The DePaulia 2.12.2024

DePaulia

The

Volume #108 | Issue #13 | Feb. 12, 2024 | depauliaonline.com

2 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024

News 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 | Nadia Carolina Hernandez eic@depauliaonline.com

CAMPUS CRIME REPORT

Jan. 3 - Jan. 9, 2024

CRIME DATA REPORTED BY DEPAUL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE

LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS

LOOP CAMPUS

8 4

ONLINE MANAGING | Samantha Moilanen online@depauliaonline.com

1

1

2 3

PRINT MANAGING | Lilly Keller managing@depauliaonline.com

7

NEWS EDITOR | Lucia Preziosi news@depauliaonline.com

6

ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Rose O’Keeffe news@depauliaonline.com OPINIONS EDITOR | Nadine DeCero opinion@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 ASST. PHOTO EDITOR | Erin Henze photo@depauliaonline.com CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER | Quentin Blais photo@depauliaonline.com COPY EDITOR | Amber Corkey copydesk@depauliaonline.com SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR | Vanessa Lopez social@depauliaonline.com COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDITOR | Ruchi Nawathe community@depauliaonline.com ADVISER | Martha Irvine mirvine5@depaul.edu

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.

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

LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS Assault & Theft

Drug & Alcohol

Other

Lincoln Park Campus Crimes: Jan. 31 1) A Hit and Run to a vehicle on Sheffield between Belden and Fullerton was reported.

Feb. 01 2) Drug Paraphernalia was confiscated from a room in LeCompte Hall.

Feb. 04 3) A Liquor Law Violation was reported at LeCompte Hall. Subject was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital for treatment.

Feb. 04 4) A Liquor Law Violation was reported outside Clifton Parking Garage. Subject was transported to St. Joseph for treatment.

Feb. 05 5) An Attempted Robbery was reported on Belden Ave. A Safety Alert was issued regarding the incident.

Feb. 05

LOOP CAMPUS

6) A Simple Assault report was filed for an incident in the Ray Meyer Fitness Center.

Feb. 05 7) A Disorderly Conduct report was filed for an incident in the Student Center.

Loop Campus Crimes: Jan. 31 1) A Criminal Trespass report was filed in the DePaul Center .

Feb. 05 8) A Theft report was filed for money that was missing from a wallet while in HPC

CORRECTION: A caption on front page of the Feb. 5, 2024, issue incorrectly identified the photo on the page. The corrected caption is below.

Kelly Kessler, DePaul Media and Cinema studies professor, and Pablo Mota play cards on the floor of the Kessler-Flauto family’s living room before dinner on Nov. 5. Cissy Hubbard, who is Flauto’s mother, Emilio Mota and Albani Rivero laugh in the background as they watch the two play “War.”

News. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024 | 3

Cutout DePaulia Valentines

4 | News. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024

Life expectancy disparities in Chicago prompt calls for environmental justice

MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

Asst. News Editor

January 2024 was the warmest January ever recorded, following 12 months of unprecedentedly high temperatures around the world, according to the New York Times.

Warmer temperatures, more extreme weather events and a lower life expectancy are all consequences of human-caused climate change, largely perpetrated by the burning of fossil fuels, according to Mark Potosnak, DePaul professor of environmental studies.

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and Reuters reported that chronic air pollution lowers the average global life expectancy by more than two years.

“The bad news is that (burning fossil fuels) creates local air quality issues for the people who live right there, but you also contribute to global climate change,” Potosnak said.

On the other hand, he said when carbon emissions are reduced, like when high-emitting power plants are shut down or less cars are on the road, there is an immediate health benefit to people in the surrounding area that also contributes to global emissions reduction.

Raymond Lodato, professor of environment, geography and organization at the University of Chicago, said residents and governments often accept a certain level of pollution because they believe there is no economic alternative to burning fossil fuels.

“Our environmental laws very rarely ban any particular practice or pollutant, they set an acceptable level,” Lodato said. “Then the question becomes, who is getting sick? Who is more likely to face risks to their life expectancy?”

New York University’s School of Medicine reported that Chicago has the largest life expectancy gap between neighborhoods, with Streeterville residents expected to live to 90 years old, while just 9 miles away in Englewood, residents are only projected to live to 60 years old.

According to Lodato, this 30-year life expectancy gap is an environmental justice issue, which he said is the process of addressing the disproportionate negative impacts of climate change on communities of color.

He cited the asthma crisis on the South Side as an example of inequitable climate effects.

According to the American Lung Association, 16% of Chicago families have a child with asthma. The South Side Pediatric Asthma Center said around 20% of children on the South Side have been diagnosed with asthma, which they say does not account for those who suffer undiagnosed.

Grace Gallant, a DePaul senior, shares

a passion for environmental justice and engages in climate action through work at the DePaul Urban Garden.

“I see environmental justice as a way to bring awareness to the fact that we don’t have equitable access to nature, and it’s a shame because every person can benefit from a close relationship with the natural world,” Gallant said.

Besides pollution, climate change poses both direct and indirect risks that impact life expectancy.

Potosnak said amplified severe weather events like drought and flooding can impact agricultural output and food supplies.

Less crops also make the price of food go up, which adversely affects low-income communities.

To mitigate the potentially disastrous effects of a warming earth, Potosnak stressed the importance of engaging local communities and educating people so sustainable solutions can expand.

Gallant said even small community efforts to promote climate action can have lasting impacts.

“The community that we build at the garden club has a lot of potential for organizing and getting people together to work towards the shared goal of creating sustainability in all of our lives,” he said.

Lodato, the University of Chicago professor, said advocacy at the community level, then at the governmental level is essential for making laws that big corporations will adhere to.

“It should be a bottom-up situation where people are pressuring the government because legislation is what companies will respond to,” he said.

In 2022, the Biden administration introduced the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark $369 billion investment in climate action that allocates specific funds to historically underserved communities.

The IRA is projected to reduce U.S. emissions by 40% from 2005 levels by 2030 and includes $60 billion dollars specifically for communities hardest hit by climate change.

Chicago has had its own experience with governmental steps to reduce the effects of climate change. In 2008, after Chicago was named a severe ozone nonattainment area by the Environmental Protection Agency, former Mayor Richard M. Daley put forth a Climate Action Plan that promised to address disparities and create climate solutions.

Though this plan had some successes, DePaul’s Center for Journalism Integrity and Ethics reported that it did not deliver on key promises of planting 1 million trees by 2020

and being on track to reduce emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Daley’s successor, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, disbanded Chicago’s Department of Environment in 2011.

After the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in 2022, the city of Chicago reported that federal funds were allocated to help the city significantly reduce emissions by 2040.

Mayor Brandon Johnson also supported environmental justice and decarbonization provisions.

Potosnak said Chicago is a transportation hub for the nation, which burns a lot of fossil fuels, but “gives us leverage to start fixing things.”

2024

By Rose O’Keeffe

Gallant said that change is very possible, but needs to begin with a strong desire for improvement and an end to environmental complacency.

“We shouldn’t accept that our homes are being polluted,” Gallant said. “We can change our situation by joining the urban garden, attuning ourselves about how to live more sustainably, but also coming together to challenge the government and the corporations that are putting our lives at risk.”

Winter Career Fairs Register Here

Part-Time Job Fair Tuesday, February 20th 3:00pm – 6:00pm Loop Campus - Lower Level Concourse

Register Here

Industry-Wide Career Fair Thursday, February 22nd 3:00pm – 6:00pm Lincoln Park Campus - Student Center 120 A/B

WINTER 2024

News. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024 | 5

‘A perfect storm’: Migrants face legal barriers, paused services and a 60-day limit at shelters as the city’s budget rapidly dwindles

By Delaunay Krauter Contributing Writer

The city’s shelter system is overflowing as officials from Southern border states like Texas continue to send migrants and asylum seekers to Chicago.

