DePaulia
$56.5 MILLION? The
Volume #108 | Issue #9 | Jan. 16, 2023 | depauliaonline.com
DePaul’s financial condition ‘solid’ following budget gap, external analyst says By Nadia Caroline Hernandez & Lilly Keller Editor-in-Chief, Print Managing Editor
An external analysis brought in by a group representing some DePaul faculty claims that the university is in solid financial condition despite last year’s projected $56.5 million budget gap from the administration. DePaul’s American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter crowdfunded to bring Howard Bunsis to present his findings in mid-November, shortly before the holiday break. Bunsis is an accounting professor at Eastern Michigan University and former chair of the American Association of University Professors’ Collective Bargaining Congress and has given similar presentations at other universities such as Marquette and Columbia University. Within his two-hour-long presentation, Bunsis provided his own overview of the university’s finances, covering total assets, investments, reserves, bond rating, faculty composition and salaries compared to peer institutions. Bunsis, the university and at least one financial expert contacted by The DePaulia agreed that the future looks bright for DePaul. But Bunsis and university officials
“Overall, DePaul is in solid financial condition…I just don’t see how any cuts need to be made.” Howard Bunsis
Independent financial analyst disagree about whether faculty cuts made last spring to help close a projected $56 million budget gap were necessary. Speaking to an audience of 130 faculty, students and staff, Bunsis claimed that DePaul is financially sound and deemed the six faculty cuts “unnecessary.” In light of the projected budget gap,
several faculty positions were not renewed for the following school year. Others partook in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP), which offered eligible participants one year of gross wages paid in a lump sum, among other benefits. Bunsis reflected on how the university framed the crisis as “gloom and doom” in the spring and has remained too cautious, even as the university is bouncing back, post-pandemic. “Overall, DePaul is in solid financial condition…. I just don’t see how any cuts need to be made,” he said. Winifred Curran, an urban geology professor and AAUP member who initiated the GoFundMe to pay for Bunsis’ services, expressed satisfaction with his findings. “The biggest thing is that we are not in dire straits and that we’re relatively stable,” Curran said. “So let’s not cry wolf before it’s necessary, and instead, let’s have constructive conversations about how to move forward.” Several factors contributed to the university’s budget gap, including a decline in enrollment, the exacerbation of financial challenges by Covid-19 and a shortened evaluation period for the Strategic Resource Allocation Committee (SRAC) to
assess the budget gap and develop strategies to address it. According to DePaul President Robert Manuel, the gap between the university’s revenue and expenses was closed as of September. In a statement to The DePaulia, Manuel and his staff agreed with some points Bunsis made, and disagreed with others. The university agreed that there needs to be a focus on retention, that DePaul is financially stable, and that endowment investments are “appropriately balanced.” Manuel and the administration said in a statement to The DePaulia that they disagreed with Bunsis on the following: Professor Bunsis overstates the university’s ability to convert its net assets into cash to close a budget gap. Professor Bunsis incorrectly attributes DePaul’s increasing discount rate to the receipt of student Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds. Professor Bunsis assumed that between fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 23, DePaul’s spending on instructional salaries and benefits declined. Professor Bunsis used expenses from
BUDGET, continued to page 5
Looking for deaf community at DePaul as a hard-of-hearing student ASL Club vice president Kes Eary, left, and president Sarah Hau, right, interact about the game they’re playing, completely in Sign Language during a meeting on Nov. 9, 2023. During meetings, a large portion of the time is “voices off,” meaning everyone has to communicate only in Sign Language.
COMMUNITY page 12 HAYLEY BREINES | PROVIDED
2 | News. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024.
News
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT
The DePaulia is the official student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily reflect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff.
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
1
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Nadia Carolina Hernandez eic@depauliaonline.com ONLINE MANAGING | Samantha Moilanen online@depauliaonline.com PRINT MANAGING | Lilly Keller managing@depauliaonline.com
Jan. 3 - Jan. 9, 2024
6
LOOP CAMPUS
3
2
5
NEWS EDITOR | Lucia Preziosi news@depauliaonline.com ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Rose O’Keeffe news@depauliaonline.com OPINIONS EDITOR | Nadine DeCero opinion@depauliaonline.com FOCUS EDITOR | Una Cleary focus@depauliaonline.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Claire Tweedie artslife@depauliaonline.com ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Sam Mroz artslife@depauliaonline.com SPORTS EDITOR | Ryan Hinske sports@depauliaonline.com ART EDITOR | Maya Oclassen art@depauliaonline.com DESIGN EDITOR | Jake Cox design@depauliaonline.com DESIGN EDITOR | Zoe Hanna design@depauliaonline.com PHOTO EDITOR | Kit Wiberg photo@depauliaonline.com
1
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
Other
Lincoln Park Campus Crimes:
Jan. 5 1) A Disorderly Conduct report was filed in Richardson Library regarding an individual who was behaving inappropriately. Subject was asked to leave the building.
3) A Disturbance was reported in Sanctuary Hall. Subject left the building.
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER | Quentin Blais photo@depauliaonline.com
Jan. 8 4) A Criminal Trespass report was filed regarding a previously trespassed subject who was escorted off campus.
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR | Vanessa Lopez social@depauliaonline.com COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDITOR | Ruchi Nawathe community@depauliaonline.com ADVISER | Martha Irvine mirvine5@depaul.edu
SOURCE | DEPAUL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE
Loop Campus Crimes:
Jan. 6 1) Graffiti was reported on the exterior of the Merle Reskin Theatre.
Jan. 7 2) A Liquor Control Act report was filed in LeCompte Hall.
ASST. PHOTO EDITOR | Erin Henze photo@depauliaonline.com
COPY EDITOR | Amber Corkey copydesk@depauliaonline.com
LOOP CAMPUS
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
5) A Criminal Damage report was filed regarding reported damage to a vehicle at Halsted & Belden. 6) A Criminal Damage report was filed regarding reported damage to a vehicle parked in the Clifton Garage.
FOLLOW US: La DePaulia es el noticiero oficial estudiantil en español de la Universidad DePaul, enfocado en proveer una voz para la comunidad latinx. Nuestras opiniones no necesariamente reflejan las opiniones de la administración, facultad o personal de la universidad.
Want more DePaulia content? Watch The DePaulia’s “What Must Be Known”
JEFA DE REDACCIÓN | Alyssa Salcedo eicladepaulia@depauliaonline.com GERENTE EDITORIAL | Rodolfo Zagal managingladepaulia@depauliaonline.com EDITORA DE NOTICIAS | Cary Robbins crobbi10@depaul.edu ASESORA | Laura Rodriguez Presa larodriguez@chicagotribune.com
Scan to read La DePaulia online
Scan to read The DePaulia’s newsletter “Monday for the Masses”
News. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024 | 3
AP PHOTO/STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH, FILE
FILE - President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pa., Jan. 5, 2024.
