The sun disappeared for 10 days at the beginning of the year, yet most people didn’t notice until it finally returned. Read about the phenomenon in Focus, pages 14-15.
DePaulia
The
Volume #104 | Issue #15 | Feb. 17, 2020 | depauliaonline.com
Enrollment doesn’t reflect environment
Analysis:
2019 Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act Report
By Mackenzie Murtaugh News Editor
By Ella Lee Arts & Life Editor
When Jasmine Boubas was a freshman at DePaul, she and a group of friends were followed and verbally harassed by a group of male students while walking back to their dorms from a party. “It was uncomfortable and quite scary witnessing such aggressiveness from a large group of boys,” she said. Reports of stalking, made by or about DePaul students to the Title IX coordinator, have been on the rise for the past three years, according to the annual Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act report. Eleven reports of stalking were made in 2016. In the most recent report, released in 2019, 26 reports were made. Most of these reports were filed directly with DePaul’s Title IX Coordinator. Only seven have been made anonymously since DePaul began aggregating the information for the 2017 report, which details reports made in 2016.
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
Jake Bolger looks up in the locker room during the second intermission against the Concordia Falcons on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. DePaul’s hockey team traveled to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin for the Northern Collegiate Hockey League playoffs, where their chances were cut short with a 4-1 loss in the quarterfinals.
See ANALYSIS, page 4
Down and out
Paula Bluff, the interim vice president of enrollment management, makes a simple yet telling statement on the first page of 2019’s Enrollment Summary, released last week. “Strong student outcomes were not enough to offset an overall decrease in continuing undergraduates,” she said. In the autumn quarter of 2019, DePaul’s undergraduate enrollment totaled 14,214, according to the summary. The university is experiencing a slow decline in undergraduate enrollment, as Bluff put candidly. In the summary, Bluff does note that DePaul is not alone in this decline. In a report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, a nonprofit higher-education research organization, national enrollment in universities and colleges declined by 1.7 percent, approximately 300,000 students, within the last year. The summary compares the enrolled undergraduates from this year, 14,214, to last year’s 14,507, a 2.1 percent drop in enrollment. DePaul stands at only slightly above the average decline in enrollment as compared with other universities nationwide. The data that the summary highlights is the size of this
See ENROLLMENT, page 7
From red hot to ice cold, this season is officially dead By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
Commentary DePaul’s season has officially hit rock bottom. The Blue Demons were on life support heading into Saturday’s game against Creighton at the Chi Health Center. After a 40-minute beatdown, the Bluejays pulled the plug on DePaul’s miserable conference season. It’s over. It’s done. The Blue Demons had a week to prepare for their game against No. 23 Creighton, and the performance they put on the court was flat out embarrassing with the end result being 93-64, the third worst loss of Dave Leitao’s second tenure. DePaul’s slim NCAA and NIT hopes were hanging on by a thread entering Saturday’s game, so the reasonable expectation was they would take every remaining game as a must-win. Instead, the Blue Demons looked disinterested and
unprepared from the tip and, as a result, got handed a humiliating defeat against a team that looked like they were playing for its season. Creighton, on the other hand, played like a team possessed and took a 4228 halftime lead and turned that into a 25-point lead two minutes into the second half. Their coach, Greg McDermott, had his team ready and fired up to face the Blue Demons, a game the Bluejays went into as a nine-point favorite. Leitao, on the other hand, looked lost and a coach who has ran out of answers in a season that has taken a turn for the worst. His star junior forward, Paul Reed, came out flat and with not a lot of energy in the first half, scoring no points and only playing nine minutes. Reed finished the game with only three points in 12 minutes of action, both season lows for the Florida native. The rest of the team, besides Romeo Weems and Charlie Moore, seemed like they have tuned out their head coach
See BASKETBALL, page 27
NATI HARNIK | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oscar Lopez Jr. watches Creighton’s Ty-Shon Alexander celebrate a dunk on Feb. 15, 2020.
2 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 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
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News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 3
Will Quigley get burned? DePaul graduate challenges the powerful 5th district representative By Brita Hunegs Staff Writer
The fight to represent Chicago’s 5th district in Congress mimics other contests happening at the local and national level. It entails a young, liberal newcomer running against a more moderate incumbent, who hasn’t faced any real opposition in a while and comes equipped with the backing of the establishment to bolster them. Think, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vs. Joe Crowley. Enter Brian Burns. Burns, who graduated with a degree in political science from DePaul in 2009, is challenging five-term incumbent Mike Quigley. Quigley represents Chicago’s 5th district, which encompasses northern neighborhoods, including parts of Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Uptown and Rogers Park. He was first elected in 2009, during a special election, when Rahm Emanuel left the position to be President Obama’s Chief of Staff. Quigley is widely seen as a staunch liberal. In 2017, GovTrack ranked him as the 44th most liberal representative in the House. Burns, however, doesn’t think he goes far enough and has taken up the mantle to replace him. “We can’t have ten more years of the same,” Burns said. Born and raised in Lakeview, the 31-year-old has spent practically his whole life in the district, he’s even voted for Quigley in past elections. But he thinks time has come for a change. He said he always saw himself getting into politics, but didn’t expect it would happen so soon. However, he was inspired by the wave of political novice’s that ran, and won, House seats in the 2018 midterms. After graduating with a degree in political science from DePaul, Burns began law school at The University of Memphis in Tennessee. In the aftermath of the police shooting of Mike Brown in 2014, Burns decided to take a bus to St. Louis, where the Black Lives Matter movement was gaining traction, and learned more about the activism building there. Inspired by their efforts for better police accountability, Burns worked with City Council to draft similar reforms for the police force in Memphis. He helped do research for an ordinance that infused more civilian oversight and investigative authority into the adjudication process for alleged police misconduct. This accomplishment helped fuel his desire to be a legislator. “It’s a good feeling, knowing that you pushed the envelope somewhere,” he said. After law school, he worked as a law
clerk at the Federal Election Commission and Ankura Consulting before moving back to Chicago where he’s been in-house counsel at Pangea Money Transfer since March of 2018. Not completely satisfied working in finance, he saw his opportunity to continue morphing his worldview into law when he realized how disillusioned he was with Rep. Quigley’s performance. “I really do feel a sense of urgency,” Burns said. “I looked around, and nobody was doing what I thought needed to be done. So I decided to do it myself.” A Democrat has a 99.9% chance of winning in IL-5, according to FiveThirtyEight, and the way Burns sees it, this safe majority means the representative should give whoever represents it the leverage to push a more liberal agenda and let the swing districts focus on the middle ground. “What he’ll [Quigley] say is we need to be practical. My thinking is we need somebody who’s pushing on the edges,” Burns said. Rep. Quigley’s campaign did not respond to The DePaulia’s request for an interview. Quigley was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1998. During his tenure, he had a reputation as a reformer, but Burns thinks Chicago’s Democratic machine politics are part of Quigley. “He’s been in there for 10 years and one of the most powerful positions. It’s still the same Democratic Party,” Burns said. Burns hasn’t had any contact with his opponent, other than a joint interview with the Sun-Times to vet who the newspaper would endorse. The paper ultimately backed Quigley. Burns says he wasn’t surprised at the decision. Burns is a proponent of “Democracy 3.0” where constituents don’t just vote for representatives, but have a direct vote on federal policies as well. “Government is the biggest, most powerful tool in humanity’s arsenal for organizing people and and protecting people’s freedoms,” Burns said. “We need to start thinking about how we restructure our tool to make sure that it’s doing that.” In the meantime, Burns said as congressman, he’d ask for direct input from his constituents on legislation. Right now politicians focus too much on how to appease voters to get re-elected, he said, but not how they should actually govern. “There’s a difference between taking polls if you’re just doing it to try to get a vote or if you’re actually trying to explain what’s happening and get genuine feedback,” he said.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRIAN BURNS
Brian Burns is a DePaul graduate who is running for U.S. Congress.
“I really do feel a sense of urgency. I looked around, and nobody was doing what I thought needed to be done.”
Brian Burns
Candidate for 5th Congressional District Representative In September, Burns faced criticism when a tweet of his from 201l surfaced, in which he made degrading comments about lesbians. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, an openly gay woman herself, called Burns out tweeting, “And this actual dyke is here to piss all over your chances of ever becoming a member of Congress. You know, to make an example of people who think Trump-y comments like this are okay.” Burns has since apologized for the tweet, writing, “It was a thoughtless and poor attempt at humor — I’m sorry for tweeting it and I’m sorry for any pain or anger it caused.” Burns is clearly the underdog in this race. Quigley has been re-elected four times, with huge margins. According to the Federal Election Commission, Quigley has raised $607,476, over 100 times more money than Burns, who has raised just $5,896. “It’s not easy going up against the machine, but it is something worth doing and that’s very fulfilling.” Burns is largely running a grassroots operation of other political newcomers. His campaign manager is a friend from growing up and his mom, sister and friends have been pitching in their time to help canvass and get Brian’s name out there. Burns is aware that he faces an uphill battle he faces. However, he believes once
people, especially young people and students, hear his ideas, they’ll cast their votes for him. He’s been doorknocking in the district, and says he’s had a good reaction when he introduces himself and his platform. “People are usually pretty excited about having an option,” he said. “The hard part is not convincing them that my ideas are better. The hard part is getting the message to them in the first place.” Burns’ platform of attempting to usurp longtime incumbents isn’t unique in Chicago this primary season. Veteran congressmen, Danny Davis (D-7) and Bobby Rush (D-1), are facing challenges from a slew of younger and largely politically inexperienced competitors. “People need to be more aware of how important the primaries are. This is your chance to choose. Choose the policies that are going to be best for you and to choose somebody who’s going to be living with you in this future and figuring out this future that we want to build” Burns said. “I’m really excited about all the outsiders running and about people that the system is typically ignored or not allowed an entry to.” To register to vote in the Illinois primary, you can visit the Illinois Online Voter Registration. https://ova.elections.il.gov.
4 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 ANALYSIS continued from front It’s unclear whether the rise in stalkings reported indicates a rise in occurrence or in reporting. Kathryn Statz, the new director of gender equity, could not be reached for comment in time for this story. Each year, DePaul is required to report information regarding reports of stalking, sexual violence and domestic/dating violence to the state in compliance with the Preventing Sexual Violence in the Higher Education Act. Those numbers are released each November and have been made public on DePaul’s website since 2017, when it first became required to aggregate the reports. Domestic and dating violence reports appear to be declining, though very slightly. In 2016, there were 57 reports made, both to the Title IX coordinator and through confidential channels – the most recent report shows 52. The trend of sexual violence reports on campus is unclear, primarily due to a significant spike in reports in 2017. While 105 reports were made in 2016 and 93 in 2018, there were 274 reports made in 2017. The spike — amounting to a 548.5 percent increase in confidential reports of sexual violence alone — was reported by The DePaulia last year. When asked what accounts for this large jump in numbers, former Title IX coordinator Jessica Landis, who left the university in May 2018, said that the office was able to “find some additional information from University Counseling Services, which is one of our confidential resources.” She was not able to confirm how that information was found. A small number of reports made end up being investigated, in all the listed categories. Of the 93 reports of sexual violence made in 2018, only seven investigations took place. DePaul lists lack of response from com-
plainants, reports about individuals unaffiliated with the university and requests not to proceed with an investigation as reasons why an investigation might not take place. Five individuals requested not to move forward with an investigation. Other information the report details includes the number of investigations, referrals to law enforcement, Student Conduct Process matters, sanctions and requests not to proceed. Most agree that on campus grounds, DePaul is fairly safe. “As a woman, I never feel safe at night,”
said Anne Arnold, a DePaul senior. “But on campus, I generally feel a little bit safer because there are populated buildings with security guards.” Still, some say that DePaul can do better to protect students. “I have had friends, freshman year, roofied [who] came back to the dorms nearly unconscious, and security did nothing to help,” Arnold said. “I think having more security walking around rather than just sitting in cars would make campus feel safer,” said Frankie Plurd, a DePaul freshman.
DePaul could not be reached for comment in time for this story. Like DePaul often promotes, the school’s campus is largely integrated into Chicago. Part of that is accepting that some of the city’s crime may seep onto campus. “Because we’re in an urban environment, I think there is a higher risk for situations that test the safety of DePaul, and therefore, it should be a top priority of the school to make sure students feel safe,” Arnold said.
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News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 5
Groups push for equal representation in census By Brita Hunegs Staff Writer
Every 10 years, U.S. residents get counted in the census. But it is not equally easy for all people to be included, and students are one of the most underrepresented. From April 1 to July 31, Chicagoans have their chance to be counted in the 2020 Census. Until May, residents can respond via mail, or for the first time, by phone or online. Mayor Lori Lightfoot says getting an accurate count of Chicagoans in the 2020 Census is critical to the financial wellbeing of the city. “Ten years ago, Chicago had a really abysmal rate of only 66 percent of our residents getting counted,” Lightfoot told The DePaulia. “That means we lost revenue for each person that wasn’t counted, each year for 10 years.” To make sure the number of people counted is higher in the upcoming 2020 Census, Lightfoot has committed $2.7 million to aid in reaching hard-to-count communities. Hard-to-count (HTC) communities are defined as being impeded from “full and representative inclusion in the data collection process,” according to the Census Bureau. There are a range of reasons a community might be considered hard-tocount. Those experiencing housing insecurity, children under five, communities of color and immigrants may all have difficulty being included in the tally. The consequences of an undercount range anywhere from insufficient allocation of federal funds to inaccurate representation in congress. According to Pew Research, another hard-to-count population is college students. It is standard for housing departments of universities across the country to work with a Bureau employee to ensure that paper questionnaires are distributed in residence halls. At DePaul, students living in resident halls will be given census forms to fill out, but the Bureau will rely on the university to report the number of students living on campus. Additionally, there is confusion surrounding how DePaul plans to work with the Bureau to relay the data. Jim Motzer, an advisor and professor at DePaul, has been
in contact with Bureau representatives. Since November, he’s been searching for the answer to how DePaul plans to distribute the census to students living in on-campus housing. Motzer reached out to the 2020 Chicago Region Census Coordinator for Group Quarters, Shamiram William Youkhanna. The Census Group Quarters team is responsible for counting students living in dorms and other Group Quarters situations such as nursing homes and prisons. Shamiram told Motzer that a letter went out on January 14 from Group Quarters to DePaul asking the school to choose one of five options for counting DePaul students living in dorms. Motzer then reached out to Quiana Stone, the associate director for Residential Education. The Housing Operations staff has historically worked with the Census. “I checked in with Quiana and she had not received the letter. Quiana said she would notify me when she received the letter or was contacted by the Census. I haven’t heard from Quiana,” Motzer said in an email. He doesn’t think anything negligent was going on, but he predicts there has been a lapse in updated contact information. According to Motzer, the Census Group Quarters team said the letter went out on schedule, but they didn’t know who it was addressed to. They said if they didn’t hear back by Feb. 3, they would do a follow-up call. Unlike other populations that can respond via phone or online, students living on campus can only fill out the paper census, making DePaul’s comprehensive distribution of it all the more important. There are five ways that the Group Quarters process can take place, and in this case, how a university can share data on its students that live on-campus. They can use an electronic response that transfers student data into the Census system, a paper response that the university submits to the Bureau, a door-to-door interview of each student, the drop off and pick up of paper questionnaires, or a count by the staff of the university who have been trained by the Bureau. According to Motzer, Stone informed him that DePaul will provide electronic in-
GRAPHIC MADE WITH CANVA
formation about students living in dorms. Alongside this, select Public Relations students at DePaul are participating in a competition aimed at rectifying the undercount of students. The Census Bureau partnered with the Public Relations Student Society of America, and chapters at schools throughout the country are creating campaigns to promote census awareness for students and renters. Junior Natalie Rohman is one of the students participating in the competition. Her team’s campaign “Love Where You
The news in brief
TedXDePaul 2020 speakers announced DePaul’s fifth-straight annual TEDx event will be held on Friday, April 24 titled, “The Unexpected,” exploring “how some of life’s most important lessons are the ones that were unforeseen,” the university announced last week. The nine speakers, who the university describes as activists, risk takers, community leaders and champions of the arts, diplomacy and human kindness, will be: Will Barefield, assistant director of undergraduate admissions and graduate student in the College of Computing and Digital Media. Jacqueline Kelly-McHale, faculty member in the School of Music. Jamal McPherson, graduate student in the School of Public Service. Coya Paz, faculty member in The
Theatre School. Priyanka Podjale, undergraduate student in the College of Communication. James Sherman, faculty member in The Theatre School. Steve Stoute, chief of staff for the Office of the President. Ceni de la Torre, ministry coordinator for the Catholic Campus Ministry and 2014 graduate of the College of Communication. David Wellman, director of the Grace School of Applied Diplomacy. Tickets for TEDxDePaulUniversity are $10 for students and $15 for all other attendees and can be purchased on Eventbrite. A 20 percent discount is available until Feb. 25 with code TEDXDPU20.
