The case for DePaul to prioritize sustainability as much as it’s students do. See Opinions, page 12.
DePaulia
The
DePaul business professor enters Cook County state’s attorney’s race against Kim Foxx. See News, page 3.
Volume #104 | Issue #6 | Oct. 21, 2019 | depauliaonline.com
Soaring into the season
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
To kick off the men’s and women’s basketball seasons, fans and players came together at the McGrath-Phillips Arena to watch a scrimmage, an action-packed dunk contest and join a raffle for a variety of prizes. Vintage game-worn gear from seasons past were also on sale for DePaul students and alumni to relive some of their favorite Blue Demon memories. The men’s basketball team takes on Alcorn State on Nov. 5 in their first regular season game. The women’s team starts their regular season a few days later on Nov. 8 against Miami University (Ohio).
Analysis: 2019 Public Safety report
DePaul trustee retires from Exelon amid federal probe
Crime remains consistent on Loop and Lincoln Park campuses despite recent trends in both areas By Ella Lee Arts & Life Editor
By Bianca Cseke & Shane René Online Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief
A member of DePaul’s Board of Trustees who abruptly resigned from her position as CEO of Exelon Utilities on Tuesday amidst a federal investigation into the company’s lobbying practices is still a member of the board, according to a university spokesperson. Anne Pramaggiore, who was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2010, left Exelon less than a week after the company announced that it had been subpoenaed in the federal investigation of state Sen. Martin Sandoval, among other Illinois politicians, Crain’s Chicago Business reported. Sandoval’s daughter, Angie, works for ComEd and was hired during Pramaggiore’s time as CEO. DePaul University spokesperson Carol Hughs said the university has no comment on Pramaggiore’s sudden exit from Exelon and did not respond to The DePaulia’s inquiry about the university’s protocol for adding and removing members of the board of trustees. Exelon did not give a reason for Pramaggiore’s retirement. “You see the smoke and you assume that
PHOTO COURTESY OF EXELON
DePaul trustee Anne Pramaggiore.
somewhere there is fire,” John McCarron, a former DePaul adjunct and expert on Chicago politics, said. “There is certainly no way to connect the two empirically or legally, but you know, I’ve been covering and watching Chicago politics and various corruption episodes for 30 or 40 years and it certainly looks like [Pramaggiore’s exit and the federal investigation] are connected.” Utility companies tend to have much closer relationships with state and local governments than most private firms. ComEd enjoys its status as a state-granted monopoly, requiring all electrical services across northwestern Illinois to deliver their service through ComEd equipment. This arrangement is prone to corruption at various levels. “To run a utility in Chicago means you’re going to be working very closely with government and there are all sorts
See TRUSTEE, page 4
Though crime has increased significantly in both Lincoln Park and the Loop, the university’s annual Safety and Security Information Report and Fire Safety Report presents crime on campus as remaining practically stagnant. Reported rapes are down in Lincoln Park, with three in 2018, compared to five last year. In the Loop, reported rapes are up with five in 2018 and three in 2017. Numbers listed under the residential facility section for each campus are included in those numbers. These numbers reflect rapes that were reported to either the university or the police and do not include those that went unreported. Bob Wachowski, the director of campus public safety, said that it is hard to tell whether these numbers represent an actual increase or decrease in crime or if they are simply a blip for the year. “It’s a combination of things,” he said. “There’s Student Affairs with preventive programming, and you have to remember that this report is very specific. It’s based on geographic location of where the incidents happened.” He added that because of how specific
this report is, the numbers in a separate report Title IX compiles in compliance with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Eduation Act will never match up with this report’s numbers. Campus robberies have stayed relatively the samenear the Lincoln Park campus, with 16 occurring off campus in 2018, compared to 15 in 2017. The Loop campus has seen a decrease in robberies in the past year — in 2018, there were 16 reported for both on campus and in public, and in 2017, there were 29. “We’re constantly looking at robberies on a regular basis — not just robberies, but also other types of crimes — to increase what we can do to prevent this,” Wachowski said. “That might be other steps, like increasing patrol, working with the city, undercover officers or crimespecific tactics.” Wachowski recommends that students be alert when on campus and around the city because cell phones are the most frequently stolen item across the country. “My office overlooks the ‘L,’ and 90 percent [of people on the platform] are looking with cell phones out,” Wachowski said. “Criminals grab and run.” Liquor and drug referrals have stayed relatively stagnant as well over the past
See PUBLIC SAFETY, page 6
2 | News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
First Look The DePaulia is the official student-run newspaper of DePaul University and may not necessarily reflect the views of college administrators, faculty or staff. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Shane René eic@depauliaonline.com MANAGING EDITOR | Lacey Latch managing@depauliaonline.com ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR | Bianca Cseke online@depauliaonline.com NEWS EDITOR | Mackenzie Murtaugh news@depauliaonline.com ASST. NEWS EDITOR | Patsy Newitt news@depauliaonline.com NATION & WORLD EDITOR | Brian Pearlman nation@depauliaonline.com OPINIONS EDITOR | Emma Oxnevad opinion@depauliaonline.com FOCUS EDITOR | Cailey Gleeson focus@depauliaonline.com ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Ella Lee artslife@depauliaonline.com ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR | Keira Wingate artslife@depauliaonline.com SPORTS EDITOR | Lawrence Kreymer sports@depauliaonline.com ASST. SPORTS EDITOR | Nate Burleyson sports@depauliaonline.com
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Check out our campus crime database, Crime Watch. This map is updated on a weekly basis with data made available to The DePaulia from the City of Chicago data portal and DePaul’s Office of Crime Prevention.
