The DePaulia is proud to have launched La DePaulia, our Spanish-language sister publication in January. A special pull-out section includes some of their best work from this quarter, including a profile of Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz, right, an elote vendor in Pilsen on pages 4-5.
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Volume #104 | Issue #18 | March 9, 2020 | depauliaonline.com
Counseling services reflect DePaul’s priorities By Emma Oxnevad Opinions & Social Media Editor
Column
The secret next door
XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA
A child detention center located in Rogers Park on the city’s Far North Side, one of five such properties managed by Heartland Alliance.
Immigrant children being detained across city By Cailey Gleeson, Fatima Zaidi, Xavier Ortega, Jovana Vajagic and Olivia Wageman Nation & World Editor, Staff Writer, Photo Chief & Contributing Writers
A
controversial new Trump administration policy has sharply reduced the number of immigrant children detained in five Chicago shelters run by Heartland Alliance, a non-profit that has been under fire from activists for its role in harboring children detained without parents or legal guardians. The five Heartland shelters have a capacity for nearly 400 children, but now care for only 92, according to an executive of the non-profit, who blames President Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy, which requires refugees seeking
“I’ve seen kids become crazy because they want to go home.” José, 17, who was held in federal detention centers, including one in Chicago, for 332 days asylum to apply in Mexico. “I would prefer to have 381 because of what we know, the trauma and the care that these kids need,” LoBianco said. “And we think that this low census is artificial and is being fabricated as a result of political policies.” The Trump administration
continues to enforce the policy while it appeals a recent federal court decision striking it down. The drop in Heartland residents began in October, according to LoBianco. Two of the Chicago facilities are in the Rogers Park neighborhood; the others are in
Bronzeville, Englewood and Beverly. Heartland gets most of its funding – more than $50 million – from the government, according to documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Most of its Chicago detention centers are modest buildings that blend into neighborhood surroundings, but they are ringed by locked iron fences and security cameras. In promotional literature, Heartland says, “it is deeply committed to the fair treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.” The non-profit contracts with
See IMMIGRATION, page 4
When I lost my dad nine months ago, I knew I needed help. The question of seeking counseling was not one of “if ” but rather “how, when and where.” Given the magnitude of the trauma, I knew I couldn’t wait too long before seeking help. Less than a month following the loss, I began sessions at DePaul’s University Counseling Services (UCS). I was apprehensive going into my sessions: I knew I needed help, but how could I begin to express the pain I was feeling to a stranger when I could barely stand to think about it? Luckily, my therapist helped me to feel comfortable and allowed me to set the sessions at my pace. Soon enough, I was able to express the depths of what I was feeling, as well as navigating unrelated issues of stress and anxiety. I felt safe, understood and cared for and I am better for having sought help there. Which is why I am all the more upset that my sessions have to come to an end. My sessions are not ending because my emotional struggles have faded into thin air or because I feel I have nothing more to gain from my treatment. Quite the opposite. Last week, I reached my 20th session, the maximum amount afforded to students. Meaning if I am ever in need of professional help, I cannot utilize UCS ever again. When I began my sessions, I was made aware of the 20-session limit and the notion of UCS being a temporary solution was not lost on me. As the 20th session began to creep closer and closer, however, I began to think of how unfair and downright irresponsible it is for the university to limit their students—and ultimately the department—in this way. It was clear to me almost from the beginning of my treatment that proper funding is not being allocated for UCS. Each session
See UCS, page 13
2 | News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
First Look The DePaulia is the official student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily reflect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Shane René eic@depauliaonline.com MANAGING EDITOR | Lacey Latch managing@depauliaonline.com ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR | Bianca Cseke online@depauliaonline.com NEWS EDITOR | Mackenzie Murtaugh news@depauliaonline.com ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Patsy Newitt news@depauliaonline.com NATION & WORLD EDITOR | Cailey Gleeson nation@depauliaonline.com OPINIONS EDITOR | Emma Oxnevad opinion@depauliaonline.com FOCUS EDITOR | Rebecca Meluch focus@depauliaonline.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Ella Lee artslife@depauliaonline.com ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Keira Wingate artslife@depauliaonline.com SPORTS EDITOR | Lawrence Kreymer sports@depauliaonline.com ASST. SPORTS EDITOR | Nate Burleyson sports@depauliaonline.com DESIGN EDITORS | Annalisa Baranowski, Gina Ricards design@depauliaonline.com
Interested in writing for The DePaulia? Contact our Editor-in-Chief, Shane Rene, to see your name in print and get real journalistic experience. Email eic@depauliaonline.com to get started.
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Adjunct atrophy
News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 3
“[It’s] important to remember that adjunct faculty’s responsibilites are about teaching. Full-time faculty members are about teaching and then all these roles of shared governance. So, everybody is in the pinch of a term. We all have moments of feeling stretched.” Lucy Rinehart
Associate provost
Associate provost addresses complaints, possible voting rights and future plans By Hannah Mitchell Multimedia Editor
Lucy Rinehart, DePaul University’s associate provost, addressed concerns of adjunct professors that were brought to light in a previous story reported by The DePaulia. Rinehart, who also spoke on the university’s behalf in the previous report, discussed major concerns, like student impact, health care benefits, the university’s budget and where DePaul stands on its commitment to improve working conditions.
Student impact and heavy workloads
Adjuncts are frequently teaching introductory courses. As previously reported by The DePaulia, DePaul’s retention rate of 85 percent has caused faculty members to believe there is a relationship between retention and adjunct faculty’s workload. Rinehart said she thinks DePaul’s retention rate is associated with adjunct faculty, but not in the way that they think. “That is actually a really strong retention rate,” she said. “I think adjunct faculty and first-year instruction do a fantastic job.” She believes retention is more associated with affordability. “When you look at that 15 percent drop, and you talk to those students about why they left, some is failure to thrive, but most of it’s affordability,” she said. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the national retention rate for universities was 74 percent in Fall 2017. For private nonprofit universities like DePaul, the retention was 74.1 percent. Although introductory courses can have larger class sizes, Rinehart said those course sizes are still small.
“Twenty-two is not a big class; 22 is a small class,” she said. The courses have a class size cap that was previously 22, but has been increased to 23. She said as an English professor she understands that “if you have 23 students and 23 papers to grade, there’s no doubt that it’s a heavy workload.” Some students and parents who go all-in financially could be concerned that heavy workloads affect a professor’s ability to go allin in return. “I don’t think that’s something that a parent or a student should be concerned about that that adjunct faculty member is not as committed as that full-time faculty member,” she said. Adjuncts have reported stress associated with heavy workloads. “Just so you know, we’re all stressed,” Rinehart said. “That’s important to remember that adjunct faculty’s responsibilities are about teaching. Full-time faculty members’ are about teaching and then all these roles of shared governance. So, everybody is in the pinch of a term. We all have moments of feeling stretched.”
Health care and benefits
As reported by the 2019 Faculty Climate Survey, 62.4 percent of part-time faculty members said health benefits related to their part-time positions are important to them. Adjunct faculty need to teach six 4-credit courses in a 12-month measurement period, must be credited with at least 1,000 hours of service in a 12-month measurement period or a combination of both. Rinehart said that the threshold for medical eligibility under the Affordable Care Act requires that for every hour in the classroom, there must be 1.25 hours credited.
SOURCE: 2019 FACULTY CLIMATE SURVEY
“And then DePaul took one hour in the classroom and gave four hours credit,” she said. “That’s a gesture that DePaul made.” According to the National Association of College and University Business Officers, that isn’t exactly the case. The regulation says adjunct faculty would get credited with 2.25 hours of service per week for each hour teaching in the classroom. In addition, adjunct faculty would get credited “an hour of service per week for each additional hour outside of the classroom the faculty member spends performing duties he or she is required to perform (such as required office hours or required attendance at a faculty meeting).” For adjunct faculty who face serious health concerns or lose their courses due to declining enrollment, there is not a policy in place to protect them from losing their health benefits. Rinehart said that “within the confines of the policies, that is something that happens. People will lose eligibility if their classes are canceled yearto-year. Currently, within our system, there is nothing that we can do in that circumstance.” DePaul does not have plans to change health care eligibility. “The threshold is already generous,” Rinehart said. “I don’t know any plan to change the calculation of which that’s done.”
The budget deficit
As previously reported by The DePaulia, DePaul University faces a $11 million budget deficit after shortcomings in enrollment in recent years. Since adjunct faculty do not receive an annual salary or consistently receive benefits, adjuncts can be perceived as cost-efficient compared to their full-time counterparts. Rinehart said she doesn’t think the use of part-time faculty is primarily driven by budget considerations. “But it’s also acknowledged that the budget crisis is a result of enrollment. Shifting enrollment has consequences for staffing and unit,” she said. She said the university does not have plans to replace tenure positions with part-time positions. Instead, positions are moved to units that have growing enrollment and taken from units where enrollment is declining. “These proportions are staying pretty steady,” she said. “I can’t see into the future, but I can tell you that looking backwards, we have a pretty steady trend all the way through.”
Moving forward
Rinehart said the changes that DePaul is making for its adjuncts is coming through the Workplace Enviornment Committee (WEC), a committee established in 2016 to voice the concerns of adjuncts. According to Rinehart, the WEC has brought new things to DePaul, like
a Faculty Council liaison for parttime faculty, creating an adjunct faculty appeal process, adding an adjunct resource website and resource fair. Adjunct faculty currently do not have voting rights. Nathan DeWitt, the WEC’s Chairman, previously said in a DePaulia report that the WEC is an advisory committee and that they do not have leverage. However, Rinehart said voting power is “under discussion now.” Rinehart said adjunct faculty members should not fear being retaliated against. “I totally understand the feeling of being vulnerable, given that they are hired by course, by quarter, by year,” she said. “But I don’t think they should feel that way.” There is an adjunct faculty appeals process protected by the Code of Conduct to protect adjunct faculty who feel they have been wrongfully terminated, but it only applies during the course contract period. So far, she said, no one has appealed a wrongful termination due to speaking out that she is aware of. There is not a specific goal or plan that faculty can anticipate but when asked what the WEC’s end goal is, Rinehart said to “support part-time faculty as best as we can, within our resources and within their expectations.”
4 | News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 IMMIGRATION continued from front the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement to manage centers for “unaccompanied alien children.” These are children who cross the border alone, with other minors or with adults who are not their legal guardians. Some crossed the border with families or guardians but were separated during ICE enforcement actions. According to Heartland, the children come from 51 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Romania, Brazil and several African nations. Heartland says its centers in Chicago are, “run by multi-lingual human service staff: teachers, therapeutic clinicians, case managers” and that its “primary mission is child welfare/well-being through a trauma-informed approach.” LoBianco, who holds a master’s degree in counseling and human services from DePaul, said that the children receive medical care from Chicago providers including Lurie Children’s Hospital, LaRabida Children’s Hospital and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. LoBianco also said Heartland provides art and music therapy, and staff take the children on frequent field trips to the beach, zoo, cultural and sporting events including baseball, basketball and hockey games. But interviews with immigration experts and testimony from a former Heartland resident paint a bleaker picture: children on strictly regimented schedules who have little freedom behind locked gates and who suffer serious psychological trauma from being separated from their families. One former Heartland detainee, a teenaged boy named José, spent nearly a year in four different detention centers around the country, including those in Illinois, Texas and Oregon. Now 18, he faces deportation as an adult. José said employees at the facilities tried to get any information they could from the children. “If they ask you questions and you don’t answer, they tell you, you will never see your family again,” he said. While some of the information is for reunification purposes, José said he believed there was an ulterior motive. “You’re reuniting the family, but the tricky part is they’re telling ICE everything, from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out they are documenting everything,” he said. Heartland officials say they do share information with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Heartland’s Chicago detention centers, the average stay for children is about 45 days except in “unique circumstances” such as medical conditions, according to LoBianco. “We absolutely have had kids who have stayed with us where the parent or the guardians actually said, ‘I want the child to stay with you until they’re fully healed,’” LoBianco said. Allison Tirres, a DePaul College of Law associate professor specializing in immigration law, said detention centers are not supposed to serve as correctional institutions. “Yet they end up functioning that way because people are forced to stay in them for a long time in some cases,” Tirres said. In more extreme cases, Tirres said they can serve as “de facto prisons.” “In fact they are worse than prisons,” Tirres said. “In many cases, because detainees do not get the benefits like being able to see family, use a library. It makes it much, much harder to defend your case against deportation if you are in a detention center because it is so much harder to see your attorney.”
Psychological Trauma
LoBianco acknowledges that children who suffer on their journeys to the United
“ ... this presidential administration is weaponizing children, it is using children against their own interests and against the interests of their families. That is repugnant. It is inhumane.” Jim LoBianco
Senior Director of Safety Initiatives, Heartland Alliance States can experience further emotional damage while detained. “Even while you can provide a layer of good, there is trauma being experienced by the child while in care,” LoBianco said. He said children get counseling from on-site staff and visiting professionals. Natasha Varela, director of childadolescent family services at Northwestern University’s Family Institute, said these artificial conditions can impact a child’s cognitive development. Additionally, the development of stress-related disorders are more likely for detainees. Varela said the other “extreme” impacts on children depends on other variables, but the risk for detained children is increased. “There’s a risk of self injury,” Varela said. “There’s the risk of addiction. There’s risk of suicidal behavior or suicide risk. So all of these things can increase, I think, depending on other variables, but I think that certainly children are at higher risk as compared to maybe those living in a home with a parent or parents or caregivers.” LoBianco said such expressions of trauma have been infrequent at Heartland. “The trauma that children walk in the door get expressed in many ways, self-harm and severe suicidal ideation being one of them,” LoBianco said. “It is infrequent, but the way we address it is case by case from a medical and psychosocial perspective to make sure that the child is both safe and healing first and then an environment where they can go from just being safe and healing to actually thrive.”
The Moral Dilemma
Over the last two years, immigration activists have protested outside Heartland shelters, at an employee recruitment event in Pilsen, a fund-raising gala and outside the home of a Heartland executive. Groups including Free Heartland Kids, Organized Communities Against Deportations, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Little Village Solidarity Network and the Rogers Park Solidarity Network have also participated in protests calling on Heartland to shut down its Chicago detention centers. But Heartland executives say the alternative is worse. LoBianco asks, “How will one child’s life be better if we stop doing this work tomorrow?” Heartland promotional materials, including videos, contrast the treatment they provide with border facilities run by ICE that have cramped conditions in prison-like settings. But Heartland centers have also experienced problems. Last May, after a series of investigations from ProPublica, Heartland shut down four detention centers in Des Plaines. The ProPublica investigations revealed negligence that included allegations of improper supervision, children having sex in common rooms and detainees attempting to run away during field trips.
Impact of Trump Immigration Crackdown
The detention of children has increased dramatically across the country since the Trump administration launched its “zerotolerance policy” at the border that led to
thousands of family separations. Adults were moved to federal detention centers, and children sent to facilities contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2018, bowing to intense political pressure, Trump signed an executive order ending the policy of separating migrant children from their parents. But the problem has only worsened with a record surge of unaccompanied minors over the last few years. In fiscal year 2019, immigration agents apprehended more than 76,000 children at the border, an increase of more than 50 percent over 2018, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Trump policies upended the socalled Flores agreement (1997 Flores v. Reno) that set a 20-day limit for holding children and requires the government to release children in a timely manner to their parents, other adult relatives or licensed programs. It also requires immigration officials to give detained minors a certain level of adequate food, drinking water, medical assistance and other quality of life areas.
“Under the Obama administration, there was a policy of prosecutorial discretion, which meant that ICE officers and lawyers would not go after the cases of families and students and children, but after dangerous criminals,” Tirres said. “That is out the window now. They go after anyone and everyone. This is what is known as the ‘zero tolerance system’ – everyone is a priority for enforcement.” In response to criticism that Heartland Alliance benefits from these policies, including an exponential increase in its payments from the federal government, the non-profit insists that it opposes the Trump crackdown on undocumented immigrants. LoBianco said current immigration policies are inhumane. “We believe that the facts are very clear that this presidential administration is weaponizing children, it is using children against their own interests and against the interests of their families.” LoBianco said. “That is repugnant. It is inhumane. And it’s a crime to find ourselves in the midst of that and then try to figure out how to navigate.” Nonetheless, Heartland Alliance is seeking a new, three-year contract with the Office of Refugee Resettlement that would provide the Chicago non-profit up to $45.5 million each year. LoBianco said the contract has not yet been approved, but the organization is still seeking it. “I underscore the fact that while Heartland pushes for better alternatives, those don’t presently exist,” LoBianco said. “And we’re going to keep doing this work until a better alternative exists.”
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News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 5
Law professor faces backlash for Tribune op-ed By Ella Lee & Emma Oxnevad Arts & Life Editor & Opinions Editor
A DePaul law professor is facing backlash from students of color for an opinion piece published in the Chicago Tribune on March 2. Monu Bedi, a professor in the College of Law who teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Military Law published a guest commentary piece titled “Stop-and-frisk is not racist, and we need to stop saying it is.” He argues in the piece that stop-andfrisk laws, which allow law enforcement to stop civilians and search them for weapons or illegal substances, are not racist in theory, but that applications of the law have been racially motivated against communities of color. “The only word I can use to describe this article by Professor Monu Bedi [is] irresponsible,” said Kaylin Reese, a member of DePaul’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA). “Unless you are out here living as a Black or Hispanic person in America, do not tell us what we can and can’t say.” Bedi uses recent criticism of the laws from current and former Democratic presidential candidates as a framing device for the argument. He specifically cites the application of the law in New York City under Mike Bloomberg’s tenure as mayor. “Readers may say that the distinction between the law and how it is applied isn’t that significant, and so this kind of precision from the candidates is not essential,” the piece reads. “But they couldn’t be more wrong. By simply saying stop-and-frisk is a racist policy or law, we make criminal justice reform that much harder.” R.J. Foster, vice president of BLSA, said that for people of color, the law and its application can’t be separated so easily. “There are a lot of people, myself included, who are just tired of being told things aren’t racist and having our experiences devalued,” Foster said. “It’s
XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA
“I think people like to think that justice is blind, but that’s not the case,” said R.J. Foster, vice president of BLSA. like they’re scared to look at things on its face; they jump through these mental gymnastics to try to shy away from the fact that something is racist.” Bedi reiterated his opinion in an interview with The DePaulia, stating that implicit racial bias from police officers is a contributing factor to the law becoming entangled with race. “I think people recognize we have a problem with implicit bias in the system and we need to figure out a way to change that,” he said. “Whether it’s through disciplinary rules, I think maybe we need stronger disciplinary rules for police officers, more accountability in that way.” Foster said he thinks that the assumption Bedia makes about the average person’s interpretation of the law may be too gracious in reality.
“He wrote [the article] as if the average person looks at a law and reads into it from the point of view of legislative intent; the average person doesn’t do that,” he said. “The law has been taken — it’s been weaponized — and used in racist ways. That makes it racist.” Bedi suggested toward the end of his article that presidential candidates condemning the laws should “stop focusing on how to change stop-and-frisk law and start providing concrete plans on how to change the hearts and minds of police officers.” “Typically, when I say ‘change hearts and minds,’ I’m not suggesting that candidates should talk to police officers directly,” he said. “What I mean by that is ‘how do we change behavior?’ And so to change hearts and minds, there’s a variety
of things you need to do and these are the things I think the candidates should be talking about...different types of training, more stringent disciplinary rules [and] criminal punishment for police officers.” But Foster said he thinks that trusting one flawed system to fix another won’t lead to any substantive change. “I don’t know if people have this belief in the law and the system that it treats everyone the same way, but you can walk outside right now and see that that’s not true,” he said. “The law is applied to people differently based on color, based on economic background, based on religion, based on sexual orientation. I think people like to think that justice is blind, but that’s not the case.”