Count” is aiming to increase participation from DePaul students that live off campus by focusing on appreciation for Chicago and education about how the census affects students’ daily lives. They’ll be hosting events throughout February and March to raise awareness. “People need to know that your count matters in terms of funding and where that’s allocated to,” Rohman said. “It determines where federal Pell Grants go to fund scholarships. I’d think college students would want to know about that.”
By Bianca Cseke
Red and Purple Line Modernization continues Three Red Line stops on the North Side have been closed for the past few weeks because of the CTA’s Red and Purple Line Modernization project. The Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville stops are closed on weekends to allow for preparatory track work, which includes building new track interlockings near Thorndale on the north end of the project area and by Montrose on the southern end, CTA spokesperson Tammy Chase said. The work is necessary to be able to go from running trains on two tracks to four. Work is being done throughout the days when the stations are closed and shuttle buses are running between affected stations. The Bryn Mawr, Berwyn, Argyle and Lawrence Red Line stations will
eventually be rebuilt so they’ll be larger, 100 percent accessible and have a new track structure. In the future, work will be done around the Belmont Red and Brown Line stop, which will involve building a rail bypass so Red and Brown line trains so not have to wait for each other to pass, the CTA said. “We’ve added as many trains as we can,” Chase said. “[...] We have a lot of delays that have a ripple effect.” “Right now, the CTA is still building the bypass, so the Belmont stop hasn’t been affected yet, but future work will require some reroutes and delays,” Chase said. She recommends riders sign up for email alerts to learn about service changes.
6| News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
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News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 7
Pritzker proposes Illinois to go first in primary By Patsy Newitt Asst. News Editor
With Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker, Julián Castro and Andrew Yang dropping out of the Democratic primary, the race has become almost exclusively white; led by Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, followed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Joe Biden. This lack of diversity in candidates is coupled with critiques of Iowa and New Hampshire’s early influence despite their disproportionately white populations that don’t reflect the demographics of the rest of the United States. These concerns in mind, Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to make a bid that Illinois, rather than Iowa, should go first in the primary process. “If you’re looking for a state whose people represent the diversity of America, look no further than Illinois,” Pritzker said in a tweet. “It’s time for the most representative state in the country to be the first in the nation.” In the tweet, he linked an NPR article that cited Illinois as the overall winner in their “Perfect State Index” that took race, age, income and education into account in comparison to U.S. averages. Pritzker continued at a press conference last week in Springfield, citing Illinois’s comprehensive diversity as the driving justification. “This state is a diverse state in so many ways, in ways that Iowa and New Hampshire are not,” Pritzker said, going on to reference Illinois’s mix of rural, urban and suburban areas as well as the racial demographics. This push comes after the rocky release of results and technical difficulties at Iowa caucuses as well as weeks of blunders by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office in their implementation of automatic voting registration – accidentally registering noncitizens and citizens under 18 years of age. Despite this, Pritzker thinks Illinois is the best state to be first. “We represent every aspect of the United States in Illinois,” Pritzker said, “and I think it’s appropriate of us to put
ENROLLMENT continued from front year’s freshman class. The university welcomed 2,627 new freshman in autumn 2019, making it the largest freshman class in DePaul’s history. The College of Digital Media gained the most freshman with a 17.7 percent increase in enrollment. Schools that also saw an increase were the College of Science & Health, College of Communication and the Theatre School. The Business School, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, College of Education and the Music School saw small decreases in enrollment. DePaul’s mission statement says that the university aims to “foster in higher education a deep respect for the Godgiven of all persons.” The university promotes diversity on its urban campus, as Chicago is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country. This figure does not account for the city’s potential segregation and displacement of communities due to gentrification. DePaul’s diversity figures present a different representation of diversity on
ourselves first in the nation. If you can win in a state like this then you’re worthy of being the nominee of your party.” Iowa is 90.7 percent white, 4 percent black or African American and 6.2 percent Hispanic or Latinx, compared to the U.S.’ 76.5 percent, 13.4 percent and 18.3 percent respectively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Illinois is 76.9 percent white, 14.6 percent black or African American and 17.4 percent Hispanic or Latinx. New Hampshire, second in the primary process, is 93.2 percent white, 1.7 percent black or African American and 3.9 percent Hispanic or Latinx. “Illinois’ racial demographics are much more closely representative to the demographics of the larger country,” said Annie Scoltack, a junior sociology major at DePaul. “Also, Illinois has almost four times the population of Iowa so I think it is definitely a more reasonable representation of the Midwest as compared to Iowa.” “To be frank, there are more black and brown people in Illinois,” she added, “So it’s more representative.” Going first in the primary isn’t the end-all-be-all of determining the Democratic nomination, but it’s important. The order of the primary doesn’t change the number of delegates a state gets in the national convention, but it can give momentum. “The hope is that the winner in your state, if first or early, influences the states that come afterwards,” said Craig Sutter, part time professor in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies who also creates television and radio campaigns for political candidates. This is often true. Only one candidate who’s placed lower than third in the Iowa caucuses has gone on to win the Democratic nomination. Sautter doesn’t think Iowa is going to give up their place freely and New Hampshire will likely keep their place as the first primary vote, despite being even wealthier and whiter than Iowa. “It is still popular with candidates, because it is small enough to get out and meet voters face-to-face,” he said, “and it is on the East Coast, easily available to
campus in a similar way to the city of Chicago. In 2019, people of color’s enrollment increased by 144 students, with 8,854 as compared to 2018’s 8,710. Students of color account for 40 percent of total enrollment — an impressive number on its surface. In 2019, enrollment of Caucasian students was 11,056. Hispanic and Latinx students account for 3,718 of enrollment, black students come in at 2,082, and Asian students were at 2,211. These three groups all increased in enrollment since 2018. Multiracial/Non-Hispancic students accounted for 781 of enrollment. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander were at 34 students, and American Indian/Alaska Native came in at 28. When looking at the four major ethnic groups on campus, white, Hispanic/Latinx, black and Asian, DePaul does not conform to Chicago’s almost split evenly diversity. The enrollment summary fails to give the reader a percentage breakdown of racial groups on campus, but here are those percentages. Hispanic/Latinx students account
reporters and media.” In 2008, Illinois did move their primary earlier – from the third Tuesday in March to the second Tuesday in February so that it could be relevant in the Democratic primary for Barack Obama. The date was moved back after the 2010 election. Sautter commented that sometimes Illinois residents complain that by the time March comes around, one candidate already has enough delegates to win. While this wasn’t true with Obama in 2008, it was in 1992 with Bill Clinton and in 2000 with Al Gore. A concern with moving Illinois earlier is also Chicago’s expensive media market. Iowa’s inexpensive market gives the opportunity for candidates without a massive financial backing to gain momentum. Nielsen DMA rated Chicago as the third best media market. Des Moines-Ames is 68th. “[The expensive media market] is a disadvantage to lesser known candidates who otherwise might emerge from the battle in smaller, less expensive states,” Sautter said. Sautter is also not convinced moving Illinois up will even change its impact. Where the state is now, he said, could help “push a candidate over the top” after Super Tuesday, citing Bill Clinton and Al Gore’s election. Another concern, Illinois weather. “We could make a change and end up having less impact,” Sautter said, “stuck in a February snow or ice storm with low turn-out.”
for 16.8 percent of total enrollment. Black students account for 9.4 percent of total enrollment. Asian students account for 10 percent of total enrollment. Caucasian students account for 50 percent of total enrollment. Chicago’s approximate population as of 2018 is at 2,705,944, according to estimates and extrapolation from the census. Hispanic/Latinx citizens account for 29 percent of Chicago’s population. Black citizens account for 30.1 percent of Chicago’s population. Asian citizens account for 6.4 percent of Chicago’s population. Caucasian citizens account for 49.4 percent of Chicago’s population. DePaul’s percentage of white students does match up with Chicago’s population, but it fails to represent Chicago’s Hispanic/Latinx and black communities. DePaul’s enrollment of Asians is higher than the city’s population, larger due to the school’s enrollment of international students, which accounts for 1,308 students. The top countries that international
students originated are China, India, Saudia Arabia, Taiwan and Vietnam. The university is not alone in diversity struggles. On paper, DePaul makes multiple efforts to increase diversity both with its students and faculty. A task force was created last year that hopes to improve diversity at the faculty-level, which can lead to a higher percentage of diverse applications. DePaul has made their application free through the Common App, an application that eases the college application process. Making the application free encourages students of diverse backgrounds able to apply without a financial burden. “While DePaul is not alone in facing the demographic and competitive headwinds of today’s higher education landscape, we have a uniquely talented and dedicated staff to navigate these challenges,” Luff wrote. “This gives me confidence that we can and will achieve the outcomes that ensure our future success.”
8 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT:
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
LOOP CAMPUS
Richardson Library Clifton Fullerton Hall
2
Sanctuary Hall 8
4
CDM Building 1
Arts & Letters
5
2
report was filed regarding items stolen from an unattended phone case outside Belden Racine Hall. 2) A Criminal Trespass Warning was issued to a person in the Richardson Library. 3) A Theft report was filed regarding a wallet stolen from the dining area in the Student Center.
FEB. 7 4) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
report was filed in Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Person was transported to Illinois Masonic by Chicago EMS.
FEB. 8 5) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
report was filed for a person in Munroe Hall. Person was transported to Illinois Masonic by Chicago EMS.all.
6
8
DePaul Center
McCabe Hall
9 11
1
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS FEB. 5 1) A Theft
Student Center 3
Belden-Racine Munroe Hall
12
10
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
6)
A Theft report was filed for items taken from inside the Student Center.
FEB. 10 7) A Smell
of Marijuana report was filed in Sanctuary Hall. No drugs were found. 8) A Smell of Marijuana report was filed in McCabe Hall. No drugs were found.
Other
LOOP CAMPUS FEB. 5 9) A Disturbance report was filed outside the
DePaul Center regarding a noise complaint. 10) DePaul Public Safety was notified of an instance of underage drinking in University Center.
FEB. 7 11) A
Battery report was filed regarding an incident that occurred in the DePaul Center plaza.
FEB. 9 12) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the exterior of the CDM building.
News. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020| 9
Faculty diversity upsets but doesn’t shock
By Lacey Latch Print Managing Editor
A report released by Faculty Council last week pointed to a notable lack of diversity among full-time faculty, a pattern that students have long been aware of. According to the report, full-time faculty is 61 percent white overall. “I’m not surprised at all, but they could definitely do more outreach to hiring people of color,” said DePaul junior Khadeejah Kurdi. “Very early in the history of education it was mostly male and white so I’m not surprised that trend continues today.” As a psychology major, Kurdi says her personal experience with faculty has mostly been with women of color but she noted that it largely depends on your major, a sentiment shared by other students. “I feel like if you’re in business or animation you’re going to have a lot more white, male professors,” she said. As a result, students are often forced to seek out diverse faculty where they can find it. Taylor Davis, a finance student, noted that aside from her mostly white finance professors, the only Latinx faculty she’s had have been for her Spanish minor. Davis said she also sought out faculty of color for her required liberal arts classes which sometimes worked to add some diversity to her schedule. Data show that the largest schools at the University are comprised of majority white faculty. According to the 2019 Institutional Research and Market Analytics faculty statistics,
the Business school is 58.8 percent white, CDM is 60.5 percent, Education is 70.6 percent, LAS is 61.2 percent and Science & Health is 58.4 percent white. This reality directly contrasts President Gabriel A. Esteban’s 2024 strategic plan for the university, which promoted a dedication “to recruiting and retaining faculty and staff to reflect the rich, vibrant diversity of our student body.” Black and Hispanic professors each make up 6 percent of all full-time faculty and does not reflect the student body, which the university reports to be 9.2 percent black and 15.8 percent Hispanic. As a result, students are forced to find or carve out diverse spaces elsewhere on campus. Many students rely on student organizations and other university spaces to add variety where faculty lacks. When Kurdi was first touring DePaul, her tour guide stressed the school’s diversity in faculty, staff and students. They also highlighted the cultural spaces on campus including the Muslim Life Center, Jewish Life, the Latinx Cultural Center and the Office of Mulitcultural Student Success, which supports first-generation college students and students of color. The mission statement for DePaul’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity states that “Diversity is a core value at DePaul and has been since our founding … At DePaul we understand that a diverse workforce and educational environment is directly related to our success.” With the percentage of white faculty compared to those who identify as people of color, the numbers make one thing clear: that mission has not been met.
