The DePaulia 9.11.23

A new era for DePaul

By Rose O’Keeffe Asst. News Editor

To make DePaul “the standard for higher education” amid nancial struggles and worsening public con dence in higher education, the university released the Designing DePaul Dra Report ursday, Aug. 31, following academic convocation.

e 51-page report, compiled from feedback of 3,000 DePaul community members–comprised of students, faculty, sta and alumni–aims to:

-Make a student health care plan available by autumn 2024;

-Close the achievement and retention gap for minority students within 10 years;

-Make DePaul a “Hispanic-serving institution”;

-And bolster the university’s digital presence with arti cial intelligence and a new Chief Branding O cer.

President Robert Manuel also announced a two-part capital campaign for philanthropic fundraising to build a new $60 million basketball practice facility and $1 billion to establish academic interdisciplinary institutes for poverty, the environment and arti cial intelligence.

“I believe that these options provide us grounded, creative and achievable possibilities to lead us to a place of prominence and stability in higher education,” Manuel said in a speech during convocation.

ough the Designing DePaul dra emphasizes taking action to improve overall student life, members of DePaul’s Student Government Association (SGA) have expressed concern about the uncertain timelines for key initiatives and the low turnout gures for the program’s listening sessions last year.

“Looking at the plan that’s outlined now, I am a little concerned that some of the initiatives are not exactly what students want,” said Jaslynn Hodges, SGA chief of sta .

Hodges said the low student turnout in Designing DePaul sessions might have been remedied if the administration had more direct contact with SGA throughout the Designing DePaul process last year.

“One of the main things that could have been done was simply reaching out to SGA and asking questions – and then maybe even allow us to reach out to the community or network to get more student buy-in,” Hodges said.

Of 50 Designing DePaul sessions last year, one was hosted in collaboration with SGA. All sessions were open for student attendance.

“For a plan as ambitious as this. I think it would have been helpful to have a little bit more student input,” Hodges said. “...We didn’t get the plan or the dra that President Rob shared with the community until everyone else.”

See DESIGN, continued on page 5

CAMPUS CRIME REPORT

The DePaulia is the of cial student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily re ect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Nadia Carolina Hernandez eic@depauliaonline.com

ONLINE MANAGING | Samantha Moilanen online@depauliaonline.com

PRINT MANAGING | Lilly Keller managing@depauliaonline.com

NEWS EDITOR | Lucia Preziosi news@depauliaonline.com

ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Rose O’Keeffe news@depauliaonline.com

OPINIONS EDITOR | Carly Witt 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 EDITORS | Jake Cox & Kiersten Riedford design@depauliaonline.com

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR | Quentin Blais multimedia@depauliaonline.com

ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR | Jonah Weber multimedia@depauliaonline.com

PHOTO EDITOR | Kit Wiberg photo@depauliaonline.com

ASST. PHOTO EDITOR | Erin Henze photo@depauliaonline.com

COPY EDITOR | Amber Corkey copydesk@depauliaonline.com

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR | Vanessa Lopez social@depauliaonline.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDITOR | Ruchi Nawathe social@depauliaonline.com

ADVISER | Martha Irvine mirvine5@depaul.edu

LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS

Drug & Alcohol Assault & Theft Other

Lincoln Park Campus Crimes:

Aug. 30

1) An Attempted Motor Vehicle Theft was reported on the 2200 N block of Halsted.

2) Graf ti was found on the Shef eld Parking Garage.

Aug. 31

3) Public Safety received two reports of incidents involving the same offender, classi ed as Battery and Disorderly Conduct. The incidents occurred at the corner of Belden & Shef eld and on the 1st oor of Schmitt Academic Center. A Safety Alert was issued to the campus

Aug. 30, 2023 to Sept. 5, 2023

community regarding the incidents.

4) A Stalking report was led regarding a reported incident that occurred in the alley of the 2200 N block of Kenmore.

Sept. 2

5) A Criminal Trespass report was led regarding a known trespasser entering Centennial Hall. Subject was transported to Illinois Masonic by EMS.

Sept. 5

6) An Indecent Exposure report was led regarding an offender under the El tracks at the Cacciatore Stadium parking lot. Offender was escorted off campus.

LOOP CAMPUS

SOURCE | DEPAUL CRIME PREVENTION OFFICE

Loop Campus Crimes:

Aug. 30

1) A Battery was reported on State Street in front of the DePaul Center The unknown offender verbally harassed and spit on the complainant.

Aug. 31

2) Graf ti was reported on the Daley Building.

Sept. 5

3) University Center staff reported on Sept 6th that there was bullet damage on the property including two broken windows. A Chicago Police report was led regarding the damage.

La DePaulia es el noticiero o cial estudiantil en español de la Universidad DePaul, enfocado en proveer una voz para la comunidad latinx. Nuestras opiniones no necesariamente re ejan las opiniones de la administración, facultad o personal de la universidad.

JEFA DE REDACCIÓN | Jacqueline Cardenas eicladepaulia@depauliaonline.com

GERENTE EDITORIAL | Rodolfo Zagal managingladepaulia@depauliaonline.com

EDITORA DE NOTICIAS | Cary Robbins crobbi10@depaul.edu

ASESORA | Laura Rodriguez Presa

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LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS

DePaul’s path to nancial recovery: Re ecting on VSIP and future redesign plans

By Samantha Moilanen Online Managing Editor

Last year, DePaul faced a $56.5 million budget gap and a decline in enrollment a er the pandemic, a trend in academic institutions across the country. Now at the start of the next academic year, a university spokesperson con rmed the budget gap is closed.

To narrow the growing gap between DePaul’s revenue and expenses, university leadership engaged in cost-cutting measures like the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP).

According to a budget update shared by DePaul President Rob Manuel on Aug. 9, 77 total sta and administration members participated in VSIP and 15 employees le the university through workforce reductions in an e ort to close the FY24 budget gap. For these sta members, their last day at DePaul was July 24, according to Manuel.

is program was only o ered to fulltime sta and administration at DePaul; faculty members were not eligible because of the essential role faculty play in student’s education and uncertainty over who will take up the o er.

Of the 1,389 sta members employed at DePaul as of last year, 205 were eligible, but only 77 took up the VSIP o er. Departments a ected by sta reductions were noti ed the week of July 10.

On June 16, Manuel shared an update with the university regarding the FY24 budget and the VSIP program. is update came a week a er the June 8 deadline for eligible sta to submit their formal agreements accepting the VSIP o er. As of June 16, Manuel said 76 people had nalized their agreements to participate in the program in his address.

Race/ethnicity and gender breakdowns shared by the university show 67% of these sta members are female and 33% are male.

In addition, the majority of these sta members are white making up 74% of all sta members who took up VSIP: 16% are Black or African American, 9% are Hispanic or Latino and 1% chose not to disclose their race.

“I am pleased to announce that, in relation to the total sta population, workforce reductions will be kept at a minimum,” Manuel said in the June 16 budget update addressed to the university.

Sta and administrators at DePaul accepted the VSIP o er for many di erent reasons, but most who spoke with e DePaulia said they wanted to help the university recover during the nancial crisis.