Lightfoot addresses CTA crime as cases rise By Madi Garcia Contributing Writer
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled a plan to fight crime on the CTA on Friday, Feb. 28. The announcement comes after several high-profile crimes over the last month. The new initiative will add an additional 50 police officers to patrol CTA platforms, stations, trains and bus stops, bringing the total number of officers to 250. The Chicago police will also add a new Strategic Decision Support Center in the 1st district, which will focus on solving crimes on the CTA and in that district. The center will include a technological strategy called “smart policing technology,” which includes the addition of over 32,000 new cameras on CTA property, according to city officials. Four detectives will also be dedicated to solving common types of crime that occur on the CTA, such as cell phone robberies, pick-pocketing and theft. According to a Chicago Tribune analysis, CTA crime doubled between 2015 and 2018, despite the addition of cameras on the train cars. The CPD made arrests for just 11 percent of the robberies reported on the CTA in 2019, nearly half the arrest rate for robberies in 2015. The CTA is an essential part of moving around in the city, and the rise in crimes has affected the way
many DePaul students travel. DePaul student David Wagner has changed his commute by avoiding certain train lines and riding at certain times. “I stopped taking the Red Line mostly, I only use it when I really need to,” said Wagner. “I heard about the Jackson tunnel shooting so now I try to take the Purple Line and I don’t ride the CTA after 9 p.m.” 36-year-old DePaul University Theatre professor Jasmine Bracey also avoids using the Red Line after the crime spikes. “The Red Line I try to avoid more in general, particularly at night,” Bracey said. “I avoid it during rush hour or Cubs games, when crimes are particularly reported.” The most prominent difference in the city’s new initiative is the additional officers patrolling the stations. This strategy has been employed in the past and didn’t provide significant results, and many seem to think it will be impactful this time either. “I don’t think it will be helpful because someone can bring a gun on the train and the cop will have to be lucky to be on that car at the same time,” Wagner said. “When it’s really crowded, there’s too many people around.” Bracey shares a similar doubt about the impact of police presence on the CTA. “Considering the fact that the CPD causes crime sometimes, no,” said
Bracey. “They usually travel in groups of four and if there’s too many officers on one train, it creates a different message than one guy and his canine. Part of me wonders if it’s different when they’re on the train or just at the station.” Bracey is referring to the incident at the Grand Red Line station where police officers patrolling the train shot a man who they tried to stop for switching between train cars, which is prohibited by a city ordinance. A video filmed by a nearby passenger shows the officers struggling to arrest the man as they tased and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. As the man tried to escape up the escalator, an officer shot at him twice. “I think the police might make issues worse because they might instigate things and cause greater issue rather than resolving the issue of violence,” said DePaul student Adrian Maldonado. Overall, crime has significantly risen on the CTA over the last five years. According to NBC 5 Chicago, there were 6,321 crimes reported on the CTA last year, more than the 4,116 crimes reported in 2015. “I now feel like I have to constantly check my surroundings because of how unsafe I feel,” Maldonado said. “I have to keep all of my belongings XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA secured and now I feel that no one can Chicago police at the Jackson Red Line CTA stop. be trusted.”
6| News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
Sanders rally packs Grant Park
Above: Congressman Chuy Garcia endorses presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders in front of a large crowd in Grant Park on Saturday, March 7. Below: A supporter waits for Sanders to take the stage (left) and a young attendee gets a better view atop his father’s shoulders (right).
S
Photos by Jonathan Aguilar Words by Hannah Mitchell
en. Bernie Sanders came to Chicago on March 7 to gain supporters before the March 17 Illinois primary. Sanders told his supporters at the Grant Park campaign rally that he is the candidate to beat the presidential incumbent, Republican Donald Trump. He called Trump a “pathological liar,” criticized his handling of the coronavirus, his denial of climate change and stated that Trump has “apparently never read the Constitution.” As the campaign narrowed to two Democratic front-runners, Sanders said of his contender, former Vice President Joe Biden, “Joe Biden and I are friends.” He continued, “It is important for the American people, the people of Illinois, to understand the differences between us in terms of our record, in terms of our vision for the future.”
He discussed campaign points like Medicare for All, socialized college tuition, nationwide legalization of marijuana and prison reform — the same statements from his presidential run in 2016. Sanders’ speech resonated with many of his supporters. The Chicago Tribune reported that there were at least 10,000 in attendance. “He was extremely inclusive in every statement he made during his speech,” said Emma Melendez, a DePaul junior. “[For example], Native Americans in the statistics about mass incarceration when they’re so often left out of it.” “It was really amazing to see the diversity of people that came out,” Melendez said. “Most shockingly was people that I would never have expected to vote for Bernie, like older white men.”
Carlos Luna, a DePaul alumnus and Green Card Veterans president, an advocacy group for deported veterans, said he supports Sanders “because he, unlike the former vice president, has an extensive voting record, putting him on the right side of history.” Luna said Biden has been harmful for vulnerable communities. “My work with incarcerated and deported veterans has shown me how devastating Biden’s career work has been for veterans and communities of color,” he said. Illinois has 184 delegates, including 155 pledged delegates and 29 superdelegates. The state has been a major focus in presidential campaigning since Super Tuesday because it is among the remaining states with the highest delegate counts.
News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 7
Blago’s lawyer reflects on commutation By Brita Hunegs Staff Writer
When former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich came back home to Chicago after eight years in prison, DePaul College of Law adjunct Len Goodman, joined the family at their Ravenswood home, which 12 years prior was the very place FBI agents raided and arrested then-Governor Blagojevich, for the congressman-turned twice elected governor’s arrival. “It was exciting for me to see him back in that house,” Goodman said. Hours earlier, Blagojevich boarded a plane and flew from the federal penitentiary in Colorado that he’d lived in for the last eight years. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of federal corruption, including attempting to profit from filling the senate seat left vacant by then-Senator Barack Obama after he was elected president. He’d speculated that if he gave the appointment to Obama’s friend, Valerie Jarrett, Obama might give him a position in the White House. Other charges were brought for withholding state funding for a children’s hospital until its executive contributed to his campaign. Jarrett became a top advisor to Obama, Blagojevich became a pariah. He was, and remains, the only Illinois governor to be impeached. The FBI wiretapped Blagojevich’s phone for months and collected over 300 hours of his conversations with aides and family, fueling his eventual indictment and imprisonment. Then last month, President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s sentence four years early, sending the history buff and Elvis-lover back to Chicago. Goodman joined Blagojevich’s legal team during the appeals process. With Goodman’s help, the charges surrounding the efforts to make a deal for the senate seat were eventually dropped, but his original sentence remained intact. Goodman attests Blagojevich never
did anything illegal. He cites a 1991 Supreme Court case that determined asking for campaign funds in exchange for something is a necessary part of the job of a politician. To Goodman, the bar to convict was set unjustly low for Blagojevich. “He never denied that he tried to do a political deal with Barack Obama. If I was on that jury I would have convicted him too, because under that standard he was guilty. But it was the wrong standard,” Goodman said. “The most common thing that I would hear from people is that that sentence is ridiculous.” DePaul Journalist in Residence Christopher Bury covered the impeachment and the federal court trial for ABC’s Midwest Bureau. He says there’s no question Blagojevich was corrupt. “He got caught. He was correctly sentenced to prison. The idea that somehow the law was changed on him is absolute garbage.” In the time leading to his release, Blagojevich’s wife Patti was a frequent guest on Fox Network programs, pleading the case for her husband’s mistreatment. She openly stated that her tactic was to appeal directly to President Trump, who is known to often consume Fox News shows, by comparing the case against Blagojevich’s to the Russia probe looking into Trump’s own campaign. It worked, and the newly-free Blagojevich now calls himself a “Trumpocrat.” Goodman, himself a staunch liberal, thinks it would be a mistake for Blagojevich to campaign on the president’s behalf during the upcoming election, something he’s said directly to Blagojevich. “Rod’s values are different from Trump’s values. I understand why he’s appreciative because no one else would listen to him. Trump was the only one that seemed to understand the unfairness of the case against
him,” Goodman said. “Rod is very pro-union. I don’t think Trump is. Rod cares about health care. I don’t think Trump really cares much about that.” It was these issues, and others, that Goodman says drove Blagojevich to try and trade the senate seat for a position for himself in Obama’s cabinet. Goodman says Blagojevich wanted to further his legislative agenda from the highest office possible. “It wasn’t about personal benefit. It wasn’t the same as getting money for his kids’ college fund. This was a public job that he was trying to get” Goodman said. “He’s trying to get his agenda through so he’s gonna wheel and deal to get his agenda through.” To Bury, the idea that Blagojevich was trying to make a deal to give himself a platform to advance issues, doesn’t hold up. “Blagojevich, like Trump, usually does what is in the best interest of Blagojevich” Bury said. “I heard him talking about those positions on the FBI wiretaps because it fulfilled his ambition of doing something more than being Governor of Illinois. Not once did I hear those boasts mentioned in terms of what he could do for the people of Illinois.” Goodman says Blagojevich’s experience has led him to be an advocate for criminal justice reform. He says Blagojevich spent a good amount of his time in prison teaching history classes and using his professional experience to help his fellow prisoners. “A lot of these people had never had regular jobs. He would walk the track with them and do mock interviews to help prepare them for the real world.” Now that he’s out, Goodman has been trying to assist Blagojevich in his aspirations to right, what Blagojevich sees as, the wrongs of the criminal justice system, saying “He could actually make a difference because he really does want to.”
COURTESY OF LEN GOODMAN LAW OFFICE WEBSITE
Len Goodman, adjunct law professor and attorney for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Bury is expecting to see Blagojevich, who once was a contestant on President Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and is now selling videos of himself to users of a website that pedals in celebrities filming messages, attempt to stay in the public light, “He loves publicity. I assume he’s going to try to make a living off of his notoriety.” The commutation doesn’t expunge Blagojevich’s record, meaning he can’t run for public office. Goodman though, would advise his client to eventually seek a pardon to have his record cleared. For now though, we can expect to hear more vocals than anything else from Blagojevich, Blagojevich, who started a rock group while in prison, is slated to perform with Goodman’s band in June, something Blagojevich promised Goodman he’d do if he ever got out. “He’ll probably just sing ‘Jailhouse Rock’,” Goodman said.
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8 | News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
Budget approved for 2020-21 academic year By Bianca Cseke
students, DePaul spokesperson Carol Hughes said. Officials have created a form seeking feedback for how they should close the budget gap. “Senior leaders have been asked to study all options for closing this gap,” Jeff Bethke, DePaul executive vice president and chief financial officer, said in the announcement. At a leadership town hall in midFebruary, Esteban discussed the difficult position the university is in with having to invest in programs to keep them competitive in terms of enrollment — but also lower expenses in the face of a $14 million tuition revenue deficit. Officials have also been trying to increase enrollment and retention in part by creating new programs. “Multiple new programs are at various stages of development,” Interim Provost Salma Ghanem said in the announcement. “In addition, new delivery methods and infrastructure are being implemented to provide easy access for our students.”
Online Managing Editor
DePaul has an $11 million budget gap for the 2020-21 academic year and has yet to determine what areas will see cuts, the university announced Friday. The Board of Trustees approved at its March 5 meeting a $576 million budget that reflects declining enrollment, the need to invest in new academic programs and to continue to manage costs, the announcement said. The budget, which will take effect July 1, was recommended unanimously to the board by the Strategic Resource Allocation Committee (SRAC) and DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban. “While declining enrollment continues to pose budget challenges, the decisions considered by SRAC were not easy,” Esteban said in the announcement. In addition to expense cuts, tuition will increase by 3 percent for new freshmen, 2 percent for returning undergraduates and 2 percent “on average” for graduate
Budget Highlights:
- No decision for what will be cut to close an $11 M budget gap - Tuition to increase 3% for new freshmen, 2% for returning undergraduates and graduate students “on average” - The proposal itself is not available to the public
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT:
Feb. 26 - March 2, 2020
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
LOOP CAMPUS
Welcome Center Parking Lot 1150 W. Fullerton 4 1
11
University Hall Clifton-Fullerton 3
Centennial Hall
5
12
Wish Field
Sheffield Square
8
9
Munroe Hall
CDM Building
10
6
17
DePaul Center
Lewis Center
13 2
Student Center 10
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
14
1 9
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
FEB. 27 MARCH 1 1) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on the 7) A Theft report was filed for items taken from 1150 W. Fullerton building. 2) A Harassment by Electronic means report was filed for harassing postings on social media.
FEB. 28 3) A Domestic
Dispute report was filed regarding an argument between roommates in University Hall.
FEB. 29 4) A Hit and Run report was filed for a vehicle
damaged in the Welcome Center parking lot. 5) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol report was filed in Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Person was taken to Illinois Masonic by Chicago EMS. 6) A Criminal Damage to Property report was filed for damage in a lounge at Munroe Hall.
Levan and O’Connell.
MARCH 2 8) A Graffiti
15
report was filed for markings on Wish Field. 9) A Smell of Marijuana report was filed at Sheffield Square. No drugs were found. 10) A Dating Violence report was filed for a battery in Student Center. 11) A Graffiti report was filed regarding marking on the 1150 W Fullerton building. 12) A Theft report was filed regarding a laptop taken from Centennial Hall.
Other
LOOP CAMPUS FEB. 26 13) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on
the DePaul Center. 14) A Theft report was filed for a wallet taken in the DePaul Center.
FEB. 28 15) A Graffiti report was filed for marking on Lewis Center.
MARCH 1 16) A Simple Assault report was filed regarding
an incident that occurred in a University Center retail space.
MARCH 2 17) A Disorderly Conduct report was filed for a
person asked to leave the CDM building. Chicago
News. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 9
Race for reform Alum makes run for contested state rep. seat By Patsy Newitt Asst. News Editor
When he’s not waking up at 6 a.m. to canvas at bus stops for the 12th district state representative seat, DePaul alumnus Jimmy Garfield can be found playing sixhour, occasionally multiple-weekend-long board games with his friends (when he can muster up free time). “Free time? What is free time?” Garfield said after asked what he did outside of his job as an attorney or running for office. Garfield and his boyfriend Javier Hernandez sat down with The DePaulia on a snowy February morning after hours of walking around the 12th district handing out information to residents waiting for the bus. This is a normal morning routine for the duo. In a district where many residents live in condominiums, where door-knocking is prohibited, this is necessary. That specific day wasn’t too bad, they said, despite several inches of snow. “It’s chilly, and it was very wet. But, it’s not bone-freezing,” Hernandez said, remembering a morning where he couldn’t feel his hands or toes. “[Garfield] can actually go and shake people’s hands.” This type of advocacy is critical in a race as contested as the 12th district, the district made up by a sweeping lakefront area through Uptown, Lakeview, the Gold Coast, Buena Park and Lincoln Park – including Boystown, Chicago’s LGBTQ neighborhood. As previously reported by The DePaulia, the 12th district representative seat is vacant after being held for 24 years by Sara Feigenholtz, who was recently appointed a state senator seat after John Cullerton retired midterm. Lightfoot-backed real estate agent Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer has held the seat since mid-February, acting as an interim representative appointed by committeeman vote in the event of a vacancy. Garfield, alongside other candidates like Pritzker-backed deputy chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Margaret Croke, have opposed this appointment process on the grounds of it being undemocratic. Garfield’s understanding of politics developed early on in his life. His father, Robert Garfield, was a history professor at DePaul before retiring this past June. “History and politics are so wildly intertwined with each other,” he said. “It’s like ‘Hey, I want to try X policy. Wait, let’s check history. That has never worked before. Great, maybe it won’t work again.’” Garfield grew up in Evanston and graduated from DePaul in 2008, majoring in communication studies with a focus in
radio, television and film. He took four years off to do field work — knocking on doors and shaking hands for progressive campaigns like the former Illinois senator Daniel Biss in 2008, former 22nd Ward Alderman Rick Muñoz in 2007 and former 45th Ward Alderman John Arena in 2010, before returning to DePaul to receive a law degree. Garfield decided to run in late November, while he was in Hawaii (no sightseeing, just interviewing case witnesses), giving himself a little over a week to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot. “I said, you know what, I’ve had these ideas. I have solutions to these issues,” he said. “I keep complaining about it and having friends tell me to stop complaining and do something about it, so I threw myself in the ring.” This plays into Garfield’s larger push for government reform, central to his platform. This, he says, must be achieved in order to get anything done. “We want to expand green energy,” he said. “We want to expand healthcare. We want to expand, you know, senior services. But it’ll be hard to do that...until we have campaign finance reform to stop other people or other fellow politicians from buying elections.” This comes in tandem with term limits. Specifically, he’s the only candidate who has publicly said he won’t vote for powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, who held the position since 1983. “He’s the spider at the center of this web,” Garfield said. “He’s been untouched for so long because he controls the money.” Other 12th district candidates, like Croke and Pizer, have both said, while they think Madigan has been in power for too long, they will likely still vote for him as opposed to voting for a Republican. “I would really like to see a new generation of leadership, which is why I support leadership term limits,” said Croke. “When it comes to voting for the speaker, however, you’re going to have a Republican and Democrat and I can’t vote for someone who’s anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ or anti-labor. I won’t do it.” Eli Stone, communication director for the Pizer campaign, echoed those sentiments saying that while Pizer would consider voting for a different candidate, he wouldn’t vote for a Republican, and Madigan would likely be the other option. Garfield feels this mindset perpetuates corruption. “You have to stand up to it and say, ‘No, there’s a limit for how far we’ll go,’” he said. “Sure, I’m going to have less money flowing in from prospective donors. But I have to be able to look someone in the eyes and tell them what I believe. I have to look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘this is what I
ANNALISA BARANOWSKI | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul alumnus Jimmy Garfield is running to represent Chicago’s 12th district, which includes Uptown, Lakeview, the Gold Coast, Buena Park and Lincoln Park – including Boystown, Chicago’s LGBTQ neighborhood.
“We just have to get the voters and be informed as to our positions and our policies. Not have armies of personnel and money dumped in here because the message is lost.” Jimmy Garfield
Candidate for Representative of the 12th District, DePaul alum believe in.’” Garfield also has comprehensive and detailed policy plans for bail reform, tax reform, campaign finance reform and expanding access to education. His focus is attacking root causes – forgoing what he sees as Band-aid policy for larger issues. Like gun control, for example. Because guns in Chicago often come from bordering states, he said banning guns won’t accomplish much. He proposes more long term investments. “Let’s fund afterschool programs that kids have somewhere to go to rather than be out on the corner with no parental supervision, no adult supervision and being recruited by gangs,” he said, pointing to statistics that show that afterschool programs, music programs and theater programs can help to reduce violence in the long run. Alongside this is a plan for opening up conversation with constituents. He feels state representatives don’t get a lot of face to face feedback from their districts and imagines an app like Google Rewards to communicate with constituents. “I think the part we have to do is get people to say, ‘Yeah, my voice does matter. Yes, I can be engaged. Yes we are going to have a new person every so often,’” he said. Another difficulty he’s found since he announced his campaign has been general
knowledge that there is an election. “The number of times I’ve been asked ‘Wait, we have an election coming up?’” he said. “I wish I had $1 for every time, I could fund 10 campaigns.” The final stretch before the primary on March 17 is critical. The seat has been held by Feigenholtz for so long that residents aren’t used to having someone running, he said. Until then, he hopes his campaign sparks any sort of movement towards reform “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made recently in Illinois. But I’m just so tired of our state nationwide being the butt of jokes” he said. “We just have to get the voters and be informed as to our positions and our policies. Not have armies of personnel and money dumped in here because the message is lost.” As of publication, both Pizer and Croke’s campaigns have over $200,000 of cash on hand, largely from big donors like Lightfoot, Pritzker and 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, according to Illinois Sunshine, compared to Garfield’s $27,000. “People have lost faith because of the corruption,” he said, “because of how long people are in office people have lost faith that their vote, their voice matters.”