With limited funding, Mayor Brandon Johnson has paused the city’s shelter expansion as he calls for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to open the 2,000 beds the state promised in November.

More than 800 buses have arrived in the city since August 2022, bringing over 35,000 new arrivals, according to city data. About 13,000 migrants are currently staying across Chicago’s 28 shelters, but the demand for more space has put pressure on city and state officials to find solutions.

The city budgeted $150 million for services for migrants and asylum seekers in 2024, but spends $1.5 million on those services every day, Johnson said in a Jan. 24 press conference, where he explained the city’s latest iteration of its mission to support Chicago’s growing population of asylum seekers.

“There are some limitations to what we can do,” Johnson said at the press conference.

To make space for the city’s newest arrivals, Johnson first announced a 60day shelter stay limit for migrants Nov. 17, which he has since postponed.

The first wave of evictions was originally set to take effect Jan. 16, but inclement weather and pressure from city council members and advocates pushed Johnson to suspend the policy, now for a third time.

Over a dozen aldermen drafted a letter to the mayor in January, warning Johnson that evictions would make resettlement more difficult for migrants who would be left without options for housing or shelter once they reach their stay limits, according to a WBEZ report.

Johnson defended the policy at the Jan. 24 press conference, citing similar policies enacted in major cities like Denver and New York.

Between Jan. 16 and Feb. 29, 5,700 people would have had to leave city shelters. They now have an additional 60 days. Those who face eviction between March 1 and March 28, about 2,100 people, have been granted a 30day extension, Brandie Knazze, commissioner of the Department of Family and Support, said at the Jan. 24 press conference.

Once they reach their stay limit, people who still need housing will have to reapply for shelter at the city’s landing zone where buses arrive and new arrivals first make contact with service providers, Knazze said at the press conference.

“Our plan for temporary emergency shelter was never meant as a long-term housing solution,” Johnson said at the same press conference.

Breandán Magee, senior director of programs for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), said his organization is concerned about the city’s shelter stay policy.

Magee told a panel on forced migration hosted at DePaul on Jan. 30 that a lack of preparedness for shelter evictions could lead to “a perfect storm of folks who are completely unprepared to be evicted from the city system.”

The ICIRR is responsible for directing city and state funds to service providers, according to Magee, and is one of the groups that advocated for Chicago’s sanctuary city status, which protects

LUCIA PREZIOSI | THE DEPAULIA

FILE- A temporary encampment sits outside the 19th District police station on Chicago’s North Side on Oct. 21, 2023. Police stations have been housing migrants as the government continues to find permanent solutions.

migrants from inquiries about their immigration status and prevents them from being denied services regardless of their documentation.

“A lot of people heard that call and they came,” he said. “But when they got here not but a couple of months ago, we found that the shelters were overflowing.”

In addition to shelter limits, the state has also cut back on a rental assistance program that offered migrants state funding to help them pay rent. Migrants initially received six months of rental assistance, but now the program only covers three.

Without a job, employment authorization, rental assistance, and often without the public benefits like health care and legal assistance, those set to leave shelters during the first wave of evictions would be at serious risk, according to Magee.

Magee said that only about 10% of the migrants who come receive eligibility to go forward with employment authorization, which would allow them to work legally in the U.S. The same goes for migrants applying for asylum, which protects undocumented people from being deported if they can prove that they will face persecution or harm if they are sent home.

The state of Illinois gave the city $160 million in November to support the city’s resettlement plan.

Part of this funding was initially meant to help the city build a winterized base camp for migrants in the Brighton Park neighborhood, which would have opened an additional 2,000 beds.

However, the plans ultimately fell through after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) found that the land was contaminated and not fit for construction.

The latest city-run shelter opened Nov. 18 in an office complex on Elston Avenue. The city has not opened any shelters since then, although a state-funded shelter at a CVS in Little Village opened on Jan. 11.

Johnson is still calling on Pritzker to open the 2,000 beds the state promised to build in November.

“The state of Illinois is committed to building new shelters,” Johnson said.

“There are a number of locations in

“They want to be someone, they want to dream, and we do have these rights.”

Brandon Johnson Mayor

which those shelters can be built.”

Pritzker, who is “deeply concerned” that Johnson has paused shelter expansion, says the state is willing to do its part, but the city has yet to tell him where to direct resources, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune.

With the city set to exhaust its funds soon, both Johnson and Pritzker are looking to the federal government for more support.

Magee at the ICIRR said the real crisis is the federal government’s failure to step up and provide assistance.

“Unfortunately, that would require a bill of Congress, and funding for Ukraine and Israel funding as well as the border security provisions, (that’s)

all tied together right now and it’s quite a mess,” Magee said. “Within that are some of the provisions that would go to some of the sanctuary cities, including Chicago.”

Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott keeps sending buses without telling passengers where they are headed.

Rob Paral, a demographic and public policy consultant at Rob Paral & Associates, said he visited the site at the Texas border where the buses are stationed.

“How much property do they have in their hands?” Paral asked guests at the panel on forced migration hosted at DePaul.“That’s what they’ve got,” he said in reference to a photo of people stepping onto buses at the border.

Elizabeth Kennedy, a country conditions expert and social scientist who also spoke at the panel, said some people underestimate how aware migrants are of the risks associated with their journey. “They know that they are risking their lives, but it is with the chance that they might have a better life,” she said.

“They want to be someone, they want to dream, and we do have these rights.”

6 | Opinions. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024

Opinions

MJ WHITE | THE DEPAULIA

Situationship Epidemic: Limited love in an online age

By Xadarri Nevels Contributing Writer

When I consider limitless love, I often think about the euphoric scenes of “The Notebook,” a movie adapted from a romance novel by Nicholas Sparks. Noah, a handsome, aloof young man, tirelessly pursues a love interest, Allie, while navigating through the flows of a turbulent love affair – until he finally wins her heart.

These romantic gestures are typical of an era where love was pursued with relentless determination. This contrasts with today’s complex dating scene, where the term “situationship” has emerged as a buzzword, almost animating ambiguity while courting in relationships.

I believe that situationships exist in the gray area between casual dating and committed relationships. They’re characterized by the absence of labels, freedom from expectations, and often, an undercurrent of uncertainty about the future.

Being an old-school lover holds a charm that surpasses the connections of today’s dating scene. There’s something beautiful about the act of courtship, where romance isn’t just an option but the foundation of a relationship built by a guy who’s genuinely interested.

Monogamy stands as a testament to the depth, commitment and security that come from dedicating your heart entirely to another.

It is not true love if you have options.

However, choosing the same person, over and over again until you get it right is.

Because of dating apps, endless prospective partners are just a swipe away.. Dating apps are handicapping society to navigate romance with minimal commitment. This cultural shift raises the question: do people genuinely know what they want in the age of options?

I don’t think so. The internet makes everyone believe that the cuter, more handsome, richer, candidate is more worthy.

Dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and

Bumble offer endless choices. They turn the search for love into something resembling online shopping. The lines are blurred between seeking genuine connections and casual encounters, fostering an environment for situationships to bloom.

Karlie Finn, a senior at DePaul, shares a personal account of a situational experience.

She met a guy at a party and what started as casual, evolved into something more defined.

“We weren’t looking for anything serious,” Finn said. “But something just clicked.”

Despite initial challenges like jealousy and insecurities, Finn and her partner found themselves committed, establishing trust and a deeper connection.

Now single, Finn looks back without regrets, but she appreciates the lessons she learned from navigating modern dating.

The emotional landscape of situationships can be highly complex. The absence of clear expectations often leaves room for ambiguity, leading to misunderstandings and heartache.

It’s a reminder that while the freedom to define our relationships on our own terms can be liberating, it also requires a level of emotional maturity and communication often overlooked while chasing romance.

