly covered by media as one may expect. A 2013 study conducted by the Project for Improved Environmental Communication (PIEC) found that environmental stories only made up one percent of headlines within the United States. The inconsistency of this specialized reporting largely had to do with the event-driven nature of most mainstream news. Climate change, especially at the start of the decade, did not always play into this event-driven coverage that journalists are urged to chase after. Historically, and even today, event-driven coverage is the essence of most news organizations. The problem lies in the fact that environmental issues often don’t happen quickly or as dramatically as some mainstream coverage would like us to think. When climate was covered, it was often approached as an issue still up for debate, sparking uncertainty amongst the public and giving validity to politicians who cast doubt on the legitimacy of climate change. However, the science has been quite conclusive for years. A survey of 928 scientific journal articles published between 1993 and 2003 all concluded that human activities are causing climate change. As of 2013, 97 percent of scientists agreed that climate change is occurring and that it is perpetuated by human activity. Despite this scientific consensus, many journalists continued to give climate skeptics and deniers a platform, hoping to tell both sides of a one-sided story. Many scholars suggest that this created a false sense of balance within the media and led to a misinformed public. While journalists are generally trained to produce a balanced story and remain unbiased in their reporting, giving airtime to climate skeptics creates a sense of uncertainty about the science. “By presenting two people who are in opposition on the issue, it can make it appear as if there is a split view 50-50, across the U.S. or in the scientific community, on whether climate change exists or if it is caused by human activity,” said Barbara Willard, a scholar and professor of environmental communication at DePaul. “This is just simply not the case. The science has been direct for years.” Part of this issue lies in the lack of training journalists receive in understanding and communicating science. In 2015, the Knight Center for Environmental Jour-
MICHAEL CRAIG | NEW ZEALAND HERALD
The sky above Bethells Beach near Auckland turns orange as smoke from the Australia wildfires arrives in New Zealand.
“By presenting two people who are in opposition on the issue, it can make it appear as if there is a split view 5050, across the U.S. or in the scientific community, on whether climate change exists or if it is caused by human activity. This is just simply not the case. The science has been direct for years.”
Barbara Willard
Professor of environmental communication nalism reported that only 12 percent of environmental journalists have degrees in scientific or environmental fields. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a comprehensive report in 2007 that provided the most complete scientific agreement to date, which highlighted the human impact on climate change and warned of devastating effects if action was not taken. This had many environmental journalists, such as Andrew Revkin and Bill McKibben, as well as some organizations such as the Columbia Journalism Review, calling for better, more comprehensive climate coverage. Online journalism sites started to form, like the Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media. This journalism site aimed to increase and improve coverage on climate change, as well as show reporters how climate change would influence and affect a diverse set of beats through online articles and even workshops for top reporters and editors. Navigating the role between straightforward reporter and new-aged activist is another issue journalists struggled with when it came to covering climate. It is an issue that many journalists still face today. This fear among the journalism community can largely be attributed to the nature of climate change being an often politically polarizing issue throughout the
years, especially in the United States. In order to mitigate climate change, scientists argue that there needs to be a reduction in man-made greenhouse gas emissions, which would require government regulation and pose financial threats to the fossil fuel industry and free-market capitalism. As a result, those who tend to favor industry regulation and green initiatives have been mainly associated with the Democratic party, and those who have been the most resistant to change are conservatives in the Republican party, turning an environmental issue into a political brawl. Journalists have often felt the need to give climate skeptics a voice in an effort to not appear to align with any one political party. “Journalism has always been about righting wrongs, holding the powerful to account, calling out lies,” The Nation said. “It is in our best traditions to shine a light on our most vexing problems, in order to help fix them.” Understanding the broader consensus amongst the scientific community, and reflecting that consensus through reporting is no longer considered partisan, it is considered communicating factual evidence to the public. As we approach the end of the decade, news organizations have become more outspoken on the issue. The demand for more and better climate-related coverage is increasing. Ac-
cording to a recent poll by the PIEC, 79 percent of Americans report that they want better environmental news coverage. In September, the Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation organized “Covering Climate Now,” a commitment by 323 news outlets from 47 countries to provide sustained climate change coverage for a full week. Increasingly, news organizations have been working to reorganize and rebuild their environment sections due to a high demand for better climate coverage, with organizations like The New York Times, The Guardian and The Washington Post hiring more reporters to solely focus on climate and environmental beats. The way in which journalists are approaching the multifaceted issue is ever-changing and highlights the way in which climate change stretches across multiple beats. “One interesting shift that I have seen in the media is the shift from a biocentric perspective to an anthropocentric [human-focused] point-of-view,” said Nicole Granados, founder of the Climate Reality Project at DePaul. “We have shifted from covering the impact that climate change has on the coral reef or the Amazon rainforest to how people will be impacted by such drastic changes, and I think that is an effective strategy.” An important shift has also occurred in the way in which the public understands and perceives climate change. Over 70 percent of Americans acknowledge that climate change is happening and that it is perpetuated by human activity, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. “The tone surrounding the climate change conversation has completely shifted,” said Alliyah Martinez, an environmental studies student at DePaul. “In the past, climate change was situated on the periphery of sociopolitical issues. With greater awareness has come a larger demand for accountability and a plan that will [strive] to rectify the damage that has been done.” As of 2018, Society of Environmental Journalists reports that more than 1,400 journalists are part of this network working to tell a more accurate and relevant story of climate change.
6| News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA
Cannabis flower was available to recreational users for the first time in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2020. At Sunnyside dispensary in Lakeview, lines grew to be more than eight-hours long.
CANNABIS continued from front users locate dispensaries across the country — stocked with free coffee, donuts and turkey sliders. Aaron Burzak, a 29-year-old Chicago resident who has been a regular smoker for about 10 years, said he was excited to come out for the first day of recreational sales. His experience, however, wasn’t what he had hoped. “Grueling — I think grueling is a good word for it,” Burzak said. “I was anticipating to spend a good amount of time in line, but it ended up being about
two-three times more than that and that was a little disheartening. “But now we are on the other side and I feel like I accomplished something even though all I did was buy drugs,” he said with a laugh. For customers stuck near the back of line come early afternoon, the frustration was growing. Customers groaned as the line inched forward while employees thanked them for their patience and apologized for a slow computer system due to the high demand. And to make matters worse for customers, Sunnyside managers set special restrictions on how much product customers could purchase in an effort to ensure all customers
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walked away with “something.” “Remember, this is the first day of a long journey,” one Sunnyside manager said to a large portion of the remaining line. Much like Burzak, most customers weren’t angry about the wait, but disappointed in the transparency regarding exactly how long they would be waiting. “I think the amount of people was probably what lead to the biggest issues, there may have been some other system issues that they aren’t telling us,” Burzak said. “But my biggest frustration was just being told the wait was going to be four hours and then being there for over eight. I just wish they had given us a more accurate estimate.” The long wait wasn’t the only factor that upset consumers around the state. Many have criticized the high taxes placed on the product, making it much more expensive than buying it off the street. At the moment, products with THC levels below 35 percent are taxed at 10 percent; those with THC levels over 35 percent are taxed at 25 percent. Any product with levels of THC over this are currently taxed at 41.25 percent in Chicago. NBC Chicago reports that Illinois has the second-highest taxes on cannabis of the 11 states that have legalized its recreation. The highest taxes are found in Washington state. Illinois’ relationship to cannabis has been a short one. Illinois first prohibited the use of cannabis in 1931, and not much movement came after that until 2013 when the Illinois General Assembly passed the law for the legalization of
medical cannabis. In 2016, lawmakers reduced the punishment for anything less than 10 grams of the flower with a $100-$200 fine. Before, this would have gotten the user a misdemeanor. Finally, on May 31, 2019, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax act that would legalize recreational use starting this year. Pritzker signed the bill on June 25, 2019, and cannabis enthusiasts waited patiently until the day many deemed “Weed Day.” The taxes might not be the biggest worry to the consumer at the moment. Many of Chicago’s cannabis shops have seen their product dwindle in their first two weeks open to recreational business. Local Resident The high demand for the product has caused a shortage in cannabis flower and other THC products, with Sunnyside closing all of its four locations last Monday to both give their employees a break and find their bearings before reopening. They opened to the public again that following Tuesday at 9 a.m. with a limited supply. By the end of New Year’s Day, Illinois’s cannabis shops pulled in $3.2 million in sales on the first day of business, selling out the majority of available products (Oregon is the only state to best Illinois’ first day of sales, bringing in nearly $3.3 million). Five days later, that figure had ballooned to $11 million, and lines remained hours long at some dispensaries.
“I think grueling is a good word for it. I was anticipating to spend a good amount of time in line, but it ended up being about two-three times more than that and that was a little disheartening.”
Aaron Burzak
News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 7
Former student’s happy ending after $20k GI Bill debacle Her father served in the military with the promise of free tuition. Until DePaul hit them with a hefty bill. By Mackenzie Murtaugh News Editor
In 2008, the government passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill which offers educational benefits to service members who served 90 or more days on active duty since September 10, 2001. The tiered system benefits both those who served the country and their dependents, with much of their college tuition covered by the government. Paige Dotson, a former DePaul student, knows the system all too well. Dotson’s father, Russell, served 22 years with the U.S. Navy, doing both active duty and reserve. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that he spent much time overseas — six stints , each time lasting for over a year. He even served an extra four years just to qualify for the bill, knowing his two kids back at home would need it. He sacrificed his role in his kids’ lives and his marriage for the bill and peace of mind for his kids after they graduate. Ideally, they could comfortably attend college without their debt looming in the back of their minds. The Navy told Dotson’s father with confidence that each of his kids would receive two years of college free of charge, allowing them to be the first in their family with a college degree. Unfortunately, a mathematical error forced him and his daughter to battle for the funding he risked his life for. Dotson, who is originally from Michigan, began attending DePaul in the fall of 2016 as a pre-med student. She lived on campus and developed friendships she still cherises to this day. At the beginning of her spring term, her college life took a huge turn when the government failed to make the proper payments to the university. Dotson was then notified that she owed the university about $20,000 in tuition, plus what was already paid for by the government because her father did not actually qualify for the payment program. The Defense Department, which calculated his service time to ensure he qualified, had used the date of his benefit-transfer application and not his
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DOTSON
Former DePaul student Paige Dotson frequently visits Chicago.
“It’s bullshit. I thought to myself: I’m not paying that.”
Paige Dotson
Former pre-med student
re-enlistment date, leaving him 89 days short of service. To make matters worse, he would have only had to serve six weekend days of service because he was a reservist serving one weekend a month. He even had unused “authorized absence” days that could have covered the six days missing. But because the Navy officials would not change his retirement date, this couldn’t happen. “It’s bullshit,” Dotson said when she was informed of her debt. “I thought to
myself: I’m not going to pay that.” She immediately went to the university’s Veteran Affairs office for advice, but without much success. The office had not dealt with an issue like this before. Because the Navy specifically said that her father did not serve long enough to receive the funding, not much could be done by the office. Dotson says that DePaul and their services did help, but the issue needed to be first addressed and then fixed by the government, not the
university. Dotson began working three different part-time jobs on top of her education in order to keep herself afloat during this time. Eventually, she had to withdraw from classes at DePaul because the tuition rate was too high. After about a year off from school, she transferred to the University of Michigan where she could receive in-state tuition. Without many options and back in her home state, Dotson wanted to get her story out there so other families dealing with her issue knew they weren’t alone. She reached out to her former DePaul journalism professor Sandra Guy for advice. Guy, who worked for the Sun-Times for 20 years, reached out to journalist Stephanie Zimmerman, who typically reports on consumer issues which includes debt, making her a perfect fit to tackle the Dotson story. “[Dotson] was an excellent student, astute, mature, asked probing questions,” Guy said. “I would hope that any of my students would feel comfortable reaching out to me with problems like this.” Dotson made the point that without DePaul’s journalism classes and Guy as an instructor, she doubts her story would have gotten the attention of Senator Dick Durbin and other political figures around the Midwest to send a letter to the Navy that called out their “bureaucratic failures” that caused the problem seen by so many military families. Chicago still has an important place in Dotson’s heart. She frequently visits the city and campus to see the friends she made in her short time living here. “I really love DePaul and miss it so much,” Dotson said. “I would still be there if this didn’t happen.” Dotson is on track to graduate from Michigan in the winter of 2021. She would have been graduating this year if this situation hadn’t occurred , but she doesn’t feel defeated. It had to happen, she said. Without Sandra Guy and the resources she contacted at DePaul, she might be $20,000 in debt and not in school right now.
President’s Report highlights university successes, goals By Bianca Cseke Online Managing Editor
DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban released his annual President’s Report last week, highlighting the university’s accomplishments and some of its goals moving forward. For example, DePaul has new scholarships available for some incoming students. The university awarded more than 250 incoming freshmen who started their studies in Fall 2019 the Chicago Promise Scholarship or the Catholic Heritage Scholarship. The scholarships provided $20,000 to any Chicago Public School or Illinois high school graduate with a 3.7 or higher grade point average admitted to DePaul as a full-time freshman. Esteban also highlighted some of the university’s programs, such as the Institute of Global Homelessness and the Dax House. The Institute of Global Homelessness and
its partners advocates for the United Nations to make solving homelessness a bigger priority. The UN’s Commission for Social Development announced Feb. 22 that “affordable housing and social protection for all to address homelessness” will be a priority at its 2020 meetings, according to Esteban’s report. The Dax Program gives housing-insecure DePaul students housing, case management, counseling referrals, transportation, food, textbook assistance and educational reimbursements. Esteban wants DePaul to increase in its rankings over the next 10 years. He hopes the university will be among the Top 50 national universities, Top 10 national universities for Pell grants and Top 5 Catholic universities. Esteban clarified in November that DePaul’s competition for the Top 50 national ranking would be limited to urban universities.
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
President Esteban at the State of the University address on Oct. 3.
8 | News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT:
Jan. 1 - 7, 2020
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
LOOP CAMPUS
1150 W. Fullerton
990 W. Fullerton
1050 W. Fullerton
2
3
6
9
Clifton Parking Garage Cacciatore Stadium Sheffield Square Arts & Letters 9
12
5
7
8
10
11
10
DePaul Center
Munroe Hall
13
2
Byrne Hall
14
1
15
Ray Meyer Fitness Center 1 4
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
JAN. 2 JAN. 4 1) A Theft report was filed for phones taken from 7) A Graffiti inside the Ray Meyer Fitness Center.
report was filed for markings on pillars at Cacciatore Stadium.
JAN. 3 JAN. 5 2) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the 8) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor 990 W. Fullerton building. 3) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the 1050 W. Fullerton building. 4) A Theft report was filed for a patron at the Ray Meyer Fitness Center. 5) A Criminal Trespass Warning was issued to a person attempting to gain access to Munroe Hall. 6) A Criminal Trespass report was filed for a person who was given a warning not to enter 1150 W. Fullerton building. Chicago Police were called to the scene.
report was filed for a person in Sheffield Square. Person was taken to Illinois Masonic by Chicago EMS. 9) A Theft report was filed for items taken from 990 W. Fullerton. 10) A Smell of Marijuana report was filed in Munroe Hall. No drugs were found.
