DePaulia
The
Volume #104 | Issue #13 | Feb. 3, 2020 | depauliaonline.com
L
ife after
oss
By Ella Lee
“A person is just not prepared to lose somebody in the span of an hour or 24 hours; no one can ever be ready for that — for that rope to be burned or yanked away from us.” - David Fireman Director of the Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services
See Page 16
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA | THE DEPAULIA
2 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 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
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News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 3
Sanders and Vampire Weekend ‘holiday’ in Iowa By Emma Oxnevad & Lacey Latch Opinion Editor & Managing Editor
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA — As Vampire Weekend plays to a thinning crowd of Bernie Sanders supporters in Iowa, a young girl who couldn’t be a day older than 10 dances amongst the crowd, unaware of the political moment she’s standing in the center of. She connects with the young adults around her, blissfully ignorant to the power they hold – for they will vote in this election, a vote that will undoubtedly shape her future. On Saturday, Sanders left D.C. and the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump to attend the Bernie Caucus Concert with Vampire Weekend. The rally featured a wide variety of speakers in support of Sanders, including documentarian Michael Moore, Cornel West, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Pramila Jaypal (D-WA) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI). Sanders himself went through a compilation of what have become his “greatest hits,” repeating plans for the erasure of student debt, an agenda to combat climate change and to rid American politics of corruption and greed. “We are taking on the entire political establishment,” he said. “We’re taking them all on.” To the naked eye, the crowd had a large population of Millenial and Generation Z voters, with many expressing excitement for voting in a presidential election for the first time. Madison Broaden, 20, and Tajai Carrasco,18, are both students at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. They said Sanders’ emphasis on climate change as well as his consistency as a candidate appeals heavily to them. “I don’t think any other candidate is actually talking about climate change,” Broaden said. “And if we’re talking about
our future, if we don’t fix this now, we won’t have a future to begin with.” “How genuine he is and the fact that he believes so strongly in equity and not equality is amazing,” Carrasco said. “Because you could give everyone $100, but everyone doesn’t have the same situation.” Some traveled to Iowa from out of state in support of Sanders and his campaign. David Marques is a 22-year-old student at the University of Chicago. He traveled to Davenport University in Cedar Rapids to canvas for Sanders and attended the rally to further show his support and see Vampire Weekend perform. “I feel like maybe [Sanders] could be a little more forceful in his campaigning,” he said. “I noticed he has a tendency to not really go negative against other candidates, which is an admirable quality, but sometimes it gives off the impression that he’s a little bit not fully in the game.” Despite a large population of younger voters, the speakers seemed more tailored towards an older generation, with clumps of teenagers spotted sitting off to the side throughout the night. While the crowd was full of fervent Sanders supporters, not everyone in attendance was fully convinced of his campaign. Michelle Ajram, 55, of Cedar Rapids, voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election in both the primary and general election and still held some reservations regarding Sanders while attending the rally. “I came tonight just to see what was going to be said, how it was going to go, I’m still honestly thinking what direction I want to go in,” she said. “The main thing is, I do believe that we need to take care of the people in this country. When we talk about healthcare, we didn’t get far enough with Obama’s plan for affordable healthcare for all, maybe there’s an option, maybe people are tired enough to say ‘this is what we need to do.’” Ajram said she also was unsure of how Sanders could enact his goals in a four-year timeframe.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. shakes hands at a campaign rally Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. AP PHOTO | JOHN LOCHER
“It’s nothing about his campaign that’s lacking, it’s just thinking about the longterm that we want someone that can go the long haul,” Ajram said. “Four years is great, eight years is better if you are going in the right direction. And it takes time to get some of these things accomplished so that’s where the long-term is important. And it’s age, it’s some of those things that people talk about that we think ‘Ok, is he going to be able to do it for the long haul?’“ A couple of voters walked into the Sanders rally later than most, adorned with stickers and pins from all of the major campaigns in the race. Mary Callahan has a lifetime of experience with caucusing in Iowa, whereas her friend Lynne Burke traveled in from Wisconsin to get an unimpeded first look at the Democratic candidates. This rally, and caucus weekend as a whole, is the last chance to make up their minds, they said. After spending time with the Buttigieg campaign early in the day,
they ended the night with Sanders. After Sanders spoke, they declared they were “back with Bernie.” “You can’t deny the enthusiasm, the energy,” Burke said. “I think this country is ready for a revolution.” Sanders took the stage towards the end of the evening, addressing a few thousand supporters, by his account. President Trump was at the forefront of many of Sanders’ talking points, referring to him as “the most dangerous president in modern history.” “I don’t want anyone fainting,” he joked. “The Sanders administration will believe in science.” Sanders continuously referenced the importance of Monday’s caucus, imploring voters to come out in support of his campaign. “This is the most monumental election in American history,” he said. “The whole world is looking at Iowa.”
Another Title IX director leaves and gets replaced By Ella Lee & Emma Oxnevad Arts & Life Editor & Opinion Editor
DePaul has already found a replacement Title IX coordinator following the sudden departure of Ann Skiffington, who left the university on Jan. 23 after acquiring the position on Sept. 9. The new director of gender equity will be Kathryn Statz, who was an investigator in the Office of Gender Equity for over a year before assuming the position, the university confirmed. Statz’ qualifications include “senior-level management experience and in-depth understanding of DePaul University having served as the senior associate director of athletics at DePaul for 15 years,” according to Russell Dorn, a university spokesperson. In the year that Statz has been affiliated with the office, she has been part of a Student Affairs team that has accomplished the following, among other things, according to Dorn: •Changed the office’s name from Title IX to the Office
Former director of gender equity, Ann Skiffington. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL
for Gender Equity •Created a second investigator position and a case manager position •Updated the website for sexual and relationship violence prevention, including adding link specifically for re-
porting Gender Equity complaints •Developed protocols for interacting with respondents that reflect an equitable, student-centered approach focused on the dignity of all persons •Developed a process that assigns an advocate to every complainant as each case is reported, allowing a complainant to both process and assess their options for campus or legal options The university confirmed on Jan. 29 that Skiffington, former director of gender equity, is no longer employed by the university. When asked about her departure, Skiffington told The DePaulia that she “appreciates the interest in this matter” but is “not ready to talk about it yet.” The role of the director of gender equity was previously called Title IX Coordinator. DePaul gave no reason for Skiffington’s departure, stating they are “unable to discuss confidential personnel matters.” This is a developing story. Visit depauliaonline.com to follow our coverage of DePaul’s Title IX office.
4 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020
The plight of adjuncts
Side gigs, course loads and contracts: How low-wage instructors make due Teaching introductory courses can be more difficult for professors for a number Multimedia Editor of reasons. Nancy Lefever, the associate chairman More than 50 percent of DePaul’s of DePaul’s Workplace Environment Comteachers teaching a class each quarter are mittee (WEC) which was established in adjuncts. What most of their students don’t 2016 to voice the concerns of adjuncts and realize is that means they are contracted an adjunct herself in the Language Arts and quarter-to-quarter and are not entitled to Sciences department, said that introductobenefits like health insurance or FMLA. ry courses like WRD103 and 104, have a According to the Institutional Research bigger class size. and Market Analytics (IRMA), there were “My class is capped out and I’ve got a 962 part-time faculty teaching a course in waiting list of 11 students,” Lefever said. the fall quarter of 2019, compared to 870 “My tenured peers have the luxury of teachfull-time faculty. During the previous acing eight or nine hand-picked students.” ademic year, there were about 1,350 partBoth of Lefever’s courses are capped time faculty taught at least one course and out at 23 students with a full waiting list of adjuncts taught a total of 46 percent of all 11 students. According to Lefever, teaching classes at DePaul. an introductory writing course with 23 stuBalancing multiple jobs and heavy dents is hard because there is a lot of drafts, course loads revisions and final papers that she has to For some of DePaul’s adjuncts, like one grade. who wished to remain anonymous for fear A DePaul adjunct, who wishes to reof endangering their job, working multiple main anonymous for fear of endangering jobs to make ends meet is a common practheir job, said that teaching introductory tice. Split between two colleges in the city, courses are difficult because the courses are they commute between both, balancing often filled with freshmen, leaving them to teaching, office hours and grading. feel like they are the “front line.” “It would be nice to be able to spend a “We have to full week on one teach them about campus (...) the Blue Star, walk them place in which it to the Center for Stumatters, or I see a dents with Disabilidifference is being ties and talk to them able to meet with about what to do in students,” they case there is a sexual said. “I’m really assault,” they said. only here two days Aside from a week.” teaching at DePaul, They said that she tries to take on hard decisions any freelancing ashave to be made signments that she as an adjunct that can due to financial students don’t alneeds. “We try not to ways see. but as an adjunct we “If a student can’t afford to miss wants to meet paid work,” she said. and it’s not going “It’s exhausting.” to work because Nathan DeWitt, I’m on a different Chairman of WEC, campus, that can is also an adjunct be frustrating for Chairman of the Workplace who takes on freethe students that lancing assignments. Environment Committee and feels like ‘you’re not there for me?’” adjunct “That’s the reality of freelance, you say they said. “There yes to every job ever is literally no recourse sometimes.” and figure out how you’re going to make They are one of dozens of adjuncts that the time work, ” he said. “Someone is going teach WRD 103 and WRD 104, two of Deto get short-changed and it’s almost always Paul’s four mandatory courses, which focus the student. ” on writing and composition. In WRD 103, Some adjuncts feel under pressure to 90% of professors that are teaching this maintain retention. Lefever believes that course in the winter quarter, are adjuncts. balancing responsibilities as an adjunct In WRD 104, that number increases to 93 and personal financial responsibilities can percent. affect freshman retention. In LSP 120 and 121, it’s more compli“We’re losing 15 percent of students cated to calculate due to many of the facbetween the first and second year, it seems ulty teaching those courses not being listed like they need to pay a little more attenon either the full-time faculty or adjunct tion, ” she said. faculty list. In LSP 120, which is one of Lefever wanted to clarify that it is not DePaul’s mandatory mathematics courses, because adjuncts are doing a poor job, but two out of 11 professors are listed as full because of the large class sizes and the large time. In LSP 121, one out of 7 professors amount of responsibility each adjunct has. are full time.
By Hannah Mitchell
“That’s the reality of freelance, you say yes to every job ever and figure out how you’re going to make the time work. Someone is going to get short-changed, and it’s almost always the student.”
Nathan DeWitt
GRAPHICS BY HANNAH MITCHELL | THE DEPAULIA
According to Lucy Rinehart, the Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Faculty, said “I don’t know that you can draw a direct line here between adjunct faculty teaching intro-level classes and first-year retention.” Rinhart said that retention stands at 86 percent, which she says is “way above the mid’ 60 percent national average, and well above what is expected in schools in our peer group.” DeWitt’s department, the School of Cinematic Arts, has addressed these concerns and a lack of consistency in introductory courses, by having full-time staff teaching the intro courses while adjuncts teach higher-level courses. An adjunct faculty member, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, said that the heavy course load affects their ability to pursue their research ambitions. “Tenure positions are worked off the exploitation of adjuncts,” they said. They said that tenure positions couldn’t pursue their research if they were bogged down by the responsibilities that adjunct faculty are. They said these responsibilities keep them from being able to pursue their own research, thus never being able to have the credentials to become tenure. The stress of balancing multiple jobs and large class sizes are not the only complaints that DeWitt and Lefever commonly hear. Job security, transparency for reappointment, pay per course and benefit threshold are issues that resound.
Quarter-to-quarter cause job insecurity
contracts
Adjunct professors work on 10-week contracts. Every quarter, a new contract begins with no guarantee that professors will be invited back for another contract. These positions are not just open to new faculty members, but some adjuncts have worked at DePaul for 25 years and beyond. According to the DePaul Faculty Climate Survey in 2019, 86 percent of parttime faculty want to hold either tenure or full-time positions. A DePaul adjunct, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, said “In the back of one’s mind,
there is always the question and fear that a course will be cancelled, or that one’s appointment won’t be renewed, and that one’s very minimal livelihood will be significantly diminished or disappear.” Reappointment is based heavily on student reviews, but some complain that the criteria is not transparent. “In a lot of schools the criteria for how you get another class and whether or not you’ll be hired again is not clear and not clearly communicated,” DeWitt said. Faculty benefits is a common complaint from adjuncts. In order to be able to buy into health insurance, professors must teach six courses or work 1,000 service hours or a combination of both, in a fiscal year. A DePaul adjunct professor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, said that they qualified for one year with a combination of courses and service hours. The next year, they taught one less course but contributed three times as much service hours, and were ineligible. “It was never fully explained regarding course equivalencies, only that adjuncts had to teach six courses per calendar year,” they said. “ I had thought I’d provided the same services that counted as course equivalencies when my insurance was discontinued for 2020.” Adjuncts don’t usually have control over what courses they teach or how many. “Each year I never know if I get to keep the DePaul insurance,” they said. “It makes managing my health care and finances difficult and maddening.” “Policies available on the Affordable Care Marketplace ranged from $800 $1100 per month with a $6,000 - $7,500 deductible,” they said. “ With my DePaul Blue Cross Blue Edge CDHP plan I paid approximately $250 per month with a $2,000 deductible.” Courses getting dropped can affect an adjunct’s eligibility. A DePaul adjunct, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, said that “If a course is cancelled due to low enrollment, one might find oneself below the minimum number of courses
News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 5 Continued from page 4
for eligibility and thus lose health insurance coverage.” “This is a very precarious position to be in when you have a chronic condition.” Adjunct professors do not qualify for The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that protects employees from losing their job when they take unpaid leave. FMLA is commonly used as maternity leave in the U.S. Pregnant adjuncts are not guaranteed job protection, but rely on their department to hold their position. Taking maternity leave would also affect an adjunct’s health insurance eligibility. DeWitt and Lefever said that these scenarios are possible, but not something they have been faced with yet. Something that DeWitt has had to respond to is an adjunct undergoing cancer treatment. The adjunct wanted to remain eligible for health insurance. “You can’t teach a class if you’re undergoing cancer treatment, but you also need your health insurance if you have cancer,” he said. In this instance, his department was able to give him the course work he needed when he returned from treatment to remain eligible. However, DeWitt says that “there have been instances like that where solutions have not been worked out.” An adjunct who has worked at DePaul University for 25 years said that they have not received a raise in 15 years. The adjunct, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, used to receive a cost-of-living raise each year. According to
DeWitt, there is not a policy that ensures cost-of-living raises for adjunct professors. DeWitt emphasized that the “adjunct experience is far from ubiquitous.” Although these issues affect adjuncts university-wide, every college is responding to them differently. Some adjuncts, DeWitt and Lefever pointed out, are happy with the way things are. Teaching isn’t their full-time job, and they view teaching compensation as more of a side job and are not dependent on it.
Second-class among faculty
citizenship
Adjuncts have complained to the WEC that they feel like second-class citizens. “Some colleges have a culture where adjuncts are included and some colleges have a culture where adjuncts are absolutely treated like second-class citizens, or even worse,” DeWitt said. “Some of the things we hear about, adjuncts disrespectfully asked to leave meetings, frankly dehumanizing behavior.” One adjunct faculty member, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, said that they “refer to this as the academic caste system.” Office space is one of the ways that adjuncts feel that there is a discrepancy between full-time staff and adjuncts. Lefever enjoys her office space, however, she says, “some of our colleagues don’t even have a meeting space. Somewhere where they can speak to a student in private.” DeWitt said that his office is shared
“Some colleges have a culture where adjuncts are included, and some colleges have a culture where adjuncts are absolutely treated like second-class citizens, or even worse.”
Nathan DeWitt
Chairman of the Workplace Environment Committee and adjunct among other adjuncts in his department. He has one shelf and cannot put anything on the walls. “I have anything on the walls, it’s very respectfully taken down and placed on that shelf,” he said. Rinehart points to the WEC as being an effective way to voice the concerns of
adjunct faculty. DeWitt said that they’re voicing their concerns, but as an advisory committee they don’t have bargaining power or leverage. According to Lefever, they have been able to make effective change. For example, her department is beginning to take into consideration adjunct’s availability and preference when scheduling courses. The WEC has also begun hosting annual receptions honoring adjunct faculty. For some these efforts are not enough. According to one adjunct, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, “administration having receptions honoring adjunct faculty feel like an attempt to distract from the real precarity of adjunct employment.” Another thought that echoed from the complaints of adjunct faculty, is the perceived mismatching of DePaul’s vincentian values and the carrying out of these values. An adjunct, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of endangering their job, said that “it’s not the vincentian values that they preach when you take health insurance away from professors.” DeWitt has heard similar thoughts from adjunct faculty that he has spoken to. “The university has a mission and a set of values that they claim to adhere to, but some of the ways they treat their adjuncts don’t necessarily adhere to these values,” he said. “At a certain point, if you’re not living the values you report to have, it’s not values, it’s marketing.”