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News
News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 3
‘I’m not going to owe anybody anything’ Professor runs for Cook County State’s Attorney against incumbent By Ella Lee Arts & Life Editor
The last two months have been the longest year of Bill Conway’s life, he said. An adjunct professor of finance at DePaul’s business school, Conway announced his run for Cook County State’s Attorney on Aug. 8 — the first to announce a run against current State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. He said his decision to run was widely based on his time as an assistant state’s attorney in Cook County between 2006 and 2012. “I just didn’t like what was happening in that office,” he said. “I had worked in it, and I really got to see firsthand how important it is to have a State’s Attorney office and criminal justice system that is honest and fair and equal. You know, it’s really a beacon of public trust.” To improve the state’s attorney office, Conway said he wants to focus on criminal justice reform, gun control and the foundation of the office itself. The type of criminal justice system Conway said he wants to run is one that is “fair and humane” to nonviolent offenders, and he said his views on “who needs to be there and who doesn’t” was largely informed by visits he made to Illinois’ jails as an assistant state’s attorney. “If we have a choice, generally we should not send people to jail or prison,” he said. “Jail is not a place for people that are addicts. It’s not a place for the mentally ill, unless they’re a danger to society. [...] I think we need to remember that distinction when we’re talking about post-bail reform and criminal justice reform.” To combat gun violence, Conway said he wants to focus on the stream of guns coming into Chicago. He explained the problem like this: A person caught with an illegal gun likely bought it from a friend. That friend probably bought it out of a trunk that had 10 guns in it, and those guns probably came from a house with 30 to 40 guns in it. The 30 to 40 guns likely came off a truck or rail car from a state that is more permissive with their gun laws. “The problem is that in prosecuting those cases at the local level, we seem to keep picking off the person with the gun,” Conway said. “What we need to do at the state’s attorney office is begin to work our way up that chain from the car to the house so we can really begin to disrupt the supply chain of illegal guns here in Cook County.” Conway said he is uniquely
XAVIER ORTEGA | THE DEPAULIA
Bill Conway, an adjunct professor of finance, is running against incumbent Kim Foxx for State’s Attorney. positioned to track these guns because of his experience in the U.S. Navy, where he used his knowledge of finance to track the Taliban’s money trail in Afghanistan and Qatar. Being at war informed the way he feels about gun possession in general. “In the big picture, part of the reason I talk about gun crime and getting weapons of war off the street is that I’ve seen firsthand what weapons of war can do,” he said. “I can tell you based off that experience they really don’t have a place on the streets of Chicago’s Cook County.” But to succeed at either of these things, Conway said he’ll need to refocus the state’s attorney office itself, and to do that, politics can’t be part of its foundation. When discussing the office’s reform, he didn’t want to talk about “that one case,” referring to the Jussie Smollett case for which Foxx’s handling was criticized due to her personal ties to Smollett. He wanted to talk about a client of his named Candice Clark, who was charged with a similar crime of filing a false police report. Though she never went to court, Conway said Clark has to visit a probation officer monthly, maintain a job and receive special orders if she wants to leave Cook County as a result of the charge. “It saddens me that she, like many people, has gotten unequal treatment from the state attorney’s office,” Conway said. “When I think about the
“I just didn’t like what was happening in that office. I had worked in it, and I really got to see firsthand how important it is to have a State’s Attorney office and criminal justice system that is honest and fair and equal. You know, it’s really the beacon of trust.”
Bill Conway
Professor of finance and candidate for State’s Attorney. honest and fair and equal criminal justice system for victims and defendants, who you know, what your net worth is, your race, your gender, what zip code you’re in—none of that should matter in terms of what kind of justice you’re going to get,” he added. Other changes he hopes to initiate are the modernization of the office’s filing systems and the sharing of resources across other departments. Chris Tran, a former DePaul student, took Conway’s finance class, Finance 310, as a three-hour night class. “He was happy and excited to teach — not just by the book, but what we are going to do in real life,” Tran said. “Even during breaks, [Conway] didn’t take a break; he would talk to students and sometimes stay until 9:30 or 10 talking to them.”
But when asked why he thought Conway would be a good state’s attorney, it was his qualifications that stood out. “Have you seen his resume? I think it’s the most impressive resume in the world,” Tran said. “There’s no reason he shouldn’t be.” That’s not to say Conway will not face obstacles along the way — particularly when it comes to his competitor, Foxx. “I haven’t paid any attention to the race, so I could not say,” said Wayne Steger, a DePaul political science professor, in an email in response to a question regarding Conway’s ability to win. “I would generally say that it is hard to defeat an incumbent in this city/county.” Another obstacle Conway may face could be in regard to his family ties. His father, William E.
Conway Jr., is co-founder of The Carlyle Group, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, and a billionaire. In a city where big money is widely associated with corruptness, this status may become problematic. But Conway said he has no interest in playing with politics. To prove that to his desired constituents, he said he has chosen not to seek the endorsement of Cook County’s Democratic Party, a party historically known as a machine party where big money and big networks reign supreme. “I really want voters and everyone to understand that, if elected state attorney, I’m not going to owe anybody anything except for the voters and the people of Cook County,” he said.