Nation &World
10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
Violence escalates between Muslims and Hindus in India By Fatima Zaidi Staff Writer
Tensions rise in India amidst the ongoing violence between the Hindus and Muslims of New Delhi in what is becoming yet another global cry for humanity and justice. On Feb. 24, a photograph of a man in a fetal position with bloodstained clothes began to circulate around social media. The Muslim man, Mohammed Zubair, 37, was surrounded by a mob of men holding bloodied sticks as they advanced towards a vulnerable and visibly wounded Zubair, landing blow after blow to the point where Zubair thought that he would die. “They saw I was alone, they saw my cap, beard, shalwar kameez [clothes] and saw me as a Muslim,” Zubair said in a Reuters article. “They just started attacking, shouting slogans. What kind of humanity is this?” Zubair is one of the dozens of Muslims faced with the blows of violence in the uprising between the Hindus and Muslims, and was one of the few that made it out alive. Approximately 38 people have died since the clash began on Feb. 24, and according to a Reuters report, the event of a mob screaming pro-Hindu slogans while attacking an unarmed man because he was Muslim further displays that this existing conflict may be hard to contain. “The conflict itself is not between ‘Hindus’ and ‘Muslims’ – neither of these are monolithic groups in India,” Kalyani Menon, a religious anthropologist at DePaul University said. “The rise to dominance of the Hindu Right on the sociopolitical landscape of India is directly connected to the increasing violence against the minorities in the country. Muslims in particular, but also Christians and Dalits. While there are many groups associated with the Hindu Right in India, the one’s most directly connected to the current violence are those belonging to the Sangh Parivar, the family of organizations associated with the all-male Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.” Unrest across the nation began in December 2019 when the parliament released a legislation known as the Citizenship Amendment Bill which allowed for an easy avenue to obtain citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jain, Parsis, and Christian religious minorities. Muslims were not included under the regulations of the bill. As a result, numerous protests were carried out across the nation, including in Delhi, where demonstrators
BINSAR BAKKARA | AP
A Muslim man holds up a poster during a rally outside the Indian Consulate General in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesian Monday, March 2, 2020. were detained and brutally beaten with ba- and most recently in Delhi in 2020. The Hindu ly practice my religion, but knowing that the tons by Indian officers. The nationalist party Right has been very successful at manipulat- country where my ancestors lived their whole of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya ing Hindu majoritarian sentiments to mobi- life is under threat by the scathing injustices Janata Party, spoke out and said their bill was lize right wing Hindus towards their politics.” brought by Modi and his men makes me beenforced to protect the persecuted minorities After the attack that left approximately 24 yond upset.” in areas such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Af- people dead, Modi appealed for calm because While Modi was a chief minister in Gughanistan, denying any sort of bias against the of the worst sectarian violence in New Delhi jarat, some of the worst riots that had taken Muslims of India. in decades. However, the amendment bill has place in independent history ignited mistrust After the attack on Zubair, Tajinder Pal not been the only action taken by Modi that amongst the Muslims. Additionally, approxSingh Bagga, a spokesperson for BJP said the has appealed to the Hindu majority in India. imately 2,500 people who were mostly Musparty did not support any sort of act of vio- In August, he stripped Kashmir, India’s only lims were killed in riots after 59 Hindu pillence, and that this attack was the responsi- Muslim-majority state, of the special status grims were burned to death after their train bility of rival parties that ignited the chaos it required so he could integrate it with the was set on fire, with suspected Muslim perduring President Donald Trump’s visit to In- rest of the country and in November, the Su- petrators. dia. preme Court also gave Hindu groups control South Indian student organizations are “This was 100 percent pre-planned,” Bag- to construct a temple on the grounds where organizing demonstrations to showcase soliga said in a Reuters report. He further went on a mosque had once stood in the city of Ayo- darity. to add that Delhi police deployed paramilitary dhya. “There are many South Asian students in forces in attempts to control the situation. “It boils my blood to know that injustice, Chicago who have been organizing protests The Hindu-first agenda established by discrimination and prejudice is still some- on and off college campuses all over the city,” Modi since he first came back to power in May thing prevalent in the 21st century and it Menon said. “Students at University of Chica2019 left India’s approximately 180 million angers me that no one of real social status in go, Northwestern University, and University Muslims at unease, especially because Hindus the western society is open about the topic. of Illinois have been very active in the last few make up approximately 80 percent of India’s I think that regardless of religion, regardless months. At this moment, finding ways to conpopulation. of skin color and even status, the Muslims in nect with South Asian student groups across “The Hindu Right constructs India as a India aren’t even treated as human beings,” college campuses would be a good way to Hindu nation, and has engaged in extreme vi- said Mohammed Ahmed, a senior at UIC. start raising awareness and creating solidarity olence against India’s Muslims,” Menon said. “Their rights are completely violated. And around these issues.” “In Gujarat in 2002, in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, yes, I live in a country where I’m able to open-
Super Tuesday results narrow Democratic presidential bid By Cailey Gleeson Nation & World Editor
Two clear Democratic front runners emerged following Super Tuesday with Joe Biden winning nine states and Bernie Sanders taking California and several others. Biden swept states across the South and Midwest – including Texas, Virgina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Massachusetts. In addition to California, Sanders was declared CHRIS CARLSON | AP the winner in Colorado, Utah and Vermont. Joe Biden speaks at a primary election Despite taking California, R. Craig campaign rally Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Sautter, a professor in DePaul University’s in a couple of them, but not enough.” School of Continuing and Professional StudSautter said he expects Sanders to take ies, said Super Tuesday was a “disastrous” Michigan – but is unsure of how Wisconsin night for Sanders. and Illinois will play out. “He lost the delegate lead, lost the moOn the other hand, Sautter said Biden rementum and faces a less than friendly sched- emerged as a front runner after his campaign ule of Midwestern states that vote in the next almost collapsed following early losses in two weeks,” Sautter said. “He should do well
Iowa and New Hampshire. “Despite his apparent memory problems, Democrat voters have decided Joe Biden is their best bet against President Trump,” Sautter said. “The endorsements from former candidates and currently serving elected officials show the party apparatus is coalescing behind him.” Johnny Milas, junior political science major at DePaul, said the results were telling of the rest of the election. “No other candidates had a good enough showing to stay in the race,” Milas said. “And the voters have made it clear who they want.” Pete Buttgieg, Amy Klobuchar, Mike Bloomberg and Kamala Harris are among those who announced their endorsement of Biden in the past week. In a shocking move, Beto O’Rourke also endorsed the former vice president while making an appearance at one of his campaign rallies in Dallas. “All of them put together great campaigns, raised millions of dollars, subjected
themselves to criticism, drew large crowds, and lost,” Sautter said. “Someone said, or they knew, that they better drop out now or have their images tarnished, and if Joe Biden wins, they may get a Cabinet post.” Following her poor performance on Super Tuesday, Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the race the next morning but has yet to endorse a candidate. Sautter said it’s clear who progressive voters want Warren to endorse. “Progressives want her to support Bernie now that the cause of progressive issues is on popular trial in the votes,” Sautter said. Despite the impact of Super Tuesday’s results, Sautter said the trajectory could be changed while primaries continue ahead of the election in November. “We are still eight months away from the General Election, and the best prediction is to expect the unexpected to disrupt any apparent trajectory seen in March 2020,” Sautter said. “We still face a wild ride.”
Nation & World. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 11
Protests and celebrations mark Women’s Day, despite threats By Adam Geller Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — From the streets of Manila to the plazas of Santiago, Chile, people around the world marked International Women’s Day on Sunday with calls to end exploitation and increase equality. But tensions marred some celebrations, with police reportedly using tear gas to break up a demonstration by thousands of women in Turkey and security forces arresting demonstrators at a rally in Kyrgyzstan. Turkish riot police tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators who, in defiance of a government ban, tried to march along Istanbul’s main pedestrian street to mark International Women’s Day, media reports said. Turkish authorities declared Istiklal street, near Istanbul’s main Taksim square, off-limits, and said the planned march down the avenue was unauthorized. Several demonstrators were detained, according to Cumhuriyet. In Pakistan, however, women managed to rally in cities across the country, despite petitions filed in court seeking to stop them. The opposition was stirred in part by controversy over a slogan used in last year’s march: “My Body, My Choice.” Some conservative groups had threatened to stop this year’s marches by force. But Pakistani officials pledged
to protest the marchers. The rallies are notable in a conservative country where women often do not feel safe in public places because of open harassment. The main Islamic political party, Jamaat-eIslami, organized its own rallies to counter the march. One of the largest demonstrations occurred in Chile, where crowds thousands flooded the streets of the capital with dancing, music and angry demands for gender equality and an end to violence against women. “They kill us, they rape us and nobody does anything,” some chanted. National police estimated 125,000 took part in the capital and nearly 35,000 in other cities, but organizers said the crowds were far larger. Scattered clashes broke out at points when demonstrators threw rocks at police, who responded with water cannons. Many protesters demanded that a proposed new constitution strengthen rights for women and thousands wore green scarves in a show of support for activists in neighboring Argentina, which is considering a proposal to legalize elective abortion. Tens of thousands of women also marched through Paris, inveighing against the “virus of the patriarchy.” “Enough impunity!” chanted some activists, who focused on France’s unusually high rate of women killed by their husbands. Last year, one woman was killed every two or three days by a current
VLADIMIR VORONIN | AP
Kyrgyz policemen detain an activist of the Femen women’s rights movement at Victory Square during celebration of the International Women’s Day in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sunday, March 8, 2020. or former partner, and the government year. is increasing efforts to crack down on The detonation of explosives triggered domestic violence. panic at a ceremony in Bamenda, an Thousands of women also marched in English-speaking town in the northwest Madrid and other Spanish cities, despite of Cameroon. Suspicions focused on concern over the spread of the new separatists who had vowed to disrupt the coronavirus. events. No one was killed or wounded. Spanish health authorities said did Police in Bishek, the capital city of not put any restrictions on the march, but Kyrgyzstan, detained about 60 people after recommended that anyone with symptoms a group of unidentified men broke up what similar to those of the coronavirus stay authorities called an unauthorized rally. home. Police said people from both sides At a school in East London, meanwhile, were detained, but news reports said they the duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, were primarily women. They were released joined students in listening to speeches several hours later, after about 10 had been about women labor activists, and urged charged with resisting police, the Akipress both girls and boys to respect the news agency reported, citing an attorney. contributions of women every day of the
Bezos pledges $10 billion towards climate change activism By Maria Garcia Staff Writer
With a net worth of $115.7 billion and known as the richest man in the world, founder and CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos recently announced that he will pledge a sum of $10 billion towards climate change activism. The donation money will go towards the foundation called the Bezos Earth Fund and will help in funding scientists, activists and nongovernmental organizations. The fund will start issuing grants this summer. Elena Rangai, a political science major at DePaul University, said Bezos should use his money elsewhere to help fight climate chan ge. “I think that it is great that he is attempting to help the environment but I think adding it to a fund that he created can be potentially a source of corruption,” Rangai said. “I think in terms of transparency and effectiveness he should put his money elsewhere.” However, this is not the first time that Bezos has made an attempt to fight climate
change. In September 2019, Bezos revealed the Climate Pledge, in which he claimed that Amazon will meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The Paris Climate Agreement was made by the U.N. in an effort to strengthen the global response of the threat of climate change by aiming for a global temperature below of 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels and continuing the efforts to limit the temperature of increase further by 34.7 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to reach these goals, appropriate financial opportunities, new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place. Supporting developing countries and the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change is also a part of this goal. Additionally, Bezos announced that Amazon would meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement 10 years ahead of its schedule with the goal of becoming carbon neutral by the year 2040. As part of the pledge, Amazon will be ordering 100,000 electric delivery
trucks from Rivian, a Michigan-based company that Amazon has invested in. Wesley Janicki, president of Model United Nations at DePaul, said Bezos should use invest in organizations, not start his own. “In terms of sustainability and doing things that impact the climate change, so much of it is every organization not knowing about each other or not pooling efforts. Everything is so spread out or separate,” Janicki said. “I think for Bezos instead of investing in some of these places like Greenpeace, donate $10 million to Greenpeace. He’s going to start his own one? So he can go like ‘it’s my own, I care so much about it.’ Instead of partnering with Greenpeace, all these organizations that already have worldwide influence.” Janicki said he doesn’t see the organization going far. “More than likely, the $10 [billion] dollars [will] probably be the only money that this organization probably ever gets,” said Janicki. Bezos’ sudden push for climate change has landed him in hot water. For over a year Amazon workers have been pushing for its said climate goals, stag-
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ing walkouts of more than 1,500 workers to prove how the company could do better in terms of the environment. While Amazon employees are still in favor of the company’s climate pledge, many have pushed executives to stop providing cloud computing. Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services that include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence online in order to provide faster service, flexible resources, and economies of scale. Amazon workers pushed for ending of providing cloud computing services to the oil and gas industry. They argued making fossil fuel exploration and extraction less expensive would make it harder for the global economy to transition toward using more renewable energy, according to The New York Times. “[The money] will have zero effect. The only thing it will really do, which I guess is a good thing, is probably more than likely will give some people some jobs,” Janicki said. “Besides that, probably not much.”
12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
Opinions
Women just can’t win
Misogyny consistently blocks women from ascending to the presidency By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
Perhaps one of the best moments of the Democratic primary was when Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., verbally dressed down fellow candidate Mike Bloomberg on two separate debate stages for his history of sexist behavior and penchant for non-disclosure agreements. “I’d like to talk about who we’re running against, a billionaire who calls women ‘fat broads’ and ‘horse-faced lesbians,’” she said at the ninth Democratic debate in Las Vegas. “And, no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg...Look, I’ll support whoever the Democratic nominee is. But understand this: Democrats take a huge risk if we just substitute one arrogant billionaire for another.” It was a breath of fresh air to see Bloomberg taken down on his questionable record by a woman, unafraid of running head-first into the conflict. Warren was sharp, concise and merciless, and it was cathartic to see her taking down the candidate largely accused of attempting to buy the Democratic nomination. Personally, it left me excited to see her take on President Donald Trump with the same whip-smart verbal lashings. However, when Warren suspended her presidential campaign last week, I couldn’t say I was surprised. Despite boasting a laundry list of skills needed to be a successful leader — confidence, intelligence, ambition and a vision for the future, among others — she was not deemed “electable.” For any of the women paying attention to the election, it was a narrative we could have seen coming. Warren was not a perfect candidate — there’s no such thing. I did not agree with her on all of her policies or the questionable ethos of her claimed Native American ancestry, but throughout her campaign, she proved herself to be a competent and seasoned politician and someone more than capable of beating Trump come November. Too bad she wasn’t a man. While not the sole reason behind Warren’s failure to last through the primary, it is ignorant to pretend that gender has nothing to do with her campaign’s inability to reach the heights of opponents Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Despite an influx of women in eletted office, politics are still largely a man’s world. Women are too shrill. Too power-hungry. Too calculating. Never mind that these characteristics have very different names when applied to men: intense, ambitious and put-together. “[Warren] is remarkably talented and remarkably qualified,” said Ben Epstein, a political science professor at DePaul. “Just on paper, she’s a very, very dynamic personality and you know, someone who will be self-reliant and have done things to not just talk about policy, but also talk about the people and so and so on. You know, she’s a dynamic candidate. And I think that her numbers and the critiques of her are things that I don’t hear all
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
“I think the best way to show people [that a woman can be president] is to go out and support a woman for president. I think being a woman is a detriment but it’s also a really big asset and it gives us something else to fight for.”
Alex Nelson
Elizabeth Warren suporter the time of male candidates. You know, how likable she is. Is she only yelling, is she only angry? You know, these things are not talked, frankly, about Bernie Sanders, whose volume is definitely high all the time.” For women, to be likable is to be electable. And the margins for what makes a woman likable — easygoing, non-competitive, docile — are often antithetical to traits associated with strong leaders. And with men. “I think [being a woman] has definitely hurt her and it really burns me when people just say things like ‘they don’t like [Warren’s] voice,’” said Susan Hargus, a precinct captain for Elizabeth Warren in the Mt. Vernon South precinct in Iowa. “The fact that she has to have a plan for everything, she is thoroughly challenged on every single plan, I think it’s very unfair.” We saw a similar scenario play out in 2016, where Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was consistently criticized for her perceived lack of femininity and her unapologetic ambition, with
the infamous “Nasty Woman” incident cementing itself as an iconic representation of the sexism she faced while campaigning. The results of the 2016 election were emblematic of the nation’s feelings towards women in power, where a career politician with decades of experience and millions of dollars in funding lost to a reality television host. Perhaps the most qualified woman to run for president lost to someone grossly lacking in credentials; it was the most blatant representation of the achievement gap between men and women imaginable. Except it wasn’t the voting public who let Clinton fall through the cracks, but the political establishment itself. Clinton won 48.18 percent of the popular vote in 2016, beating Trump for the support of the voting public. However, Trump won the electoral vote, placing him in the nation’s highest office. “More people voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 than had voted for any presidential nominee ever,” Epstein said. “I think to suggest that people aren’t
willing to elect a woman is not true. I think it’s false because way more voted for a female candidate last time than a male candidate.” The question of whether or not the voting public could accept a woman as president is ultimately an irrelevant one because they already did. “I think the best way to show people [that a woman can be president] is to go out and support a woman for president,” said Alex Nelson, a Warren supporter attending Cornell College. “I think being a woman is a detriment but it’s also a really big asset and it gives us something else to fight for.” This is not to say that Warren, Clinton or any other woman who has run for office should ascend to the presidency simply based on gender, or that I necessarily recognize either of them as infallible feminist icons. It is also worth mentioning that both women are white, college-educated, heterosexual, Christian and deeply entrenched in the political establishment. The barrier to achievement for women without these privileges is insurmountably higher. However, the persisting attitudes and fears of a woman holding the nation’s highest office showcase that the road there is far more treacherous for women running than men, even for those with every societal benefit outside of gender working in their favor. The 2020 presidential election is one of the most important elections in recent memory, with the nation’s Democrats feeling an insurmountable pressure to see Trump out of the office. While it is ultimately discouraging that the many women in this race could not make it to the finish line, it is important to continue to ask how we can shift cultural ideas towards marginalized groups in order to not block their chances to achieve.
A new way to obsess By Fatima Zaidi Contributing Writer
The dream to be close to your favorite artist or celebrity is a yearning that resides in the hearts of millions across the world as they struggle to somehow catch a glimpse, a moment or a photograph to remember the time they met the individual(s) who changed their lives for the better. While that challenge may seem near impossible, over the past several years, that dream has become a whole lot dangerously easier to achieve. According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, the term “stan” is defined as, “an extremely or excessively enthusiastic or devoted fan,” and according to The Odyssey Online, “stan culture” is defined as something “notorious for extreme actions generally committed by a minority within the fanbase, such as threatening others, treating certain celebrities as if they’re demigods, sports riots, and basically just doing anything for attention.” While many may believe that stan culture is something that has become a global phenomenon in the past few years due to the advancement of technology, this concept has been embedded in the entertainment industry since the early 2000s. The intense level of dedication that a stan has for their “idol” is something that was depicted strongly in Eminem’s song “Stan” which was released in 2000. In the music video, Stan writes several letters to Eminem in hopes of making any sort of contact with him, but after Eminem did not reply, Stan came to his own realization that he was being ignored. As a result of extreme rage, Stan ties up his girlfriend, throws her in the trunk of his car before driving it off a bridge on a rainy night. Eventually, Eminem does respond to the letters and lets Stan know of his appreciation, but later comes to the knowledge of Stan’s obsession with him, and the death of himself and his girlfriend. Similarly, stan culture has not changed much in the past few years when several stan communities became a large component of Instagram accounts. From creating aesthetically pleasing accounts, to 24/7 update accounts with multiple co-owners, accounts dedicated to unseen photographs of specific idols and an overall fun platform for fans to engage on freely and openly, there’s no doubt
that stan culture has been the anchor to unite and introduce hundreds upon thousands of people with each other around the world in what results as everlasting friendship both online and in person. “The positives [are] that people are super friendly and kind to one another,” said DePaul junior Anja Bencun. “Even though I don’t have a stan Instagram account, I’ll follow other ones and sometimes we’ll message about BTS. When I was at the BTS concert, I made sure to take photos of one of the members for this one stan account that loves [them].” Bencun has been a part of the stan culture for approximately seven years now where she has stanned Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, and now, BTS. While the support of stans within their respective communities seems incredible to many, there have also been instances where the love of these fans have accelerated into situations that have potentially placed the idols at risk of severe harm. For example, in South Korean culture, a sasaeng fan is an obsessive fan that stalks, or engages in certain behavior that violates the privacy of either a Korean idol, or any other celebrity. In one instance, a sasaeng member leaked the address of Jackson Wang, a rapper for the Korean band Got7 back in September. Wang, although in a K pop band is originally from Hong Kong who also supports the One China policy, which calls for the view that there is one state called “China” as opposed to the existence of two governments claiming to be “China.” Since the bill has been introduced, citizens have protested against it, and the release of Wang’s private address placed his parents at potential risk for angry protestors to show up at his home. Similarly, on a more national scale we see that children and young adults often trespass on the properties of famous YouTubers such as David Dobrik and Jake Paul. In one instance, Dobrik took to his Instagram stories, pleading for fans to respect his privacy due to them showing up outside his front door and proceeding to record/take pictures of the inside of his home until he would consent to take a picture with them. “Most negative interactions online then are annoying but harmless, where the person’s difference of opinion just [stands] out as random and irrelevant, rather than
Opinions. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 13
combative arguments or such,” said DePaul senior Ryan O’Connell. “It’s more like, ‘dude why would you even?’ [Then] anything actually toxic. Hopefully the X-Men’s mission of acceptance and intolerance has been digested by most stans, as I’ve found the community more welcoming of people with diverse identities and backgrounds as compared to other comic stan communities.” Negative experiences, however, aren’t necessarily confined to the stans of a specific celebrity. Sometimes, the negativity has become so intense and toxic even, that celebrities have had to take a brief break from social media because of the hurtful words that were being exchanged. “In 2016 Fifth Harmony’s Normani Kordei quit Twitter briefly due to ongoing harassment and abuse… from Fifth Harmony stans,” wrote Mat Whitehead for the Huffington Post. The reason behind this was a video clip that showed Kordei swiftly listing positive attributes about her bandmates, but stumbled when saying something positive about Camilla. Due to Normani’s comment, “Harmonizers” in turn began to send her hurtful tweets on Twitter which resulted in her to issue a lengthy and detailed explanation of her feelings and her experiences dealing with unjust hate and disrespect. “Stan culture has impacted social media (and fandom spaces) in a number of ways, with the strongest—and in my mind, the most negative—impact being that people are discouraged from critiquing the objects of their fandom. Fandom has roots not only in love for The Thing but also in frustration with it, leading to things like Premiere League fans in the UK campaigning for affordable ticket prices or the creation of fan fiction, videos, songs, and art that re-imagines popular figures and works in really
UCS continued from front costs $5, and while not an unreasonable amount to pay, it began to sting when I thought of the five-figure tuition bills DePaul sends my way three times a year. The capacity for better funding is there if only the university thought it a priority. What’s more,a proper lack of funding lessens the department’s overall capacity to help students. DePaul has a total enrollment of 22,064, while UCS has a staff of 13, not including externs. By these numbers, it is all but impossible for every student at DePaul to gain access to sufficient care from the department. While it would be equally impossible to appoint thousands of counselors to accommodate the needs of each and every student, such a small number is simply not enough for a generation riddled with mental health issues. Generation Z is 27 percent more likely to report their mental health as fair or poor, according to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association. The same survey states that more than nine in 10 Generation Z adults said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress, such as feeling depressed or sad. As an age group, we are not doing well. The thing that really pisses me off,
BIANCA CSEKE | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul’s University Counseling Services (UCS) is partially located on the Lincoln Park campus.
though, is the hypocrisy of it all. How can DePaul boast their Vincentian mission —rooted in altruism and providing care to the needy— while at the same time, denying their students access to attainable services for taking care of their mental and emotional health? How can they use their mission statement to attract prospective students and their families, line their wallets with their tuition dollars, and then offer them the bare minimum in terms of care for something as crucial as mental health? I ask the administration to think of their students, who funnel thousands upon thousands of dollars each year into their pockets, with a large percentage living paycheck to
paycheck. I ask them to think of their students battling chronic mental illness without the luxury of insurance. I ask them to think of their students who are relying on their university to provide care and resources to them, only to be given a narrow limit for provided health services. If President Esteban wants to drastically improve the university’s rankings in ten years’ time, it is time the university begins treating students like human beings, rather than a certain number of zeros on a check. Moving forward, I think I will be ok. As the final session approached, my therapist and I discussed how I would seek treatment following my time at UCS and I have a list
GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI AND GINA RICARDS
interesting and diverse ways,” said DePaul assistant professor Samantha Close. “But stan culture discourages that critique that has long been a part of fan culture, and it often comes down particularly harshly on fans of color who are critiquing racism.” However, this type of behavior displayed by stans has actually been introduced by sociologists since the 1950s. “Stans do the things they do because of a key idea called ‘parasocial interaction,’” said Daniel Faltesek, a new media communications professor at the University of Oregon. According to the Oxford Reference, this term was first coined by Richard Wohl a sociologist who coined the term “parasocial interactions,” and Donald Horton, the co-author to his influential paper, in 1956 to refer to the psychological relationship exhibited by members of an audience with entertainment personalities. These relationships are one-sided and they are mediated. Such a relationship eventually leads to a degree of denial where stans will often feel as if certain things said or done by entertainment personalities have been done specifically in regards to them. Despite there being several incidents of appalling negativity and violation of privacy displayed by these extreme and overzealous fans, there’s no denying that stan culture has become that threshold for users all over the world to connect with deeply and to share their love with one another, as well as the world, over the people who have greatly impacted their life. Somewhere amidst all the headlines of “obsessive fans” resides a platform of thousands of people showcasing a different type of energetic love that is able to completely change the course of the media.
of offices I can try out now that I cannot go back to the university for help. More importantly, I have health insurance, meaning the steep costs of treatment will be somewhat softened. But I’m afraid to start over. Discussing the ways in which tragedy has irreversibly changed my life was not easy nine months ago, and it certainly is not easy now. Having to rebuild a foundation of trust when I felt so comfortable with my counselor sounds positively exhausting and I am not looking forward to having to rehash the feelings of trauma, helplessness and isolation I felt and continue to feel following the loss. I do not want to have to say goodbye again. The issue of inadequate healthcare is not one that begins or ends with DePaul. As a nation, we are hemorrhaging ourselves financially for what is essentially a basic human right: care if you are sick or are in need of help. But the university has a responsibility to do right by their students in a meaningful, palpable way. The bare minimum cannot serve a student body giving so much more than they get back, and it is time to stop accepting scraps from an institution designed to give us the best opportunities it can offer.