Craig Mousin, the former Ombudsperson for DePaul, said he took the of-

fer because it seemed like the appropriate time. As someone who worked for the university for 33 years, Mousin said taking the VSIP o er felt like the best way to help the university move forward and allow for someone new to ll his former role. Until the Ombudsperson position is lled with a new candidate, the role is temporarily put on hold.

“It really is time for other individuals to step up and help decide where DePaul is going for the next century,” Mousin said.

Henne Lorne, a former Customer Relationship Management (CRM) business analyst who worked for DePaul for 32 years before taking the VSIP o er, said it seemed like an opportune time to take an early retirement.

“Every time it happens, you lose a bunch of people that you’ve worked with over a period of time, and that’s kind of sad,” Lorne said. “But my sense is that most people realize it’s for the best for the university. And they’re quite willing to step up, help their fellow employees.”

According to Lorne, this past year was not the rst time DePaul had to use a program similar to VSIP to help close the gap between the university’s revenue and expenses.

In 2019, former DePaul president A. Gabriel Esteban o ered both long-standing university sta and faculty the option to partake in an Early Retirement Incentive Program (ERIP). University records show this program was also o ered in 2014 to help achieve budgetary goals for the next scal year.

Lorne said these cost-cutting measures typically come during times of low enrollment where the university is forced to economize quickly to combat nancial instability.

“Demographically, we’re facing in the next couple of years, the lowest number of college students entering the system nationwide, so we’ve got to become leaner and more competitive,” Lorne said.

According to Lorne, while DePaul is facing a signi cant budget gap, he said university leadership is proactively planning for the next scal year.

However, while most took the o er with the hopes of helping DePaul’s nancial future, some said it seemed like the best way to avoid losing their jobs without the option of a payout.

DePaul plans to allocate 25% of the dollars saved through VSIP to ll positions vacated by sta and administration last year, according to Manuel’s June 16 address.

To determine how these positions are prioritized, Manuel said they are looking at impact statements provided by each college, school and division.

“Demographically, we’re facing in the next couple of years, the lowest number of college students entering the system nationwide, so we’ve got to become leaner and more competitive.”

Henne Lorne

Former Customer Relationship Management (CRM) business analyst who worked for DePaul for 32 years

JAKE COX | THE DEPAULIA

Students protest the university letting go of faculty and staff on Sheffield Ave. on April 10.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

The third incident occurred at 1047 W. Fullerton

The second incident occurred at 949 W. Belden

The first incident occurred at 935 W. Fullerton

DePaul addresses safety concerns a er multiple robberies on campus

By Samantha Moilanen Online Managing Editor

Multiple assault and battery incidents on DePaul’s campuses during the last academic year prompted students to push for increased safety measures, such as changing the university from an open to closed campus, improving Public Safety response time and speeding up the delivery of safety alerts. A string of robberies on the Lincoln Park campus over the weekend has reignited student’s safety concerns.

On Saturday, Sept. 9, Public Safety sent an alert notifying students of two robberies on DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus at 1:15 a.m. According to the alert, the rst incident happened at 935 W. Fullerton Ave. and the second was at 949 W. Belden Ave. During the rst incident, Public Safety said two male o enders approached two students and demanded their belongings. In the second incident, two male o enders approached three students.

At 2:36 a.m., Public Safety sent a second alert notifying students of a third in-

cident on 1047 W. Fullerton Ave. near the corner of Kenmore Avenue and Fullerton Avenue. In this alert, Public Safety said it appears the same individuals from the previous two incidents also were involved. is time, safety o cials said one of the perpetrators hit a student in the face. Because of the physical contact, Public Safety said they consider the incident a robbery and battery.

All three incidents happened between approximately 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m, according to Public Safety.

DePaul President Robert Manuel sent a message to the university midday Saturday addressing the robberies. According to Manuel, the university believes the same o enders were responsible for all three incidents, but Chicago police have not conrmed this yet.

“We are deeply upset [that] our students had this alarming experience on our campus … Chicago continues to face ongoing challenges with criminal activity across the city. We must acknowledge this sad reality and respond accordingly,” Manuel said

in his statement.

Manuel said to prevent more safety incidents on DePaul’s campuses, the university plans to increase the Public Safety presence in the Loop and Lincoln Park by adding more security o cers. He also said DePaul led concerns with the mayor, police commander and elected o cials regarding the previous night’s incidents.

Manuel is urging students to utilize DePaul’s safety resources, including:

- e safety escort service available on the Lincoln Park campus from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

- e inter-campus shuttle between campuses

- e Vinnie Van service to travel to residential destinations

- e emergency call boxes on campus

Manuel also urged students to stay alert in groups a er dark and to report criminal activity or suspicious behavior to Public Safety.

On ursday, Sept. 14, the university will host a Campus Safety Summit at noon in the Lincoln Park Student Center.

Scan

Scan the QR code to read DePaul President Robert Manuel’s message about the recent robberies

KIERSTEN RIEDFORD | THE DEPAULIA

Making DePaul a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is another step toward closing achievement and retention gaps, said Jose Perales, interim vice president for institutional diversity and equity.

Nearly 23% of DePaul’s student pop-

mendations from the Black Equity Initiative as possible,” read the Designing DePaul dra report.

Despite the uncertain timeline, Alava is excited to use the momentum of Designing DePaul to push forward the BEI and HSI standing so that DePaul can get University administrators, faculty and staff walk into the St. Vincent de Paul church in

Opinions

Letter from the editor: A fresh start for The DePaulia

By Nadia Carolina Hernandez Editor-in-Chief

What’s up, DePaul!

We are glad to be back on campus again. If you picked up this paper and got this far, you may have noticed some changes from us.

The DePaulia was pretty quiet over the summer, but not for the reasons you may think. We’ve been looking into how we can best deliver truthful, accurate and compelling news to you and Chicago.

This required lots of time and effort from our staff to hear about how we can improve and remind us once again why we do what we do.

So going forward, here’s what you need to know.

Our paper will be smaller. In an effort to prioritize what you need to know first thing Monday morning, we’ll be cutting down the number of pages we’ll be printing from 28 down to 16.

You can expect more content exclusively online. We already know that students are getting their news digitally. That’s why we have all of our socials, website and newsletters below.

We won’t have as many copies on campus. Papers will still be delivered weekly, with the exception of finals. They’ll be ready at the newsstands, always free for student convenience.

You can submit tips DIRECTLY to us. Please see the “Have a tip?” button

right above our nameplate on the website. We want to hear from you!

We are hiring beyond our content departments. Are you a marketing or business student looking to get handson experience with budgeting and advertisement? Look no further, contact mirvine5@depaul.edu or eic@depauliaonline.com!

We also will be looking into the best ways to engage with DePaul, Lincoln Park and Chicago overall. We are excited to announce a new staff position aimed at connecting with students. Ruchi Nawathe is our community engagement editor. Email her social@depauliaonline.com or DM us on social.

In the coming weeks, The DePaulia will be updating our Code of Ethics to

adapt to changing times.

Do you have a passion for reporting on the Latine community at DePaul and in Chicago? Join our sister publication, La DePaulia, by emailing eicladepaulia@depauliaonline.com or follow their socials here!

Want to join our staff of relentless reporters, award winning photographers and growing multimedia journalists? Email the section editor you want to write for on our website below.

Have a story idea or general suggestion? Pitches and comments can be sent to eic@depauliaonline.com or DM us on our socials.