University researchers unmask chronic illness By Alayne Trinko Staff Writer
What most people don’t know about DePaul’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is the hidden gem that lies on the third floor of the 990 W. Fullerton academic building in the Lincoln Park campus. The Center for Community Research, which was founded and directed by psychology professor Leonard Jason in 2001, is dedicated to “reducing stigma, empower citizens and better understand the systemic and environmental barriers to full participation in community life,” according to the Center’s website. Jason works quietly in a warmly lit study with his degrees and accolades lining the walls of his office. His most recent research study, which he worked on in that very office for seven years, screened 10,000 children and teenagers in the Chicago area for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Jason and his team worked with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago to conduct the study, which was funded by The National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to the Mayo Clinic (the not-for-profit academic medical center based in Rochester, Minnesota), ME/CFS is a “complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can’t be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn’t improve with rest.” Signs and symptoms of ME/CFS include fatigue, loss of memory or concentration, extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise, among others, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because of the disorder’s complexity, there is no single test to diagnose it. A variety of medical tests are needed to rule out other health problems with sim-
Director of The Center for Community research, Leonard Jason (right) and W, LaVome Robinson (left), psychology professor, received a $6.6 million grant last October. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
“DePaul University has always valued its teacher-scholar model that integrates innovative research into the education of the next generation.”
Daniela Stan Raicu
Associate provost for research ilar symptoms, so the disorder often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Over the course of seven years of research, Jason and his team screened each individual through high-quality medical and psychiatric examination for those at risk of having the illness. The prevalence of pediatric ME/CFS has been disputed within the psychology community, so Jason and his partner Ben Katz, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, included
a diverse sample of ethnic, socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds in the study. The researchers screened a random sample of 10,119 youth, ages 5-17, from 5,622 households. The first stage of the research consisted of a phone interview with parents and guardians about the overall health and behavior of their children. Missing school because of fatigue was one of the most common symptoms among youth who showed a higher risk of having ME/CFS, Jason said.
Of those who screened positive over the phone, 165 youth went on to medical and psychiatric examinations. Following the evaluations, a team of physicians made final diagnoses. The children were given a diagnosis of ME/CFS if they met the criteria for case definitions. Of the 42 youth diagnosed with ME/CFS, only 2 (4.8%) had been previously diagnosed with the illness. Of the children screened, African American and Latinx youth were twice as likely to be living with undiagnosed ME/CFS. Jason concluded that the reason most children are going undiagnosed with ME/ CFS is due to a lack of access to health care providers who can take the time to run multiple tests to discover ME/CFS as the disorder. The disorder is debilitating, Jason said, and most youth and even adults who are suffering don’t know they have it or are not taken seriously. Prior to this pediatric prevalence study, Jason has been researching ME/ CFS for more than 30 years in adults and college students. “DePaul University has always valued its teacher-scholar model that integrates innovative research into the education of the next generation,” said Daniela Stan Raicu, associate provost for research at DePaul. “Professor Jason’s NIH awards are significant because they can be a catalyst for new opportunities for students to get engaged in research, for faculty to spearhead new interdisciplinary collaborations throughout the university, as well as for the Center for Community Research to draw further support for its important work.” The Center for Community Research is one of the only programs of its kind in the world, and Jason takes pride in the research and work being done in his offices to serve the Chicago area and beyond.
6| News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020
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News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 7
Much needed reboot to library database coming By Camille Koch Contributing Writer
Next school year, as you furiously search for your final source while your 12 a.m. deadline creeps closer, you might be pleased to discover your job has gotten a bit easier. This summer, DePaul’s online library will get an all-new, more user-friendly look to its DePaul catalogue page. Ashley McMullin, interim associate university librarian for teaching research and engagement, hopes the reboot will make the research process more seamless and provide an overall better user experience for students. The reboot specifically alters the I-Share program, which allows students and faculty to request books from around the state. Currently, all I-Share libraries work using two different databases: WorldCat Discovery and Voyager. Many are excited for the new system because of its coherence. The old system was patchwork, built mainly to accommodate books and VCR tapes. “Voyager itself is about 25 years old,” said Christine McClure, interim XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA associate university librarian for By next year, WorldCat Discovery will be switched out for a newer, more compatible database in the library. collection services and technologies. “We say it’s old enough to rent a car… what a huge project it’s going to be.” so with the explosion of electronic No fear last-minute researchers and resources, it’s not built to handle that.” source-finders, you will not be affected The major change is that archaic in the meantime. Although the project is systems will be put to rest and two on a large scale, the older database is not new databases will be introduced that going to be derailed. No malfunctions are significantly more compatible. are to be expected as the new system is Currently, the two-part system is built. separated into the DePaul viewfinder There shouldn’t be any major catalogue to find books and the changes for students this academic year, WorldCat Discovery system for local McMullin said, at least not until late and global resources. Spring. The official launch date is June “Those two systems right now work 24, so that students, faculty and staff separately but we have different things won’t have to reconfigure in the middle working on the back end to connect of the quarter. them,” McMullin If there are said. “As part problems, it would of the I-Share likely be around the migration, we print materials. are all migrating “I don’t think it to ALMA and will, but if anything Primo VE who is affected… it would are owned by the be around print same company materials,” she said. and work better “But I don’t think together.” it should impact McCullin electronic resources said the reboot at all.” is intended to McClure hopes make both the that the new user’s and the databases are easier librarian’s lives to understand and easier. No longer a bit more selfwill students explanatory. have to endlessly “My hope is that click through the the new system is website. Instead, more intuitive to use,” they will instead McClure said. have a more Interim associate librarian Freshman Vanesa direct line to Elicondo at DePaul their sources. uses the database for “On the new her WRD 104 class systems, if you and International Affairs class. While want to request a book, especially on doing her research, she believes the I-Share, it will [take] fewer clicks to get hardest part is moving through each of there,,” McMullin said. from ‘I found this listing, say, in the right now and seeing what all of our new the many steps. According to Newsline, 91 I-Share general search box but I want to try to work flows are going to be,” McMillin “I get confused moving from page to libraries in Illinois are making this get to the full text somewhere else,’” she said, “Everything so it’s a big process for page,” she said.“A lot less clicking would shift. This means more than 38 million said. “So hopefully that process will be us at the moment but we’re really excited definitely be helpful.” records will be migrating to the new just a little bit more seamless.” about it.” McMullin ensures that this is systems. Students like Elicondo aren’t the only By next fall, the library reboot something that will be fixed in the “DePaul did not decide to make this ones that would be excited about this should be up and running, making reboot. The new system will reduce decision — libraries across Illinois have reboot. This will also make librarian’s students, librarians and other faculties’ clicks and hopefully yield a better user decided to make this decision,” she said. lives easier as well. lives a little bit easier. experience. “Everyone in I-Share will be migrating “We’re going through the process “It will hopefully be easier to get over the same day. So you can imagine
“[The system] itself is about 25 years old. We say it’s old enough to rent a car... so with the explosion of electronic resources, it’s not built to handle that.”
Christine McClure
8 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT:
Jan. 22 - 28, 2020
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
LOOP CAMPUS
Welcome Center 7
990 W. Fullerton 1
Clifton-Fullerton Hall 6
14 E. Jackson Belden-Racine Hall Munroe Hall 8
9
4
10
10
CDM Building
11
10
DePaul Center
5
12 2
1
Ray Meyer Fitness 2
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS JAN. 23 1) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the 990 W. Fullerton building. 2) A Theft report was filed for items taken from a locker in the Ray Meyer Fitness Center.
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
report was filed in Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Person was transported to Illinois Masonic by Chicago EMS. 7) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the Welcome Center.
JAN. 27 JAN. 24 8) A Domestic Violence report was filed in 3) A Harassment by Electronics means report Belden-Racine Hall. was filed for a person receiving unwanted texts. 9) A Burglary report was filed for items taken from a room in Munroe Hall. JAN. 25 4) A Suspicion of Marijuana report was filed in Munroe Hall. No drugs were found. 5) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor report was filed in Munroe Hall. Person was transported to Illinois Masonic by Chicago EMS.
JAN. 26 6) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
Other
LOOP CAMPUS JAN. 27 10) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the CDM building. 11) A Theft report was filed for a backpack taken from 14 E. Jackson. 12) A Criminal Trespass Warning was issued to an unauthorized person in the DePaul Center library.
Bill proposes Metra fare student discounts
News. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020| 9
Board of Trustees welcomes new members
By Shane Rene PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The BNSF line stops at Harlem Ave. Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D) of the 83rd District has proposed a bill for reduced student fare.
By Jess Grekowicz Contributing Writer
A promising new bill has been proposed to the Illinois House of Representatives that would give a 50 percent discount on Metra fares to college students. The bill, filed by Rep. Barbara Hernandez under the code HB4217, calls to amend the current Regional Transportation Authority Act. It proposed that on and after Jan. 1, 2021, any fixed route public transportation services provided by the Commuter Rail Board will give a 50% discount off of the adult fare to all students who present a valid student ID card issued within the previous 12 months by a college or university. The future for commuting students looks bright as Metra announced that there will be no increased fare rate in 2020 as well. Upon this announcement, Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski stated that “We have been able to keep our operating expenses in check and will not need to raise fares to cover higher operating costs.” Metra currently charges college students with adult fares based upon how far a passenger travels. A one-way ticket from downtown Chicago to the closest stop is $4. The farthest stop is $9.50. Therefore a full-time DePaul student would spend between $16 to $38 a week to attend class. There are options to save money on Metra fares by purchasing a monthly pass, however they cost between $116 and $195.75, a price that many college students struggle to pay all at once. Linas Savickas, a senior and commuter student at DePaul University says that he takes the Metra four days a week and currently spends the highest rate for the monthly pass at $197.75. On top of this expense, Savickas also pays $1.50 a day for parking at Metra stations, bringing his total monthly cost to around $220 a month. “When I was a freshman, the monthly pass was roughly $155 a month. Now the price absolutely gets in the way of other expenses.” Savickas said. “I work a set amount of hours to be able to afford the train and a reduced fare would allow me to work less.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Representative Barbara Hernandez (D) of the 83rd District. That’s a significant amount of time I’d have to focus on my classes and school work instead.” According to James Stewart, director of adult, veteran and commuter student affairs at DePaul University, a future fare discount would come from a change in Metra Policy only. However that hasn’t deterred the university or its student efforts. Stewart has worked with DePaul’s SGA to advocate on this issue, contacting other Chicago universities’ Student Government Presidents resulting in a joint letter to Metra seeking a college student discount. The joint letter was received shortly before the new bill proposition. The distress over Metra fares has been a growing issue within the DePaul community. The Office of Commuter Services states that almost 90% of DePaul University’s total student population commutes or lives off campus. Students in the past have taken the matter into their own hands, such as DePaul alumni Cedric Ngwa, the creator of the 2017 change.org petition requesting a discounted Metra fare for college students. The petition asks for a $3 reduction in the fare for college students and currently has over 19,000 signatures. Ngwa stated that he submitted the petition to the City of Chicago Government and Metra in 2017 without any significant feedback.
“When I was a freshman, the monthly pass was roughly $155 a month. Now the price absolutely gets in the way of other expenses (...) A reduced fare would allow me to work less.”
Linas Savickas
Senior & communter student Despite the disappointing initial response, Ngwa is still passionate for the cause. “I’m in a position where I have a lot more time and resources to pursue a change for commuter students.” Ngwa explains, having graduated in 2017. “Interestingly enough, I’ve had students from other universities approach me. This is not just a problem DePaul students have.” The petition is still active and requests change for all commuter students of Chicago. It can be accessed by searching “metra discount for college students” at change.org. The petition serves as a call to action, however the HB4217 bill calls for a higher discount with government representatives ready to back it. In order for the bill to become a law, it must pass a series of hearings scheduled by the House Rules Committee of the Illinois General Assembly. If the bill is not scheduled its first hearing, it is considered “dead.” The proposed bill has not been scheduled for its first hearing since being filed on Jan. 22, but there is still time for the students of Chicago to be heard on the issue.
Editor-in-Chief
DePaul University’s Board of Trustees will bring aboard six newly elected members, including Gery Chico, a former candidate for mayor of Chicago, according to a university press release. The new board members come from a variety of professional backgrounds, ranging from corporate banking and investment to education. Along with Chico, the board welcomes Wintrust Financial Corp. executive Timothy S. Crane, Apple systems architect John Kerr, Sacred Heart Schools’ admissions specialist Claire O’ Grady, Felician University (New Jersey) president Anne Prisco and Financial Investment Corporation president and CEO Jennifer W. Steans. The new board members were elected in groups of three this past spring, and again this past fall. DePaul’s office of public relations and communications said the announcement was delayed until this winter as students and staff returned to campus. “These trustees’ valuable expertise and insight, at both the national and local level, continue a long tradition of bringing exceptional leadership to our governing board,” said DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban. “I appreciate their service and dedication to our university.” Chico joined DePaul’s board of trustees in 2001 and served until 2011 when he left the board to campaign for mayor. After a failed bid for office, he was named chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education by then-governor Pat Quinn. Crane joined Wintrust — the banking firm that bought the $22 million naming rights for DePaul’s new basketball arena in the South Loop — back in 2008. Prior to joining Wintrust he served as the president and head of retail banking of Harris Bank in Chicago for 24 years. In 2016, he was also given named Wintrust treasurer, according to the company’s website. “DePaul’s board is gaining the knowledge and expertise of six exceptional leaders who are committed to our mission and our long term success,” said Jim Ryan, chair of the board of trustees. “I’m thrilled they are joining our team and look forward to working with them.”