4 | News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
Teachers union takes to the streets Photos and story by Ryan Gilroy The Chicago Teachers Union formed picket lines and peacefully walked the streets of Chicago on Thursday and Friday after failing to reach an agreement with Chicago Public Schools. At 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, members of the union met outside of nearly every school within the Chicago public school district to form picket lines outside the buildings. At 1:30 p.m., those picket lines from each school marched toward the CPS headquarters located on Dearborn Avenue and Madison Street and then continued onward around the streets of Chicago. Around 25,000 teachers walked out of their jobs as the nation’s third-largest school district closed schools for Thursday and Friday, affecting approximately 300,000 students. “The reason we’re on strike is for two main reasons: justice and equity for our students,” said Anthony Capetta, a math teacher at Jones High School and delegate of the CTU. “We’re out here because Mayor Lightfoot refuses to improve the working conditions in our schools. We’re asking for more social counselors, more nurses and higher pay for teachers.” In late September, the union voted to authorize a strike, receiving overwhelming support at 94 percent. There was slight hope that issues could be resolved before Thursday, but a deal was not reached. The CTU has been negotiating with CPS for months and have gone without a contract since late June. The city has offered a 16 percent raise over the course of five years, something that Mayor Lori Lightfoot has called “historic,” adding that they would be some of the highest paid teachers in the country. Although both sides aren’t far apart in terms of raises, they still differ on other issues. The union is asking for an increase in staff, specifically more nurses, librarians, social workers and counselors in every school. They’re also calling for smaller class sizes, an issue that has affected many of the schools within the district that correlate to staff sizing. The union has stated that they want these requests written in the next contract. “It’s just unacceptable that the board of education and that the mayor doesn’t have enough respect for what we do to give a fair
TRUSTEE continued from front of possible favors that can be granted back and forth, written and unwritten,” McCarron said. DePaul, like most other Chicago establishments, employs ComEd to provide electricity for all of its facilities to the tune of $308,650 dollars each year, according to the university’s 2016 990 tax form. The 990 form says the transaction between DePaul and ComEd was conducted at an “arm’s length” from Pramaggiore and she had no direct involvement. “Historically ComEd has always been the company that for sure is going to buy a table at your annual benefit — that’s just the way they operate,” McCarron said. “Whether it’s for cultivating public opinion or a genuine sense of civic and social responsibility, they are major donors and major participants on boards, cultural and educational, around the city.” The investigation, which seems to have precipitated Pramaggiore’s retirement, ultimately started last year
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union walk the streets of Chicago to strike for support staff members, smaller class sizes and paid prep time on Thursday, Oct. 17. contract,” said Greg Freeman, a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 73. SEIU Local 73 announced that they tentatively reached a deal on Tuesday night with the Chicago Park District. They represent recreational leaders, special recreation workers, attendants, landscape laborers and others. The details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. The deal affects about 2,500 park district workers; however, the deal does not affect the support staff that work for CPS. Around 7,500 union members that work as support staff for CPS joined forces with the CTU to march the streets. “We’re fighting for better work conditions,” said Kim Lieberman, a special education classroom assistant at South Loop Elementary. “The kids have no respect and we need more help.” Recently, Lightfoot has expressed frustration regarding the union’s lack of seriousness and called for them to negotiate with “a sense of urgency.” She added that a deal could be made soon but does not want the strike to be ongoing for a prolonged period of time. “Mayor Lightfoot ran on a platform of investing in neighborhood schools –
the money is there, they should fund our schools appropriately,” Capetta, CPS math teacher, said. “Our union has been fighting for the schools that our students deserve for the past decade, and people haven’t listened. If it takes a strike to get people to understand what we’re fighting for and what we want our schools to look like, that’s what we’re going to do.” A big question that remains is the length of the strike, which, if a deal is not
reached soon, can have consequences for the families of the children who aren’t attending school. The last strike took place in 2012 and lasted for a total of seven days. Another strike was authorized in 2016, but a deal was reached before teachers walked out. Negotiations will continue while the strike is happening but it’s unclear when both sides will be able to reach a deal.
when long-time Ald. Ed Burke’s offices were raided by FBI agents seeking evidence that Burke had abused his government position to funnel work to his private law firm. Since then, more federal investigations have befallen high-profile political figures in Illinois, including Sandoval, Ald. Marty Quinn’s brother and political operative Kevin Quinn, 34th Ward Ald. Carrie Austin, retired Ald. Michael Zalewski and others. Sandoval’s Springfield office was raided in September by federal agents looking for evidence of federal crimes, such as bribery, theft from a federally funded program and mail and wire fraud, according to the Chicago Tribune. A search warrant showed that investigators were looking for any communications between the lawmakers and Exelon. The federal investigation’s focus on Exelon is a case of pay-to-play politics, in which the company may have hired politically connected lobbyists to gain favor with lawmakers for a chance at favorable legislation at the state capitol,
according to the Chicago Tribune. Authorities are looking at payments from Exelon’s consultants to some individuals to “seemingly circumvent lobbying disclosure rules.” In addition, some of those lobbyists may have been paid for having done little actual work. Agents investigating the hires are also looking into Jay Doherty, a longtime ComEd lobbyist and president of the City Club of Chicago, a prominent public affairs speaking forum that Illinois’ top politicians regularly stop at, according to WBEZ. Authorities raided the City Club’s offices in the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue for documents about ComEd earlier this year. ComEd lobbyists John Hooker and Fidel Marquez are also under federal scrutiny, sources told the Tribune. Hooker used to be the head of ComEd’s lobbying division and reported to the state on Friday that he had ended his relationship with a firm whose key lobbyist is Michael Kasper, the longtime lawyer for Madigan’s Illinois Democratic Party and a former legal counsel for the
speaker’s office. One of the lawmakers who received contributions from Exelon, a source told the Tribune, was Kevin Quinn, an ousted political operative of House Speaker Mike Madigan. The source said Quinn had received thousands of dollars in checks from the utility giant. One of the subpoenas Exelon received asked for records of communications with state Sen. Martin Sandoval. Sandoval’s daughter, Angie Sandoval, ran for the Cook County Board and received more than $52,000 in political donations in late 2017 and 2018 from people who have been named in the federal investigation into public corruption. More than a dozen individuals and companies that donated to Sandoval’s campaign were named in federal search warrants from September for Sen. Sandoval’s Capitol office. Angie Sandoval was promoted to senior account representative at ComEd while Pramaggiore was still CEO of Exelon earlier this year.
Children hold up protest signs during the Chicago Teachers Union strike on Thursday, Oct. 17.
News. The DePaulia. Oct. 12, 2019 | 5
Understaffed and overcrowded Members of the Chicago Teachers Union walk past the Loop’s DePaul Center on Thursday, Oct. 17.