Lisa Holmes, a 57-year-old professor of film studies at DePaul, offers a seasoned perspective. Married for 26 years and a witness to the relational dynamics of her students, children and peers, Holmes has seen it all.

“Situationships aren’t a new phenomenon,” she said, “They’re just more visible now.”

According to Holmes, the core struggles of maintaining a relationship relate to communication, compromise and commitment, but they remain unchanged, whether in a marriage or a more loosely defined connection.

“People should pursue what makes them happy,” Holmes said, reflecting an open attitude towards the evolving landscape of love.

The opinions in this section do not nessecarily reflect those of The DePaulia staff

Opinions. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024 | 7

Home Away from Home:

Life as an International Student Athlete at DePaul

JESSICA GOSKA | THE DEPAULIA

Eleanor Nobbs serves to teammate Eva Goncharov during their tennis practice on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at the Lakeshore Sports and Fitness center.

Seven of the eight players on this year’s team are international students, including Hannah Smith who is from England and grew up with Nobbs.

By Eleanor Nobbs Contributing Writer

Living away from home is never easy.

Especially for me, an international student-athlete, living thousands of miles away from family can be scary.

Studying overseas offered me the opportunity of a lifetime: to play Division 1 college tennis for DePaul University.

However, it also brought many challenges.

Before I moved to Chicago, as a freshman on the women’s tennis team in September 2021, I was constantly worried about feeling homesick.

Chicago was by far the biggest city I had ever lived in, and it was over 3,000 miles from my hometown in England.

If something went wrong, I could not simply ask my mum to come over and help.

It was up to me to look after myself now, and that thought scared me.

What would happen if I didn’t make friends?

For most international student-athletes, these thoughts are common.

Yagmur Yavuz, a sophomore from Turkey on the volleyball team, agreed.

“My biggest challenge as an international student-athlete is probably being homesick.

I miss my family and friends at home, and I also miss the food in Turkey,” Yavuz said.

In addition, the day-to-day life of a student-athlete at DePaul is incredibly busy. Between practices, classes, recovery, meetings and more, it can be difficult to find a moment to breathe.

Add this to the fact that we are so far from home, missing family and worried about things like taxes and visas, it is not hard to see why international student-athletes, like Yavuz and myself, can feel homesick.

So, do we need extra support for our international student-athletes?

Personally, I have never felt more supported.

The women’s tennis team at DePaul is full of international players, and I immediately felt welcomed by my older teammates, who had been through similar experiences.

Two years into my time at DePaul, my team has become my second family.

We help each other navigate the ups and downs of the international student-athlete life and are always there for each other.

This is all part of the supportive team

culture put into place by the head coach of the women’s tennis team, Marisa Arce, who encourages us all to look out for one another.

One of the many ways Arce builds this culture is by encouraging us to send thank you notes to show our appreciation for those around us. She has also introduced us to positive mindset books by Jon Gordon, such as “The Energy Bus” and “The Carpenter,” and she regularly checks in with us all to make sure that we’re doing okay.

I feel very grateful for this guidance and I know my teammates do too.

Student-Athlete Experience Committee within SAAC as one way in which international student-athletes are supported at DePaul.

“The international student-athlete experience committee within SAAC is one of great importance to our SAAC leadership,” Baugh said. “They host a welcome back and they have an unofficial handbook that is full of tips, tricks and FAQs so that incoming international student-athletes have resources.”

Hanisch, the DePaul senior, is chair of this committee, and she agrees that it is a great resource for international student-athletes who need someone to talk to.

“My role is to understand the needs of international student-athletes and provide resources to But them for any international-specifwhat ic questions or struggles they may about inhave,” Hanisch said. “I also like to ternational get to know the athletes on a perstudent-athsonal level so that they feel comfortletes on othable coming to me with anything.” er teams?

As an international student-athlete, “I feel we face many challenges. supHomesickness, culture shock and ported by my fellow uncertainty about life post-graduation student-athletes, and we have are just a few of the difficulties that can many resources at DePaul, such as negatively affect your well-being. our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion However, the support offered by representative Dr. Stephanie Baugh, people like Baugh and Hanisch, as well as and compliance help from Carly Dressler,” the leadership of coaches like Arce, have said Bella Hanisch, a DePaul senior on the made DePaul feel like a home away from women’s soccer team. home for many international student-athStephanie Baugh, associate director for letes, including myself.

DEI at DePaul, is an integral part of the Of course, there is always room for support system available to student-athletes improvement. at DePaul. This includes making sure that “I think there’s always more that can every international student-athlete feels be done,” said Baugh. “Hopefully we welcomed. never reach our “endpoint” because we “My role in supporting international want to be able to continue to progress student-athletes is to try to connect them and learn from our experiences.” to resources, to make sure they’re aware of Fortunately, we are on the right path, how ISS can support them, and to make and enhancing the international stusure they’re aware of some of the NCAA dent-athlete experience has become an and compliance support that we offer,” important topic across the country.

Baugh said. “And generally, just like all our “I think the NCAA has done a much student-athletes, to help them pursue their better job of turning their attention to goals, holistically.” how we support international students, One way Baugh provides this support which I’m really happy about,” Baugh said. is by overseeing DePaul’s Student-Athlete “I think that will provide more support, at Advisory Committee (SAAC). least for international student-athletes.”

SAAC is a student-led representative Despite the challenges, being an interadvocacy leadership group that gives feednational student-athlete on the women’s back to the Athletic Director and advocates tennis team at DePaul has been the best for the voice of their fellow student-athletes. experience of my life.

Baugh points to the International

ILLUSTRATION: YÚ YÚ BLUE | THE DEPAULIA

8 | Focus. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024

Focus

LOVE IN EVERY

‘The Last Chapter Book Shop provide that.”

So wWhether you would like your privacy as you pick out your next steamy adventure, or want DeLapa to let you in on the sappiest romance there is, The Last Chapter will cater to the customer.

Delcia Norwood, who recently visited the store for the first time, is an avid reader.

Her Instagram page, @gurlyougottareadthisshyt, documents all her bookish adventures.

“I like this; this is so cute,” Norwood said, who perused the romance table set up for Black History Month. “I don’t have to sort through the aisles; it’s hard at Barnes and Noble where I have to sort through the one rack at the back.”

Norwood, who debated getting a book she already owned because of a “much cuter” cover, pondered how HAILEY BOSEK | THE DEPAULIA

The entrance of The Last Chapter bookshop on Feb. 6, 2024 , located on 2013 W. Roscoe St. Behind the brick entrance is safe haven for all things romance.

By Hailey Bosek Contributing Writer

In the Roscoe Village store, patrons laugh, flip pages and peruse the shelves. Hundreds of shiny red hearts dangle from the store ceiling. Pink and red balloon hearts adorn the tables and walls. A giant red and pink balloon arch covers velvet chairs and couches. Most importantly, romance books of every variety line the walls from floor to ceiling.

Skeptics may see Valentine’s Day as just another marketing sham, but for The Last Chapter Book Shop, it is the raison d’être.

“We joke that everyone’s favorite month is Christmas. But this is our Christmas — this is our favorite month of the year,” said Amanda Anderson, the store’s owner and Chicago native. She officially opened her shop after departing from corporate America with no plans — just an undeniable passion and “a lifelong dream.”

She giggles when she adds “I’ve always joked that I was going to be the little old lady with a bookstore, selling smut in my 80s.”

Tired of the repetition of the cor-

porate world, where she worked in publishing, Anderson asked herself, why wait until 80 for her dream?

The Last Chapter started in 2021 as an online business distributing bundles of romance novels to customers. Anderson then opened the storefront at 2013 W. Roscoe St. in September 2023. It’s been providing Chicago readers with every type of romance book even the most voracious reader could conjure. LGBTQ+, BIPOC, contemporary, fantasy and sports are all featured in the shop.

Anderson said she couldn’t believe her bookstore dream would manifest just a few blocks from where she grew up. She was worried people wouldn’t understand her vision, but her grand opening last fall had people waiting in line down the block and around the corner.