Focus
14 | Focus. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
No Silver
A rise in North Side crime has Lincoln Park r
By Bianca Cseke
Online Managing Editor
On a chilly February night, Lincoln Park residents and area police huddle near the entrance of the North & Clybourn Red Line stop. Some have their dogs with them, some brought their children and some — who don’t appear to belong to media organizations — are filming the event on their cellphones. They’re here because 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith and police from the Chicago Police Department’s 18th district organized a “friendly loitering” and neighborhood walk-through in response to concerns about crime in the area. The number of crimes between Jan. 1 and Feb. 21 has not changed compared to the same period last year, police data from the Chicago Data Portal shows. However, crime in Lincoln Park went up by 40 percent last summer compared to the previous year. The 43rd Ward, which is where the neighborhood — including DePaul’s main campus — is located, saw 2,033 crimes between Jan. 1 and Sept. 9, 2019. That’s 581 more crimes than the ward saw up until that point in 2018. Rising crime was a concern last summer, and recent high-profile crimes have some residents on edge more than ever. In late February, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in Ranch Triangle — about a block away from the North and Clybourn Red Line stop — and ran to the station for help. He was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital in critical condition, according to police. A spate of thefts and robberies of both individuals and highend shops in the Gold Coast and River North has also gotten attention. In each incident involving people on the street, a group of two or three males attack and rob someone before fleeing in a white SUV, Chicago police said. Meanwhile, Magnificent Mile stores like Gucci have been robbed in smash-and-grab incidents Last July, a recent DePaul graduate was slashed in the throat while walking near the Lincoln Park campus at about 2 a.m. A man was arrested in connection with the incident in August. At 38 percent, thefts make up the largest proportion of crimes in the 43rd Ward so far this year. Even last summer, violent crime — which includes assault, battery, criminal sexual assaults, homicides and battery — made up just over 18 percent of all crimes in the ward. But that doesn’t reassure some residents, who want more police patrols devoted to the area. Lincoln Park resident Maria Kreighbaum said she woke up to car alarms last weekend and has been especially afraid since she heard about the stabbing near the Red Line. She said incidents like this have been going on for about a year now and she’s been trying to get others to listen to her concerns, especially since the incidents over the summer. “Every single day of my life is stressful over this,” she told The DePaulia. Kreighbaum said police patrols have always been light in the area since she moved there about 10 years ago and believes Lincoln Park residents deserve better. “I’m sorry we don’t have dead bodies on every corner, but if that’s our new standard, I don’t know what to say,” she said. It’s impossible to nail any single reason as an explanation for the increase in crime. But Robert Stokes, a professor of public service at DePaul, said there are a couple changes that he suspects could be contributing factors: bail reform efforts from the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, and reassigning of police patrols to neighborhoods with higher crime overall. Since Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx was elected roughly two years ago, she has enacted a series of reforms meant to reduce the prison population. The office, which is in charge of prosecuting crimes in Chicago, has drastically reduced the number of charges for low-level crimes, such as shoplifting and drug offenses. A Marshall Project investigation found that, under Foxx,
An armored vehicle in the North Side intersection of Fullerton and Clark.
the office has turned away more than 5,000 cases that would have been pursued by previous administrations. “The tradeoff [to reforms] is that a lot of families and communities suffer,” Stokes said. “The question is how much people are willing to tolerate in order to get the positive aspects.” When police arrest someone in connection with a crime, it is up to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to prosecute the case on behalf of the city or drop charges if deemed appropriate. The office also decides which type of bond, if any, should be assigned to a case. C bonds, for example, require a cash defendant or someone on their behalf to put up the entire amount to get that person released from jail. Detainer bonds, which are most common, require 10 percent of the bond to be paid, plus collateral. Others require no cash to be put down at all for release, such as signature bonds, in which a judge sets a dollar amount due for those who don’t show up to court. Finally, recognizance bonds are those in which defendants swear to show up to court on their honor alone. “Most people agree there’s too many people in prison, but most people wouldn’t say people who commit violent crimes should be out,” Stokes said. Foxx’s reforms are part of a heated democratic primary election for Cook County state’s attorney. Most of her opponents — including the potential Republican candidates the Democratic nominee will face in the fall — argue that Foxx’s reforms have contributed to a rise in crime across the city. Balancing reform, accountability and tough prosecutions was a common theme at a forum held at DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus in late February. Foxx was invited but did not attend, forum organizer Kenneth Dotson told The DePaulia. “Being progressive doesn’t mean we have to coddle criminals,” Democratic candidate Bob Fioeretti said in response to a question about rising crime in the North Side. “It’s not that hard to balance.” Another Democratic candidate, Bill Conway, emphasized the importance of using jails to hold people suspected of violent crimes. “We need to remember what the purpose of jail is,” Conway said. “Jail is a place for people that are a danger to the community. We don’t want to be putting people there who are poor, or addicted or mentally ill.” Fioretti, when asked about the increase in more brazen crimes, said criminals “feel like they’re not going to be prosecuted” because of Foxx’s more lenient policies. At a similar forum in Bridgeport, Foxx defended her office’s changes to the cash bail system as an important reform, then emphasized several of the other reforms she has implemented.
Under Lightfoot's discretion, there h in CTA stations.
That included expunging the minor cannabis offenses, creatin mented immigrants and not allow Progressives, including Bernie have endorsed Foxx because of h the U.S., including California, Ne ited the use of cash bail. New Yo use entirely for certain crimes, inc serious injury, many drug offense and robbery, according to The N have received similar criticisms ab ty. Chicago police generally have with the state’s attorney’s office sin Last July, the Fraternal Order o they have “a deep mistrust” of he confidence. A Chicago Tribune investigat a report from Cook County chief leading in saying that crime has measures were implemented. Evans’ analysis said only 147 leased from custody in the 15 mo effect went on to be charged with according to the Tribune’s investi ered six offenses as violent crime assault, assault with a deadly weap reckless homicide. It also only in
Volumen #104 | Edición #18 | 9 marzo 2020 | depauliaonline.com
La marcha
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ADENTRO
Recordando a Kobe Bryant Página 2
Opiniones: La colección que insulto a la cultura Chola
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Un elotero une a Chicago Páginas 4-5
2 | La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020
Representante Jesús ‘Chuy’ García lanza campaña de reelección Por Hillary Flores Jefa de Redacción
JEFA DE REDACCIÓN | Hillary Flores eicladepaulia@depauliaonline.com
GERENTE EDITORIAL | Maria Guerrero managingladepaulia@depauliaonline.com
EDITORA DE OPINIONES | Izabella Grimaldo opinionesladepaulia@depauliaonline.com
EDITOR DE MULTIMEDIA | Jonathan Aguilar multimedialadepaulia@depauliaonline.com
Jesús “Chuy” García, lanzó su campaña de reelección al congreso esta mañana, el primero de febrero, por la vecindad de Brighton Park al lado de varios candidatos como el representante del estado, Aarón Ortiz, y Eira Corral Sepúlveda quien se postula para el Distrito Metropolitano de Recuperación de Agua– destacando objetivos sobre inclusión social, diversidad, y aspiraciones para derribar los ideales de la administración Trump. “Hoy estamos aquí de pies porque queremos continuar colocando a nuestras comunidades en el mapa”, dijo el congresista Jesús García. “Nosotros representamos la diversidad del estado y de la nación”. Además de destacar sus motivos de esta reelección en preparación para el 17 de marzo, el congresista dijo que el trabajo para ayudar a diversas comunidades continuará. De hecho, la próxima semana, García mencionó que se aprobará la legislación PRO Act, que facilitará los permisos de formar uniones, buenos salarios y condiciones laborales. “Hicimos historia, pero nosotros reconocemos que esto no será suficiente, y nos unimos a medida en que buscamos postularnos y a medida por la cual buscamos nuevos términos electorales para avanzar nuestras agendas que servirán de bienestar para nuestras familias, incluyendo la protección para las comunidades migratorias”, añadió el congresista. ‘La protección de las comu-
JONATHAN AGUILAR | LA DEPAULIA
El congresista Jesús García anuncia su intento de reelección a un grupo de simpatizantes en el vecindario de Brighton Park.
“Nosotros representamos la diversidad del estado y de la nación”. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia
Representante de los EE.UU. para Illinois distrito 4 nidades’ fue un tema por la que la postulada Sepúlveda también enfatizó en referencia a las inundaciones que ocurren en los hogares de las comunidades con una alta población afroamericana y latina. “Depende de nosotros en asegurar de que estamos protegiendo los ciclos hidrológicos navegables
y de llenar el vacío que existe en la administración Trump”, dijo la candidata Sepúlveda. Para Aarón Ortiz, representante estatal, este nuevo año es un año para proveer más ayuda a estudiantes bilingües. “Voy a elaborar un proyecto legislativo en esta próxima sesión
para crear un sello de literaturas bilingüe”, dijo Ortiz. “Entonces, para cualquier estudiante que sea bilingüe y califique para recibir el sello…significa que este estudiante puede calificar para un subsidio de hasta cinco mil dólares”. Cuando se le preguntó al congresista sobre sus planes de conseguir el apoyo de votantes opuestos a sus ideales contestó lo siguiente, “Creo yo, que el proceso va a ser gradual, creo que si derrotamos a Donald Trump el partido republicano tiene una posibilidad de reagruparse, de reconsiderar sus valores, y dejar la contaminación que Trump trajo al partido”.
Recordando a Kobe Bryant: Lo que él significó para la comunidad latina Por Hillary Flores Jefa de Redacción
Kobe Bryant, conocido mundialmente como una leyenda de Los Angeles Lakers, falleció el pasado domingo 26 de enero en un accidente aéreo cerca de las 10 a.m. en un helicóptero por Calabasas, California. Él fue una de las nueve víctimas, junto con su hija Gigi Bryant de 13 años. La leyenda de baloncesto conocido por tener una mentalidad de ‘Mamba’, no solo fue un esposo y padre de 4 niñas, pero también decía mostrar una gran cercanía y amor hacia la comunidad latina. Para Alejandro Hernandez, de 22 años, de Belmont- Cragin, Bryant es muy admirado por parte de la comunidad latina, no solo por su talento, pero por su amabilidad y persistencia de seguir adelante. “Kobe siempre ha sido una gran persona para la comunidad latina y creo que mucho tiene que ver con la ética de trabajo que tiene”, dijo Hernandez. Hernandez, quien fue un seguidor y fanático de Kobe desde su niñez, dice que hay algunas características del basquetbolista que se reflejan entre la comunidad. “Siempre tuvo la mentalidad de ‘Mamba’ de solo dar el 110 por ciento y no importa si es baloncesto, si es el trabajo o la escuela ... eso siempre resonó entre los latinos”, él dijo. “Venimos de hogares donde tenemos padres que trabajan duro…por lo tanto, resonó con nosotros en un nivel diferente”. De hecho, en un comunicado para HOY, el ex jugador de la NBA, dijo lo siguiente, “Muy importante, los fans latinos porque cuando llegué aquí, me abrazaron más, con mucha pasión”. Además de ser casado con una esposa
CHRIS CARLSON | AP
Kobe Bryant, titulado All-Star 18 veces por parte de la NBA y que ganó cinco campeonatos y también se convirtió en uno de los mejores jugadores de baloncesto de su generación durante una carrera de 20 años con Los Angeles Lakers, murió en un accidente de helicóptero el domingo 26 de enero de 2020. Gianna también murió en el accidente. Ella tenía 13 años. de ascendencia mexicana, Vanessa Bryant, ‘Mamba’ siempre aprecio no solamente la cultura de los latinos y su comida, pero también su lenguaje– aprendiendo en pocos años a hablar español. “Él es muy desinteresado”, dijo Jennifer Garcia, de 20 años, de Midway. “Realmente
trataba a su esposa como su media naranja, y le da el título como su pareja...amo el pasado de ella y su vida como latina y lo incorporó en su vida”. García, quien comentó que los hechos de ‘Mamba’ en su carrera empodero mucho a las mujeres alrededor de él, también dijo
lo siguiente, “Él era una buena representación de nuestra cultura– usando su plataforma para educar al resto del mundo sobre [los latinos] y nuestra comunidad, a través de lo que aprendió del amor de su vida”. Para muchos, como García, el amor que mostró Bryant hacia su familia, fans, y carrera, fue un vínculo que usó para mostrarle al resto del mundo lo hermoso que pueden ser los latinos y la cultura. Y ella no fue la única que expresó lo mismo. Emily Trujillo, 21, de Lincoln park dijo, “Creo que se sumergió en la cultura y nosotros lo aceptamos como si él fuera uno de nuestros”. Trujillo, la vicepresidenta de la organización de D.A.L.E en la Universidad DePaul que se enfoca en recursos políticos, sociales y académicos dentro de la comunidad latina, dice que el basquetbolista definió lo que es llevar la cultura latina por lo alto. “Él respetaba a la mujer [latina], a sus hijas, a su esposa, respetaba y empoderaba a muchas de ellas”. Cuando se le preguntó lo que le dijera si lo tuviera de frente dijo lo siguiente, “Solo gracias, de verdad muchas gracias Kobe”. Como resultado al apoyo recibido de varios individuos que seguían y amaban a esta reconocida leyenda, Vanessa Bryant publicó una foto familiar diciendo lo siguiente en su Instagram, “Después de hoy, no sé lo que nos espera en nuestras vidas, y es imposible imaginar la vida sin ellos”. “Pero nos despertamos todos los días, tratando de seguir adelante porque Kobe y nuestra bebé, Gigi, nos resplandecen para iluminar el camino. Nuestro amor por ellos es interminable, y es decir–incalculable”.
La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020 | 3
JONATHAN AGUILAR | LA DEPAULIA
La Contralora de Illinois, Suzana Mendoza, y la Alcaldesa de Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, marchan en frente de la Marcha de Mujeres en Chicago el sábado 18 de enero de 2020.
Comunidad Latinx Enfrenta ‘Falta de Representación’ en la Marcha de Mujeres 2020 Por Erika Perez Reportera
A pesar de las temperaturas heladas, las calles del centro de Chicago fueron inundadas por mujeres, ‘no binarios,’ y amigas para crear conciencia sobre temas como la falta de representación en cargos políticos, el feminicidio, y el acceso a la salud médica en la Marcha de las Mujeres 2020 en Chicago el pasado 18 de enero. Desde la vecindad de Belmont- Cragin, Jailene Guzman, de 19 años, dice que decidió ir a la marcha porque quería experimentarla con sus amigos por primera vez. “Quería abogar por los temas que son importantes para mí, como la falta de mujeres que se postulan para cargos públicos”, dice Guzmán. De hecho, la falta de mujeres en los cargos públicos no es un ideal sorprendente. Según el Centro para la Mujer y la Política Estadounidenses, de las 90 mujeres que prestan servicios en oficinas ejecutivas electivas en todo el estado, 16, o el 17.8 por ciento, son mujeres de color. La vicegobernadora de Illinois, Juliana Stratton, afirmó: “Tenemos que asegurarnos de que las mujeres de la comunidad [afroestadounidense] tengan un asiento en la mesa, la forma en que lo hacemos es saliendo y levantando nuestras voces y asegurándonos de que nos escuchen”. En búsqueda de soluciones a la falta de mujeres en cargos públicos, Mujeres Chilenas Autónomas organizó una acción en la Marcha de las Mujeres de Chicago, “Un violador en tu camino”, inspirando a las mujeres a alzar
JONATHAN AGUILAR | LA DEPAULIA
Lily Aaron sostiene un cartel durante la Marcha de Mujeres en Chicago el 18 de enero de 2020. sus voces y condenar la violencia de género y la violación. Para Karina Pérez de Hermosa Park, la violencia hacia el género y la violación es una de muchas razones por la cual acudió a la protesta. Pérez, de 16 años, tenía un letrero que decía: “El Estado Opresor Es Un Macho Violador”. Con ese letrero dijo que quiso destacar lo siguiente, “Es preocupante para personas como yo, una joven estudiante, caminar por las calles de Chicago ... la gente podría verme como un objetivo fácil”. Aunque la marcha de las mujeres se dice ser inclusiva de los diferentes temas relacionados con las mujeres, este año se alegó que la marcha parecía “demasiado
JONATHAN AGUILAR | LA DEPAULIA
JONATHAN AGUILAR | LA DEPAULIA
Alcaldesa de Chicago Lori Lightfoot. blanca”. “Lo primero que noté cuando llegué al inicio del desfile fue la pequeña cantidad de mujeres latinx y otras mujeres de color ... No parecía que la marcha fuera
Una manifestante en silla de ruedas encabeza la Marcha de las Mujeres de Chicago el sábado 18 de enero de 2020. interracial ... pero estaba allí para continuaron marchando hacia el mostrar que estamos presentes”, edificio Trump, donde el grupo dice Guzmán. Trump/ Pence #OUTNOW habló Al igual que Guzmán, Pérez junto con otros líderes sobre el résintió lo mismo, con este año gimen abusivo contra las mujeres. marcando su segunda vez particiY con las elecciones primapando en la marcha. rias de Illinois acercándose el 17 “Se sintió decepcionante al no de marzo, esto es dicho ser un ver a muchas mujeres de color, momento crucial para que las porque los problemas que defen- mujeres voten y dejen en claro demos afectan a la mayoría de las que la marcha no es una cosa que minorías y las personas de color”, sucede en un solo día, sino que es dice Pérez. un avance progresivo en la direcCuando la marcha llegó a su ción hacia el empoderamiento del fin en la Plaza Federal, las mujeres feminismo.
4 | La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020
¡Que viva la raza!