By Maria guerrero Contributing Writer
Chicago Public School teachers are currently on strike since Thursday for what they say are necessary school resources. Chicago Teachers Union moved forward with the strike after not coming to an agreement with Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Curt Maslanka, 59, English teacher and CTU delegate, has been teaching at Lane Tech College Prep for 21 years. He said teachers citywide are striking for a better contract that’ll provide more nurses, social workers and a cap in classroom size in CPS. This is the second time in seven years CPS teachers have gone on strike and classes were canceled. Chicago is the third-largest school district in the country and more than 300,000 students are not attending classes. “This is a city-wide issue,” Maslanka said. “Schools are under staff, there are not enough nurses and social workers to meet the needs of our students.” Lane Tech College Prep, located in the west side of Chicago, is the largest high school in the city. “We have about 4,500 students, two social workers and one nurse,” Maslanka said. “We are better resourced than most schools; some schools don’t provide these positions or have a nurse one day a week.” A cap in classroom size is an issue CTU is also striking for. “Chicago Public schools currently do not have a limit on classroom sizes,” Maslanka said. “Whereas most suburban districts do, Chicago doesn’t and that affects everybody. A class is more successful with 25 students opposed to 35 students. Any student and teacher can tell the difference.” Sophie Lloyd, an education student at DePaul, said she is in full support of the strike. “The CPS staff is currently fighting for a cause much bigger than themselves,” Lloyd said. “This change can positively impact thousands of students and teachers. Much more learning is done when teachers
and students are in more comfortable classrooms.” Lloyd said the CTU strike is relevant to her as a future teacher. “Whether it is in CPS or not, this is a relevant topic for me as an education major,” she said. “I respect these brave men and women fighting for what is right. It empowers me to act for the greater good before, during, and after I am an educator.” She hopes that a positive change is inspired by this strike. Veronica Thomas of Hyde Park and fourth grade math teacher of Langston Hughes Elementary, hopes this strike will keep public schools alive. “I personally didn’t go through public school, but I definitely believe in the strength of neighborhood schools and making sure underprivileged students have the brightest future as possible,” Thomas said. South Side neighborhood school Langston Hughes is one of many schools lacking the necessary resources. “At least 15 percent of my salary goes towards supplies for my classroom and making sure my students have the right manipulatives that they need,” Thomas said. “I teach math and my students need math manipulatives that CPS can’t provide.” Thomas has been teaching in CPS for 15 years and hopes to continue to teach with CPS for her entire career. She encourages future educators to have their heart on the profession. “It’s definitely hard work but it’s heart work,” Thomas said. “I don’t think I could do this if my heart wasn’t in it.” Maslanka from Lane Tech College Prep said the fight for proper education does not end after the contract is settled. “We all become teachers because we believe in things and you need to bring your beliefs and commitments to your teaching jobs, and you need to be ready to fight,” Maslanka said. “This country has been defunding schools for over 40 years. You need to bring your willingness to stand up and fight.”
RYAN GILROY I | THE DEPAULIA
6| News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
Climate panel discusses what must be done By Alayne Trinko Staff Writer
DePaul College of Science and Health associate professor and department chair Mark Potosnak and associate professor Hugh Bartling of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences mediated a climate change panel on the Lincoln Park campus Friday. “The climate policies are currently at a crossroads,” Bartling said. “Many states and municipalities have expanded their commitments to climate action ...We thought that this would be the time to think about what can happen here in Illinois, in Chicago and in the region for climate policy.” The three panelists included Illinois 18th Legislative District State Representative Robyn Gabel; Cara Bader, deputy chief of staff of infrastructure and services for the Office of the Mayor; and Anna Wolf, senior project manager of urban resilience at the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). With the newly appointed administrators in Springfield and the City of Chicago, the panelists addressed the potential for new policy initiatives to confront the climate crisis. Each panelist was given 10 minutes to give their take on what steps the state, the City of Chicago and outside organizations are doing to combat climate change. According to the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition website, the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) will allow Illinois to become a leader in clean and renewable
PUBLIC SAFETY continued from front years. In 2016, there were 395 liquor law referrals on the Lincoln Park campus and none in the Loop. There were no liquor-related arrests that year. The number did decrease in 2017 with 262 referrals and one arrest. The number jumped back up in 2018 with 376 referrals and one arrest. The Clery Act is a federal law that was implemented in 1990 when a Lehigh University student was sexually assaulted and murdered on campus. Parents believed that current and ongoing access to campus crime reports would help them create a better idea of what is going on on campus. Under the act, universities must publish an annual safety and security report. The university constantly looks at and analyzes crime reports that go through DePaul services and ones that are deemed “property adjacent” to campus. The university also looks into foreign and domestic areas the school has study abroad contracts with. The public safety department then has to determine which of the crimes reported meet the classification of a “clery crime.” These crimes include murder, sex offenses, robbery, assault, theft, arson and arrests. Institutions are also required to report on people who violate liquor, drug and weapons laws. Crimes or bodily harm that relate to or are caused by hate crimes must also be reported on. For the Clery Act specifically, there’s an important distinction to be made of how many crimes were reported versus how many happened. “Please understand that the stats
energy while creating job opportunities for its residents. The bill is the primary legislation for Illinois to improve its approach to addressing climate change. According to Gabel, the four goals of FEJA are: reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, maintain sustainable and equitable job creation, achieve a carbonfree power sector by 2030 and reduce pollution of the transportation sector. “We’ve had the RPS [Renewable Portfolio Standard] for a number of years, but just more recently, we were able to pass the Future Energy Jobs bill,” she said. “This was a comprehensive bill that really looked at a way to fix the RPS, which kind of got destroyed when we allowed for cities to get energy on their own.” Under the Illinois Power Agency Act, enacted in August 2007, the RPS requires “large investor-owned electric utilities and alternative retail electric supplies to source 25 percent of eligible retail electricity sales from renewable energy by 2025. Electric cooperatives and municipal utilities are exempt from renewable portfolio standard requirements,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy website. Because of the new initiatives outlined in FEJA, the state of Illinois is now able to work toward more attainable, long-term environmental action goals. This effort on top of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recent repeal of Illinois’ Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998, which prohibited Illinois from taking steps to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas
included relate to incidents that were reported in the given year, not which happened,” university spokesperson Carol Hughes said. “It would be incorrect, for example, to say there were three sexual assaults on campus in 2017. The accurate way of reporting this data would be that there were three sexual assaults on campus that were reported in 2017.” Robert Stokes, an associate professor in the School of Public Service who specializes in public safety and security planning, believes that the Loop is fairly safe, regardless of what the public would expect. The Loop is the central business district in Chicago, which would make it seem like it would have a higher risk profile with more people to victimize and more transit stops for a criminal’s easy escape. But Stokes referred back to the Loop’s crime reports and noted that they remain particularly low. He also said that DePaul is relatively fortunate in regard to how safe it is. Stokes previously worked at other universities, including Drexel and Temple in Philadelphia, where campus security was heightened because of crime concerns. “DePaul is lucky,” Stokes said. “I worked at Temple and Drexel [Universities], which were located in really high crime neighborhoods, so they had to create uniform police departments at a really high cost.” “Lincoln Park is one of those areas that is generally good, but a transient area for DePaul,” he added. “There are rich people, transit stops, and people who go to the bars and shopping that are in the mix, but it’s still in general for an urban space fairly safe. But zero crime? Certainly not.”