Some people flew in from around the country to feel the love at The Last Chapter, she said.

Six months later, the store is gearing up for Cupid’s big day. But Iit doesn’t end with the extravagant decorations.

Book bouquet makings, author visits

Who doesn’t just love to share love with yourself and your friends? If you don’t like Valentine’s Day, to me, you’re a hater.”

Miranda DeLapa

Last Chapter cashier

and rom-com screenings are all included in the V-Day plans.

“Who doesn’t just love to share love with yourself and your friends?

If you don’t like Valentine’s Day, to me, you’re a hater,” Miranda DeLapa, a store cashier said.

When DeLapa isn’t stocking shelves and scoping out the newest books for Anderson to buy, you can find her on the floor recommending the best titles to customers. Anderson is proud of her worker’s commitment to outstanding service.

“I think it definitely starts with our staff,” Anderson said. “-if you need a lot of hand-holding, we will hold your hand. If you want more of a very quiet experience, we will also

The Last Chapter worker Miranda DeLapa sits behind the fro customers have. DeLapa said this has been her favorite job.

much she should spend. Options like sweatshirts, candles, tote bags, stickers and other bookish merch can overwhelm even the most insatiable shopper. In the back, dressing rooms have been transformed into selfie rooms filled with Post-it notes of favorite fictional crushes. George Weasley from “Harry Potter,” Rhys from “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and Jeremiah from “The Summer I Turned Pretty” were just a few of the popular ones.

Norwood commented on how

Focus. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024 | 9

Y GENRE

p’ gears up for Valentine's Day organized and comforting the place felt. Anderson has also placed an author suggestion box, hoping customers will help lead her to queer, BIPOC and local authors that have somehow not crossed her desk.

Other customers, including some husbands, came to the store in search of gift cards for their wives. Others came to pursue the sweatshirts or swiftie merch.

DeLapa recounted a sassy boyfriend or two who had whined about the selection, but said the majority of people love the shop and all it has to offer. Anderson said she has taken note of some of the recommendations from her male patrons.

is for everyone and every genre. Scifi fantasy worlds, historical dramas, and nonfiction can all retell the stories of love and heartbreak. That is why Anderson tries to take a piece of every type of subgenre. It is why DeLapa recommends queer novels to be placed on the shelf. It is why people from every walk of life find themselves in the Last Chapter. Norwood commented that there are deep social issues to be understood in romance.

“At the core of it, we should all

be readers,” Anderson said.. “You wouldn’t want me to downplay what you’re reading.,” said Anderson.

The message Anderson always tries to send is one of acceptance. She says she never wants to “yuck anyone’s yum.” She wants romance to be taken seriously while also enjoying all the sappiness it has to offer. What better way to celebrate on the day of love?

ILLUSTRATIONS: MAYA OCLASSEN | THE DEPAULIA

HAILEY BOSEK | THE DEPAULIA

Friends and patrons Delcia Norwood and Uryah Oliver browse the Black romance section on Feb.6. “Is it fiscally resposible to buy a book I already owned?” Norwood asked Oliver.

HAILEY BOSEK | THE DEPAULIA

ont desk on Feb. 6, 2024, ready to attend to any questions

Why is a niche romance store so appealing? The consensus according to everyone asked was that romance is deeper than just Hallmark flirtations and sex scenes.

“Reading romance has just made me so much more t5empathetic and understanding of people and the different struggles we have in life.

Friendships and grief, and learning that grief and happiness can coexist are in romance,” said Anderson, who hopes her customers will feel like they’re “never alone.”

Anderson made it clear. Romance

HAILEY BOSEK | THE DEPAULIA

A photo taken Feb. 4, 2024, shows one of three photos booths in the store. This booth had sticky notes form floor to ceiling with all the patrons fictional crushes.

10 | La DePaulia. The DePaulia. 12 de Febrero 2024

La DePaulia

Más migrantes venezolanos en Chicago toman clases de inglés con la esperanza encontrar trabajo

RODOLFO ZAGAL | LA DEPAULIA

Kenny Curbelo asiste a clases de inglés como segundo idioma en La Villita el 8 de febrero de 2024. Él espera mejorar sus habilidades en inglés para su nueva posición trabajando en tecnología.

Por Rodolfo Zagal Escritor de Noticias, La DePaulia

Gabriel José DeJuane sólo terminó la secundaria antes de venir a los EE.UU. hace dos meses desde Venezuela. Para él, aprender inglés es “más importante” que la ropa y la comida.

“Es difícil [navegar por la vida] cuando uno está en la calle”, dijo DeJuane, quien tiene 22 años y vive en un refugio en Calumet City, un suburbio al sur de Chicago.

Quiere aprender inglés para comunicarse mejor. Sería “más fácil” conseguir un mejor trabajo y encontrar una salida del refugio hacia un hogar permanente, dijo.

Todos los martes y jueves, DeJuane es uno de los muchos estudiantes adultos latinos que toman tiempo de sus trabajos de mano de obra para reunirse en salones de clase en aulas la secundaria en La Villita para aprender inglés. Muchos de los estudiantes son nuevos migrantes y dicen que esperan mejorar sus posibilidades de encontrar empleo y de integrarse culturalmente en su nuevo país de residencia.

A pesar de que le toma 45 minutos en llegar a clase desde Calumet City hasta La Villita en tren y autobús, vale la pena, dijo DeJuane. Tomará “tantas clases como sean necesarias para aprender”, agregó.

Las clases gratis son ofrecidas por el Instituto del Progreso Latino, una organización sin fines de lucro en La Villita que también brinda otros tipos de apoyo migratorio a la comunidad latina de bajos ingresos. Los programas son financiados por subvenciones estatales y federales.

Recientemente, la participación en clases de inglés ha aumentado enormemente en el último año, dijo Laura Guerrero, la coordinadora de ESL en el Instituto.

“Ha habido un gran aumento en [estudiantes] migrantes venezolanos, así como colombianos, pero principalmente venezolanos, que han requerido el apoyo de todos los programas que tenemos aquí”, dijo Guerrero.

Al graduarse del curso de inglés en el

Instituto reciben un certificado que puede ser utilizado para el empleo.

Las clases, dijo ella, empoderan a los recién llegados en muchos aspectos de la vida cotidiana.

Los estudiantes se benefician “de la confianza que adquieren para poder hablar bien y comunicarse mejor con sus empleadores o los maestros de sus hijos”, dijo Guerrero.

Kenny Curbelo, un migrante de 34 años de Caracas, Venezuela, dijo que decidió aprender inglés porque recientemente fue ascendido al departamento de tecnología en su trabajo de manufactura a pesar de su barrera del idioma y de solo tener un diploma de escuela secundaria.

Aprender inglés, dijo, ampliará su oportunidad de avanzar en su carrera, que construyó a través de la enseñanza autodidacta y el trabajo duro. Planea completar el curso en junio.

Curbelo llegó a Chicago durante aproximadamente un año. Su travesía hacia el norte — primero desde Venezuela a Ecuador en 2015 huyendo de una crisis económica causada por la agitación política y luego a Chicago en 2022 — había sido traumático, dijo.

Pero ahora está ansioso por fomentar una nueva vida.

La mayoría de los estudiantes migrantes que utilizan los servicios del Instituto tienen poca o ninguna educación.

Hay muy pocos que tienen educación universitaria y la mayoría busca empleo en construcción, limpieza de casas y servicio de alimentos, según Guerrero.

“Esto hará que sus nuevas vidas en los EE.UU. sean difíciles porque tendrán trabajos intensivos en mano de obra con bajo salario”, dijo Guerrero.

La mayoría de los estudiantes migrantes priorizan el trabajo, dijo Guerrero, lo que significa que una vez que encuentran un trabajo, pueden dejar de asistir a clases.