Gen Z’s changing plans for the 2024 election By Lucia Preziosi News Editor
The 2020 election drew record numbers of Generation Z voters, with 65% of voters ages 18-29 casting their votes for the winning Biden-Harris ticket. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, many younger voters are reevaluating their party affiliations and are making new plans for election day after four years under Biden’s administration, exploring third party candidates. According to the Census Bureau, the 2020 election showed the largest increase in voter turnout in between presidential elections, despite an election year held amidst the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gen Z followed these trends, flocking to the polls to cast their votes, but as the primary season begins, Biden’s approval rating among younger voters has fallen to 35%. Zach Frye, a junior and a community organizer for Aurora’s Participatory Democracy Hub, an organization that brings people together to create a local ordinance for the City of Aurora, cast his vote for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. With the administration in its fourth year, Frye is disappointed with the Biden presidency. “I was convinced during [2020] that voting for Democrats was ‘the lesser of two evils’ without recognizing that both parties are two sides of the same coin,” Frye said. Frye recalls the inability to pass a federal $15 minimum wage, the lack of meaningful reforms following the 2020 civil uprisings following the murder of Georrge Floyd, and the continued humanitarian crisis in Gaza as reasons he has abandoned his once fervent support for the probable Democratic nominee. Katrina Phidd, Director of Communications at Chicago Votes, a not-for-profit organization that seeks to mobilize young people to change politics, says that young people’s feelings of disappointment and concern are valid. “I think this administration has made a lot of promises to young people and fallen through on nearly every single one of them,” Phidd said, pointing to promises for student loan forgiveness and better financial health.
Phidd also added that the lack of follow-through on certain campaign promises creates a feeling of mistrust among younger voters. “It’s not healthy to have a relationship where someone just lies to you all the time…. People are going to leave that relationship. People are not going to participate in that relationship,” Phidd said. “That’s what we see with Gen-Z…. We haven’t seen our votes translate into change in our communities.” But, Jane Ruby, the President of the League of Women Voters of Chicago, an organization that seeks to empower voters says that remaining passionate about key issues can help mobilize voters. “It really is about identifying key issues that people are passionate about right now. … On the younger end of people that are registered to vote in this country, there are things like climate change, student debt, access to healthcare,” Ruby said. Though Frye fears another four years under former President Donald Trump, he believes Democrats’ interests closely align more with conservative ideologies. “Trump’s fascism was more overt and ‘mask-off ’ so-to-speak,” Frye said. “However it is important not to forget that the Democrats merely hide behind a facade of progressive politics rather than actually practicing them.” However, Ruby stresses the importance of political participation in the upcoming election despite possible apathy. “I would love to see more people, especially young people get excited about voting for your neighbor, your family, people you’ve never met,” Ruby said. “We’re all a part of this global community, and it does not work if we do not have people participating.” The number of young voters who identify as Democrats are falling, with the Institute of Politics (IOP) at the Harvard Kennedy Center finding the percentage dropping from 40% in 2020 to 35%, preceding the upcoming election. The new findings from the IOP also show Gen Z voters are more likely to vote third-party than in years past. Frye sees this as his path for the 2024 election, identifying the longstanding American two-party system as an unsustainable model for Democracy.
“We as voters need to start embracing third party options,” Frye said. As the November election kicks off its primary season, Frye calls upon members of Gen Z to remain vigilant and explore other outlets of political participation.
“I encourage my peers to get organized!” Frye said. “If you find yourself wanting life in America to be better, you have to do more than just vote. We cannot expect someone else to liberate us, we have to do that work ourselves.”
4 | News. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024
MAYA OCLASSEN | LA DEPAULIA
Advantage or Harm: Navigating the value of AP classes By Rose O’Keeffe Asst. News Editor
Endless document-based questions, review videos and standardized tests will pay off, right? This is the question many high school students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes grapple with as they prepare for the competitive college admission process. For some, AP classes pay off in more ways than one, allowing high schoolers the potential to earn college credit if they pass the cumulative exam, according to The College Board, which runs AP. However, Aaron Hanlon, an English professor at Colby College in Maine, believes there may be academic costs associated with AP’s focus on testing. “When you teach to a test, you have to reduce the material in some way,” Hanlon said. In other words, Hanlon thinks high schoolers who take AP classes are taught how to pass the end of the year cumulative exam, not learn functional skills. DePaul sophomore Kate Shuert agreed the seven AP classes she took in high school taught her how to master a timed test, not excel in college. “My AP English classes didn’t teach me how to write a better essay,” said Shuert, who went to high school in the Chicago suburbs before attending DePaul. “They taught me how to write an essay quickly. That’s not helpful or transferable to what I’m doing now.” Shuert said it is frustrating that students can do well in an AP class but still not get college credit because of poor test results. “You spend all this time prepping for a test, and you could get an A in the class, but get a ‘2’ on this all-important exam, and it was all for nothing,” Shuert said. “It’s so unfair.” The College Board reported that 34.6% of public high school graduates from the class of 2022 took at least one AP test, while 21.6% of the same demographic scored a “3” or higher on at least one AP test. The cumulative AP tests are graded on a scale from “1” to “5,” “1” being the lowest and “5” being the highest. The College Board offers 39 AP courses ranging, from AP Statistics to AP World History.
Hanlon said classes that grant students college credit without cumulative tests, such as dual enrollment programs, are alternatives that might bring more curriculum freedom and less stress. Vince Walsh-Rock, a DePaul professor in the counseling and special education department, said there is research suggesting that just taking AP courses — not necessarily scoring well on the tests — predicts college success. According to a University of Texas at Austin study of 222,289 Texas college students, those who did not pass their AP exams in high school still outperformed those who did not take AP classes. Nevertheless, Walsh-Rock — who previously worked as the AP coordinator at a high school and has taught AP Music Theory — said this comes as little comfort to students who miss out on getting college credit after a year of challenging coursework. Additionally, he said many of the incentives around AP courses still rely on testing outcomes. “The College Board has set it up that way,” Walsh-Rock said. “Taking the test is what opens the door.” From Hanlon’s perspective, the disadvantages of AP classes are not all about the test. He said there is more intellectual freedom in college that students who test out of liberal studies courses or graduate early could miss. “If you become really narrow early on, by the time you’re done with high school, you basically consider yourself done with a bunch of areas of knowledge,” Hanlon said. LiLi Jarvenpa, a DePaul senior studying political science, said if money and time were no object, she would take a wider breadth of college classes. Shuert, the other DePaul student, had a different perspective. “The biggest benefit I got out of my AP classes was that the transferred credits get me out of classes I don’t want to take now.” To this point, Hanlon wrote in his recent article — “Are AP Classes a Waste of Time?” — that “What’s supposed to be the beginning of inquiry too often becomes its ending.” “AP is part of a credentialing arms race,” Hanlon said, a larger reflection of how testing
and categorization in secondary education are too emphasized. However, many students take APs because they want to save money and time through transferable college credits. Students pay a $98 fee to take most AP tests, though some schools and districts cover that cost to make AP more accessible. Even if they have to pay, test scores that qualify for transfer credit at their chosen university could equate to thousands of dollars in credit hours saved. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and part of that was definitely because I wanted to be set up well for college and wanted to save money,” Jarvenpa said, the DePaul senior. Hanlon said AP, which began in the early 1950s, was not designed to save students on college costs, yet has been shoe-horned into doing so, which he thinks is not an adequate solution to rising college costs. “Are we basically taking the people who have the least opportunity and the least financial access, and giving them the lesser version of the education that we really ought to promise them?” Hanlon asked. In addition to the prospect of saving money and challenging herself, Jarvenpa said she was under the impression that AP classes looked good on college applications. Erin Updegraff, executive director of DePaul’s first-year recruitment & admission, agrees that if students were successful in APs, they would likely be successful at DePaul. Nevertheless, universities across the country vary in terms of what AP credit they accept. Some of America’s most elite institutions, including Dartmouth University and Brown University, do not accept AP credit, while universities like Harvard and MIT only accept credit if the student scores a “5” on the exam. Colby College, where Hanlon teaches, does not accept transfer credit for AP English Literature and AP English Language. As an English professor who teaches freshmen students, Hanlon said he is tasked with undoing the formulaic and surface-level writing that AP English classes often teach students.