AMY DO | THE DEPAULIA
Robyn Gabel, State Representative
emissions, is “empowering the people of Illinois to build a cleaner, healthier future,” according to the Environmental Defense Fund’s website. At the local level, the City of Chicago is also working to leverage its existing resources in order to conserve its budget toward addressing environmental concerns. Some of these citywide efforts include maximizing energy efficiency through reducing public transportation emissions by going electric, installing solar panels and transitioning to use LED lighting within the city. “We’re not making progress fast enough,” Bader said. However, through partnering with local and state governments, “the city can use its platform to increase a sense of urgency,” she said. According to Bader, talks with mayor
Lori Lightfoot on climate change are based around improving communication with Chicago residents on the city’s efforts. Former mayor Rahm Emanuel’s development of the 2017 Chicago Climate Charter is an “international pledge between municipal leaders to address climate change head on and cooperate to reduce carbon emissions,” according to the City of Chicago’s website. The charter functions as a strong foundation to tackle environmental issues for Lightfoot as it pledged to achieve a percent reduction in carbon emissions in line with the Paris agreement, to publicly report city emissions and to partner with experts and other allies to develop environmental solutions for Chicago. The Center for Neighborhood Technology, a Chicago-based agency, works to “advance urban sustainability and shared prosperity through initiatives in transportation, water, climate and public policy,” according to its website. The agency is working as a climate ally to the City of Chicago by optimizing current infrastructure for efficient cargo use, according to Wolf. “So, you’re not rebuilding,” she said. You’re not expanding, but you’re sort of upgrading the existing infrastructure you have.” Wolf said emphasizing change at a state and local level can “drive progress faster” and inspire a more coordinated and comprehensive effort to address climate change globally.
News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 7
CATCH AND THRILL Ronan Farrow details reporting in new book, but he doesn’t shine — the women do By Mackenzie Murtaugh News Editor
“It was the right thing to do,” Rich McHugh said at the Chicago Ideas fest last Thursday. He was referring to his bosses at NBC’s consistent incentives to shut him up about “Catch and Kill: Lies Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators,” a book by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ronan Farrow that chronicled his reporting on Harvey Weinstein. McHugh and Farrow conversed with Gretchen Carlson, an award-winning broadcast journalist who helped bring the #MeToo movement to a global scale when she came forward with her sexual harassment complaints against her former employer, Fox News. After, Carlson was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2017. Carlson moderated the talk, which attempted to encapsulate Farrow and McHugh’s lengthy reporting on Weinstein that comprises the majority of the book. The dynamic of the talk fit well with the social circumstances — Farrow, a handsome white man who comes
Ronan Farrow
“We need to do everything we can to protect journalism in this country.”
Ronan Farrow
Investigative journalist, author of “Catch and Kill” from a highly profiled family with its own sexually-motivated controversies; McHugh, a news producer and Farrow’s right-hand man throughout his reporting sits just beside; and on the other side of a coffee table sits Carlson. She leads the discussion first through Farrow’s fearful experiences, from when spies were tapping his phone calls and following him home, to the emotional impact the story had on not only his personal life, but his partner’s — Jon Lovett, former speech writer for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and current host of Pod Save America. Farrow stopped during the talk and ensured that while his time reporting on this story did affect him in ways he did not expect, this does not compare to how the women who were
assaulted or harassed by Weinstein and other prominent figures in Hollywood feel after their experience. Farrow keeps his mindset at the forefront of his reporting and kept it during the Chicago Ideas talk. “Again and again, when I have been reporting these stories of sexual assault, I have found accusers have subsequent contact with the accused,” Farrow said. “They are often people they can’t get away from.” At an event with a majority of women in the audience, Farrow and McHugh kept the focus of their discussion on those women who their reporting was meant to protect. Farrow mentioned the multiple women he interviewed during their reporting, particularly Rose McGowan,
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
one of Weinstein’s first accusers. Farrow and McHugh, along with a love of truth and a drive for reporting, worked to tell the stories of women who, without an external influence, couldn’t do it themselves, whether that reason was guilt, shame or a social force pushing them down. When McHugh said that NBC refused to air the reporting that he and Farrow had done on Weinstein, the crowd roared. But McHugh, with his hands in his lap and his eyes low, shrugged. It wasn’t a self-righteous act or something to do for media points. He couldn’t accept a deal that would force multiple voices into silence. “We need to do everything we can to protect journalism in this country,” Farrow said during the talk. In addition to protecting journalism, through his yearslong reporting on sexual harassment and those who work to cover them up, Farrow is doing everything he can to use his privilege to protect women not only in the media workspace, but everywhere.