JAN. 6 11) A Theft report was filed for rings taken from a washroom in Arts and Letters. 12) A Suspicion of Marijuana report was filed in Munroe Hall. No drugs were found.
Other
LOOP CAMPUS JAN. 2 13) A Graffiti report was filed for markings in the DePaul Center 5th floor men’s restroom.
JAN. 6 14) An Assault report was filed for a person
who was a victim of unwanted physical contact in the DePaul Center library.
JAN. 7 15) A Battery report was filed regarding a fight in the DePaul Center lobby.
News. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020| 9
When it comes to loans,‘know what you owe’
A financial fitness expert’s guide to handling student debt By Maddie Brockmyre Contributing Writer
Natalie Daniels, a short woman with magenta glasses and a bright smile, sits in her office tucked away in the back of DePaul Central, separated from the bustle of the Schmidt Academic Center. Two computers are propped up on her desk as she quickly types out numbers into a loan interest calculator with skill. She flits between tabs, viewing students’ financial aid packages and laying out personalized loan options for her next appointment. “The box of tissues on my desk is not there because I have a cold,” Daniels said. “People cry in my office a lot. It’s stressful and all I can do is be really honest about the numbers to make sure students can make the most informed decisions.” Daniels started working as a financial fitness advisor at DePaul in 2007, climbing the ranks to assistant director in 2015. Her priority is to help students, faculty and alumni practice financial wellness, which she describes as “having an idea about your finances, having a plan and having knowledge of where your money is going.” About 60 percent of her appointments revolve around student loans, with one half of the students seeking further information on terminology and big picture, and the other half
seeking help with repayment plans. Last year, Daniels had 365 individual appointments plus several workshops she puts on each year. “My biggest advice to any person when it comes to finances is know what you owe,” Daniels said. “It’s crucial to have a good understanding of how much you’re borrowing, what it is going toward and what that repayment will look like in one, five and 10 years.” At DePaul, where the average student debt after graduation is $29,000, money weighs heavily on students’ minds. “I wish it wasn’t a concern because it makes me nervous sometimes that something will happen that will prevent me from continuing my education,” said Belinda Andrade, a sophomore majoring in public relations and advertising. “I don’t know what I would do.” Andrade, who lives in Humboldt Park, said she has been worrying about money since high school. Her mom works extra jobs on top of teaching to pay for tuition with the help of scholarships, while Andrade takes care of bills, food and school supplies herself. She says she began accruing credit as soon as possible so she could qualify for loans in the future, and she constantly saves money to keep a quarter’s worth of tuition in her account at all times, just in case. “It can be really stressful to have that kind of worry on me
PHOTO BY RYAN GILROY | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GINA RICARDS | THE DEPAULIA
The statue of Father John Egan outside the East entrance of the Lincoln Park Student Center. at all times, but it’s better to be that way than just kind of hope everything is going to work out, at least for me,” Andrade said. A server at a ramen restaurant and student-worker at the Women’s Center, Andrade struggles to find ample time to spend on her school work and social life. “I recognize that I need to have a social life and I get to go out when I want, but sometimes that constrains my schoolwork,” Andrade said. “I try to get everything I need to get done and do it well, but there is no balance for me. It’s more so planning how I want to choose to spend my time on one thing to sacrifice another thing.” Andrade isn’t alone. Chiratidzo Sanyika, a finance major and sophomore international student from South Africa, said she finds that her financial situation affects
her relationships with both her friends and family. Sanyika’s father pays for what’s left of her tuition after her scholarship and living expenses. Because her family covers the costs of attending DePaul, Sanyika often finds herself under intense pressure to perform well academically. Just like Andrade, she also battles balancing her work, studies and social life. “My financial situation affects some of my friendships,” Sanyika said. “Some of my friends don’t feel the need to pay me back for things because they think that I can get money from my parents whenever I want. It puts me in an awkward situation because even though I should get the money that I’m owed, I know that some of them are really struggling financially.” Students are often surprised by the costs of socializing. Freshman public policy
major Chloe Troub of Chicago suburb Crystal Lake believes high schools and colleges should do more to educate young adults on the overall costs of living. “I don’t think high school really prepares you for how expensive college could be,” Troub said. “Outside of the cost of tuition, there are a lot of things that students are not told about, like books and rent and eating out.” Extra expenses like social outings and entertainment, as well as unrealistic housing expectations, can push students closer to the danger zone and outside of their budget, which worries Daniels. “Having this mindset where your expected lifestyle and living expectations lead you to start spending and borrowing to reach those expectations is one of the biggest financial mistakes students make,” Daniels said. “You’re not going to have your dream apartment. It’s ok.” Daniels believes that as students get more comfortable talking about finances, education will continue to grow while their fear and stress shrinks. One day, she hopes that high schools and universities will mandate financial wellness training so that everyone can have the tools to succeed. “Knowing the basics of personal financial health is my dream for all students,” Daniels said. “It’s a good dream. It’s a hard dream to realize, but it’s a good one to have.”
Real ID is coming — here’s what you need to know By Patsy Newitt Asst. News Editor
By Oct. 1, 2020, Illinois citizens will be required to have a Real ID in lieu of a state ID or driver’s license in order to fly domestically and access secure federal facilities like military bases. A Real ID isn’t required to fly domestically or enter these facilities – Illinois residents can still use a passport and military ID, just not a state ID or driver’s license. This final deadline comes 15 years after the federal government originally adopted the legislation. The Real ID Act was passed in 2005, under the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, an independent bipartisan commission created in 2002 to analyze the attacks and suggest preventative measures for future threats. . The act reflects the group’s endorsement for an increase in the minimum security standards for license issuance. “This is a federal mandate,” said Dave Druker, the press secretary for the Illinois Secretary of State, “so it’s not something that would have been, all things considered, our choice to do.” Since the act was enacted, many states, including Illinois, have struggled to roll out Real ID, leading to a decade of pushbacks and extensions. According to an article by Stateline in August 2019, miscommunication about required documents between state departments in California and Mary-
GINA RICARDS
land and the Department of Homeland Security left some residents with invalid Real IDs, forcing them to reapply . Rollout of Real ID has left many Secretary of State facilities and DMVs struggling to accommodate the volume of customers. A woman in Lombard cited a three hour wait in an interview with the Chicago Sun Times. According to Druker, these wait times are largely concentrated in busy locations like Deerfield, the
Thompson Center, Chicago North Secretary of State Facility, Schaumburg and DuPage. “We’re the sixth largest state in the country,” Druker said, “and when you’re dealing with that many people, it’s potentially a problem.” In order to accommodate expected delays, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office has extended the hours of several DMV locations, and has also established designated days exclusive to Real ID applicants.
Chicago North (5401 N. Elston Ave.), South (9901 S. Martin Luther King Dr.) and West (5301 W. Lexington Ave.) Secretary of State Facilities have extended their hours as of Dec. 31, 2019. These locations are open Monday through Saturday, with Monday hours, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., exclusive for Real ID applicants. These locations are also open Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Citizens are not required to present Real IDs to federal facilities that don’t currently require identification, such | THE DEPAULIA as national parks or social security offices. Illinois Real IDs are marked by a star located in the upper right portion of the ID. Fees remain the same as getting a baseline driver’s license or a state ID – $20 for ID and $30 for Driver’s License, and $5 if your current ID is expired. “We want this process to go as smoothly as possible and as easily as possible for the public,” Druker said.
Nation &World
10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Global tensions rise following Soleimani’s killing By Cailey Gleeson Nation & World Editor
Tensions between the United States and Iran following the U.S.-led airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3 continue to mount, as new information comes to light and the world waits to see what will happen next. Gregory Mark, law professor and former associate counsel for the Office of Independent Counsel in the Iran-Contra affair, said the Trump administration justified the strike on the basis of “imminent threats.” “The administration has also not elaborated, or at least has not elaborated publicly on why eliminating the commander would necessarily make it impossible or less likely for Iran to carry out whatever threats or might be,” Mark said. A Jan. 2 statement by the Department of Defense stated that “General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more.” Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he didn’t see specific evidence of these threats, specifically that of plans to attack four U.S. embassies. Soleimani led the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force – an organization that handles Iran’s overseas operations and was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S government in April. Scott Hibbard, associate political science professor at DePaul University, said Soleimani was a “key player” in helping Iran influence Iraq through his support of various militias following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. “These militias were part of the insurgency fighting the American occupation,” Hibbard said. “Now the larger part of the insurgency were the Sunni militants, which killed more Americans than Shia did but. But nonetheless, you know, one can argue that Soleimani had American blood on his hands because of his support for these militias. Now it does beg the larger question: how much blood does America have on its hands?” Karim Pakravan, instructor in DePaul’s Department of Economics, specializes in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Pakravan said relations between the U.S. and Iran have experienced periods of conflict and close cooperation throughout history – most recently over ISIS.
ALTAF QADRI | AP A young Indian Shiite Muslim stands on a banner with a portrait of U.S. President Donald Trump during a protest against the recent U.S. attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, near the U.S. embassy in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.
“There was however a degree of cooperation between Iran and the United States over ISIS,” Pakravan said. “And Iran actually actually was instrumental in helping that effort defeating ISIS especially in Iraq and the battle for Mosul.” Trump quickly took to Twitter in a series of tweets that vowed significant military action against 52 cultural Iranian sites if the nation were to retaliate in any way against America. Hibbard said at this point it is unclear what any potential retaliation will look like. “There’s a 40-day period of mourning within the Shia tradition and at the fortieth day there’s a celebration or kind of a commemoration of the death of a person,” Hibbard said. “And so the assumption is that there’s probably not going to be much retaliation, if anything, until after that.” On Jan. 5, the nation abandoned limitations on their uranium enrichment – a key point in their 2015 nuclear agreement with six nations, including the United States. Iran launched 22 ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing US soldiers on Jan. 7, only increasing fears of further conflict between the two nations. No American or Iraqi causalities were reported in the bombings. Mark said the incident increased concern about further escalation between the two nations. “It caused a number of people who are concerned about Iran and a number of people who want to support the president called this an act of war,” Mark said. “How they particulaly distinguish that as an act
of war from a drone attack on a general something that I don’t quite understand. But it gave people an out to suggest that Iran was in fact being bellicose military. They are not the ones who want to escalate.” A Ukrainian plane was shot down over Tehran on Jan. 8. While circumstances surrounding the crash – which killed 176 people – were initially unclear, Iran took responsibility for unintentionally shooting down the aircraft on Saturday. “Armed Forces’ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably, missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people,” President Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter. Pakravan said while Soleimani had large influence in Iran’s affairs, his death did not have as much of an impact on the Quds Force – as they have already named his successor, General Esmail Ghaani. “General Soleimani was not only the head of the Quds Force but he also had tremendous influence inside Iran,” Pakravan said. “And now the fact that he has been killed is not going to change the basic parameters of Iran’s desire to sort of have regional influence.” Mark said Soleimani’s death was also significant because of the relationships he maintained with “people in the highest leadership in the Iranian regime.” “The reason his death is signif icant because it is twofold,” Mark said. “Not simply because of how sensitive the Iranian leadership might be, but because it without
knowing the intelligence that was behind the attack it seems to have come out of the blue for the vast majority of observers.” Kaveh Ehsani, a DePaul international studies professor, said tensions between Iranians and the government were high, especially following December protests against austerity measures, but have seemed to improve following Soleimani’s death. “There was widespread anger among the Iranian population toward the regime for its policies and actions,” Ehsani said. “However, popular outrage at the US assassination of Soleimani changed the sentiment and seems to have revived support for a regime whose legitimacy was being questioned.” Pakravan said the unification is adverse to the intent behind Soleimani’s assassination. “The point is right now that the killing of this general has unified the various forces in Iran at least and strengthened the hand of the hardliners,” Pakravan said. “Which is actually the opposite of what this policy was supposed to achieve.” Hibbard said the move also strengthened the relationship between the Iranian and Iraqi governments while simultaneously highlighting shortcomings of the Trump administration. “We’ve strengthened the Iranian regime and we’ve pushed the Iranian regime and the Iraqi government closer together,” Hibbard said. “All counterproductive. In my mind it highlights the fact that there is no policy process within the Trump administration and President Trump has no strategic vision for the region.”
Nation & World. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 11
Australian fires point to dire future for climate Impeachment Inquiry top five takeaways
By Lacey Latch
By Cailey Gleeson
Managing Editor
As bushfires continue to rage across the island of Australia for the fifth month in a row, the rest of the world now has no choice but to take note of the devastation and the factors that caused it. Millions of acres have been leveled by the flames, an estimated half a billion animals have been killed and over two dozen people have lost their lives to the ongoing disaster. Barbara Willard, a DePaul communications professor with expertise in environmental rhetoric, has taken note of how people talk about climate change for the past few decades. Today, she says, the conversation has shifted to focus on what the phenomenon has become: a crisis. “We need these really in some ways simple terms where people can really understand the gravity of the situation,” she said. American firefighters touched down last week to aid in the fight, but with no substantial rainfall forecasted, an end to the bushfires sweeping the nation remains out of reach. What were once annual occurrences during fire season have become increasingly devastating disasters, exacerbated by abnormally dry conditions and drought brought about by climate change. “The worst reason for us to become concerned or get behind climate change or the idea of it is just the disasters we are consistently confronted with,” Willard said. “Whether it be the wildfires in the West, certainly the
Nation & World Editor
RICK RYCROFT| AP In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, file photo, a firefighter manages a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia, set in an effort to contain a larger fire nearby.
bushfires in Australia right now, the intensity of storms, the intensity of flooding all of that is showing us what our future is going to be. And when it starts to hit home for people, literally their home being engulfed in flames in tornadoes of fire, then they start really looking more seriously at climate change.” In a televised interview yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed regret over how his government has handled the crisis. Public outrage has plagued Morrison throughout the fires, including his decision to take a vacation in Hawaii at one of the fire’s worst points and his overall climate policy, which some have argued does not do enough when it comes to curbing emissions and preventing the conditions for these disasters. In response to nationwide complaints concerning his leadership, Morrison initiated a formal public in-
quiry, known as a royal commission, to look in depth at his government’s response to the monthslong fires, including the distribution of federal resources. “I think it’s too much for most people to get their heads around because it is sort of this apocalyptic vision,” Willard said. But now more than ever, she says, people are starting to truly grasp the gravity of the crisis. With figures like Greta Thunberg gaining worldwide status as a pioneer for the younger generation of climate change activists, the conversation is set to shift even more in the weeks, months and years to come. “Her presence, her sort of way of speaking, has just attracted the attention of the global population and has really been able to speak to the youth population,” Willard said of Thunberg. “Which has encouraged them to organize and get out and at least make their voices heard.”
CAROLYN KASTER | AP
In this July 31, 2019 file photo, then National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks to media at the White House in Washington.