Thanks for joining us on entering our rebrand era!

JONAH WEBER | THE DEPAULIA

The DePaulia staff for 2023-24 is hard at work on the first issue of the year, Sunday, Sept. 10 in its loop campus DePaul Center office.

Advice from a Senior: How to do DePaul

Hey, Blue Demons! Even though I’m just an editor for e DePaulia, I’ve learned a thing or two about living a life worthy of being romanticized, and I’ve made every e ort to make the most of my time here at DePaul.

As an incoming student in 2020, my sole DePaul experience during the pandemic was on DeHub. To be honest, I’m a sucker for freebies, so I joined the Sticker of the Month Club on DeHub in the hopes that DIBS’ themed stickers would distract me from the pandemic.

Besides awaiting the arrival of my monthly sticker, I also spent some time on Facebook. At the time, DePaul had an “O cial DePaul University Class of 2024” group that served as a means for students, such as myself, to form new friendships and/or gain more Instagram followers. e academic year of 2020-2021 was rough, so let’s never do it again. A er my freshman year experience was practically robbed from me, I vowed to make the remainder of my DePaul experience worthwhile.

Although I did not receive a traditional four-year experience at DePaul, I found my place and where I belong. I hope I have helped you “do DePaul better.”

Use your DePaul discount

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I will always ask if an eatery o ers a college student discount. e Warehouse Bar and Pizzeria and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams are two businesses that provide a 15% student discount if you show your DePaul ID. Other establishments, such as Dom’s Kitchen & Market and Cafecito in Lincoln Park, provide a 10% discount. More information regarding demon discounts can be found here.

Go to festivals

Chicagoans rarely go a week without celebrating anything. ere’s always a festival going on, whether it’s a music festival, an art festival or a food festival. Many street festivals o er free entry, making them a great place to experience something new. In the next several months, you can look forward to the Chicago Food Truck Fall Festival, Magni cent Lights Festival and the Christkindlmarket.

Take a class at

e Ray

Classes at e Ray Fitness and Recreation Center are either humbling or truly enjoyable. e Ray provides workout classes daily, ranging from cycling to

cardio kickboxing. You can nd nearly any workout class you desire. Also, if you are a full-time DePaul student, you have a complimentary membership to e Ray, so why not take advantage? To nd a list of all of the classes o ered at e Ray, visit here.

Take a picture with DIBS

Taking a picture with DIBS is what must be done. Your parents will adore it, and you will secretly enjoy it. It’s a DePaul norm, and it’s always amusing because we’re the largest Catholic university with a demon as a mascot.

Go to FEST

Going to FEST is something that everyone at DePaul should do; in my two fest experiences, DePaul has hosted 2 Chainz and Flo Milli. You should attend even if you are not a fan of the chosen artist performing at FEST. It is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to close the quarter, and it is a celebration solely for us!

Explore farmers markets

Farmers markets are a perfect way to romanticize Chicago and your life, and there are plenty of them throughout the city. My personal favorites are the Logan Square Farmers Market and the Green City Market at Lincoln Park. Flowers, pastries, food, and good vibes can all be found at these markets; to nd more farmers markets near you, click here.

Go to the Laugh Factory

If you’re feeling sad, a trip to the Laugh Factory is just what you need. At 3175 N. Broadway, just near the Belmont station, enjoy a night out laughing at some of Chicago’s funniest stand-up comedians with a group of friends or on a date. ere’s a two-drink minimum, but you can always stick to water if you’d like.

Attend OSI and DAB events

You can’t go through the STU without seeing a ier for an O ce of Student Involvement or DePaul Activities Board event. Go check them out; you’ll usually leave with some DePaul swag or a snack. ey will only be cringe if you make them cringe. Many people on campus are looking to meet new people, so I would recommend to step beyond your comfort zone and attend these events. While there are events nearly every week, Midnight Breakfast, the annual Ugly Sweater Party and DePaul Night at the Chicago Cubs are three of my favorite DePaul events.

ERICK QUEZADA | THE DEPAULIA

Emblem3 opens for Flo Milli at FEST on Friday, May 26. FEST is a yearly concert put on by the DePaul Activities Board to celebrate the end of the school year.

UNA CLEARY | THE DEPAULIA

The Daley Plaza City Market takes place Thursdays, May 11 to Oct. 26 from 7a.m. to 2p.m. This is one of many markets in the city students can explore.

AMBER STOUTENBOROUGH | THE DEPAULIA

The Ray Meyer Fitness Center offers classes to students. One example is a self-defense class taught by Valerie Sanchez, 21, a female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

By Vanessa Lopez

Social Media Editor

VANESSA LOPEZ | THE DEPAULIA

Vanessa Lopez, The DePaulia Social Media Editor and senior, posing with Demon in a Blue Suit ‘DIBS,’ DePaul’s mascot.

TIMELESS MEDLODIES

Chicago Jazz Festival celebrates 47th Anniversary

By Una Cleary Focus Editor

As the sun set on summer in Chicago, Labor Day Weekend brought thousands to Millenium Park as the Chicago Jazz Festival celebrated its 47th anniversary. e improvisation of trumpets, saxophones, drums and more created a story onstage as visitors laid out on the grass of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. “Jazz culture is so rooted in what I understand Black culture,” said visitor Macy omas. “You can hear the soul and the pain in the music, and without saying a word can convey a message through the way the instruments are presented that connects the heart across cultures and identities.”

Local talent and national and international artists came to perform solo, in quartets, jazz collectives and more.

e festival had main performances at Millenium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center, co-hosted by e Jazz Institute of Chicago and DCASE ( e Department of Cultural

A airs and Special Events.)

e Jazz Institute of Chicago is notable for co-chairing the festival but has also created music education and public programs throughout the city.

“We were founded in 1969 with the mission to promote jazz in all of its forms,” said Jonathan Nadel Development Manager at the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

Public programs span from Jazz City, a free concert series in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. Education programs include the Jazz Masters Residency, which brings jazz master artists into Chicago Public Schools, and Jazz Links Jam Sessions, allowing students to perform with world-class professionals and more.

Nadel appreciates that the city dedicates its Labor Day Weekend to supporting free jazz programming for everyone to enjoy.

“Chicago as a city has such a rich cultural heritage of jazz so the fact that the city prioritizes this music in a weekend that is so heavily trafcked for people all-around the world is a beautiful

thing,” Nadel said.

e Chicago Jazz Festival started in the summer of 1974 a er pianist and composer Duke Ellington died. Several dozen Chicago musicians held a festival to honor Ellington in Grant Park as 10 thousand music lovers came, according to Choose Chicago. In the following years, di erent groups, such as Chicago’s Council of the Fine Arts and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, organized to host various jazz festivals. e mayor’s o ce of Special Events stepped in to collaborate with the Jazz Institute of Chicago creating what we know to be the Chicago Jazz Festival today.

For DePaul senior and drummer Jayden Richarson, jazz is more than just a word that is ever-changing.

“Over the years there has been a lot of gripes about the word jazz in general but it doesn’t necessarily accurately depict what the music that we’re playing is,” Richarson said.“More importantly than a word, it’s black improvisational music. I think what’s so special is the ability to communicate and create on the spot.”