Updegraff said DePaul is more generous with its AP credit policy than other schools, accepting scores of “5,” “4” and sometimes “3,” depending on the class. She said DePaul’s acceptance policy gives students flexibility, not necessarily for early graduation, but to pursue a double major, minors or study abroad without worrying about graduating on time. Though experience in AP classes demonstrates preparedness for college-level coursework, Updegraff said students who take too many AP courses and struggle in high school concern admissions representatives. “We like to see that students are able to be successful,” Updegraff said. “I’d rather see a student that took less rigor and did really well across the board than a student that took a lot of rigor and did not do well.” Despite criticisms of the College Board — especially in light of their curriculum changes to the AP African American Studies course — Walsh-Rock said he was impressed by the board’s increased support for teachers and students in recent years. One such improvement is AP Central, which includes instructional resources and feedback to help those teaching and taking AP courses gain confidence with the curriculum. “It’s not that students couldn’t do it, but to do it without support and scaffolding I think sets students up to really struggle,” WalshRock said, the DePaul professor. Some students take AP courses to challenge themselves. Others are pushed by their school districts. Other students think the AP curriculum provides the best chance at getting ahead in college. Whatever the motivation, Hanlon believes AP is emblematic of greater problems with the American educational system, including high costs and unequal distribution of resources between districts. “I don’t think students pursuing AP are doing anything wrong,” Hanlon said. “I understand the reasons students would do it, but I just think systems owe you more and should do better by you.”
BUDGET, continued from front
News. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024| 5
“I think both parties are right, and I think they don’t necessarily disagree on where they stand right now.
Nathan J. DaunBarnett, Higher Education Finance Expert at the University of Buffalo
only the FY22 to FY23 time period to conclude that DePaul significantly increased its spending on institutional (administration and staff ) salaries. Professor Bunsis incorrectly stated that the faculty on the university’s Strategic Resource Allocation Committee were handpicked by the administration. In an interview with The DePaulia, Bunsis challenged the “pessimistic” narrative DePaul pushed about their projections. “Their projections going out to the end of the decade suggest that the university is about to go to a place that may be the end,” he said. “I’ve done over 100 of these. This is the most gloom and doom I’ve ever seen from an administration.” Bunsis, who has done internal audits at various universities across the country, alleges a common trend nationwide – that spare funds within university systems that could be used for hiring faculty and improving salaries are being hoarded by administrators to expand administration and increase their own pay. He used external sources of data from federal 990 tax forms, the Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System and Institutional Research & Market Analytics for his research instead of DePaul’s budget. Nathan J. Daun-Barnett, a higher education finance expert at the University of Buffalo, sees validity in both Bunsis’ and the university’s perspectives. “I think both parties are right, and I think they don’t necessarily disagree on where they stand right now. Where they differ is on the future,” Daun-Barnett said. “And I probably differ from Howard in terms of his interpretation of the future. I saw some indicators in there that suggest it is now the time to start preparing for a leaner time.” Daun-Barnett highlighted the university’s declining enrollment, dropping from 14,816 undergraduates and 7,130 graduates in fall 2017-2018 to 14,374 undergraduates and 6,378 graduates in fall 2023-2024. Enrollment is trending upward again. But the loss
of students during the pandemic, coupled with a rise in tuition discounting, has raised concerns about the future financial health of DePaul. “There are lots of institutions in much worse shape, so I don’t overstate that … but we have to be cautious about where we’re going,” Daun-Barnett said. Bunsis said he finds the same pattern in “almost every single” institution. “I report what I think a lot of people implicitly surmise,” Bunsis said. “There (are) significant resources at these universities and they’re not spending them the right way.” Daun-Barnett suggested that while Bunsis’ conclusions may not be inaccurate, they likely align with the idea that the AAUP hired him to support a particular conclusion. “He’s worked with the AAUP before, he’s got a formal relationship and AAUP has a position; they are a political entity that is designed to protect the rights of faculty,” Daun-Barnett said. “That doesn’t mean he’s wrong.”
DePaul Center 333 South State St. Hand Tossed NY Style Pizza From scratch
Store Hours Mon - Thurs. 8 am - 5 pm Friday: 8am - 2 pm
Welcome Back Students Discount to Student, Faculty & Staff for in store Purchase w/ Valid ID
Pizza - Slices & whole. Homemade Soup & Salads. Hot Pasta & Sandwiches Great Breakfast Options Dine in - Carry out Delivering w/ Door Dash - Grub Hub - Uber Serving DePaul and the surrounding area for over 25 years.