“Dejan de venir a clase porque tal vez su trabajo está lejos, o su vivienda ha cambiado”, dijo Guerrero. “Y la prioridad para ellos es comer, trabajar, y los vemos abandonar regularmente”.

Ese podría ser el caso de DeJuane

RODOLFO ZAGAL | LA DEPAULIA

Charlotte Rodríguez imparte lecciones de inglés a estudiantes latinos adultos el 8 de febrero de 2024. Ella es de Puerto Rico y mencionó que quiere contribuir a su comunidad.

RODOLFO ZAGAL | LA DEPAULIA

Estudiantes adultos se sientan en clases de ESL en el Instituto del Progreso Latino el 8 de febrero de 2024. Muchos estudiantes vienen directamente del trabajo para estudiar en clase. porque no está seguro de dónde encontrará un hogar permanente y si podrá seguir asistiendo a clases o no.

En los últimos meses, ha trabajado quitando nieve, conduciendo paraentregar alimentos mientras espera su permiso de trabajo.

Planea trabajar en Chicago durante unos años y enviar dinero a su familia en Venezuela. También tiene la esperanza de regresar a casa y comenzar un negocio allí.

Por ahora, dijo DeJuane, hará todo lo posible para comenzar a realizar su sueño aprendiendo el idioma que podría llevarlo

al éxito.

Aunque Guerrero dijo que las clases apoyan los sueños de DeJuane, la organización necesita un edificio permanente para asegurar que más migrantes reciban las mismas oportunidades.

Actualmente, realizan las clases en el Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, una escuela secundaria que les presta el espacio.

Si tuvieran más espacio, dijo, podrían agregar más clases e instructores.

La DePaulia. The DePaulia. 12 de Febrero 2024 | 11

RODOLFO ZAGAL | LA DEPAULIA

De izquierda a derecha: Anuradha Rana, profesora asociada de cine en DePaul, junto a sus estudiantes Julian Bax, Josiah Shaw y Fawad Amjad en el Día de la Innovación de DePaul el 26 de enero de 2024. Los estudiantes presentaron sus documentales en el evento.

Estudiantes de DePaul resaltan historias de inmigrantes a través de documentales Por Emily Diaz Escritora Colaboradora, La DePaulia

La semana pasada, estudiantes de cine de DePaul exhibieron documentales sobre la experiencia de los inmigrantes en la ciudad que crearon en colaboración con organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales en un esfuerzo por aumentar la conciencia sobre su complejidad.

Para algunos, la realización de películas es una salida creativa para abordar algunos de los problemas sociales más urgentes e importantes de la ciudad. Los documentales fueron inspirados por la crisis humanitaria que Chicago está experimentando con la reciente llegada de más de 30,000 migrantes.

Anuradha Rana, profesora asociada de cine de DePaul, guía a los estudiantes con su trabajo junto a organizaciones sin fines de lucro de Chicago como parte de su clase.

La clase, llamada Filmando con Agentes de Cambio, es un catalizador para que los estudiantes aprendan sobre diferentes estructuras sociopolíticas y otras noticias en Chicago mientras se enfocan en sus intereses en el cine.

“La idea es que estamos trabajando con personas de la comunidad y diferentes organizaciones en temas y problemas significativos”, dijo Rana.

Este trimestre, los estudiantes trabajaron con Johannes Favi, el subdirector de Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants (ICDI), una organización dedicada a proporcionar recursos para solicitantes de asilo e inmigrantes en Chicago.

“Los documentales pueden ser un medio efectivo para mostrar una imagen más amplia al mundo”, dijo Favi. “Este trimestre, usamos documentales cortos para alentar a los espectadores a contactar a sus funcionarios electos”.

Julian Trejo Bax, un estudiante de cine de DePaul en su último año, dijo que trabajar con Favi ha sido gratificante.

“Fue una gran experiencia trabajar con Johannes, y su impulso creativo para ayudar a los inmigrantes desplazados a través del cine fue muy contagioso”, dijo Bax. Bax dijo que se identifica como inmigrante mexicano. La conexión con su identidad le ayudó a comprender la importancia de reconocer que ninguna historia de inmigrante es igual. En su documental, Bax documentó la vida de un inmigrante cubano desplazado llamado Yoan.

La pieza, dijo, fue una experiencia significativa e importante para él. Y el aumento de la migración en la ciudad lo impulsa a querer elevar las voces de los migrantes y compartir sus experiencias.

“Es importante que los estudiantes de DePaul sean conscientes de las realidades de problemas actuales como la inmigración”, dijo Bax. “Es nuestro deber ayudar a quienes lo necesitan”.

Igual que Bax, Fawad Amjad, un estudiante de último año de DePaul que se especializa en cine, dijo que aprendió mucho de la clase al trabajar con inmigrantes latinoamericanos. En su documental, compartió la experiencia de una familia de refugiados ecuatorianos que caminó durante dos meses desde su tierra natal hasta Texas en busca de asilo.

Amjad dijo que como estudiante internacional de Pakistán, se sorprendió por la travesía de los refugiados que viajan a Estados Unidos.

Agregó que lo más impactante que aprendió fue que la mayoría de los recursos que los migrantes reciben son por parte de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, y no de la ciudad. Su objetivo es destacar diferentes historias de migrantes y mostrar la necesidad de agregar más recursos.

“Fue alarmante ver los extremos a los que la gente llega para venir aquí. También darse cuenta de que los recursos disponibles probablemente ni siquiera estén equipados

CORTESIA DE ISTHMUS FILMS

Eduardo Rodríguez, el director asistente de Chicago Immigrant Transit Assistance (CITA), habla en la película “ICDI Journey” del estudiante de último año de DePaul, Fawad Amjad. CITA es un programa que forma parte de la Comunidad Interreligiosa para Inmigrantes Detenidos. para ayudarlos tanto como pensamos”, dijo Shaw. “Puede que no sea la cosa más fácil Amjad. del mundo, pero es beneficioso para los Josiah Shaw, otro estudiante de cine de estudiantes”.

DePaul, documentó el aprendizaje basado La película documentó a una maestra en la naturaleza y la sostenibilidad ambiental llamada Gina Pacheco y su enfoque en la en Monarcas Academy, una de las escuelas jardinería y las actividades al aire libre en su públicas de Chicago. La escuela tiene una aula. La clase busca cambiar el concepto de mayoría de estudiantes latinos con una parte tareas tradicionales con un aprendizaje más significativa siendo estudiantes inmigrantes inmersivo y práctico. de varios países.

Aunque muchos de los documentales Shaw y su equipo de cine colaboraron exponen las duras realidades de la con Openlands, una organización sin fines de experiencia inmigrante en Chicago, los lucro centrada en mejorar el acceso a espacios estudiantes tienen como objetivo educar a los limpios, abiertos y naturales para actividades espectadores sobre los efectos personales de comunitarias en Chicago. tales realidades.

“Pudimos hacer un cortometraje para “Pienso en lo que realmente está mostrar a los maestros que el aprendizaje sucediendo en el mundo en este momento basado en la naturaleza es posible”, dijo particular”, dijo Rana.

12| Arts/Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024

Hearts & Life

Emyli Lovz poses for a portrait in her home office in San Francisco. Lovz is a dating coach and uses her method, MegaDating, to help people find their match through her company, Emlovz.

EMLOVZ | PROVIDED

EmLovz Dating Service:

Finding love in the modern age a video program, weekly group coaching calls, membership in their private FaceBook SGA Beat Writer group, a workbook and access to a variety of Averaging two dates per week, she docdifferent, specialized coaches. They are based umented everything: the successes, failures online, allowing members to complete this and patterns in her dating experiences. As program anywhere in the country. her “experiment” continued, Lovz found that There are 12 members on the EmLovz some men were interested in hearing her team. Their specialties range from anxiety feedback. Providing this feedback laid the coaches to mock date experts to holistic sex groundwork for her dating coach business of and intimacy coaches. today: EmLovz.