Richardson came to DePaul for Chicago’s music scene and has had the opportunity to play in several quarterly ensemble performances and at historical venues such as Hungry Brain located in Roscoe Village and Jazz Showcase located in the Loop.

Students in the DePaul Jazz Studies program receive instructional lessons and private lessons with highly esteemed instructors such as drummer and instructor Dana Hall, an in uence for Richardsons’ choice of DePaul.

Maintaining younger jazz engagement in 2023 is a task musicians grapple with.

e average listening age is 35+ as it is stereotypically associated with higher

levels of education and income according to De Novo Agency.

Richardson believes that there have been changes happening in the music that have made it more accessible to all people.

“A lot of people tend to label jazz music as very complicated and intellectual or hard to appreciate if you don’t understand what’s going on,” Richardson said. “But I think that kind of mentally has faded and continues to fade as time goes on.”Newer jazz artists such as Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Kamasi Washington and more have found ways to connect older jazz with the changing landscape of today’s music. Rap groups from the 90s, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, and even Kanye West and Jay-Z, have fused jazz into rap, transforming its sound that re ect the time.

“To preserve it is to extend its life beyond the senses of these artists,” omas said. “When they come and go, will the music live on.”

Jayden Richarson Drummist

The Chicago Jazz Festival was held in Millennium Park from Aug. 31 to Sep. 3. International, national, and local musicians came to provide free jazz programming. The Chicago Jazz Institute co-hosted

”More than an word it’s black improvisational music I think what’s so special is the ability to communicate and create on the spot.”

Billy Valentine and The Universal Truth performed Sunday at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

MEDLODIES

Anniversary with soulful sounds and cultural connection

Jazz Shows in Chicago:

Jazz Institute of Chicago: Jazz Links Jam Sessions | Sept.13 at 5p.m.

DePaul School of Music: DePaul Ensemble 20+ and Ensemble Dal Niente| Sept 23 at 5 p.m. | Logan Center of the Arts

DePaul Jazz Ensemble| Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. | Holtschneider Performance Center

Scan the QR code to see the Jazz Institue of Chicago:

Scan the QR code to view DePaul jazz performance schedule:

co-hosted the festival along with DCASE (The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events) for the 47th anniversary.

La DePaulia

Como un camión de comida mantuvo un negocio familiar durante la pandemia

Por Vanessa Lopez Editora de Redes Sociales

Hay pocos lugares donde encontrar camiones de comida en Chicago. Con un negocio sobre ruedas, algunos vienen y van, mientras que otros se mantienen rmes. El Restaurante El Azteca, por otro lado, luchó por mantener sus ruedas bien puestas en el suelo en un solo lugar.

Aunque el camión comenzó a estacionarse cerca de la universidad DePaul en el vecindario de Lincoln Park para vender comida mexicana hace años, la historia del dueño, Oscar Sánchez, comenzó mucho antes que eso.

Sánchez emigró de Jalisco, México, a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 16 años en busca de cumplir su idea del sueño americano: crear una vida mejor para él y su familia.

Llegó a Carolina del Norte, donde intentó conseguir trabajo en una plantación de tabaco, pero le negaron la oportunidad porque era menor de edad para trabajar en los campos, dijo.

Al tener recursos y apoyo limitados, tuvo que idear un nuevo plan para alcanzar su sueño. Fue entonces cuando Pedro Hernández, un viejo amigo suyo de su pueblo en Jalisco, volvió a su vida.

Hernández viajó desde Chicago a Carolina del Norte para recoger a Sánchez y le brindó la oportunidad de trabajar en El Azteca, un restaurante mexicano en el vecindario de Hermosa que él dirigía.

Allí, Sánchez aprendió los entresijos de la preparación de comida y el negocio de restaurantes.

“Me trató como familia”, recordó Sánchez.

Las cosas empezaron a cambiar cuando Sánchez le llamó a Hernández para contarle que no pudo encontrar trabajo y este le tendió la mano.

Cuando Sánchez llegó a Chicago, su horario de trabajo era desa ante; ya sea limpiando o cocinando, trabajaba siete días a la semana o trabajando 12 horas a pie.

Pero después de menos de una década trabajando para Hernández, Sánchez sintió la necesidad de hacer más.

“Estaba cansado de trabajar. Quería algo diferente. Aprendí mucho, pero sabía que era hora de un cambio”, dijo Sánchez.

En 2009, Sánchez y su primo, José Rodríguez, decidieron abrir otro restaurante con el mismo nombre en el vecindario de Belmont Cragin.

“Quería traer un pedazo de México, de mi cultura y mis experiencias al restaurante”, dijo Sánchez. “Eso es lo que es El Azteca”.

Sánchez eligió el nombre El Azteca, no para competir con Hernández, sino porque lo consideraba un socio, y su propio restaurante se sentía como una expansión del negocio familiar, dijo.

“Somos socios de por vida. Solo recibí apoyo de él”, dijo Sánchez.

Después de comenzar un negocio y aprender a navegar su propio restaurante durante varios años, Sánchez expandió su negocio con camiones de comida en el 2019.

Estaba decidido a abrir un camión cerca de Millennium Park y otro en Lincoln Park, y así aumentar el negocio del restaurante que estaba lento en ese momento.

Oscar Sánchez

Pero abrir el camión de comida en Lincoln Park se convirtió en un salvavidas para mantener el restaurante en Belmont Cragin abierto, dijo su hija, Julissa Sánchez, de 17 años.

El restaurante sufrió un incendio eléctrico este año y tuvieron que cerrar para su reconstrucción.

Pero la familia no perdió la esperanza.

“Después del incendio, estaba bastante preocupada por mi papá y el negocio, pero el camión de comida nos mantuvo en marcha”, dijo Julissa Sánchez.

El camión de comida de Lincoln Park tiene el apodo de “El Coronao”, pero la familia pretendía llamarlo ‘La Reina’, porque ayudó a nanciar las reparaciones del edicio del restaurante y mantuvo el negocio en funcionamiento después del incidente y durante toda la pandemia.

“Mis hijos, especialmente mi hija, les gusta bromear que este camión es la reina. Ella [el camión de comida] nos mantuvo en los momentos más difíciles del restaurante, y estoy agradecido a Dios por ella”, dijo Sánchez.

El camión no solo es el camión de comida favorito del negocio familiar, sino que también es una atracción entre la comunidad de DePaul.

Erik Salazar, un estudiante de la universidad, dijo que es su lugar preferido para disfrutar de auténtica comida mexicana en el campus.

“Siempre pido la torta. Es mi comida reconfortante”, dijo Salazar.

El camión, que se encuentra fuera de la biblioteca John Richardson y Sanctuary Townhomes, recibe a estudiantes hambrientos todos los días. Sirve tacos, elote, burritos, quesadillas y más.

“Trae representación de la cultura latina al campus”, dijo Salazar. “Especialmente porque la comida en el campus, en particular en el centro estudiantil, no es muy buena en mi opinión, así que es agradable darse el gusto de una buena torta de vez en cuando”.

La esposa de Sánchez, Sindy Arita, dice que trabajar fuera de una universidad es agradable porque tiene la oportunidad de ver caras familiares todos los días.

“Es una experiencia hermosa ser parte de una comunidad como Lincoln Park. Siempre nos hemos sentido bienvenidos por la escuela y la comunidad”, dijo Arita.