Comunidad de Chicago se une a recaudar más de $10 mil para vendedor Por Maria Guerrero Gerente Editorial
La comunidad de Chicago recauda más de $10 mil para ayudar a un vendedor local de elotes a pagar sus gastos médicos y vivienda después de que su vecina creó una página de ‘GoFundMe’. Laura Delgado, de 28 años, una ex- vecina de Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz, de 72 años, de Puebla, México, conoció el vendedor de elotes y chicharrones cuando se mudó a Pilsen en marzo del 2018. Don Arnulfo ha estado viviendo en Pilsen por 42 años y ha estado vendiendo elotes en la esquina de la avenida Wolcott y la calle 18 en Harrison Park durante cuatro años. Al vivir sólo sin una familia para apoyarlo, Don Arnulfo depende de vender bocadillos mexicanos durante el año para cumplir con sus gastos de fin de mes. “En este momento no hay negocio, no hay ventas, no es sostenible para vender en este clima [de invierno]”, dijo Don Arnulfo. “Normalmente vendo de $15 a $20 por día. Otros días me voy con cero dólares, no ocurre diario”. Don Arnulfo dijo que generalmente trabaja ocho a 10 horas al día durante el verano y ahorra parte de sus ingresos del verano para el invierno. “Parte de mis ganancias de verano no es suficiente para ayudarme a mantenerme durante el año”, dijo Don Arnulfo. “A veces pido préstamos pequeños de amigos y familiares cercanos”. Delgado dijo que tomó la iniciativa de crear la página de ‘GoFundMe’ después que no pudo prestarle el dinero a Don Arnulfo por razones financieras. “[Recientemente] dejé mi trabajo para volver a la escuela y me mudé con mis padres, así que estoy apretada con el dinero en este momento”, dijo Delgado. “Le dije que no podía prestarle la cantidad de dinero que necesitaba y me sentí muy mal. Pero le dije que hay otros recursos que podemos tratar de usar ”. Dijo que se sintió inspirada de comenzar la página de donaciones ya que las gente mayores es un tema cercano para ella. “Creo que muchas personas tiende a olvidarse de los ancianos [pero] quiero crear conciencia y hacerles saber que a menudo tienen dificultades”, dijo Delgado. “Don Arnulfo es un excelente ejemplo de eso. Este hombre está afuera por seis a siete horas al día tratando de ganar un par de dólares ”, dijo Delgado. “Yo quiero que tenga una vida mejor. Hay tanta gente como él que desearía poder ayudarlos individualmente, pero espero comenzar uno a uno ”. Don Arnulfo dijo que la gentrificación que ocurre en Pilsen le ha
Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz.
hecho difícil sus ventas de elotes y chicharrones. “Muchos residentes mexicanos como yo se mudan a otros vecindarios y más blancos se mudan al vecindario”, dijo Don Arnulfo. “Los latinos son los que tienen la costumbre de tener comida casera de su país natal”. Profesor de urbanización y director de la Escuela de Servicio Público de la Universidad DePaul, dijo que la gentrificación ocurre cuando los individuos de las clases socioeconómicas medias y altas se mueven a los vecindarios de clase baja.
“En Chicago, este proceso a menudo e y el origen étnico”, dijo Hague. “En el pro lores de las propiedades aumenten, lo que c renta y impuestos a la propiedad. La gentr se convierte en un lugar más caro para vivi cambian a medida que una base de clientes consumo diferentes se muda a otra área ”. El aumento de la propiedad en Pilsen a mudarse de su espacio habitable de bajo mayor precio después de que el propieta vendiera el edificio. Un amigo de Don Arnulfo y director Family Solidarity, Leone José Bicchieri, d necesitan mejores leyes para regular el aum sobre la renta y la propiedad. “También debemos unirnos para tene más de 10 mil latinos se han ido y han sid en los últimos 12 años”, dijo Bicchieri. “ vemos menos rostros de latinos y mexican Don Arnulfo dijo que con las donaci FundMe’ no solo lo ayudará a pagar su ren turas médicas, ya que actualmente sufre d endo la vista en su ojo derecho. “Estoy realmente agradecido con la s por crear la página de donaciones, con el donado podré usarlo para mi cirugía del o Una donante de la página de ‘GoFundM Douglas Park, dijo que donó a Don Arnulf vez vendieron tamales y champurrado pa emigraron a los Estados Unidos. “Trato de hacer todo lo posible para a a los negocios y personas que son de la por permanecer en sus hogares. Crecí en elotero de mi vecindario era alguien que t qué no apoyar a tu vendedor local?”, dijo personas como Don Arnulfo luchando, po hacia adelante”. Don Arnulfo dijo que no puede explica ente por el apoyo de la comunidad. “No puedes imaginar cómo me siento c idad de Chicago”, dijo Don Arnulfo. “Me s liz, yo disfruto vivir entre la comunidad de
La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020 | 5
r de elotes
está alineado con la raza oceso causa que los vacausa la aumentazion de rificación de vecindario ir. Los negocios también s diferente con gustos de
n obligó a Don Arnulfo o precio a un sótano de ario de su casa anterior
r ejecutivo de Working de 56 años, dijo que se mento de los impuestos
er mejores leyes porque o desplazados en Pilsen “Simplemente cada vez nos”. iones de la página ‘Gonta, sino también las facde diabetes y está perdi-
señorita Laura Delgado l dinero que la gente ha ojo”, dijo Don Arnulfo. Me’, Alejandra Chávez de fo ya que sus padres una ara mantenerse cuando
ayudar monetariamente área y están luchando Gage Park y el hombre todos conocíamos. ¿Por Chávez. “Cuando veo a or supuesto que lo pagó
Fotos por Jonathan Aquilar Esquina superior izuierda: Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz camina frente a su carrito de comida en el barrio de Pilsen. Tovar Ruiz gana entre 1020 dólares por día. Esquina superior derecha: Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz agarra chips de una bolsa. En el centro izquierdo: Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz pone maíz en su parrilla para cocinar.
ar las emociones que si-
En el centro derecho: Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz le vende chips a un cliente.
on respecto a la humansiento inmensamente fee Chicago”.
Abajo: Don Arnulfo Tovar Ruiz tiende el fuego de su parrilla.
6 | La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020
Opiniones Las opiniones de estas páginas no necesariamente reflejan las opiniones del equipo de La DePaulia
La comunidad Latinx necesita representación política Por Izabella Grimaldo Editora de Opiniones
Chicago es una de las ciudades más grandes de los Estados Unidos, con más de 2 millones de personas. Lleno de diversidad, vibrancia y cultura, los latinos constituyen ser el 30 por ciento de esa población. Somos un gran porcentaje en la ciudad de Chicago y como todos, deberíamos ser una de tantas voces representados en la discusión del cambio climático, la brecha salarial y en lo que más nos influencia: la política. De acuerdo a un artículo de USA Today, los latinos consisten un porcentaje de todo el congreso estatal y federal. Es el voto latino que puede cambiar las estadísticas localmente y nacionalmente. Con la influencia de los latinos AP PHOTO/ PATRICK SEMANSKY en la política, se puede crear una voz latina en los temas más grandes e influy- El Exsecretario de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, Julian Castro, presenta a la entes de todo el país. candidata demócrata presidencial, la senadora Elizabeth Warren, durante un evento Con las elecciones presidenciales de campaña domingo, 12 de enero del 2020 en Marshalltown, Iowa. cerca, el voto latino tiene la oportunidad Aunque son una de las poblaciones de de cambiar las perspectivas de muchos– Muchas veces la población latina no más rápido crecimiento en el país, hay al escoger un candidato que tenga la vota y por consecuencia, no tenemos muy poco diálogo público que se dirija misma visión para todos incluyendo los a muchos latinos en el congreso o en directamente a los problemas latinos. La latinos. posiciones políticas. Exsecretario de desarrollo y vivienda población entera embarca una fuerza, Maritza Herrera, estudiante de Ciendeterminación y perseverancia que urbana, Julián Castro, anunció a princias Políticas en la universidad DePaul, merece estar en un país que dicte su voz. espera que los latinos crezcan lejos de cipios de enero que no continuara con A la vez, muchos latinos no tienen su campaña presidencial. Algo que causó esta perspectiva y puedan asimilarse. confianza en la política, y tienen en dudas en los latinos, si algún día los “Más y más latinos deberían estar mente que su voz no importa y no hay latinos pudieran alcanzar un alto nivel involucrados en la política porque nuesnecesidad de votar, si nadie les va a dentro de la política. tra comunidad y otras comunidades de hacer caso. Aunque en realidad, para En muchas ocasiones, los latinos minoría son las más afectadas al último”. poder ser una voz tenemos que pelear y tienden a ser una población invisible. Miembros de la comunidad latinx gritar para que nos escuchen.
tienen la voz o las herramientas para continuar adelante con la representación inmediata de la comunidad. Ahora lo tienen que poner en práctica y tener la confianza que pueden, tal como otras comunidades lo han hecho en el pasado. Teniendo la representación latinx en la cámara de representantes o en el senado es algo que nos dará la sensación de tener una voz y ser considerados en todas las circunstancias. Todos tenemos un impulso de actuar al pasar por un momento discriminatorio, todos tenemos pensamientos de “¿Que hubiera sido?” pero ahora merecemos acciones, merecemos una voz para la comunidad latinx agarrados de la mano con las demás comunidades por igual. Estudiante de Ciencias Políticas en la Universidad DePaul, Stephanie Nuñez, piensa que sí hemos tenido representación a comparación de los últimos años, pero podemos tener más. “Los latinos constituyen el bloque de votación más joven en lo que respecta a la demografía, por lo que debemos impulsar a las generaciones más jóvenes de latinos para que voten por los candidatos que realmente muestran un esfuerzo para ayudar a nuestra comunidad”, dijo Núñez. Solo ha habido un puño de administraciones que realmente han brindado un poco de ayuda a los latinos en los EE.UU., pero pueden hacer mucho más para ayudar. Es por eso que necesitamos incentivar a más latinos a votar en todas las elecciones.
La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020 | 7
La nueva colección de Becky G es un insulto a la cultura chola Por Izabella Grimaldo Editora de Opiniones
Si creciste en los años 90s o a principios de los años 2000, es muy probable que viste la esencia del estilo ‘chola’ y la fuerza e intimidación que expresan sus mujeres– especialmente creciendo junto a una familia latina. Creando esta esencia del estilo ‘chola,’ la cantante y compositora, Becky G, estrenó su cuarta colaboración con la marca ColourPop en una nueva línea de maquillaje, “Hola Chola,” el 12 de diciembre. Los productos de “Hola Chola”, fueron inspirados por su mamá, sus raíces mexicanas, y su infancia en Los Ángeles. La cantante recibió miles de opiniones buenas y malas. Varios defendieron a la creadora original de “Hola Chola Inc.” y llevaron sus opiniones a plataformas como Instagram y Twitter. Unos decían que les daba inspiración a jóvenes latinos por nostalgia a sus raíces, mientras otros lo veían como controversia por infracción de derechos de autor y por idealizar el estilo de vida de la chola en la cultura latina. Cholas crean su imagen de fuerza, su actitud es lo que llama la atención y sin embargo, su estilo es caracterizado como una caricatura. Una colaboración como esta nadamas atrae esa versión de las Cholas cuando definitivamente son más que su maquillaje, son una esencia chicana y poderosa. Al igual que eso, el origen de ‘chola’ viene desde los años de la segunda guerra Becky G. mundial de los Pachucos. Para poder entender el estilo y la esencia de una chola, usualmente una conducta de “no te metas tienes que entender los años de opresión y conmigo o mi familia”. discriminación que dominaban la comuSer chola es una esencia que crea la nidad latina. Esta imagen de ‘chola’ fue mujer Chicana, quien a traspasado por creada años atrás y más que nada fue una ya varios momentos difíciles en términos faceta de actitud para defenderse como de la sociedad americana. Por que si ellas mujer. no sobresalen y se defienden, nadie lo va Al muchos escuchar la palabra ‘chola,’ hacer por ellas. se les viene a su mente una imagen en Trabajadora de Sephora, Virginia Mcespecífico. Piensan en las camisas franelas Gee, mexicana, dice que Becky G se está de hombre, cejas delgadas y definidas, laconectando a esas raíces mexicanas y quibios color burdeos, grandes aretes de aro y ere mostrarlas no solo en su música pero
CORTESÍA: BECKY G INSTAGRAM
ahora en otra industria igual de grande. “Me encanta reconocer que tenemos a otra latina haciendo tanto impacto en la comunidad y que nosotras como latinas estamos teniendo una voz”, dijo McGee. Esta nueva colaboración, “Hola Chola”, representa ciertos aspectos de la cultura Chicana, pero definitivamente no todas ni las más importantes. Estudiante universitaria de DePaul, Lucia Giron, Guatemalteca, dice que la colaboración está idealizando la vida de chola y le da luz a
solo una porción de esa vida. A la vez se ven como peleoneras o enojonas, pero si nadie pelea por sus derechos y nadie se enoja por la igualdad que merecen, nadie lo va hacer por ellas. Entonces, es una cultura entera que se desarrolla de generación en generación entre las mujeres mexicanas-americanas. “Se ve claramente que hay una estética mexicana que la artista Becky G usa mucho, aunque la verdadera cultura Chicana no fue tomada en consideración cuando se hizo esta colaboración”, dijo Giron. Definitivamente la cultura Chicana tiene varias fases que a la vez es difícil cubrir, pero al igual que eso, la comunidad debe resaltar las más importantes que nos definen, como comunidad, latinas y mujeres. Esta colaboración tuvo un impacto necesario y ahora hay latinas con una plataforma masiva que lo deben usar correctamente– atrayendo la atención sobre la belleza de nuestra cultura y a la vez enseñando fases que tuvimos que pasar para llegar a este punto. Artista de maquillaje, Daisy LamasGuzmán, mexicana, dice que esta colección no representa una imagen completa de mujeres mexicanas-americanas ni provee la imagen que se merecen. “Hola Chola” primeramente, ya es una marca local de Susana Gonzalez en Los Ángeles, el hecho de que fue robado es muy problemático. Esto solo le dará a otros la oportunidad de apropiarse de nuestra cultura más de lo que ya es”, dijo Lamas-Guzmán. Una chola no solamente es una muchacha que se pinta con delineador fuerte, labios color burdeos y se pone aretes de aro. Una chola es una mujer que rompe las normas de géneros y los estereotipos que sufrían las mujeres Chicanas en una sociedad machista y americana. Era y es una expresión de quienes eran ellas como mujeres mexicanas, con el orgullo de su barrio y su fuerza para mantener a su familia siendo mujeres.
La presentación del Super Bowl perjudica a la comunidad Afro-latinx Por Izabella Grimaldo Editora de Opiniones
Cada persona se asimila con algo de su comunidad, algunos les encanta el estilo de su cultura, el acento de su voz, y otros crean un amor por un deporte que comparten con otros. De repente, tienen una familia de fanáticos para un equipo que casi se muere por el. El deporte de fútbol americano ha creado una comunidad enorme, sin ver el color de piel, sin importar tu clase económica, todos son una familia con un solo y único amor: el juego. Puedes estar en vivo escuchando los gritos de los demás fanáticos, cantando el tema musical del equipo que estás apoyando. Pero también puedes estar en tu sillón con tus palomitas gritándole al televisor con tu familia y apostando sobre qué equipo va ganar. Este domingo en la ciudad de Miami, el superbowl LVI será alojado contra los Kansas City Chiefs y San Francisco 49ers. Dos equipos y dos familias que se irán de cabeza a cabeza–por un deporte que les guste o no– los une como una comunidad y familia entera. Aparte del juego, el Super Bowl es famoso por sus comerciales nuevos y el enorme show de medio tiempo. A finales del año pasado, se anunció que muchos artistas no aceptaron la invitación de participar en un evento tan importante e icónico. Aunque, nativa del Bronx, Jennifer López y la cantante colombiana, Shakira,
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compartirán el escenario y su vibrancia representando la comunidad latina. Recibieron una ola de opiniones con apoyo y tambien criticas, específicamente en twitter, por no seguir los pasos de compañeros como Cardi B y Rihanna. Otros artistas decidieron no aceptar las propuestas de la NFL en apoyo al activismo de Colin Kaepernick, ex jugador de los 49ers quien se inclinó durante el himno nacional en lugar de pararse. Al verse con mucha controversia, Kaepernick continuó arro-
jando luz a la opresión que se encontraba la comunidad afroamericana y comunidades de color. Los latinos son un gran porcentaje de la comunidad NFL, desde el 2016 con un incremento de 28 por ciento– siendo una audiencia segura y dedicada a sus equipos favoritos. Ellos seguirán apoyando y siendo una representación para ellos mismos en la NFL. Artistas con tanto reconocimiento, deberían de usar sus plataformas para
apoyar a otros ya que las batallas de otras comunidades también se convierten en las de los latinos. En la comunidad latina, consisten afrolatinos que tanto como los demás, pasan la opresión del gobierno y se convierten víctimas de la violencia. En la comunidad latina, somos familia, y cuando nuestros familiares tienen batallas por su ser, deberían tener a los demás apoyándolos y peleando a su lado.
La DePaulia. 9 de marzo de 2020 | 8
Opiniones
Punto-contrapunto:
“Latinx”
No estamos obligados a usar la palabra ‘Latinx’ Por Enrique Samuel Cervantes Escritor contribuyente
La historia de nuestras raíces latinas se empezaron a definir con una sola palabra: ‘latino/a.’ Una palabra simple e inocente que sinceramente se empezó a usar para definir la estructura de nuestra cultura– usado para describir las personas nativas de origen latinoamericano sin importar su género, su pasado, o su orientación sexual. Algo tan sencillo que apreciamos como comunidad y como latinoamericanos se convirtió en algo que nuestra misma comunidad empezó a odiar y cambiar. Ahora, la palabra ‘latino/a’ tan querida e inocente, se convirtió a ‘latinx’– algo que trata de manchar nuestros orígenes y nuestras raíces culturales– causando incomodidades y obligando a muchos a usarlo porque si no, es considerado como ‘un insulto a otros.’ De hecho, la nueva palabra latinx no solo está deletreada mal y se escucha mal, pero es una palabra absurda que ahora se está usando en las universidades. De acuerdo con Latinos Brief, ‘El argumento contra el uso del término latinx’, menciona que, “la falla más irónica del término es que en realidad excluye más grupos de los que incluye. Al reemplazar o’s y a’s por x’s, la palabra latinx se vuelve ridículamente incomprensible para cualquier hispanohablante sin tener fluidez en inglés”. Si un latino no comprende el idioma de inglés o la pronunciación, no podrá entender el uso de la palabra latinx ya que es un término creado en inglés en referencia a la comunidad latina. Además, ¿como se puede crear una conexión con el término si se supone que nuestro lenguaje como latinos es español? Un artículo de NBC dice “No veo el propósito cuando ya hay una palabra y es latinos”. En otras palabras, no tiene sentido crear y usar
la palabra latinx cuando ya existe un término técnico. David Romero, 20, estudiante de segundo año en la Universidad Dominican dijo, “¿Absolutamente nadie va a decir o se presentaran como latinx, entonces para qué tener esta palabra? Se escucha mal y siento que se quieren olvidar de nuestra historia”. Mucha gente no quiere aceptar, ni aceptará esta palabra. En ningún otro país se está usando este término, pero como en los EE.UU. podemos expresar nuestras opiniones libremente, esto sigue ocurriendo. Por ejemplo, supongamos que vayamos a otros países latinos y usemos la palabra latinx, nos van hacer burla porque nunca han oído esta palabra o nos van a ver como si no tenemos reconocimiento de nuestras culturas. Quizás hasta ofenderemos a la gente de otros países porque le estamos quitando el valor a la palabra antigua. En el argumento contra el uso del término Latinx, menciona que “Excluye a los individuos mayores que han estado hablando español durante más de 40 años y que tendrían dificultades adaptarse a un cambio tan radical. Efectivamente sirve como una forma estadounidense [que] borra el idioma de español". Los latinos que han hablado español por más de 40 años tendrán muchas dificultades en adaptarse a un cambio que sirve de una manera para eliminar nuestro idioma. Según, la palabra es creada para incluir a todos pero claramente no es así. La decisión para usar la palabra latinx es de cada persona. Algunos se ofenden, y otros lo adoptan como parte de su identidad. Pero, a la final de ¿quién decide quién puede o no usar la palabra latinx? La gente no puede cambiar nuestra historia solo porque quieren expresar su opinión, si ellos se quieren llamar latinx está bien, pero que por favor no obliguen a otros a usar el término.