Nation &World
10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
MAP BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI AND GINA RICARDS | THE DEPAULIA
On Feb. 6, Antarctica reached its highest temperature ever recorded at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. In yet another instance of a drastic climate event, temperature was similar to some of the warmest places around the world.
Antarctica experiences record high temperatures By Abbas Dahodwala Contributing Writer
The phenomenon of global warming was brought to the forefront again on Feb. 6 in Antarctica as a record high 65 degree temperature was recorded, according to The New York Times. This occurrence is another point in a troubling trend of rising temperatures, with 2019 being the second highest on record. Mark Potosnak, an assistant professor at the DePaul Department of Environmental Science and Studies, discussed the various aspects of climate change and why these high temperatures are not as important as the trends. “When we see these record highs, particularly somewhere like Antarctica, it’s a good marker,” Potosnak said. “Now from a scientific point of view it is not really these extreme values, it is the overall trend. It is what we see globally. It is what we see over long periods of time. It is not necessarily right to say this one point is such an important thing scientifically, but it certainly draws our attention to a definite problem of climate change.” While these types of extremes command attention, the overall trend is the main concern. Tyler Barron, a policy fellow at the Environmental Law and Policy Center, agreed that this is part of a larger trend. He also said that reactions to these high temperatures need to be taken into account. “There is a difficult balancing act that needs to happen,” Barron said. “People need to properly contextualize a singular event with how that singular event points to something much larger. It is not to say that being fearful or being alarmed by high temperatures is the wrong thing to do, but making sure that people at large understand that there is much more to that.” Barron also said people have begun to accept that climate change is real, and it is now time for a shift from getting people to believe to getting people to act. “We are in that second level,” Barron said.
“The technology and the will power are there for the most part and the technology exists to help address the problem. Now we need to develop the strategies necessary to ultimately implement that will and technology that ultimately makes the most impact.” He also spoke of the need to start focusing on the people who believe in climate change and getting them to act rather than zeroing in on deniers. “The people who do not believe in anthropogenic climate change are such a small minority that moving the “ significant majority of people towards action is a more worthwhile goal than trying to herd the remaining people who still do not believe in it,” he said. Howe ve r, there are other aspects and impacts of climate change that need to be considered. “The impacts of climate change are of course global,” Potosnak said. “We are going to see changes in plant species distribution, we are going to see changes in animal distributions and we are also going to see increased rates of extinctions.” We are also seeing direct impacts on our own lives caused by climate change including food issues. “From a more human centric view there will be multiple impacts,” Potosnak said. “We will see changes in food production. As climate becomes warmer and more variable it will become more difficult to reliably grow food. If it was always a little warmer or always a little wetter we could deal with that, but
what we see is a pattern of extremes with wet and dry. That is very hard to deal with.” Since food is produced at large levels on small patches of land in the United States, food production could be very severely affected by climate change, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies. The center also believes that the impact could be greater on food production than any other sector. Potosnak said that along with food concerns there will also be a health concern as disease will be able to spread more in hot weather as well as mosquitos being able to spread. Air quality will also become very poor for human beings as fossil fuels are burned, according to DePaul Professor Potosnak. The burning of CO2 in addition to fossil fuels in turn creates a dual effect because very harmful toxins are released at the same time. However, Potosnak sees fossil fuels as an issue that, if addressed, can have a double positive effect. “I like to think of it as two sides of the coin. It also means that as we move away from fossil fuels, we are going to get a co-benefit of cleaning up our air. By moving to wind, solar, electric cars, transport especially on the L, we are having a win-win. We are causing less climate change and we are getting cleaner air,” he said. Along with Potosnak bringing up the connections of the various aspects of climate change, Barron said climate change is a “force
It is not necessarily right to say this one point is such an important thing scientifically, but it certainly draws our attention to a definite problem of climate change.”
Mark Potosnak
multiplier.” “There will be increasing changes that we see in the climate that will affect multiple aspects of life,” Barron said. “The planet heats up and the sea level rises which leads to climate refuges which leads to entire political systems having to readjust the way that they operate,” he said. “Climate change is more than just rising temperatures. Each thing that is included within the umbrella of climate change multiplies the negative consequences as it continues to happen. Inaction is more costly in the long run than action at the moment.” Climate change requires action from human beings; however, Barron had a different view on what we should be concentrating on. “When we talk about climate change there is this knee jerk reaction for people to ask, ‘what can I do,’” Barron said. “The bottom line is that the most significant contributors to climate change are a very small collection of very large companies. In my opinion, the only way we are going to see very significant climate action is by pressuring cities, states and politicians to radically transform the ways that they operate on the local level and the way that they ultimately regulate industry on the federal level.” Students also agree that activism and engagement are key to fighting for climate change action. “Making small steps like reducing intake of animal products,” said Becky Budds, a sophomore at DePaul. “Also joining organizations that have a goal of climate activism is helpful.” On an individual level, Barron also spoke of the various ways people can become more energy efficient including through household appliances and electric vehicles. “Individual people can have a large collective impact by joining groups and being active in the ways that they put that pressure on their own cities or on their own politicians to make that action happen,” Barron said.
Nation & World. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 11
Trump ignores Barr’s request to stop tweeting about DOJ By Michael Balsamo, Colleen Long and Zeke Miller Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday ignored his attorney general’s public request to stop tweeting about the Justice Department, saying he had the legal right to ask the agency to intervene in a criminal case, but he’s so far “chosen not to.” Trump’s Friday morning tweet came just hours after Atty. Gen. William Barr said in a striking interview with ABC News that the president’s tweets were making it “impossible” to do his job, especially following the department’s bungled handling of the sentencing recommendation for Trump ally and confidant Roger Stone. Trump, in his tweet, also left open the possibility that he would ask Barr for something in a criminal matter in the future. As president, Trump technically has the right to compel the Justice Department to investigate as an executive branch agency. But historically, when it comes to decisions on criminal investigations and prosecutions, Justice has functioned as an independent agency, unmoved and unbound by political sway. And that reputation is important to Barr, as he made clear in the interview. “I’m happy to say that, in fact, the president has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case,” Barr told ABC. “However, to have public statements and tweets made about the department, about our people ... about cases pending in the department, and about judges before whom we have cases, make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that we’re doing our work with integrity.” The attorney general had repeatedly shared the same sentiment in private conversations with the president in recent weeks, telling Trump he was frustrated with the president’s public comments and tweets about Justice Department cases, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the private conversations.
Barr was directly asked whether he believed Trump had the authority to direct him to open an investigation. “Terrorism or fraud by a bank or something like that where he’s concerned about something, he can certainly say I think someone should look into that. That’s perfectly appropriate,” Barr said. ”If he were to say, you know, go investigate somebody because - and you sense it’s because they’re a political opponent, then an attorney general shouldn’t carry that out, wouldn’t carry that out.” Trump has publicly and privately raged about payback in the form of investigations against his perceived enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Director Andrew McCabe, and he’s also pressed for investigations into political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter, especially fol ALEX BRANDON | AP lowing Trump’s impeachment acquittal over a phone call where he asked Ukraine’s leaders to In this July 11, 2019, file photo, Atty. Gen. William Barr, left, and President Donald Trump turn to leave after speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House. investigate the Bidens. An administration official acknowledged there had been some tension between Trump added in his tweet — “This doesn’t mean that executive powers. Thursday’s comment served and Barr in recent weeks, but Trump still has I do not have, as President, the legal right to as a defense of his own integrity — an effort confidence in Barr and believes he is a far bet- do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to!” to salvage his own reputation and that of the ter attorney general than Jeff Sessions, who Earlier this week, the Justice Department Department of Justice by publicly rebuking drew Trump’s ire after removing himself from overruled its own prosecutors — who had the president he’s propped up from Day One the Russia investigation because of his previ- recommended in a court filing that Trump’s of his tenure. ous work with the Trump campaign. longtime ally and confidant Roger Stone be The remarks, made so quickly after the The official, who spoke on condition of sentenced to seven to nine years in prison — decision to back away from the sentencing anonymity in order to discuss internal de- and took the extraordinary step of lowering recommendation, suggested Barr was aware liberations and private conversations, said the amount of prison time it would seek. The the reversal had chipped away at the departTrump also knows it would be risky to remove department didn’t offer an amended number. ment’s historic reputation for independence Barr ahead of the 2020 election and that it is The entire trial team quit the case after the from political sway. But he stopped short of highly unlikely he could find a replacement amended filing, one quit the DOJ altogether. acknowledging wrongdoing by anyone. for Barr before then. And Barr faced intense criticism over House Democrats frustrated over the SenOfficials in the attorney general’s office the decision because it came just hours after ate’s acquittal of Trump want answers from gave the White House a readout of the inter- Trump tweeted his displeasure about the rec- Barr about what they see as his efforts to politview after it was taped but before it aired on ommendation. icize federal law enforcement. House Judiciary ABC’s website, the person familiar with the Stone was convicted in November of tam- Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said earmatter said. After the interview Thursday pering with a witness and obstructing the lier this week that Barr will testify before the evening, the White House offered a tempered House investigation into whether the Trump panel Mar. 31 and that lawmakers will ask him response that Trump “wasn’t bothered by the campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the about his involvement in the Stone case. comments at all and he has the right, just like 2016 election. He’s scheduled to be sentenced Barr said Trump’s tweets created percepany American citizen, to publicly offer his next week. tion problems for the department that called opinions.” Barr himself has been under fire for the into question its independence, but he denied But the president on Friday quoted one of reversal. Still, it was a highly unusual move for there was any order from Trump and said Barr’s comments in the interview: “The Pres- a member of the Cabinet to publicly criticize Trump’s tweets did not factor into the deciident has never asked me to do anything in a the president — especially a Trump loyalist sion. criminal case.” A.G. Barr — and then Trump who shares the president’s views on expansive
Senate explores US policies to handle global pandemics By Jonathan DeCarlo Contributing Writer
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a roundtable hearing on Feb. 12 with top experts in the public health sector. The title of the hearing was “Are We Prepared? – Protecting the U.S. from Global Pandemics” and the experts discussed if the U.S. is in fact prepared for a global pandemic outbreak. This meeting was especially timely given the outbreak of COVID-19 virus, also known as the Coronavirus, in Wuhan, China and its rapid global spread. The experts made their opening statements , beginning with Scott Gottlieb, M.D., former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. “This is a deeply concerning event, this novel Coronavirus,” Gottlieb said. “We don’t understand its true severity at this point and its transmissibility, and I think we’re going to learn a lot more information in the coming weeks as we start to see outbreaks emerge in other parts of the world.” Gottlieb went on to highlight that the reason that this Coronavirus has been such trouble is that it is a novel virus, meaning the Coronavirus was transmitted from an animal to a human. According to the CDC, the animal that originated this strain of the Coronavirus is still unknown.
Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC from 2002 to 2009, followed Gottlieb with her own statement. Gerberding spoke on firsthand experience with the first Coronavirus epidemic, SARS-CoV, when it appeared in 2003. “We generally approach global outbreaks like this,” said Gerberding. “The first step is detection, and we’re fortunate that the virus has been observed and reported. The second is containing the virus at its source, and I don’t think we’ve seen a more dramatic effort to contain a virus that what’s going on right now. The third step is if we can’t contain it, how do we slow it down, and the final step is implementing countermeasures.” Luciana Borio, director for medical and biodefense preparedness for the National Security Council from 2017-2019, said that we need to make sure the data surrounding the virus is correct. “We know that the numbers [of people infected] both inside and outside of China are likely much much larger,” said Borio. “Even though there’s a lot we don’t know, the features are very concerning for a pandemic and global spread.” The last two experts were Nikki Clowers, the director of United States Government Accountability Office’s health care team and Asha George, executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. After finishing their opening remarks, the experts all gave insight into
certain issues regarding the Coronavirus in China. Gottlieb said that Wuhan, where the virus originated from, is a manufacturer for raw materials that make up the active ingredients in our medicine and that this might cause an issue further down the line if the virus isn’t contained. Gerberding also said that the virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days, and that we don’t know whether the majority of people infected present with mild or severe symptoms. Gottlieb also noted that the virus is only known to spread through droplet transmission, meaning that it is spread through respiratory droplets that come from coughing or sneezing. The CDC backs up this statement, and also says that they are unsure if the virus can be spread through surfaces with these droplets on them. The conversation then shifted to what the U.S. can do to stop the spread of the Coronavirus in the country. Gerberding said that the government needs to give the CDC more stable funding instead of only giving more funding during a crisis. “We have to plan for the possibility that we have thousands of cases,” George said. “We’ve been trained here to look at the data and assume that we don’t have the full picture and multiply by seven or eight. For every case we see there might be seven or eight that we don’t.”
Clowers also offered a similar point to Gerberding, advocating for the government to give more funding to state and local public health organizations to deal with the crises without relying heavily on federal money. The hearing begged the question: is the U.S. really prepared to handle a global pandemic? Todd Florin, an associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University and an attending pediatric physician at Lurie Children’s Hospital thinks so, at least for now. “The fact that only 15 cases have been identified in the United States tells us that the spread, to date, is being contained, but this could change at any time,” said Florin. “For most individual Americans, COVID-19 is an extremely low concern at this time, provided that they have not traveled to or from China or come into close contact with someone who has. Individual Americans are substantially more likely to be infected with influenza, which to date this season has led to 22 million illnesses, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths, 78 of whom are children.” With COVID-19 making its way through Asia and reaching out into other parts of the world, remaining cautious and staying informed on the spread is essential. While the virus may be contained in the U.S. right now, it could potentially change in the future if more cases arise.
12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
Opinions
Make your community count Immigrants should not fear the census, since it can enable their voices to be heard By Adriana Talavera
Stop silencing adjuncts
Contributing Writer
Three years ago I left Mexico, my family and friends and I moved to Chicago. The city welcomed me with open arms and midwestern hospitality, and eventually it became my second home. Sadly, this story is not the same for every immigrant that has arrived to the United States. A lot of us have dealt with repercussions of the bad image often being portrayed of immigrants on media. Because of things like the ICE raids and the efforts made to put a citizenship question on the census, immigrants have been forced to be more guarded and often afraid to participate in their civic duties. For the last couple of months I became heavily invested in the 2020 Census, because I enrolled in a PR class at DePaul which challenged myself and four other students to develop and implement a PR and social media campaign to educate the DePaul community about the importance of the census and encourage participation. Our campaign is called, “Make Your Community Count.” While developing our campaign, I learned the census has an enormous impact on our community. Data from the 2010 Census shows that more than $34 billion per year in federal funding was directed to Illinois for important community programs. Census data also determines how many seats Illinois gets in U.S. Congress. “The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have been declining in population but there are pockets of growth,” said Illinois state-wide census director Oswaldo Alvarez. “These pockets of growth are usually among immigrant communities.” This means that this year, we have the power to help Chicago and Illinois get our fair share of funding and representation we need and deserve. As neighbors, we have all used the roads, parks, hospitals and other institutions that rely on federal funding. “For me it is important because I don’t have a voice to vote in this country, and this is a way for me to participate,” said Damita Menezes, an international student from Mumbai at DePaul University. This year, responding to the census will be easier than ever because it will be the first year people can respond online or by phone in addition to the traditional paper survey. For immigrant communities, we have the opportunity to be counted before a U.S. Census enumerator comes and knocks on our door asking for personal information. We have the right to keep our door shut but we also have the opportunity and obligation to count in our communities by completing the census. “Your information is already out there if you are receiving any mail, you are receiving it from the U.S. Postal Office,” said Alvarez. “This means that the same information you will share with
Letter to the Editor:
“For me [the census] is important because I don’t have a voice to vote in this country and this is a way to participate. ” Damita Menezes
International student, DePaul University the census, the government already has access to. But it won’t be used for funding our communities unless it comes from the data gathered by the census.” These are the reasons why I extend an invitation to everyone to come and join me on Census Day, April 1, 2020,
and take our opportunity as immigrants, students and citizens to ”make our community count.”