Nation &World
10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2019
WHO declares coronavirus a global health emergency By Abbas Dahodwala Contributing Writer
On Friday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health emergency, signaling the severity of the virus while the State Department released a statement saying all Americans should cease travel to China. The WHO declaration comes a week after the organization initially declined to deem it a global health emergency. The change is mostly due to fears that the virus could spread to countries with weaker public health systems. Dr. Alfredo Mena Lora, an infectious disease specialist at St. Anthony hospital and the University of Chicago hospital, said the declaration allows the organization to provide financial aid to countries affected by the emergency. “The WHO wants to protect all of its member countries and the world by mobilizing response funds and other things to help cope with the emergency,” Mena Lora said. The primary source of the virus has seen major growth in China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe that the source of the virus is linked to seafood and animal markets. There are now over 14,557 total cases MAP BY GINA RICARDS | THE DEPAULIA worldwide. As of Sunday evening, The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health emergency on Thursday, Jan. 30 after more than 14,000 cases there have been 304 deaths – with one have been reported worldwide. outside of China in the Philippines. In an attempt to curb the spread, several major airlines across three continents – in- ment can impose to attempt to halt the spread. “If we use good old fashioned public cluding American Airlines, British Airways, health measures – identifying cases, secludDelta, Lufthansa and United – have suspending or isolating cases while we are trying to ed all flights to and from China. Prior to this, test and diagnose and getting the word out – the U.S. and other nations were attempting to that appears to be helping us to some extent evacuate citizens remaining in Wuhan – but when containing this outbreak,” she said. over 1,000 Americans remain in the city as the Mena Lora and Molina both said caution quarantine persists. and preparedness are key to preventing furCoronavirus is a general term for a set of ther spread of the virus, which will be brought viruses that are often seen in camels, cattle, to the forefront as the first case of human to cats and bats, according to the CDC. human infection was reported in Chicago “This virus is a regular flu type virus that Wednesday night. cause upper respiratory infections, and some“While the first case of person-to-pertimes lower respiratory infections,” Mena son transmission here in the United States is Lora said. “What is new about this virus is alarming, there is still relatively low threat to that it came from a mutation of samples that the American population,” Molina said . “Aucame from a fish market. A lot of these new thorities are still trying to fully understand viruses or conditions mutate from an animal how the disease is transmitted. We should all reservoir. For example there is a lot of influcontinue to be vigilant in hand washing and enza in birds and other mammals, so it just covering our mouths when coughing/sneeztakes one or two mutations for those diseases ALBERTO PEZZALI| AP ing and when we’re around people who are that affect animals to affect us.” coughing and sneezing. ” A man wearing a mask takes a picture in Parliament Square, in London, Saturday, Feb. “The problem is that when that happens Mena Lora had a similar thought process 1, 2020. Two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Britain. The World Health our immune system does not know this new Organization declared a global health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. virus, so it tends to cause more harm initially on the first human-to-human infection. “I am not surprised that a close contact and then hopefully our immune system gets to the patient acquired the virus,” he said. “I Along with this, Mena Lora also spoke of the better at it,” he said. tendency for people to panic in this type of The main issue so far with this strain of do not think this changes anything, at least situation. the coronavirus has been its ability to spread to me, on how I think about this condition. “Panic is never justifiable, but it is always quickly while it is hard to predict its lethality These are folks that live in the same house, understandable, ” Mena Lora said. “We as husleep on the same bed I am sure. That is somethis early in the outbreak. mans panic, and there is a lot of herd mental“When you look at the spread, it’s alarm- what expected.” ity. This in and of itself is a routine part of any “From a preparedness standpoint Chiing,” said Lourdes Molina, an assistant teachoutbreak or epidemic. ” ing professor at DePaul and an expert in epi- cago is as prepared as it can be, in the sense “In the medical community we know that demiology. “When you compare to the [severe that hospitals throughout the country and (panic) comes with the territory. Scientists acute respiratory syndrome] outbreak, it ap- throughout Chicagoland know what the perin general have to, A, answer the questions pears that the coronavirus that we are looking son under investigation is…and the Department of Public Health helps us triage and through research and through understanding, at now is spreading quicker than SARS.” and B, try to be as transparent as they can.” Mena Lora also spoke on the mortality of helps us test these folks,” he said. Scapegoating can also be an issue when DePaul students have also felt the shockthe coronavirus. events that create as much fear as the coro“So far the numbers that we have are the waves of the virus, especially international navirus happen. Mena Lora brought up the tip of the iceberg, they are probably slightly students. amount of scapegoating and negative backYiran Wang, a DePaul student from Qinmuted,” Mena Lora said. lash that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s in “The mortality rate is not terrible. By that gdao, China discussed the way her family has response to HIV. I mean there have been 80 deaths [at this had to adapt. “As a society it is our job, and our role, “Now my sister has to work from home,” time], that’s bad, but there has been at least a to be prudent and to educate ourselves about she said. “The government recommended thousand cases and probably thousands.” what is truly at fault or at risk and work toMena Lora also noted that the virus may that no one on my hometown should go out gether rather than separate walls,” he said. be more dangerous for older individuals or till February 9.” Wang also said that people in Chicago very young people, which is similar to the flu. are overreacting a bit to the cases in the city. Mena Lora added there are ways the govern-
Coronavirus
By The Numbers -14,557 cases worldwide - 305 deaths inside China
- 1 death outside of China
- 23 countries affected
Nation & World. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2019 | 11
Impeachment Trial
top five takeaways
American Cancer Society reports drop in cancer deaths
By Cailey Gleeson Nation & World Editor
By Madi Garcia Contributing Writer
JACQUELYN MARTIN | AP Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks to reporters before attending the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, Wednesday, Jan. 22
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s book revealed Trump asked for his helping in arranging a meeting between Rudy Guiliani and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky last May. Justice Roberts refused to read a question from Senator Rand Paul allegedly naming the whistleblower that ignited the impeachment inquiry, resulting in Paul walking out of the hearing. Trump’s legal team accused House impeachment managers of “psychoanalyzing” Trump’s actions in opening statements. The anticipated vote for witnesses lost 49 to 51, moving the trial one step closer to an acquittal vote. Senators announced the vote that determines whether or not Trump is removed from office will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 5 – one day after the annual State of the Union address. Read the fulll weekly recap at depauliaonline.com
2020 began with a report from The American Cancer Society announcing the steady decline of cancer in the U.S. The decline in deaths from lung cancer marked the largest drop, followed by the three other common cancer types of colorectal, breast and prostate. The decline in cancer rates has been steady over the past 26 years, according to the report. After the report was published, President Donald Trump tweeted about the declining rate and seemed to claim responsibility for it. “U.S. cancer death rate lowest in recorded history! A lot of good news coming out of this administration,” tweeted Trump. In a direct response to the tweets, CEO Gary M. Reedy of the American Cancer Society told CNN that the Trump administration is not responsible for findings in the report. “The mortality trends reflected in our current report, includiwng the largest drop in overall cancer mortality ever recorded from 2016 to 2017, reflect prevention, early detection and treatment advances that occurred in prior years,” he said. The administration, however, has the opportunity to impact future declines in cancer, Reedy told CNN. “They can impact future declines in both cancer incidence and mortality by increasing access to comprehensive health care, supporting robust and sustained increases in federal funding for cancer research and passing and implementing evidence-based tobacco control policies,” Reedy said. Fabiola Horta, a DePaul University
health science major, said she wishes the Trump administration would apply more money towards cancer research. “I would like to see the Trump administration allocate more funds to the Department of Public Health,” she said. “One of the major responsibilities of this department is the surveillance and lowering of the disparities of health opportunities in low income and minority communities.” The overall death rate between 2008 and 2017 dropped an average of 1.5 percent per year, resulting in about 2.9 million deaths avoided. However, the report estimates about 1.8 million new cases and 600,000 cancer-related deaths in the U.S. this year. This translates to about 4,950 new cases and 1,600 deaths each day. Advancements in treatment for some types of cancer have impacted the rates. Immunotherapy drugs for melanoma skin cancer have resulted in a steep decline of deaths, especially for those age 65 or older. Improvements in targeted therapies have shown progress for leukemia and lymphoma patients, greatly expanding the life expectancy. Increased preventative measures among individuals have also contributed to the steady decline in the U.S. over the last decade. Elbert Huang, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, said living a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of cancer. “A healthy lifestyle includes a high vegetable diet and no use of tobacco and alcohol,” Huang said. “It’s important to follow routine cancer screenings for colon cancer and breast cancer. Staying up to date with vaccinations also help prevent cancer causing viruses, such as the myeloma virus.”
While increases in awareness and technological advancements have contributed to these preventative measures, Huang said even more can be done. “There is a correlation between obesity and cancer,” Huang saix. “The American food industry is partly to blame for the rising obesity rates.” Horta said she takes the preventive action of living a healthier lifestyle to lower her own risk of developing cancer later in life. “I try to prevent cancer by being active,” Horta said. “I know that keeping your body healthy and moving promotes the regeneration of cells. I also always try to wear sunscreen during the summer to prevent skin cancer.” Despite the progress, the newest –and largest – threat to the declining cancer rates is the phenomenon of vaping among teens and young adults. The American Cancer Society cites the lowered use of tobacco as one of the main contributors to the lowered rates. Vaping, however, seems to threaten this trend in an unpredictable way. Advocate Health Care neurosurgeon Kenji Muro said it is too early to tell the extent of the impact vaping can have on the declining cancer rates reported by the American Cancer Society. “It takes some time period after exposure to see cancer form, which also speaks to the difficulty of establishing a causal relationship versus correlation,” Muro said. “So, as any other studied risk factor, there are a few possibilities: no impact on cancer rates, a decrease in general cancer rates, or an increase in general cancer rates.”
Supreme Court to hear Contraceptive Mandate cases By Elena King Contributing Writer
The Supreme Court has accepted the Trump Administration’s request to review two cases in regard to the ‘Contraceptive Mandate,’ which requires employers to cover birth control for their employees as part of their health care plan. This request by the Trump Administration is in hopes to weaken the mandate, giving employers the choice to refuse to cover contraceptive care for women on the basis of moral or religious objection. The Contraceptive Mandate, a requirement of the Affordable Care Act, has provided women with free birth control as part of their healthcare plan through their employers. Weakening this mandate would allow for employers to limit women’s access to birth control. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly two-thirds of women use birth control as a form of contraceptive, of which about 70,000 to 126,000 depend on coverage through their employers, as stated by Judge Patty Shwartz. The Trump Administration defends The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, which prohibits any agency, department, or government official from “substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion.” Dr. Julie Chor, an assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago and assistant director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, discussed the social aspects
of contraceptive coverage. “It’s about finances. It’s a socioeconomic issue, often times intertwined with geography,” Chor said. “States that are more progressive will help offset some limitations that exist for people seeking coverage.” According to Planned Parenthood, birth control pills can cost anywhere between $15 and $50 a month for women
“It’s a scary thought to know that people who you don’t know are in charge of your body and you can be left powerless.”
DePaul Senior
who do not have access to health insurance. Other forms of birth control such as the IUD could add up to over $1,100 in outof-pocket costs. Losing access to free birth control will disproportionately impact poor women, young women and women of color. A senior at DePaul University, who requested to remain anonymous, has experienced first-hand the importance of being covered by insurance when it comes
to birth control. “I used to pay $50 a month for my birth control so it was really expensive for me at one point,” they said. Certain suggested solutions to this issue are unrealistic and fail to acknowledge the multitude of reasons why women choose to take birth control, outside of simply preventing unwanted pregnancies. According to the Center for Young Women’s Health, women who get on birth control often do it in order to regulate menstruation, reduce cramps, relieve endometriosis symptoms, prevent ovarian cysts and lower the risk of certain types of cancers. “I started taking birth control when I was 17 for pregnancy prevention and cramps and I’ve been taking the pill everyday for the past five years,” said the student. “My cramps used to be so horrible each month I would have to skip school and if I didn’t skip, I’d spend the day in the nurse’s office. It’s a scary thought to know that people who you don’t know are in charge of your body and you can be left powerless.” When women are provided contraceptive care without financial or social burdens, it can have a dramatic effect on the amount of unwanted pregnancies that arise, in turn lowering the number of abortions needed. Jasmine Lewis is a DePaul student who has concerns for the rights over women’s own bodies. “Making birth control less accessible will only do more harm, especially with abortion already being harder to access in some states,” Lewis said.
Contraceptives in the U.S.
A Brief History
Compiled By Elena King Contributing Writer
Oct. 16, 1916- Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, NY., which was closed down nine days later. May 9, 1960- Envoid, the first oral contraceptive, was approved by the FDA. 1968- FDA approved Intrauterine Devices (IUDs). 2000- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled excluding birth control from the list of prescription drugs provided by employers is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Feb. 14, 2001-FDA approved Plan B Emergency Contraceptive as the first available progestin-only method of contraception. March 23, 2010-President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020
Opinions Locked from the inside By continuing to ignore women and people of color, the Academy is gatekeeping the film industry By Rebecca Rogers Contributing Writer
The Academy Awards, or the Oscars, are a prestigious event in Hollywood that celebrate the excellent work in film over the past year. Awards are given to performers, directors, writers, editors, designers, producers, and more. It is a night of excitement and celebration, and for many attendees, winning an Oscar is a peak in their career, and sets them on an exciting new path as an Academy Award winner. The awards ceremony and its nominees have historically had a serious lack of representation. According to Variety, the 2018 awards ceremony drew in a historic low for viewership, with household rating of 6.8 and only 26.5 viewers. The 2019 show drew in slightly higher numbers, with a 7.7 rating and 29.6 million viewers, but the show was still the second-lowest rating in history. This drop in ratings has come just as the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements have grown. Last year, audiences were treated to a surprise, with the 2019 Oscars ceremony serving us a historic night full of groundbreaking winners, and the representation of nominees was more diverse than ever before. It seemed that the exclusive event had finally taken a turn for the better and that finally, they were on a path towards representation and inclusivity for all. However, when the 2020 Academy Awards nominees were announced, it seemed that they had reverted to their old ways, as if the 2019 ceremony had never happened. When asked whether the problem with the Oscars is perhaps that fewer women and people of color make movies, therefore fewer are nominated, Kyle Buchanan, a New York Times culture reporter and awards season columnist said that everybody will blame the filmmakers, not the voting pool.
“Yes, the Oscars can only choose from the movies that are in front of them, but there is often a bounty of diverse stories in front of them and they don’t always choose them,” he said. “And then that has a sort of pernicious ripple effect that affects the next crop of movies.” For example, Jennifer Lopez’s performance in “Hustlers” was snubbed, and although Awkwafina won a Golden Globe this year for her role in Lulu Wang's “The Farewell,” she will not be seen at the Oscars either. Speaking of Lulu Wang, her name cannot be found in the Best Director category, nor can Greta Gerwig’s for “Little Women.” “Just Mercy,” starring Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, was not nominated in any category. Design categories are notably lacking as well, with Ruth Carter's costumes from “Dolemite is my Name” missing from the nominations despite her historic win last year for “Black Panther.” So, it's easy now to make the case that there were plenty of performances and films made by people of color and women to pick from, but that the Academy simply does not value the stories that they are telling. Instead, they choose to nominate five white men for best director, and 19 out of the 20 acting nominations were given to white people. Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” is the only performance by a person of color nominated. Kelly Jankowski, a film student at DePaul, has watched the Oscars for as long as she can remember, but she says that she’s upset with the nominees this year. “The films that get nominated always seem to be the ones made by the most powerful white men in Hollywood,” she says. “The top nominated films, ‘Joker,’ ‘1917,’ ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and ‘The Irishman’ all feature white men. It’s annoying because there were so many films with real di-
versity [that] should have received these top nominations.” You may be wondering, who chooses who wins an Academy Award? Well, that is a marvelous question. The winners are decided by none other than the Academy themselves! The Academy is a group of voters that consists of filmmakers in the industry. Each year, a new group of voters is inducted into the Academy, and in the face of accusations of exclusivity, each group of inductees has been more diverse than the last. However, this does not cancel out all of the thousands of white men that make up more than their fair share of the Academy. According to the New York Times, there are a total of 9,537 total Academy members, as of December 2019, with 68% of those voters being male, and 84 percent of them being white. Until the old white men who rule the Academy in numbers are replaced, it won’t matter how many women and people of color are inducted, there’s simply no way to outnumber them. Anne Mitchell, a professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Critical Ethnic Studies at DePaul, has concerns about the way that the Academy itself works against women and people of color. “The Academy made this big plea saying that they were going to have more women and more people of color inducted into the Academy, but in order to get into the Academy, you have to have produced or worked on a film that was nominated,” she said . “This keeps the Academy very white, and it’s very skewed to older white men. Then they publicize a few people that are being let in, like Ava DuVernay and Tyler Perry and Lee Daniels, but even if it was 20 people, twenty is not going to be able to fight 400 white men, it’s definitely not going to fight a thousand, so the numbers are against us, and that illustrates that even if the product is good, is it
going to be prioritized in a certain way?” With an Academy full of old white men who are desperately clinging onto the past, the Academy Award nominations are no longer just about the people they choose to recognize, but arguably more importantly, they're about the stories the Academy believes are worthy enough to be recognized. By nominating a film for best picture that has no representation from people of color, or women, or dare I even say it, queer folks, you invalidate the stories that they have to tell, and you tell them that those stories are not worthy. The whiteness and maleness of the Academy Award nominees signify a gatekeeping process that the Academy has put in place in order to control what stories are given recognition. Kelsey Kurz, another DePaul film student, also watches the Oscars every year, and last year, she threw an Oscars party that included voting ballots, but she has found that the way that people of color and women are treated is unacceptable. “There were great movies from women directors this year,” she says. “‘Little Women,’ ‘Honey Boy,’ ‘The Farewell,’ ‘Hustlers,’ the list goes on. Greta Gerwig was totally snubbed for ‘Little Women.’ It seems that women and especially people of color have to work three times as hard as white male filmmakers. The pattern I'm seeing is that good or mediocre movies made by men tend to slip into the best picture race even if there is a female-directed movie that is objectively better.” Based on the history of the Academy Awards, as well as the films that were released this year, it is obvious that this is not an issue of a lack of performances, but an issue of gatekeeping, racism and sexism. But let me be clear, by no means do I think that white men should be shut out of the Oscars. We just need to make room for everybody at the table.
GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
Opinions. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 13
Better to be right than first By Rebecca Meluch Focus Editor
Just like Michael Jackson’s death hit most of us all so profoundly in 2009, the death of NBA star Kobe Bryant last Sunday will go down in history as one of those “Where were you?” days. Last Sunday afternoon, when the world was stricken with the news that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash earlier that day, no one will forget where and when they heard it from. When we hear about such stunning and grievous news in today’s time, we often search and refresh our timelines on Twitter, and turn on the TV to hear the most accurate and timely report on the matter. An event as tragic as Kobe’s death shows how top-flight and fast social media sites are, as well as news broadcasters’ work to announce breaking news and provide coverage that is faster and more accurate than others. There’s an old saying, a golden rule in journalism: It’s better to be right than to be first. Although it is important to cover breaking news, there are ethics behind it – ethics that are believed to be abandoned last Sunday. Besides respecting the lives of the lost and the lives of those grieving, many news outlets decided to rush the story behind Kobe’s death. Behind the motivations on being the first to break the news, many outlets abandoned the importance of being the most accurate and respectful source to break news. Edmond Lawler, a senior journalism instructor at DePaul shared his opinion on the media circulation surrounding Bryant’s death. “Well any sort of sudden tragic death of an international icon like Kobe Bryant is going to generate enormous amounts of coverage. I think most of it was very balanced and fair but there were obviously some mistakes made,” he said. “You know, that’s the risk of trying to be first, you don’t have your facts in a row.” Since the announcement of Bryant’s death, there has been backlash on the tabloid news service, TMZ. Although the news service claims that their tip on
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Bryant’s death came from a law enforcement source, Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department called out the show for being the first to report the death, especially before Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, could be informed. After TMZ posted the breaking news on Twitter before it made headway to other news organizations, an influx of worriers and followers tweeted at Vanessa Bryant asking if the news was true. It is horrific to imagine being asked by a bunch of twitter users, if it is true that your husband is actually dead, before you heard the news yourself. Although TMZ was the first to break the news of Kobe Bryant’s death, the news service has received an influx of backlash, scrutiny and scolding from the LAPD, for simply reporting the news disrespectfully to the families of those who lost loved ones. In the rules of journalism it is im-
portant to break news and to tell it correctly, but there is also an importance of ethics behind doing so. DePaul senior Alec Archer, also shares the same insights on the media circulation surrounding Bryant’s death that day. “I think so many media platforms reported it falsely because in a time where the story is so massive and developing so quickly, everybody wants to be the first ones to share the information with the world,” he said. “This turns into a sort of desperation on the media’s part. I think there needs to be a level of ethics from media outlets like TMZ when covering extremely sensitive stories like the death of Kobe.” The death of 41-year-old Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter as well as seven others in the helicopter whose lives were lost was a story told incorrectly and rapidly spread before it was proved
correct. TMZ was not the only news service that circulated the breaking news in an unethical way last Sunday. In a haste to report the news first, many media outlets raced to report it, whether it was correct or not. Many followed the reports of other news stations, adding onto the false reports and confusion for those grieving. Before it was confirmed that it was Kobe Bryant, his 13-year old daughter Gianna and seven others in the helicopter, WPLG news, an affiliate to ABC news, tweeted that Bryant’s four daughters were reportedly amongst those who were killed in the crash. Although the tweet was soon deleted, it didn’t take long for others news sites to circulate that information, although it was not proven true beforehand. When the whole world is watching, journalists must try their best to get all of the stories and facts correct. People are constantly refreshing their feeds and turning on the news, often whatever is told is digested, readers and listeners will always remember the mistakes and false reports made on that day. “It casts the whole industry in a bad light when you screw up a big case like that,” Lawler added. The news of Bryant’s death was so tragic and captivating by all, that it was almost what every newspaper, broadcast network and sports event began its lede with during that day and the days following. Although there were a series of false reports and new outlets flooring it to get out the news first, there were also many sentimental and commemorating reports as well. The Los Angeles Times dedicated the majority of its front page to Bryant, many NBA games that day halted their first 24 seconds of the game in memory of Bryant, as well as hundreds of celebrities shared and tweeted photos, stories, and texts for him, his family, and the others in the accident. There were many malpractices in the journalistic world last Sunday, but the world came together to gather its resources, to honor and pay tribute to those who lost their lives and loved ones in that horrific accident everyone will remember.
#HotGirlSanders
While entertaining, social media is perhaps not the best method of political advocacy By Madi Garcia Contributing Writer
The viral hashtag on Twitter, #HotGirlsForBernie, demonstrates how the youth is becoming more politically involved through social media. On the hashtag, young people everywhere post selfies and claim endorsing 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders makes you attractive too. “I’m voting for Bernie. You can be hot if you do this too,” reads one tweet. “BE HOT VOTE FOR BERNIE,” says another tweet. Overall, the hashtag seemed to foster positivity for Sanders, and encouraged others to become involved. It is the latest strategy for candidates and their supporters to promote messages and gather sponsors. Bruce Newman, a business professor at DePaul University, said a hashtag is an effective communication tool for candidates. “The hashtag versitalizes communication between people and it’s a more effective means of influencing your friends,” said Newman. “From the point of view of ‘opinion leadership,’ we look up to people as opinion leaders. So if someone uses the hashtag and they’re respected, it makes it
more appealing for others to use it too.” Young people are politically involved on social media on more ways than a hashtag. Across all platforms, users share articles, share their opinions and quote political leaders and news headlines. This new mode of political involvement is still transpiring, and the impact it can have on young people’s political involvement can be both beneficial and harmful. Ben Epstein, a political science professor at DePaul University, explained how social media can help with political exposure. Almost everyone, young or old, is active on some platforms of social media, and are consequently subject to some form of politics. “Social media makes it harder to avoid politics and as a result, more people are at least aware of political issues, at minimum in headline form,” said Epstein. Social media is also attractive for politics because it makes people feel heard, according to Newman. Young people then want to become more politically involved because they feel they can make a difference. “Social media has increased their involvement because they have a sense that they have a voice,” said Newman. “If
you think you have an impact in a political system, it makes you more interested in participating.” Since social media has given politics a platform, the youth voting rate has increased. According to Craig Sautter, a professor at DePaul University, it is vital for young people to be involved in elections. “The decisions that are made by elected officials today will determine the world you live in tomorrow,” said Sautter. “Key issues that young people care about, such as war and peace, social justice and global warming will be impacted by the policies of whoever gets elected next November.” While social media exposes young people to politics, it may not be the most reliable source. For those who are not well informed about politics, it can be harmful to get the information exclusively through social media. Epstein said it can make it difficult for those who disagree on issues to communicate from different “sides” of media platforms. “Algorithms built into each platform are designed to give us more of what we like,” said Epstein. “For politics, it helps reinforce and solidify our positions. The personalization of content we experience on social media is part of what is referred
to as a filter bubble, and it leads to a lack of diversity of thought in our newsfeeds.” It’s important to know the source of the information people receive. News media organizations have generally been a credible source for information, especially for politics. However, President Donald Trump has begun to change that during his presidency, according to Newman. “The president has started the notion of ‘fake news’ and it has permeated through the use of social media,” said Newman. On social media platforms like Facebook, it can become incredibly difficult to differentiate what news is true or just an internet troll. The function of social media in politics will continue to transpire and be impactful. It can be a double-edged sword for young people, as it exposes many to political issues and they become more politically involved, but divide those with different opinions and spread false information. “Overall, social media is a strategy to boost visibility,” said Epstein. “How it is used is a separate issue. Some may have thought ‘#HotGirlsForBernie’ was fun and helpful, while others may have thought it was harmful. The debate it worth having.”
Focus 14 | Focus. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020
A hot mess
Oscar predictions from the DePaulia’s finest film critics By Michael Brzezinski Chief Film Critic
Awards season is reaching its tail end with the hotly anticipated Oscars (which will take place on Sunday, February 9th @ 7 p.m. central). It’s almost a tradition at this point for there to be mass controversy over nominees and 2020 is no different. The inclusion of Todd Phillips’ “Joker” (the film with the most nominations at 11) has sparked controversy along with yet again, a staggering lack of diversity amongst the nominees. No female directors were nominated this year despite 2019 being a landmark year for big studio movies directed by women. On top of that, only two people of color were nominated in acting categories. The Oscars will resume as hostless this year for the second year in a row. We will see if the inclusion of big blockbusters and the once-in-a-lifetime breakout hit of “Parasite” will spark enough interest to attract more viewers. Like every year, I will be watching and keeping track of my predictions for how the categories will play out. My predictions are as follows: Best Picture: Will Win: “1917” Should Win: “The Irishman” Sam Mendes’ intense sprawling World War 1 saga has been collecting top prizes all around the awards circuit lately on top of also being a massive box office success and dynamite critical hit. While it’s a major cinematic achievement, it doesn’t come anywhere near the level of Martin Scorsese’s profound and transfixing gangster epic to end all gangster epics. Best Director: Will Win: Sam Mendes Should Win: Sam Mendes Much like his film, Mendes has been racking up all of the awards, and deservedly so. He accomplishes some genuinely
next-level form in “1917.” The only potential threat is world-renowned and now Twitter’s favorite filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho of “Parasite” Best Actor: Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix Should Win: Antonio Banderas At this point, it is inevitable for Joaquin to become the second actor to win an Oscar for playing the comic book villain The Joker following Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”. While that performance is certainly dynamic, Antonio Banderas’ subdued and heartbreaking portrayal of an aging broken filmmaker reaching a personal and artistic breakthrough in his life is one of the most beautiful performances of this century so far. Best Actress: Will Win: Renée Zellweger Should Win: Renée Zellweger Zellweger’s stunning portrayal of Judy Garland has been generating nonstop buzz ever since it debuted at the Telluride Film Festival to unanimous praise. This is an absolute lock. Best Supporting Actor: Will Win: Brad Pitt Should Win: Brad Pitt Pitt has had a genuinely unbelievable year and a big part of it is his magnetic and deeply engaging portrayal of a troubled stuntman and ultimately an amazing friend in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. He gave by far the best speeches at the Globes and the SAG awards, so I can’t wait to see what he does on the stage of the Dolby Theatre. Best Supporting Actress: Will Win: Laura Dern Should Win: Florence Pugh While I still will never forgive the Academy for snubbing the complete and utter perfection that is Jennifer Lopez in “Hustlers,” I was still overjoyed to see them recognize the talent that Pugh displayed in reinventing the much maligned character of Amy March. The awards
circuit so far has been greatly in favor of Laura Dern’s thorny and wildly entertaining performance as ScarJo’s divorce lawyer in “Marriage Story”. Best Original Screenplay: Will Win: “Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood Should Win: “Marriage Story” Tarantino almost always runs away with this category whenever he is nominated winning two out of the three times he’s been nominated for it . This time around, the award should go to Noah Baumbach, not just for the perfection that is “Marriage Story,” but also the expansive career of deeply inspired and nuanced writing he has lent to the industry. Best Adapted Screenplay: Will Win: “The Irishman” Should Win: “The Irishman” Steven Zallian did the seemingly impossible and turned this huge and layered story into a pitch-perfect and tight screenplay that accents everything we love about the gangster genre. He will probably be recognized once again. Best International Feature: Will Win: “Parasite” Should Win: “Pain & Glory” On one hand, Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho’s ] social thriller has set the whole world on fire with “Parasite”. But on the other, Pedro Almodovar has summarized all of the best things of his entire decades-long career in one major masterful work of love and art in “Pain & Glory.” Best Documentary Feature: Will Win: “American Factory” Should Win: “Honeyland” “Honeyland”, the unconventional Macedonian cinema-verte semi-epic about a dying breed of bee keepers may prove to be too niche for the Academy which is why I predict “American Factory”, the Obama-produced highly-political study of a Chinese-owned factory in Ohio to win.
A Q/A with cinema studies professor, Paul Booth 1. How do the Oscars impact film culture and its place in the culture? The Oscars remain the premiere institution for film awards, but they’re always controversial. Obviously, one of the most important ways they impact film culture is through ticket sales – think about how many people go to see the Best Picture nominees after they’re nominated. So, it’s a major source of revenue. But rewarding certain films (or directors, actors, etc.) also plays a part in how people view cultural changes - when we think back decades in film history, the films that win at the Oscars have an outsized influence on how we picture that time period. But of course, as with anything, what wins at the Oscars is influenced by so much more than just quality. 2. What kind of stigma do the Oscars place around the film world? I think there is a perception (and it’s a correct one) that the Oscars are very traditional and conservative; although there are exceptions, they tend to reward films that fit into a particular mold (white, male, old school, traditional). So, although there is a major financial incentive to be part of the
Oscars, there’s also a stigma that you may not be as groundbreaking as you may thank. 3. What kind of films typically win awards? I kind of answered this before, but the movies that tend to win the big awards are usually not avant-garde. They tend to be overwhelmingly white, male and traditional. If they do focus on race, it’s often from a white perspective. If they focus on women’s issues, it’s from a male perspective. Also, the Oscars love to reward films that are all about Hollywood – it’s very narcissistic. 4. Do you think the Oscars audience and relevance has been declining over the years? Yes, I think they have declined. Partly this is because fewer people are watching movies today, and partly it’s because there’s so much content out there that the idea of rewarding just a few things in one big celebration seems outdated. Yet, they still have an influence and many people take them seriously, so it’s important not to discount them, culturally.
Focus. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 15
A wake-up call to enjoy cinema By John Cotter Staff Writer
even better predictor of the Academy Awards than the Golden Globes are. Regardless, both are great ways to forecast the Academy’s picks. Voters are typically sent DVD screeners of films from studios that have the budget to enlist in this marketwing, with the “honor code” utilized to trust that voters watch the films that are to be considered. It remains a gray area that must be navigated around rather than
Ah, to be a cinephile during the month of February. Studios seamlessly dump their profitable yet fruitless films in wide-release this month, as the “best” films were released in the latter months of the year prior. If you’re like me and don’t feel like indulging in “Dolittle” or “Gretel and Hansel” this month, then gearing up for the annual Academy Awards is the next best thing, despite the numbing frustration that is reasoning with the Academy and their unpredictable favoritism. Hating the Academy’s picks is rudimentary and almost expected, but understanding who the Academy voters are is one of the many integral steps that can lead one to a successful Oscar ballot. According to a Good Morning America article by Tommy Brooksbank published right before the 2019 Oscars, there were roughly 8,000 Academy members, with diversity being perpetually increased every year. But, this additional diversity may not necessarily translate to the nominations, as the 2019 Best Picture prize going to “Green Book” and its dense topics of racism and segregation being generalIMAGE COURTESY OF IMDB ized and explained to you by a couple of white guys. It’s sort of the anecdotal Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite”is a given winpitfall that characterizes the Academy, ner for Best International Feature. a footnote that will surely assist in purely investigated. picking this year’s top categories. Writing a section on each category The Golden Globes are a precise and my subsequent thoughts would precursor to the Oscars, as “Green be a pointless venture, just as it would Book” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” boil down to trash-talking the Acadtook home many awards that were emy’s pompous presentation. Instead, then repeated by the Academy last I will list the main categories and my year. The BAFTA’s (Britain’s equivalent predicted winner for each category, to the Oscars) are coming this Sunday, as you and I both know that we both February 2, and have often been an
haven’t seen the nominees for Best Documentary Short. By utilizing the Golden Globes, the Academy’s past, their demographics, and my true gut feelings, here are my predictions: frontrunners (most likely), close-calls (possible, not probable), and potential upsets (slight possibility, barely probable) for the 2020 Academy Awards. Plus, I’ll include another category for who I think is missing from the categories and are worth mentioning, as the Academy Awards are as subjective and exclusive as any other award ceremony. Overall, these nominations are rather disappointing. While it can be easy to take for granted the recognition of great films that lead uniquely ceaseless analysis during the year (“Parasite” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), the unadulterated dismissal of celebrating new and diverse voices is clearly present. It’s a shame, as the Best Picture award going to “Moonlight” at the 2017 Academy Awards was the product of a live-TV fluke that became the highlight of the night. Hidden within all of that attention was the film that stole the award, one that spoke volumes in its transitionary presentation and interwoven themes of nature and nurture, identity, and the existential doubt in one’s self. Last year’s eye-rolling winner for Best Picture was “Green Book,” which forever marks a dismissive stain on independent cinema’s short-lived triumph. The Academy is as predictable as their past actions, with their track record inherently representing what cinematic innovations and viewpoints that they sometimes watch, rarely seem to appreciate and then dismiss studios that don’t have a budget for DVD screeners. The Oscars are always a wake-up call, one that reminds you to enjoy cinema as it was meant to be enjoyed: on your own, subjective terms.