6 | Opinions. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024
Opinions
Letter from the Editor: 4 years of La DePaulia and new editorial board By Jacqueline Cardenas Former Editor-in-Chief, La DePaulia
La DePaulia has never just been a student-run publication to me. It was a space where I could make mistakes, laugh and grow alongside editors who became my community. I became editor-in-chief of the publication in April 2022, and it has since gone through many evolutions. As we celebrate La DePaulia’s 4th birthday and welcome the new editorial board, I want to acknowledge our team’s accomplishments. One of the most notable turning points was in September 2022, when our team and DePaul’s National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) chapter gave a speech demanding the university invest in Latine journalists' education. The university responded by hiring Chicago Tribune reporter Laura Rodriguez-Presa as the publication’s adviser and fellow to teach a course that focuses on reporting on Chicago’s growing Latine population. It was
a historic win, as it was the first time DePaul hired a Latine journalism professor in over 10 years. With the support from Laura, La DePaulia went from a Spanish-language publication to a bilingual one. Not only did it lead us to reach a wider audience, but it also led to a partnership with NBC and Telemundo Chicago, where student journalists acquired the unique opportunity to have their articles published on the platforms. Though at the heart of our speech and advocacy, we wanted to carve a greater space for the Latines at our university and in the city. We wanted to take ownership of our stories and begin to untangle our complicated identity that the mainstream media has oversaturated with inaccurate stereotypes that, in many instances, have perpetrated violence. Together, we dared to deconstruct traditional journalism practices and published a letter, announcing to our readers that we would begin to use the term “Latine,” a
gender-neutral and inclusive term to refer to members of our community in our coverage while respecting a source’s choice if they wanted to be called Latina, Latino, Latinx, Chicano, Chicana or Hispanic. We did this because the public — and often members of our own community — have not stripped themselves of the dangerous homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, imperialist, racist and colorist internal biases that have only served to divide us for centuries. I am proud to say we told stories about Latines who are transgender, indigenous, Afro-Latine, immigrant or first-generation. We even wrote stories about our elders like Doña Maria, the beloved Latina janitor at DePaul who does more than clean bathrooms. We began to show readers what many journalists had failed to capture: their aspirations, their joy, their challenges and their purpose in this world. Our goal went beyond wanting to see ourselves represented in the media. We hoped our efforts would lead people to finally look at all members of our community in the eyes. Not just in photos of an article but on the train during our morning commute, at the grocery store when we walk past each other between the aisles and or at our jobs. It is to the La DePaulia editorial team that I am indebted to because they never failed to bring color, wonder and compassion to those stories. I had the absolute honor to collaborate with Cary Robbins, Alyssa N. Salcedo, Rodolfo Zagal and Emily Diaz who are among the many people who helped
this publication blossom. I also want to thank our 2022-2023 editorial board: Santiago Posada-Jaramillo, Erick Quezada Frankie Perez, Santiago Gonzalez Tijerina, Andrea Juárez Hernández and Diego Vargas Reyes, who all brought so much joy and creativity into our little office. La DePaulia would also not have been able to reach these heights without its original founders and supporters. My appreciation to Hillary Flores, María Marta Guzmán, Jesus J. Montero, Richie Requena, Erika Perez and Jonathan Aguilar as well as advisors Robin Hoecker, Sandra Guy and Marla Krause who paved the way for Latine voices to be heard. Thank you to our advisers Laura Rodriguez Presa and Martha Irvine, for embarking on this beautiful journey with us and for your unwavering support. Thank you to members of The DePaulia staff for collaborating with us and helping us pursue our mission. A special thank you to my immigrant parents who did not have the opportunities to pursue higher education yet sacrificed so much to give me the wings to relentlessly pursue my dreams. I am eternally grateful and I love you both with every fiber of my being.
As a proud, now former editorin-chief, I introduce to you La DePaulia’s 2024-2025 editorial board.
La DePaulia’s 2024-2025 editorial board
Alyssa N. Salcedo Editor-in-Chief
Emily Diaz Contributing Writer
Alyssa N. Salcedo is a bilingual data journalist pursuing her master’s at DePaul. She was born in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic but immigrated to the U.S. when she was five. She graduated from Marquette University with a B.S. in English Education and went on to teach middle schoolers. While teaching, she also worked at a small local newspaper called the Riverwest Currents which inspired her to pursue journalism. She is honored and thrilled to be taking on the role as editor-in-chief this Winter quarter.
Emily Diaz is a contributing writer for LaDePaulia and is a fourth-year Communication Studies student at DePaul pursuing a combined graduate degree in Public Relations and Advertising. She is an associate editor at 14East Magazine and the internal communications assistant for DePaul’s College of Communications. As a Honduran and first-generation Chinese Americsan, Emily is passionate about promoting intersectionality and equity in journalism and the advertising industry.
Cary Robbins Managing Editor
Cary Robbins is in her final year studying journalism. She is from Memphis, Tennessee and has a passion for covering local news. The many people she has been fortunate to meet through her reporting at La DePaulia has been her favorite part of working with the publication. She expresses her gratitude to the people who have allowed her to share their stories. She is thankful to have learned alongside her amazing peers, who have helped her grow into who she is today.
Rodolfo Zagal News Editor
Rodolfo Zagal is a queer Chicago native majoring in journalism with a minor in history. He is a first-generation Mexican-American who hopes to spread awareness of issues affecting minorities throughout the city. He enjoys La DePaulia because he meets thoughtful journalists and discovers interesting and important stories. He likes social justice, watching movies and traveling to new places. He is excited to write stories from different perspectives this coming year.
The opinions in this section do not nessecarily reflect those of The DePaulia staff
Opinions. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024 | 7
8| Focus. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024
Trump’s Ballot Battle
Supreme Court to decide Trump ballo By Una Cleary Focus Editor
As former President Donald Trump begins the Republican nomination process, this past weekend marked the third year since the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. Now, some states have decided to make it ineligible for the former president’s name to be on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election. The implications of taking Trump’s name have rippled to states including Arizona, California, Maine, Michigan, Illinois and 15 other states that have also filed ballot-related suits. The Supreme Court will address the constitutional grounds for Section 3 of the 14thAmendment. Dating back to the Civil War, the 14th Amendment bars someone from holding public office who has sworn an oath to defend the Constitution and then proceeded to insight an “insurrection or rebellion.” “The trial court in Colorado found
as a matter of fact that President Trump had committed insurrection within the meaning of section three of the 14th Amendment,” said Gregory Mark, a DePaul law professor. “The appellate courts have to have really powerful reasons to overturn a trial court’s finding of fact, and this is a finding of fact.” The 4-3 Colorado Supreme Court decision has come with various legal arguments; as the Supreme Court is set to hear it, legal experts have stated that the 14th Amendment does not define “insurrection” or outline what it means to engage in insurrection. “Well, you have to separate two questions here,” Mark said. “The first is whether under relevance the former president is indictable and prosecutable for these offenses like anybody else, but the next question is could he be immune from prosecution.” Trump’s immunity claim from criminal charges related to the events on Jan. 6 was taken to the federal appeals court panel where three judges
expressed skepticism of his claim that a president could not be prosecuted if he were not first impeached and convicted by Congress, according to Politico. One of the judges argued that dismissing the Trump prosecution would also weaken the enforcement of criminal laws or diminish constitutional power. Politically, banning the former president is a massive disadvantage in a race where polls show he is leading. In addition to Trump, two other candidates — Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis — have entered the election bid for the Republican party. “I think the Republican Party is trying to figure out what it wants,” said public service professor Nick Kachiroubas. The differing outcomes of the Court’s ruling on Trump’s case has critical implications. According to Akhil Reed Amar, a Yale professor and constitutional scholar, the Court may opt for a ruling that defers Colorado to keep his name off the ballot but not oth-
er states, allowing different state ballot-access qualifications to make their own decisions. “Even if it violates the 14th Amendment, why are we even letting him run that and what does that mean for the election?” DePaul sophomore Mariana Lopez said. “If the ballot looks different for each state you get slapped with the opposition of democracy in your face when you go to vote,” Lopez said. As voters look ahead to the upcoming election, the decision the Court makes will play a vital role in providing constitutional rule on the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and Trump’s role in the events. “The president wields levels of power,” Mark said. “It’s simply bizarre to suggest that with all the power and might of the presidency, somehow he was the underdog.” The Republican primaries start Jan 15 with the Supreme Court set to
Former President Donald Trump speaks after his defense team finis York.
MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA
Focus. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2024| 9
ot eligibility amid legal challenges
MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA
shed presenting closing arguments at New York Supreme Court, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in New UNA CLEARY | THE DEPAULIA
10 | La DePaulia. 16 de Enero 2024
La DePaulia
CARY ROBBINS | LA DEPAULIA
Los migrantes duermen en tiendas de campaña afuera del distriCARY ROBBINS | LA DEPAULIA to policia 19 el 19 de octubre. Chicago es una de varias ciudades Cosmo Dragón interpretó “Thank You for The Music” de ABBA durante la primera presentación en lideradas por demócratas que han visto una afluencia de migrantes desde agosto del año pasado. vivo de “Drag Me to Life”.