GRAPHICS BY GINA RICARDS
I’d like to thank The DePaulia, Hannah Mitchell and all those who spoke out about the difficulties adjunct faculty encounter, even those –and perhaps especially those who withheld their names. I myself am an adjunct here at DePaul; it’s not my first rodeo and I can say that DePaul is the most evolved of the various institutions I’ve taught at, in terms of showing respect and consideration for adjunct faculty. But there is room for improvement. I find it heartbreaking that the following phrase occurred 10 times in the article: “A DePaul adjunct, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job...” Surely we can examine our collective conscience and ask ourselves why adjuncts are afraid – afraid! – to speak on record? The “Guiding Principles for Speech and Expression at DePaul University” state: “We affirm the right of members of the DePaul community to engage in speech and expression consistent with the values of academic freedom, free inquiry, and civil discourse.” Moreover, the university asserts that its “Mission is built upon the Vincentian ideal of universal dignity in which each person is invaluable and worthy of respect.” People who withhold their names for fear of retribution do not feel valued or respected. If we perpetuate a caste system where more than 50 percent of the s faculty operate without job security, we negate our mission and our ideal of universal dignity. There aren’t easy solutions to the adjunct problem that exists here and at almost all university campuses in the U.S. But there are first steps: Will the university uphold its values by issuing a statement that assures adjunct faculty that we will not lose our jobs because we openly speak up about conditions that warrant improvement? Solutions to problems do not happen when discourse is shrouded in fear among the insecure and complacency in the leadership. I will not withhold my name, but please don’t confuse my willingness to give my name with temerity. I’m just as afraid as the rest of my precarious colleagues. I do hope, however, to enjoin the DePaul community to foster dialog, transparency and a commitment to change for the better. Gabrielle Rose Simons, adjunct professor
Opinions. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 13
Pick and choose culture
Billie Eilish borrows from hip hop in her aesthetic. That makes her generalizations of the genre all the more troubling By Elena King Contributing Writer
During award show season this year, everyone’s eyes were on Billie Eilish, the 18-year-old pop star who swept the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony where she won five of the six awards she was nominated for. But things are bittersweet for young Eilish as she has come under fire for comments she made criticizing rap music, sparking backlash from fans, journalists and musicians alike. In an interview with Vogue Magazine, Eilish said, “There’s a difference between lying in a song and writing a story, there are tons of songs where people are just lying. There’s a lot of that in rap right now, from people that I know who rap...that’s posturing, and that’s not what I’m doing.” Once the interview was released, Twitter blew up, calling out Eilish for her criticism of a genre that is so separated from her own category of music. The clash between her fans and her dissenters brought up important issues that deal with celebrities’ rights to opinion and celebrity responsibility when speaking publicly. “I don’t think she was trying to call out the whole rap culture,” said Kimo Smith, a fan of Eilish, “I think she was just talking about her friends and I think if it had been any other music genre with the same scenario it would’ve been okay too.” Celebrities and other public figures whose words have influence and capital should be thoughtful when discussing topics such as these. Though I believe she meant no harm in her comments, she lacked specificity and in turn, con-
demned a significant segment of that music genre. Eilish is entitled to her view, but part of her responsibility is acknowledging the inconsistencies in her own music and the ‘stories’ she tells through song. In her hit song, “Bad Guy” Eilish claims to be the “might seduce your dad type,” which seems unrealistic considering the age she was when she wrote these lyrics. “I’d encourage Billie, who is a wonderful talent, to expand the boundaries of the hip-hop artists that she ‘knows’ and music to which she has listened, so as to more fully grasp the scope, depth, and breadth of brilliant hip hop music that many talented-at times uncelebrated- rappers around the world are weaving into their art and craft,” said Dre McKenzie, who has worked for music industry giants like Universal Records and Sony BMG Entertainment. “Not only might this change her mind, it may also allow her to grow artistically and personally from learning from these artists and their diverse cultures, perspectives and experiences.” Eilish’s lack of acknowledgment of the influence that black culture has on almost every aspect of how she presents herself, yet her eagerness to bash rap culture shows a lack of awareness of her role as someone benefiting from the ideas and aesthetic born out of the rap and hip-hop movements. Lies, violence and sexism are found in the lyrics of every genre of music from country to alternative, though it has always targeted rap artists at disproportionate levels. The negative reaction after Ice T’s song, “Cop Killer,” that expressed his distrust of the LAPD based off his own
experience of racial profiling and police brutality, was condemned from citizens everywhere and even from the White House, where it was publicly objected by President George H. W. Bush. “Country, metal, punk and other forms of musical genres dominated by white people have a history of problematic lyrics,” said Evan Moore, a professor in the College of Communication at DePaul. “Violent lyrics aren’t exclusive to rap or hip-hop music. It’s easy to demonize a black art form, so I see why Eilish made such a bad-faith argument.” The dated attempt to target hiphop music as sexist, violent, vulgar or showy is one that has long been used to belittle the genre of music and its artists that are responsible for much of modern pop culture. It’s no secret that Eilish has been influenced by rappers and hip-hop artists, both in the music she likes and how she chooses to present herself. Eilish added her own quirky, neo-goth style to the iconic looks served by rappers like Missy Elliott. The bagginess of her clothing is a conscious choice she makes to draw the attention that would be paid to her body and redirect it to her music. While I admire the impact she has on young people, picking what she wants to adopt
or discard from rap culture presents a privilege that is unique to her experience as someone living outside the boundaries of that genre. “[Eilish] cozying up to rap music during her career ascension and then ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA discarding it once she got what she wanted is a historical trajectory often used by white musical artists,” Moore said. The troubling question of separating the art from the artist is one I have debated for years to no avail. Giving our favorite artists the benefit of the doubt often comes more easily than holding them accountable, though the latter is significant in determining the inconsistencies in the art we enjoy and the morals we try to live by.
A word from SGA
Student engagement can help facilitate change on campus. DePaul’s Student Government Association wants to hear from you By Landon Campbell Vice President, DePaulStudent Body
As the winter quarter reaches its halfway point, the Student Government Association isn’t slowing down on our mission. Every day, DePaul SGA is focused on working towards improving the lives of every single student on our campus. We are a student organization built up of a diverse group of students, who represent each and every student at DePaul University. We pride ourselves on working to create an inclusive community at DePaul University. In order to create change on campus, it’s important for us to hear from students and their needs. We all have seen how fast a school year goes by, which is why each day we are searching for ways to solve issues presented to us by the students, for the students. As an organization with immense responsibilities, we strive to be as productive as we can with our fortunate opportunity to serve. This is why hearing from students is important to us. Our goal is to increase engagement with the student body in order to make DePaul better for all students. It’s important to recognize that SGA is the official representative body for students at DePaul University. Many of our initiatives were based on ideas presented to us by the student body. We value collaboration with students, and work best
when we understand what our students need. Our student leaders communicate with their constituencies to understand challenges that students face on campus. Our student leaders hear from students and compile insights, which are then discussed and acted upon with our entire organization during weekly meetings. From the Monarch Butterfly Scholarship, a grant for undocumented immigrant students, to solar panels on buildings, SGA is focused on supporting an entire body of unique and diverse students. In January, we were proud to share that our organization brought free menstrual products to 180 bathrooms on both
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
campuses. This achievement was a group effort, and we are honored to see our initiative benefit students on both campuses. Each of our initiatives are needs that were brought to us by students at DePaul. Currently, we hold the largest general body in DePaul’s history. This is huge! Every position, except for one, is filled by a hardworking student leader that wants to create change on campus for their constituency. We have members like Camila Barrientos, senator for intercultural awareness, who worked with ETC to bring Black Hair Care products to campus; students like Marcus Towns, senator for community and government relations,
who is working towards getting a DePaul University Metra ticket discount for students; and students like Hannah Kinsella, senator for sustainability, who is working hand-in-hand with the Office of Sustainability to create a Sustainability Plan for the university with actionable items. We solve issues presented by students, which is why we would like to hear more from our student body. Student engagement is important to us because it guides our organization in facilitating changes on campus. Without student input, we are unable to act on ideas presented by students at DePaul. We are here for you! With that being said, SGA is an effort from not only elected members, but all students at DePaul. Our General Body meetings are always open to the DePaul student body and we encourage students to attend. We want students to bring forth ideas, so we can work towards what must be done on campus. We meet on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in Arts and Letters 308 for the rest of winter quarter. On February 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., DePaul SGA is hosting an interactive student forum for the student body. This is a space where anyone is invited to speak with our student leaders about issues or initiatives we should focus on. The student forum will take place in the Brownstones Annex. Food will be provided. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our Student Forum!
Focus
14 | Focus. The DePaulia. Feb. 17 2020
No sun
How the lack of sunlight can h By Camille Koch Contributing Writer
From the Coronavirus to impeachment trials and now to record-breaking weather, the first months of 2020 have been gloomy in more ways than one. So far this year, Chicago has already broken the record for the amount of consecutive cloudy days. From Jan. 23 through Feb. 2, Chicago had the longest cloudy stretch in 22 years, dating back to 1998. According to the Weather Channel, the clouds were due to high pressure weather systems in the arctic regions, blanketing the Midwest. Although January is usually a gloomy month in Chicago, this significant lack of sunlight can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. When you’re basking in the sun, the lens in your eyes pick up on the ultraviolet light and moves it onto the retina, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine. This triggers the release of serotonin, a hormone that can elevate mood. Conversely, darker lighting releases melatonin, a hormone that helps you get to sleep, said Austin Lim, a neuroscience professor at DePaul. “There is a competing hormonal process that is going on at the same time so both melatonin and serotonin are synthesized by the same precursor and sunlight dampens melatonin production. Because of that, you might end up with more serotonin,” Lim said. Along with the production of serotonin, sunlight also provides the body with vitamin D, which helps build strong bones. Vitamin D might also decrease the risk of certain cancers. A study by the Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology found that people living in areas with fewer daylight hours have a higher chance of developing colon, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. However, because of the shorter days in winter, your body is already less susceptible to serotonin. Adding on a record amount of cloudy days means even more gloom. Slowing down the production of serotonin could mean an increase in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
“Seasonal Affective Disorder is definitely a thing and is absolutely a health risk that some people are more likely to experience during winter months,” Lim said. The disorder usually starts in late fall/early winter and can go all the way to late spring/early summer. People with SAD usually have more SERT, which is a protein that helps with serotonin transport, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes in Health. If you have higher protein levels, this
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Focus. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 15
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means that you have lower serotonin activity. Because of the light and dark changes, SAD is also known to disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, accordng to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Symptoms an include low energy, mood swings, withdrawing rom social situations and a change in eating habits. The disorder is more likely to strike in the winter because of the rotation of the Earth. The Earth is tilted t 23.5 degrees, according to Swinburne Astronomy. This means that the Earth is either tilted away or
towards the sun depending on its position in its orbit around the sun. In the winter, the Earth is tilted away from the sun. Due to the Earth’s tilt, studies suggest that people living farthest away from the equator in the northern hemisphere are more susceptible to Seasonal Affective Disorder. In order to combat this, people in northern latitudes consume more vitamin D in meals, Lim said. “The farther north you go, the longer the nights and shorter the days, there are certain populations that are living in these northern countries who, in the winter, have like 17 or 18 hours of nighttime so they’re not getting a lot of sun but they’re still getting a lot of vitamin D because it is part of their diet,” he explained. Treatments for SAD vary and can include different combinations of antidepressants, light therapy, vitamin D and counseling, according to the National Library of Medicine. DePaul Junior Viany Ortiz only noticed the record-breaking, consecutive cloudy days when it finally broke and the sun began to shine once more. “I didn’t really notice the cloudy days when they were happening. I noticed when we finally had sun,” Ortiz said. Even if they didn’t realize the reason why at first, some DePaul students were hit hard by the lack of sun. “I hadn’t honestly noticed that the sun wasn’t out for ten days,” said Carolyn Brinckwirth, a junior at DePaul. “Actually, you telling me today that we went for ten days without sun completely explains how badly I felt.” “It wasn’t until my friend posted an Instagram story that I realized I had not seen the sun in 10 days and that is why I was feeling so bad,” says Julia Boucher, a senior at DePaul. “I actually started taking vitamin C tablets because of it.” Both Boucher and Brinckwirth showed symptoms that were consistent with the lack of serotonin and the increase of melatonin people may have experienced. “I felt sluggish, sad and just generally my mood was poor, ”said Brinckworth. DePaul students weren’t the only ones who noticed the lack of sunlight. Chicagoans responded to the record-breaking weather with an outpour of memes. Like Ortiz, some of the memes highlight seeing the sun for the first time after the long stretch while others
focused on the cloudy days themselves. Whether it is cloudy or not, there are still benefits in getting outside, including reducing some of the side effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder. “There are a number of studies that find that interaction with nature, being in natural environments as opposed to your regular urban environments, is highly important for individuals primarily because that’s how we evolved,” said Barbara Willard, an associate professor at DePaul who oversees the environmental communication minor. “So we have a natural affinity for some types of natural features.” Whether you go to the lakefront or take advantage of the forest preserves around the Chicagoland area, getting outside can be essential to your health. “Being outside has been shown to produce positive mental states, improve our physical health and improve personal relationships,” said Willard. While it’s great to get outside, winter in Chicago is notoriously brutal. However, by taking small steps, you can start making a difference. “Start small. On the cloudiest of days, no matter what, go take a walk,” Willard said. “You can not only start acclimating yourself to the weather but acclimate yourself to being outside slowly, wading into the cold pond, you slowly spend more time outdoors. Don’t look at bad weather as a reason to stay indoors. Look at bad weather as a reason to go out anyway.” Remembering to get enough sun in the winter and limiting the amount exposure to sun in the summer is hard work, but very beneficial. “Moderation ends up being the key to everything. All of these ancient Greek medical people came to that conclusion so long ago and after all of these advancements we’ve figured out through science, we’ve also come to that same conclusion,” Lim said. “You want a balance of everything and sunlight is definitely one of those things.” As the clouds finally parted on Feb. 2, the sun made its triumphant return, painting the retreating clouds with beautiful pinks and oranges.