Staff council voices concerns for staff in all departments By Brita Hunegs Staff Writer
Do you ever wonder who keeps D2L running, makes sure your classes are scheduled in an organized way or who changes the rolls of toilet paper in Arts and Letters Hall? Students understand that their academic standings are impacted by their teachers. But there are more employees at DePaul whose lives intersect with those of their coeds. The Staff Council is an elected board that represents all of DePaul’s staff employees. Employees of contracted business on campus, like Chartwells and Ray Meyer Fitness Center, do not fall under this category. Members are voted in by the entire staff for two-year terms each spring. It is the equivalent of the faculty council, though the two are separate boards. The council meets every month to discuss its agenda. Anyone from the staff at-large is also invited to attend. Currently, 23 members sit on the board. Stephanie Halaska is the director of academic advising support. She’s worked at DePaul for 12 years and has served on the council for five. She now serves as its vice president and interim president
while President Erin Berkowitz is on maternity leave. “Our goal is to connect staff with the resources they need and the people who can give them information and access,” Halaska said. Emad Mahou is a software engineer for DePaul. He’s in his first term on the council and chairs the Staff Resources Committee. He ran after seeing things that he felt were substandard to what the university is capable of achieving, namely how the administration handled letting people go. “There’s people who lost their jobs,” he said. “People who worked here for years and people who contributed to this place. The way that the administration was not up to par, was the way that the whole thing was communicated. There is a disconnect between the top executives and the lower level of people.” Mahmou’s origins trace back to Syria, where he helped fight in the revolution against the Assad regime. He draws upon his past as a rebel to assist him in his position on the council, “bringing a voice from outside as someone who will be firey and not afraid,” Mahou said. The council held its monthly meeting last Wednesday, where, over coffee and
cookies, it got an update on benefits and salaries from Human Resources. While PowerPoint presentations from Human Resources might make most people yawn, members of Staff Council ran for their positions knowing they would need to dissect the minutiae of bureaucracy to be able to relay important information to their colleagues. Human Resources staff, including their vice president, Stephanie Smith, used their presentation to address fiscal and health care information for the year, citing the Sibson Benchmarking Survey that compares indicators, like medical plan coverage and retirementincome plans offered at DePaul to peer organizations. Analysis of the survey showed that DePaul offers competitive rewards compared to its peers in academia and outside fields. However, Mahmou is skeptical that these accomplishments are worth much excitement. “You have to offer that because the minute you stop offering that, you’re not going to get the same people,” Mahmou said. “They make it sound like you should be super grateful. I am grateful, but if you stop doing that, people will start leaving.” Understaffing within the university is an issue that Halaska said she’s heard
from staff, some feel they are being overworked. “Staff are busy,” Halaska said. “They’ve been taking on more work in a lot of different units. As people have left the university, people have had to take on more in their roles.” Halaska noted that the news from HR was pretty positive, particularly compared with the last couple of years. “It’s always good when people on the council can raise questions they’ve been hearing, and it’s good when HR can directly give good info back,” Halaska said. “Always happy with an exchange where everybody can hear directly from the other.” Although not all staff interact with students on a daily basis, the relationship between the two populations is significant for both parties. “The faculty is the person that gives you the great education, but staff are the one’s making sure that faculty has the room to be able to teach you,” Mahou said. “Having you on our side is amazing. If we have a need that the administration is reluctant to give us, if the students say the needs should be met for the staff, that’s amazing. We work for you. You’re my stakeholder.”
8 | News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
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News. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 9
Scholarship recipient takes study abroad beyond academia By Jenna ranieri Contributing Writer
When she’s not in class, Erna Hrstic spends her days exploring Sarajevo’s city center and talking with fellow exchange students. It’s not unusual to see Hrstic and her friends sitting in a cafe talking and laughing all night, that’s just what students do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hrstic was one of two freshmen awarded a Boren Awards scholarship to study for a year in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Boren Awards are given to students by the National Security Education Program to study how certain countries are essential to U.S. national security. Upon graduation, Boren Awards recipients work for at least one year in their desired U.S. government job. “I want to be a diplomat,” Hrstic said. “The purpose of my career is to help the people in Bosnia and Croatia because I think the Balkans is an incredible region and it has so much history and so much diversity that the rest of the world doesn’t see.” Hrstic and her family have been traveling to the Balkans, a region in Southeast Europe, every other year since she was five years old. Her parents came to the U.S. as refugees, leaving most of their family behind.
Their biennial trips encouraged Hrstic to look into international scholarships before college. This determination started when she was in elementary school. Ivana Hrstic, Erna’s mother, took the initiative to go to her principal and start fundraising for UNICEF. As she grew up, she joined Model U.N. because she wanted to help people. “Erna has the desire to change the world,” Ivana said with tears in her eyes. “With Erna, she missed part of her childhood I believe, because she was so dedicated, she was so determined.” Her determination to help others isn’t limited to those in other countries. She has played a major role in helping her sister get through school. Her sister, Hanna Hrstic, discussed the constant support from Erna while they were at the same school and even when they traveled together. “She reminds me of Dora the Explorer when she travels because she always wears a little backpack,” Hanna said. “But she’s definitely not afraid to go out and talk to people to find out what to do or where we need to go.” Her social abilities helped her succeed in the first month of her yearlong adventure. Her roommate Selinn Oksuz, a Turkish student studying English
PHOTO COURTESY OF ERNA HRSTIC
Erna Hrstic in Mostar, Bosnia. Language Teaching, describes Hrstic’s communication skills, cheerful demeanor and warmheartedness as great reasons to be around her. “We went to the mountains to make some barbecue. There was one tunnel that stayed from the war, no lights or anything,” Oksuz said. “Erna scared one of my friends, two minutes later he scared us in return, and we had so much fun.” While the point of a study
CAMPUS CRIME REPORT:
abroad program is to study, Hrstic recognizes the need to learn about more than just the textbooks and class lectures. She has two main goals while she is gone. The first is to become fluent in Bosnian. The second is to learn about the people. “I really want to understand the people here, their frustrations and why the country is not moving in a positive direction at the moment,” Hrstic said. “I really think that when you go
study abroad, it’s not just about academics, it’s about learning how to interact with people.” Hrstic recognizes that she chose to study abroad in a place that she is familiar with. However, she chose to do it alone. She is the only DePaul student in the program, and one of the few Americans at her school. Hrstic talked about how it may be scary to go to a foreign country completely alone, but she recognized this as an opportunity to go out and make new connections. “I like to say I’m a very social person, so it’s fine for me to be out with people I don’t know at all,” Hrstic said. “I get to meet a lot of amazing people and cultures I wouldn’t have met otherwise.” Recently, she was able to attend a talk from Bakir Izetbegović, the son of the first Bosnian president. Experiences like these are unlike anything she would be able to undertake in Chicago. For anyone considering studying abroad, there are scholarship opportunities out there to help fund a once-in-alifetime experience like Hrstic describes. “Everyone has to study abroad,” Hrstic said. “Pick a wild country, a place you wouldn’t necessarily see yourself living in, especially if it’s a short-term program.”