CARY ROBBINS | LA DEPAULIA
Latrice Butler posa con su madre, Eva Butler, durante el evento de Día de Muertos que se llevó a cabo en el centro comunitario “Front Porch” del Ministerio de Reconciliación de Preciosa Sangre el 1 de noviembre. Butler sintió que el evento creó un espacio de sanación para ella y su comunidad para celebrar y recordar a sus seres queridos.
KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | LA DEPAULIA
Laura Rodríguez Presa habla en la recepción de NAHJ en septiembre de 2022. Al final del mes, enseñará un curso bilingüe de reportaje en DePaul.
Carta del Editor: 4 años de La DePaulia y Nuevo Consejo Editorial Por Jacqueline Cárdenas Jefa Editorial
La DePaulia nunca ha sido simplemente una publicación dirigida por estudiantes para mí. Fue un espacio donde podía cometer errores, reír y crecer junto a estudiantes de periodismo que se convirtieron en mi comunidad. Me convertí en jefa de redacción de la publicación en abril 2022, y desde entonces ha pasado por muchas evoluciones. Mientras celebramos el cuarto aniversario de La DePaulia y damos la bienvenida al nuevo consejo editorial, quiero reconocer los logros de nuestro equipo.
Uno de los momentos más destacados fue en septiembre de 2022, cuando nuestro equipo y el capítulo de la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas Hispanos (NAHJ) de DePaul pronunciaron un discurso exigiendo que la universidad invirtiera en la educación de estudiantes de periodismo latinos. La universidad respondió contratando a la reportera del Chicago Tribune, Laura Rodríguez Presa, como asesora de la publicación y profesora adjunta para enseñar un curso centrado en informar sobre la creciente población latina de Chicago. Fue una victoria histórica, ya que fue la primera vez que DePaul contrató a un profesor de
periodismo latino en más de 10 años. Con el apoyo de Laura, La DePaulia pasó de ser una publicación en español a ser bilingüe. No solo nos llevó a alcanzar a una audiencia más amplia, sino que también resultó en la creación de una colaboración con NBC y Telemundo Chicago, donde los estudiantes tienen la oportunidad única de publicar sus artículos en esas plataformas. Sin embargo, el corazón de nuestro discurso y su intención era formar un espacio más grande para los latinos en nuestra universidad y en la ciudad. Queríamos tomar posesión de nuestras historias y comenzar a
desentrañar nuestra complicada identidad que los medios de comunicación convencionales han saturado con estereotipos inexactos que, en muchos casos, han perpetuado el prejuicio contra nuestra comunidad. Juntos, nos atrevimos a deconstruir prácticas periodísticas tradicionales y publicamos una carta anunciando a nuestros lectores que comenzaríamos a usar el término “latine”, un término inclusivo y sin género para referirnos a los miembros de nuestra comunidad, respetando la elección de la fuente si querían ser llamados latina, latino, latinx, chicano, chicana o hispano. Lo hicimos porque el públi-
La DePaulia. 16 de Enero 2024 | 11 ico, y a menudo miembros de nuestra propia comunidad, no se han despojado de los peligrosos prejuicios internos homofóbicos, transfóbicos, xenófobos, imperialistas, racistas y coloristas que nos han dividido durante siglos. Me enorgullece decir que contamos historias sobre latinos que son transgéneros, indígenas, afrolatinos, inmigrantes o de primera generación. Incluso escribimos historias sobre nuestros adultos mayores, como Doña María, la querida conserje latina en DePaul que hace mucho más que limpiar baños. Comenzamos a mostrar a los lectores lo que muchos periodistas no lograron capturar: sus aspiraciones, su alegría, sus desafíos y su propósito en este mundo.
Nuestro objetivo iba más allá de querer vernos representados en los medios. Esperábamos que nuestros esfuerzos llevaran a las personas a mirar finalmente a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad a los ojos. No solo en fotos de un artículo, sino en el tren durante nuestro viaje matutino, en el supermercado cuando nos cruzamos entre los pasillos y en nuestros trabajos. Es al equipo editorial de La DePaulia al que estoy en deuda porque nunca dejaron de aportar color, maravilla y compasión a esas historias. Tuve el honor absoluto de colaborar con Cary Robbins, Alyssa N. Salcedo, Rodolfo Zagal y Emily Díaz, quienes están entre las muchas personas que ayudaron a que esta publicación floreciera.
También quiero agradecer a nuestro consejo editorial 20222023: Santiago Posada-Jaramillo, Erick Quezada Frankie Perez, Santiago González Tijerina, Andrea Juárez Hernández y Diego Vargas Reyes, quienes trajeron tanta alegría y creatividad a nuestra pequeña oficina. La DePaulia no habría alcanzado estas alturas sin sus fundadores originales y seguidores. Mi agradecimiento a Hillary Flores, María Marta Guzmán, Jesús J. Montero, Richie Requena, Erika Pérez y Jonathan Aguilar, así como a los asesores Robin Hoecker, Sandra Guy y Marla Krause, quienes allanaron el camino para que las voces latinas fueran escuchadas. Gracias a nuestros asesores
Laura Rodríguez Presa y Martha Irvine por embarcarse en este hermoso viaje con nosotros y por su apoyo inquebrantable. Gracias a los miembros del personal de The DePaulia por colaborar con nosotros y ayudarnos a perseguir nuestra misión. Un agradecimiento especial a mis padres inmigrantes que no tuvieron la oportunidad de cursar estudios superiores, pero que sacrificaron mucho para darme las alas para perseguir mis sueños incansablemente. Estoy eternamente agradecida y los amo a ambos con cada fibra de mi ser. Como una orgullosa, ahora ex editora en jefa, les presento al consejo editorial de La DePaulia para 2024-2025.
Alyssa N. Salcedo - Jefa Editorial Alyssa N. Salcedo es una periodista de datos bilingüe que cursa su maestría en DePaul. Nació en Santiago de los Caballeros, República Dominicana, pero emigró a los Estados Unidos a los cinco años. Se graduó de la Universidad Marquette con una licenciatura en Educación en Inglés y luego enseñó a estudiantes de secundaria. Mientras enseñaba, también trabajó en un pequeño periódico local llamado Riverwest Currents, lo que la inspiró a seguir el periodismo. Se siente honrada y emocionada de asumir el papel de editora en jefa este trimestre de invierno.
Rodolfo Zagal- Editor de Noticias Rodolfo Zagal es un nativo de Chicago queer que estudia periodismo con una especialización en historia. Es un mexicano-americano de primera generación que espera crear conciencia sobre los problemas que afectan a las minorías en toda la ciudad. Disfruta de La DePaulia porque conoce a periodistas reflexivos y descubre historias interesantes e importantes. Le gusta la justicia social, ver películas y viajar a nuevos lugares. Está emocionado de escribir historias desde diferentes perspectivas este próximo año.