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA | THE DEPAULIA GRAPHICS BY GINA RICARDS AND ANNALISA BARANOWSKI | THE DEPAULIA
Arts & Life
16 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
When the honeymoon phase ends Infatuation can’t last forever. Here’s what happens next.
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
By Rebecca Meluch Focus Editor
Call me the “love doctor,” or maybe don’t. I’ve been through it all, from short term relationships that lasted for a few weeks, to long term relationships that lasted years. But like each snowflake, relationships are all unique for whoever is experiencing them. They all have their own shapes and forms. Different phases last longer or shorter and even come back over time, developments come at different points, and everything speeds up or slows down in different paces. Whether you figure it out the easy way or the hard way, relationships are not always for everyone, especially romantic and long term types. Whether it takes a few days of knowing each other or a year for a couple to have sex, or they say “I love you” just after a few weeks, it’s crucial to remember there is no right or wrong in how a relationship operates or takes it course, as long as that those who are in it together go at their own desired and communicated pace. Although each romantic relationship is unique, often they each experience a series of stages that either rapidly take their course, or slowly dwindle down and shift over time. A common beginning phase of a romantic partnership is the “cupcake phase.” The term refers to how early stages of a relationship can be “so cute and sweet, even you want to throw up.” Hopeless romantic or not, who doesn’t love the cupcake phase? It’s the phase where we start off so in love, that our friends, our family, and observers around us can’t bear it. It’s filled with hugs and kisses, the introduction of nicknames, the forehead smooches, the overnight cuddling, the perfect dates, random acts of kindness and everything that every romantic comedy usu-
ally ends with. But that is just a dictionary definition. Each relationship and participant have their own definition of the “cupcake” stage. Molly Brooks, a senior at Columbia College Chicago, has been with her boyfriend for six months, and describes the cupcake stage a little bit differently. “For me, I find that I am a very complex person and reveal myself to others in stages at my own pace,” she said. “The cupcake stage is all about presenting yourself to someone as your best self, flaws aside.” Perhaps this “cupcake” stage is why most couples don’t experience fights and little arguments until they are out of it. It’s during this stage of “showing your best self ” that couples are getting to know each other and spending the most time together to learn how to please one another. Often in this stage, we’re blinded by our partner’s flaws, we don’t tend to see them because we’re so caught up in the newness and sweetness of our relationship. Christine Whelan, a clinical professor from the University of Wisconsin, shared more about the “cupcake” stage in a relationship and how to shift healthily once your relationship exits it. “In the early stage of relationships we often project our hopes and dreams on to the other person, ignoring the inconvenient parts of their personality that don’t fit our idealized view of them,” she said. “The healthiest way to get the most out of the honeymoon stage is to use this time to talk to your partner openly and honestly. To hear what they have to say and actually listen. To learn about them and to come to practical and emotionally safe agreements about how to move forward in your relationship.” Whether relationships are still in the “cupcake” stage or is shifting into a new phase, it’s when flaws and little annoyances are detected that fights and disagreements
begin. Sarah Halpern-Meekin, an associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin furtherly explained what can arise after the “cupcake” stage. “Conflicts can arise over time for a lot of reasons: the more time we spend with one another, the more opportunities we have to disagree,” she said. “The more we reveal of ourselves to one another, the greater the chance that we won’t like some of what we see, or that we won’t feel totally accepted or understood by our partner.” After you’ve been with your partner for quite a while, different stages develop and love is often shown in other ways. Simple acts may fade away, but love and feelings often are displayed in a new light. DePaul junior Callie Hemmer explains how a relationship can shift after the “cupcake” stage has ended. “I think the feeling of love grows in a relationship but the acts seem to diminish,” she said. “When you see each other all of the time you are less likely to show them big acts of love than if you saw them a few times a year. The feelings don’t go away or get weaker but the acts might.” Whenever you notice your partner stop doing the little things they did in the beginning like kissing you as much, holding your hand, and cuddling while they sleep, don’t fret. It’s only normal for a relationship to change from the way it began. Maybe it’s not as romantic or lustful as it began, but if a relationship is strong, it can endure changes. There’s romantic love and there’s also realistic love. Partners notice more flaws in another, dates become more sporadic, bickering is more common, but it’s realistic for couples to shift their behaviors once they get to know each other more. When couples shift out of their initial romantic and lustful stages that encompass
the “cupcake” stage or “honeymoon” phase, it can be a make or break situation for a relationship. However, often they can endure and work through the difficulties and stresses of a long term relationship. When couples endure the falling out period of a “cupcake” stage sort of love they enter into a realistic kind of love. “When you’re in a relationship it takes communication and work,” Brooks said.“Without effort from both sides the relationship will fail. There are good, bad, and ugly times in people’s lives but ultimately getting through those things together in an open and honest manner can allow a relationship to flourish.” Bickering and fighting in a relationship is normal, it’s not always what romantic comedies seem to display. If your relationship isn’t the same as it started, it doesn’t mean it is failing. “While some partners may miss the head-over-heels, all-encompassing emotions of those first days, weeks, and months of a relationship, hopefully they can remind themselves of the benefits that come later in a relationship-that deep love, trust, acceptance, and partnership can feel like a worthwhile trade-off for losing some of those early ‘honeymoon stage’ feelings,” Halpern-Meekin said. “Rather than having big fiery passion that flares up, you can have a slower, steadier burn to carry your relationship for the long haul.” Often movies only show the stages of falling in love, finding lust and harmony and depicting the “cupcake stage” as if it goes on forever. But as the credits start rolling in and the screen goes black, there’s an unreleased sequel; one that depicts a new stage of enduring, realistic, and mature love that isn’t and won’t always be pretty but with the right amount of communication and bonding, it will thrive.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 17
‘It’s love’
Two DePaulia critics saw the same film. Both came to a similar conclusion.
Heloise (played by Adele Haenel) and Marianne (played by Noemie Merlant) lie in bed together in Celine Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.”
‘A utopia of femininity’ By Michael Brzezinski Chief Film Critic
We are in the middle of an incredibly special movement in modern cinema right now. We are finding ourselves in an overwhelming uptick in popular and accessible foreign films in the domestic market that are actually making a cultural splash. This all started two years ago with the release of Alfonso Cuaron’s black and white epic melodrama “Roma” which became Netflix’s first wildly successful theatrical release and one of the front-runners for the Best Picture Oscar. In the same year, the releases of Pawel Pawelkoski’s “Cold War” and Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Shoplifters” made unprecedented amounts of money for subtitled foreign films from boutique distributors. Now, after the incredible history-making achievement of Bong Joon-Ho’s “Parasite” absolutely sweeping the Academy Awards last weekend and becoming the first ever foreign Best Picture winner, it appears that American audiences are ready for something new to obsess over. Welcome to the foreign film obsession of 2020, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” A deeply felt romance set in 18th century France, where Marianne, a gifted painter, falls for the subject she has been tasked to paint, a reclusive and emotionally boarded up aristocratic woman who is arranged to be married very soon. It is every single bit as tender, lively and heart wrenching as it sounds like it might be. Celine Sciamma’s fourth feature film has been *pun intended* setting the world ablaze ever since it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it not only received overwhelmingly universal praise, but also won the Queer Palm and the Best Screenplay awards. Rising star indie distributor NEON picked up the film out of the festival and has paraded it around the whole world, creating an unbelievable sense of hype and word of mouth.
I myself was first introduced to the gob-smacking majesty of this film at the Chicago International Film Festival last October (where it won the festival’s top prize). I’m always down for an emotional period piece romance about forbidden love, but there is something so particularly disarming about Sciamma’s film. Something that is genuinely mystifying for me. Sciamma manages to make this tale of love, self-becoming, endless yearning, art and reflection one that feels completely and utterly stuck out of time. The sets and costumes are gorgeous and appropriate but never dialed up to a degree of stylization. Sciamma shoots the film on beautiful, bright and crisp 8K digital, allowing for every single detail in frame to be made out. It has the clean and intricate aesthetics of the perfectly put together film that it is but maintains a vital messy and emotional core to make it feel all the more human on top. Ever since her 2007 debut feature “Water Lilies,” Sciamma has been the perfect auteur for artistically and honestly portraying the coming-of-age of women on film, dealing with sex, non-conforming genders and race in France across many different time periods. “Portrait” stands to be her most abstract work but also, in a lot of ways, her most true and wholly cinematic. She makes a utopia of femininity for her characters in this world, that even though it may be temporary, it still means everything for them to be able to find themselves while in it. It’s almost elegiac in that nature. The word masterpiece gets thrown around a lot these days but if a film were ever so deserving of it without a second thought, it’d be “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” A film so artful, lived-in and sincere in its nature that it should be able to pierce right through the core of anyone who crosses paths with it. A film with so many wonderful idiosyncrasies but also a deeply universal nature to it. Sometimes you can just be 100 percent sure when something will be remembered and studied forever, and I really feel it with this film.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Reinventing the wheel of love By Rebecca Rogers Contributing Writer
“This is a film for Chicago,” director Céline Sciamma said with a chuckle as she sat down for a post-film discussion. Her newest feature, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” was shown in an advanced screening at the Music Box Theatre on Wednesday night. Her comment came after to the uproarious response to the film, which had ended just moments before. “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is a drama that reinvents all notions of love and relationships, and presents these experiences in a new light. Equality is the name of the game for Sciamma’s film. The film is set in the 18th century, where queer love was illegitimate and marriage was often a business proposition and nothing more. Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is hired to paint the portrait of an aristocrat Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). The portrait is to be sent off to the man Héloïse is to marry, but Héloïse is not pleased by the marriage and is refusing to pose for the portrait. Marianne’s task is to accompany Héloïse on walks by day, secretly observing her, and then paint the portrait from memory by night. Marianne does so, but secret looks become looks of adoration, and those looks are returned. When Héloïse’s mother leaves for a few days, the two women are left to their own devices, and quickly, but beautifully, begin a romantic and sexual affair that had been building since the pair first set eyes on each other. They are a perfect match intellectually, physically and emotionally. In this relationship, there is no dominance. The women are equals, and they come together not because one woman pursued the other, but because they are drawn to each other, like magnets. This film feels contemporary. The dialogue is minimal, but sharp, quick and purposeful, with humor poking in every now and then. There is almost no soundtrack to the film, with most of it coming from the
environment surrounding Marianne and Héloïse. With little dialogue and no soundtrack, the film relies on its visuals to deliver its story. And deliver, it does. Each shot could be a painting hanging in the Louvre. The colors are bright yet simple, and each character wears only one or two costumes throughout the whole film, allowing the audience to focus entirely on the story, not on the symbolism behind the costumes and sets. Merlant and Haenel each deliver exquisite performances that complement each other without overtaking each other. This leaves room for audiences to empathize with the characters, creating a deeper experience of the film. In an interview with Elizabeth Harris for The New York Times, Sciamma says that “there’s all this surprise that lies within equality, that’s the new tension. You don’t know what’s going to happen if it’s not about the social hierarchy, gender domination or intellection domination.” In a world where gender roles are often assumed, even in a progressive relationship, it is refreshing to see a relationship that is truly equal. Sciamma is right. The tension that comes with watching the relationship between Marianne and Héloïse is one unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Their relationship is slow-burning, but once the fire is lit, it is not easy to put out. Watching them fall in love is suspenseful, moving, and inspiring. For me as a queer person, one of the best parts of the film is the way that Sciamma, a queer woman herself, understands and depicts queer romantic relationships. She was able to create a film that is made for us, and that understands our experiences. In her interview with Harris, Sciamma goes on to say that “each time people say, ‘It’s love, it could be two men, or a man and a woman,’ I’m glad they feel that way, that they could fit into this imaginaire and into this politics of love. But it’s ours. And they’re welcome.”
18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
Fifty years of Didion The bored, sad white woman trope is wearing thin
By Chinyere Ibeh Staff Writer
By Patsy Newitt Asst. News Editor
I remember the first time I read Joan Didion’s “Play It as It Lays” vividly. I was 16, bored with suburbia and sold on a grossly overplayed illusion born out of extensive Tumblr use that I would move to California (I moved to Chicago), become aloof (I’ve never been aloof ) and write sad poetry (I don’t write poetry). For that, Didion was an embarrassingly perfect fit – while Didion and I are nothing alike, she was still relatable in the grand scheme of white woman sadness. And Didion is cool, detached and at the forefront of counterculture seemingly without trying. “Play It as It Lays” mirrors that. The novel depicts the life of 31-year-old Maria, a former quasi-successful actress confined to a psychiatric hospital in California. Through fragmented and nonlinear chapters, the reader learns about Maria’s divorce with a former film-maker, her disabled and estranged 4-year-old daughter Kate and an abortion that she never really wanted to have. Her life as a wife and mother appears idyllic in her expensive Los Angeles home, but she rejects traditional roles in a very second wave feminist fashion and instead is consumed by constant existential dread and self destructive behavior. Add Didion’s piercing, bleak prose and you have yourself a novel that is equally hypnotic and haunting. “There was silence,” Didion writes. “Something real was happening: this was, as it were, her life. If she could keep that in mind she would be able to play it through, do the right thing, whatever that meant.” Didion captures the chaos and privilege of Hollywood in the late ‘60s. Maria navigates alienation amongst Hollywood filmmakers and actors, compulsive sexual endeavors and her own roles in the same detached fashion that makes Didion so revered. After the abortion, facilitated by her ex-husband who was not the father, Maria unravels. She can’t see Kate, no one is hiring her and she can’t stop drinking. The book ends (spoiler alert) with Maria being institutionalized after watching her friend BZ take his own life. Didion herself is a legacy for her essays that brought dizzying California subcultures to the forefront of American culture. Much of what we know about the West Coast in the‘ 60s and ‘70s comes from Didion. Her political and cultural work spans from the 1960s to 2010s and from California to El Salvador to New York City. One of her most influential characteristics is her ability to transform personal essays into works of serious extra-personal weight. Her book of essays “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” published in 1968, evaluate John Wayne, detail unhinged San Francisco counterculture and analyze morality in a Death Valley hotel. Throughout it,
The unhealthy obsession with celebrities
COURTESY OF FLICKR
Joan Didion, the author of ‘Play It as It Lays,’ poses for a picture. she lets emotion exist alongside truth, and her commitment to objectivity only goes as far to not place blame. I still revere Didion for writing that knocks me off my feet. But in the 50 years since “Play It as It Lays” was published, the trope of the bored, sad white woman is wearing thin. Sure, Didion is excellent, but she spoke to me because I, too, am a bored white woman who is sometimes sad. And because of this, I have access to an immense amount of literature catered directly to me (see: Sylvia Plath, Joyce Carol Oates, Sally Rooney). Not everyone has the same luxury. In her memoir “Negroland,” Margo Jefferson writes about growing up black in the 1950s and ‘60s where she was “denied the privilege of freely yielding to depression, of flaunting neurosis as a mark of social and psychic complexity. A privilege that was glorified in the literature of white female suffering.” Didion represents something that is not accessible. While she does give female sadness space at a time when that wasn’t altogether common, she also represents a specific type of emotional expression that is only reserved for some. This is noteworthy in a time when intersectionality is, and should be, a priority. Not to mention the life of the rich, stylish artist who is terribly intelligent and terribly bored with her terribly seamless life is expensive and elitist. In “Play It as It Lays,” Maria designates hours to drive on Los Angeles freeways, frequenting motels and bars, and can afford an illegal abortion. To be fair, this is the expression of a valid
crisis of mental health. But having the privilege to not worry about finances and being given the space to mull for hours is not something that everyone can afford to do. Maria’s patterned draw to turbulent relationships and her confusion and dread over her role as a woman paint her as a troubled archetype with nothing to hang onto. It’s a valid reality in its right, but it’s not the archetype that we need to be romanticizing. It’s the archetype that disconcertingly aligned with my Tumblr days of reblogging Lana Del Rey, who was coined the “Vamp of Constant Sorrow” by Rolling Stone in 2014. At the time, I worshipped “Play It as It Lays” for its ability to assure me that everything, no matter how glamorous or how painful, mattered only as much as I made it to be. “One thing in my defense, not that it matters: I know something Carter never knew, or Helene, or maybe you,” Maria says. “I know what ‘nothing’ means, and keep on playing. Why, BZ would say. Why not, I say.” I still stand firmly by the note that nothing has to matter, but I can’t stand firmly by looking at Didion without a bit of skepticism. White women are allowed to be sad. But they’ve been allowed to be sad. Reading Joan Didion today brings us face to face with the depths to which inequality reaches. Emotion, long the sexist differentiating factor between irrational women and rational men, has been redistributed along racial lines into valid and invalid experiences of disenchantment and depression.