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The impeachment inquiry is set to move to trial in the Senate within the coming weeks following the House’s landmark Dec. 18 decision to adopt two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. John Bolton, former National Security Adviser, said he is prepared to testify in the trial against Trump The House and Senate are no closer to coming to an agreement with the terms of the trial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he plans to move forward with the trial without committing to a witness deal. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she will not be sending formal charges against Trump to the Senate on Friday in an attempt to put pressure on McConnell to publish a resolution detailing rules of the trial. the report. Just a day after she announced her intent to wait, Pelosi said the articles will be sent to the Senate at some point next week. Read the fulll weekly recap at depauliaonline.com
United Methodist Church to split over LGBTQ+ issues By Samuel Rahman Contributing Writer
Jan. 3 marked the release of the “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation” for the United Methodist Church, forewarning a potential fracturing of 13 million practitioners into two or more denominations. Created and signed by a council of 16 United Methodist bishops, the protocol lays out a plan for the restructuring of the religion in which churches sharing more traditional interpretations of the Bible can vote to break away from the UMC and form another denomination. The protocol came after three meetings of the 16 United Methodists mediated by Kenneth Feinberg. Before his pro-bono work in the UMC’s separation protocol, Feinberg oversaw the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, along with compensation plans for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as well as the Aurora, Colorado and Virginia Tech shootings. The wedge dividing the Methodists into two camps and necessitating Feinberg’s mediation is LGBTQ inclusion. More
specifically, the traditionalists look to disallow the ordination of LGBTQ clergy and the clergy’s permission to perform same-sex marriages.. If the protocol passes a vote with the May General Conference 2020 meeting of the UMC in Minneapolis, intent to form a new Methodist denomination will be registered with the Secretary of the Counsels of Bishops. Contributor to United Methodist News, Kathy L. Gilbert confirmed that by December 31, 2021, the five U.S. conferences and seven non-U.S. based Central Conferences must vote on which denomination to follow: adopted by a 57 percent vote threshold. If a specific church within a conference disagrees with the decision of the conference, the dissenting church members are free to adopt a contrary denomination within 60 days of the conference vote by a twothirds vote. Gilbert was not able to give an expected number of conferences or churches that would vote toward leaving the UMC for a traditionalist denomination. The protocol also includes $25 million to the traditionalist
denomination that establishes and incorporates after the May conference. Additionally, $2 million will be escrowed for additional denominations other than the post-separation UMC and traditional denominations that are incorporated after branching off from the UMC. Pat Luna, a spokesperson for Resist Harm, a group opposed to the church separation, explains this latest protocol as the culmination of 48 years of conflict between the UMC and its more traditionalist members. “1972 was the first time the United Methodist Church general conference put anything discriminatory into the Book of Discipline,” Luna said. “Since that time, there has been conflict in the United Methodist Church between those who interpret scripture in a way that makes them want to exclude LGBTQ [persons].” The majority of traditionalist support comes from the Global General Conference, where bishops from Asia and Africa bring greater traditional Biblical views. “The majority of the United States UMC is not traditional but centrist or progressive...European
churches as well” continues Luna. Resist Harm and other organizations working to fight this separation believe that “The UMC was founded on grace. We hope to work this out removing discriminatory language out of the Book of Discipline.” The Book toes a contradicting line when it states “The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth” in Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church but that “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” in section 304.3. It is language such as 304.3 that progressive members of the faith look to eliminate from the text. In coming to a more centrist and progressive understanding of LGBTQ issues and to eventually remove what Resist Harm calls ”discriminatory language” for the Book of Discipline, opponents of the separation including Pat Luna “use the Wesleyan quadrilateral of logic and reason.” Created by John Wesley, leader of the Methodist movement in the late 1700s, Methodism is the practice of theological reflection consisting of scripture, reason, experience and tradition. Both
factions of the discussion of separating the church are simply favoring some facets of the quadrilateral such as scripture or reason more than others. Nevertheless, New York Episcopal Area Bishop and signatory of the protocol, Thomas J. Bickerton, believes wholeheartedly in the process of potential separation outlined through mediation. “This protocol provides a pathway that acknowledges our differences, respects everyone in the process and graciously allows us to continue to live out the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, albeit in different expressions,” he said in a statement. Until the official vote on the creation of a traditionalist denomination at the General Conference in May, demonstrations showing solidarity with the LGBTQ community can be expected to increase in frequency. Since the initial press release of the protocol, there have already been events in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dallas and Los Angeles.
12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Opinions Making resolutions stick By Alayne Trinko Staff Writer
3,2, 1…Happy New Year! As soon as the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2019, I promised myself I would commit to my new year’s resolution of working out five days per week in order to gain muscle and stay healthy. I didn’t know how to work out, but I knew that working out keeps you “healthy,” so I wanted to try it. But, what did I know about lifting weights, buying protein powder or hitting a personal record? Absolutely nothing. I feared the gym at the time, so I stuck with 15-20-minute High Intensity Interval Training workouts. I whimpered through the push-ups and burpees and quickly became discouraged and unmotivated by my own breathlessness and exhaustion, partly because I did not pair all of this exercise with nutrient-rich food. By February, my determination waned, and one rest day became two, then three and then I lost my commitment altogether. For the rest of the year, I would compare myself to bodybuilders, athletes and models on social media, remembering how I tried and wanted to be fit, but couldn’t manage it with my schedule and feared that I would fail again. But that’s where my thinking went wrong. With New Year’s resolutions, there is a common misconception that we must maintain a streak of active, unwavering progress through to the end of the year. When in reality, resolutions are all about the failure and having the right mindset to keep going even when you don’t want to or don’t know exactly how. In a 2012 interview with NPR, John Norcross, professor of psychology at the University of Scranton, described two studies he conducted in 1989 to see how many people were actually reaching their goals for the new year. “In two of our longitudinal studies, 40 to 46 percent of New Year’s resolvers will be successful at six months. So… it’s true, most people fail. But 40 to 46
percent is pretty impressive. Particularly when you compare it to the people who don’t try and therefore have, in our research, 0 to 4 percent chance.” When the new year begins, often times we get this surge of energy and motivation to make some sort of lifestyle change— large or small. But, when we do want to make those changes, results are proven to be better when we go about it in a strategic and positive way. Here are my six tips for working toward your fitness and health resolutions for 2020: Write down your goal for the year…Make it set in stone. The first step in trying to achieve a goal in the new year is to write down your end goal and the steps you plan to take to get there. DePaul freshman Bridget Killian is looking to get back into her gym routine in 2020. She knows that she may not see results right away, but if she stays patient, it will be worth the wait. “You want to set small goals for yourself along the way. Give yourself a definite goal that is smaller than your overall goal,” Killian said. “For example, add on more weight to the bar every two weeks. If I could only lift 45 pounds yesterday and then a week from now, I can lift 65, that’s a change. It’s not necessarily physical yet, but it’s there.” Goals that are specific, measurable, attainable and realistic are your best bet in order to stay committed throughout the year. If you set small goals throughout the month, the week or even the day, your goal for the whole year will seem less daunting. Find someone to hold you accountable…The buddy sys-
tem works best. Working toward a goal is difficult if you don’t have anybody in your corner to cheer you on. DePaul Freshman Hector Merchan said that his high school track coach will be his primary support as he works toward becoming a better and more “serious” runner in 2020. Without someone or something to remind you to get out and work toward your goals, it’s harder to achieve them. Find a partner or buddy to do it with you, or even just set a reminder on your phone. Explore your options…It doesn’t hurt to ask. When going about a new fitness or health goal, it’s important to get informed in order to avoid injury. Before going straight to the treadmill at the gym, ask for a tour of the space and how to use the equipment available. You can protect your body from unnecessary harm by simply asking a few questions and explaining your goals to the gym staff. According to Danielle Arens, the assistant director of Fitness and Wellness for DePaul University’s Campus Recreation, the Ray Meyer Fitness Center offers a number of free resources and programs to assist individuals seeking to improve their level of fitness. “We actually just started a new program here called ‘Find Your Fit,’ and we have exercise assistants that can be contacted via email on our website under the ‘Find Your Fit’ tab,” Arens said. “So, anyone that is unsure how to use a piece of equipment, doesn’t know how to get started, how to put a circuit together, these are all exercise science students that are studying to become exercise and fitness professionals that can answer any
questions you may have.” Challenge yourself…Go for the gold. DePaul freshman David Moir’s new year’s resolution is to go completely vegan, which he says is an attainable goal if you navigate the grocery store aisles and the Student Center’s dinner options strategically. “I found that specifically with this resolution, once I stuck to it, I felt so much better,” he said. “I think if you stick with it and try it for a week and just really keep yourself in check for a week, you will notice a difference, and that will inspire you to keep going.” Not all New Year’s resolutions have to be large lifestyle changes, but if you work toward something you really care about, it can help in being more successful. Maintain a positive mindset…It’s okay to fail. DePaul freshman Dylan Lawrence has 3 New Year’s resolutions this year, one of which is focusing on keeping up with his mental health. He plans to meditate daily, exercise, read and seek out options for therapy all in an effort to better himself this year. The thing about resolutions is that if you don’t believe in it, you really can’t achieve it. If you remind yourself that there will be ups and downs along the way, that will help you maintain a realistic approach to reaching your goals in the new year. Do it for yourself…Have fun! Your New Year’s resolution can function as a way to give appreciation and care back to yourself. In our fast-paced digital age, we often forget to stop and reflect upon our own wellbeing when we need it most. Use the turn of the decade as an excuse to be kinder to yourself and enjoy the time you set aside to take care of your health and wellbeing. We only get one body, so treat it with kindness in the new year. It will be worth all the effort.
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI AND GINA RICARDS
13| Opinions. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Put your money where your mouth is Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globe speech failed to acknowledge his own privilege By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
Of all the shows that make up awards season, the Golden Globes is usually one I feel safe skipping. In terms of award shows dedicated to film and television, I usually prefer the Academy Awards and the Emmys, and the Globes feel fluffy in comparison. Suffice to say that I didn’t watch this year’s ceremony. However, come Jan. 6, my Twitter feed was overrun with commentary on this year’s show and, more specifically, host Ricky Gervais’ opening monologue. Gervais, who was hosting the ceremony for the fifth time, began the night by poking fun at corruption in Hollywood, taking jabs at Amazon, Apple and Disney for utilizing sweatshop labor in China and referencing convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein’s ties to the wealthy elite. Gervais ended his speech by imploring the night’s winners to not involve politics in their acceptance speeches, stating that none of them were qualified to weigh in on politics. “So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech,” Gervais said. “You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.” On many of these issues, I’m inclined to agree with Gervais. It’s no secret that the glamourous facade of showbusiness covers some pretty horrendous crimes— racism and the enabling of sexual predators like Harvey Weinstein, to name a few. However, I found myself rolling my eyes while watching Gervais’ speech. Gervais wasn’t trying to shine a light on ugly truths of the entertainment industry. He was trying to stir up attention and buzz by poking fun at hot button issues under the guise of truth telling. “I can’t get inside his mind and explain his goal, but based on the material and his delivery, I felt it was clear he intended to make a big statement and attract buzz and controversy,” said Richard Roeper, the leading film critic for the Chicago
Sun-Times in an email. “The routine was incredibly self-aware and self-congratulatory for doing just that.” Gervais’ speech feels less like bravery and more like a lazy acknowledgement that issues of exploitative labor practices and a hush-hush culture regarding sex crimes merely exist. What’s more is that Gervais is not at the core of people impacted by shady dealings in showbusiness. He is an incredibly wealthy, popular entertainer who is comfortably meshed in with the same elite stars he spent the night mocking Gervais has been made rich and famous by an industry ridden with corruption and deceit, and none of his jabs at the ceremony negate the fact that he has comfortably worked in this industry for decades. “I’m a big fan of Ricky Gervais. I think he’s funny as hell,” Roeper said. “I also think it’s hypocritical for him to position himself as some kind of rogue outsider. The Golden Globes are on NBC/Universal, which is owned by Comcast. They knew exactly what they were getting when they brought back Gervais to host once again It’s not like he was some rebel intruder storming the gates of mainstream Hollywood.” Gervais’ routine fails in a major way in his discussion about celebrities sharing their political views. While some may assume that celebrities have only taken a political stance in the wake of President Donald Trump taking office, this is nothing new. “In the late 1960s and early 1970s, awards shows were, if anything, even more political than they are today,” Roeper said. “Marlon Brando refused his Best Actor Oscar for ‘The Godfather’ and sent a representative to talk about the oppression of Native Americans.” While I’m sure many of the celebrities who speak out on issues while accepting an award speak from the heart — whether it be a woman’s right to choose, advocacy for action towards climate change or gun control — I’m also sure that many of them do so for good PR.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Controversial comedian Ricky Gervais hosting the Golden Globes for a fifth time.
“I can’t get inside [Gervais’] mind and explain his goal, but based on the material and his delivery, I felt it was clear he intended to make a big statement and attract buzz and controversy.”
Richard Roeper
Film and television critic, The Chicago Sun-Times However, in an increasingly volatile world, the need for those with power and influence to use their platform for good increases as well. While it may be irritating to hear political gestures thrown around at award shows, it is no longer possible to pretend that the catastrophic events plaguing the world shouldn’t appear in spaces not directly relating to politics. Gervais wasn’t necessarily wrong for calling that out, neither is he wrong for being fed up with corruption in the entertainment industry. However, his commentary feels lazy and safe when one
considers his position as a member of the Hollywood elite reaping privileges from a corrupt industry, whether or not he takes part in said corruption. Anyone can simply point their finger at an issue and acknowledge that something is wrong, but taking concrete steps to make change is ultimately more meaningful and helpful. In short, if people in power —whether it be Ricky Gervais or the larger celebrity population — want to make a difference, actions speak louder than words.
LA DEPAULIA continued from front We do not bear the resources of a Tribune-sized newsroom, but we also are fortunate enough not to rely exclusively on our own revenues. So instead of writing stories critical toward the Tribune’s decisions, we will tap into a passionate community of Latinx student reporters and editors at DePaul and give them a platform to fill the void as best as they can. This is a community that The DePaulia has reported on in the past, but never as well as we could. We hope that with La DePaulia we can build a formidable connection with a community that has long been overlooked and deserves their story told in their own language. Now a word from the dedicated editors of La DePaulia: Hillary Flores — Editor-in-Chief, La DePaulia The moment I immigrated to this country was a moment to break apart the shackles that were going to shut down my voice and the voices of my people back home. I have the passion to bring their voices forward and show the world that there’s no such thing as a small story.
I created La DePaulia with this purpose: to unveil truths of my community, whether positive or heart-breaking. This section is more than just merely a language section; it will reveal truths about immigration, the socioeconomic crisis and political controversies in Latin America, with stories that will make people feel emotions and connect them to one another, even if they’re located in different parts of the world.I made
GRAPHIC BY GINA RICARDS
this to show that stories will never have borders set upon the Latinx community. Maria Guerrero — Managing Editor, La DePaulia It’s truly an honor being part of La DePaulia and having the opportunity to report on Latinx stories for our campus and our city. As a Latina journalist, I want to utilize my voice and my passion
to report on Latinx stories that are often underreported. Through La DePaulia my team and I are able to serve the 2.7 million Latinx residents in Chicago whose voices need to be heard. With The DePaulia’s new Spanish section, we as residents and journalist of Chicago are taking a huge step forward to bettering the good of our community.