Emily Díaz - Escritora Colaboradora
Cary Robbins - Gerente Editora
Emily Díaz es escritora colaboradora de La DePaulia y es estudiante de cuarto año de Comunicación en DePaul, persiguiendo una maestría combinada en Relaciones Públicas y Publicidad. Es editora asociada en la revista 14East y asistente de comunicaciones internas en la Facultad de Comunicaciones de DePaul. Cómo hondureña y estadounidense de primera generación de ascendencia china, Emily tiene pasión por promover la interseccionalidad y la equidad en el periodismo y la industria publicitaria.
Cary Robbins está en su último año estudiando periodismo. Es de Memphis, Tennessee, y tiene una pasión por cubrir noticias locales. La parte favorita de su trabajo en La DePaulia ha sido conocer a muchas personas a través de sus informes. Expresa su gratitud a las personas que le han permitido compartir sus historias. Está agradecida de haber aprendido junto a sus increíbles compañeros, quienes la han ayudado a crecer en quien es hoy.
Arts & Life 12 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2023
Searching for a deaf community at DePaul By Elizabeth Gregerson Contributing Writer
Sarah Hau sits across the table from friends Maria, Ellen and Kes as they organize laminated pieces of paper in preparation for a game during the last American Sign Language (ASL) club meeting of 2023. Each of them quickly signs to each other before suddenly erupting into the raucous universal language of laughter. ASL is a visual language unique to North America that utilizes hand movements and facial expressions for communication. Maria, Ellen, Kes and every other meeting attendee can hear while Hau, the club president, was born hard-of-hearing. Most members are enrolled in ASL classes at DePaul and have varying levels of proficiency. “I love that part of me,” Hau said, a DePaul junior and English major. She hopes awareness of the club will reach others on campus who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The World Health Organization says a person who is hard-of-hearing has hearing loss that can range from mild to severe while a deaf person’s hearing loss is defined as “profound, which implies very little or no hearing.” Hau navigates communication with a combination of ASL, in which she is fluent, and spoken language with a hearing aid. She can decide to turn her hearing aid off when she experiences hearing fatigue as a result of the extra effort required to hear spoken language. Language, as a concept, was something Hau struggled with in the early years of her life and first years of schooling. Her parents initially decided that she would receive a mainstream education, meaning she attended public school alongside hearing peers. Many deaf or hard-of-hearing children born to hearing parents experience difficulties when mainstreamed due to language deprivation in early childhood. Language deprivation is defined by the National Association of the Deaf as “the lack of developmentally appropriate proficiency in any natural language.” It commonly occurs when deaf or hard-ofhearing children are only offered spoken language as a form of communication. This leaves the children with no opportunity to learn the fundamentals of communication as they are physically unable to understand the spoken language of their caregivers. “I was falling behind big time because I couldn’t speak English,” Hau said. “I would try but I didn’t understand the foundation of language.” Seeing the failure of mainstream education for their hard-of-hearing child, Hau’s parents made a decision that would change her life forever. By age 7, Hau’s parents had founded a deaf residential school where Hau would be immersed in Deaf culture and sign language. “I started picking up ASL within my first year,” Hau said. Deaf residential schools provide an educational environment where both
HAYLEY BREINES | THE DEPAULIA
ASL Club president Sarah Hau addresses the club in Sign Language to explain the rules for a game on Nov. 9, 2023. Since Hau is so experienced in the language, many of those new to ASL seek her for assistance.
“I’ve never met anyone else who was deaf or hard of hearing (at DePaul).” Sarah Hau
ASL club president
faculty and students are deaf or hard of hearing. They become immersed in Deaf culture and can form their own identity as deaf people living in a hearing world. Though Hau would only attend the residential school for two years, she considers it a fundamental piece of her life experience and one that builds immediate camaraderie when she meets other deaf or hard-of-hearing people. “I can be like, ‘Yeah, I went here!’” Hau said. “And so many other deaf people who have gone to schools can be like, ‘I had the same experience!’ and then it continues the connection.” At DePaul, Hau said she has yet to make that kind of connection with her fellow students but is hopeful that will change as more people learn about the ASL club. “I’ve never met anyone else who was deaf or hard of hearing,” Hau said of her experience on campus. She shares her story in hopes that others like her can say, “There she is!” Hau starts the recent ASL meeting with a brief spoken announcement, telling attendees what they can expect, but then the rest of the evening is “voices off.” The rule may initially seem daunting to students just beginning their ASL studies, but it soon becomes clear that written notes or desperate whispers of confusion will be compassionately overlooked. “It’s very open,” Hau said. “I want to have a more inclusive space for people, whether they’re in classes or not, to be like, ‘Oh yeah, ASL! Let me come learn!’” Hearing students Abbigale Swietlik and Elena Jane, both juniors, started taking ASL 101 class this year and have en-
HAYLEY BREINES | THE DEPAULIA
ASL Club members play a game of UNO completely with Sign Language during the last ASL Club meeting of Autumn Quarter on Nov. 9, 2023. This last meeting before break allowed the members to refine their skills and relax with ASL-friendly games and a study hall. joyed their experiences at club meetings. “What I absolutely love most is how accepting everyone is of someone learning ASL,” Swietlik said. She found that people will sign more slowly for her so she can understand what they are saying. Jane also had advice for hearing students nervous about attending their first meeting. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” Jane said. “They can be easily corrected, and many people are always willing to help out. The Deaf community is based around building connections with one another.” It is one thing to understand how important community is for deaf people. It is another thing entirely for deaf people to experience that sense of community. Hau says she has been told there is a privacy issue that prevents colleges from connecting deaf students with each other but wishes there could be some sort of compromise. Hau wishes universities could help deaf or hard-of-hearing students find oth-
ers in their community to make attending college less of an isolating experience. “We all want to know where we are,” Hau said. Back in the Arts & Letters Hall, meeting attendees are divided into two groups. The leaders of each group are frantically writing down words on the whiteboard as group members try to remember signs that use a specific hand shape. Hau holds court, walking to each side of the room to verify the answers after the timer ends. She is amiable, sarcastic and witty. Each group boils over with laughter from her commentary on their questionable assortment of ASL answers on the board. Though this is the last meeting of the year, she hopes club members will spread the word to any deaf or hard-of-hearing person they know. “They’re looking for you,” she wants them to say. “Go find them!”