La palabra ‘Latinx’ es necesaria para poder crear un espacio inclusivo Por Bryan Matthew Lopez Reportero
El término “latinx” está ganando mucha atención en estos momentos y despertando controversia. ¿Aunque la pregunta sería para quien es este término y que significa? “Latinx” es un término autoidentificado para describir alguien con raíces en latinoamérica. El término fue creado para ser más inclusivo y resaltar la identidad de todos. Fue creado por jóvenes hispanos progresistas en los Estados Unidos y también es utilizado en muchas comunidades escolares y universidades. Latinx es un género neutral y permite que la gente que se identifican como no binario, fluido de género, o género no conforme, todavía se pueda identificar con sus raíces latinoamericanas sin sentirse excluido con los términos latino/a que son binarios. El español es un idioma que es excesivamente basada en el género. Si hubiera un cuarto lleno de 100 mujeres latinas, en el momento que entra un solo hombre, todos en el cuarto automáticamente se definirán cómo “latinos”. El término latinx es parte de una “Revolución Lingüística” para romper las ideas del género y crear más espacios inclusivos. ¿Por qué deberíamos confiar en que “latino” es el término predeterminado y todo-incluido cuando en realidad no lo es y está enraizado en la masculinidad? Es importante ser intencionalmente interseccional cuando hablamos. Marianella Osorio, una estudiante en su cuarto año en la Universidad DePaul, dice “Me identifico y uso la palabra latinx porque es más inclusiva ... La palabra latinx es más neutral, lo cual es importante en la sociedad de hoy.” Diego Ortiz Villacorta San Juan, un estudiante en su primer año en la Universidad DePaul dijo, “Creo que es
Las opiniones de estas páginas no necesariamente reflejan las opiniones del equipo de La DePaulia
importante conocer la historia y creo que en cuanto más comprendamos la historia tensa y a menudo etnocéntrica, o racista de cómo surgió la latinidad, podremos entender las relaciones de raza...y cómo esas relaciones se están traduciendo a través de la diáspora aquí”. Dra. Lydia Saravia, profesora en el departamento de escritura, retórica, y discurso en la Universidad DePaul, dice “No podemos seguir marginando y borrando comunidades LGBTQ+ y debemos ser conscientes de los miembros de la comunidad [latinx] para quienes el lenguaje continúa marginando y borrando”. Isabella Gómez, actriz Colombiana de One Day at a Time de Netflix dice, “Es una forma de que todos nos unamos en lugar de separarnos en géneros o cualquier otra cosa”. La resistencia contra el término latinx es en gran parte por el temor de que angloparlantes quieran meterse en nuestro idioma y obligarnos a cambiarlo a su gusto, pero ese no es el caso. Los lenguajes son cosas complicadas y siempre están cambiando y evolucionando orgánicamente. Por esa razón es que el español de hoy en día se ve y suena muy diferente al español hace años. Incluso, se encuentran diferencias en el idioma en cada parte de latinoamérica. ¿Por qué podemos permitir que nuestro lenguaje evolucione en nuestro discurso cotidiano pero tenemos que alejar nuestros amigos y familiares no binario? Había una necesidad para el término latinx, eso es como surgió. Español, como cualquier otro idioma, es fluido y debe representar toda su población, no solo a una porción. Nadie está obligado a identificarse como latinx—existe para quienes lo desean. Latinx no es un término elitista—al contrario, es un término para generar conversaciones pacíficas sobre la interseccionalidad.
Focus. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 15
r Bullet
residents demanding more police patrol Recent High-profile Crimes in or Near Lincoln Park - A 15-year-old boy was stabbed near the North &
Clybourn Red Line station on Feb. 24, 2020.
- Gold Coast robberies of luxury stores — series, ongoing
GRAPHICS BY GINA RICARDS | THE DEPAULIA
XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA
RAPHAEL CANNESANT | THE DEPAULIA
has been a higher presence of CPD
e records of people convicted of ng a fraud hotline for undocuwing ICE into courtrooms. e Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, her reform efforts. States across ew Jersey and Alaska, have limork went as far as restricting its cluding burglary, assault without es and even certain cases of arson New York Times. These reforms bout their impact on public safe-
e not had a positive relationship nce Foxx took over. of Police sent Foxx a letter saying er office and issued a vote of no
tion from February showed that f judge Timothy Evans was miss not gone up since bail reform
felony defendants who were reonths after bail reform went into h new violent crimes. However, igation, the analysis only consides, leaving out domestic battery, pon, battery, armed violence and ncluded defendants whose origi-
nal charge was a felony, excluded three individuals with murder charges whose first charges occured before bail reform and had numerous errors in data entry, among other discrepencies. But not everyone agrees that bail reform is behind the rise in crime, and even those who say that it’s contributing say it’s probably not the only factor. Stokes, the public service professor, said police may also be reassigning patrols from safer neighborhoods to those with more crime. Chicago police responded to a records request saying the department doesn’t keep lists of patrols assigned to a specific district on any particular day. However, there are cases of officers being reassigned to meet needs in different areas. For example, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced earlier in March an increase in the number of police patrolling the CTA after a spike in crime on the system. In other instances, police have saturated areas to help catch and prevent DUI’s, according to past alerts put out by CPD. The Chicago city budget shows CPD’s Bureau of Patrol has a higher budget for 2020 than it did in 2019. However, it’s unclear if that means there are more officers on patrol or if the money is being spent another way. Also at play is Rahm Emanuel’s closure of six city-run mental health clinics in 2012. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart wrote in an op-ed that the “only consistently funded mental health center in the Chicago area is the Cook County Jail,” and that about one-third of inmates suffer from “serious” mental illnesses. Dart wrote that the vast majority of those inmates are charged with low-level crimes of survival, such as prostitution, trespassing and disorderly conduct. A 2009 report from the University of Chicago Crime Lab said we must “do a better job of identifying and treating mental health problems among young people before these disorders lead to violence.” The Loop, which has also seen an increase in crime over the past year, according to a DePaulia analysis of crime data, has a significant number of homeless individuals, Stokes said. “A lot of those crimes in the central business district can be attributed to transient people,” he said. Alec Brownslow, a professor of geography at DePaul, said that although crime increases “can never be chalked up to a silver bullet explanation,” he doesn’t think bail reform is behind it. “I’m more prone to believe Lincoln Park is going through changes in regard to population, proximity and perception,” he said Brownslow added that many of these crimes, particularly thefts, are crimes of opportunity and are “part of the urban landscape.” “If most are occurring after midnight, I’m not sure that’s something to be concerned about,” he said. DePaul Public Safety does not have armed police and instead
- A 35-year-old man was critically wounded after being shot on Fullerton Parkway on Sept. 15, 2019. A 13-year-old girl was the victim of an attempted kidnapping in Lincoln Park on Sept. 4, 2019. - A shooting near Theater on the Lake on July 20, 2019 sent seven people to the hospital. - A recent DePaul graduate was slashed in the face and throat near the Lincoln Park campus on July 18, 2019. relies on a partnership with CPD to provide those services, the department previously told The DePaulia. Bob Wachowski, head of the university’s public safety, and DePaul spokesperson Carol Hughes did not respond to a request for comment on whether or not that may change after the recent spike in crime. And not all DePaul students are overly concerned about crime, despite the recent high-profile cases. Jordan Gary, a master’s student in product innovation & computing who has lived in Lincoln Park for six years, said the issue may be more about perception. He said apps like Ring, Nextdoor and multiple neighborhood Facebook groups may simply be bringing more attention to crimes in the area. “I think that between CWBChicago and these apps, our neighbors are just hearing about it more and more often,” he said. “Very much like how child abductions are actually down, but if you watch Nancy Grace you’d think they were happening so frequently it would be safer to lock your child in the basement.” That doesn’t absolve Lincoln Park residents concerns, however. At the community event off the North & Clybourn station, Alderman Michele Smith said she will continue pushing for more police patrols and other efforts from police. While walking the neighborhood with police, some residents repeatedly asked when the additional patrols promised would arrive, as they had yet to see them in the area. Police said they were on their way, but would not specify when residents could expect them. Police at the event did not know how patrol assignments are determined when asked by The DePaulia. “With the limited resources we have, we’re doing the best we can,” police said. At the end of the day, the city has a limited budget and can only do so much to satisfy every community. That means Lincoln Park may not always get as many patrols as it wants. “I think the days of underpolicing communities of color [to satisfy the security needs of the wealthy] are over,” Brownslow said.
COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO DATA PORTAL
Arts & Life
16 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
Travel bug
DePaul prepares for spring break as coronavirus fears, travel restrictions increase By Jonathan DeCarlo & Ella Lee Contributing Writer, Arts & Life Editor
As winter quarter draws to a close, spring break is usually the only thing on students’ minds. But this year, there’s also been something else: coronavirus. DePaul has already taken some action to halt students’ spring break travel. One short-term program to Japan has been cancelled and the others are being actively monitored, according to DePaul spokeswoman Carol Hughes. The university asked students traveling outside of school-affiliated programs in an email to review the Chicago Department of Public Health’s travel guidelines for best practices. Sean, a DePaul junior who asked to conceal his last name for personal reasons, is supposed to travel to London over spring break. With coronavirus spreading more rapidly, the university spoke with students about the possibility of cancellation during a pre-trip session, he said. “I’m not really worried about it getting cancelled but that thought is in the back of my head because of how serious the coronavirus is,” he said. “Other trips
have been cancelled, so if DePaul Study Abroad deems it unsafe to travel to London, they will cancel the trip.” He added that though missing the trip would be disappointing, he’s more concerned about making up lost credits. “When I asked what would happen if the trip is cancelled, they didn’t really give a direct answer about whether or not students would be able to complete a 4 credit course,” Sean said. “I’ll need these credits to graduate - so I really hope that in the case of cancellation, I’ll still be able to complete the course without the actual travel component.” For some students, the cancellations of these trips is justified — even if college-aged students in good health are not particularly at risk. “My trip to India just got cancelled, but I think it’s justified to protect our communities,” said Will Buttrey, a senior at the University of Tennessee. Sarah Connoly, an associate professor at DePaul who studies viruses, said students can protect themselves from the virus by knowing the facts and adhering to known precautions. “The key is to remember that the virus is spread through respiratory droplets, meaning that you’ll catch it
from someone coughing, sneezing or talking,” Connoly said. “You can also catch it from touching a surface those droplets have touched, but only if you touch your face afterward, so remember to wash your hands and distance yourself from those that are visibly ill.” Connoly said that despite the Twitter ramblings that hand sanitizer doesn’t help protect against the virus, it’s still a solid way to protect yourself. “I don’t know why people are saying that hand sanitizer doesn’t work; it does,” Connoly said. “As long as you are using a hand sanitizer that is 60 percent alcohol or above, then you should be fine.” Washing your hands helps too, she said. For those students who are worried about how the coronavirus will affect them if they caught it, Connoly said not to be worried — at least for yourself. “You may get sick, you may feel lousy, but it’s very unlikely that you’ll need to go to the hospital or even less likely die from it,” Connoly said. “The thing younger people should really be concerned about if they do end up catching the virus is spreading it to someone who is more vulnerable to it. The fatality rate for the virus is really low right now, especially for younger people, but it does get higher for people that are older.” She added that the CDPH and CDC are good resources for information.
The Chicago Department of Health declined to comment for this story, citing an influx of media requests due to the virus. For students returning from spring break travel in travel alert Level 3, DePaul asks that communication with the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness is abundant. “It is important to note that CDPH has advised that travelers returning from any country with a travel alert Level 3 should stay home and monitor their health for up to 14 days,” a Public Safety email from the university reads. “If you are traveling or returned from any travel alert Level 3 country on or after February 28, please contact the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness at hpw@depaul.edu or 773325-7129 as soon as possible. Absences for this purpose will be excused and alternate arrangements will be made for teleworking and online school assignments, if possible.” DePaul’s Health Sciences department will be hosting a panel on coronavirus March 11 in McGowan South, Room 107, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The panel will include DePaul Health Sciences faculty from various sectors of the field.
GRAPHIC BY GINA RICARDS
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 17
Start of a story In conversation with ‘Onward’ head of story By John Cotter Staff Writer
A good story is only as powerful as the collaborative minds behind it. If any animation studio in America has actively shown this rather than just telling audiences it is Pixar. A plethora of award-winning and universally adored stories come out of this creative powerhouse. The films have always felt as distinctively personal in their creation as they are in their consumption and appreciation by the masses of crowds. “Up” and its optimistically tear-jerking look at grief and the inevitable parts of life. “The Incredibles” commentary on crippling identity and the conventions of the typical American family. These films and their subsequent tales are attainable by all ages, with audiences perceiving these messages in perpetually expanding ways over time. The older we as viewers get, the more dynamic and powerful these Pixar projects become – as we grow the film’s messages seem to do the same. But how do these stories begin? Whose voices are present in these narratives that are so humanistic and sympathetic? There are plenty of storyboard artists, writers, and more creative minds that contribute to just a singular film, with oversight being integral to the organization of all these bright minds. Kelsey Mann is the head of story on the upcoming film “Onward” at Pixar Animation Studios, where he has worked in the story department on films like “Monsters University” and even “Toy Story 3.” From the film’s emotional roots to how his work helped mold the final product, Mann took me through a point-of-view journey of Pixar that left me equally amazed and inspired, just as many of the studio’s films have. In “Onward,” a meta-fantasy world is presented where magic is possible but blissfully ignored in favor of electronic convenience. This void that magic leaves is one can be interpreted in many ways thanks to the vast appeal of Pixar’s narratives, a vastness that ended up relating more to director Dan Scanlon’s life than I initially thought. “I always liked the idea of telling Dan’s life,” Mann said. “His dad passed away when he was six months old so he never knew his dad. I like this mix of a family that has experienced loss with a world that has lost its magic!”. This loss that Mann is referring to is present in Scanlon’s own life and the film itself, with protagonist Ian not remembering his father. When Ian discovers the magic that his father left for him to discover, him and his brother Barley have 24 hours to see, hug and hang out with their deceased father. A premise that pulls more unpredictable sentimental jabs than I initially expected. As with many aspects of any creative project, some things stay the same, like the film’s anecdotal image of the pants, one that represents Ian’s father, just halfway up. But, there are a lot of changes, and these changes are frequent and constructive at Pixar, as Mann explains. “In this movie, we always knew where it was going to end. That’s kind of rare. We always had this ending,” Mann stated. “We storyboard and draw the whole movie and keep putting the movie up every three months, looking at it, and seeing if it is working or not. We usually do about eight screenings. If you look at the first screening of any Pixar film and what is theatrically released, it’s really different.” The assistance from the imaginative
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLIED GLOBAL MARKETING
Kelsey Mann, the head of story on the new Pixar movie ‘Onward.’ community doesn’t stop there, as Mann even created a room called the “Fishbowl”, which became a crucial component to the story’s creation. “The bigger the studio got, the more people would go back to their offices and not interact with each other,” Mann said. “I wanted to have a space where everyone could get together and bounce off of each other’s ideas. That is collaboration, and that’s where the magic happens.” Collaboration soon became the main subject of our conversation, as it seems to just be innately woven within the culture of the company itself. The funky names keep coming, as now the “Braintrust” is the next piece of the puzzle when it comes to making a Pixar film. “The Braintrust is a collection of creative minds at pixars, they’re writers and directors,” Mann said. “Pete Docter was our executive producer, so we were meeting with him constantly. You’re getting comments from so many smart people; it all helps elevate the movie.” Mann said he not only makes sure that everyone’s voices are heard, but also that their collective experiences and perspectives are a part of the end product. “You’re supporting a lot of people,” Mann said. You’re supporting the director, trying to get their vision and the best vision. You’re there to pick them up off the ground after a bad screening, to support the producer, the writers, and the team. My number one job is to support my story team and make them as successful as they can be.” This support from Mann doesn’t stop with just getting his team to work well, but also making sure that individual goals are as prioritized as communal ones. “Say there is a storyboard artist who has never done an action sequence before,” Mann stated. “I’ll talk to Dan and suggest that they do a chase sequence since they hadn’t that before. I’ll help them with that.” This helpful attitude is one that characterizes the communal environment at Pixar, one that seemed to be a huge influence on what makes the final product so special.
When everyone works together, everyone has a voice. When Kelsey Mann first recognized his voice at Pixar, it stood out as an especially proud moment for him. “The feeling [of accomplishment] only gets bigger,” Mann said. “It’s incredible to go to a wrap party. There is this overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride. My first wrap party was ‘Up’. I remember the credits rolling and at the end of the credits the Disney logo appears, and then they show the Pixar logo. When that Pixar logo came up, the pride that the studio had everyone applauding, and I had never experienced that.” Mann’s love of storytelling was apparent before I walked into the room. I knew that from seeing “Onward” and from knowing Pixar and how much their films have resonated with me throughout my adolescence and eventual adulthood. Kelsey Mann walked me through the empathetic means of guidance and encouragement that he shows for his story team, the directors and writers, and the audience. Pixar shows all of this in their new film “Onward,” but I was just lucky to have someone from Pixar tell me about it.
REVIEW: ‘Color Theory’ is dark, riveting By Cole Bursch Staff Writer
Soccer Mommy is the alias of musician and singer Sophie Allison as well as the band that tours with her. Allison has been releasing music under the Soccer Mommy moniker since 2016 with “For Young Hearts” in 2016 and “Still Clean” in 2018. Allison creates a moody, indie rock sound that balances bright guitar riffs with solemn lyrics and tone. On her latest release, “Color Theory,” she converges her sparse and atmospheric early music with the full rock outfit of “Still Clean” to create a sound that is startlingly emotional and catchy. As a whole, “Color Theory” by Soccer Mommy takes the listener on a visceral and dark journey through Sophie Allison’s mind, and the result is both stirring and riveting. The album is focused on its three different sections and their colorful meanings. The first section is blue which embodies depression and sadness, then yellow which symbolizes sickness and mental illness, and lastly gray which reflects topics of darkness and emptiness. The emotional journey that the listener goes on is beautiful yet at many points difficult because Soccer Mommy’s music speaks to real pain and suffering felt by so many. The yellow section of “Color Theory” reflects on both the terminal sickness of Sophie Allison’s mother and the mental illnesses that Allison herself has faced. The song “crawling in my skin” emanates a profound sense of anxiety, almost to the eerie feeling of someone watching you from a distance with its jangling guitars and distorted vocals. Meanwhile, the song “yellow is the color of her eyes” reflects on the sickness of Allison’s mother and the indescribable pain of watching someone die slowly. The closing lyrics of the song powerfully rip into the listener’s heart with Allison crooning, “Loving you isn’t enough, you’ll still be deep in the ground when it’s done. I’ll know the day when it comes. I’ll feel the cold as they put out my sun.” The two main attractions of the album have to be the tracks “circle the drain” and “up the walls” which provide the listener with thought-provoking lyrics and moody acoustic atmospheres. Sonically, “circle the drain” is a spectacle of 2000s pop melodies entrenched in the bright and vintage Soccer Mommy riffs that her fans have come to love. Lyrically though, “circle the drain” is about falling into sadness and despair. The contrast of hopeful instrumentals and wallowing lyricism depicts a vivid image of the hardships Allison has struggled to cope with, such as including mental illness and intense grief, while rising to critical acclaim. Although the subject matter of “up the walls” is much different than “circle the drain” it still provides the sonic and lyrical contrast seen throughout “Color Theory.” The track focuses on a relationship with a lover that is generating a sense of worry and distance with the lyrics, “Scared the girl you love is hardly ever here at all.” While the lyrics take on the hardships of growing romantically in such a hectic world, the acoustic instrumentals are catchy and melancholy which evokes the listener to ponder over the melody and its meaning for hours. Although “Color Theory ‘’ at times is a sorrowful and dark journey through Sophie Allison’s mind and personal troubles, the authenticity in her songwriting draws the listener in and leaves them wanting more. Overarchingly, “Color Theory ‘’ by Soccer Mommy pairs reflections of the most difficult times lyrically with upbeat sonic tones to create an equally heart wrenching yet astounding result. GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
Reel Deal
18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
Music Box Theatre on front lines of battle for film By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
Julian Antos spent his childhood in movie theaters around Chicago. And now, he spends his days working in one of the city’s best movie theaters, The Music Box Theatre on 3733 N. Southport Avenue in Lakeview as technical director. He works in a projection booth crowded with three massive film projectors, each with parts from multiple decades across the theater’s 91-year history in the city. These projectors can be fiddled with to include several different types of film reels — 16mm, 35mm and 70mm, to name a few. Antos switches the reels out as the film keeps going, making seamless transitions that even trained eyes don’t recognize. As an audience member sits in the gaping, illustrious 700-seat theater, they hear the technicolor dreams of the film, while Antos hears rumbling machinery and the hissing of the film reel as it’s feathered in. Step into the Music Box Theatre on a normal day, and you will see a long lobby and a classic-looking concession stand fixed NATE BURLEYSON | THE DEPAULIA with neon lights over the popcorn machine and a menu of overpriced snack food. You Technical director Julian Antos works in the projection booth above the auditorium. will see the main theatre and the smaller one sitting on the right. But to the left, up a dimly-lit staircase, you get to see where the “magic” happens. I worked in a movie theater, a multiplex in the suburbs with 17 screens and a fully operational bar. The projection room was a terrifying room that looked like staff were always filming a “Paranormal Activity” movie in it. Seventeen computer-operated behemoths automate the commercials, trailers and film. It was a good day if nobody had Projectionist at Music Box Theatre to go up there. Antos works in a completely different type of atmosphere, which fits the fact that when dealing with film instead of digital format, everything changes. Besides, they are two completely different ideas to begin with. “For me, it’s that the two technologies are so inherently different that I don’t even, like, consider the next step in movies,” Antos said. The next step in movies is seemingly the complete outcast of the film format, which is more expensive, specialized and time-consuming than digital work. Film companies like Kodak that once ruled the world went under due to the digital age that we live in. Who keeps all of this alive? People like Antos and his colleagues at the Music Box and the Chicago Film Society, which Antos co-founded in 2011, are NATE BURLEYSON | THE DEPAULIA holding things down on a community scale. But directors like Quentin Tarantino and A 70 millimeter reel sits on Antos desk. Each reel carries around 15 minutes of run time. Christopher Nolan have also upheld 70mm on film like on super 16 millimeter for 30, 40, completely would go against the human as a spectacle necessary for viewing movies. 50 thousand dollars,” Antos said. “So I think spirit, and the idea that the two could coexist Indie darlings like Greta Gerwig, Sean Baker that the 70mm releases get all the attention became more and more apparent. and Alex Ross Perry help keep it up. On top because they’re big movies. But there’s still a “I love showing movies on film,” Antos of that, hundreds of filmmakers you have lot of independent filmmakers working on said. “I love all the machinery, I love the way never heard of — and probably won’t hear film and experimental filmmakers.” it looks and digital cinema is just a really difabout — still believe in the power and richAs digital became the law of the land ferent beast.” ness of shooting a movie on filmstock. and film companies started to go under, a Preservation is a big key in all forms “There’s plenty of people making movies natural clash came about. To abandon film of art, and film has its own complications
“Philosophically, I wanted a job I actually care about, and I care about this. I don’t want to, you know, cry at the end of every day.”