“The most successful people in the world Her experiment concluded after 101 have the most mentors, they have the most dates with 52 different men and Lovz solidicoaches and they know they can get better at fied her theory: “Do the work to find the right whatever they want to learn,” Lovz said. partner from the start, then we can avoid diTheir clientele includes men and women vorce and unhappiness in the long run.” of all ages, all across the country, but EmShe didn’t go into her experiment searchLovz often works with divorcees and ing for love, but along the way, she met her widowers — those who have not husband, Thomas Anthony, on one of her 101 had to navigate the dating dates. The two now run EmLovz together, a scene in many years. dating service encouraging their students to EmLovz is to avoid settling.

They have their memuse a method called “Mega-Dating.”

“It’s about comparing and contrasting bers utilize dating apps and Mega-Dating is the process of going out different potential partners,” Lovz said. “Be- teach them how to strucwith multiple people in the hopes of identify- cause our focus is on forever love, we think ture their profiles thoughting unhealthy dating patterns, restructuring it is really important that you make the right fully, in a way that works old habits and defining an individual’s ideal choice in that. It’s such a big decision, you with the algorithm. Lovz said characteristics in a partner. Throughout their want to be well-informed.” it is the most effective tool for program, Lovz and Anthony encourage their Lovz discussed two insecure attachment dating if you know what you are students to go on 20 dates in 90 days. Antho- styles: avoidant and anxious. An anxious doing. ny said to get a good sample size, it averages person would be described as “clingy” or “an“At the end of the day you have out to be about dating eight to 12 people in noying,” while an avoidant person tends to two choices in life,” Anthony said. the span of three months – though it varies “avoid” relationships and intimacy. Lovz said “You can stay stuck and you can keep for each person. the Mega-Dating course corrects for both. It doing the same things over and over Lovz compared Mega-Dating to choos- defuses the energy of an anxious person by and over again and get the same reing a college or buying a car. She asks, when having lots of dating partners, their energy sults, or you can try something new, take a looking at colleges, do you choose the first is exhausted and they’re not allowing them- chance and change.” one you tour? Do you buy the first car that selves to get “clingy” with one person. The Darshil Amin, a former student turned you see? What if there was another college avoidant person now has an external goal — dating and confidence coach, joined EmLovs that was the perfect fit and you didn’t even 20 dates in 90 days — which forces them to after not dating for 15 years. He was married look into it? What if you could have gotten act in the dating sphere. and then entered a long-term relationship afthe same car for $20,000 less? The goal for EmLovz services are for life and include ter his divorce.

By Grace Logan

It’s about comparing and contrasting different potential partners.”

Emyli Lovz Dating Coach

Amin said navigating the dating scene was especially difficult because coming out of those long-term relationships, dating had completely evolved. Before his marriage, people didn’t use dating apps to connect with others.

“I had tried the old, traditional way of going through things,” Amin said. “It didn’t work out for me in the end. I thought (Mega-Dating) was a better approach. After I get into a relationship I will be happier, because I still have that satisfaction that I did go out and look.”

For all ages looking to be in a committed relationship, Lovz stresses the importance of communication. With dating apps, she said people often forget there is another person on the other side of the screen.

“It would be better if we just told the truth: ‘Hey, I’m not interested, but good luck to you,” Lovz said. “That is one of the biggest mistakes people make, they don’t treat others with respect.”

The advice Anthony has for college students is to be open and allow yourself to meet new people every day.

Also, learn how to be social without alcohol.

“Try to do one or two in-person events per week, even if it’s a group exercise class or a party,” Anthony said. “Expand your social network — if you’re in your 20s you gotta keep meeting people and putting yourself out there. You can get where you want to be dating-wise, just through friends. But that takes effort, it’s a manual process.”

ILLUSTRATION: YÚ YÚ BLUE | THE DEPAULIA

Arts/Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024 | 13

'Cultivated' meat for a cleaner future

MARA LOGAN | THE DEPAULIA

By Xadarri Nevels

been around since 20th century scientist Winston Churchill’s essay “50 Years Contributing Writer Hence.” In the essay, he predicted the In a move reshaping the food indus- future of cultivated meat. In 2001, bioltry, the Food and Drug Administration ogist Willem van Eelen filed a patent for recently approved the production of “industrial production of meat using cell “cultivated meat.” culture methods.” This marked a major The process includes acquiring and changein the development of cultivated reserving stem cells from animals grown meat for consumption. in bioreactors at high densities and vol“The alternative protein industry umes. These cells are fed nutrient-rich uses the term ‘cultivated meat’ over ‘labdensities that grow into skeletal muscle, grown’ or ‘synthetic meat’ because the fat and connective tissues that mirror meat is made by cultivators,” Ganguly conventional meat. said. “Cultivated meat is made of the “The production cycle takes between same cell types that can be arranged two to eight weeks,” said Enakshi Gan- in the same or similar structure as aniguly, a researcher with the Good Food mal tissues, thus replicating the sensory Institute, a nonprofit think tank working and nutritional profiles of conventional to advance alternative proteins globally. meat.”

“Cultivated meat is genuine animal meat The FDA ensures that cultivated that is produced by cultivating animal meat labels will be accurate, clear and cells directly, eliminating the need for otherwise compliant with applicable raising and farming animals for food.” regulatory requirements.

The idea of cultivated meat has “Cultivated meats seem to be a pos-

itive development for animal welfare,” said Stephon Hannah, a nutritionist and personal trainer at CPS. “I have been vegan for 15 years due to the treatment of animals. I am thankful that someone is figuring out a substitute that is harmless.”

Some consumers are still skeptical.

“Just as the COVID-19 vaccine had many skeptics, the regulation of cultivated meat will too,” said Andrea Stoeva, an environmental science student at DePaul. “Skepticism is good because the public will demand detailed information from cultivators and investors.”

“It’s an interesting forward path,” said Kyle Grice, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at DePaul. “Food is not created on a small scale. It takes a lot of space, resources and energy to get all foods from process to the table.”

Grice said his research has found that creating meat in this way - rather

than raising, slaughtering and transporting cattle - could have a big impact on reducing CO2 emissions that scientists determined are contributing to global warming and climate change.

“I am truly excited about the process, I just hope that renewable energy is a part of the process to cut emissions even more,” Grice said.

According to GFI, “By 2030, cultivated meat could have lower overall environmental impacts and be cost-competitive with other meats.”

“It would be even better for the environment and cost-efficient to couple energy required to produce meat in a laboratory with renewable energy,” Grice said.

14 | Arts/Life. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024

St.Vincent’s

D e JAMZ

COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

“Spinning fresh beats since 1581”

By Claire Tweedie Arts & Life Editor

Whether you love it, hate it or tout it as a Hallmark holiday, there’s no denying Valentine’s Day can make even the most content of single people think a little more wistfully about romantic date nights. While I usually spend the holiday curating the perfect romantic comedy double feature to watch alone while cozy in bed, this year I’m feeling a little cynical. Maybe it’s the stress of midterms, maybe it’s because I can’t catch the annual Music Box Theatre screening of “The Princess Bride” because of my conflicting night class schedule. Either way, my playlist for the holiday is relishing in the misfortune of other people’s breakups. Meaning, what if I just made a playlist of love songs about couples that would eventually split up? Love may not be real but I’ll be damned if the soundtrack doesn’t at least slap.

“Love is a Laserquest” by Arctic Monkeys My Roman Empire is the love letter Arc-

tic Monkeys’ frontman Alex Turner wrote for model and internet personality Alexa Chung.

No, I don’t care if that Internet meme is over.

The love letter is so heart-shattering that it still lives in my mind rent-free. While the singer’s four-year relationship with the iconic Tumblr it-girl may have resulted in their 2011 breakup, it also produced my favorite album of all time, “Suck It And See.” If any hot guy in a band wants to write a love song about me, please know the bar is high purely because of this song.

“Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez Although this song may now be better known as a viral Tiktok sound, “Until I Found You” was once just a love song for Stephen Sanchez’s high school girlfriend Georgia Webster. Although it’s unclear when exactly the pair dated and broke up, Webster is actually featured on the song in backup vocals. “Until I Found You” was later turned into a duet with Sanchez and singer Em Beihold, both of whom are signed to Republic Records. The moral of the story is: even if you

do break up with your rockstar boyfriend, make sure he’s forced to sing about you — and consequently think about you — at every concert for the rest of his career.

“If Not For You” by Måneskin Before Damiano David made his red carpet debut with Dove Cameron at this year’s Pre-Grammys Gala, he was in a long-term relationship with Italian model Giorgia Soleri. “If Not For You” is one of the best ballads on Måneskin’s album “Rush” and while I can’t confirm this song is actually about their relationship, the timeline does technically work. The album this song is featured on was released in January 2023 while David and Soleri only broke up in June 2023.

Meaning, because they were still together when this song was written, produced and released, I’m going to convince myself it’s about Soleri — mainly for the sake of this DeJamz theme.

“Pumpkin” by The Regrettes You know that one song every girl posts on their Instagram story the second the leaves turn orange in autumn? This is it. “Pumpkin” is a swoon-worthy love ballad dedicated to lead singer Lydia Night’s then-boyfriend Dylan Minnette. A mellow bass, lulling vocals and subtle pop-genre edge craft an indie song that makes you want to slow dance in the kitchen with that someone special. The pair split in late 2022 after four years together but this song remains as a longing reminder of what was. Even The Regrettes split up in December 2023, so maybe all types of love, romantic or platonic, are dead.

ILLUSTRATION: YÚ YÚ BLUE | THE DEPAULIA

WHAT MAJOR IS YOUR PERFECT VALENTINE? What's your ideal date night?

Which type of book would you be most likely to pick up?

What's your favorite way to Who do you want to see spend time in the city? perform at FEST?

A. Talking literature over a fancy cocktail you ordered to impress your date.

B. Mansplaining The Godfather to her.

C. Somewhere new and trendy. If it doesn’t work out, at least you can get a post out of it!

D. Dinner and drinks but you will be Venmo requesting half the bill afterwards.

A. Whatever is on the syllabus this week, no time for fun reading.

B. A friend’s script, but only the scene descriptions.

C. The AP style guide or Twitter.

D. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey or a podcast…reading’s overrated.

A. Wandering around the Art Institute with an overpriced coffee (non-dairy milk, of course!)

B. Seeing a “film” at the Music Box, something niche and underground.

C. Brainstorming articles and panic editing at a local cafe.

D. Stimulating the economy (spending too much money in River North)

What DePaul bar can you be found on Thursday nights?

How do you express your love for a person?

A. You’re going clubbing in Boystown, duh.

B. Delilah’s or Kingston Mines.

C. Any dive, preferably cash only.

D. McGee’s (or Kelly’s, if you’re feeling classy!)

A. Melodramatic notes app poems, delivered like a dog with a dead bird.

B. Screenplays. An emotional monologue in Act Two, specifically.

C. Subtweets.

D. Requesting to connect on Linkedin.

A. Lana Del Rey (Yes, we know it won’t happen) B. Djo C. Megan Thee Stallion (With the drama right now? The interview would be golden) D. Kanye

What's your dream career?

A. Just a job, anywhere, please!

B. The next Quentin Tarantino?

C. Writing the NYT crosswords.

D. Working in an office that does Casual Fridays. (Patagonia vests optional.)

MOSTLY A’S

MOSTLY B’S

MOSTLY C’S

MOSTLY D’S

English

Film

Journalism

Buisness

QUIZ BY JAKE COX & BRIGID O’BRIEN

Sports Inspiring Confidence:

Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024| 15

Matt Brady’s approach as DePaul’s interim head coach

By Tom Gorski Men’s Basketball Beat Reporter

Growing up in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, Matt Brady’s coaching aspirations began to flourish during his grade school years.

Even at that age, he held a devoted belief in his future as a basketball head coach.

He did not know then that this childhood dream would lead him to a distinguished 37year career.

“When you get in this business, you don’t know if you’re going to have any level of success,” Brady told the DePaulia. “I’ve been really blessed and fortunate to have been exposed to a lot of different ways to run a basketball program.”

Brady’s coaching career spans 12 years, with successful spells at James Madison and Marist, marked by five 20-win seasons and two conference championships. Notably, during his tenure at Maryland under head coach Mark Turgeon, Brady contributed to the Terps’ 2020 Big Ten Championship title and the development of various All-Big Ten selections, NBA Draft picks and All-Conference players.

After Tony Stubblefield was relieved of his duties as head coach Jan. 22, Brady, who joined DePaul’s coaching staff last July, stepped into the interim head coach position, tasked with leading the team for the remain-

der of the season.

Once the decision was made to move on from Stubblefield, Vice President and Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy appointed Brady as the interim for the rest of the season.

“For me, it was pretty simple because of the 12 years of head coaching experience that allowed the rest of the staff to be stable and stay in their same roles without a lot of change for our student-athletes,” Vice President and Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy said on the decision to promote Brady. “Bringing an outside person in was something I didn’t want to do.”

Becoming the interim head coach for the remainder of the season wasn’t something Brady had foreseen after joining Stubblefield’s staff as a special assistant. His primary objective when he took the job was to bring his experience from successful programs to the table and provide assistance to the team in any way possible.

“I have a little bit of a reputation as a player development guy,” Brady said of why Stubblefield added him to his coaching staff.

“I love being in the gym with the players. I’m grateful to be here at DePaul and love the school, love the city and love the basketball program’s potential.”

JAYDI VASQUEZ | THE DEPAULIA

Interim head coach Matt Brady looks on during DePaul’s matchup with Xavier February 3, 2024, at Wintrust Arena. Brady took on the job in January after the departure of Tony Stubblefield.

For Brady, coaching goes beyond the

JAYDI VASQUEZ | THE DEPAULIA

DePaul forward Da’Sean Nelson drives to the rim in a game against Xavier February 3, 2024, at at Wintrust Arena. Nelson played 21 minutes off the bench and scored nine points, hitting all seven free throw attempts.

scoreboard; it’s about the profound opportunity to make a lasting difference in his players’ lives. Throughout his career, he has remained dedicated to this principle and believes he has succeeded in making a meaningful impact.

“I’ve had an opportunity to do that [make an impact] because I hear from players I coached 30 years ago and I have emails from guys that I haven’t heard from in decades,” Brady said. “I think that speaks to my level of Hand Tossed Store Hours with kids on the court and their Mon - Thurs. 8 am - 5 pm investment NY Style Pizza lives.”

Friday: 8am - 2 pm From scratch The team currently holds a 3-20 record, and the downward trend appears to be continuing, especially with tough opponents like UConn, St. John’s and Marquette looming in the challenging Big East schedule ahead.

Throughout this season, there has been a common perception of the team’s struggles with confidence on the court, particularly highlighted by a streak of 24 consecutive conference losses along with how lopsided the score of games have been. Brady told The DePaulia that he has been actively working to address and improve the team’s confidence and mental toughness on the court.

“Yeah, it’s a challenge, right?” Brady said of the team’s confidence levels through all the recent changes. “This is a group whose ego is already fragile and whose confidence is already broken a little bit. I’m doing everything I can to be really positive and proactive with our group to keep their spirits up.”

This season has brought change for the team, which is something sophomore guard Jaden Henley is accustomed to, having now Dine in - Carry out experienced his third coach in just two colleDelivering w/ Door Dash - Grub Hub - Uber giate seasons due to his transfer from Minnesota this past offseason.