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2023 | 13
‘Poor Things’: A technicolor take on oddity and identity By Claire Tweedie Arts & Life Editor
Eccentrically curious and undoubtedly crude, “Poor Things” is an odd journey of self-discovery with just enough substance amid the psychedelic style to make it a worthy watch. The adventure that director Yorgos Lanthimos imbues into the film turns a weird movie into a spectacle, even through excessive violence, nudity and distractions. “Poor Things” is ultimately a hedonistic fever dream, aided by a fantastical setting and hilarious performances, making it enjoyable until the very last act. The film follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by mad scientist Godwin “God” Baxter (Willem Dafoe). While God attempts to isolate Bella from the world, she yearns for adventure outside of their strange home but only finds heartbreak and harsh truths in the “real” world. There is an obvious allusion to “Frankenstein” with Bella as the reanimated creation of a mad scientist. Instead of a creature searching for revenge, our protagonist is on a quest for purpose. Despite the name of the movie, you never pity her. Stone plays her part perfectly, imbuing a weird character with an infectious comedy style. There is an admiration in her naivety, confidence in her curiosity and determination in her journey for answers. The film starts with the same unnerving quality as older horror movies with
the black-and-white cinematography to match. Yet as the audience unravels the fantastical world alongside Stone’s character, psychedelic colors replace the black and white scenes to reveal a fantastical world. There is a blatant disregard for reality and time that could be argued as a stylistic choice or perhaps as further insight into Bella’s perspective. Fish eye shots and quick zooms help drive home this visual oddity, creating a fascinating style that guides the movie through its storytelling. Either way, there is beauty in the neon-colored skies and warped landscapes the film traverses. This humorous absurdity and oddity created by the world-building easily masks the crudeness and gore throughout the film. The only thing rivaling the number of curse words casually thrown around in the film is the number of sex scenes behind every plot point. Even with its occasional obscenity, the dry, unassuming jokes lift it up into something almost palatable. The film’s boldness and refusal to back down from its off-kilter plot and characters turn a cold and frankly uncomfortable movie into a delight. Only toward the end does the movie begin to lose its cool. After a sudden twist that brings up themes of generational trauma between God and Bella, the film diverts to one last terrible plot point. Here, she struggles between her past and her new identity, ultimately favoring her own independence and autonomy over another controlling villain. This moment
YÙ YÙ BLUE | THE DEPAULIA
of epiphany for Bella does not achieve the grand moment of finality it attempts, and instead only lengthens the plot unnecessarily. Still, as the plot unravels, it reveals a questionable meandering through themes of human nature, greed and desire that does not settle on a clear argument about any of those topics. That is, until the very last scene, where God’s creations and companions sit among each other in his garden. The film takes more than two hours to wander through its eccentric plot and experimental design only to land on what appears to be a biblical allusion. While not a bad ending, it fits the movie’s apparent oddity.
Even though the plot can occasionally feel as unsteady as Stone’s comedic and uncoordinated movements while acclimating to her reanimated body, “Poor Things” is a triumph of bold style and brash substance. The film feels like another questioning experiment made to perfectly match Bella’s characterization, both in humor and absurdity. The heartfelt nature of both make seeking out the harsh reality of a technicolor world a worthwhile adventure.
14 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2023
St.Vincent’s
D E JAMZ “SPINNING FRESH BEATS SINCE 1581” By Claire Tweedie Arts & Life Editor
Welcome back from break, Blue Demons! As someone from Texas, where winter weather means lows of 50 F, I find my seasonal depression during Chicago’s winter leans more toward seasonal grief. When mourning the loss of sunsets past 4:30 p.m., my playlist reflects the gloomy conditions and mood. Why suffer through the five stages of grief in silence when I can at least have some bangers playing as I trudge through the snow? “Mama, I Don’t Believe” by The Avett Brothers The first stage of grief is denial, one I like to stay in for as long as possible. In my professional opinion, winter is the perfect season and setting to listen to folk music for peak emotional damage. The lyrics of this song set the right, mournful tune for the upcoming winter blues, yet the melody is still light and calming. You can’t stare into the void of seasonal depression too
quickly or intensely. You have to wait until at least mid-February for the real depression to start. “Dead!” by My Chemical Romance Nothing pisses me off more than making my daily commute through a snowstorm. Why do I keep slipping on ice even though I have snow boots on? Why is the snow pelting me right in the eyes even though my hood and scarf fully cover my face? Why am I still freaking cold with five million layers on? Someone better give me answers before I lose my shit and kick the first snowman I see on the Quad. Every time I see snow start falling, all I feel is anger. Can you tell I usually fester in the second stage of grief for most of winter? “Big Ideas” by Arctic Monkeys For whatever reason, Arctic Monkeys’ album “The Car” became my ultimate soundtrack for surviving last winter in Chicago. For the third stage of bargaining, I always hoped listening to my favorite band while walking through the snow might make the weather more bearable. It never
Crossword
did. The lyrics of “Big Ideas” sound a bit gloomy but the orchestral break before the outro really helps ease you into the fourth stage of grief. “Hang Me, O Hang Me” by Oscar Isaac And yet another folk song made the list just in time for our fourth and favorite stage of grief, depression! Never in my life have I been more depressed watching a movie than the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.” The film is even set during Chicago winter in the 1960s, which admittedly does feel a bit on the nose. This timeless folk song makes me want to rip my soul out of my body and sob uncontrollably on the Red Line. No, I do not care if this is an unhealthy coping mechanism for seasonal depression; watch the movie before you start judging my choices. “Time Has Come Again” by The Last Shadow Puppets After a winter of suffering, we’re onto the fifth and final stage: acceptance. There’s something mournful about accepting your
fate in Chicago winter and “Time Has Come Again” gives that vibe of sad understanding. The wind will bite and the days will be too short, but hopefully, March will bring back some warmth and sunshine. Until then, you can find me cocooned in my apartment, wondering why I moved to the Midwest.
ACROSS
DOWN
1) Some computers 6) “Father” in the nursery 10) Union buster 14) Doofus 15) Declare firmly 16) Henry VIII’s sixth wife 17) Driving force? 18) Rudolph’s high beam 19) Arsenal contents 20) Pouring down, briefly? 23) “_ In the Family” 25) Coin of Afghanistan, once 26) “_whiz!” 27) Brief moment? 28) Barely passing grades 30) Campus VIP 32) Rodeo rope 34) Wash one’s hands of 36) Staircase post 38) Baby aids, briefly? 41) Trail user 42) Pekoe server 45) Foofaraws
48) Nursemaid in India 50) Achieve through hard work 51) “Give us this day_ daily bread” 52) Cool, once 54) Gun, in a car 56) It divides a tennis court 57) Enjoying the see-saw, briefly? 61) Cathedral section 62) Suffix with “scan” 63) Bathroom floor pieces, often 66) Carnal craving 67) Inventor’s brainchild 68) Give notice to 69) Eyelid swelling 70) Wilder ending? 71) One place for potted plants
COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA
1) Lower, as lights 2) Tokyo before it was Tokyo 3) Like the runt 4) Weaver’s apparatus 5) Airfield 6) Behave like a misused participle 7) Solemnly swear 8) Hilfiger or Lauren, e.g. 9) Sharp mountain ridge 10) Bandy words 11) Lily-family member 12) General assemblies? 13) Denver athlete 21) Persistent pest 22) Curtis of hair care 23) Use a plus sign 24) Souvenir from Kauai 29) Bantu language group 31) Furious 33) Pond scum, e.g. 35) Shush, in the U.K.
37) Shrivel in the heat 39) Low-range sea change 40) U.S. anthem word 43) Tron man’s quest? 44) Explosive initials 45) Destroys utterly, as a car 46) Production in general 47) Formal, fashion-wise 49) Madison Square Garden and others 53) Red cosmetic dye 55) All-important 58) Network of veins 59) Boot tips 60) Longest river 64) Physics class unit 65) Jeanne d’Arc’s title (Abbr.)