14 | Focus. The DePaulia. Jan.13, 2020
Focus
A decade in the
By Joey Cahue Contributing Writer
As we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020, we reflect on everything that’s happened within the last 10 years. An entire decade has gone by in the blink of an eye. Makes you feel old, doesn’t it? Our world, specifically our country is full of history. Throughout the decade, two of the most defining moments in history happened in the White House. Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term in 2012 and became the first African-American president four years prior. Many monumental events happened during his presidency such as the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015. A second major event was Donald Trump being elected in 2016. Regardless of his controversies, having a reality TV star as president has been nothing short of a wild ride, gripping the GOP, Democratic Party and the general public. R. Craig Sautter is an adjunct professor at DePaul University and an expert in elections, political media, U.S. Presidential politics and more. He has taught courses in politics, history, literature and creative writing for the last 38 years at DePaul’s School for New Learning and now teaches for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. He has co-written and co-produced political ads, speeches and more for offices across the country. Sautter believes the election and re-election of Barack Obama is one of the most defining moments in history. “President Obama’s election marked a historical landmark that showed how far
the nation had come si Movement of the 1950s he said. “It was a visibl white voters wanted de page on the vicious hist Sautter calls it “a m deep personal pride to same goes for his re-el “opened the way” for hi “It was a great defin country, and even the w Sautter says that Tr voice to another constit “Just as President greater voice to the dis tion, so did President T voice to another cons been left out economic ed and discounted by m elites,” he said. “I disagree that m are racists, and this is President Obama. The D ing these folks for deca Reagan. Many of them from the political pro Trump brought them b some hope, and some p Barack did for AfricanSautter reminds us constantly changing. “Politics can chang and does change every “The divisions of today long as the divisions of Elena Grigoryan i Loyola University and Trump’s election was a our country over the la the election called for so conversations.”
Focus. The DePaulia. Jan.13, 2020 | 15
e White House
ince the Civil Rights s, 60s and early 70s,” le marker that many esperately to turn the tory of racism.” moment that meant o many people.” The lection as he says it is future progress. ning moment for the world,” he said. rump’s triumph gave tuency. Obama helped give sinherited of our naTrump’s triumph give stituency which has cally, and disrespectmany of the nation’s
most of these people s just a backlash to Democrats were losades, since President m just dropped away ocess, and candidate back, and gave them pride in the same way -Americans.” s all that politics are
ge every four years, eight years,” he said. y will not last all that tomorrow,” he said. is a sophomore at d also believes that defining moment in ast decade. She said ome “uncomfortable
“Since the election, meeting new people called for some uncomfortable conversations,” she said. “So many major changes in current events have happened since Trump’s election. For instance, discussions of abortion ban and gun laws following mass shootings, and those are things that you’re bound to discuss with others.” Grigoryan believes the election has woken people up when it comes to politics. “I believe that it was such a defining movement for our generation because during the previous presidencies that we have been alive for, we were too young to keep up with the politics during those times,” she said. “Since Trump has been elected we have been more or less mature and aware enough to keep up with current events.” Layan Beirat is a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago and says that she has seen people differently since her freshman year of high school, all the way until she graduated due to their differing political views. This is what makes Trump’s election a monumentally defining moment of our history. “Minorities are the ones he [Trump] targets more frequently because of their abundance and what seems to be their ‘sensitivity’ based off stereotypes,” Beirat said. “I think he’s made a lot of people feel inferior, feel unsafe, and feel as though they should always prepare for the worst.” What does the future hold? Could it be something as extreme as flying cars? Or, even another change in the political system? With the upcoming election, perhaps America could even have our first ever woman as president.
GRAPHICS BY JESSICA GREKOWICZ AND GINA RICARDS | THE DEPAULIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, WIKIPEDIA AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arts & Life
16 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Picture perfect A decade in search of Instagrammable moments By Ella Lee Arts & Life Editor
Light bounces off winter’s first snow outside your window. Your dinner plate’s presentation is that of a “Chopped” champion. An abstract mural catches your eye after a night out with friends. Pause. The perfect picture. Crop, filter, caption, tag, post. This routine is all too common for those of us who came of age in the 2010s, every picturesque moment caught on camera and memorialized online — typically on Instagram. Instagram launched in October 2010 and has maintained a steady hold on its place as a social media staple since then, with over 100 million active users each day. Today, it’s ranked as the second-most popular social networking site in the U.S., second only to its parent company, Facebook. “Gen. Z is the Instagram generation,” said Bree McEwan, an associate professor and chair of communication and technology at DePaul. “They grew up with this idea of you present yourself and you present yourself in photos.” The near-reflexive desire to create a picture-perfect online life has led to a never-ending hunt for “Instagrammable moments”: attractive snapshots of better-than-normal happenings. These moments are not just good times to take photos, like a wedding or a vacation — though those circumstances could certainly produce an abundance of qualifying pictures. They are specifically curated and often sought out for the sole purpose of being pretty enough or interesting enough to post on the social networking site. “If you were out with your friends and someone took a picture of their lunch and posted it up on Instagram, you wouldn’t think it was weird, or if someone said, ‘Hey, don’t eat that yet because I want to get a picture of it,’” said Paul Booth, a DePaul professor and graduate program director of digital communication and media arts. “It has changed the way we interact and the way we expect our social activities to progress.” The quest to find these coveted moments has led to success based purely on aesthetic, both in personal and business realms. Influencers make money by the like, whereas some restaurants have capitalized on a “camera eats first” mentality by serving rainbow bagels or salads garnished with edible flowers — unextraordinary-tasting dishes for Instagrammers with “taste.” There’s nothing wrong with seeking out and enjoying these eye-catching items and experiences. But the ongoing cycle of maintaining an exciting facade could have downsides that scholars of this decade have only begun to uncover. FOMO, or ‘Fear of Missing Out,’ was coined by Patrick J. McGinnis, a Harvard MBA, who wrote an article exploring the impact of and precursors to social media addiction. The term is often linked to image-driven social media, such as Instagram or Snapchat, due to the imminent barrage of others’ digitally-captured fun guaranteed with usage of the apps. Based solely on your Instagram feed, perhaps everyone you know is studying abroad, preparing for their wine tasting final on a romantic gondola in Venice. Or, it may appear that everyone you know has landed in a committed relationship — just in time for
the holidays, where you know the No. 1 topic of conversation might be your lack thereof. “When we see other people online and we see them only presenting these cool things that they’re doing, it becomes difficult for us to remember they’re not just doing those cool things,” McEwan said. “We see that and you think, ‘Oh, they go on trips, they go to a conference, they have fun brunch — everybody else is having a little better time than I’m having.’” This same fear of being left on life’s fray is what has led experts to recognize the link between social media dependence and depressive symptoms in college students. In fact, between 2005 and 2015, cases of depressive illness increased by nearly a fifth, according to World Health Organization. But in openly discussing the detriments of social media, it’s rare that these links are discussed. Instead, Instagram raises concerns of rising self-obsessiveness. In high school — between 2013 and 2017, for me — the cycle was never-ending: Post a selfie. Next, post a group photo so people don’t think I’m obsessed with myself. Or maybe a picture of a sunset. Or my dog. Have I waited long enough to post a picture of just me again? Granted, much of this internal banter stemmed from immaturity, but with a quarter of Instagram’s users under the age of 25, it continues to be an ongoing conversation. There are an abundance of studies that argue Instagram usage encourages narcissism; a quick Google search of “instagram” and “narcissist” or “self-absorbed” can prove that point, and many of the app’s users agree. “[Instagram] makes some people think they are so interesting when they’re not interesting at all,” said Matthew Smith, 20. “People consistently rely on likes for validity since this app came out,” said Conor Kelly, 20. “There’s no end in sight.” Perhaps that’s all true — Instagram’s foundation is the sharing of beauty. But beauty wasn’t invented in the 2010s, and neither was the desire to revel in it. “You know, it would be very easy to say Instagram has made everyone very narcissistic,” Booth said. “People have always been narcissistic; that’s why we have the term ‘narcissistic.’” When the book was first invented, people feared that if young people — primarily women — were allowed to read, they would stop experiencing life and choose to read about it behind closed doors instead, Booth argued. All new technology incites fears of how the next generation will be impacted — that doesn’t make it inherently bad. “I mean, if we didn’t use the term ‘Instagramable moment’ and we instead use the term like ‘creating a memory,’ I think it would have a very different connotation,” Booth said. Think back to your tweenage years, when taking grainy, self-timed Photo Booth pictures with your best friends was all the rage. Or maybe you enjoyed scrapbooking, taking photos of family and friends and displaying them in an aesthetically pleasing, shareable way. The Instagrammable moment was around long before the app itself. But the active curation of these moments — designing a flawless, filtered life to share with others — has defined a decade of young people.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020| 17
Decade glow up
The 2010s contoured their way to the top of beauty firsts By Keira Wingate Asst. Arts & Life Editor
This decade has been the biggest “glow up” of all. The art of beauty has taken a turn from canvas and onto people’s faces, with hair and makeup transforming and including a range of diversity that was not there before. The 2010s diversified the beauty industry and the concept of art on a face was popping up left and right. The looks people create on their eyelids alone is incredible. Nonetheless, it was a time of rapid change in beauty. Kacy Levy, 45, has been a hairstylist for almost 17 years and has seen an abundance of change from the beginning of the decade to now. “Styles have gone from bouncy, big spiral curls to very tousled and beachy waves,” she said. “Even haircuts have moved away from super precision to very soft, piece-ire looks. Hair is flatter, less voluminous. No more bump-its.” Many people bought the packets of bump-its but won’t admit they were a part of that trend. Who didn’t want bangs sitting an inch or two high on the top of their head? “Hair trends used to be solely celebrity-driven,” Levy said. “So when a popular celebrity would make a big change, we’d see a huge crowd wanting to do it, too. For example, Cameron Diaz colored her iconic blonde shag a dark brown copper one year and I had all of my blonde clients wanting to be a dark copper brown.” There was a time when everyone seemed to have ombre hair – more of a darker color on top and blonde toward the bottom. People had to have it so bad, they’d
KEIRA WINGATE | THE DEPAULIA
Jordan Dockery, a DePaul junior, created a ‘butterfly wing’-inspired look. go through the yellow blonde hair phase just to achieve it. Ombre hair looked great when they were a part of another hair trend this decade: knots. A high, sleek knot and pony have taken over many going-out outfits, business casual looks and more. For example, Val Warner, an anchor on Windy City LIVE in Chicago, rocks a high ponytail or top knot in almost every episode. Ariana Grande, of course, has to be mentioned in helping bring that style to life. Levy said that over this decade, guests have wanted immaculately placed tight foils to ombre and “lived-in color.” She added that more women now want a style that will be tailored to their face and lifestyle rather than a more conventional highlight placement that requires too much maintenance. There is such a variety of hairstyles and seeing so many different looks just proves that the 2010s were full of risks that
both ended in reward or disaster. The yellow-blonde phase would prove disastrous. In the end, loving your hair brings out the confidence that everyone deserves to feel. Over the last 10 years, trends such as a bold lip, winged eyeliner, defined brows and contour all started what is definitely the best beauty decade in history. The 2010s was a combination of all the decades behind it. The 2010s brought back older trends and intertwined them with newer ones, such as the biggest one of all: contouring. This was the time when defining bone structure in someone’s face was key to the best makeup look. The things you can do to your nose, chin, cheekbones and jawline with a little contouring are out of this world. Kim Kardashian is known as one of the first to really give people the want for a defined face and contouring was the way to do that. Jordan Dockery, 20, a junior at DePaul,
has been doing makeup since she was in sixth grade and just finished her time as a Maybelline College Ambassador. Her looks range from dewy smokey eyes to a full eyelid of color and gems. She brings out her artistic side in a lot of her looks. “When I first started watching a lot of tutorials, people did a lot of glamour makeup; it’s called ‘Instagram makeup,’” Dockery said. “It was very glamorous, very pretty, very much like I was going out.” “Now that it’s been, like, a few years that I’ve been in the makeup community, you see a lot more of creative expression,” she said. “It’s no longer, ‘I want to be the prettiest person in the room,’ it’s, ‘I want to be the boldest, I want to have the most creative face in the room.’” Daisy Bentley, 21, didn’t grow up watching YouTube videos, so she went through that awkward phase of wearing cheap, mismatched products and unflattering eyeshadows. Bentley is just one of the many people who learned more techniques and trends over this decade. “I went from over-plucking my unibrow and doing full raccoon eyes to finding my ‘look’ that makes me feel the best,” she said. “Thick, gorgeous brows and a razor-sharp black wing, occasionally paired with a bright lip.” Perfect brows frame the face and highlight your eyes. The shape and intensity of them can vary, but it’s safe to say a “fleek” eyebrow is the best. Pair that with a sharp, clean winged eye and you have yourself a 2010s look. This decade brought out a side of makeup that could include LGBTQ+ individuals and more people of color. It isn’t just for women to feel beautiful. It is about creativity, acceptance, confidence and growth.
Girls ran the world of pop music throughout 2010s By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
When looking at the music that filled the 2010s, it’s clear that some of the most enduring hits were made by women. “Pop music seems to be the one common thread we all share in the age of ultra-niche media,” said Dan Bashara, an adjunct instructor of media and cinema studies at DePaul. “...But everybody at least knows who Taylor Swift is, or has at least ambiently heard Rihanna, even if they’re not a fan.” Much of this has to do with image. When thinking of Katy Perry, her neon-colored wardrobe and effervescent aura comes to mind. Rihanna’s tough-girl swagger and aloof persona makes her stand out. And when one thinks of Lady Gaga, they probably think of her role as a provocateur — think meat dress at the 2011 Grammys. “I also think pop music tends to be at ground zero for our contemporary discussions of identity and representation, perhaps because of how powerfully central the pop star’s image is, as opposed to a cast of actors, plus the overlay of fictional characters, plus writers and directors, as you have in TV and film,” Bashara said. A common thread between female pop artists is the transformation of both their work and image throughout the decade. Taylor Swift began the decade as the darling of country music, fresh off her Album of the Year win at the 2010 Grammys for “Fearless.” Swift cemented her status as America’s sweetheart with her girl-nextdoor charm and adolescence-tinged discography establishing a clear brand.