Today, the obsession with celebrities appears to be at an all-time high. The internet and social media have only amplified this obsession. Celebrities have been a huge part of our culture since what feels like the beginning of time. It’s hard to pinpoint who the first modern celebrity was. Financial Review claims that it’s Oscar Wilde, Vox claims that it was Sarah Bernhardt, and History Today claims it was Giuseppe Garibaldi. We can argue about who the first true celebrity was, but we cannot argue our collective obsession with the details of a celebrity’s life. “People are obsessed with celebrities for two main reasons,” said Amanda Fedele, a junior at Pace University. “One is that they look up to them and find them inspirational. The second is that they find their lives more interesting than their own, so they enjoy concentrating on the celebrity.” Celebrities live their lives in the public eye and people watch their every move. With that, people tend to look up to what these celebrities put out into the world. As celebrities document their lives on social media, people can easily relate to what they see. We see celebrities walk the red carpets in their expensive gowns and suits, which attracts many to their extravagant lifestyles. Celebrities have all of these cars, houses, clothes, shoes and power. People follow celebrities because they are intrigued by the lavish lives that they see. Social media has only amplified people’s desire to keep up with their favorite celebrities. People also use social media to voice their opinion on what celebrities do. This can be a great thing, but this could also be a harsh thing as people tend to voice their explicit opinions. Ally Peto, a freshman at Sacred Heart University, explained that people tweet or comment rude things about celebrities “either for attention or to say their opinion to someone without having to tell them to their face.” Through social media, people have extremely easy access to their favorite celebrities. People tend to share their explicit opinions through social media because no can truly know it’s them; they have the screen to hide behind. Fedele explained that people give explicit responses because there’s a slim chance of a celebrity responding. “[People] are subconsciously jealous of the celebrity and feel that attacking them will make them feel better about themselves,” she said. When people say these explicit things about celebrities, it’s sometimes in defense of another celebrity. Some people go to the ends of the earth in order to defend their favorite celebrity, a phenomenon known as “stan culture.” Stan culture is a reference to Eminem’s 2000 song “Stan,” which tells the story of an obsessed fan. The song is in the perspective of a letter that a hyper-obsessed Eminem fan is writing to the rapper. The fan is telling Eminem about his pregnant girlfriend, his life in general and the two previous letters he had sent. Both Fedele and Peto believe that stan culture is toxic. Peto explains that “it’s so extra and extremely unhealthy,” and Fedele agreed, saying, “stan culture is toxic because it’s not healthy to idolize any human being to such an extreme extent — especially if you’ve never met that person.” Obsessing over celebrities isn’t a new concept, but it has been especially intensified by social media, especially Twitter and Instagram.
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Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 19
Netflix’s ‘Miss Americana’ promises introspection, forces narrative
COURTESY OF IMDB
Taylor Swift, the focus of Netflix’s newest celebrity documentary, “Miss Americana,” plays music from her newest album, Lover, at the piano with her cat.
By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
Taylor Swift and I have a complicated relationship. Ever since I was nine years old, Swift and her music have been a large fixture in my life. I still have nearly every word of her 2009 album “Fearless” memorized and I listen to her music almost daily. In a way, we grew up together and she is arguably the most important artist of her generation. However, as Swift has spent the last decade in the public eye, her public image has taken a hit. You’ve probably heard her sing about it. As her reputation became messier, my feelings for her became more complicated. While I think she faced her share of unfair sexism from the media, her characteristic, thin skin and seeming lack of self-awareness have often left me rolling my eyes. When it was announced that a documentary about Swift’s life and political awakening entitled “Miss Americana” would debut on Netflix, I found myself at a similar crossroad. While a look into the lives of one of the most famous people on the planet is interesting by design, the framing of the documentary felt much more like spin control than a raw, unflinching look into Swift’s life. So, naturally, I watched it almost immediately after it came out. The film is, of course, an attempt at narrative control from Swift and her team.
This has less to do with Swift’s character or authenticity and more to do with the nature of the celebrity — controlling the narrative is the best way to beat bad press or obscurity. This is characteristic of nearly all celebrity documentaries: they are one part introspective look and another part public relations. “Gaga: Five Foot Two” is just as much about Lady Gaga’s attempt to retain her previous commercial and cultural dominance as it is about her struggles with chronic pain and loneliness. “Homecoming” is just as much about Beyoncé’s need to prove she is still unmatched in talent as a performer following her complicated pregnancy as it is a behind-the-scenes look at her landmark Coachella performance. Perhaps the most important pop star documentary of all time, “Truth or Dare” is just as much about elevating Madonna to the top of the film industry—an avenue she infamously found little success in—as it is documenting her Blonde Ambition Tour. Fascinating moments find their way outside of the film’s narrative, like when Swift is informed by her publicist that her 2017 album “Reputation” has failed to be nominated for a Grammy in any of the major categories. It clearly isn’t the news Swift was expecting, and she lets the look of pain and disappointment linger on her face a moment too long before remembering the camera is on her.
Another highlight occurs as Swift discusses her sexual assault trial while performing to a sold-out crowd. As Swift’s voice begins to shake as she discusses the prospect of survivors not being believed, it appears as if a layer is being pulled back; she isn’t attempting to convince the audience of anything, she is simply expressing gratitude that her allegation was taken seriously and sadness towards the countless that were not. Despite the more introspective moments offered, they are ultimately not what the film is about. “Miss Americana” is ultimately about Swift finding her political voice, following criticisms of her apolitical nature coming to a head after the 2016 election. The documentary blames Swift’s start in country music as the reasoning behind her silence. According to Swift, she was advised to not speak out politically, unless she wanted to end up like the Dixie Chicks: blacklisted for speaking out against conservative politicians. While this explanation makes sense, I found myself rolling my eyes once again. I don’t doubt that Swift started her career believing that in order to stay relevant, she had to keep her opinions to herself. But she didn’t keep her opinions to herself. As Swift’s star grew, so did her voice against perceived injustices. In the mid2010s, there were seemingly countless soundbites of Swift denouncing those who criticized her number of highly publicized
breakups and seemingly related songs as sexist. By using this explanation, the documentary fails to acknowledge that Swift is no longer a starry-eyed teenager, forced to keep her opinions to herself in the hopes of avoiding alienating a conservative fanbase. She still faces creative challenges–as her 2019 falling out with Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun has highlighted–but she is one of the biggest celebrities in the world, with a ravenous fan base to match. The America of 2006—the year of Swift’s ascent to stardom—is far different from 2016, where political passivity was largely considered irresponsible. The documentary fails to portray Swift’s political journey as a personal epiphany, making it seem more like a calculated move against previous criticisms. In this sense, the documentary fails at its intended goal. While I don’t doubt that Swift cares about politics and using her platform for good, the documentary acts as if she is a political maverick challenging the status quo, rather than a 30-year-old privileged white woman expressing surface-level liberal beliefs. For all its faults, “Miss Americana” succeeds in one major way: I left the film with a hankering to listen to Swift’s music. For whatever narrative they may be trying to push or whichever artist they are attached to, pop star documentaries all have the same intended goal: buy the music of its subject.
Here’s a list of celebrity documentaries on Netflix you should watch next 1. “Gaga: Five Foot Two” introduces you to the women behind the glitz and glamour you see on stage.
2. “Amy” shows archival footage of the late singer and personal testimonials give you a better look at her career.
3. “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” details the life of the transgender lengend Marsha P. Johnson, who was found dead in the Hudson River.
4. “Tig” shows the life of comic Tig Notaro who was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. It shows her legendary stand-up that took off over night. BY KEIRA WINGATE
20| Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
Realistically imperfect
‘The Photograph’: Soulful, artistic performances
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Michael Block (Lakeith Stanfield) Mae Morton (Issa Rae) star in the new romanace drama, “The Photograph.” Here, they have their first kiss during their first date.
By Keira Wingate Asst. Arts & Life Editor
It is hard to make romance movies today without over saturating the screen with corniness, and show what seems to be a completely unrealistic reality. “The Photograph” brings reality into love in an artistic way with an absolute killer soundtrack. “The Photograph” was written and directed by Stella Meghie, who did an excellent job getting the actors to show genuine embarrassment and desire when a new crush takes hold of your life. The story involves Mae Morton (the sensational Issa Rae) and Michael Block (the fantastic Lakeith Stanfield) who get intertwined together in the most curious of ways. The story begins with showing a flawless Mae, a curator at Queens Museum, getting a letter that her mother, Christina Eames (Chante Adams), a distinguished New York photographer left for her after her death. The letter leaves Mae confused and unsettled, due to her mother caring more about her work than her daughter. Chirstina didn’t know how to love, leaving Mae not sure how to either. There are flashbacks throughout the movie, showing Christina with a young Isaac Jefferson played by Y’lan Noel. They were in a loving yet complicated relationship that showed the determination to move up in life, and will cause Christina to miss out on loving people as much as she loves her photos. Although the flashbacks add much needed context, it sets it up to compare the past with the present which took away from Mae and Michael. After learning about Mae, the movie takes you to meet Michael, who is a reporter for The Republic who goes to New Orleans to interview Isaac Jefferson (Rob Morgan) for an article he is working on about the oil spill along the Gulf Coast. You begin to see how Mae and Michael will get intertwined through the interview with Isaac. Michael sees a photograph of a woman – Christina – and asks Isaac who it is. After finding out, Michael became interested
in delving into the random photographer a little bit further. Of course, this leads to his first encounter with Mae, which is a sight to see for many reasons. One, Mae’s infectious smile takes over the screen; and two, Michaels sincere look of lust gets you itching for what’s to come. Michael is immediately infatuated with Mae and you can see it on his face, clear as day. You learn that Michael is not the best one it comes to love and you get a lot of the back story from his brother, Kyle (the hilarious Lil Rel Howery). This seems to not matter when his heart eyes fill the screen. But who can blame him, Mae is absolutely flawless and her demeanor is somewhat serious with a mix of goofy. The delivery of the romance is smooth and well developed. The two have an authentic connection that is shown through those “awkward” silences, long gaises and honest conversation of fear and wonder. It shows the truth of the fast attraction and want for attention from someone in the beginning stages of something new, with someone new. The cast worked beautifully together and one of the best parts was seeing Lil Rel Howery and Lakeith Stanfield on screen together. They complement each other well and are truly comedic together. Some of the best parts of the film were laughing because of the jokes Lil Rel Howery and the response from Lakeith Stanfield. Meghie gave the story good detail and also brought a soulful and artistic vibe that was carried throughout the movie. Whether it was the art on the walls, the style of Mae and her mother’s apartment or the incredible soundtrack, Meghie delivered a well structured artistic movie. Music is actually used in the film as more than just a filler of silence or added affect. Mae and Michael tease each other over their favorite artist on their first date and the movie ends with a concert that Mae surprises Micahel with that involved one of his favorite rappers. One interesting aspect was in some scenes where you would expect some type of love lyric to occur, it was filled with soulful instrumental that en-
hanced the scene in a way that lyrics could not. Although the characters and cast worked well together, they were not pushed far enough. You see the beginning stages of development with Mae and Michaels relationship, but the constant flashbacks give you a clearer story on Christina and Isaac instead. It would have been nice to see further down the line, what happens with Mae and Michael instead of what was more of an abrupt stop in development.
Luckily, the constant back and forth of the past and present didn’t take away entirely from the overall central romance story. The looks and pure chemistry on screen brings a modern romance to life without filling it with unrealistic events that truly only happen in the movies. Even with little flaws, “The Photograph” gives a sincere storyline.