Andy Berlin
in keeping the ways of the past for future generations to enjoy. A film reel needs to be carefully handled and stored in a cool, dry place. A digital film needs to be constantly updated to fit new formats for computers and projections, and the process of preserving that on a digital scale actually becomes more time-consuming and difficult than managing a library of film prints. Restoration is important as well. An old film reel from the 1960s can be scaled to a higher resolution like 4k and still hold up quite beautifully. A digital movie from 2012 could already look outdated today. “It tends to date things, which is not always bad — I mean I kind of like it in some ways,” Antos said. Film might just look flat out better, too. Proponents of film have long celebrated the richness and quality that is seen in prints that digital just cannot grab. “There’s definitely a quality to the way the light’s reflected, the way the lights interrupted with the shutter, there are qualities in motion that are a lot nicer to look at, especially for a long duration,” Antos said. “I find the sort of stillness and some of the motion artifacts of digital, if you are looking at it for two or three hours are kind of not as easy on the eyes.” When looking for the safe haven of film and communities that want to desperately keep the art of shooting on celluloid around, one might think that New York or Los Angeles are the only places left trying to keep it all alive. Yet that notion never worries Antos or his colleague Andy Berlin, who have found their tight-knit group of film defenders in the city that has never wanted to be like New York or Los Angeles. “It’s not the overall community of Chicago, there’s definitely a community of people in Chicago who care about film,” Berlin said. Berlin started as a concessionist at The Music Box in 2010 with the goal of becoming a projectionist. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, he eventually worked his way to the role of projectionist while learning along the way. “Philosophically, I wanted a job I actually care about,” Berlin said. “And I care about this, I don’t want to like, you know, cry at the end of every day.” Berlin and Antos are a part of a group of dedicated people in Chicago who are working on keeping film going. The Music Box is currently five days into a 15-day 70mm film festival showing prints of movies like “Murder on the Orient Express,” “West Side Story,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Roma” and “Interstellar.” On top of the film festival, the Music Box runs films on celluloid formats throughout the year. There is almost always an opportunity to see a movie projected on film in Chicago. Other outlets dedicated to film preservation include the Gene Siskel Film Center, Facets in Lincoln Park and the University of Chicago Film Studies Center, to name a few. “I think in smaller cities, not that Chicago is a small city, it comes down to the people who are running cinemas and whether or not they care about film on film exhibition,” Antos said. “And it comes down to how they’re educating their audience. The Music Box helps create that culture of film appreciation and remains a place that’s still going against the push of digital. “We make a point to really talk about [celluloid] a lot, even if after all these years it kind of feels like we’re belaboring the point,” Antos said.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 19
High price to pay Regulated weed prices remain high, some turn back to illicit deals
By Hank Mitchell Contributing Writer
Recreational annabis is legal now, but that hasn’t changed the way some people purchase their weed. Sales taxes on cannabis are currently very high, some products having a 25 percent tax by the state alone. Adding the other applicable taxes to that, the highest taxed cannabis products – those with over 35 percent THC content – will have a tax over 40 percent once the new county tax is implemented this summer. Some people are finding it worth the risk to find cheaper, black market sources for their weed. 26-year-old North Side resident Chad A. has begun what resembles a buying cooperative with several of his friends to save on costs. “We all have tight budgets and were shocked when we visited a dispensary here. The prices are high, and after taxes it just doesn’t make sense,” he said. The illegality of doing things like this does worry Chad and his friends, but they have decided that the risk is worth the reward. “It’s hundreds of dollars that we save ev-
ery month, and the products are actually higher quality most of the time,” Chad said. “Something big would have to change for me to start using a dispensary here.” As the second highest taxed state for cannabis sales, Illinois may have a tough time attracting buyers to legal options for purchase. This is especially true in young people who have very limited room in their budgets for this type of product. “I like to smoke [weed] and so do my roommates, but none of us can afford to spend a lot,” Chad said. “We’ve been smoking since before the legalization, and we’re excited to see this change coming but it hasn’t changed much for us.” The amount the new law allows you to possess is 30 grams, assuming you are an Illinois resident and half that otherwise. This is a turnoff for more regular smokers. “We might not smoke that much in a month, but by forcing people to buy in such small amounts you are really driving up the price. It just seems way too greedy,” Chad said. Some people do use the approved system, though, like Amy Santoro, an Evanston resident who works in Chicago. “I only smoke occasionally and hate
the feeling that I’m breaking the law,” Santoro said. “That used to keep me from smoking weed, now I just feel less scared to do it.” Legal repercussions seem to bother some more than others. “It’s just worth the money for me, I do not want some stupid mistake to get me put in jail or worse,” she said. “I do not know the laws enough to feel comfortable taking a huge risk like that.” There is seemingly a difference in how people view this risk-reward equation here. Some people consume more weed, making the financial advantage more considerable, and the black market more attractive. Some others, like Santoro, just don’t see enough benefit to consider that risk worth it. Something to consider is financial means. If the students and others on shoestring budgets are unable to afford cannabis by legal means, has this change really been effective? Will those who cannot afford legal cannabis now change their habits once they can afford it? Will this legalization have the desired effect on black market sales? “I don’t know anyone who goes to a
dispensary regularly,” said Evan H., a student at a community college in the northwest suburbs. “After the New Year’s Day hype, I think that everyone realized what a rip-off they are. “I feel like it’s just like alcohol, unless you are doing something really stupid you have nothing to worry about,” he added. “I don’t know anyone who started smoking [weed] just because it’s legal now, so it’s not like much has changed. I still get it from the same place as before, I just worry a little less about getting caught with it on me.” There is a spectrum of cannabis users, and this results in a variety of opinions on how to live with the changes to marijuana laws. For people like Chad, “paying double the price just doesn’t make sense.” Those like Amy worry about breaking the law too much to even consider buying from illegal sources. These changes are all so new that the full impact is difficult to measure, and surely there is plenty left to be learned about how the community is adapting to the new laws. ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
Her story
20| Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
Women across the world are making history theirs By Rebecca Meluch Focus Editor
It’s called “Herstory” because it’s “her” story – history being told from a female or feminist perspective. So much of American history has been told from the white male perspective, and it’s no surprise that the term “herstory” emerged in the second wave of feminism in the 1970s. Herstory wasn’t created to devouch men’s history or to dismiss their successes, but to shed light and to welcome men into listening to our stories and the lesser-known stories of women that have helped shape movements and news paths forward for women’s liberation. After the 19th amendment was passed, granting all American women the right to vote, it marked a milestone at the end of first wave feminism that set a path for future movements. “The women’s movement of the 1960s and 1970s really opened the door for women not to be bound by their roles in the home, and subsequent waves of feminism have become more inclusive and intersectional,” said DePaul English Professor Michele Morano. “Of course these waves have opened up the education system so that women’s history, literature, art, etc. offer many models of strong and accomplished women.” When World War I came about and men went to war, it brought a lot of change for women. The workforce began to change and women were given the new responsibility to work and make money. After this change, women no longer wanted to go back to the “hearth and home” lifestyle of being housewives, mothers, and caretakers towards their families. Birth control became more accessible and soon sex was not all about children or creating a family, but about pleasure. Women were freer to make their own decisions about their futures, they were no longer bonded to the ties of being housewives and mothers, but were able to pursue work, higher education, and independence from men. Throughout the waves of feminism and fight for women’s liberation, there have been many steps towards a woman’s right to abortion, vote, marriage, as well as many advances in a woman’s role in the work industry. We are blessed here in America with a foundation of strong women that laid the groundwork for the lifestyles we get to live in today. But we can’t be blinded by our own successes to not acknowledge the challenges that women all over the world are still fighting for today and even what in America, we are still subjected to. DePaul junior Annie Toner reflected upon some common challenges women
in America and all over the world still face today. “I think the sexualization of women is still very prominent today,” she said. “Many of our actions and choices are seen through a sexual lens which I feel many women are pushing against.” Despite progress in feminist movements, gender inequality still exists today all over the globe. “There are many countries where women are noticingly treated as second class citizens,” Toner said. “It was even in 2018 where the first woman was allowed a driver’s license in Saudi Arabia. As fem-
inists, it is important we recognize that there are people around the world struggling to receive basic rights because they are a woman and it is crucial to be a helping hand in their fight for rights.” According to the United Nations Foundation, pregnancy complications are still the leading cause of death for adolescent girls and one in three women experience some sort of violence in their lifetime whether it be domestically or by a stranger. All over the world, rape is a common fear that women have to face but
specifically in India, the experiences are extremely high. After suffering ten to fifteen years of hundreds of thousands of rape cases, the Indian government does not really care about the issue and does not support women on the fight against it. According to NPR, only a third of rape cases reported to the police in India actually result in a conviction. At the end of 2017, Indian courts had a backlog of more than 100,000 rape cases. Patriarchal values are all around the world cause men to act viciously towards women, simply because they are not held accountable for their actions and get to act with certain privileges. Many women and groups in India are fighting for the end against old patriarchal practices in order to reduce sexual violence and rape, but little can be done without the support of their government. India is not the only country in which women are fighting against patriarchal abuse, but dozens of countries in the Middle East and in Africa are still subjecting women to child labor and forced marriage. According to NBC News, Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum was recently reported for allegedly lining up his 11-year-old daughter to marry the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, who is 22 years older than her. Acting on cultural traditions in societies in which are ruled with a patriarchal system, different agencies around the world arrange marriages for young girls. According to the Tablet, it’s a problem in many countries that girls as young as 12 or 13 can be forced or sold to marry men that can be as old as 70. Worldwide, more than 15 million women are forced into marriage, while nearly 25 million people total are subjected to forced labor. In America, women are fortunate to have fought for the rights we have today, but we can’t ignore the countries all over the world whose women are still facing harsh gender inequality and discrimination while trying to progress ours further. GRAPHICS BY GINA RICARDS
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 21
Curving comments Curves can’t be embraced when constantly sexualized By Keira Wingate Asst. Arts & Life Editor
I was wearing a red polo shirt and bell bottom khaki pants. While working at the register, scanning the never-ending amount of items Target has to offer, my boss asked me to talk with him privately in a way that made me uneasy. A woman had complained about my uniform saying my pants were too tight and it made her children uncomfortable. Her children were the ones uncomfortable with the way I was dressed, but I was uncomfortable being told that I was being looked at sexually by random shoppers. Due to this complaint, I had to change. As I was crying in front of coworkers and shoppers, my boss had to buy me a new pair of pants because my butt was offending shoppers — as if the size of my backside was going to change with a new pair of pants. I was 16. It was my first job and the beginning of the sexualization of my body in the workplace. It has been a common theme to be told to cover up my already completely covered body while at work because my curves have brought offense to those who choose to look – something they can control, while I cannot control my shape. Women are told to embrace their curves and love their body. That is quite challenging when you are constantly being told to wear less form-fitting clothes, longer shirts and bigger jackets. I wonder if a potato sack would suffice. One in three women between the ages of 18-34 have been sexually ha-
rassed at work, according to Workplaces Respond, a national resource center. For working women, under no circumstances should they feel that such comments “are the way it is,” or that they should “get used to it.” Gigi Wood, a senior at DePaul, had gotten her first real job in the industry and soon went on a work trip that resulted in her flying home early due to constant comments on her appearance.
Wood said. “They were never going to take me seriously or see me as anything other than a blondie with an ass.” It has become so common to comment on a woman’s appearance at work that we have become both consciously and unconsciously insensitive to it, which is why it gets little attention. Historically, women have been subordinated by society, manipulated in power struggles and used for sexual sat-
“They saw me, a curvy 21-year-old PR girl, and judged me immediately. They were never going to take me seriously or see me as anything other than a blondie with an ass. ”
Gigi Wood
DePaul senior “I was one of two women, the other being my boss, who was working on this portion of the event. I’m curvy, she isn’t,” Wood said. “I was the only one being harassed and we were both wearing event shirts and leggings.” She was being harassed by several men on the trip that felt they could comment on her curves. One man sat down and apologized to her and said it was because she had a “huge ass.” “They saw me, a curvy 21-year-old PR girl and judged me immediately,”
isfaction. Looking at my chest or butt is not the way to get your kicks. While both men and women have things to say about a curvy body, it is far more sexualized by men, with over 60 percent of women in the restaurant industry, hotel industry and farming industry being sexually harassed by men, according to Workplaces Respond. “Both genders make comments,” Wood said. “With men, it’s usually catcalling, but I’ve had male friends make comments about my body shape in a de-
rogatory way.” Recent DePaul alumna Joanna Hernandez has dealt with the comments on her curves for years and has been treated differently because of them. Hernandez has been reprimanded for wearing leggings at work when slimmer coworkers have not. A coworker even admitted to her that she knows it’s because she is slimmer, which is why she can get away with it. “I would definitely say I have a curvy figure, which I love,” Hernandez said. “My dresses always go to my knees or past my fingertips, and my shirts are never revealing. Despite all this, I’ve had people subtly comment about my appearance. ‘That dress is so cute. It’s really fitted. You almost look ready to go out.’ As I’m wearing a pinafore dress that goes to my knees with a white long sleeve and black tights under.” The celebration of curves is diminished with every comment made and work is not a place for such comment in any way. With each remark, the growing uncomfortable feeling rises as embarrassment creeps in afterward. “It’s all really frustrating,” Hernandez said. “Of course I have self-esteem issues, who doesn’t these days, and comments like this are not only detrimental to my level of comfort in my own body, but also debilitating to my focus on my job, which is more important than if my body looks extra curvy on any given day.”
ART BY ALICIA GOLUSZKA
22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
‘Quality talent on a small scale’
Franz Schubert’s legacy continued by international talent in Oak Park By Paul Gordon Contributing Writer
A Schubertiade is a social gathering with the primary purpose of performing Franz Schubert’s music. Schubert + Festival gathers to do exactly that. In its second season, the Oak Park festival brings in world renowned talent including a Chicago Symphony Orchestra octet, pianist Winston Choi and vocalist Lawrence Brownlee to perform at Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Unity Temple. The four-part festival on Feb. 29 started at 2:30 p.m. and continued through 9:30 p.m., which included an Austrian-style dinner. The intermittent breaks between the performances allowed attendees to explore the 112-year-old temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The prolific Austrian composer produced more than 600 secular vocal works, seven symphonies, 50 choral works and many piano and chamber pieces, all in a life span of 31 years. “Yes, he has large scale works, but he wrote a lot of music that was made for a more intimate space, such as this,” said Winston Choi, pianist and professor at Roosevelt University. “His music lends itself to these types of all-day festivals.” The gatherings usually take place around Jan. 31 to celebrate Schubert’s birthday. The tradition was started by his fans and contemporaries, and it continues today where Schubertiades are housed in multiple venues across Chicago. The tradition became a way to remember and commemorate the composer’s work after his untimely death from syphilis. “If Shubert lived more comfortably not knowing there was an end in sight, who knows what his music would be like?” Choi said. “Maybe he wouldn’t have gained the same inspiration that one gains when one feels like, ‘This is the
CATHARINE RYAN | THE DEPAULIA
Attendees gathered at the Schubert Festival in Oak Park at the famous Unity Temple. end.’” Filling in for CSO cellist Brant Taylor in the octet was fellow section member Ken Olson who had a concert at Orchestra Hall after the Schubert and Fest performance. “Schubert is definitely one of my favorites, especially for chamber music,” Olsen said. “The older I get, the more I love Schubert, I don’t know why. Every chance I get I jump on it.” What started as small gatherings in private homes among friends has expanded to all day festivals fetching international talent. “It’s rare for me to play only Schubert in a program,” Choi said. “I usually try to mix and match a little bit, so to play that much of it was enriching for me. To go completely into it and be swallowed whole was special for me.” The Unity Temple maintains the intimacy of traditional Schubertiades. No attendee is further than 45 feet from the pulpit, which makes it so there is not a bad seat in the house. Wright designed the room to fit a large crowd without sac-
rificing the intimacy or comfort of the space. “[Schubert Fest] means bringing together people from different walks of life,” said Michael Weeks, president of Unity Temple Choir and production manager of Schubert Fest. “It means celebrating quality talent on a small scale. To bring it here to a local venue is a gift. To get someone of Lawrence Brownlee’s caliber here, that’s a huge gift.” Born the fourth of six children, Brownlee first discovered music performing for his family’s church in Youngstown, Ohio. His path to professional singing wasn’t always clear. “They say that your profession, the thing you should be doing, finds you,” he said. “I thought I was going to pursue a career in law. I had a lot of people that encouraged me and pushed me to sing because they thought my voice was special. Now here I am.” Brownlee said that a central part of being a professional musician is to “be an expressive artist. Feel it somewhere inside, feel it deep. Be someone who is
listening but always learning.” With accolades that would humble even the highest caliber classical musicians, Brownlee has a reputation for being approachable and personable. Helene Zimmer-Loew saw Brownlee perform in the 2019 Grant Park Music festival. “I just fell in love with him.,” Zimmer-Loew said. “He has a certain presence and charm about him. I had to see him again.” Zimmer-Loew approached Brownlee to express that she was a fan of his singing. Brownlee thanked her: “I don’t have fans, I have friends,” he said. Each year the festival slots out a select amount of tickets for students and children to attend the festival for free. This is part of an initiative to bring the Schubertiade tradition to the next generation. Schubert + Festival plans to celebrate the colorful body of work again in 2022 with the same energy brought to the 2020 festival.
DePaul College of Law hosts panel about homelessness By Chinyere Ibeh Staff Writer
The Driehaus College of Law hosted Invisible Neighbors: Fighting the Stigma of Homelessness in Chicago, a panel that educates its attendees on homelessness around Chicago. The panel began with a brief video that speaks about Vincent DePaul’s hospitality for the marginalized, especially the homeless. The panel proceeded to dive into the work of various advocacy groups. One such group would be DePaul USA, which began in 2008 under DePaul International. Its programs are centered on homelessness as they have several day centers and shelters around the country. “In Chicago, we specifically work with students,” said Emily Edwards, the director of the Chicago chapter of DePaul USA. DePaul USA runs a program called the Dax Program. In order for students
to qualify for the program, they must be a full-time student at DePaul and they must be facing homelessness. The organization defines homelessness as someone living in a space not fit for human inhabitation, someone living in shelters or transitional house programs and anyone who’s couch-surfing. “We do consider people that are couch-surfing to be homeless…that’s the majority of youth and young adults in the U.S that are experiencing homelessness,” Edwards said. During the introduction of the panel, Lydia Stazen, director of the Institute of Global Homelessness, discussed the vast definition of homelessness. She explains that the U.S. Department of House and Urban Development (HUD) doesn’t include couch-surfing for its definition of homelessness. Heather Hummons, head of access services at the College of Law, explains that such an event takes almost a year to plan. Within that year, the college eval-
uates the social justice topic they would want to cover. “We always try to keep within the theme because we’ve come up with a theme for our programming called ‘The Criminalization of Our Neighbors,’” Hummons said. Once the topic is decided upon, the college of law begins thinking about who they can include. They start with who from DePaul can contribute and come through such an event. Then expand to potential advocacy groups out in the city of Chicago in general. Events like Invisible Neighbors have happened three times before. The first one being more of an author talk, while the last three were more like panels. The event that the College of Law held last year dealt with sexual trafficking in the digital age. During the event, a man named Robert Henderson spoke from his own personal experience of homelessness. He has been homeless for the past 50 years. Ac-
cording to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Henderson’s “lowest point” would be when he was living under a bridge and city employees had seized his belongings, which included his medication, obituaries of dead loved ones and his Bible. “Any event that brings awareness to the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity are important,” Edwards said. The importance of such an event as there are many stereotypes and stigma surrounding the topic. Edwards states that many people don’t typically think college students when they think of homelessness. Any event or opportunity that can broaden the scope of the issue in the hope of creating change is nothing short of important. The intentions for events like Invisible Neighbors is to publish the information shared within the panel. The information will be published at the Journal of Social Justice’s website.