Sánchez dijo que no planean dejar el restaurante o el negocio de los camiones en el futuro cercano. Al contrario, tiene planes de renovaciones y de agregar otro camión de comida cerca de la Universidad Loyola en el futuro.

“Hago todo esto por todos”, dijo Sánchez. “Éramos un negocio familiar, y la mayoría de nuestros empleados son primos y familiares”.

Para Sánchez, los valores familiares son importantes.. “Sin la ayuda y el apoyo de mi familia, de sangre o no, no estaría donde estoy hoy”.

Sánchez dijo que su tiempo en DePaul solo lo ha motivado a seguir esforzándose por mantener las ruedas de su camión en el suelo, no solo para su familia, sino también para el vecindario.

Una estudiante de DePaul ordena comida del camion de comida, ‘El Coronao.’

VANSESSA LOPEZ | LA DEPAULIA

Sindy Arita, dueña de El Azteca Restaurante, cocina dentro de su camion de comida.

VANSESSA LOPEZ | LA DEPAULIA

“Quería traer un pedazo de México, de mi cultura y mis experiencias al restaurante... Eso es lo que es El Azteca”.

Dueño de El Azteca Restaurante

Una familia vende aguas frescas

Aguas frescas forman parte de la comunidad suroeste de Chicago

Por Citlali Pérez Escritora Contribuyente

¿Qué atrae a la gente al vecindario de Chicago Lawn en el suroeste de la ciudad cualquier día común? Aguas frescas de calidad, una bebida casera hecha de frutas recién exprimidas, populares en México y otros países latinoamericanos.

Aunque muchos vendedores ambulantes en toda la ciudad venden agua fresca, pocos se especializan en esta bebida única que, más recientemente algunos comenzaron a llamar “agua de spa”.

Pero en la calle W 71st y S Homan Ave., justo enfrente del Park Marquette, un pequeño negocio familiar que se especializa en la venta de aguas frescas y otros aperitivos ha estado operando desde su patio delantero desde 2021.

Díaz y Michelle vendían “bolis”, agua saborizada congelada dentro de una bolsa de plástico. Fueron muy populares entre los niños en Brighton Park, así que decidieron seguir vendiéndolos cuando se mudaron a Chicago Lawn.

Pero no vendían tanto porque muchas personas en la zona no estaban

Así que la familia comenzó a pensar ieron vender aguas frescas. Los sabores

con algo con lo que están más familiarizados. Pero lo que diferencia las aguas frescas a un jugo u otra bebida afrutada es sus ingredientes naturales.

Las aguas se preparan con frutas frescas que la familia obtiene de un almacén. Una buena agua fresca debe tener el sabor de la fruta u otros ingredientes con los que se hace y una buena

proporción de agua y azúcar, explicó.

Las aguas se mantienen frescas durante todo el día añadiendo hielo y

cuentan el puesto.

Díaz dijo que ella y su familia esperan ofrecer este servicio durante todo el año.

Desde septiembre del año pasado, han estado trabajando para abrir una ubicación para su negocio. Comenzaron a planearlo hace un año y desde entonces han asegurado el espacio en el 3115

más comunes incluyen horchata, jaUna tendencia reciente en TikTok

agregando más agua fresca al recipiente para no diluir el sabor.

Cuando el clima alcanza al menos 55 grados, los residentes de Chicago Lawn y otros clientes leales pueden contar con que Díaz y su familia estén listos con grandes recipientes transparentes de aguas frescas.

Michelle dijo que abrir la instalación ha sido un proceso largo debido a los requisitos y regulaciones de la ciudad. Aunque es una inversión arrieses y objetivo de la familia, dijo. La pareja ha podido subsidiar el costo del trabajo secundario que tiene horarios de Planean llamar al negocio “Las Delicias de Michelle”, ya que incluiría a toda la familia.

gada, es un sueño proyecto con un trabajo flexibles.

Mientras tanto, Díaz y Michelle también venden aguas en la calle 83, además de vender en frente de su casa.

El negocio es un esfuerzo familiar; Gloria Díaz y su esposo Oscar Michelle colaboran para hacerlo posible con el apoyo de la hermana de Díaz, Martina Guerca. Y los hijos de Díaz y Michelle, también ayudan a manejar el puesto los fines de semana durante el año escolar, cuando la familia tiene más clientes.

Guerca. clientes.

Díaz y su familia se mudaron a Chicago Lawn desde Brighton Park en 2020. Cuando vivían en Brighton Park,

Díaz explica que los clientes que

no están familiarizados con las aguas frescas pueden estar más dispuestos a probarlas porque pueden compararlas

La colorida fila de recipientes llama la atención de los transeúntes. La mayoría de los días, la gente hace fila o pasa en coche frente al patio delantero de la familia, que está justo enfrente de la

Escuela Primaria Tarkington. Durante el año escolar, los niños que salen de clase y los maestros fre-

ambulantes cercanos como competencia

“El sol sale para todos”, dice Michelle, quien no ve a los vendedores y dice que todos ofrecen algo diferente a la comunidad.

de llevar un negocio con éxito: un ser-

Michelle explica que hay tres formas vicio de calidad, productos de calidad y clientes leales que ayuden a correr la voz.

CITLALI PÉREZ | LA DEPAULIA

y antojitos cerca de Marquette Park en Chicago Lawn. Las bebidas dulces hechas de fruta son par te de la cultura latinoamericana.

W. 71st Pl.

A rts & L ife

BarbenHEIMER:

By Sam Mroz Asst. Arts & Life Editor

It is no secret that movie fandom sits in the backseat of mainstream culture.

Faced against the likes of evolved audiences and even more progressive media formats, the trunk was aiming to be its new home.

This changed on July 21, as millions flocked to the year’s main movie event, when a pop culture bomb went off in theaters across America. “Barbenheimer” was here, and for the rest of summer, its mushroom cloud of followers quickly dove into every media channel available.

Cushioned by a pair of auteur filmmakers and an ad campaign that managed to develop both films on an individual and collective basis, a movement was set.

Sprinkle in an arsenal of A-list performers, and the craze was unlike anything the business had seen in years.

However, the most important part of any legacy is its ability to survive, and for “Barbenheimer,” its continuity is created through discussion.

Looking toward the world of academia — a space built on conversation — it may earn itself the opportunity to thrive.

Micheal DeAngelis, a professor and chair of DePaul’s Media and Cinema Studies program, sees the potential in “Barbenheimer” as a step in the right

A pop culture boom big enough to reach the classroom

direction.

“This is definitely a historical phenomenon that can’t help but serve as a signal of hope and optimism,” DeAngelis said. “Both young adults and their elders still have a reason to go to theaters for the experience of seeing quality, non-blockbuster, non-superhero films.”

Found in the folds of each story, “Barbenheimer’s” mix of moral questioning and societal standards finds a way to relate to the growing minds of today.

DeAngelis and his fellow teachers see the need to grasp onto the content that is active in the lives of their students.

Paul Booth, associate dean of Student Affairs and Engagement and professor in DePaul’s College of Communication, identified how the principles he conveys in his classroom highlight the importance of an educated scholar.

“I try and train my students to look for those ideologies and identify them and talk about them,” Booth said. “You don’t always need to break them, but you do need to be able to recognize them.”