Controversial little golden statues By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
It’s officially Oscars week, and that means we are just a few days away from a colossal mess on the internet and the entertainment world. A week where we either pretend to care or pretend to not care as much as we really do about who wins little golden statues. Rarely do the vast majority of moviegoers think the movie that wins Best Picture is the actual best movie of the year. Instead, we get fun controversy and the Monday after the Oscars is only rivaled by the day after the presidential election in terms of rushed, reactionary hot takes spilling off of copywriters’ desks. Even the last time a favorable Best Picture win happened in 2016 with “Moonlight,” there was the awful, dumb mistake on stage where they announced that “La La Land” won. It was like even the Academy didn’t realize they made a good decision for once.
IMAGE COURTESY OF IMDB Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and more.
This year, we are heading into one of the most fun and hard to predict Oscar ceremonies in a long time. Sam Mendes’ beautifully shot “1917” and Bong Joon-Ho’s genre-bending, psychotic “Parasite” seem to be the two frontrunners for Best Picture after cleaning up the rest of the awards circuits. Not to forget, Oscar staples Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarantino’s career-defining films “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” both of which received well-deserved fame.
On top of all of this, it’s very rare my personal favorite movie of the year is nominated for Best Picture, because the odds that it would are very low. This year, two of my favorite films: “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” and “Uncut Gems” were overlooked in every category. But it’s whatever. The presence of “Joker,” as one of the more controversial Best Picture nominees in years is quite fun actually. Todd Phillips’ movie about the comic book villain’s origin stars the favorite for the Best Actor award, Joaquin Phoenix, and features a score that is in a two-horse race with “1917.” The movie has received acclaim for the same reasons it has received backlash. A “Joker” Best Picture win would be the most evil yet most surprising and interesting win. In a very great year for movies, the Academy had an impossible task in making perfect nominations, so here we go.
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI, GINA RICARDS AND JESSICA GREKOWICZ | THE DEPAULIA
Arts & Life
16 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020
‘Connected in a different way’
The impact of sudden loss and how we learn to cope By Elle Lee Arts & Life Editor
O
n a cold but sunny Monday five years ago, I woke up and looked outside the window from bed. It may have been the most beautiful day I’ve ever seen. A fresh blanket of snow had fallen evenly across the yard that night and sparkled in the sun. Despite the cool temperature, I got up and opened my window. I breathed in the cold air and couldn’t help but think to myself that mornings like that one are a big part of why waking up each day is so special — one of those cliché moments that made life seem a little bit sweeter. Then I remembered: My friend Lauren had an EEG — a diagnostic test that uses small metal discs to examine the level of electrical activity in the brain — at 9 a.m. She had been in a coma for nearly a week following the aneurysm she had at theater practice. I’d forgotten for a moment; I was supposed to pray for her. The test should be over by now, I thought, but I hadn’t heard from her sister or mom, so I picked up my phone, opened Facebook and searched #PrayForLauren. The event page had been flooded with promising news and wishes of luck just the night before, but that morning, the tone was different. “We have prayed for miracles and we have seen many,” the most recent post read. “Early this afternoon, Lauren was united with Jesus. May we continue to be inspired by Lauren’s life.” She was 15. My legs could no longer hold up my body, and I collapsed, not yet even able to cry out. I hadn’t considered that she could die. I had no reason to believe she could; when a person my age got sick, they always got better. But suddenly, someone didn’t. Teenage invincibility revealed itself to be nothing more than fantasy. Nearly 19 percent of all deaths each year happen suddenly. Though an unexpected death under 40 years old isn’t as likely, it still affects as many as 8.5 people out of 100,000 each year, according to the American Heart Association journal. Millions were stunned when the news broke that basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and 7 other passengers had died after their helicopter crashed on the way to a tournament Jan. 26. That feeling of time stopping all over the world has only been replicated a handful times before, when icons like Michael Jackson or Princess Diana met similar fates. When celebrities die unexpectedly, the world mourns their loss. But thousands of
ordinary people die suddenly every day, and the aftermath is just as devastating. “A person is just not prepared to lose somebody in the span of an hour or 24 hours; no one can ever be ready for that — for that rope to be burned or yanked away from us,” said David Fireman, director of the Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services. “We can’t process in cases of sudden death. Survivors are often times traumatized by the experience.” Brett René, 20, was just about to go to bed when he got a text in March of last year.
“Did you hear about Max?” it read. He hadn’t, he said, but didn’t think much of the text. A friend then informed him that one of his closest friends had died by suicide. He wanted to deny it. René said Max, then 20, was a “super bright kid,” and he tried hard to figure out if there was any way it wasn’t true, talking to Max’s family, journaling and questioning with his friends. “One of the biggest things for me was because he was such a smart kid. I was like, ‘Is there something to this? Is there something so inherently bad about life that he had to leave?’” he said. When people lose someone they love, they grieve and they mourn. Both are natural healing processes, Fireman said — reflective and inborn, built into our genetic code. But they’re not the same thing. Grief is reactionary. It’s the knot in your stomach that appears the second after hearing that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash and his daughter was on board, or the tears that accompany the discovery that the friend you saw just last week you’ll never see again. “The very notion temporarily throws us into chaos and pain,” Fireman said. “It comes in waves and is often unpredictable; the only thing you can do to survive is buckle your seatbelt and let it take you for a time.” But mourning, he said, is not so shortlived. The famous stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — are more suited to mourning, and
they aren’t so cut and dry. Mourning is a lifelong process of coming to terms with a new reality, one without the person who has died. It’s why a late person’s favorite song might still bring tears to your eyes or why their old things might sit in your basement, untouched for years. It’s why finding out a public figure has suddenly died could make you write a story about sudden death. “Grief can happen within the longer term mourning process,” Fireman said. “I might get a call from somebody who is having acute reactions and they’re not sure why. After uncovering, we may find it’s because they haven’t really processed grief, haven’t mourned their loss; grief is still there reminding them of unprocessed material.” When someone dies suddenly, grief and mourning often become intertwined. There’s no opportunity to “finish up business,” Fireman said, and
the ability to let go over time, before a person is gone, is “essentially vaporized.” The trauma that comes with losing someone suddenly often keeps those left behind from pursuing natural healing, he added. “I distracted myself, worked out a lot, climbed — almost swept it under the rug,” René said. “[Max’s death] just brought up too many questions.” “It was so hard to imagine going back to what was normal,” said Allison Teeling, a friend of Lauren’s. “I was 15 and had never experienced a loss like that, and it was extremely intense to navigate. I struggled to deal with the situation for a long time. It’s not something I can imagine ever being over, but I’ve found a way to handle my life and be successful while still having some grief in my heart.” While people who directly lose loved ones often deal with the most trauma, that’s not to say that millions aren’t impacted by the loss of important public figures. It’s true that the farther you are from a late person’s inside circle, the less likely it is that trauma will stick. But the legacy left behind by figures like Kobe makes their loss feel personal. “Growing up, [Kobe] was like our Michael Jordan for my era,” said Charlie Moore, a player on DePaul’s basketball team. “His mentality towards every game and towards practice as well — it was just sad to hear, you know, crazy.” Celebrities who inspire the masses are often painted as superheroes — incapable of wrongdoing and invincible. To lose a
person like that underscores the fragility of life. Loss often puts into perspective what matters and what doesn’t, and people who haven’t experienced that may not be able to understand. “Losing her really affected some of my other relationships,” Teeling said. “It made some stronger, but it also complicated some relationships that were really important to me. We all grieve in different ways and, unfortunately, some ways aren’t very compatible with others.” “Lauren’s death shaped all of my future relationships,” said Karina Libby, another friend of Lauren’s. “It changed my philosophy on life, on love, on beliefs as a whole. For a long time, I lived in fear not knowing who or when the next death would be. I was terrified that everyone around me would leave suddenly.” Oftentimes the most challenging aspect of loss can be coming to terms with the fact that that person will not be with you as life goes forward. As I work toward my undergraduate degree, I’m constantly reminded that Lauren never made it to high school graduation. The contents of her wedding Pinterest boards will never be realized, while mine likely will. As I grow older, she remains stuck in time. “My friend put it well: We’re never gonna meet his wife or his kids, but someday we’ll all have our own,” René said. “We were looking forward to seeing him as a dad, and it’s something we won’t be able to see. I don’t think it will ever be possible to totally cope with that.” Imagining the future without someone you loved can feel like a future not worth imagining. But recognizing that the person you lost is still with you, in an abstract way, can be helpful in the healing process, Fireman said. “A lot of people think of mourning as a process of cutting ties — letting go — when in fact, grief and mourning are more about staying connected, but staying connected in a different way,” he said. Lauren was with me when I picked out my outfit for my last first date, like she was when she helped me pick out an outfit for my first first date. Every time I cover a Women’s March, she’s there, telling me to make sure the world knows that women are just as tough as men — something we talked about often on the floor of her hot pink bedroom. When I’m sad and can’t help but miss her, she reminds me that she is and has always been more than what she was when a body accompanied her fierce spirit. She is with me, not physically or in spirit, but in the way that I think, love and treat others — in the way that I am. Additional Reporting by Lawrence Kreymer
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020 | 17
The Aragon performance marks the halfway point for Rex Orange County in North America. Rex has 11 more shows, including one in Canada.
Frontman delivers An indie pop icon puts on a show stopping performance
Story and photos by: Jack Dombro
Rex Orange County, renowned English recording artist, came through to one of Chicago’s most historic venues when he played Aragon Ballroom on Jan. 27 supporting his latest effort, “Pony.” The sold-out crowd curled around and into the venue’s parking lot on a chilly January night in efforts to grab a good spot to see this indie pop icon put on a solid show front to back. Cuts off “Pony” as well as older hits from albums such as “Apricot Princess” and “Bcos U Will Never B Free” made the setlist. The band provided a great experience for any viewer, new listener or longtime fan. The massive ballroom was filled and considering capacity maxes out at 5,000, they put on an incredible show. The Aragon Ballroom opened in 1926
and has gone through several phases of usage. Lately, it’s been Chicago’s premier venue to host tour stops if an arena show is unavailable or undesired by the artist. Impressive facades across the walls and roof cap off the grandiose and vintage feeling of the building. Rex, accompanied by five talented bandmates ran through a bunch of tracks that were supplemented with amazing visuals. Awesome lighting paired with a giant inflatable pony behind the group made for a clean stage setup. Fans sang along to every word all night, especially during tracks like “Loving is Easy” and “Best Friend.” The Aragon show marked roughly the midpoint of Rex’s North America run. He’s playing some major venues and he’s consistently performing well throughout each live offering, be sure to check him out if you ever have a chance to in the future.
The Aragon was lit up with an array of lights at the Rex Orange County performance.
Rex Orange County performing at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on Jan. 27.
Alexander O’Connor, also known as Rex Orange Country.
18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020
SCARY REALISTIC
The terrifying obsession with a fictional character echos viewers toxic behavior By Cailey Gleeson Nation & World Editor
Some shows spend seasons trying to develop a realistically terrifying antagonist that viewers simultaneously love and hate while others never really hit the mark – but then there’s “You.” The Netflix original follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) as he navigates the complexities of the dating world while arguably making it harder on himself – especially when he murders anyone who gets in the way. Unlike other psychological thrillers, “You” doesn’t try to scare its viewers in a traditional way. While Joe’s psychopathic tendencies are frightening, writers have managed to convince some audience members to empathize with him – with some even falling into his manipulative trap. Martha McGee, DePaul professor in the College of Computing and Digital Media, said is not a typical anti-hero drama series because the story is told almost entirely from his point of view. “This works to show how he justifies his decisions and the toxic thoughts he has,” McGee said. “He’s not remorseful about what he does, he believes he acts out of love and with his best intentions. The audience can see how wrong thinking he is. But, it does go into strange territory when we begin to see backstory about why he might have become the way he is and
how we begin to like and even see him as attractive.” Social media is at the root of Joe’s romantic pursuits – as he perpetuates any online sharing done by his love interests as invitation to stalk them. “A guy needs to protect himself.,” he said in the pilot. “I had to make sure you’re safe, and your name was a glorious place to start. Not a lot of Guinevere Becks. And there you were, every account sent to public. You want to be seen, heard, known, and of course, I obliged.” Breanna McEwan, a DePaul communications professor specializing in the intersection of interpersonal relationships and technology, said Joe’s monologue reminded her of early arguments involving social media. “That it was only for narcissists, that social media users deserve what they get if they post their whole lives online,” McEwan said. “Yet, much of the communication research on social media points to a different motivation - a desire for human connection. We want to be seen, sure, but specific messages designed for specific audiences.” Adriane Stoner, a communications professor at DePaul specializing in new media technology, said new capabilities across technology – such as location tracking – has blurred boundaries in many aspects of our lives, including close relationships. “Social media is a tool, and can just as
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Penn Badgley stars as Joe Goldberg in the drama series ‘You’ on Netflix. easily be used to help our relationships as it can be used to hurt our relationships,” Stoner said. “The more mindful and reflective people can be about their social media use, the more likely they will be able to use social media to their advantage as a tool to help maintain healthy relationships.” Patrick Wimp, DePaul professor specializing in screenwriting and cinematography, said the audience’s empathetic view of Joe is reflective of the goals of television. “Film and television are the most prevalent, and intentionally sought after, form of emotional manipulation in our society,” Wimp said. “It is the purpose of narrative/ fictional cinematic storytelling to manipulate our feelings. The images, music,
words, and story choices are all designed to make us feel real emotions about things that don’t even exist.” Perhaps the most manipulative aspect of the series is the introspection it has caused in some viewers – prevalent in the form of comedic tweets and TikToks comparing users own toxic online behaviors to that of Joe. Wimp said that aids in the likability of Joe’s character. “By including behaviors in a malevolent character that many of us view as socially acceptable or part of our own behavior pattern, you are representing the complexity of human beings in a very realistic way,” Wimp said. “We aren’t all good or bad, we are shades of gray.”
And the winner is... Who cares? Award shows are increasingly out of touch with public opinion By Jonathan DeCarlo Contributing Writer
Commentary It’s that time of year again, award show season is in full swing and everyone is clamoring to see which movies, albums, TV shows, etc. take home the coveted position of being the “best” of last year. My problem with all this hype surrounding these big shows is simple: does any of this really matter? So, your film, album or TV show won a little trophy, good for you, it doesn’t really make much difference to me. Let me explain. Don’t get me wrong, I immensely enjoy talking about media. Heck, it’s literally the job description of my one of my majors, and comparing different pieces of media with others is something that comes with the territory. What becomes problematic when talking about media is when people try to use opinions as objective facts. So, Billie Eilish won a slew of awards during the Grammys last week, including Best Record, Best Album and Best New Artist and quite honestly, more power to her, she’s an awesome singer. However, does this mean that because she won all these awards for her work last year that she’s automatically the best recording artist of 2019? I would say no. Why is it that I’m pointing out the flaws of award shows specifically, and not the media industry as a whole? First: I think all art has merit and the merit of one piece of media can’t be objectively compared with another piece of media, as they are trying to accomplish completely different things. The problem with award shows is that they attempt to do just that,
compare completely different pieces of media to crown the “best” piece of media out of the pile, when really some of them shouldn’t be compared. Every single person will have a completely different opinion about something compared to the person sitting next to them, so trying to convince them that one thing is the “best” is going to be a hard sell, no matter how many trophies it wins. Let’s look at one of the films that’s been nominated for a crazy number of awards at this year’s Oscars: “Joker.” While I totally agree that Joaquin Phoenix deserves recognition for his performance, the score was amazing and it was well shot, the fact that “Joker” is nominated for Best Picture confuses me. The plot is filled with clichés, and any character besides the protagonist Arthur is either an emotionless cardboard cutout or a horrible abusive caricature. While I still do like the film and think that it has merit for bringing to light just how bad the state of mental health care in this country can be, I just don’t think it stands on the same level as some of the other films on the Best Picture list. Of course, this is just my opinion and you’re more than welcome to disagree with me. That’s the crux of what of what I’m trying to say: it’s okay to have different opinions about something. The problem comes when someone or something tries to use an opinion as a fact, and that’s exactly what these award shows are doing. “I think nowadays they (award shows) are very rigged,” said Holly Volkerding, a film student at DePaul, “They don’t always work how we think they do.” I also think that the award shows that we’re being shown today are definitely a little bit rigged, not necessarily to dupe us as viewers, but to shine a light on what these
people behind the scenes voting for the winners deem to be important. So, knowing that these award shows are trying to influence us, why do they do it? “To shore up their own legitimacy,” says DePaul media and cinema studies professor Benjamin Aspray. “It’s always important to take their judgments with many grains of salt. There wouldn’t necessarily be anything wrong with that if these institutions weren’t engaged in presenting themselves as the authoritative voices on artistic worth, but they are.” These award shows are the big media companies telling us what they consider to be the best of the best, without letting us make our own decisions. “Awarding something is great, but I think that putting so much focus on one show’s picks is the prob-
lem,” said Taylor Fullerlove, another film student at DePaul. “These shows give teams something to work for, and I think that if they were handled better, like if there would be more shows or even more categories at these shows, that we’d see something more diverse than what we’re seeing now.” Remember, having an opinion is what makes us who we are, and that differing opinions is what leads to real discussions. The next time you watch an award show and don’t agree with a winner, just smile and move on, knowing that that’s your opinion and you came to it yourself.
GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020 | 19
Synthetically bonding Youtubers controlling way of comforting the viewers who watch them By Mackenzie Murtaugh News Editor
In the social media age, those who are lonely can scroll through the endless feed of their favorite outlet to find a creator or influencer to keep entertained during their most isolated times. The most famous YouTubers have hours of content made to keep the viewer occupied, and the automatic “up next” feature’s algorithm uses the previous videos to create a perfectly addictive flow of interesting content. Many college students suffer from isolation because they have grown accustomed to social media’s authoritative impact of their everyday lives. In a study from the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University, social media use, mainly the negative experiences that occur on social media, are linked to an increased isolated and lonely feeling in college students. The same team responsible for the study also found that for every 10 percent increase in negative social media interactions, the user’s risk of depression rose by 20 percent. The researchers suggest that the connection between social media and depression is likely a two-way street — people who already experience depressive symptoms may be more likely to use social media and have negative experiences while using it. Here, in lieu of therapy or an IRL support system, social media influencers, particularly YouTubers, can supply an unexpected friendship. The first minute of a YouTube video is obscure, but critical – “hi guys, how are you?” is a simple but controlling way of comforting a viewer. Regardless of the video type, YouTubers across the platform use a term coined by linguistics professor Norman Fairclough in 2001: “synthetic personalization.” It’s a phenomenon that Fairclough calls “a compensatory tendency to give the impression of treating each of the people ‘handled’ en masse as an individual.” Basically, YouTubers use personal directives by addressing a singular “you” in order to create a synthetic, unofficial personal relationship with the viewer. Take Jeffree Star, the Myspace starturned-makeup-artist. He has amassed 17.3 million subscribers on YouTube in the six years he has actively been uploading content to the platform. Star is an unofficial expert on synthetic personalization in the way he uses not only his YouTube channel, but his daily minutes-long stories that he uploads on his Snapchat and Instagram. “Hi guys, how are ya?” he begins most every video, just before he tells his followers about his day’s plans, his cosmetics company or updates on one of his latest feuds. He recently came under some criticism when he uploaded a video of himself crying on his Instagram story, telling his viewers to “swipe up” to see the real reason his five-year relationship with his boyfriend ended. The swipe led directly to his latest video, which currently sits at a massive 29 million views. The video itself is an emotional tell-all of his feelings regarding the breakup. At 17 minutes and 16 seconds, Star allows his viewers to see him cry over the person he repeatedly calls the love of his life. It’s hard for the viewer not to feel something for Star, and the comments reflect that. The comment section of the video shows love and support for Star’s difficult time as he
enters the year alone, as he puts it. His followers tell him he isn’t alone – he has fans and friends from around the world who will still support him during this time. Star puts all of himself out there for the world to see, and his fans respond positively to his vulnerability. But Star’s life exists online one-dimensionally. We can’t know what Star says when the camera is turned off. Star contrived his social media presence using the tactics of synthetic personalization to blind his viewers from this fact. YouTubers, intentionally or not, want to keep their views up so their channel and social media presence will continue to thrive in a saturated market. “That’s not to say the only incentive is money – it’s not,” said Arienne Ferchaud, an assistant professor in the School of Communication at Florida State University. “People also want to feel like they’re
close to their audience (...) There is more social interaction [than a medium like television], and I think creators want to have that, otherwise they would not do YouTube. They would do something else.” Although YouTube can provide an extremely lucrative career, it seems that the heavy hitters like Star do not make their personas so personable just for the money. Star seems to really enjoy what he does as an entrepreneur and a social media personality. He juxtaposes his down-toearth realness with his lavish lifestyle well enough to attract such a vast and dedicated audience. “Like a lot of advertising, it presents a lifestyle that maybe you want,” said Leslie Rasmussen, an assistant professor of communications at Xavier University. “Even if they’re not advertising a product in a video, they’re presenting this life that you connect with somehow.”
This is as simple as changing the verbiage in a makeup tutorial video from “I’m going to now apply some eyeshadow” to “We are now going to apply some eyeshadow.” It’s like the viewer is sitting across from their favorite content creator and dishing over the latest gossip with them. Most of Star’s followers never have and will never meet him. The pseudo-relationship can seem a little sci-fi or dystopian, but that’s not viewing the entire picture. Despite the physical barrier that is the computer or phone screen, YouTubers give more of their emotional and personal moments to their viewers because it means something to them. Whether it is out of authentic admiration or pure capitalism, it still helps those struggling with isolation issues. A simple upload of a video can brighten their day, just like a surprise knock on the door from your best friend. ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
20| Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020
Greener on the other side The 1975 focus on climate change activism in upcoming shows By Cailey Gleeson Nation & World Editor
After The 1975 changed their traditional lead single to feature a message from climate activist Greta Thunberg, it was clear the band was going to use their platform to spread awareness in ways no other artists have before. While announcements for their upcoming “Notes On A Conditional Form” tour featured further dedication to climate change activism, perhaps the most striking example came from last week’s announcement of a festival in London’s Finsbury Park this July. The announcement was met with praise from fans and critics alike not just because of the stacked lineup – featuring Charli XCX, Clairo and Pale Waves – but because it has been dubbed ‘the greenest show Finsbury Park has ever seen.’ Adriel Trespalacios, DePaul junior and The 1975 enthusiast, said the group is taking an important step and other artists – and fans – should follow their lead. “I think it’s really important that we take sustainability into account in every aspects of our lives, including how we like to have fun and enjoy art,” Trespalacios said. Co-produced by Festival Republic, the Manches-
ter-based band’s festival will be the first in the U.K. to use hydrotreated vegetable oil to power the entire event – reducing the onsite carbon footprint by 90 percent. “The event will also deploy hybrid-powered generators with solar arrays and reduce generator sizes from the results of extensive monitoring carried out at the 2019 Festival Republic Finsbury Park events,” the company’s press release said. Bailey Didier, a DePaul junior studying environmental science, said HVOs work the same as diesel fuel but emit less into the environment. “Since HVOs have a similar chemical structure as diesel fuel, then it acts in the same way that diesel fuel does,” Didier said. “So HVOs virtually perform the same function as diesel fuel, they just emit less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.” Elizabeth Becker, DePaul junior, said they hope the impact of the festival will reach other artists. “It’s really incredible to see this happening as well because it’s clear how many other artists admire and want to follow in the footsteps of this band,” Becker said. “I hope this opens up a broader dialogue in the music industry about environmental activism and what that looks like now. DePaul sophomore Kara
Callahan said the band is the first mainstream artist to focus tour efforts on the climate crisis. “Artists and bands have released music before that serve as commentary on politics and problems in the world, but the climate crisis has not become the content of songs in a lot of mainstream music yet,” Callahan said. “No other artist has made the goal of their tour rooted in conservation before.” The carbon footprint of each attendee will be tracked through a food light system – provided by Festival Republic. “Customers will be made aware via this coded system of the carbon footprint of each meal consumed, raising awareness on food-related emissions to enable informed choices,” said the press release. The event will also be the first show in the venue that is entirely paperless – as tickets will only be redeemed digitally. In an attempt to “reduce waste and highlight the environmental impact of clothing,” only old merchandise from the artists will be sold – and fans are encouraged to bring their own to have their own repurposed with new designs. Callahan said she was excited when she heard about the way merchandising for
the show worked “Not only is this environmentally sustainable, but it also gives fans the flexibility to make whatever kind of merch they want,” Callahan said “Fans have the freedom to bring in any clothing to transform. I think this also aligns with the values of the band in them giving fans a space to create one of a kind merch.” Festival Republic will plant 1,975 trees with Trees for Cities in surrounding areas. In global collaboration with One Tree Planted, The 1975 will also plant a tree for every ticket sold – a tourlong initiative – in Brazil, India, Peru and the Philippines. Becker said the efforts by the band to host such an environmentally sustainable show is “an incredible step forward for the intersection of music and environmental activism.” “I can see these guidelines set up through Finsbury Park easily becoming the go-to as bands and festivals in the future try to do better,” Becker said. “In a lot of ways, it is very unsurprising that the 1975 would be one of the first major pop bands to get involved because their personal politics, especially Matty Healy’s, have always been wrapped around radically caring about people and humanity, which is a very leftist concept somehow in 2020.”
GRAPHIC BY GINA RICARDS
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It’s all about funny
‘Curb’ masters the most resilient formula in comedy television By Shane Rene Editor-In-Chief
Imagine, for a moment, that you’re on the Red Line heading home after a long day at work. It’s just after 10 p.m. Your car is sparsely populated; no more than eight others, all with their faces buried in their phones or half asleep hugging their bags. All is peaceful and quiet. Moments later, a man sitting across the aisle and a few seats down from you receives a phone call — he answers. Then you watch, terrified, as he holds his phone four inches from his chin and, without an ounce of shame, begins shouting into his palm, broadcasting the conversation to everyone on the train car. What are we people of relative decency to do in this situation? Ignore it? That is, stand idly by as this stranger wages a full scale assault on public space? This world is increasingly in need of a social martyr of sorts. A person so distraught by brazen contempt for social customs that they dive head-long into the business of others just to make a point. A person willing to commit social suicide in service of the common man by standing up and saying: “No! You, sir, are the problem, and everybody hates you.” In “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” HBO and Larry David give us that man. “Curb,” is the now 20-year-old comedy show featuring the “Seinfeld” co-creator starring as what he describes as “an idealized version” of himself. Loping about Los Angeles with a long list of pet peeves, a short temper and a self-issued license to enforce society’s unwritten laws on anyone
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Larry David has been starring in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” for the past 20 years. who crosses his path, David is the man we always wanted him to be. With “Curb,” David takes the formula that revolutionized the TV industry with on“Seinfeld,” brought it to the open fields of HBO and installed himself — the show-business twin of Bernie Sanders — as its star. The show is simple in its concept: bring the funny out of the mundane in our everyday lives. But without the shackles of network executives and community guidelines or scripted dialogue, David and his cast of talented co-stars tapped into a comedy goldmine. The key ingredient in making “Curb” such a gem in this junkyard comedy TV show market is its employment of improv. By merely removing the written dialogue
and allowing the actors — headlined by comedy heavyweights like Susie Essman, Jeff Garlin and JB Smoove — to riff between plot points, the show offers a platform for comedic acting to take its purest form. It’s all about funny. Garlin plays Jeff Green, David’s manager and best friend in the show, whose wife Susie, played brilliantly by Essman, serves as David’s main sparring partner. The two usually square off in the wake of one of David’s quintessential faux pas or as she sniffs out collusion between David and Garlin. And in those moments, you can feel the director step back from the camera, fold their arms, and watch the masters work. David himself isn’t a particularly im-
pressive actor, but he is a generous one on top of being a generational comedic mind. He offers to the show and his fellow actors a unique character to dance with, always providing the perfect set up line for a hysterical one-liner from one of the many world-class comics he shares the set with. Garlin, Essman and David round out the core of this cast, but JB Smoove has emerged as a never-ending well of one-liner gold. Smoove’s character, Leon, arrived in the sixth season when Larry and his exwife Cheryl (played by Cheryl Hines) take in a family affected by Hurricane Katrina. Over the next couple seasons, the family leaves, David gets divorced, but Leon sticks around as Larry’s co-pilot in life — advising and encouraging the behavior that makes David the mother of all social wrecking balls. With 10 season over 20 years, the show has experienced the fortune of playing with a variety of cultural moments, both mundane and political. And in each of these moments, the show consistently proves the resiliency of its model — point out the obvious, and let legends of the craft tear it apart. Pure, simple, genius. In the series’ 10th season, David and his fellow cast members cannonball into the center of America’s most contentious conversations. David, a vocal liberal both in character in real life, finds utility in Make America Great Again hats that reliably repels unwanted company in L.A.; and, of course, finds himself embroiled in a mother of all #MeToo misunderstandings. No show is better equipped to turn our modern traumas into laughter. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” airs Sundays at 9:30 p.m. CST on HBO.
An A-list killing
The star filled cast murders all expectations with the movie ‘Knives Out’ By Rebecca Meluch Focus Editor
A cunning thriller, a nail-biter, a would-be page turner, “Knives Out” begins with a “whodunit” murder, a pool of blood and untied ends. Being a lover of murder mystery novels and films, this one was not what I predicted it to be. Rian Johnson stacked the cast with famous figures, but the film still has an old-fashioned classic appearance. As in many murder mystery classics, the film is set in grand East Coast estate, with elegant rooms, wooden frames, gated entrances, eerily placed decor and props, creeky stairs, and hidden passages filled with curiousities. Although the film sticks to the tried and true setting of a murder mystery, it interplays with modern props and images with iPhones, social media influencers, Juuls and a 21st-century sense of humor. The film begins when the caretaker Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) discovers renowned crime novelist and dear friend, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) dead in his study just after his 85th birthday party. The sleuthing and debonair detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) arrives at the estate after being anonymously hired to investigate the murder. While investigating Harlan’s dysfunctional and opulent family, as well as his devoted staff, Detective Blanc works through a tangled knot of red herrings, determined to find the truth behind Harlan’s demise. Although the film is not portrayed
in the order of most murder mystery plots, it is charged with suspense, entertainment, humor, irony, death, a multitude of of shifty money-motivated suspects, and twists. The house itself serves as a steady framework for Benoit Blanc to work in, with its dark wood-paneled corners, it allows for the detective to isolate and investigate his suspects . The estate, being as dramatically built as it is, is perfect for a renowned novelist and sets the stage for a theatrical murder, an astute family and a dissolute investigation. Harlan is portrayed as a charming beast with a family who leeches off his financial support, Plummer could not be more perfect to portray a character as mysterious and charming as he. It’s a shame his character isn’t around longer in the film, but flashbacks and recaps allows the audience to instantly fall in love and become invested in his death. Johnson scatters his characters around, giving enough hints about them as they enter and exit throughout the film. Each time they enter and exit in flashbacks, more and more is slowly revealed, inching the audience closer to each suspect’s possible motivation in the murder. The plot gets complicated, and shares some of the eccentric features of a classic Agatha Christie novel. Packed with interrogations, motives, alibis and deductions, the film is a classic murder myster finely curated with the cast of Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Chris Evans, Toni Collette and more. Rian Johnson plays with many political
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Full cast of the movie “Knives Out” that scored a 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes agendas throughout the film, adding to the crowded complexity of each character, portraying a family involved in politics just as they are involved in money and deceit. As each character is portrayed after the estate and will of the deceased Harlan are announced, their pettiness is exposed and their false agendas are stripped. The complexity of each character couldn’t be articulated well without Johnson’s film techniques. He plays around with steady action shots during times of control and and inquiry, then shifts into a hand-held style of shaky and chaotic filming during times of suspense. After the estate reading, the camera follows Marta steadily out of the house with a firm shot,
where it then shifts into a hand-held style of filming, circulating around running bodies, floating heads, and eccentric behavior. Playing around with an old-fashioned film genre, Johnson must have had fun directing and engineering a 21st century rendition of a murder mystery packed with genuine and relevant humor and a twist of events that diverge from the vintage exemplars of murder mysteries. Just like typical murder mystery novelistsRian Johnson is clearly a director with imagination and wit. When you’re riding along with the twists of the story, remember that the twists are not elements of the story, but are the story.