Oct. 09, 2019- Oct. 15, 2019
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
LOOP CAMPUS
990 W. Fullerton 5
Clifton-Fullerton Hall University Hall 9
John T. Richardson 4
Arts & Letters
7
1
Corcoran Hall
8
3
Daley Building
Belden-Racine Hall 6 9
15
10
10
DePaul Center
Munroe Hall College of Education
2
LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
Assault & Theft
Drug & Alcohol
who was being harassed at Belden-Racine Hall.
2) A Suspicion of Marijuana report was filed for a 7) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor package received in the Student Center mailroom. report was filed in University Hall. Person was OCT. 10 3) A Harassment
by Electronic means report was filed in Corcoran Hall.
4)
A Theft report was filed for a laptop taken from the Richardson Library, A Criminal Defacement of Property report was filed for graffiti on 990 W. Fullerton.
Lewis Center 16 17
11
OCT. 09 OCT. 11 1) A Theft report was filed for sunglasses taken 6) A Harassment report was filed for a person from the Arts & Letters Building
14
12
Student Center 2
5)
CDM Building
transported to Illiinois Masonic by Chicago EMT. 8) An Armed Robbery report was filed for a person robbed at knife point in the alley behind Arts & Letters. A Safety Alert was issued regarding the incident.
OCT. 12 9) An Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
report was filed in Clifton-Fullerton Hall. Person was transported to Illiinois Masonic by Chicago EMT.
Other
OCT. 13 10) An
Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor report was filed in Munroe Hall. Person was transported to Illiinois Masonic by Chicago EMT.
11) A Threat report was filed for a person making threats to a staff member in the Student Center.
LOOP CAMPUS OCT. 09 14) A Theft
Report was filed for items taken from the DePaul Center.
OCT. 12 15) A Theft Report was filed for an iPhone taken from the CDM Building.
OCT. 14 OCT. 14 16) A Graffiti report was filed for markings on 12) A Robbery report was filed for a person who the Lewis Center. was robbed in front of the College of Education. A Safety Alert was issued regarding the incident.
OCT. 15 13) A Bicycle Theft report was filed for a bicycle taken from the rack at ATC.
OCT. 10 17) A Harassment report was filed for a person following someone into the Lewis Center.
10 | Nation & World. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
Nation &World
Purdue Pharma settlements a window into U.S. opioid crisis By Cailey Gleeson Focus Editor
After more than 2,600 lawsuits nationwide involving their role in the opioid epidemic sweeping through the country, Purdue Pharma — the manufacturer of prescription painkiller OxyContin — filed for bankruptcy Sept. 16. In 2017, opioids were responsible for 47,600 of the 70,237 U.S. drug overdose deaths — with more than 28,000 of these opioid-related deaths being attributed to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. From 1999 to 2017, almost 400,000 Americans have died from opioid overdoses. The declaration of bankruptcy followed a tentative $10 to $12 billion settlement with 27 states and thousands of cities and counties throughout the nation — with nearly 20 other states rejecting the terms of the settlement. Dr. Richard Blondell, physician and vice chair for addiction medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, said the company’s heavy marketing downplaying the addictive nature of OxyContin helped start the epidemic. “They promoted this drug heavily,” Blondell said. “I can remember representatives coming around with little bags, pens and clocks. They had a clock that just had 12 on there to remind us to prescribe it every 12 hours. The older physicians said, ‘Boy don’t listen to them. They don’t know what they’re talking about, these are addictive drugs,’ — and it turns out those old, family doctors were right.” Dr. Steven Aks, immersive physician and head of toxicology at Cook County Health, said it’s important to distinguish that there are two “faces” to the current opioid epidemic: pharmaceutical pills and street drugs. “There’s no single factor that you can point out and say, ‘This caused the opioid epidemic,’” Aks said. “It’s not just the pharmaceutical companies. It’s not just the regulatory bodies and it’s not just when people use drugs on the street, but all of these things coming together is what kept it moving.” Ed Silverman, senior writer and Pharmalot columnist at health news website STAT, has covered the pharmaceutical in-
Over 100 civilians killed since start of Turkish offensive By Brian Pearlman Nation & World Editor
The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced Sunday that 120 civilians had been killed since the start of the Turkish offensive in northern Syria. The group also said 300,000 civilians had been displaced since the start of “Operation Peace Spring” on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The offensive began after the withdrawal of U.S. troops who had been supporting a coalition of Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters against the remnants of the Islamic State militant group. Amid widespread
between 2008 and 2017 and “funded third-party publications under the guise of educational materials to promote opioids and downplay their risks.” In August, Rauol expanded the lawsuit to include members of the Sackler family. “The Sackler family knowingly misled the public and continued pushing Purdue’s addictive opioids without care or consideration of the death and destruction their product caused, and I stand with a majority of state attorneys general to say that the current proposal is not sufficient,” Raoul said in a Sept. 11 press release. Aks, the physician with Cook County Health, said illicit opioids are also a big problem. “Most of the country has been affected by the pharmaceutical pills, but Cook County has been ravished by street drugs,” JOHN MINCHILLO | AP he said. “Like 80 to 85 percent of the deaths In this Nov. 2, 2017, file photo, a medic with the Cincinnati Fire Department administers Naloxone in Cook County are from street drugs, into a man while responding to a possible overdose report at a gas station in downtown Cincinnati. cluding illicit fentanyl, and it’s more like 15 dustry for over two decades. He said the ruptcy court or the litigants could instead to 20 percent are from the pills directly.” lawsuits have been a “helpful tool” in un- attempt to negotiate