With “Barbenheimer” turning the tide, if only briefly, to the development of new storytelling methods, a teacher’s process is only empowered by its reception from the class.

As the media climate continues to dilute the value of cinema in the lives of

modern consumers, it takes a big push for said group’s attention to be won.

Using an abundant, and very pink ad campaign, “Barbie” brought that push and then some, with its own marketing leaking into the promotion of its better half.

Fusing into one organic experience, the only thing left was to see how audiences responded.

Kayla Garcia, a sophomore majoring in film and television at DePaul, said this moment gave her a reminder of what the cinema can truly offer.

“The fans went all out for these films that hold little crossover for target audiences, but the unity was still felt in the lobby of my local theater,” Garcia said. “This kind of buzz brought back the joys of going to see a movie together, as ‘Barbenheimer’ was a unifying space that accepted all who had an interest in either work.”

A version of the “Barbenheimer” event could find these stories in contention with one another.

Audiences were quick to cross this option off, with both films earning notable grossing successes that continue to rise, as a focus on their differences became the reason for their union.

“Barbenheimer” showed that movies can be deeply effective when distinct, leaving the industry with its own question to answer.

“The American film industry has

something significant to learn from this,” DeAngelis said. “Historically known for underestimating its audiences’ capacity for reflection upon intelligent subject matter, the ball is now in the industry’s court to test its willingness, or reluctance, to fund quality projects.”

The magnitude by which “Barbenheimer” affected the world remains a recent memory.

However, whether it fades amongst a wave of formulaic projects is dependent on those who raved about its significance in the first place.

Bringing together a wide range of followers, the movement behind “Barbenheimer” is a flash at what movie culture used to be. There are many who see the cinematic event’s viability in relation to the youth while also erecting a stronger conversation between both ends of the teaching dynamic.

More than anything, these movies imposed an exciting new way for films to be discussed, and continue to show why they were once the only thing people could talk about.

“The people go to see movies because they want the big spectacle,” Booth said. “It’s tough to be in the movie business right now, because it’s hard to make those small, independent, kind of powerful films, but they’re still there. You just have to go out and find them.”

YU YU BLUE | THE DEPAULIA

HOW TO: CHICAGO

By Nadia Carolina Hernandez Editor-in-Chief

Welcome back students! For many of you, this is your first time here in Chicago. If there’s anything I’ve learned, we take our city very seriously. Don’t try to compare us to New York or LA.

I made this guide after years of hearing horrible advice, such as “don’t walk around after 7 p.m.,” from people who only ever heard about living here, without actually setting foot on our soil.

Learn your directions

People will unironically give you directions that say, “Go south on Fullerton!” I have trouble distinguishing my left from my right, so this was an extremely difficult adjustment. What helped me was learning which directions the L trains go. 95th/Loop is south, How-

ard/Kimball/Linden is north. Toward the lake is east, and toward O’Hare is west (well, actually northwest).

If you can’t go anywhere without good ol’e Google or Apple maps, I would try to learn street names. Many people refer to businesses like the “Starbucks on Fullertons,” so learning well-known streets around campus ASAP will save you some time.

Bring water with you everywhere

Have you ever been dying of thirst while the Red Line is stuck in between Fullerton and Belmont for over 20 minutes? You shouldn’t need to when you have water. I recommend having a water bottle handy just in case those “quick” commutes become longer.

Don’t be the fool who PAYS for water.

Map out the bathrooms

Whoever mapped out this city did not foresee the privatization of restrooms. Many small businesses have policies of guests using bathrooms only if they purchase something. Although totally fair, it ultimately restricts where you can go. When I find myself walking around, I know that a Target or library will have my back.

In desperate times, most Starbucks have codes on their bathrooms.

Lincoln Park is not a college town

Unlike other universities, Lincoln Park is a neighborhood with WAY more than just DePaul. In fact, I highly recommend reading up on the history of how the university contributed to the gentrification of Lincoln Park. There are several elementary schools and million dollar homes surrounding our campus. However, there are surrounding bars and restaurants that offer plenty of student discounts. The server at Jersey Mike’s on Fullerton recently asked how my first day of school went! I recommend adventuring outside our campus and finding more about Chicago and what it has to offer.

Don’t be afraid

Chicago gets an awful reputation for being notoriously violent with crime happening on every block. I’ve seen how this notion literally scares away students from taking the CTA or walking around past 7 p.m. on campus. I encourage everyone to engage with the Chicago community, whether that’s Lincoln Park, Loop or your neighborhood. There’s no escaping that you live in Chicago now, and the need for street smarts. You’ll learn to embrace everything that makes us the best city in the world!

ARC Music Festival: Festivalgoers share the feeling of house music

By Vanessa Lopez Social Media Editor

As the summer season winds down in Chicago, ARC Music Festival kicked o its third iteration with a bang over Labor Day weekend.

ARC took over Union Park with a jampacked lineup of house and techno DJs. e festival featured a wide range of performances, with some artists debuting new tracks and others captivating the crowd with holographic shows.

e festival featured a lineup of Chicago house music pioneers such as Derrick Car-

ter, Gene Farris, DJ Lady D and many more. Chicago native John Summit also headlined night two of the festival, marking his rst career headlining festival performance in Chicago.

However, the festival served as more than a celebration: It symbolized the convergence of two cities, Chicago and Detroit, both renowned as the birthplaces of house and techno music.

Karina Cuzmar, a festival goer from Maryland, says that house and techno music are a perfect contrast and blend of Chicago and Detroit.

“Don’t get me wrong, the cultures of Chicago and Detroit are very di erent, but it’s nice to see how house and techno mix and bring people together,” Cuzmar said.

According to Britannica, house music can be described as a “style of high-tempo, electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s.”

“House music hits the soul,” Cuzmar said. “It’s liberating. It’s connecting not just with other people, but with yourself.”

Techno is a genre of electronic dance music known for its “fast beat and synthesized sounds, usually without vocals or a conventional popular song,” according to

Merriam-Webster. is distinction sets techno apart from house music, which o en includes vocals and mixes into its songs.

For many attendees, especially Maria Rodriguez, 24, the lack of lyrics is not a problem because the music is all about feeling it.

“If you don’t already listen to this music, you should,” Rodriguez said. “It can really li your mood when you’re feeling down, and it makes you enjoy life just a little bit more.”

ousands of people attended ARC over the holiday weekend, including Dallas resident Booh Hoenshell, who says ARC was a festival he needed to attend.

“All the good vibes are here, and this festival isn’t like other festivals,” Hoenshell said. “ is is where the music listeners are at.”

“Everyone’s here for the music,” Rodriguez said. “Compared to other festivals, many people go to enjoy the food and attractions, which is ne. But here at ARC, people appreciate the music. We feel it, not just listen to it.”

ARC o ered an immersive experience that included art, production elements during each set and four di erent stage en-

vironments.

At each set, festival goers could anticipate anything from re to confetti to screen hypnosis.

e festival posted on Instagram, “House came home this weekend. ank you for an incredible third year of ARC. We’ve already got 2024 on our mind,” hinting at its return for its fourth year.

“ARC is for the music, ARC is for the music, ARC is for the music,” Roriguez said. “ at’s all I’ve got to say about this festival.”

To stay up to date on ARC’s fourth year or any updates, check them out on Instagram at @arcmusicfestival.