But as the decade went on, good faith toward Swift declined. The world could not go five minutes without Swift dominating headlines, from her series of highly-publicized relationships—and breakups—to her feuds with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. Swift’s metamorphosis seemed to reach a peak with 2017’s “Reputation,” in which she plays into the bad press that had followed her for years. The album featured a much more electronic, aggressive sound, with Swift appearing in dramatic black outfits in live performances. “[Swift] went from country music star, to bubblegum pop star, to angry sexy lady seeking revenge,” senior Madeline Mason said. “Her newest album, ‘Lover,’ reverts to that bubblegum pop star persona, but it’s truly amazing how she’s been more than one thing. But, she’s heavily scrutinized for it. It’s almost as if people don’t get that women contain multitudes, can be mean and sweet and kind and rude all at the same time.” It is impossible to talk about popular music or culture of the last decade, however, without talking about Beyoncé. Within the last decade, Beyoncé has transformed her image into an otherworldy icon, or “Queen B,” as her fans refer to her. This is in part due to her undeniable talent, which seems to have only increased throughout her decade-spanning career. More important is the number of bold statements made by Beyoncé that demanded the world at large pay attention, from placing a large sign bearing the word “feminist” behind her during her 2014 VMA performance to releasing her self-titled
2013 album with no prior promotion. “Beyoncé’s surprise – dropping her self-titled, visual album – impacted pop culture because everyone was shocked you could just drop an album without leading up to it with a release date,” junior Lesley Perales said. “It influenced other artists to start doing surprise releases with singles or albums.” And, of course, “Lemonade.” “Lemonade” showcased a side of Beyoncé not yet seen to the public. While she had released a number of songs about breakups and men who didn’t deserve her, “Lemonade” made everything a bit too real and personal to consume without a second thought. Beyoncé later cemented herself as the most relevant artist of the decade with her 2018 headlining Coachella performance being dubbed “Beychella” by fans and popular media alike. The performance was a celebration of black culture—specifically historically black colleges and universities—made all the more relevant by the fact that Beyoncé was the first black woman to ever headline the music festival. “It’s hard for me to think of another artist after Madonna who has achieved such cultural power and who has shifted the public conversation so thoroughly,” Bashara said. “I do think her legacy will endure, though I also think it will come in for some re-evaluation; there was a period, the ‘Beygency’ period when it was impossible to criticize her, and I think that as we look back we’ll see some more complexity in our assessment of her. And that’s a good thing! We like to flatten out our pop stars
and make them all-or-nothing images, heroes or villains, and it’s easy to forget that there’s a complicated person underneath that image.” When examining women in pop music, it is clear that a great deal of effort is put into sustaining one’s career and, ultimately, their brand. It is not enough for a woman in pop to have a good voice and sing a few good songs; their image is ultimately their empire. “I think female pop artists are held to a higher standard; they’re expected to sing, dance and write their own music when male pop artists are not,” Perales said. “For many of these women, it was expected of them to have a clear image to attract their audiences. Recently, though, I feel like these women are taking control over their careers and defining pop in their own way.”
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18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Memes of the 2010s But that’s none of our business...
Top 10
Movies of the decade By Michael Bzrezinski Cheif Film Critic
GRAPHICS BY GINA RICARDS
By Ebony Ellis & Keira Wingate Contributing Writer and Asst. Arts & Life Editor
The evolution of memes over the last decade has been out of this world. Before 2010, memes were truly unheard of. With most things being in the beginning stages of video and rarely in the form of memes, now there is a meme for every occasion. According to Complex, the term “meme” was coined by Richard Dawkins in his book, “The Selfish Gene.” Dawkins says a meme is a “cultural idea, a fashion, technology or ideology that self-replicates and spreads among the people.” Usually they are used in the form of a photo, gif or sometimes a video on social media sites that are then passed around through different people online. They are used to replace words sometimes, instead, pop in a meme as a response to some outlandish thing you’ve seen on Twitter. Today, memes are seen and used everywhere, from pop culture to brands using them as a way to advertise. While memes existed before this decade, they have become increasingly popular in recent years. All kinds of memes have surfaced, starting with “bed intruder,” which blew up on YouTube in 2010. Soon after, it was put into photo and GIF form. As the years went on, funny memes with Keanu Reeves, the grumpy cat began and the doge; not dog, doge. One may remember emotional and motivational captions placed over pictures of people dressed as hipsters in vans, large glasses and the clothing brand “Supreme.” Many photos of rapper Drake has been captioned with something regarding the type of guy he is. Plenty of cat memes made it to the forefront of the internet. And we can’t forget the photos of random people hugging or displaying other forms of intimacy
captioned with something pertaining to love or other life advice. Today, memes contain images of Spongebob; it’s hard to believe that this cartoon would have created so many relatable memes. Another popular meme comes from the PBS Kids show “Arthur,” which contains his fist balled up. Wren Lively is a senior at DePaul studying graphic design. Her favorite meme is a monkey with text saying, “I am alone, nobody care for me.” She said she feels the 2016 election caused memes to evolve. “I think that the biggest evolution that happened within memes was the shift from image macros to dank memes,” Lively said. “The election caused a lot of unrest and, as a result, meme [and] internet culture lent itself to more nonsensical humor and design.” Knowyourmemes.com describes dank memes as “online viral media and in-jokes that are intentionally bizarre or have exhausted their comedic value to the point of being cliché.” An image macro is an image with a message or catchphrase. Memes are not only used as comedic relief but also as a way of studying pop culture. Samantha Close is an assistant professor at DePaul in the College of Communication who has been studying pop culture for 13 years. She talked about the lifecycle of memes. “I think it’s part of going mainstream,” Close said. “It’s harder for anything to get traction outside of where it started.” Nowadays it is easy to make a meme of your own and new ones appear on a regular basis. With any award show that comes, a meme is not far behind. Keep yourself updated on the daily doses of meme culture. It’s only going up from here.
1. Knight of Cups (dir. Terrence Malick) Malick’s first full foray into the digital age proved to be far and away his most complicated, challenging and divisive work to date. The tale of a struggling Hollywood screenwriter, played with masterful reserve by Christian Bale, embarking on a spiritual quest through material culture to find meaning rubbed many moviegoers the wrong way with its staggeringly cold exterior. But once you fully immerse yourself in the idiosyncrasies and chip away at it, “Knight of Cups” reveals itself to be one of the most unabashedly optimistic, touching and lived-in films about the difference between living and being alive in the 21st Century. 2. Cloud Atlas (dir. Lilly & Lana Wachowski and Tom Tykwer) The Wachowski Sisters and Tom Stykwer teamed up to adapt a seemingly unadaptable piece of literature in David Mitchell’s rousing tale of deeply interconnected lives spanning across different centuries and continents. It’s an epic on all fronts and lends itself to being one of the most unique films in existence. A film that truly matches its gobsmacking amount ambition with its deeply affecting level of humanity and heart. 3. Waves (dir. Trey Edward Shultz) Empathy personified onto film. Trey Edward Shultz proved to be one of the best and most audacious up-and-comers of the 2010’s with his personal debut feature “Krisha,” then with his chilling post-apocalyptic family drama “It Comes at Night.” But his footing wasn’t fully solidified until now with “Waves.” A destructive, powerful, operatic portrait of the 21st century family unit in all of its horror and glory. A rare film that is both out to surprise its audience and make them understand every little emotion that is projected on screen. A genuine new wave experience in all regards. 4. Before Midnight (dir. Richard Linklater) The concluding chapter to Linklater’s “Before Trilogy” is perhaps his most mature and thoughtful film. A romantic drama about inevitability and change with one of the most richly textured screenplays ever written. A perfect 18-year build-up to a perfect grace note. 5. The Wind Rises (dir. Hayao Miyazaki) Nothing is truly better than when artists thoughtfully reflect on themselves and when someone on the level of Miyazaki does it, it will change the way you look at your own life. A film of indescribable bittersweetness about the joys of dreaming and having fantasies, and the pains of the weight of the world around us. 6. Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller) A perfect spectacle not only in how masterfully concocted every single frame of it is and how brilliantly choreographed its hypnotic action sequences are, but also in how it simply stands for something. A beautiful piece of resistance against facism in patriarchy and just about the most easily rewatchable and most entertaining film this decade had to offer. Deranged and beguiling in equal measures. 7. Like Someone in Love (dir. Abbas Kiarostami) A more overtly personal entry for me on this list. Kiarostami is such an important figure in film that we lost this decade that it would sacrilege for him not to have a place here. “Like Someone in Love” is simply one of the most relaxing films I’ve ever seen and one that plays so freely with the great lengths of digital cinema, which is perfect for a film so deeply rooted in the images and reflections of others. 8. The Master (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson) A ferocious, old-fashioned examination of man’s inherent need for a guiding light. Perfect performances all around, a dynamite Johnny Greenwood score and a master of filmmaking flexing every single muscle he knows how to. There is so, so, so much brewing within this film that even after nearly a dozen viewings, I still don’t fully have a grasp on it. And that’s what I love most about it. 9. Faces Places (dir. Agnes Varda and JR) Agnes is another legend we lost this decade, but not before she made the absolute most of her skills as both a filmmaker and a human being. This wildly touching documentary follows Agnes and prolific street artist JR as they road trip along the countryside of France and meet many beautiful people, who tell their stories and help them make art. A film so affecting it can reaffirm anyone’s love for our shared humanity. 10. Drive (dir. Nicholas Winding Refn) Easily one of the most influential films of the decade for the cross between mainstream and art-house. Refn’s tale of a reserved getaway driver dismantles and rebuilds the common conception of the silver screen hero with lush neon lighting, a killer soundtrack and a perfectly minimalist cinematic approach. This will live on as a cultural cornerstone of the decade and with good reason.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia.Jan. 13, 2020 | 19
vision
Here’s a look at how major industries could change this decade Beauty to boom Creativity, nostalgia to rule next decade despite cosmetic of pop music congestion By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
As we close the door on the previous decade, one might wonder how pop culture will change over the next 10 years. Pop music, in particular, seems constantly on the brink of reinvention with trends and new artists heating up and burning out before the public’s eyes. The ‘10s saw the emergence of new pop icons like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, ascending to stardom and creating a market for traditional pop music. “What we saw in the last decade that will definitely seem to continue is the overwhelming power of pop music,” said Daniel Makagon, a professor in DePaul’s College of Communication. “So, you know, the Katy Perry’s, the Taylor Swift’s, the Justin Bieber’s of the world.” Of all the new pop stars, some find that Lizzo may have more pressure to consistently produce hits, due to her status as a black artist. “It’s hard for me to tell because historically, [and] problematically, black artists have been held to a higher standard than white artists,” Makagon said. “If she doesn’t pump out hits, she would probably go to the wayside, whereas labels will stand by white artists in ways that they don’t by black artists.” Some feel that Mendes, who abides by the traditional teen idol style, may not last in an industry demanding a higher degree of creativity from artists. “I think Shawn Mendes is a flash in the pan,” said Madeliene Mason, a senior majoring in theatre arts. “I don’t hear anything new and different in his music. He doesn’t have anything particularly interesting to say. His most interesting work came from collaborating with Camilla Cabello. He got this far because he’s a pretty white boy with a good voice. I’m not wrong.” This attitude is reflected in reactions to teen idol Justin Bieber’s latest release, “Yummy.” The song was criticized by publications for being seemingly engineered to go viral on TikTok and its repetitive lyrics. “Pop now is very different than what it was ten years ago,” Mason said. “People are embracing the softer, the weirder side of pop [like] Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, and Grimes and there’s no room for the standard ‘Girl you’re so fine/make me happy all the time.’ Either get clever or get lost.” 2019 saw an increase in popularity for dialed-back indie pop, with artists like Eilish and Clairo find-
ing success with their softer, more emotive vocals. “I expect more ‘mumble pop’ to come into the ‘20s,” Mason said. “When I say mumble pop, I mean that quiet, Billie Eilish style of singing. It’s grunge, but fun. If Billie takes the Grammy for Best New Artist this year, then there’ll be a lot more copycats arriving and trying to do what she does.” Looking back on the previous decade, one trend that repeatedly emerged was genre-blending. Rap artists like Nicki Minaj and Migos climbed the charts towards the end of the decade, and they were featured by traditional pop stars like Ariana Grande and Katy Perry. “I see R&B and urban sounds carrying over into the 2020s because it is so popular at the moment,” said Lesley Perales, a junior majoring in public relations and advertising. “Towards the end of the 2010s, many non-black artists were starting to go the urban route because of how big rap and R&B was doing. If urban music continues to dominate the charts and radio play it’s a musical trend I expect that will continue in order for mainstream artists to continue having hits.” A common theory in media studies is pop culture operates on a 30-year cycle of nostalgia, like the resurfacing of 1980s iconography in the ‘10s. The ‘20s may continue this cycle, with 1990s music making its way back into pop culture. “A lot of people were saying when Trump was elected if you compare him to George Bush Sr., when he was in office, alternative rock had become more mainstream at that time,” Makagon said. “A lot of people were thinking that maybe the reason that Nirvana blew up and the Smashing Pumpkins blew up and Hole and all these bands blew up was because of the political context like people just needed something angrier and heavier.” Makagon further argued that growing political unrest in the new decade could lead to a resurgence of more aggressive sound on the rock charts. “But, you know [President] Trump’s been in office for four years and is probably going to be re-elected and there’s not that kind of anger in the music, that kind of angst has not reappeared, at least in alternative rock at any mainstream level,” Makagon said. “So, it could, certainly. We could hear a recycling of grunge or something like that happen.” While it may be too early to tell where music is going in the next 10 years, it’s safe to say that the biggest stars in the game are likely not going anywhere, so long as adapt to trends and stay relevant.
By Hannah Mitchell Multimedia Editor
As the cosmetic industry continues to boom, consumers are left to wonder what they want from makeup companies. The cosmetic industry grew $93.5 billion in the U.S. market in 2019 and is expected to continue to grow 7.14 percent compound annual growth rate from 2018-2023. The industry has expanded from large umbrella cosmetic corporations like L’Oréal who own Maybelline and Urban Decay, to see more indie and independently owned brands started by celebrities, social media influencers and beauty entrepreneurs. Millie Bobby Brown’s Florence by Mills, Lady Gaga’s Haus Laboratories, Kesha’s Kesha Rose and Victoria Beckham’s beauty line are just a few celebrity lines introduced in 2019. Along with a spike in beauty brands, many companies have increased the number of launches each year. Anastasia Beverly Hills, a cosmetic company worth an estimated $3 billion, launched 11 eyeshadow palettes in 2019, compared to three palettes the year before. Fenty Beauty, a cosmetic brand launched by singer Rihanna, is worth an estimated $3 billion after launching in 2017. The cosmetic company nearly doubled the number of launches in 2018 and 2019, from 10 in 2018 to about 18 in 2019. Some enthusiastic makeup buyers are flooded by the expansion and are beginning to feel that the market is congested. Libby Wickham, a senior at DePaul, said that she often feels overwhelmed by the saturation of new beauty brands and products. For her, saturation matters the most when products are unoriginal. “There was a period of time where nothing was exciting me in the industry,” she said. “I kind of already feel like everything has been made. How do you get more creative from there?”
Samantha Close is a Communication professor at DePaul that specializes in capitalism and transforming models of creative industries. “Over-saturation can definitely cause consumers to lose interest,” Close said. “There is a big boom of content once a niche interest or industry ‘makes it’ online, with lots of people creating content, and then as that ‘hot new thing’ enthusiasm dies down only the stronger outlets survive,” she said. She believes that capitalism has long been a big influence on the beauty community, which means that “beauty is subject to the same pressures that other industries are,” Close said. Regardless of the cosmetic congestion, Melyna Gizzi, a junior at DePaul, and Wickham are just as enthusiastic about makeup as they were a few years ago. “I don’t follow brands as obsessively but I hear about them and still get excited,” Wickham said. For Gizzi, big influencers like Kim Kardashian keeps her interested in the industry. “My enthusiasm towards makeup has increased because of people like the Kardashians and because makeup artists make it looks so fun and extravagant,” Gizzi said. Both Gizzi and Wickham believe that there is still room for cosmetic companies to grow. “I just ask [for my makeup] to not be animal tested and mostly vegan, which I know is hard to find,” Gizzi said. “I would also like to see more of a healthier skincare line. There just needs to be greater research and work for it rather than a strictly business mind.” Wickham is also moving towards cruelty-free options. “I’m making the move towards all cruelty-free products,” she said. “On that same conscious not, I’d like to see more clean beauty products.” The global beauty industry was worth $532 billion in 2019, with the U.S. currently holding the world’s largest market. With a 7.14 percent compound annual growth rate, the market is expected to reach $800 billion in 2025.