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Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 21
‘Get ready, ladies’ — for a whole lot of nothing Cathy Yan’s ‘Birds of Prey’ is cluttered, lacks meaningful content By John Cotter Staff Writer
After “Joker” became the first R-rated film to garner over $1 billion at the global box office (and to earn 11 Academy Award nominations), eyes have been understandably focused on this mature sub-genre and its successors. Warner Brothers and the DC Universe have quickly piggybacked on the success of Todd Phillips’ character study with the release of the Margot Robbie-produced “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.” The prolonged title speaks volumes to the film’s outcome, as so many stylistic aspirations decorate the screen to the point where the emotional core of “Birds of Prey” becomes translucent. Harley Quinn is heartbroken and lost after breaking up with the Joker. But soon after realizing that she doesn’t need his presence and protection, she really begins the antics befitting of her infamous name. Quinn’s journey toward self-realization crosses paths with Black Canary, Huntress and detective Renee Montoya. There are many potential protagonists that make it hard for viewers to conjure up any sort of sympathy towards any of the suspects. The film spends a fairly equal time with each of them, though Huntress is the unfortunate outlier. Quinn is still the one at the wheel, a ride that’s as intentionally reckless as fans should expect. DC’s latest dive into the “Suicide Squad” universe stages Harley Quinn as she narrates a zigzagging storyline that is suprisingly engaging at times, and purposefully distracting at others. What she is distracting us from is Christina Hodson’s script that feels like a checklist that is perpetually rushed throughout the film, lathered with stylistic quirks in editing and character introductions. Storytelling through editing has potential to greatly enhance a movie, but here, we see a juvenile approach to the process with brisk jokes illuminated with neon-infused title cards and one-offs. When this technique works, it really works. It worked for me when the editing was used to accomplish something that usually would take up unnecessary screen time. One clever use is when the film’s villain, Roman Sionis, or Black Mask, is unveiled as having a plethora of grievances against
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
The female leads in “Birds of Prey” walk in formation, led by Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) on the way to kick some major ass. Harley Quinn, such as “voted for Bernie” The story’s twists, turns and blurry “Birds of Prey” wants to achieve an and “being a woman.” Other absurd de- focus are very noticeable, but there is still awful lot, and if you’re a die-hard Harley tails discreetly characterize Roman while fun to be had. The hand-to-hand combat Quinn fan, then maybe all of this clutter outwardly entertaining us with this unique scenes are beautifully calculated and pre- is exactly what you wanted. For me, I just tone. sented, and dedication from performers wish there was something that would make The sequences that build this tone range like Robbie and Rosie Perez, is on full dis- me want to return to the film or want to from explosive roller-skating car chases to play. Unfortunately, these scenes are pre- see these characters in another universe. quaint discussions between Quinn and her sented more as an afterthought. With so Maybe a sign of my wishful hope for the accomplice, Cassandra. However, the filling many characters to focus on, it’s hard to potential of these heroines and their bond, in between these two opposite approaches tell who we want to align our feelings with maybe an indicator that this film just wasn’t is far from seamless. The film shifts from most. Despite this, the climax did manage enough. Sometimes, too much of someQuinn’s momentary celebrations to Black to push aside some of the extravagant dec- thing ends up feeling like a lot of nothing. Mask disturbingly torturing and harassing orations to let the rare scenes of emotional a woman in his club, an unnecessary scene. connection shine.
Laundry By Lacey Latch Print Managing Editor
I’m not exaggerating when I say that doing laundry properly is an art. There are different ways to do it, but in the end, experts usually agree on the foundation of best practices. I’ve mastered those best practices. Throughout my 21 long years I’ve perfected the laundry formula and I’m prepared to share it with you for the betterment of us all: Step 1: Separate your clothes. I almost always do more than one load of laundry at once so I start out by sorting my clothes into piles: one of smaller, lighter items; another of jeans, hoodies and sweatpants. Color doesn’t matter because I always wash in cold water so the colors never bleed. Pro tip: Wash similar items together if
you have multiple loads to do, it makes it easier to fold later. Step 2: *Pour* in detergent. Detergent makes or breaks the whole process. Liquid laundry detergent is best because you can control how much you use depending on the amount of clothes or the dirt level. In my unbiased opinion, Gain Original liquid detergent is the best on the market because it smells like miracles, but that’s just me. Measure a generous amount and pour in evenly around the bottom of the washer bin. If you don’t use enough detergent, your clothes will be clean but might not have the fresh laundry smell that makes it all worth it. Pro tip: Do not use laundry pods. They are not always guaranteed to dissolve properly and may damage or stain your clothes. Scent boosters are optional and often wonderful but they too run the risk of not fully dissolving.
Step 3: Toss in those clothes. Toss in your clothes, either item by item or a few at a time, starting with the lighter stuff in your basket. Don’t cram the clothes in, just toss them in until it fills almost completely up. If that didn’t fit all your clothes, repeat the process in another machine or after you transfer this load over to a dryer. Pro tip: Newer machines often have eco-friendly options to lessen your laundry’s carbon footprint. Step 4: Start the washer. Wash in cold water, it’s better for your clothes and the environment. Pro tip: Warm water doesn’t wash your clothes any differently, it just makes your colors fade faster.
Step Step 5: Transfer to dryer. About 30 minutes later, you should come back and toss your clean clothes into the dryer. Put one dryer sheet in before your clothes and one after. Make sure the lint trap is clean so the lint from your clothes have somewhere to go and a fire doesn’t start. Pro tip: Do not leave your clothes in too long, they could come out smelling burnt and the whole process would prove pointless. Step 6: Fold clothes immediately. No one likes wrinkly clothes so it’s important to fold or hang everything you can as soon as possible. I, like most 21-yearolds, cannot iron or do not have the means to, so this step is crucial in preventing wrinkles when you have no means to remove them later on. GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
Winter wonderland
SHANE RENÉ | THE DEPAULIA
On the east side of North Pond, buildings’ glow reflects on the water. It is one of many spots DePaul students can enjoy the beauty of winter in Lincoln Park.
When Lincoln Park gets cold, students want to stay inside — they shouldn’t. By Shane René Editor-in-Chief
It’s cold outside — quite cold. But that doesn’t mean you should abandon the outside world. If you live in Chicago, it can be hard to find a place to roam free of concrete, steel and the congestion of urban life. But for DePaul students living in Lincoln Park or Lakeview, there’s a simple, and obvious, solution just a short walk from campus: Lincoln Park. Last year, I moved into an apartment less than a block from Lincoln Park and I couldn’t be happier. The place itself is falling apart by the day, but its proximity to one of just a few open park-like spaces in the city offers a small refuge from unending stimulus of urban life. It’s an escape that we
all need, for no other reason than to give our minds a break – a moment to soak in the (semi) natural world. Lincoln Park offers more than just open spaces, too. Home to the Lincoln Park Zoo, Nature Conservatory and monuments to playwrights like Friedrich von Schiller and William Shakespeare, pedestrians can indulge their curiosities as they enjoy the open air. There’s no reason to fear the cold either. A warm coat and adequate layering is all you need to circumvent the misery of Chicago’s chilling gusts and frigid temperatures. And just because it’s cold doesn’t make staying inside any more healthy. With serene ponds, towering trees and open spaces, Lincoln Park is an underappreciated space that can make our lives just a little less tense — and just a little happier.
Netflix’s ‘I Am A Killer’ gives voice to death row inmates By Chinyere Ibeh Staff Writer
“I Am A Killer” follows the stories of convicted inmates who are currently serving their sentences on death row. The series is among many that cover the crime genre, but it manages to give itself an edge by giving a first-person point-of-view to the killers themselves. Even though there are similar shows out there now, “I Am Killer” gives the audience an in-depth look of how a killer may think. The first episode of the series, “Means to an End,” gives the full scope of the case of a Florida inmate, James Robertson. Throughout the episode, we not only get the perspective of the killer himself, but the other people involved in the case. Through interviews, people are able to give a multi-dimensional account on Robertson’s case. To begin the episode, a fact is displayed that states that since the reintroduction of the death penalty in 1976, more than eight
thousand people have been sentenced to death for murder. James Robertson was sentenced to death for the murder of his cellmate. Robertson, 54, has been in jail for about 37 years and has been in solitary confinement for 20 of those years. To get into solitary confinement, he had strangled his cellmate to death. His motive was unclear, but one possible explanation is that he wanted better living conditions. Throughout the episode, there are interviews with Anne Otwell, a corrections nurse during Robertson’s time in solitary confinement along with Robert Lynch, Robertson’s former cellmate. Mark De Sisto, Robertson’s fifth attorney, Mike Gottfried from the Florida Department of Corrections and David Moshor, Robertson’s cousin, were also interviewed for this episode. Otwell and Lynch both had a cynical and less sympathetic view of Robertson’s case. Both were able to describe how Robertson actually behaved behind bars and
gave the harsh truth. Otwell said that the first thing that she noticed about Robertson was his angry face. She stated that anyone would notice that Robertson was a “pressure cooker ready to blow.” Lynch continues with a similar sentiment, saying that Robertson would only do something if he would get away with it; Robertson would solve many of his problems, no matter how minute or large, with violence. De Sisto and Moshor had different outlooks on the matter. De Sisto believes that Robertson deserves sympathy, due to all of the factors that played into Robertson’s case. Robertson’s parents were both substance abusers, and he had no guidance during his formative years. Moshor, Robertson’s cousin, believes that Robertson wasn’t born a monster and that his upbringing contributed to where he is today. Moshor mentioned the fact that Robertson’s family has no contact with him at all, including his brothers who haven’t spoken with him in 25 years.
“Means to an End” was able to explore the complexity of a killer on death row. With De SIsto and Moshor, we could potentially sympathize with Robertson. With Lynch and Otwell, we can understand the callousness of Robertson’s nature. “I Am A Killer” does a decent job giving the audience a different perspective of the criminal justice system. When it comes to crime stories, we tend to hear from the victims or the victims’ families; we may even hear from the prosecutors and detectives on the case. It’s not often that we get the perspective of the people who committed the crimes themselves. This pilot kicked off a show that gives us an insight into the minds of people who can do such a heinous act. Viewers can look forward to complex storytelling of how and why Robertson wanted to be on death row. Ultimately, “Means to an End” does a wonderful job of setting up a potentially groundbreaking and intriguing show.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 23
While you let it snow, let us tell you DePaul University Alumns could save on auto insurance with a special discount. Get a quick quote today. Plus, GEICO gives back to the university for every newly completed auto insurance quote.
geico.com | 800-368-2734 Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. GEICO contracts with various membership entities and other organizations, but these entities do not underwrite the offered insurance products. Discount amount varies in some states. One group discount applicable per policy. Coverage is individual. In New York a premium reduction may be available. GEICO may not be involved in a formal relationship with each organization; however, you still may qualify for a special discount based on your membership, employment or affiliation with those organizations. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image Š 1999-2019. Š 2019 GEICO 19_223541
24 | Arts &Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
St.Vincent’s D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581” By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
Although entirely too short, Black History Month is a wonderful reminder of all of the ways in which the black community has contributed to the world at large. In the 21st century, black culture is popular culture, and those who have turned their experiences into masterful work deserve more recognition. In honor of Black History Month, I’m listing some of the best works by some of the most talented and influential black musicians. 1. Partition - Beyoncé While “Formation” remains Beyoncé’s definitive ode to black America, this track from her self-titled album is an assertive affirmation of her sexuality and power. Beyoncé dropped this track after the birth of her first child, Blue Ivy, and made it very clear that she was not putting her career on
hold to transition into motherhood. In this track and the album at large, Queen Bey declares that she cannot be put into a box. 2. Fire - The Jimi Hendrix Experience One of the most iconic musicians of all time, Jimi Hendrix made a name for himself as a black artist in the largely-whitewashed countercultural movement of the 1960s. This track personifies his unstoppable, seemingly divine talent, taking a simple concept –attraction –and making it feel larger than life. A bright light gone too soon, we can only wonder about the further contributions Hendrix would have made to music had he not died young. 3. Hound Dog - Big Mama Thorton Before Elvis popularized this track to the masses, one of the most iconic songs in rock history was originally performed by a black woman, Big Mama Thorton. While the Elvis version certainly has its merits, it’s clear that this song was meant to be performed by Thorton, who adds a harder
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blues edge when compared to The King’s rockabilly interpretation. Whichever version you prefer is your prerogative, but it’s important to give credit where it is due. 4. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday Billie Holiday has one of the most distinctive, interesting voices in all of recorded music. Arguably her signature song, this track describes the horrors of racism and has endured as one of the most important songs of black protest. It is not always an easy listen, but the power and emotion behind the song makes for a classic song. 5. Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder is one of the most beloved musicians of all time, and in this number, he pays tributes to one of his musical idols, Duke Ellington. This song’s legacy is two-fold; it is both a signature track of one of the best musicians alive
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1. Applicant’s goal 4. Captures 8. Thanksgiving dishes 12. Card game 13. Better writing? 14. Drop a line? 15. Amiably 17. Kind of store 18. Driving hazard 19. Moisten, as the morning grass 20. Farm young 23. Emerald mineral 25. Plume source 27. ___ Jones Index 28. Baste 31. Novelist Lurie 33. Piebald marking 35. Japanese ceremonial drink 36. Fortify 38. Bakery supply 39. Beef on a stick 41. Stains 42. Proofers’ catches 45. Band member 47. Mideast bigwig 48. Walked 52. Adolescent outburst 53. Brave warrior 54. Be in the red 55. Pro follower 56. Aphrodite’s offspring 57. Jack’s inferior
and a tribute to Ellington, who irreparably changed the world of music as we know it. It’s hard not to smile when listening to this song, and one can only wonder when Wonder will receive a tribute of his own.
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1. Corked vessel 2. Half and half 3. Voyage starter? 4. Nose, slangily 5. Comic’s forte 6. Showy, in a way 7. Hog heaven? 8. Mountain air 9. During 10. Charade 11. Hasenpfeffer, e.g. 16. Capri et al. 19. Road less traveled 20. Circus stunt, perhaps 21. Act the wolf 22. “Tosca” solo 24. Angler’s apparatus 26. Weighty books 28. Fix, at the vet’s 29. Other 30. Dampens 32. Cuff, say 34. Organ part 37. Jaw 39. Split country 40. Grand Canyon transport 42. Hotfoot it 43. Pool site, maybe 44. Four gills 46. Ballpark chorus 48. “Thar ___ blows” 49. Auction listing 50. Dolly, notably 51. Cub’s home
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 25
Boxing club promotes confidence and safety By Madelyne Garcia Contribuiting writer
On the third floor of the Ray Meyer Fitness Center, a room full of laughing students and hanging boxing bags can be seen past the basketball court. The room vibrates with energy, and jump ropes and dumbbells are strewn across the ground. This is where a group of about 15 students meet every Monday and Wednesday evening to workout and learn how to box. DePaul’s free boxing class at the Ray can help boost self-confidence and selfdefense skills for students. The knockout class teaches basic boxing skills and physical fitness to make students feel safer on campus and in Chicago. Efrain Torres, the boxing instructor, begins every class with a cardio workout that builds endurance and strength. Students run laps around the track on the fourth floor, then they return to do core and shoulder exercises with dumbbells. For the remainder of the class, Torres demonstrates to the students how to throw jabs, uppercuts and hooks with the proper mechanics and foot movements. The students can then take these skills to the boxing bags hanging all around the room. “They learn functional boxing,” Torres said. “You come here and learn that, and if you stick with it, you can take those skills anywhere else.” Boxing offers many benefits, and Torres believes the sport is important because it can have a significant personal impact. “When you pick up something new and be persistent with it and develop the skills, it creates a different you,” Torres said. There are different kinds of motivation for picking up the sport. Boxing has both physical and psychological benefits, as well as self-esteem improvements. “There’s confidence involved,” Torres said. “There will be more confidence in yourself when you learn boxing.” 24-year-old DePaul graduate student Stumra Iqbal has seen boxing frequently on social media and became interested in the sport. “I see it on Instagram all the time on the supermodel accounts I follow,” Iqbal said. “I took a quick class a few months ago. It made me want to delve into it more and take another class.” 19-year-old DePaul student Elizabeth Bradley feels that taking the class is helpful for learning and mastering selfdefense skills. “I think that you’re really building your strength with boxing,” Bradley said. “It’s different than just taking one course on how to defend yourself because at the end of the day is that self-defense course really going to stick with you if you’re not practicing every week? I think this class is more useful.” Multiple studies have proven the psychological benefits of boxing. According to SmartMMA, boxing can build confidence and security. Iqbal attests to this benefit. The boxing class has had a positive impact on her. “Taking this class has definitely given me more confidence,” Iqbal said. Learning self-defense through the boxing class has also made many feel
RAPHAEL CANNESANT | THE DEPAULIA
Cameron Chapman (left) trains with a fellow member of the boxing club on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Ray Meyer Fitness Center.