Sports. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2023 | 15
Sports
Sports. The DePaulia. Jan. 16, 2023 | 16
By Ryan Hinske Sports Editor
DePaul women’s basketball has battled through an early Big East schedule that has seen nail-biter after nail-biter, going 1-3 in that span (as of Jan. 13), including a recent loss to top-25 opponent in Creighton Jan. 6. “I love the Big East,” Bruno said. “[Creighton] earned their ranking, and so does Marquette, and I just felt our players fought the battle.” In the seven-point loss to No. 21 ranked Creighton, fifth-year senior Jorie Allen led the Blue Demons with a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double in 34 minutes. After a 26-19 first quarter in favor of the Bluejays, DePaul fought to the final buzzer to keep the score close, powered by an 11-point third quarter by Allen. “I know we didn’t get the result we wanted today, but we still had fun,” Allen said. “You can’t ask for much more than playing a ranked opponent on national television. The joy of the game is coming in every day.” DePaul’s second half was encouraging, forcing nine turnovers and earning 20 points in the paint, doubling their first-half total. “Once we show up and we’re all on the same page for four quarters, we’re gonna be a really dangerous team,” Allen said. “We’re missing shots that I think our players are accustomed to making, but that’s the name of the game. We’ll get back to the drawing board and get better.” Creighton was third in the country in least committed turnovers at 10.5 at tipoff (DePaul is 65th), yet the Blue Demons forced 18. “[Forcing turnovers] definitely gives us confidence,” Allen said. “I think always your
WILL ROBSON | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul graduate guard Chico Carter Jr. dribbles on the left wing in DePaul’s loss to Creighton Jan. 9, 2024, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. intensity on defense leaks over into your offense.” Additionally, Creighton was tied for the best free-throw shooting team in the country, yet the Bluejays were held to five before DePaul started intentionally fouling. What they made up for, according to Bruno, was their elite 3-point shooting. 30 of Creighton’s first 44 points were 3-pointers. “We knew going in that’s something they wanted to do, and in the second half we held them to one or two threes,” Bruno said. “We really try to play clean defense, but we’re last in the Big East in defensive 3-point percentage, some stuff that’s gotta be fixed here.” Bruno’s team is spearheaded by an offensive force in Anaya Peoples, who is averaging 18.5 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game on the season. Peoples credited De-
Paul’s team chemistry for her growth going into the season after an exhibition against Lewis University Oct. 29. “This is probably the closest team I’ve ever had in my five years of college,” Peoples said. “We truly love each other and we know that’s big and we know team chemistry is big.” Allen is a proponent of the team’s spirit this season, publishing her basketball story on the DePaul Athletics website Jan. 10 in which she details how the culture at DePaul has reignited her passion for basketball by allowing her to discover her other interests like writing and exploring the art and culture of the city she now calls home. She demonstrated how the team culture led to her 11-point third quarter after a shaky first half. “I was kind of struggling to finish in the first half,” Allen said. “My teammates were
encouraging me during the half and I came out and I played very physical. I was able to get my feet underneath me and finish.” The Big East portion of the season, which began with a December 20 win against Xavier in Cincinnati, is often called the “second season” because a team’s Big East record determines seeding for the coveted Big East tournament. Bruno said competing with experienced teams presents a new challenge to a DePaul team with eight newcomers this season. “The groups at [Marquette and Creighton] have been together a long time, and that’s very important to college,” he said. However, Bruno senses the level of competition in the Big East is higher than ever. He said that UConn getting knocked out of the top 10 for the first time in 16 years fuels the fire for a competitive conference without a clear leader in the Big East. “It’s an interesting dynamic because these teams are all really good and everybody can beat everybody else,” Bruno said. “It’s an exciting league to be a part of.” Bruno also said the quarter system, which he remembers from his time as a DePaul player from 1969 to 1973, allows the players more time off from school before the new year. However, he knows they will have to refocus on school while their schedule toughens, which is another challenge to overcome. DePaul’s game against Marquette was the second Saturday of three in a row against ranked Big East opponents. The Blue Demons are set to visit Connecticut’s Huskies next Saturday after a rematch at Wintrust Arena against Xavier Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
COLUMN - Lack of progression under Stubblefield: Is it time for a coaching change? By Tom Gorski Men’s Basketball Beat Reporter
Over the past two decades, DePaul men’s basketball has faced challenges in staying relevant while maintaining some competitiveness. However, this season presents a different narrative, as the team sits with a 3-13 record, having lost all five Big East games, with four of them by 25 points or more. “I think this is the best conference in the country, and we’re playing against really good basketball teams,” head coach Tony Stubblefield said of DePaul’s struggle in the Big East during his tenure. “This is what you get when you choose to play ball in the Big East. You’re going to play against the best of the best night in and night out.” Under Stubblefield’s leadership, the team has failed to exhibit any significant competitiveness, and the results are not showing improvement; in fact, they are deteriorating. There is a distinct lack of progression or growth under his leadership. The past three seasons with Stubblefield at the helm have been challenging, as evidenced by his coaching record of 28-52, including a Big East record of 9-36. To make matters worse, the team has lost 17 straight regular season conference games, dating back to last season. The fans deserve better, especially considering the team’s subpar perfor-
mance on the court this season. Despite a complete roster overhaul, there is a noticeable decline in the team’s performance each season under Stubblefield. The expectation was for continuous growth and progress as a program from a recruiting standpoint, but the reality has been regression. The team is possibly facing its lowest point as a program. Not only is the team consistently outplayed on its own court in terms of talent, but even Wintrust Arena, aside from the student section, fails to provide a home-court advantage. Lately, the stadium has been predominantly filled with fans of the opposing teams. The question arises: Why is this such a big deal? It’s because the team has become so uninspiring to watch that there is no fear for fans in missing a DePaul basketball game. The team looks completely lost on the court without an ounce of passion or competitive fire left in them. The team also might be reaching its boiling point. Following an 84-58 defeat to Creighton Jan. 8, the players were not available to the media because of a players-only meeting held after the game. A “players-only meeting” in sports refers to a meeting or discussion exclusively among the players on a team, without the presence of coaches, managers or other team staff. Players on the team usually initiate these meetings, using them as a platform within each other to discuss
WILL ROBSON | THE DEPAULIA
Senior guard Anaya Peoples drives to the hoop against Creighton Jan. 6, 2024, at Wintrust Arena. various issues impacting the team. “I left [the players] to come out here to speak with you all, and we’re just trying to hash some things out,” Stubblefield said of the players-only meeting after the team’s loss to Creighton. “I just didn’t like the competitive fight tonight. I didn’t like our competitiveness over the course of 40 minutes and didn’t like the fight we brought.” As the second half of the season takes shape, Stubblefield will face considerable pressure to turn around the team’s fortunes and secure a few Big East wins. His coaching efforts are not only aimed
at victories but could also determine the fate of his job by the season’s end. The upcoming schedule poses no relief for DePaul, as they still have to face tough opponents like St. John’s, Marquette and Seton Hall, who are on top of the Big East along with Villanova and Creighton. If DePaul does not manage to turn things around, they might be on the verge of their worst season since the 1996-97 season.