GRAPHICS BY GINA RICARDS (PHOTOS FROM OKMAGAZINE.COM, BUSINESSINSIDER.COM, INSIDER.COM, @ANASTASIABEVERLYHILLS AND @FENTYBEAUTY)
20| Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Feline frenzy
An entourage of human-like cats — or cat-like humans? — dance on stage. The movie is adapted from a musical by T.S. Elliot and brought to life on screen by Tom Hooper.
‘Cats’ is a ‘fever dream of a cinematic experience.’ It’s the worst-best and best-worst movie of the year.
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By John Cotter Staff Writer
ast year’s movies were stockpiled with loads of CGI-infused blockbusters that sit on the broad shoulders for this year’s box-office success. But, very sneakily, in comes “Cats,” a film that has orchestrated a social media circus in which anyone and everyone is parading around the fever dream of a cinematic experience and its perpetual failures in all monetary or critical ways. But the strange thing is that the film is such a monetary failure, with Universal set to lose anywhere up to $100 million because of their unnecessary creation. This makes me believe that people haven’t subjected themselves to the actual experience before criticizing it. As much as I wanted to speak on behalf of trailers, interviews and reactions, I had to witness this, whatever it is, for myself. What I can say is that the film is the furriest and friskiest train wreck of a cinematic endeavor that I have endured in quite some time. It’s one thing for a film to be average, to feel like your time has been wasted and leave with no lingering thoughts or images of any sort of resonance whatsoever. “Cats” contrasts this with nightmare-inducing shots of the director Tom Hooper’s human-cat crossovers, glossed with this cel-shaded filter that felt like a two-hour video game cutscene. If you are as unfamiliar with the source material of “Cats” as I was, the story is essentially one that revolved around exposition yet simultaneously being utterly void of it. Each scene introduces a cat: who they are, what they do and why they should rise to the Heaviside Layer, which is this universe’s heaven. If everything that revolves around this fruitless plot was this static, Hooper’s film would be interchangeable with any recycled
awards season musical flop. But thankfully, the film’s sole focus is on everything else. At least that must have been the attempt. Hooper and his cast’s paint strokes feel like missed attempts at getting paint in the first place. The CGI is not committed to looking realistic or looking cartoonish, thus lying knee-deep in the uncanny valley, with every character appearing as if they are in different films than each other. The one cat that stands out the most has to be Jennifer Hudson’s portrayal of Grizabella, where it legitimately feels as if Hooper directed her in a completely different manner than anyone else in the film. She cries, and snots, more than Anne Hatheway in Hooper’s more critically and financially successful musical counterpart, 2012’s “Les Misérables.” The misdirection, awful effects, lack of meaningful subject matter and overall lack of self-awareness in the project’s becoming, “Cats” proves to be the failure that everyone assured it to be. But, there’s more. Is “Cats” awful? Yes. But is it meaningless and void of any enjoyment? Absolutely not. This is where the critique of review aggregation sites like Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes come into play. Films have overwhelmingly negative scores, then they are seen as bad films. Fair. A score is an indicator, but behind that score is context and explanation underneath said rating. This is where the difference between subjective and objective analysis comes into play more than any other film I saw in 2019. “Cats” is easily, and objectively, the worst film I saw in 2019. But it’s not just a typical type of bad or mediocre. It is so of the hinge bad that you just can’t take your eyes off of it. The points of discussion that this film has surged in social environments since I saw it has been immense. It is already shap-
ing up to be the uncanny hit of 2019, maybe even the de cade, as the biggest dumpster fire of the year solidifies in social relevance of the past, the present and maybe even the future. It’s cult classic status awaits, but for now, do yourself a favor and see this film if your expectations are what they should be: low on quality, high on unadulterated fun.
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Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 21
Beautiful day in the neighborhood The 90s are back with ‘John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch’ By Sam Rahman Staff Writer
A Mr.-Rogers-styled, sweater-clad John Mulaney and his hoard of elementary schoolers present a variety of skits, songs, and incredibly well-written banter delivered from the public garden of a set reminiscent of Sesame Street. Anyone who watched PBS growing up will find a flood of youthful nostalgia in this 70-minute Netflix production, “John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch.” In the words of the host Mulaney himself, it is simply “a children’s TV special… a show for kids, by adults, with kids present.” While audiences disagree about which age demographic the show is truly geared towards, all can agree that the kids are a lot John Mulaney sits surrounded by kids discussing different aspects of life. more than present. Mulaney may be the host, but it is clear to see that the children a modern-day children’s TV show. almost any mature themes or language. are the stars. The transitions though, where Mulaney Those who are familiar with John MuThe special by itself is a fairly simple has time to riff with the kids, are clearly laney’s previous work will undoubtedly concept. “Recently,” explains Mulaney, “I written for audiences over their pre-teen continue to enjoy his writing, performance watched children’s TV and I didn’t like it at years. Almost nothing inappropriate is ever and style of wit. Those unfamiliar will be all. But I liked it when I was a kid so that brought up, but it may take a more mature handed a well-crafted comedy special with means it was better back then. So I made it audience to understand some references unique and clever jokes. like then.” and the humor of the bit. And those who simply do not enjoy As this premise lures intrigued viewers I hesitate to state that Mulaney has Mulaney’s type of comedy should still be in, questions still must be posed: what is made the perfect children’s show, one where impressed by the masterful art of comedy this show trying to be? Who is it for? the parent enjoys the show as much as the writing and delivery, regardless of whether In evaluating its genuine effectiveness child and stays to watch instead of leav- the individual viewer believes the joke to be as a children’s show, not much can be said, ing the child alone in front of a tv screen. funny. at least in this review. I am not a child, nor Nevertheless, he comes fairly close. The Another area in which the special delivam I educated in anything child-related. Sack Lunch Bunch as a special somehow ers quite well is the guest star list. Richard But I can try to understand what might be provides entertainment for both children, Kind, Broadway regular Andre De Shields, entertaining to a younger audience. All but teens and adults equally, without the use of and Jake Gyllenhaal all make substantial one or two skits and songs could feature on
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appearances. The bow on this wonderful Christmas present of a show, which was released on December 24th, is its message. After Gyllenhaal comically fails at performing his planned songs and skits, Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bank console him. They echo the sentiment that it was okay to fail and that they “don’t care… nobody cares.” If nothing said thus far has persuaded, at the bare minimum, I can confidently say that with all the children’s shows meant for ages 8 to 12-year-olds out there, the average 20-year-old DePaul student will enjoy John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch the most.
Ross, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls make budget shopping easy for students By Keira Wingate Asst. Arts & Life Editor
Creating a space to call your own, finding stylish outfits or simply wanting warmly scented candles for a cheap price is a dream come true. Luckily, that dream is not out of reach with stores like Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. Imagine having Mary Poppins’ purse an endless amount of goods available with just a slight reach of your hand. That is exactly what it is like shopping at stores like Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. They all offer slightly different styles but you can basically walk out of all three stores with a full suitcase for approximately $50. “I’m obviously a college kid and we’re all broke,” said Elena Neal, a junior at DePaul. “So being able to shop somewhere and get reputable brand names for a fraction of the retail price is amazing. I would say a lot XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA of their stuff is also cuter and trendier than Stores like T.J. Maxx and Ross give shoppers a chance to find cheap, quality clothes. Target, especially for the price.” These stores make it easy to live a life still a great place to go for good makeup best women’s and men’s clothing selection.” of luxury while spending less than half finds on a cheaper budget. Marshall’s has a vast selection of clothes the original amount. It’s like living in “The “I love these stores,” said Carrie Woot- that feature brands that many people know. Devil Wears Prada” – grilled cheese includan, a former employee at Marshall’s. “Even You can find Calvin Klein and Michael ed – but not dropping a month’s rent for after leaving my job there, I still frequent Kors jackets for nearly 60 percent off the those 100 percent snow-proof boots. these shops. I think they have great options original price. For example, TJ Maxx has a large makefor items but it is also a bit more of a treaNeed new workout clothes? Marshall’s up selection with a variety of brands. You sure hunt which builds excitement for me. has you covered. You can find that perfect can find brands such as Anastasia, OFRA TJ Maxx has the best accessories and beau- pair of leggings from Lulu Lemon and a and Too Faced Cosmetics for a stellar deal. ty items. You can find so many high-end workout top for every day of the week. You Granted, the variety of these brands won’t brands for great deals. Marshalls has the don’t need to go to the gym every day of the be as vast as actual makeup stores and it is
week, but having plenty of tops for motivation doesn’t hurt. “I love TJ Maxx and Marshall’s though,” said Stacey Sheridan, a DePaul alumna. “I remember going as a kid with my mom and always finding something I wanted even then. Now, I’m less into the toy aisle and more into the shoe and designer sections. You can find amazing deals.” Ross’ has plenty of furniture options for any room. It varies depending on the day because products can be inconsistent, but overall there is a good amount of items to choose from. If you need bedside tables, coffee tables, area rugs or an ottoman, Ross’ has a variety of styles to hunt through. The styles are virtually opposite in theme. Some nightstands can go from having gold with a mirror on it to a nice dark wood with metal legs. They have beanbags, fuzzy pink and retro metal chairs that look like they came right out of a barbershop. The best thing about stores like these is they offer everything you need for decor, living, and clothing without it being too costly. Other stores like Nordstrom Rack and HomeGoods are great for shorter shopping trips. “I would say Ross and TJ Maxx are pretty equal with who has the best furniture items,” Neal said. If you still want that fun and expensive shopping vibe; there is a TJ Maxx and Marshall’s right on Michigan Ave.
22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Fit for more than love Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ a modern, timeless adaptation of classic
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
By Rebecca Rogers Contributing Writer
Since it was published in 1868, Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel “Little Women” has received a new adaptation 14 times. The book has been rewritten for the big screen, the small screen and the stage, but the world simply will just not quit talking about the March sisters. With a star-studded cast and Greta Gerwig at the helm, there was no doubt that the 2019 adaptation of Alcott’s novel would be a magical one, and it did not disappoint. The film is the kind of film that makes the viewer wish they had as much passion for anything as Jo March has for her writing. It makes the viewer yearn for the golden hues of childhood, and forces them to reflect on the ways that they have changed since their childhood ended and they were thrust into
the reality of adulthood. Gerwig has done something unique with this film, which is that she has modernized it without putting it in a modern setting. She has brought to the forefront the questions about a woman’s place in the world and ambition and change without removing the story from its original context. It’s the same ol’ “Little Women,” but there’s a new air of consciousness in it that arises from the questions that the girls deal with as they grow up. The film begins just after childhood has ended, and the audience is thrown into Jo March’s (Saoirse Ronan) life as a struggling writer living in New York City. The film primarily follows Jo’s path as Gerwig tells the story through two different timelines, one that follows the March sisters’ childhood, and one that follows the different paths each sister has taken in early adulthood. Gerwig tells this story beautifully,
weaving it together with different color palettes symbolizing where the audience is in time. In an interview with The New York Times, Gerwig explained her choices in colors, saying that she was inspired by paintings by Winslow Homer, Lilly Martin Spencer and Seymour Joseph Guy. She said that in childhood, “everything, whether it’s the sunlight or the firelight, feels golden.” When the sisters reach adulthood, however, the light turns white. “It’s not cold, but it’s less magical,” she said. Gerwig’s cast is brilliant. Ronan’s Jo is a modern yet still timeless adaptation, and Florence Pugh’s Amy is a wonderful sparring partner for Jo. As Amy grows up, however, Gerwig and Pugh allow the audience to fall in love with her. She is a realist, she is ambitious and she will accept nothing but the best. Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlan as Meg and Beth, respectively, offer soft, warm contrasts to Jo and Amy. Timothée
Chalamet is the quirky and youthful Laurie, and rounding out the cast are Laura Dern’s loving Marmee, Chris Cooper as the lonely Mr. Laurence and Meryl Streep as the cold Aunt March. The obvious chemistry of the cast is joyful to see, especially the relationships between the March girls and Laurie. Watching the young man fall in love with the sisters is heartwarming, and the friendship that the five share in childhood is beautiful. The layers in this film seem to be endless, and with each viewing, more and more revelations crawl out of the woodwork. The film warms and inspires viewers of any gender. It is not a movie that is just for women, but instead, there is something for everyone. In a film so full of love and heart, how could there not be?