22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020
“Mom, I’m scared” The fear of scheduling your own doctor’s appointment hits harder during senior year By Maria Garcia Contributing Writer
Senior year is the year where a college student is supposed to have their life figured out. They have to have a job lined up before they graduate, they have to move out of their parents’ house, all while still maintaining a steady GPA. But there comes a point in a senior’s life when the pressure of having it all together becomes too much to bear. They start to lose motivation for any assignments, start to feel anxiety, and find any excuse not to do anything that involves school. This is called senioritis. Senioritis is the supposed condition, which is not a medical condition but rather a state of being, in which a student in their final year of college starts to show a decline in motivation or performance. Moreover, since there are no real known medical symptoms of senioritis, senioritis type behavior might vary from person to person. For example, one person could procrastinate about an assignment and end up staying up until two in the morning cleaning every inch of their room, and another person could end just procrastinating the whole day and get nothing accomplished. Senioritis can lead to seniors being in denial about their priorities due to the growth of the stress that they are facing in their lives at the moment. The stress of facing the truth turns out to be too much for
some people. Jasmine Lowe, a recent graduate from DePaul University, experienced senioritis in her final year. , “I did have senioritis,” she said. “It is inevitable, especially when you’re so close to finishing your degree, you start to get lazy. I knew I had it when I was lacking motivation to complete my assignments. But don’t worry, I still did them. I knew I had to get them done otherwise I would have wasted all the time and effort I spent before on my other classes.” Having senioritis is not the end of the world. Having all those unanswered questions about what will happen to one’s life is completely normal. It is okay to wonder about will be about one’s life after school is over for them. It is scary to talk about those certain topics because the truth can be terrifying . Procrastination can have negative consequences personally and academically. Despite knowing this, seniors would rather focus their attention on the dirtiness of their kitchen when then they should be focusing on that paper that is due at 11:59 p.m. and they have yet to start t. DePaul psychology professor Joseph R. Ferrari, author of “Still Procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide To Getting It Done” commented on the nature of senioritis. “You’re going to fail,” he said. “That’s not the problem. It’s how you rise up. As you look back at your four years how did DePaul
help me succeed? These four years are magical because it is your last time to fail and it is not the end of the world. Try things that they would have never done and I hope seniors have done that. What is important is what have you learned and did you leave a legacy?” When seniors start to procrastinate again and again it eventually becomes a habit. This pattern of not caring anymore is not only a sign that senioritis has kicked in, but because a senior has internalized the fact that they are close to graduating, they cannot be bothered to care with or without that grade on that paper, because they know that they will still graduate on time. Recent DePaul alum Jimmie Fitzhugh said he avoided senioritis throughout college and graduate school. I have never experienced senioritis in undergrad or graduate school. I knew after undergrad I was starting my master’s program at DePaul and wanted to stay motivated and finish strong,” he said. “After my master’s degree, I knew I would be studying for my state licensure and going to interviews and wanted to keep the same mindset. Working hard throughout a degree just to give up towards the end is not something I wanted to do.” Most seniors start to feel the effects of senioritis usually in spring quarter, close to
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graduation. There really is no particular season or timespan that dictates when seniors feel senioritis. Seniors could feel the effects as early as the fall quarter and carry that affliction well into the winter quarter and possibly into the spring. When the holidays hit, the urge to stay home after being back hits hard. That six week break makes it hard to want to finish out the rest of the year. Students are bombarded with questions about the future and when these questions go unanswered, panic and anxiety kicks in. Scimone Williams, a graduate student studying communication and media at DePaul, is the president of Sister to Sista, a non-profit organization that creates a safe space for all provides advice to anyone who is stuck in this mindset. “[In] your senior year, you are trying to make sure that you are all set to go, all your credits are finished, and everything that you need is already being fulfilled before you leave because the goal is not to have to come back for any extra classes,” Williams said. “The goal is just to be done when you’re done.”
The power of impact
‘Just Mercy’ brings inspiration but shows racial tensions similar to today By Rebecca Rogers Contributing Writer
Adapted from lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson’s memoir and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, “Just Mercy” is a timely legal drama that brings tears and anger to viewers. It is a moving true-life story that will remind the viewer of how little progress we as a society have made since the real-life case of McMillian v. Monroe County, Alabama. It is a reminder of the shackles that bind the marginalized, and in a world where black men are shot by white cops every day, it is a poignant and haunting reflection of the state of our nation today. Monroe County, Alabama, 1987. Local tree feller Johnny D. McMillian (Jamie Foxx) is arrested by a battalion of white cops for the murder of white teenager Rhonda Morrison. Years after his arrest, kind-eyed but distrusting McMillian is sitting on death row when he meets fresh Harvard Law graduate Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan). Stevenson just moved to the county to defend death row inmates who are unable to acquire adequate legal aid. Initially, McMillian sends Stevenson away, claiming that there isn’t anything he can do,
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Left to right, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx star in the film “Just Mercy.” but Stevenson refuses to quit, heading down to Monroeville where he meets with McMillian’s entire family. He instantly falls in love with them, and promises to bring McMillian home. Thus begins the struggle of one man to bring justice to a silenced inmate. Foxx and Jordan excel as McMillian and Stevenson. Jordan gives Stevenson a
naive but calm demeanor that makes the audience feel like nothing can trip him up, and Foxx’s McMillian is a soft-spoken but wary inmate whose lack of faith in the justice system has hardened him. The chemistry between the two is heart-warming and brings light to an otherwise dark and heavy film. The audience is rooting for the pair, loudly voicing their approval or
lack thereof at each courtroom decision. At the culmination of the film, sniffling and scattered cheering is heard around the theater. For such heavy material, the viewing experience is incredible, and that is thanks to the work of Foxx and Jordan. Cretton’s film feels like a Best Picture winner, and the lead performances feel like Best Actor nominees, but in a world that is so similar to the one that McMillian and Stevenson fought in more than 30 years ago, it shouldn’t be surprising that the film received exactly zero nominations. Cretton, Foxx and Jordan are only three people snubbed in a list that goes on for days. Jennifer Lopez, Lupita Nyong’o, Awkwafina, Song Kang-ho have all been snubbed as well, and Lulu Wang was left off the Best Director list with Cretton. With a script by Cretton and Andrew Lanham that is straight-forward but beautiful, and moving ensemble performances from Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson and Rafe Spall, the film leaves viewers contemplating the state of society. With the #OscarsSoWhite controversy trending on every social media platform, I think it’s safe to say that the state of society isn’t looking good.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020 | 23
Here, they do
DePaul alumna directs DePaul’s first micro-funded feature By Chinyere Ibeh Staff Writer
With help from DePaul’s Indie Studio program, Marcus Aubin, a recent film graduate, was able to direct and produce his independent film, “Sun King.” “Sun King” follows Louis Liu, who Aubin describes as a “standard, average man who has convinced himself that he is the reincarnated soul of King Louis XIV.” Liu then embarks on an adventure to marry a cousin in order to keep the royal bloodline strong. Aubin got his hands on the script via the Indie Studio program at DePaul, which presents students with various screenplays to choose from. He chose the script for “Sun King” because he felt it was “manageable and unique.” Aubin also enjoyed the challenge as the genre gears towards wacky comedy, which is a genre he’s never directed before. In preparation for such a film, Aubin describes that it takes self-discipline, dedication and open-mindedness. Staying disciplined and dedicated can go a long way as one can be a week away from filming and haven’t yet secured a key location. “To avoid failure, we had to make progress every day, whether that be through scouting potential locations, holding casting sessions, obtaining permits for road closures, purchasing a laundry list of prop/ wardrobe pieces/set dressing,” he said. A part of making sure a film will be successful is to cast the right people for the right parts. The casting process for “Sun King” lasted over seven weeks, as there’s
almost 50 cast and featured background members. Aubin describes that he struggled between choosing the “best general actor and the best actor for the part.” He ultimately settled on his leading trio of Norman Garcy Yap, who plays Louis Liu, Jim Park who plays Leigh Liu and Sam Bowling who plays Fran. As days of filming are unpredictable and a challenge rises every day, post-production can be just as complicated. In post-production, directors and editors decide what to cut and what to keep in a movie. Aubin believes that looking at a piece with an unbiased and open mind is sometimes necessary to make important edits. James Choi, who’s behind Indie Studio, explains that Indie Studio is a two credit experiential learning classes that spreads over three quarters. The program also includes production over the summer. Only 10 students are selected for the program through an application process. “The Indie Studio was started to teach students to execute and deliver on producing a film with little money, optimizing the skills they have been learning in class at the SCA [School of Cinematic Arts] and parlaying that into real life experience with a minimal crew,” Choi said. As mentioned, Aubin chose a script that was presented by Indie Studio. Producers and directors choose from a variety of scripts available. The scripts are come from former students and script writing contests. Choi describes the goal of the Indie Studio as to allow students to have completed films that are both distribution and
festival ready while building their portfolio. Indie Studio, as Choi explains, allows students to step out of their comfort zones and inspire them with the true possibilities of filmmaking in the digital age. Both Aubin and Choi have experience in the film business, and they both have advice for those just starting in the business. Aubin explains that filmmakers should be open; it’s okay to direct a story that isn’t theirs. Choi references DePaul’s motto – “Here We Do” – as what the Indie Studio is about. “…With the advancement in technology, it’s about taking action, knowing the possibilities are wide open regardless of budget,” Choi said. It’s an PHOTOS BY HUGO WANG exciting time in film Marcus Aubin (right) and Norman Yap (left) discussing lines. for creators. The time run later this year, including the Beloit is now.” International Festival. You can watch the Aubin has officially finished the film’s trailer on Aubin’s vimeo. production and it’s ready for the festival
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24 | Arts &Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 03, 2020
St.Vincent’s D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581” By Emma Oxnevad
matic and is perfect to keep you entertained while looking at a flat Midwestern landscape.
Opinions Editor
Road trips are often a coin toss. Depending on where you're going, who you’re with and how you prepare to entertain yourself, they can be either a recipe for disaster or success. Seeing as much of my weekend was spent at the Iowa Caucus, I had to roll through my many road trip playlists to determine how I would pass the time. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite road trip jams.
2. Drive My Car- The Beatles The Beatles are a foolproof choice for a road trip, because pretty much everyone knows the lyrics to their most popular tunes. This song in particular—literally about driving a car— is a pretty obvious pick, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a fun singalong. I’m still waiting for the day I get a full car to sing “beep beep, beep beep” with me in perfect harmony.
1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want- The Rolling Stones Seeing as this song is so long, it may seem like a weird choice to blast in the car. However, on probably every road trip I’ve been on, this song has played, making for a nostalgic listen. This song feels cine-
3. American Girl- Tom Petty This song is featured in the movie “Silence of the Lambs,” with one of Buffalo Bill’s upcoming victims singing along to this number in the car before being kidnapped. Despite that unfortunate associa-
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tion, this song is still a lot of fun. Whenever I hear this, I can’t help but sing along and think about how hard the last solo is on Guitar Hero. 4. St. Stephen- The Grateful Dead I feel like this song is only appropriate to listen to while driving on a long, winding road. The periodic wails sound like hitting the open road. Like any classic Grateful Dead song, this is a musical trip, with no portion sounding like the one before it. 5. Lonely Boy- The Black Keys When I was in eighth grade, this CD was always in my parent’s mini-van and I felt very cool rolling up to middle school
ACROSS 1. Electrician’s measure 4. Airspeed ratio 8. Beginning to a bad rain? 12. Baby’s first word, maybe 13. Birth of an invention 14. Protein source 15. Seek a seat 16. Anytime now 17. ___ buco 18. Basic correction device 20. Coiffure holder 22. Tender 23. Billy on Broadway 27. With precision 29. Grate on 30. Plant seed 31. Deficiency 32. A couple in Mexico? 33. Handle things 34. Driveway material 35. Col.’s superior 36. Choreographer Bob 37. Phonograph part 39. Bath item 40. Art shop purchase 41. Flares 44. Assured of success 47. Waiflike 49. Prune trees 50. Plug away 51. Get rid of 2. Athenian vowel 53. Kind of pool 54. Favored ones 55. Convened
with this song playing. It’s catchy as hell, has a great fuzzy guitar riff and a good beat to match.
DOWN 1. Folklore figure 2. Chime time, with “the” 3. Religious retreat 4. Stephen King classic 5. Idolize 6. Corp. bigwig 7. Closet hooks 8. Bikini, for one 9. Firms (abbr.) 10. Uncertainties 11. Batman and Robin, say 19. Auctioneer’s shout 21. Canada’s ___ Island National Park 24. Triangle type 25. Lummox’s exclamation 26. Affectedly quaint 27. Formicary denizens 28. ___ moss 29. Attractive little thing 32. Windows work area 33. Common complaint? 35. Battle scene prop 36. Gets the vapors 38. Feudal vassal 39. Chubby Checker’s dance 42. “___ chance!” 43. Tiff 44. Food additive 45. Barley beverage 46. “The Godfather” title 48. Color range
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 25
Kelly Campbell’s triple-double leads women past Friars By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
After catching their first loss of Big East play at the hands of Creighton on Friday, redemption was in order for DePaul and head coach Doug Bruno as they hosted Providence on Sunday. The Blue Demons pulled a ten-point lead at halftime into a 93-71 win behind a triple-double from senior Kelly Campbell. The first quarter started off well for the visiting Friars as they swung the ball around, leading to a quick 9-5 lead behind the work of Sophia Widmeyer who knocked down a three. Things were swinging in the Friars’ favor out of the jump before Campbell and Sonya Morris went on a 10-0 run, scoring five points each as DePaul took a 15-9 lead with 4:43 left in the first quarter. Campbell had eight of the first 18 points for DePaul. Usually not a primary scorer on the team, the senior guard has been able to step up in that category when needed. Providence wouldn’t be put down though, as key contributions came in from Kyra Spiwak and Chanell Williams, the duo combined for 12 points down the stretch of the quarter, cutting the lead to 21-19 after ten minutes. Starting the second quarter, Chante Stonewall marked off a 11-0 run with a 4-point play that put DePaul up 32-21 in
just a 1:44 stretch. From there, the Blue Demons went step for step with the Friars as Morris entered double-figures with 18 points in the first half, 11 in the second quarter. “I think it’s a A quick 6-0 run from Providence cut the DePaul lead to just 39-34 with two minutes left in the half. After that, Morris would hit a midrange step-back jumper at the buzzer to extend the Blue Demon lead to 44-34 at the half. In the third quarter, two quick buckets including a layup by Widmeyer forced Bruno to call a timeout. Yet DePaul would storm back, with nine straight points fueled by a Dee Bekelja layup putting them up 53-38 with 6:33 left in the third quarter. Bekelja added a needed spark off the bench as Stonewall was sidelined after picking up her third foul early on. She’d end the game with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting. “Dee Bekelja has an instinct to score the ball,” Bruno said. “It’s just an uncanny instinct to score the basketball and she gives us a lift.” The Blue Demons stormed on, keeping a double-digit lead until Williams cut the lead to 56-49 after scoring four quick points. Providence would get it within five points with two minutes left in the quarter. DePaul was on a 4:13 stretch without a field goal before Lexi Held got a tough and-one to extend the lead back to doublefigures at 61-51 with 1:30 left in the quarter.
That lead was extended by a Bekelja layup just 40 seconds later that put DePaul up 64-53 going into the final quarter. Campbell’s terrific day continued as she got up to nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists at the end of the quarter. Stonewall, Campbell and Bekelja opened the fourth quarter with triples followed up by a Maya Stovall layup to make it 75-53 with 8:06 left in the game. DePaul kept its run going and with 5:45 left, Campbell got her tenth rebound to notch her second triple-double in her career at DePaul. She had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists on the day. “It feels great to get a triple-double,” Campbell said. “I’ve gotten one before but it doesn’t happen often so I’m excited to get one but I’m just glad to get the win today.” Campbell’s triple-double is the second in her career and ties Jessica January for the most in program history. “A triple-double is a way for her once in a while to get noticed from a statistical point of view as well as from doing all those little things game in and game out,” Bruno said. Lexi Held and Sonya Morris combined for 39 points in the win as Campbell, Stonewall and Bekelja all scored in double figures to aid the win. DePaul will face St. John’s on Friday at 6 p.m. on the road as they look to improve to 10-1 in conference play and 21-3 overall.