RAPHAEL CANNESANT | THE DEPAULIA
Boxing coach Efrain Torres (right) works out a member of the boxing club during a training session. Torres helps teach students different boxing techniques. safer. The ability to fight and defend oneself is a great skill that the class provides. “I do feel safer,” Bradley said. “In a dangerous situation, I don’t know if I
could live up to what I’ve learned here, but it still gives me a sense of security which is important since I’m riding the train every day.” Iqbal notes the importance of the class
for women as well, who are consistently targeted in street attacks and harassment more often. “As a woman, I really like knowing a little bit about self-defense and as a human being it’s just important to know self-defense,” Iqbal said. According to SmartMMA, boxing helps to manage stress levels by helping take out aggression and deal with frustration and anxiety. The intense workouts that often come with training during boxing additionally improves your mood by reducing endorphin levels. It’s sometimes hard to seperate the brutality from the art in boxing, if it’s an untrained eye. The boxing club at DePaul helps people use boxing as a tool for all of the good it can do in wellness and mental fitness. The energy and positivity of the students in the boxing class demonstrate the advantages of boxing. “I love the atmosphere,” Bradley said. “I’ve made so many friends here and I don’t think that anyone judges someone if they’re a beginner to boxing. Efrain always makes sure to give the new people the rundown and it’s a very welcoming atmosphere.” DePaul’s boxing class is every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6 to 6:45 p.m. at the Ray. Additional information can be found under group fitness on DePaul’s campus recreation website.
26 | Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020
Love of the game
Basketball’s unique pull brings cultures together By Abbas Dahodwala Contributing Writer
The game of basketball brings out massive crowds to parks, “NBA 2K” tournaments, stadiums, driveways, and basements. The game is bigger than just what happens on the court. And this past weekend, the biggest basketball celebration came to Chicago in the form of the NBA AllStar Weekend. Love for basketball was all around the air, and it’s easy to see why. Basketball requires only a ball and a hoop to play, making it easier than baseball or football. It can be played both indoors and outdoors, making it a sport that is played year-round. There are 191 parks with basketball courts in the city of Chicago, according to the Chicago Park District. Love for basketball is felt by many and it allows people to enjoy themselves on the court and also study the various aspects of the game. . “The friendships you form are amazing,” said Liz Mantra, a junior and captain of the DePaul club team. “You build trust on the court during the game which ends up forming outside. Even in the short time we play – we only practice twice a week with tournaments three or four times during the time we play. That trust you build carries off the court to build really good friendships.” Bear Donnelly, who played basketball in high school and now coaches sixth graders at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, Illinois, also spoke of his experiences being on a team. “Off the court, since you’re in practice with these guys every day and you are
putting in the work just like they are, when you get that time off to just kick back and do other things you like with your teammates, you really learn more about those people,” he said. “You grow together, you build lifelong relationships together and I still have relationships with guys who I played with that I still treasure.” “As a player, I loved going to battle with the 11 other dudes on the court,” Donnelly said. “We are all trying to accomplish the same thing and there is a beauty in that. Everyone can contribute at their own level and in their own way. When you finally achieve that goal, whatever that goal is, even just winning a game, it is a moment of jubilation.”
The sense of teamwork and friendship is seen in the NBA as well. It has become even more apparent as social media has helped players grow their own brands and tell their stories. With the NBA All-Star game in Chicago over the weekend, basketball fans came together in a celebration of love for the game. “I love the competition,” Donnelly said. “As a kid, I was bouncing around a basketball from the time I started walking. I have always been really competitive, and basketball is my way to show that.” Mantra discussed her love for competition as well while also highlighting other aspects of the game including the aggressive nature of the sport. “I love the fast-paced environment,”
she said. “At any point anything can happen.” Others tend to favor a relationship with the NBA rather than just the on court aspect. “I love the personalities in basketball,” said DePaul junior Owen Cahill. “Everyone is chirping at each other on twitter, and I also love that since it’s five-on-five, [that] means that each individual player is more meaningful. “I love watching the fights,” he said. “My favorite game ever is game four of the 2017 Thunder vs. Jazz series in Utah. It got really chippy. Joe Ingles was in Paul George’s head. Jae Crowder was standing up on Carmelo Anthony. They won in a closely contested game and Mitt Romney was waving goodbye to Russell Westbrook as he was leaving the court.” The different strategies and forms of playing also are appealing to fans. “I love the different schools of thought and methodologies,” Donnelly said. “I watch these hardwood classic games and it is much more ‘pound it into the post and take high percentage shots.’ Now the game has changed a ton, and in five to 10 years it will change again. You look at how Toronto won a championship last year. Everyone thought you had to rely on the three ball, but Kawhi Leonard was making 55 percent of his 18 footers and playing lockdown defense. He led them to a championship.” It is this type of worship and commitment that basketball fans share. The All-Star Weekend is a time for basketball fans to embrace the love and watch the sport that unites basketball fans all across the globe. GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
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Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 27 SENIORS, continued from back page come. They were recruited from two different parts of the country, Campbell from the East Coast and Stonewall from the central Illinois city of Normal, IL. The two stuck together through their years at DePaul. Being seniors is just a title – it’s more about what that title carries with. “I think it’s something that her and I have been looking forward to in that aspect, yet nothing’s really changed you know, [we’re] still carrying the reins to this team,” Stonewall said. On and off the court, Campbell and Stonewall’s bond has been instrumental in their success. Right now, the two are on the home stretch of their careers. “It’s been nice to have each other and to be on the same page as senior leaders,” Campbell said. Senior leadership is often thrown around as a major factor in a college team’s success. Even though it doesn’t fill a slot in the stat sheet, the influence has been big for Bruno. “We’re having a special season because Chante Stonewall and Kelly Campbell are special seniors,” Bruno said. “It’s not the only reason why we are here, we have some other very talented players but the group has to be led.” If leadership can be seen from an outsider’s perspective, it comes with seeing a never-quit attitude that the women’s team has brought to their games. The team’s biggest win of the season might have come at Northwestern on the road on Dec. 1 where they trailed for most of the game before storming back to take a 70-68 win. Against UConn, they erased a 26 point deficit to cut the game back to 4 points. Other comeback wins came against Green Bay and St. John’s. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in this team,” Stonewall said. “We’re very mature for us to be so young, super super competitive which is really something that stood out to me compared to other teams.” The win over Xavier clinched at minimum a shared Big East title, a win on Friday at Georgetown would clinch the outright title. Yet through all of that, the process doesn’t change for Campbell and Stonewall. The “one game at a time” philosophy has carried them through their careers at DePaul. “I think it’s important for us to stay in the moment and really just focus on how we can be really
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul senior guard Kelly Campbell is recognized during the starting lineups before the Blue Demons hosted Xavier on Sunday. really good but we also have to win one game in a row to just make sure we stay on target,” Campbell said. “We do have really big goals and can achieve them.” Sunday’s win came on an emotional senior day where Campbell and Stonewall rolled in the second half to a 32-point win. Their last play on the Doug Bruno court came in the tune of a pick and roll that ended with a Campbell dime to Stonewall who laid it in as she was fouled. “When [Chante] set the screen, I knew how [Xavier] had been playing it and I knew Bruno was about to take us out so I wanted to get Chante and I one last little connection there,” Campbell said. The two have connected for plenty of plays over the past few years, both agreeing that last year’s Big East Tournament championship game against Marquette was their favorite memory. “We got some games to go though, so we could have a new one,” Campbell said. Looking at life after DePaul isn’t the main focus right now, but the duo is confident for the future. The seniors will look to continue basketball at a higher level along with school aspirations.
“I want to play professionally, at whatever level God leads me to,” Stonewall said. “When that settles down, I’ll eventually go back to school, get my masters in sports management, maybe coach somewhere, maybe [DePaul].” The path is similar for Campbell. “I want to play basketball overseas so I can travel, and then eventually come back and go to grad school, I’d like to be a sports nutritionist at the college or professional level,” she said. The crawl to the end of their careers in basketball will be a trying time. The Big East tournament and the NCAA tournament are the next steps, and the No. 13 DePaul Blue Demons have another chance to make the Sweet Sixteen. For Bruno and the DePaul athletics department, saying goodbye to the two will be nothing short of difficult. They are players known in the program for their loyalty, drive and care they brought to each and every day. “These are two people that are very driven human beings,” Bruno said. “And to be able to stay driven and still smell the flowers along the way, it’s kind of a joy to watch that aspect of their lives.”
BASKETBALL, continued from front page as the season begins to come to a close. The Blue Demons’ offense was just as pathetic as their head coach in the first half, turning it over 12 times, shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 30 percent from the 3-point line. DePaul’s offense was better in the second half, going 14-of-29 from the field and 5-of-9 from behind the arc. But the Blue Demons’ defense was as strong as a paper napkin, the Bluejays shot 67.9 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from the 3-point line in the second half alone. Junior forward Jaylen Butz only played 15 minutes and scored two points, while senior guard Jalen Coleman-Lands had six points on 2-of-7 shooting. A team that was laser focused in the non-conference and opened up with a 12-1 record, has the look of a team that is defeated and searching for someone to get them out of this mess. The attention to detail that the players and coaches had to begin the season, which resulted in the program’s best start since the 1986-87 season, is all but gone. Leitao seems to have lost the locker room. “Tale of two teams,” DePaul coach Dave Leitao said after the game. “One was playing aggressively, and the other one was not. There wasn’t the amount of energy we needed collectively, and as a result, there was no level of offensive or defensive execution.” Leitao can make any excuse that he sees fit, but his team has been unprepared to play
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DePaul head coach Dave Leitao calls out a play during the first half against Creighton on Saturday at the Chi Health Center. The Blue Demons lost the game 93-64. conference games since game one against Seton Hall on Dec. 30. Saturday’s game was the culmination of their horrific Big East showing this season, and Leitao has run out of answers on how to save a sinking ship. Leitao’s final roll of the dice was to play 11 players in the first half, including sophomore guard Flynn Cameron who has
only played in three conference games this season. But like most of Leitao’s tactics in his five years at DePaul, nothing good came out of the new rotation Leitao implemented as his team trailed by 14 at the break. And after 15 minutes to regroup at the half, the Blue Demons managed to look worse in the second half.
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
Head coach Doug Bruno and senior forward Chante Stonewall embrace during Senior Day on Sunday. Meanwhile, Seton Hall has dropped two consecutive games and Head Coach Kevin Willard talked about benching players and only playing six men for the rest of the season. Let the record show that the Pirates are in first place in the Big East with a 10-3 record, ranked 10th in the country and have an overall record of 18-7. “I’m not playing guys anymore,” Willard told reporters after his team lost to Providence on Saturday. “I’m going with six [players]. I’ve got a guy moody that doesn’t want to go through practice... it’s not what should be happening right now.” That’s what a winning program looks like, even when they are having a strong season, their head coach is still looking to make adjustments and get better. DePaul, on the other hand, is a prime example of a losing program that fails to adjust and make the necessary moves to get its season back on track. But Seton Hall has a coach that understands what his team needs to do in order to get better. The Blue Demons haven’t had that since George W. Bush was in office. DePaul’s once promising season was officially killed off by Creighton on Saturday. The remaining six regular-season games should be about finding out who’s the future of DePaul basketball, and that includes beginning the search for a new head coach. Barring a miracle run at Madison Square Garden in a couple weeks, there’s just nothing left to play for.
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 17, 2020 | 28
Chante Stonewall
&
Kelly Campbell
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
Senior duo enters home stretch of college career By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
Both Chante Stonewall and Kelly Campbell of the Blue Demons women’s basketball team have had a moment during their senior season where they really felt the looming presence of the end of their college careers. “Playing my last game in Jersey this weekend was definitely weird,” said Campbell, a New Jersey native. For Stonewall, her homecoming game came at Butler. “I had that moment at the Butler game because I have family in Butler,” she said. Not only was it the last homecoming for Campbell and Stonewall, but now the
duo has played their final game at McGrathPhillips Arena after a two-game homestand against Butler and Xavier – a homestand that led them to another Big East regular season title after a 97-63 win over Xavier. “[It’s] definitely bittersweet,” Stonewall said. Sunday’s game against Xavier marked Senior Day for DePaul and signaled the final stretch of the Big East schedule, where the duo has dominated in their careers. Stonewall and Campbell were expected to be here at the top of the Big East, racking up conference accolades and leading the DePaul women’s basketball team to the best start in their four-year careers. In each of the past four years, Campbell and Stonewall have either won the Big
East regular season trophy or the Big East tournament championship, so their business this season is far from finished. “I think the sky’s the limit for this team,” Stonewall said. The starting forward and guard haven’t missed a single game this season, and DePaul’s 24-3 record is a result of that, cemented by a 14-1 start to Big East play. Campbell and Stonewall, along with sophomore guard Sonya Morris have started all 27 games, from the 20 point loss to Oregon State in November to the 16-point comeback win against St. John’s in February. Stonewall has averaged a team-high 17.4 points this year, and Campbell leads the team in rebounds (8.5) and assists (6.0) a game.
However, the stat sheet isn’t where the two make their biggest influence. The senior duo has grown through DePaul’s program and are the most recent example of players built for head coach Doug Bruno’s “DePaulball” system, athletically as well as academically. “It’s just two seniors that have done so much and they’ve done it the right way,” Bruno said. “They’re both excellent students, they both are service leaders, so it’s just a joy to watch good people have and create good results.” Since their recruitment, the two have been waiting for their role at the top to
See SENIORS, page 27