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 23
Ben Affleck shines in melodrama of ‘The Way Back’ By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
Let’s just start by saying that “The Way Back” is not a basketball movie. It is not a movie about sports or a feel-good story about a basketball team on glory road. It tries, desperately at times, to be more than that — sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. But Ben Affleck’s performance as Jack Cunningham; an alcoholic, divorcee, former high school basketball star turned construction worker turned high school basketball coach is a must-watch. “The Way Back” is one of those occasions where life experiences seem to be overwhelmingly displayed in art. Art that comes from great suffering turned into a celebration of what life can be, and how the people we love are the village that raises us. This is not a movie that I think should be taken lightly. It seems, at first glance, to be a film that looks over the top or maybe cheesy, a cliche story of a guy who has problems. Instead, the movie takes off as a deeply personal one for Affleck, where he moves through the film in a very potent way despite a screenplay that takes a different route than one might expect. From the first scene, we can tell that Affleck is playing a specific character he has not played yet. His Jack Cunningham is quiet, reserved and isolated. The script teaches us something new and new about his background as we watch him move from his construction job to the bar, to his house, to the job and back to the bar while making sure to stay boozed-up in between. You quickly realize that Jack has a lot of untold, unseen issues. Between shots of Affleck drinking beer in the shower, or pouring vodka into a travel mug to get through his day on the job, we see snippets of his personal life. Including a Thanksgiving trip to his sister’s house, where he freaks out after she tells him she’s worried for him after
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Jack Cunningham played by Ben Affleck in ‘The Way Back.’ his divorce to start the set-up. The plot reveals more and more details of Jack’s past issues that have plagued him and clearly sent him on his downward spiral. Where does he find his safe haven? On the basketball court. The court of his alma mater where he was “one of the best high school players” ever seen in California. He takes the job as coach after being approached by a leader at St. Bishop, a stereotypical Catholic school. From there, the movie seems to be going in two different directions. One part of it is a “Glory Road” and “Remember the Titans” type sports story about a group of good-for-nothing youngins that get turned into state champions. Another movie about the coach who’s full of conflict. Yet “The Way Back” becomes neither one of those, it becomes a connection of the two. It is about life, not basketball, and you never see a trophy raised. The movie is a realistic and grounded approach to documenting the literal way back for a person struggling to find care in life.
I could see how someone might be worried about an overdose of melodrama when it comes to this movie. Yet Affleck’s performance is nuanced enough to put these worries away. At times the only thing that felt heavy-handed was Rob Simonsen’s score when coupled with dark colors as Affleck drank himself into the abyss. Jack ignores plenty of calls from old friends and family, as he tries desperately to avoid his past. Yet at the same time, you can tell his mopey persona is longing for something more, yet something in his head is preventing him from saying the things he wants to say and doing the things he wants to do. The movie never hyper-focuses on one part of Jack’s life. He goes through life, and the movie takes things day by day in a refreshing manner. We get glimpses of his relationship with his team’s point guard, Brandon, who he tries to mentor — we see how his relationship with his old basketball teammates and assorted town drunks pulls him down further. One of his dad’s
old friends drives him home from the bar each night and makes sure he gets into his house. We also get equal glimpses into his past, where an assorted, insane amount of horrible things have happened to him. Quickly, you realize Jack has been carrying so much on his shoulders, and different behaviors became understandable. By the end of the movie, we are still learning more and more about Jack Cunningham. He’s just trying to find his way in the world, to find his path back to where he wants to be, and to where the people who love him know he can be. Basketball seems to help, but it isn’t the be-all-end-all solution that may have been the case in a different movie. Jack leads his 1-9 team to a playoff berth, the school’s first since Jack played twenty years prior. The story seems to be based on both the experience of Affleck himself and his father. His father was an alcoholic who made life difficult for him while growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His parents divorced when he was 12, and his dad was in rehab for over a decade starting when Affleck was 16. Affleck relapsed himself in 2018, right before this movie was made, and things were looking like they would not move forward with the film. That’s before his exwife and actress Jennifer Garner pushed the studio to make the film still. With support from director and former collaborator Gavin O’Conner (The Accountant), Affleck called the shooting of this film as a “cathartic” experience. Affleck becomes Jack Cunningham but confronts the demons of his own life in a performance that relishes in the melodrama while following a structure that doesn’t look for something big or cheesy, it chooses to resolve little parts of life. It’s a movie that needs just compassion and basic empathy to get into.
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24 | Arts &Life. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020
St.Vincent’s D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581” By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
Spring break is coming up before you know it, and it will be over before you know it too! While DePaul’s school break schedules may never make sense, I’m still looking forward to my nine days off from school. Here are some songs I intend to listen to on repeat over break. 1. Teenage Dream-Katy Perry I’ve always been iffy on Katy Perry; she’s not my favorite singer nor do I think she has the best hits to compensate for her questionable vocals. But the leading track off of her album of the same name is pop perfection. Perry has never sounded better than on this track, and the energy and catchy melody catapulted it to massive success. This song reminds me of the summer, and what is spring break but a preview of the year’s best season?
2. Say You Love Me-Fleetwood Mac Christine McVie gets a bad rep. She may not carry Stevie Nicks’ bohemian glamour or her iconic vocals, but damn it, the woman can write a song. This track off of the group’s self-titled album is a joy with every listen, with the opening piano riff setting the song off on a great start. I like this song so much I didn’t even mind hearing it almost daily at my part-time job for three summers, which is saying something. 3. Roadhouse Blues-The Doors In high school, one of my three personality traits was that I really liked The Doors, and for some reason, I thought I was super cool for listening to a massively popular band. Has anything changed? Probably not, but I sure do love this song! This song employs some classic Doors-isms, like Jim Morrison screaming, strong piano riffs and fatalistic lyrics creeping their way in. I plan on keeping my pretentious Doors -listen-
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ing habits well into adulthood, with this song keeping on repeat. 4. Rocky Raccoon-The Beatles I don’t listen to this song as often as I should, but every time I do it makes me happy. The song’s narrative follows a love triangle, a shootout, and an improperly intoxicated doctor. What’s not to love? While a country ballad may seem out of place for The Beatles, this song works scholarly well, including Paul McCartney’s exaggerated Western accident. 5. About a Girl-Nirvana This song almost seems like a departure for Nirvana, given it’s more jangly, radio-friendly sound, but it was actually inspired by the sounds of R.E.M., another 90s rock giant. Despite the shift in sound, this song has remained one of the group’s most endur-
ACROSS 1. In thing 4. Cherry leftover 8. Dances to jazz 12. White alternative 13. Surfing need 14. Cinema sign 15. So far 16. Served perfectly? 17. Claim innocence 18. First name in rock 20. Salon job 21. Engine attachment 23. Pull strings? 25. Pays to play 27. Down, so to speak 28. Cause of some aches 31. Surround-sound device 33. Middle of the road? 35. Capsule 36. Big rig feature 38. Unbending 39. Rose petal oil 41. Form of pachisi 42. Face-to-face exams 45. Three-toed animal 47. Become dull 48. Brouhaha 49. In vitro fertilization (abbr.) 52. Proctor’s call 53. In addition 54. Not even a little 55. Dispatch, as a dragon 56. Bit of fowl language 57. Golfer Brewer
ing songs and it isn’t hard to see why. It’s catchy, with enough of that classic Nirvana edge to keep purists interested.
DOWN 1. Children in a school? 2. Sailor’s assent 3. Couldn’t stand 4. Kind of team 5. Fiesta fare 6. Olympic activities 7. Club ___ 8. Make shadowy 9. Yoked pair 10. Spare parts? 11. Eye problem 19. Impolite look 20. Less civil 21. Diary fastener 22. Suspicious of 24. Aries, for one 26. Religious factions 28. Estimating, ___ out 29. Installed, as carpet 30. Annul 32. Meal source 34. East Timor’s capital 37. Campaign part 39. Hangout for tomcats 40. Add to the pot 42. Makes a pick 43. Hand support 44. Michigan college or its town 46. Drama class item 48. Drain, in a way 50. Word used in directions 51. Fishing gizmo
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 25
Garden dreamin’
Men look to make a splash as last seed in Big East tournament
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul men’s basketball head coach Dave Leitao speaks to junior guard Charlie Moore during the Blue Demons’ game against Georgetown on Feb. 22 at Wintrust Arena.
Narratives
When:
March 11-14
Where:
Madison Square Garden
Stakes:
Winner goes to the NCAA Tournament
The Blue Demons have not won a game in the Big East Tournament since 2014. DePaul is going to face Xavier in the first round on Wednesday. The Blue Demons lost both meetings this season by a combined 19 points.
Men’s Big East Tournament
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26 | Sports. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 LEITAO, continued from back page talent and depth, the potential was there for DePaul to escape the cellar of the conference and emerge as an NCAA Tournament team. And after the 12-1 start during the non-conference portion of the Blue Demons’ schedule, that assumption became even more valid. But DePaul and Leitao choked in the Big East. The high expectations placed on them entering conference play were too much for them to handle. The Blue Demons finished with a 3-15 record, including an eight-game losing streak from January to February. “We just played better people,” a source close to the team said. “We played against better programs. We played against programs who take winning more seriously. That’s what’s going to happen when you play teams who care about winning, who don’t want to lose.” Leitao’s five years at DePaul has been an utter disaster from the oncourt production and the program’s behavior off the court. Last week, junior guard Devin Gage became the 12th player to transfer during the Leitao era. Gage was the last remaining player from the class of 2016 still on the roster. Seton Hall, Marquette and Butler, however, all have at least one player from that class who are leading them to the NCAA Tournament this season: Myles Powell, Markus Howard and Kamar Baldwin, respectively. All three of those players were most recently named to the All-Big East first team. DePaul, of course, had nobody on the first team, but junior forward Paul Reed was picked for the second team. Anyone who has watched Reed this season knows he has the potential to be on that first team, but his coach has ruined his overall potential. That in itself is embarrassing for the program that had so much promise before Christmas. Those first two years of the Leitao experiment might as well have not happened. Leitao went 18-45 overall and did not land one single four-star recruit in that span, and every player who has come through the program since then has left. “Leitao’s relationship with his players is kind of hard to explain,” a source close to the team said. “He is different. He goes about things differently.” The relationship that a coach has with his players is vital to a team’s success, and Leitao has proven that he doesn’t build positive bonds with a lot of his players. Even junior forward Paul Reed and freshman Markese Jacobs have voiced their displeasure with Leitao on Twitter earlier this season. And who can blame them? A source confirmed to The DePaulia that Gage got angry at
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
Charlie Moore and Jalen Coleman-Lands walk back towards the bench after their 67-59 loss to Xavier on Feb. 4 at Wintrust Arena.
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
Men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao is angry during his team’s 79-66 loss to St. John’s on Jan. 25 at Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demons finished in last place in the Big East.
the coaches after a 79-67 loss to St. John’s and confronted them in the locker room after the game. They also said that the coaching staff made certain promises about how minutes would be split during the season, and failed to fulfil those promises when the season began in November. The way that Leitao has handled this season, and frankly the last five years, is shameful for a Big East school. In the team’s last game against Providence, the Blue Demons lost 93-55 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Saturday – the worst loss during Leitao’s tenure. Only a spineless athletic director like Jean Lenti Ponsetto would hire her friend over qualified candidates
like Bobby Hurley and Bryce Drew. Prior to coming to DePaul, Leitao was an assistant coach at Tulsa where he was making a low six-figure salary. And Lenti Ponsetto deemed this man as the right coach to bring DePaul basketball back to its former glory days. And then paid him more than $1 million per year. Like always, though, she was wrong. Both Lenti Ponsetto and Leitao have helped ruin DePaul basketball — both institutional embarrassments. And both of them should be shown the door when this season painfully ends against Xavier on Wednesday. A source told The DePaulia that the culture around the men’s team
felt “isolating” due to a culture in which they say coaches are unwilling to address the concerns from players about behavior they felt was inconsistent with team values. This is the type of culture that Leitao has built during his five years with the program, and it goes beyond the awful performances on the court. Leitao also helped get DePaul get in trouble with the NCAA for recruiting violations, and the NCAA suspended Leitao for the first three games of the 2019-2020 season and put the Blue Demons on probation for three seasons. Everything Leitao has touched has turned into dust. He’s by far the most incomptent coach and leader in the Big East. DePaul will lose to Xavier on Wednesday because the players aren’t being put in the right positions to win on a consistent basis. The Blue Demons pulled off a miraculous 69-68 win over Marquette on March 3, but they followed that up with a 38-point drubbing to the hands of Providence. Both games DePaul played without Reed, who is dealing with a hip pointer injury. If Lenti Ponsetto had any clue how to run a college program, she would have told Leitao to forget about coaching the Big East Tournament. Instead, the Massachusetts native will be allowed to stand on the sidelines in New York and embarrass the program for one final time. When the season comes to an end at Madison Square Garden, Leitao should announce he won’t be returning next season. He at least owes that much to the fans who have had to watch his pathetic brand of basketball for five years.
Sports. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 27
GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
ILLINOIS, continued from back page es looking into sports betting are required to pay licensing fees of $10 million for land-based gambling operations. For online purposes, there is a $20 million initial fee. There is an additional tax rate of 15-17 percent on sports betting revenue for landbased sports betting and a 15 percent tax rate on online sports betting in Illinois. In addition to this, there is also a $1 million renewal fee every 4 years. “It’s the next thing [the government] can tax that the populous is going to accept,” Lynch said. The rules and policies for sports betting change from one state to the next. According to the American Gaming Association, Illinois requires consumers to register in person for an online sportsbook account. Consumers must be 21 or older to participate and betting on in-state collegiate teams may be restricted. So far, six casinos and a racetrack have applied for licenses, according to the Sun-Times. They join three other casinos including, Rivers Casino located in Des Plaines, Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, and Argosy Casino Alton which all received temporary licenses last month. This temporary license allows these casinos to start preparing for sports wagering TITLE, continued from back page quarter, with all of her points coming in the paint. The junior had 17 points and six rebounds in the first half. DePaul would extend their lead to 50-41 off a Campbell three-pointer, the senior finished the first half with 16 points to lead the Blue Demons. But Seton Hall kept it within reason at 50-46 after Samuels closed the half with a layup. Held played the first 8:54 of the game but sat out for the rest of the half due to an unknown reason. The sophomore guard returned to start the second half, getting the first bucket of the second half for the Blue Demons on a drive and responding with a three on the next two possessions to take a 5849 lead with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. “I knew in the first half, I had to sit because of my fouls so I was just trying to do whatever I could to help
before they can actually begin. However, their work is far from over. In addition to casinos, other authorized operators are race tracks, sports arenas, and online operators. According to the Sun-Times, Pritzker expects the new industry to launch before March Madness begins March 17. In order to do this, these temporary licensed casinos like Rivers Casino are rushing to get final regulatory approval from the Illinois Gaming Board, according to WGN. However, fast tracks are available for existing Illinois casinos and racetracks, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. “There are two big events that are the apex of sports wagering, that’s the superbowl and March Madness,” Lynch said. According to Legal Sports Report, last year, the American Gaming Association estimated that 47 million Americans planned to wager $8.5 billion on the NCAA tournament. As more states legalize sports gambling, this number is expected to grow this year. For sports fans first starting out, sports wagering can be intimidating. “I don’t do sports betting because it seems like more risk than reward, even if you know who statistically
would win,” said DePaul senior and avid sports fan Walter Becker. Eli Hershkovich, who is an executive producer and host of the podcast You Better You Bet available on Radio.com, believes colleges students need to know the importance of bankroll management. “I think it’s important for, especially for a college student to understand the importance of bankroll management, which is understanding how much money you are willing to spend on a respective bet and how much money you are willing to lose,” Hershkovich said. “You Better You Bet focuses on informing their audience on how to make smart decisions within sports betting. If you’re starting out, expect to lose, Hershkovich said. In order to keep your losing under control, you should try to cap yourself at three games a day. “You don’t just want to tell yourself you want to bet five games a night just because you want all of that action. If you’re capping yourself at two or three games you really like, you’re giving yourself a better chance to be profitable because those are the games you see the most value in,” Hershkovich said. Becker was also worried that
sports betting will ruin the integrity of sports. This is fair, especially in Chicago, where the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal remains a stain in Chicago’s history. However, much has changed in sports since then. “Professional athletes make so much money today then they did in the past, particularly the ones that can affect the game. They make so much money that it would take so much more to bribe them that it wouldn’t be worth the wager,” Lynch said. In addition to this, technology has improved significantly since 1919. Organizations like the NFL have central control centers that watch the game from many different angles. This would expose any player or referee that may be interfering with the game, Lynch said. “In regards to maintaining the integrity of sports, with technology and other organizations, to me, the integrity of sports is more guaranteed because sports betting is now out in the open,” he said. For sports fans wanting to make their March Madness brackets a bit more interesting, have your pocket books ready as the industry begins to roll out in the coming days and weeks.
ing,” Stonewall said. The score sat at 78-75 in favor of DePaul with 2:34 left. Held scored again from deep to make it 81-75 out of a timeout. With the Blue Demons up by three, Deja Church traveled to give the Pirates the ball with 7.8 seconds left. On the possession out of the timeout, Park-Lane inbounded the ball to Alexis Lewis who air-balled a turnaround three-pointer on the left wing as the clock expired. DePaul came out by the skin of their teeth, 83-80. ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA Church finished with eight points, DePaul sophomore guard Lexi Held attacks the basket during a semifinals game 11 rebounds and six assists. “She’s reagainst Seton Hall on Sunday at Wintrust Arena. Held finished the game with 22 points. ally explosive and once it starts dawn73 deadlock with a three. ing on you that every time you get a my team,” Held said. “We understood that the fourth rebound from your team it’s worth a Elmore reached 24 points in the third quarter, as the Pirates kept it quarter is where everything is going point, even though it doesn’t show up within three, with DePaul leading 70- to need to be perfect or at least close as a point in the boxscore, it’s huge,” to perfect, and we knew our shots head coach Doug Bruno said. 67. DePaul went scoreless from 9:10 were going to fall, we play DePaulBall to 4:06 when Lexi Held broke the 73- for a reason, so we got to keep shoot-
Sports A miracle at the Garden won’t save the Leitao regime
Sports. The DePaulia. March 9, 2020 | 28
Championship
bound
By Lawrence Kreymer
By Camille Koch
Sports Editor
Contribuiting Writer
COMMENTARY Everyone is allowed to believe in miracles; it’s what makes sports so magical. That’s why the month of March is so special in college basketball, because every team has a chance to go on a magical run to close their season – even the bottom feeders. Just a couple of weeks ago, America celebrated the 40-year anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” where the United States hockey team defeated the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1980 Olympics. If that was possible, then anything is possible in sports – including the 15-16 DePaul Blue Demons winning the Big East Tournament. But just because something is possible doesn’t mean it’s worth holding out hope that it will happen. In fact, DePaul, who finished in last place in the Big East with a 3-15 record, goes into the Big East Tournament with the lowest odds to advance to each respective round, with only a 0.4 percent to win the whole tournament. The Blue Demons will play Xavier in the first round at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, with the winner taking on No. 2 seed Villanova the following day. Let’s be real: DePaul is not winning the Big East Tournament, and they will probably lose in the first round against Xavier. In head coach Dave Leitao’s first four years, the Blue Demons have not won a game in the Big East Tournament and have lost all four games by a combined 39 points. Since Leitao was hired in 2015, DePaul is 19-78 in Big East games, with four straight last place finishes. This year was supposed to be different. With the influx of See LEITAO, page 26
Sports gambling arrives just in time for Illinois
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
The DePaul women’s basketball team celebrates during the team’s 83-80 semifinals victory over Seton Hall in the Big East Tournament on Sunday at Wintrust Arena.
Women will play for Big East Tournament title on Monday By Nate Burleyson Asst. Sports Editor
DePaul always knew that they’d get every team’s best shot down the stretch of the grueling Big East tournament. When they got that, they also knew they would need to respond with their best play. Yet when it gets down to the Big East tournament, teams tend to trade blows back and forth and that’s exactly what happened in their 83-80 gritty semi-final win over Seton Hall on Sunday night at Wintrust Arena. The first quarter started perfectly for the Blue Demons, who went on a 13-5 run to start the quarter capped by a Lexi Held layup on an inbound pass from Chante Stonewall. From there, Seton Hall began to hit with guard Alexis Lewis hitting from around the floor to help the four seed Pirates get back into the game at 13-13.
Shadeen Samuels got a few post up looks to start the game and the guard/ forward delivered a few points but the Seton Hall attack was benefitting off the misses on the DePaul end, who went scoreless for three minutes. Seton Hall would take a 22-21 lead for their first lead of the game on a hook shot from Desiree Elmore. DePaul would pull level going into the second quarter at 24-24. Kelly Campbell had 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep in the first ten minutes. The Blue Demons got off to yet another great start in the second quarter, with a 10-0 run giving them a boost to start the second quarter, going up 36-26. Yet once again the Pirates hung around, with Elmore and Alexia Allesch scoring against DePaul’s zone to pull them back within three. Elmore scored 12 points on perfect 6-for-6 shooting in the second See TITLE, page 27
As March Madness rolls in, Illinois plans to launch an industry that guarantees to take your brackets to the next level. On June 2, 2019, Illinois passed a bill legalizing both online and in-person betting. The law, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, also allows for betting inside stadiums like Wrigley Field, according to ESPN. Illinois is one of seven other states with a bill recently passed and joins 14 others, including Iowa and Indiana, who have full-scale legalized sports betting as of Dec. 2019. “The best reason to legalize sports betting is because it brings it into light instead of it being an activity that is going on anyway. [Legalizing sports betting] makes it safer, there are protections for the customer, there is the taxability by the state, there are very clearly defined rules and policies. It is better for the customer as I see it,” said Michael Lynch, an adjunct professor at the school of hospitality and leadership at DePaul. Lynch worked in the casino business for many years before coming to DePaul. According to Lynch, there are two tracking systems in the world to monitor sports betting. One is solely for the United States and the other one is mostly found in Europe. “These systems are designed to track sports wagers to see if there is any possibility of something improper going on,” says Lynch. For states, one of the most obvious reasons to legalize sports betting is so that they can tax it heavily. Illinois seems to be taking full advantage of this. According to the American Gaming Association, businessSee ILLINOIS, page 27