BEKELJA, continued from back page the second that Bruno recruited Bekelja, her instinctive ability to score and that she was a winner really stood out for the Hall of Fame finalist. “That she is a winner,” Bruno said. “What stood out on the floor was her instinctive ability to score in weird ways. What stood out off the floor was the fact she was a winner. Her program always won, they were always fighting for the state championship in the state of Ohio.” When she played for her high school team, Bekelja was a starter and led the team in various categories. At DePaul, however, her role has changed and is less defined from her earlier playing days. “I’m good with being what the team needs me to be,” Bekelja said. “They need me to be a starter, then I’ll start. They need me to come off the bench, I’ll come off the bench. I’m kind of flexible – I don’t care if I’m a starter or not. I just want the team to win and to help the team win, so whatever the team and coaching staff feels that I need to do, I’m able to fit into that role.” Bekelja has flourished during the season even with her minutes fluxating from game to game. When the team went on the road to face Notre Dame, Bekelja ended up playing 28 minutes and dropped a career-high 20 points in a 106-95 win. And when her minutes are down, like it was against Providence with only 24, she was an efficient 9-of-16 from the field with 20 points. “She’s really done a great job of being a professional, even though she is an amateur college player,” Bruno said. She brings a professional approach to her role. She never complains, it’s always about what is necessary to win. She doesn’t let situations outside of her control negatively affect her, she brings the same professional approach whether she is starting or coming off the bench. She brings this positive energy to the team, and positive energy is infectious.”
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
Senior Kelly Cambell dribbles during her triple-double performance against Providence on Sunday at Wintrust Arena.
Great leap Dee Bekelja
Year 2
4.9 2.5 12.2 43
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
Dee Bekelja looks for a pass against St. John’s on Jan. 12 at McGrath-Phillips Arena. While fans can see Bekelja’s growth on the court and see what she brings to the team, there is another side to her that the players and coaching staff get to experience off the court. Bruno describes her as a “fun-loving person,” while senior guard Kelly Campbell says she has “lively personality.” “Off the court, she’s definitely very funny, out-going,” Campbell said. “She’s got a really lively personality. Dee has matured a ton
since her freshman year and she’s definitely grown over the years. She’s become more indented off the court, but on the court, she’s really excelled.” With DePaul off to a perfect start in the Big East, the team is playing with extremely high confidence, and some of that can be attributed to Bekelja’s improvement as a player.
Year 3 PPG RPG MIN FG%
8.5
2.7 20.1
46 3FG% 29 37 APG 1.36 2.7 Starts 0 8
26 | Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020
Attendance will rise when men show they can win By Lawrence Kreymer
parking and concessions. “And, you know, I think most people want to automatically think that it’s all about whether or not your team wins,” Lenti Ponsetto said. “It’s not necessarily that to be the case, because there are a lot of programs throughout the country where teams don’t win all the time. But it’s a great experience for their fans. And then people who have affinity for the programs come back and support the program.” There’s a reason that attendance for Chicago Bulls games this season has considerably dipped. The Bulls were always near the top in attendance, even when they were losing, but this season fans have started to voice their displeasure with an underwhelming team by simply not showing up. In a game against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 9, the reported attendance was 14,775 — the lowest mark for the United Center since 2004. The same rationale can be applied to DePaul and their declining fanbase over the years – the team simply started to lose year in, year out. Now, with the team’s hot start in November by going 8-0, more people attended games in December as a result — but that is not enough to make that support stick in the long run. In order for the Blue Demons to see a packed stadium every season, it’s going to start by proving to Chicago they can win on a consistent basis, something DePaul is struggling to do in the Big East once again with their 1-8 start, and it’s not just about their “improved” parking and concessions.
Sports Editor
COMMENTARY When Providence came to Chicago on Jan. 4 to face DePaul at Wintrust Arena, the Friars’ head coach Ed Cooley had sparkling things to say about the newly-opened stadium during his press conference. Cooley expressed his admiration for Wintrust after his team won 66-65, speaking on the aesthetics and the crowd noise that Wintrust generates when DePaul went on a run in the second half. “This is honestly one of the hardest times we played here, with that crowd like that,” Cooley said after the game. “That place was rocking and rolling, and [Devin Gage] made a three and then I think [Charlie] Moore made a three, and I was like ‘Oh geez, man stop the bleeding a little bit.’ “This is a beautiful arena, I love this building. I think this is one of the best buildings we play in, and I’m so fortunate that it is in the Big East.” The reported attendance, which is how many tickets were printed, sold and distributed, for the game against Providence was 4,945. But the real attendance — which is how many people showed up to the stadium and had their ticket scanned — was only at 3,101, according to documents obtained by The DePaulia via the Freedom of Information Act. That’s 2,000 seats shy of half-capacity. Now, imagine if Wintrust was just 50 percent full for the Providence game and that same energy from the crowd was even more daunting for the opposing team. That’s the type of potential Wintrust has because of the arena’s closeness to the court and the noise it can produce when the team is playing well. But all of that depends on the team performing well on a consistent basis, and not teasing its supporters with a good game one day and then a disappointing game the next day — which is what the Blue Demons have done in the Big East this season. Attendance figures are up slightly this season from the previous year, especially comparing the non-conference numbers for this season and with the 2018-19 season. But numbers have yet to reach marks from Wintrust’s first season, 2017-2018. During the non-conference portion of DePaul’s schedule this season, the Blue Demons averaged 4,409 in paid attendance and 2,105 in real attendance; but two seasons ago, DePaul averaged 5,765 in paid attendance and 2,615 in real attendance. The noticeable difference this season, however, is the energy in the building when DePaul was playing well in their first 13 games. The Blue Demons raced out to a 12-1 record before the start of Big East play, with multiple home games coming down to the wire. But the support from the fans helped get DePaul across the finish line in all of those wins; against Texas Tech, with only 3,883 people attending the game, the noise that erupted from the crowd when DePaul went on a run in the fourth quarter and overtime was deafening. A couple of weeks later against Northwestern, DePaul trailed 70-64 with five minutes to play and behind over 4,400 people, the Blue Demons closed the game on a 19-8 run to win 83-78. Even in those games where there were fewer than 5,000 people at the game, the arena was pumping with energy
when DePaul was going on runs late in the second half to pull out close wins. While the increase in attendance can be attributed to the team’s improved start earlier in the season, DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto believes the improvement in attendance is linked to better parking and concessions. “I don’t want and I probably shouldn’t leave out the fact that we have worked out a lot of logistics issues that were kind of deterrents for fans,” Lenti Ponsetto said. “And actually just being much more communicative about where the bathrooms are a little thing like that. When you look at all the research that’s done, all the marketing research done, you know, parking and concessions are two main drivers and why fans will return.” While those things may have improved this season, the No. 1 reason fans come back to watch a team play is how well they are playing. Unless someone is a diehard supporter of a team or possesses season tickets, the likelihood is that they won’t show up on a consistent basis if the team is playing poorly — which is exactly how the Blue Demons have played at home in the Big East this season. The simple truth is: People show up when there is good basketball to be watch. And that hasn’t been reliably available for Blue Demon fans. Besides their one home conference win in 2020 against No. 5 Butler, that produced a real attendance of 6,932, DePaul has been lackluster in their five home games — going 1-4 and losing by a combined 37 points. And even in the Butler game, which was the secondhighest reported attendance in Wintrust history, a lot of the sections were filled up with Bulldog fans. Even though Lenti Ponsetto seems to downplay the importance of winning in terms of attendance numbers, the facts point to fans caring about wins more than
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Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020 | 27
Hot o r
cold
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul freshman Romeo Weems celebrates after a dunk in overtime against Texas Tech on Dec. 4 at Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demons won the game at 65-60.
DePaul head coach Dave Leitao looks down during in frustration during the Blue Demons’ 76-72 loss to Marquette on Saturday at the Fiserv Forum.
Men’s basketball season tale of two poles By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
Copy and paste. That is the only way to describe DePaul’s first nine Big East games this season. Besides their one win over then-No. 5 Butler, the Blue Demons’ games have played out eerily similar from game to game. DePaul would grab a lead in the first half – sometimes a double-digit lead – and then give it away before halftime. But there have been games, like the one against Marquette, where the Blue Demons would be in control of most of the game, making it seem like they would come away with the win because they have shown to be the better team throughout the first 35 minutes. Nope. As soon as the game turns to the final five minutes, is when DePaul begins to turn into a different team. From being a confident, fearless team for most of the game, they lose all of that when the game becomes tight and it comes down to a couple of plays. Against Seton Hall on Dec. 30, DePaul possessed a 66-65 lead with two minutes to play at home, and let the Pirates go on a 9-0 run to escape with a 74-66 victory. Then on Jan. 14 at Villanova, DePaul had a 21-8 lead in the first half, gave up a 22-7 run to close the half and eventually would lose 79-75 in overtime. Now come, arguably, the two worst and
deflating losses for the Blue Demons in the conference this season. When they went to face No. 10 Seton Hall for the second time this season on Jan. 29, DePaul had a ninepoint lead twice in the second half, was up 50-46 with seven minutes to play only to succumb to a 18-7 run at the end game. And only to follow up that heartbreaking loss with an even more draining loss against Marquette on Saturday, the Blue Demons led for nearly the first 39 minutes of the game and still lost 76-72. “They made shots, they executed,” junior guard Charlie Moore said after the Marquette loss. “Made shots, you know, they played hard.” Late-game execution has been an issue for DePaul in the Big East this season, in most of their eight conference losses this season, the Blue Demons have been in games towards the end but they have struggled to make the necessary winning plays down the stretch. That’s the biggest reason why they are 1-8 at the midway point. “I think we got better at it, but execution is holistic,” DePaul Head Coach Dave Leitao said after Saturday’s game. “The shot goes up execution is going to box out properly and rotate properly. And I think there’s defensive execution, late in the shot clock we put at them at the [free-throw] line too much probably when we didn’t need to. So, execution is more holistic than just we run in the right play and we’re getting the proper shot.”
Leitao can certainly tell himself and his team anything he wants, but DePaul has not gotten better in the late-game execution. The same issue has prevented them from winning more conference games this season, the only thing that changes from game-to-game is how the Blue Demons give the game away. The Blue Demons are now 26-41 in games decided by 10 points or less since Leitao returned in 2015. DePaul is a fundamentally poor freethrow shooting team, as they went 12-of-23 from the line on Saturday, and that isn’t going to miraculously change at this point of the season. Leitao teams have proven that when games get tight towards the end, they only wilt beneath the pressure instead of making big plays. After nine conference games, DePaul is trying to tell everyone with each passing game that they aren’t a very good basketball team. “Got to make free throws,” Leitao said. “Got to practice and got to practice them even more. Got to make free throws.” When Marquette took their first lead of the game with 1:22 to play, 72-70, Leitao called a timeout to draw up a play — the result, a turnover. Then, DePaul gets a stop and junior forward Paul Reed gets fouled with 10 seconds to play and a chance to tie the game, but missed his first free-throw. After Markus Howard hit a pair of free throws to put his team up 74-71 with eight seconds left, Moore went to the foul line for two shots —
and, of course, clanked the first one. This is who the Blue Demons are in the Big East, when asked to make big and important plays down the stretch of games they choke. And that is the story of Leitao teams in his second tenure, as he is now 1768 in the conference since returning in 2015. The only number that matters is their 1-8 conference record, which positions them comfortably in last place. Their only win against then-No.5 Butler, 79-66, looks more of a bad game from the Bulldogs than anything the Blue Demons did well. And DePaul’s 12-1 non-conference is starting to scream more of an abbiration than anything significant. “Just gotta figure it out,” Moore said. “We always start off good, have a good first half, the second half we start out pretty well. At the end of the game, it’s something down the stretch that we got to get. I think we can get it up.” Moore, who had 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds against the Golden Eagles, has to believe his team can still fix this mess with nine regular-season games to play. But throughout Leitao’s last five years at DePaul, his teams have never shown they get better later in the season. Their issues just become bigger and bigger, and it results in last place finishes in the Big East – exactly where they are headaing again this season.
Hockey gets swept by Aurora with season on the line By Ryan Gilroy Copy Editor
In a must-win weekend for the hockey team, DePaul faced off against the topranked Aurora Spartans for a home-at-home matchup. With the postseason just around the corner, DePaul just needs to win one game of their final four matchups remaining to secure a playoff spot in the Northern Collegiate Hockey League playoffs. “We knew we needed a win and tried the best that we could,” forward Jake Bolger said. On Friday, the Blue Demons traveled to All Seasons Ice Rink in Naperville, Illinois to begin the weekend against the Spartans. Before the weekend, Aurora, held the top spot in the conference with an overall record of 9-1-1-1. Unfortunately for DePaul, the Spartans’ firepower was too much for them to handle and were swept during the weekend. The first period showed a hard-hitting but controlled game as the Blue Demons were able to skate off tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes. But for the rest of the game, DePaul
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul and Aurora scramble for the loose puck in their game on Friday at the All Seasons Ice Rink in Naperville, Illinois. The Blue Demons lost the game 12-3. was outworked in all aspects of the game and quickly fell apart as time went on, as Aurora scored six unanswered goals throughout the next 20 minutes, making it a 7-2 game. Even with one more goal coming from
DePaul’s Jack Hemmingway early in the third period, their hopes were too late as the Spartans were able to score five more goals in the period, making it almost impossible to mount a comeback from and officially sealing
the game with a 12-3 win. “This one is a tough one to swallow,” Head Coach Danny Randall said to his team in the locker room after the game. Saturday’s game followed the same story but this time, both teams traveled to Fifth Third Arena in Chicago, the home of the Blackhawks’ practice facility. Aurora came flying out the gate, netting four goals in the first period compared to the Blue Demons’ lone goal scored by Helf, making it 4-1 after the first. Although Helf was able to net his second goal of the night just five minutes into the second period, the Spartans intense style of gameplay proved to be too much as they scored five more goals in the second, making it a 9-2 game after two. But the Blue Demons would fall 11-2 to the Spartans. With the Blue Demons final pair of games ahead of them next weekend, the team is in desperation mode to make the playoffs. They still need just one win to punch their ticket to the postseason. The Blue Demons will face the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans next weekend at home.
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 3, 2020| 28
Unlocked potenital RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul junior guard Dee Bekelja driving into the lane against Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Jan. 19. Bekelja is averaging 8.5 points on 46 percent shooting this season.
Junior guard flourishing in third season under “BrunoBall” By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
Playing well can be linked to plenty of factors; scoring a bunch of points, playing a lot and being a good defender are all reasons to having good games that translate into productive seasons. But having the ability to do all of that at a high level is connected to having confidence in your skill set. For junior guard Dee Bekelja, her confidence was low when she got to DePaul. She didn’t like how she was playing during her freshman and sophomore seasons and it forced her to work harder over the summer to get back to a place where she felt proud of her game. “In my freshman year and even into my sophomore year, I just did not feel like myself, or I had very, very low confidence,” Bekelja said. “And that’s really showed on the basketball court and I did not like how I was producing or playing, or how I was envisioning myself. I’m just really happy and
proud of the way I stuck with it. After talking to people around me, having the support of my family and friends, being able to stick with it and into this year, I’m just really happy with how things have turned out.” Coming from Solon, Ohio, it took Bekelja some time to adjust to a new city and make the transition from high school basketball to elite competition in college. During her high school career, she was named the Gatorade Ohio Girls Basketball Player of the Year and led Solon to back-to-back state tournament semifinal appearances. “I think it’s my confidence that has helped me to have the year I’m having because in years past, I was not as confident in myself just because of the transition from high school to college was kind of hard on me,” she said. While it took Bekelja some time to adjust to a new city and team, Head Coach Doug Bruno spotted her talent right away. From
See BEKELJA page 25
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
Bekelja high fives with the coaching staff before DePaul’s game against Butler on Jan. 19 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Blue Demons won the game 80-65 to improve to 17-2.