Diverse nominations by BAFTA, Academy necessary to reflect film industry By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
Putting energy into awards shows tends to be an exhausting activity. We somehow end up rooting for our favorite films like we do our sports teams. Although that could be because the award shows are a representation of the health of the film industry. More and more, we are hoping for change in awards shows. Conservatives hate how preachy celebrities tell people how to live. Progressives hate the lack of diversity in nominations and subject matter. It seems like award shows can’t please anyone. So why do we put so much thought and anticipation into these shows? Over the past several years, awards shows have boomed, with over 24 million people watching the Oscars in 2014 and 18 million watching the 2019 Golden Globes. The culture around awards shows didn’t limit the streams of content to just the 20some awards, it was about the red carpet, the live performances, and even the host. In recent years, things have gone poorly for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The 2016 Oscars, celebrating the films from 2015, had the #OscarsSoWhite controversy running through it. That was a movement that helped shape the next few years of the Oscars. In 2017, “La La Land” During a stunning minute that felt like 3 hours, “La La Land” won best picture — and then didn’t. Everyone thought the Academy was going
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The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is under fire for all-white nominations. back to its ways. When Moonlight came through, a movie about a black gay teenager trying to grow up in the face of adversity, things felt like a win for diversity and the future of representation in film. But that didn’t end up being the case, or maybe it just hasn’t been long enough since to see significant change. Raffi Sarkissian, a professor of communication at Christopher Newport University says it might still be too early to tell. “It’s hard to sort of take the ‘Moonlight’ win as either a course corrective or an anomaly,” he said. The triumph of any single film will not be enough to completely reshape the industry. The lack of diversity tends to come from a lack of opportunity rather than an
assessment of quality. Female and minority directors don’t get the same level of attention or trust for their stories. The idea of a “traditional” best picture has a distinct look. Audiences are increasingly yearning for something fresh. So when the Oscar nominations come out today, there will undoubtedly be some upset people, especially with how the current best director race is looking. The Directors Guild Award nominees are all male, as well as the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs. There is frustration over what awards shows really owe to people, and maybe that anger is misplaced. “I usually distinguish when people talk about #OscarsSoWhite or people are talking about the BAFTAs, just general lack of di-
versity that they sort of taking it out on the institution itself like the organization itself,” Sarkissian said. The award shows aren’t fully the representation of how the industry looks. It is a little more random than people think. “I always sort of caution people into realizing that there are multiple different facets to these award shows and awards bodies,” Sarkissian said. “So the voters are not the ones that are running those organizations.” These organizations receive backlash and hostility when there are complaints over the lack of diversity. Yet we do know what the Academy voters tend to look alike. In June of 2018, the Academy invited more women and people of color to join the voting body. As of 2014, the Academy voters were 76 percent men and 94 percent white. After 2015 and 2016 saw all-white nominations in acting categories, a major outcry occurred. It just pays to cast people of color in movies. According to the 2019 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, films with casts that were from 31 to 40 percent filled with minorities had the highest median worldwide box office numbers as films with a majority-minority cast had the highest return on investment. With the industry starting to understand that increasingly diverse audiences want increasingly diverse content, the Oscars should change with it. Besides, it’s all a business.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 23
what’s FRESH
You, Season 2
PHOTO FROM IMDB
PHOTO FROM IMDB
Everyone’s favorite creep has returned to his old ways in “You” season two, this time in Los Angeles. Joe, now Will, is on the run after the events in Season One’s finale. He quickly finds a job and almost immediately finds a new object of his obsession — Love Quinn — but this time he’s determined to be a better person and put his past behind him, serial killing and all. LACEY LATCH | THE DEPAULIA
Cheer
Cheerleaders finally get a chance to show the difficulty of their sport with “Cheer,” a new docu-series on Netflix. Besides getting to see the incredible routines and workouts that these cheerleaders do, you get to take a look at the painful journeys that brought them to their school, Navarro College. Watch as they try to win the number one spot at the NCA College Nationals. KEIRA WINGATE | THE DEPAULIA
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COFFEE CAFES -TWO OF THE BEST FOR COFFEE, STUDYING, AND CONVERSATION! No matter what you call it, brain juice, caffeine fix, or just plain “joe”, coffee and college students go hand in hand. Over the years, there’s been some concern that drinking coffee is harmful, but we’re very pleased to report that when done in moderation, drinking coffee has its benefits! For instance, a group of Johns Hopkins researchers have found that caffeine contains properties that can enhance your memory. Not only long-term memory, but the study found that caffeine can also enhance your ability to retain certain memories for a least 24 hours post-consumption. Good thing too, because coffee cafes are extremely popular places for students to study and DePaul students are no exception. Two favorites are Philz Coffee and Hero Coffee Bar. Guided by a mission “to positively impact our communities one meaningful cup
at a time,” the owners of Hero, Michelle and Trey, aren’t only interested in selling you a great cup of coffee but through the sales of their Hero whole bean coffee, Hero barista art, and Hero store merchandise, $1 will be donated to local Chicago charities. Hero has five locations. If you’re interested in expanding your footprint a bit beyond Lincoln Park, the Hero in Lakeview is an ideal place to eat pastries and breakfast sandwiches; drink coffee, tea and hot chocolate and study. The doors open every day at 7 a.m. During the week they close at 5 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays they close at 6 p.m. The most popular drink is the Vanilla Latte and the most popular sandwich is The Usual Suspect made of bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel with cream cheese. The atmosphere is open and airy. Decorated with wrap around seating and long
wooden tables, the Hero in Lakeview is an excellent place to get your study on! Philz Coffee in Lincoln Park has bright yellow windbreaker panels at the entranceway, and a DePaul flag in the window which makes for an inviting spot. Once inside, you have the choice of sitting at window seats, sofas, or tables with cushioned wrap around seating. Displayed prominently on the wall, Phil’s Mission Made consists of three statements: 1. A tribute to the love, energy and authenticity found in San Francisco’s Mission District – our very first home. 2. A dedication to community and a warm and welcoming spirit for all 3. A belief that if you put people first, you cannot fail. The most popular breakfast sandwich is the avocado and egg toast, and the favorite pastry is the chocolate croissant.
The most requested coffee is the medium blend Tesora and when it comes to the iced coffee drinks, the Gingersnap is a fan favorite. Philz has a unique process, first, you get to pick your blend, the barista then grinds the beans so they’re fresh, and each cup is brewed one at a time-what a way to feel special while you’re studying! Last but least, when you need a study break, grab a board game like Battleship, Scrabble, Chess, Checkers and Backgammon, drink another cup of brain juice, and recharge! Philz is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
24 | Arts &Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
St.Vincent’s D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581” By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
Welcome back, Blue Demons! I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing break and is ready to read more of my ramblings on music. I know I am! In thinking about what the theme of the first DeJamz of the decade should be, only one came to mind: new beginnings. If anyone else had a horrendous 2019 and is hoping that the arbitrary changing of the year will bring happiness, here are some tunes to feed that pipe dream. 1. Start of Something New High School Musical My taste has not really evolved from the time I was a child (my favorite food is still chicken tenders), but I am who I am and I can’t be ashamed of that. High School Musical will always hold a special place in my heart and this song is a perfect open-
er to both the movie and the new decade. Even though the not-Zac Efron singing is a bit distracting, I can’t help but feel enthusiastic about new beginnings when listening to this number. 2. Drag Me Down - One Direction This was the first single released after Zayn Malik infamously left One Direction, which makes for a nice meta narrative about starting anew. This song makes for a good pump-up jam, with the pre-chorus building in intensity and energy each time around. Throw in a classic Harry Styles high note, and you have one inspiring “moving on” song. 3. Feelin’ Alright?- Joe Cocker This song begins with the words “Seems I got to have a change of scene.” If that doesn’t evoke the feeling of starting anew in the new year, I don’t know what does. This song is one of my all-time favorites, and the late Cocker gives what is
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possibly the best vocal performance of his career. When listening to this song, it’s impossible to not feel optimistic of what’s to come, even if the road there won’t be easy. 4. High Time - Kacey Musgraves It is at this point in my career where I out myself as an unabashed Kacey Musgraves stan. She performed this song as part of her 2019 Lollapalooza set, and while the crowd didn’t sound great singing the chorus, that doesn’t make it any less catchy. This song has an airy exuberance that makes you feel like everything will be ok, even if everything is decidedly not ok. Here’s to my yee-haw, positivity queen Kacey, bringing sunshine wherever she goes. 5. Pocketful of Sunshine Natasha Bedingfield One of the best songs of the 2000s, this song, in my interpretation, is all about leaving a bad situation and finding happiness. This song may be repetitive, but think of it
ACROSS 1. Cribbage piece 4. Clear the field 8. Real howler 12. “Golden” time 13. Between assignments 14. Atlas stat 15. Overhaul, as a website 17. Battle remnant 18. Casino game 19. Vampire bane 20. Aircraft prefix 23. Lock horns 25. Shouldered 27. Barber’s obstacle 28. Comic bit 31. Conundrum 33. First name in 60’s pop 35. Pro ___ (for now) 36. Computers burn them 38. From out of town 39. Bowler’s button 41. Diversion 42. Crow’s home 45. Decree ender 47. It takes the cake? 48. Some sacraments 52. Fortify for action 53. Biblical book 54. Beech relative 55. Charity of a sort 56. Hamper heap 57. Broker’s advice
more of a mantra than just the same lyrics over and over again. This song is a certified bop and always brings a smile to my face when it comes on.
DOWN 1. “As ___ your instructions” 2. Bard’s “before” 3. Travel aimlessly 4. Swell 5. Patsy’s “AbFab” pal 6. 2000 presidential candidate 7. Stock holder 8. Basket type 9. Sea predator 10. Pipe problem 11. Cab charge 16. ___ out a living 19. Less skeptical 20. Aid in crime 21. All’s opposite 22. Tinsel, e.g. 24. Mountain pass 26. Roast host 28. Mentor 29. “Oh, woe!” 30. 7-10, on the Beaufort Scale 32. Airtime filler 34. City on the Po 37. Nero’s tutor 39. Pulls apart 40. Salon treatments 42. Senate cover-up, once 43. Good competitor? 44. Short wave? 46. Band for Miss America 48. Boxer’s foot 49. Corn refuse 50. ___ de Cologne 51. It may be the limit
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 25
Close calls
Basketball teams on opposite end of tight games By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
The DePaul men’s basketball team hosted Providence on Jan. 4 in search of their first Big East win of the year, a game that saw the Blue Demons play a tight game with the Friars throughout the entire 40 minutes. But, like DePaul fans have become accustomed to, the Blue Demons committed a foul with 1.1 seconds to play, and Providence’s Nate Watson sank a free throw to give his team a 66-65 win. Just a day later, it was the women’s team turn to play their third conference game of the year – but unlike the men’s team, they went into their third game 2-0 in Big East play. After winning their first two conference games by a combined 31 points, the Blue Demons had a much closer game against Creighton on Jan. 5 that came down to senior guard Chante Stonewall’s gamewinning free throw. While there are plenty of differences between the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the biggest one, arguably, is one team’s ability to consistently win close games and the other team’s ability to find new ways to lose close games. That dynamic was on full display last weekend when the men came up short and the women’s team made two big plays against Creighton to stay unbeaten in conference play. “You win big games by executing the little things,” women’s basketball head coach Doug Bruno said. “All big games are won by the team that executes the most small details. So, it’s the smallest of the details that are executed the most that actually win the big games.” Since 2015, the women’s team is 34-18 in games decided by 10 points or fewer, and has gone 15-4 in those games since the start of last season. In the Big East Tournament championship game against Marquette last season, Stonewall delivered with a 3-point play with five seconds remaining to give the Blue Demons a 74-73 victory. “In our game against Syracuse [last season] in Cancun, I just got fouled [at the end of the game] and I had to make two free throws and I missed them both,” Stonewall said. “If I would have made those free throws, we could have won that game, so that was one of those disappointing moments. I never really blame myself, I just know that I’m going to have that chance again. I actually had that chance at the Marquette game and I was thinking, ‘Wow, in that big game against Syracuse I missed my free throws and here’s a chance for redemption time for me to make up for that.’ So, I was super happy making [the free throw] that earned us a Big East Championship.” At Creighton on Jan. 5, it was a Stonewall free throw that gave DePaul a 71-70 lead and then senior guard Kelly Campbell sealed the win with a steal on Creighton’s last possession. “Stepping up in the big moment seems like a big deal, but it’s really nothing more than the preparation and work when nobody is watching,” Bruno said. When you work when nobody is watching that allows you to step up in the big moment. We really work hard on teaching our players before every game to have anxiety over [the] execution, not anxiety over the result. Not worrying about the result, but having concern over the execution, you then execute the little things necessary to get the result. That’s what we
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul senior guard Jalen Coleman-Lands walks off the court after a 74-69 loss to Buffalo on Dec. 8 at Wintrust Arena.
Basketball stats Men’s
Women’s
Overall record: 12-3
13-2
Free throws 198-308 (64%) 157-203 (77%)
3-pointers 96-288 (33%)
169-487 (34%)
Assists
215
307
*Close games 26-38 34-18 *games that were decided
by 10 points or less since 2015
do from a coaching perspective, players still have to step up and make plays.” On the flip side, the men’s team is still searching for consistency in their game, even though they are off to their best start since 1986-87. But the issue that has been a problem under head coach Dave Leitao in prior years has plagued the Blue Demons early on in conference play: closing games. After the Providence loss, junior guard Charlie Moore used one word to describe what his team needs to do better in clutch moments. “Execution,” Moore said. “We can execute a whole lot better down the stretch.
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul sophomores Lexi Held, Sonya Morris and Jolene Daninger celebrate together after winning the Maggie-Dixon Classic on Nov. 23 at McGrath-Phiilips Arena. That’s something we have been talking about, that we know and something we are going to continue to get better at.” Since Leitao returned to Lincoln Park in 2015, his teams are 26-38 in games decided by 10 points or fewer. But the hope was with the increase in talent this season that the team would figure out how to win close games. and As the women’s team continues to win games and is on the path to making the NCAA Tournament for the 18th season in a row, the men’s team – who have put together an impressive non-conference resume – understand they have to improve their
late-game collapses in order to reach their ultimate goal - the NCAA Tournament. “You create your own good fortune and as I’ve always said, a one-point loss to Providence means I can go back and track 20-30 different things that can cause that we felt maybe shouldn’t have come down to that,” Leitao said. “But you want to be able to close out games and we’ve talked about that last year, and we got to make sure that we make the right plays, and most importantly [be] in the right frame of mind so we can make the right plays on offense and defense.”