Serving DePaul “Coach Brady is obviously doing a great and the surrounding area job,” Henley said of what it’s been like playing for Brady. “He’s kind of pushing us just for over 25 years.

DePaul Center 333 South State St.

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

to stay together. Keep pushing because the coaching change wasn’t ideal obviously. Just keep pushing hard every day and keep trying to get better.”

Brady sees plenty of positives in the roster and believes there are key players to build around. While he can’t completely shape the team to his vision, he’s focused on coaching and improving the team’s mental toughness and chemistry.

“I’ve really been trying to reach this team in an emotional way,” Brady said. “I’m trying to group both the individuals in the group as a whole to understand the importance of mental toughness, body language and trying to improve teamwork and the camaraderie with the group on and off the court.”

Brady is unlikely to be considered for the full-time head coaching position, but he is not worried about it at the moment or its implications for his future. His main priority is providing support to the players, and understanding the challenges they face mentally with the ongoing losing streak and the departure of their head coach, who recruited them.

DePaul has often been portrayed as an unappealing destination due to its lack of competitiveness and coaching carousel over the last two decades, but Brady holds a different perspective. He sees numerous selling points and compelling reasons why the program has much to offer for the next head coach.

“There is a lot to love about the opportunity for the next head coach and the truth of the matter is they’re coming at a good time,” Brady said. “The program is in a tough spot in terms of wins and losses, the portal and NIL, but they’re going to have an amazing opportunity to make a very significant and long-standing mark on DePaul basketball history.”

Sports

Sports. The DePaulia. Feb. 12, 2024 | 16

DePaul defeats Providence in Play4Kay cancer awareness night

By Samantha Davis Contributing Writer

DePaul secured an 84-72 victory against Providence at Wintrust Arena Feb. 7 in the Play4Kay game. It was the team’s first game back in Chicago after a week-long road trip to Butler and Georgetown.

Guard Anaya Peoples led DePaul with 28 points and seven rebounds. It was her 11th game this season with 20 or more points. Forward Jorie Allen added 22 points, along with forward Brynn Masikewich’s career-high 12 points. Providence had four players scoring double digits, led by guard Brynn Farrell’s 18 points.

The game meant more than the win. It was a night honoring those fighting cancer and remembering those who passed from the disease.

DePaul partnered with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to participate in the Play4Kay Pledge Playoff fundraiser, which recognizes the fight against all cancers affecting women.

Various basketball teams across the country are working with the organization through February to raise money for cancer research and assist those battling cancer. Those wishing to participate in the fundraiser can make a pledge to the Kay Yow fund for every DePaul assist this month or make a one-time donation.

Sandra Kay Yow dedicated over three decades of her life as North Carolina’s head women’s basketball coach, from 1975 to 2009. She passed away Jan. 24, 2009, at age 66 after a 22-year battle with breast cancer.

She founded the Kay Yow Cancer Fund before she died. “(Yow) battled breast cancer on and off for 22 of those years that she coached at N.C. State, her cancer battle was very public,” Kelsey Harris, director of the cancer fund said. “During her time that she was battling and coaching at the same time, she actually founded the fund in 2007. She was able to create the funds before she passed away, and created a legacy out of that.”

The fundraiser has a $50,000 goal between all schools, currently sitting shy of $10,000 a week into February.

“It’s supporting life-saving cancer research,” Harrison said about the mission.

“It’s uniting everyone in the fight against all cancers affecting women through Play4Kay.” Participating schools each choose a stat line that fans can pledge toward for the month. DePaul chose assists, which they currently rank fourth in the Big East with 17.16 per game.

“Fundraise around your game, donating it back to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to help with cancer research to help with underserved communities, and then lastly, to celebrate cancer survivors,” Harris said. “Those are kind of the three main components of a Play4Kay game.”

Yow was a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach, as well as the president and founding member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

She also led the U.S. women’s team to a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She went 737-344 in her 38-year coaching career.

Head coach Doug Bruno met Yow in the late 1980s.

“She’s just a great person, a great coach and (she) had this ability to be as competitive as anybody,” Bruno said. “She was such a gentle person. To know her was to love her.”

Yow’s words resonated with Bruno in a way that has stuck with him to this day. He recalls a speech she gave at a Chicago Sun-

MAXIMIN CLÉMENT | THE DEPAULIA

DePaul guard Katlyn Gilbert (No. 0) gets a screen from forward Brynn Masikewich (No. 5) in a game against Providence Feb. 7, 2024, at Wintrust Arena. The Blue Demon uniforms featured pink accents to raise awareness for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Times all-area banquet in the early 1990s.

“She gave a brilliant speech about how you can’t always control your circumstances in life, but you can always control your attitude about your circumstances,” Bruno said.

At the game, players and coaching staff wore shirts saying “hope, strength, courage,” and their uniforms had pink accents.

A quick 11-for-15 start from the field, collecting offensive rebounds and forcing turnovers helped the Blue Demons defeat the Friars.

DePaul forced 18 turnovers, scored an additional 13 points from offensive rebounds, and outscored Providence in the paint 36-30.

“You’re not going to make every shot you shoot, but coach always says, ‘Keep shooting … If you don’t shoot, how do you know if it’s going to go in or not?’” Masikewich said. “So just keep having that confidence, and we all believe in each other.”

Masikewich had a big night in her return to the court after dealing with a hand injury, which was still taped up. Her last game played was Jan. 13 against Marquette.

This was Masikewich’s second start of the season, in addition to her career-high scoring night.

“It feels the exact same if I come off the bench, I feel prepared and ready to go,” Masikewich said about starting. “My teammates always give me confidence.”

Bruno said he started Masikewich due to the shooting and rebounding struggle DePaul has been having, and to go up against Providence’s Olivia Olsen’s strong interior skills. Both Masikewich and Olsen are 6-foot-3.

Providence closed in on DePaul’s lead in the second quarter, coming within just a point in the sixth minute, but team chemistry helped the Blue Demons maintain the edge and come out on top.

“Just being able to look each other in the eye and know they [teammates] have your back no matter what; I can make a mistake, they can make a mistake, but we’re onto the next play,” Peoples said. “We’re in this together, and we got a great coach who we’re following behind, it’s all about the chemistry.

We’re so close this year. We are like sisters, really.”

Providence beat DePaul 72-65 in the

first conference meeting of the season Jan. 3 in Rhode Island. DePaul has never lost to Providence on home court in program history.

“The way the players have stayed the course through tough and difficult times, it’s

just been impressive,” Bruno said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but I’m just proud of the players staying together. … It was a very good win for our team and our program, and hopefully, we can get things moving consistently in the right direction.”

DePaul moves to 12-13 (4-8 Big East) and ranks ninth in the conference. The Blue Demons’ next game is at Creighton Feb. 10 before they return back to Chicago to face Marquette Feb. 13.

Bigger than basketball, the cancer awareness night was inspiring and emotional for the players.

“This means a lot to me, honestly. I lost my grandmother on my dad’s side from cancer,” Peoples said, choking up as Bruno patted her back for comfort. “My grandmother on my mom’s side is battling, and she also beat it. This is personally like a really big game … I just want to honor them.”

Masikewich also backed up Peoples on the importance of the cause.

“My grandparents have struggled with cancer, and they’re surviving with cancer,” Masikewich said.

Masikewich also has a cousin who was recently diagnosed.

“Playing the game is great, and we get to do that, but they are fighting for their lives,” Masikewich said. “That’s the bigger picture.”

Monday for the Masses The DePaulia’s Newsletter

Sign up for the newsletter TODAY and your name will be entered for a chance to win TWO TICKETS to see Broadway in Chicago’s

‘GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY’

AT CIBC THEATRE on VALENTINE’S DAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 Winners will be notified by email, Feb. 13, 2024.

Terms & conditions apply. Seetinyurl.com/depauliagiveaway for details.