AIDEN HANSEN | THE DEPAULIA

St.Vincent’s

D E JAMZ

“SPINNING FRESH BEATS SINCE 1581”

By Claire Tweedie & Sam Mroz Arts & Life Editor, Asst. Arts & Life Editor

Every summer, up-and-coming artists claim they made the ultimate “song of the summer.” TikToks and Instagram reels ood our feeds promoting their new music, with the introduction boasting the catchiest hit for everyone’s school break. Little did we know that nothing could ever top these blast-fromthe-past summer break bangers. “Song of the summer” may be a new PR stunt, but these songs prove what it really takes to soundtrack a summer worth remembering.

“Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day” by Bowling for Soup: Yes, we’re starting with the “Phineas and Ferb” theme song. What is de nitely the best Disney Channel television show (no, we do not take constructive criticism) deserves a spotlight as being one of the greatest songs to commemorate summer break. is show is the epitome of a perfect summer, with zany adventures and plenty of time for friends and fun. Even if you personally can’t build a per-

fectly functioning rollercoaster in your backyard, this song still gives you a great way to spend your summer vacation in front of the TV screen.

“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire: ere’s nothing quite like the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and their lesser known counterpart, water, but we don’t talk about them. Even more outstanding than the group’s “groovadelic” persona was their song that gave voice to a fairly laidback month, with the horizon of work beginning to resurface. “September” withstood the standard back to school blues by using the power of soul. It’s like a rainy day keeping you inside, looking longingly put a window. You’ve just woken up to a driveway caked in snow and are too tired to deal with it. Or worst of all, the summer heat is just getting too hot to handle. No matter the condition, adding this song to your queue will guarentee you make it from one type of funk to another.

“DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” by Usher ( . Pitbull):

Remember being six years old and jam-

C rossword

ming out to this classic Usher song? No? Just me? If you don’t focus on the raunchy lyrics too closely, this song is a certi ed banger that has everyone on the bus ride back home jamming out. With repetitive lyrics and featuring Mr. Worldwide himself, it’s almost impossible to not bop your head to the beat. Transport yourself back to 2010 with this song of the summer, when your student debt didn’t exist but your student dread sure did!

“Cruisin’ For a Bruisin’” from “Teen Beach Movie:”

Sure, we’re looking for songs of the summer, but “Teen Beach Movie” was the cinematic event of the summer in 2013. Disney Channel original movies were still good back then, and the soundtracks were even better. is song in particular was ahead of its time, sporting a leather jacket trend perfect for fall and an early obsession with Ross Lynch.

“Burning Down the House” by Talking Heads: is one may be a little too on the nose, but I can honestly say I’ve never heard anything quite like the band “Talking Heads,” nor

ACROSS

1) Brief moments in time

5) O ce reminders

10) Like testimony, usually

14) Snakes do it

15) Where the fat lady sings

16) Commuted

17) Hodgepodge

18) Orthodontist’s concern 19) “Harris” or “Vicks” ending 20) Game that led to a “Star Trek II” character’s wrath?

23) Make a little ____ loong way

24) Preoperative anesthetic of old

25) Cinnabar, for one

26) Chart-topping song

27) e lady

28) Curve, as the back

32) Fill with bubbles

34) eatrical talk (var.)

36) Lust a er, visually 37) Turkish VIP’s

favorite inlet?

41) Is unable to

42) Stops on the way

43) Police action

46) Magritte or Russo

47) Pre-grilling application

50) Before of the past

51) Venomous reptile

53) Major Japanese city

55) Very small drink

56) Nicholas I’s favorite classic song?

60) High branch, for short

62) Soap brand

63) February 14

ower

64) Muddy up, as water

65) Catch a second showing of

66) Greek war god

67) Sheri Taylor

68) “A nest of robins in her hair” poem

69) “Hey, mister!”, quietly

have I ever set re to an estate. is DeJamz is an anti-arson feed, but whenever I give this tune a play, I worry my speakers may burn up by the absolute ame that is this chorus. A song that blends new wave funk with art rock in the most eccentric way possible. is is the closest one should ever get to actually burning down a house.

DOWN

1) Cures, as meat

2) Ancient stone

3) Trite or obvious remark

4) Add fuel to the re?

5) One drawn to a ame

6) Piece of fencing?

7) Docile

8) Big name in lawn care

9) World’s largest desert

10) Spherical shape, like a globe

11) Fiber

12) How an expert does things

13) Bene ciary

21) Bridal gown attachment

22) Lady’s birth name indicator

29) Common rodent

30) Cherrystone, for one

31) Courtroom addressee (with “your”)

33) Takes from Peter?

34) Day on a calendar

35) Turnstile proceeds

37) Keillor of “A Prairie Home Companion”

38) Still outstanding, as a loan

39) Big boys?

40) Butter substitutes

41) Pause in a verse

44) Baseball scorecard abbr.

45) Souvenir stand item

47) Stubble removers

48) Fiats

49) Least embellished

52) Patio stone

54) Paper fragment

57) What Samantha twitched on “Bewitched”

58) Alberta native

59) ey may be black, brown, blue or private

61) It may be in the ointment

2023 fall sports preview

Teams, players to look out for

By Ryan Hinske Sports Editor

DePaul’s fall sports had one of its most impressive recruiting summers on paper. As students return to campus, a historic fall is already being realized.

DePaul volleyball nished 10-20 last season. e women’s soccer team was 3-12-1 while the men’s soccer team nished with more ties than wins at 4-6-7. e need for improvement is as vital now as it has ever been.

Marie Zidek, who is entering her sixth season as DePaul volleyball’s head coach, was very con dent about the team’s improvement at DePaul’s fall sports Media Day. “ is team really is hungry for postseason,” Zidek said. “We want to get back to the Big East Tournament, the Big East Championship, and we want to parlay that into December volleyball.”

Most notably, DePaul volleyball is returning almost everyone from last year’s team, which Zidek said makes them “very much a win-by-committee team.” She also said the new additions to the team will make an “immediate impact.”

e women’s soccer team is quite the opposite, bringing in 14 new players, 12 of which are freshmen. Despite that, their only loss in ve games was to a national powerhouse in Alabama, a notably better start to competition than last season. is gives Blue Demon fans hope that the team will quickly nd their identity among an in ux of newcomers.

e men’s soccer team is returning key veteran leaders in graduate mid elder Michael Anderson and All-Big East goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz, but an impressive recruiting class has further boosted expectations for the program. Exhibit A: in

just his rst game, newcomer mid elder Callum Watts, a junior transfer, nailed the game-winning header in the 82nd minute against Lindenwood to cap o a thrilling home opener at Wish Field. Watts was rewarded with a Big East Honor Roll appearance for the rst week of the season.

“ is is our most complete group I’ve had since I’ve been here and de nitely the group that I think will re ect DePaul soccer in the brightest light since I’ve been here,” head coach Mark Plotkin said. “It’s the deepest group, the most collective group, and you can see it in training: there seems to be something di erent about this group.”

Cross country head coach Geo Wayton said his focus during Media Day was improving what was already a massive success last season.

“On the women’s side, we’re returning everybody from a team that historically might’ve been the best team we’ve ever had,” Wayton said.