26 | Sports. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020
Explosive, efficient offense defined the 2010s in sports By Charlie Bevins Contribuiting Writer
The 2010s gave way to drastic, complex changes in the world of professional sports. As teams got smarter, they were more willing to apply technological and analytical advancements to their sports. That has led to increased efficiency on offense and, in turn, higher numbers on offense. NFL passing numbers have increased steadily since 2005, when the league averaged 205.3 passing yards per game. Whereas league-wide passing averages sat at 221.6 yards per game in 2010, they have risen to 237.8 in 2018, at one point reaching as high as 243.8 in 2015. “It’s all about efficiency now,” said Chris Emma, who covers the Chicago Bears for 670 the Score. “The difference now from where it was 10 years ago is that coaches are smarter. They understand the why and the reasons behind offense now, behind statistics.” Several factors have contributed to this rise in passing, perhaps the most important being schematic innovations. Teams are less inclined to run the ball now, simply because a low-yardage payoff is so much less valuable than the possible payoff of a pass. “Coaches understand they’re best suited taking these six-plus yards per pass than the four-plus yards per rush,” Emma said. Teams have also gotten smarter and better at developing quarterbacks. The old model was for a quarterback to sit behind the starter for as long as possible while he learned the ins and outs of an extremely dense and complicated playbook. The idea, traditionally, was to mold a quarterback to fit a scheme. “More specifically, there are fewer reads,” Emma said of how teams’ schemes have changed. “Less time in the pocket, getting rid of the ball quickly. (When) you have a young quarterback, you want them to get that ball out of their hands in only a couple seconds or so.” The Washington Redskins were one of the first teams to fully embrace this approach when they drafted Robert Griffin III in the 2012 NFL Draft. Instead of forcing Griffin to change into something he’s not for the sake of “the system,” Washington embraced his unique skill set as both a runner and thrower, incorporating concepts from his previous playbook that made him one of the league’s most electrifying players until injuries derailed his career as a starter. “It’s fascinating to look back on that staff, especially that franchise that’s had so much dysfunction for years,” Emma said. “It was a brilliant coaching staff.” Comparing previous generations of quarterbacks to today’s is nearly impossible, as NFL single-season records have been shredded over the past decade. The top eight single-season passing yardage records were all set in the 2010s, with the highest being set by Peyton Manning in 2013 at 5,477. 12 quarterbacks finished 2018 with over 4,000 yards; only six did so 10 years earlier in 2008. NFL trends are cyclical, and defenses will sacrifice size for athleticism as more defenses work to counter modern aerial attacks. The Baltimore Ravens have zagged to a runheavy, big-bodied approach to offense, and they currently have the most efficient offense in the league by DVOA. However it plays out in the future, the 2010s were defined by offensive innovations that made way for historic passing performances. Baseball was revolutionized by the Oakland Athletics’ quest for maximizing value in the early 2000s. The subsequent release of Michael Lewis’s “Moneyball” popularized their approach to analytics and, since then, advanced metrics comprised of high quantities of data have become the driving force in team building. All the lessons from “Moneyball” have been learned and every MLB team has a
PHOTO COURTESY OF AP
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passes in the first half of the NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Vikings.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AP
Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic attempts to shoot as Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Jan. 6, 2020, in Dallas. high degree of analytics in their front offices. Today, teams value the home run more than anything. Because of a vast confluence of factors driven by technology and philosophy, home run numbers exploded in the decade, rising from 4,613 in 2010 to 6,776 in 2019. Teams collectively hit more home runs now, with the five highest single-season team home run records coming in the last two seasons alone. Kevin Powell, who covers the Chicago Cubs and White Sox for WGN Radio, attributes a great deal of it to technology. “I was covering Spring Training for the past four or five years now and, over the past couple years, I’ve started to see more and more of these cameras that they set up pitchers hitters in the cage,” he said. “They do it for the pitchers. But these are just more tools for them where, the ins and outs of all the technology, I’m not exactly sure. But the jist of it is that it’s a way for players to analyze their games. Swinging for the fences was once considered the wrong way to go about an
at-bat. A batter was often taught to swing for contact and avoid strikeouts at all costs. But as front offices realized just how valuable the long ball is, the possibility of striking out was less important, as all it took was one hard swing to put a run on the board. “People have just different philosophies now about strikeouts,” said Jon Greenberg, editor-in-chief at The Athletic Chicago. “And that’s something that’s really expanded, probably in the past 10 years – that strikeouts weren’t the worst thing in the world like people used to think they are. And that an out is an out is an out.” The ultimate driver behind home runs boils down to the value of it. Striking out while trying to crush the ball eventually becomes worth once contact is made. It’s a similar thought in the NBA, where teams have fully embraced the payoff of a threepointer as opposed to a mid-range jumpshot. “Teams often will sit there and say, ‘I will miss more shots, yet with the shot value being three over the value over two, in the long run, that lower percentage actually still outweighs
a two-point field goal attempt,’” said Phil Meyers, a professor at DePaul University and former 15-year analytical evaluator for Synergy Sports. “It’s a lot like if you compare it to baseball, where teams don’t mind striking out, giving them outs that way swinging for the fences.” The “three point revolution” has exploded scoring in basketball, with last season’s league average of 111.2 points per game being a near 11 percent increase since only the 2009-2010 season. The backbone of the Golden State Warriors’ five-year dynasty was their ability to take over any game with historic threepoint shooting from the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and, eventually, Kevin Durant. “The three-pointer, for many generations, was looked at as a bonus shot,” Meyers said. “This day and age, unless you’re like a traditional post-center, which we don’t see much of anymore, almost every single player in the NBA is expected to at least hit a wide-open three-pointer if presented the opportunity.” After the Miami Heat’s early decade reign ended, Golden State stepped into the fold and won in a very different way; instead of acquiring superstar talent as Miami did when they signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh, they turned to spacing the floor and hitting threes at a high clip with players already in their system, a model they sustained when acquiring Durant. “You either try to emulate the team and do it better than they do,” Meyers said, “or you counteract that team, whoever the champion or contenders are at that time, and defeat them that way. So it’s emulate or counteract. And that’s what the ebbs and flow of sports are.” So far, teams have tried to emulate. Total three-point attempts have increased every season since 2012, growing from 49,067 in 2012-2013 to 78,742 this past season. Perhaps teams may counteract by going big in size, as the 76ers did to an extent this offseason, but it appears a return of “the old ways” may still be far away. The decade in sports was defined by offense, and access to information and increasing openness to analytically driven philosophies should push this trend further. Eventually, a correction will come, but it may take a while. But, maybe further innovation will push these offensive numbers beyond what we thought was possible.
Sports. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020 | 27 ST. JOHN’S, continued from back page
Blue Demons shot 16-of-27 from the free throw line, while the Red Storm went 18-of-26. But the free throw shooting issue for the Blue Demons reared its ugly head near the end of the game when senior guard Jalen Coleman-Lands went from 1-of-3 from the charity stripe with 41 seconds to play and his team down 71-66. Coleman-Lands got fouled when he went up for a 3-point shot, but the senior was unable to make it a one-possession game. While the end of the game didn’t go the Blue Demons’ way, they got off to a good start in the first half, taking a 13-7 lead inside the first six minutes of the game. Following a St. John’s timeout, the Red Storm started to knock down shots and tied the game at 18 at the halfway point of the first half. St. John’s, who came into the game forcing the most turnovers in the Big East, used their unique pressing style of defense to their advantage, as the Blue Demons committed 10 turnovers in the first half, which lead to seven points for the home team. While the Red Storm are known for their solid defense, they are also known for their poor 3-point shooting this season. They rank last in the Big East in that department, shooting just over 28 percent from behind the arc. DePaul and head coach Dave Leitao clearly didn’t get that memo during their week off to prepare for Saturday’s game because St. John’s went 5-of-10 from the 3-point line in the first half. With strong 3-point shooting, the Red Storm making 15 shots on 15 assists and DePaul’s inability to hold onto the ball, St. John’s took a 39-34 lead into the break. Even after Leitao got 15 minutes to speak to his team and get a reaction from them, it was St. John’s who came out with more energy to begin the second half. The Red Storm scored the first seven points of the half, while it took the Blue Demons nearly three minutes of action to score their first point. Junior forward Jaylen Butz was the only reliable player on offense for DePaul, knocking down all six of his shots to lead the Blue Demons in scoring with 17. But free throw shooting was also a problem for him, as Butz made only 5-of-9. St. John’s would build their lead to 12 points a couple of times in the second half, but they made sure to keep a comfortable distance between themselves and DePaul in the final 20 minutes. The Red Storm were led by Rasheem Dunn, who scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists. DePaul had multiple chances to make it a one-possession game in the second half, but misses by Coleman-Lands and Moore – who finished with 14 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds – near the end of the game prevented the Blue Demons from closing the gap. The last chance came for Reed when he attempted a 3-pointer down 73-67 with 31 seconds to play, but he wasn’t able to get the shot to go. The Blue Demons will get two days to prepare for their next test when they travel to Philadelphia to take on No. 16 Villanova. After the Blue Demons play the Wildcats, they will return home to host No. 6 Butler on Jan. 18 at Wintrust Arena.
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul head coach Doug Bruno cuts down the nets after winning the Big East Championship title last season at Wintrust Arena.
BRUNO, continued from front page basketball game on U.S. soil. The Chicago native later returned home and spent eight years as an associate head coach with the Loyola men’s team. Finally, after ten years apart, he found himself back at DePaul coaching the women’s basketball team in the 1988 season. 32 years later, Bruno has lead the Blue Demons to 24 NCAA tournament appearances, including 17 straight. During his time at DePaul, he’s racked up over 700 wins and numerous conference championships. Through all of his accomplishments, Bruno credits the people around him for helping him do his job. After winning his 700th game against Northwestern on Dec. 1, Bruno was not ready to take any credit. “First of all, the wins are always about the players,” he said. “The players win the games, and I’ve been blessed with great players through the years. I have been blessed with great assistant coaches, and I’ve been blessed with great administration. So, that’s really why we win basketball games here at DePaul women’s basketball.” One of his former players has stuck with him for his whole career. Current Athletic Director Jean Lenti-Ponsetto was the captain of Bruno’s first team, and a colleague and friend over the past few decades.
“It’s been an incredible journey watching the growth of our women’s basketball program under his leadership,” Lenti-Ponsetto said. Bruno’s coaching style has been quite unique to him his whole career. He has been using the 3-point line way before analytics made it the norm in basketball. “He is a teacher by trade,” Lenti-Ponsetto said. “He really understands people’s learning styles. And I think that separates him from a lot of other coaches because not only is he a terrific motivator, but I think he really gets inside the nuts and bolts of how people learn and then he instructs accordingly.” His players respond to his style very well. When asked about their favorite “Brunoisms,” players’ faces lit up, eager to talk about their coach’s sayings. “He always says, wake up in the morning with a smile,” senior forward Chante Stonewall said. “Show the world you’re beautiful. Thank God for an opportunity to play another day.” He also influences on the court, as seen by the continued success of the team. Sophomore guard Lexi Held is only just into her second season at DePaul, but she’s fit in seamlessly. “He challenges us to stay in the moment and I think that’s important,” Held said. It isn’t just about making his players better on the court, it’s also about helping them through life. “Just competing in everything
you do, so whether it’s on the [court] or in the classroom, [he preaches] striving for excellence in whatever you do,” senior guard Kelly Campbell said. Bruno has always been about playersfirst. “It’s more than just basketball when you play for coach Bruno,” former player and current video coordinator Jacqui Grant said. “He would just give you a lot of confidence.” Coaching a team for this long is a lifelong mission and dedication that not many people are built for. Bruno’s son Bradley is the current Director of Basketball Operations and he’s known about that commitment his whole life. “This is my fourth season so after seeing how much time and effort goes into getting one recruit and winning one game and he’s been doing it for 35 plus years now,” he said. The idea of the hall of fame isn’t too daunting to Bruno. His process-oriented approach to coaching keeps the team in the moment. “A Hall of Fame doesn’t exist without players,” he said after their game against Seton Hall on Friday night. “It’s always about captains, leadership and seniors. It’s about the players. We try to stay in the moment, coach game by game, minute by minute, day by day and then years pass and all of a sudden numbers accumulate.”
BIG EAST, continued from back page Deja Church would regain the lead for DePaul on two free throws with three minutes left. DePaul had just two fouls compared to St. John’s eight over the first seven minutes of the final quarter. “Our biggest focus is always defense and defensive rebounding so we just made it a big emphasis to have each other’s backs, being on the helpline, being in the gap, and building a literal wall so they can’t keep driving past us and get to the free-throw line,” Morris said. Church struck again late in the game as her driving layup gave DePaul a 69-64 lead with 54.2 seconds remaining. As St. John’s turned to fouling, DePaul was forced to hit free throws. “I think things are slowly coming to me,” Church said. “Obviously, I had a slow start and then I went down with an ankle injury, but I mean every day my coaches and my teammates they’ve been consistent and shown that they have confidence in me.” Campbell would hit two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to seal the win at 74-69. The Blue Demons came back to outscore St. John’s 27-19 in the fourth quarter“Thinking about every practice, you can’t get worse in practice,” Stonewall said. “So we just keep pushing through and know
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul sophomore guard Lexi Held drives to the basket in the first half against St. John’s on Sunday at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Held finished the game with 10 points. that there is a reward at the end of the game.” St. John’s pressed the Blue Demons for most of the game. Although it’s a style that players are familiar with, it doesn’t take away from how difficult it can be to
play against it. “We still handled it, we managed it,” Bruno said. “I don’t think we looked real pretty doing it, but we still managed it and handled it.”
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Jan. 13, 2020| 28
Clear skies ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul senior guard Chante Stonewall fights for a loose ball in the second half against St. John’s in their game on Sunday at McGrath-Phillips Arena, DePaul won 74-69.
Women push past Red Storm, stay perfect in Big East By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
The DePaul women’s basketball team looked to continue on the strong start to Big East play with speedy St. John’s coming into town on Sunday. After a poor second and third offensive quarter, the Blue Demons poured it on late in the fourth to nab a 74-69 win. Everybody was feeling it early in the first half as the teams started 6-for-8 from deep as the two Big East favorites went shot-for-shot in the opening quarter. Yet a quick run had DePaul in early control up 24-15 with just
over a minute remaining. DePaul closed the opening quarter on a 9-0 run over a four-minute stretch capped off by Dee Bekelja on a second-chance layup. 12 points in the paint padded by a 14-7 rebounding advantage to go with the success from deep put the Blue Demons up 26-15 after ten minutes. That cushion would serve well for DePaul as they started 1-for-6 from the field in the second quarter. Head Coach Doug Bruno called a timeout to stop a 6-0 run for St. John’s, which was fueled by Alissa Alston and Alisha Kebbe. After the timeout, St. John’s struck again
to cut it to 28-24. A few bad possessions from DePaul, and St. John’s cut it back down to 3331. Alston and Leilani Correa had 17 points combined in the second quarter to pace a St. John’s guard-heavy attack. For DePaul, Sonya Morris had 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The Blue Demons would go into the break with a 40-34 lead. After five minutes, both teams had just four points in the third quarter before St. John’s pulled the game within four at 44-40 with four minutes to go. Over a minute later, it was just a one point game. Alissa Alston would hit a three to make
it a 50-47 and give St. John’s the lead. DePaul did not score a field goal over the last 6:44 and were 2-of-13 in the third quarter. Qadasha Hoppie hit a three to open up the fourth quarter to pad the advantage, but two free throws from Lexi Held kept DePaul within one score. Three minutes later, Stonewall would tie the game on two freethrows. DePaul has forced teams to over 20 turnovers in each of their first four Big East games yet St. John’s only committed ten turnovers in the game.
See BIG EAST, page 27
Poor free-throw shooting dooms men’s basketball against St. John’s By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
After nearly two weeks of Big East play, only two teams were left winless in conference play: St. John’s and DePaul. Those two teams, who were picked to finish at the bottom of the conference before the season started, squared off on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. With both teams in desperate need of a conference win, it was St. John’s who emerged with a 74-67 victory to pick up their first Big East victory of the season. DePaul, on the other hand, is now left as the only team in the Big East with no conference wins after three games, and drops to 12-4 overall on the season. Moments after the loss to St. John’s, junior forward Paul Reed expressed his frustration with the game by tweeting out, “God please help me.” He also retweeted a couple of tweets from fans that expressed annoyance with Reed’s diminished playing time, even though the forward wasn’t in foul trouble and had no apparent injuries. “[Reed] has only played 20 minutes today,” read one of the tweets Reed
PHOTO COURTESY OF WENDELL CRUZ
St. John’s sophomore guard Greg Williams Jr. drives past DePaul junior forward Paul Reed in their game on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. retweeted. “He’s not hurt because he’s been back in the second half. Who knows? [Head coach Dave] Leitao is a bad coach.” Reed also retweeted two tweets that
talked about him getting fewer shots than he’s accustomed to getting, and why the offense isn’t revolving around him. Coming into Saturday’s game, Reed led DePaul in scoring with 16.1 points
per game, after only scoring four points against St. John’s – his lowest amount this season – his per game average dropped to 15.4, and is now behind junior guard Charlie Moore in that department. “How does Paul Reed have two points [and] four shot attempts and he’s not in foul trouble,” said another tweet Reed retweeted. “How does the offense not revolve around getting him the ball?” “This team was unprepared today, plain and simple. Can someone tell me why we don’t run plays for Paul Reed? Just curious.” Reed later took down those retweets and likes from his Twitter page, and posted an apology for his actions. “I would like to apologize to my teammates and coaches,” Reed said on his Twitter. “My performance and character today was very immature and I promise it won’t happen again.” DePaul came into Saturday’s game against St. John’s as the worst free throw shooting team in the Big East at just over 64 percent, and that proved to be the storyline against the Red Storm. The
See ST. JOHN’S, page 27