DePaul students are very familiar with graduate student Olivia Borowiak’s dom-

inance during her career, which includes seven school records, returning to DePaul a er a sixth place nish in regionals last year. Senior Meghan Dieball is continuing her rapid mile improvement, nishing with a 4:49 last season that marks a 36-second improvement from her high school record. Look for these runners to continue their improvement in September.

e men’s cross country team lost four of their best athletes from last year’s squad but also brought in two key freshmen, Jesse Gamboa and Mason Krieg.

“ ose are two young men, although they’re freshmen, that could help us out immediately,” Wayton said.

Look out for midseason transfer Jacob Holmes, who Wayton says has personal records that are “on par with the best runners we’ve ever had at DePaul.”

e men had their highest place ever in both the Big East and regionals last year.

One of the main themes for this fall across all of DePaul sports seems to be a high level of competition. e women’s volleyball team started with matches on

the road against South Dakota and Iowa State, both of which are NCAA Tournament-caliber teams. e women’s soccer team began their season on a road stretch which included the match against seventh-ranked Alabama, which they lost 2-0.

“I think it was a great opportunity for our young group to play SEC soccer at a big stadium in front of a pretty big crowd against a team who made the Final Four last year,” O’Brien said. “We showed a ton of determination and heart and grit, and I think it will only pay dividends for us.”

Plotkin, who is entering his sixth season coaching his alma mater, also addressed the Big East’s competition level this season.

“Being in arguably the most competitive soccer conference in the country with three teams in the top 25…I think we have a group that can really compete at this level this year,” Plotkin said.

Plotkin and his fellow fall sports head coaches at DePaul seem con dent and ready to make noise in the conference.

DePaul’s nonconference schedule: Inaugural showdowns and historic reunions

By Tom Gorski

Men’s Basketball Beat Writer

DePaul men’s basketball released its non-conference schedule for the upcoming season.

Basketball is still a couple of months away as Tony Stubble eld’s team looks to bounce back from a disappointing 10-23 season.

e schedule includes eight of its nine games at Wintrust Arena with the team’s only road game coming against Texas A&M

on Dec. 6.

e season opens with an inaugural clash Tuesday, Nov. 7, as they take on Purdue Fort Wayne for the rst time in DePaul school history at Wintrust Arena. en, on Saturday, Nov. 11, they’ll face Long Beach State for the rst time as well.

Adding to the anticipation, the Blue Demons will host South Dakota for the rst time since 1938 on Nov. 14.

e Arizona Tip-O , a Big East/Big 12 challenge, takes place Nov. 17-19, where DePaul opens up the tournament against South

Carolina before facing either Grand Canyon or San Francisco. Notably, Chico Carter Jr, the Blue Demons’ most recent transfer guard, was a member of South Carolina’s roster last season.

Following its expedition out west, DePaul makes its way back to Wintrust Arena, where they are set to host Northern Illinois Saturday, Nov. 25. is is the rst meeting between the two teams since 2014, and it also marks the return of former Blue Demons guard Philmon Gebrewhit, who started 21 games last season.

DePaul’s lone nonconference away game is marked for Wednesday, Dec. 6, when they square o against Texas A&M, followed by the Blue Demons hosting a series of home games.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, they welcome Louisville, followed by a highly anticipated matchup against local rivals, Northwestern, on Saturday, Dec. 16.

e non-conference portion of their schedule concludes with a game against Chicago State on Dec. 30.

Rachel Krasowski, DePaul women’s volleyball libero and senior, holds two mini volleyballs to her eyes at the Sept. 7 game against Northern Illinois University. Before playing, the volleyball team threw mini volleyballs into the crowd.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPAUL ATHLETICS INSTAGRAM

Athletics calls for $60 million philanthropic investment

By Rose O’Keeffe Asst. News Editor

Students expressed excitement, frustration and anger with the prospect of raising $60 million for a new basketball practice facility in DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus.

“We’re a Big East Conference school,” said DePaul’s DeWayne Peevy, director of athletics. “We’re funded at the lowest level in our conference, and we’re not getting enough return on that investment right now, so we have to make a choice and these facilities are part of that.”

He and other senior members of the university said a change was needed to nurture DePaul athletics’ potential and increase the university’s nationwide appeal.

Even though the funding for this project will come from philanthropic donations, DePaul’s athletic budget is separate from the academic affairs budget.

Peevy called athletics the “front porch” of the university.

“Not the most important thing, but a lot of times the first thing that people see,” Peevy said.

If that “front porch” is in disrepair, he continued, people will not be compelled to explore the interior.

The new athletic facility is about raising the status of DePaul in the Big East Conference, branding the university and increasing student morale, he said.

Some students are not as convinced of the immediate benefits of this philanthropic goal, especially considering the university’s budget gap last financial year that prompted a reduction of faculty and staff.

“I don’t care if it’s already paid for,” junior Grace Provan said. “You can wait, you know, there’s no urgency with it.”

Provan understands the money will come from donors and not the athletics budget. However, she still said now is not the right time.

“It is kind of insulting to hear that you’re spending $60 million on a new facility,” Provan said.

Among DePaul sports fans and student-athletes, though, there is excitement about taking the university’s facilities to the next level.

James Stowell, director of live game operations for Radio DePaul Sports, said he supports the idea for a new facility because it will help DePaul measure up in the Big East conference.

After visiting Marquette University and Butler University’s athletics facilities, both schools in the Big East, Stowell said DePaul’s facilities resembled that of a high school.

“I support the idea of better, more qualified training facilities for our athletes,” Stowell said. “I believe that we may lose out on potential recruits for all the teams because of the practice facilities.”

Peevy said that announcing the athletic and academic capital campaigns together demonstrates a vital partnership and raises awareness of DePaul’s educa-

tional priorities.

“Think about how many more people are going to know about our academic fundraising initiative because it came with this athletic news,” Peevy said.

Still, the athletic facility is getting much of the attention on social media.

Parveen Mundi, president of the Student Government Association (SGA), said some students feel frustrated because the fundraising efforts emphasize certain issues more than others.

“There are parts of the university some students might feel are being centered or codified through the report, and other campus issues some students feel are being left behind ” Mundi said.

Peevy said that student, faculty and staff input was a part of the 18-month idea phase of this initiative.

“The greatest thing for me is socializing for 18 months,” Peevy said. “That’s how I got to know everybody. Whether

it was Student Government Association, faculty council, staff council, the deans, joint council, president’s cabinet and neighborhood associations, I was going around already fundraising.”

However, Jaslynn Hodges, SGA chief of staff, said she found out about the facility when everyone else did.

“There wasn’t any collaboration about the facility,” Hodges said. “We only became aware when it [the plan] was published.”

President Robert Manuel said the new facility is an investment in the immense potential of DePaul athletics.

“Taking the assets of the university and extending them to their best and brightest capacity is what we need to do,” Manuel said. “Athletics is one of those. It has a capacity that has been untouched for years.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HNTB AND ANTUNOVICH ASSOCIATES

DePaul Athletics is campaigning to build a $60 million athletic facility in the 2024-2025 academic year. The facility will be fully donor-funded and will offer new basketball courts.

Renovation of the Sullivan Athletic Center and McGrath-Phillips Arena is set to begin this winter, with the first phase being completed in late summer 2024.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HNTB AND ANTUNOVICH ASSOCIATES