a resolution,” Epstein Purdue Pharma isn’t the only corporacovering the extent to which Purdue has said. “The reason for this is it allows a tion under fire for its role in the epidemic. contributed to the opioid crisis through bankruptcy court to manage a company’s Health care products company Johnson & their marketing. creditors, which a plaintiff becomes if it Johnson, which manufactures painkillers “The lawsuits help us understand their wins in litigation and is awarded damages. and other drugs under its Janssen subsidthinking, their tactics, their strategy,” Sil- There is a fixed amount of money to be dis- iary, reached a $20.4 million settlement verman said. “I think that’s important more tributed and the bankruptcy court manag- in two Ohio counties and was fined $572 generally because it’s sort of a window into es that process.” million in an Oklahoma-based case — curhow these sorts of decisions are made more “This settlement framework avoids rently under review following the proceedbroadly when it comes to marketing med- wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and ing judge’s $107 million miscalculation in icines. And when it comes to scrutinizing years on protracted litigation and instead the award. the decisions that need to be made balanc- will provide billions of dollars and critical “They [Purdue Pharma] started it, but ing profits versus patients.” resources to communities across the coun- there’s a lot of blame to go around,” Blondell After talks to reach a settlement with try trying to cope with the opioid crisis,” said. “If being blamed is a pharmaceutical other companies failed on Friday, litigation Purdue Chairman Steve Miller said in a company problem, they did it and they into the epidemic is set to continue today statement. have to pay. They started it, but they had a in Ohio, with the Summit and Cuyahoga Blondell said the declaration is a “cap- lot of willing accomplices.” county lawsuits taking center stage. Purdue italistic tactic” that has been used by other While the outcome of further litigaPharma won’t be included in this particular companies in the past — especially since tion is uncertain, Blondell said any money litigation, but countless other pharmaceu- the Sacklers themselves did not file for from these settlements needs to go to meatical companies are included in nationwide bankruptcy. sures to begin the recovery process in the suits. “That’s generally what companies do wake of the crisis. Robert Drain, U.S. bankruptcy judge, when they make a big mess in the face of “We need evidence-based treatment placed a hold on any further lawsuits lawsuits — they just declare bankruptcy programs, which are generally unfunded, against the company until Nov. 6. and walk away,” Blondell said. “Meanwhile, to clean up some of the mess we made — Wendy Epstein, professor of law at the Sacklers are sitting on their billions and to deal with some of the people who were DePaul University and faculty director of billions of dollars. It’s just some of the flaws prescribed,” Blondell said. “But the other The Mary and Michael Jaharis Health Law of the capitalistic system that we live in.” thing we need is prevention. Every epidemInstitute, said the move to place a hold Illinois Attorney General Kwame ic we’ve ever faced in the history of humans on further suits is “typical” in Chapter 11 Raoul filed a lawsuit in April against the has been through prevention.” bankruptcy cases. company that alleged Purdue representa“The next step is that the litigation tives “dispatched sales representatives to could be continued in front of a bank- Illinois hundreds of thousands of times” criticism that the U.S. was leaving its majority Kurdish-led allies to fend for themselves, Turkish forces launched an assault on northeastern Syria to remove the Kurdish YPG militia from the region around Turkey’s southern border. Ankara views the YPG and other Kurdish forces as terrorists. The United Nations estimated over 160,000 people had been forced to flee their homes as of Friday. Ankara is also seeking to resettle some 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey in a proposed “safe zone” along the Syria-Turkey border. Last week, Kurdish forces struck an alliance with Russian and Syrian government forces, prompting the latter to send troops into northwestern Syria to protect the Kurds. A five-day ceasefire was brokered between Kurdish forces and the Turkish military Thursday, though reports of intermittent clashes have continued. The Syrian civil war began in 2011 and
HUSSEIN MALLA | AP A Syrian girl who is newly displaced by the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria, weeps as she sits in a bus upon her arrival at a camp in Mosul, Iraq, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019.
is among the world’s deadliest conflicts, with over half a million killed and scores of
reported human rights violations including torture and chemical attacks.
Nation & World. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 11
California power shutoffs prevent wildfires, frustrate residents By Charlie Bevins Contributing Writer
As San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric Co. shut off power to over 800,000 customers in 34 California counties two weeks ago, residents and the state’s own governor expressed frustration with the power company. Were blackouts truly necessary to stop potential wildfires amid windy, arid conditions in Northern and parts of Southern California? This wasn’t the first controversy for PG&E. The energy company provides power for more than 5 million households and has an aging above-ground infrastructure that resulted in them paying over $30 billion in fire wildfire liabilities last year. PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection in January amid allegations of responsibility for fires in 2017 and 2018, which was the state’s “deadliest and most destructive” year for wildfires, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which broke out on July 27, 2018, became the largest fire in state history after burning through 459,123 acres. “It was tough to be back here and only being able to text or call my family and friends and make sure they’re all good,” said Jill Wyman, a DePaul senior from Southern California. “Fires are unfortunately pretty common and the past few years they’ve hit pretty close to home. It’s also hard to see the videos and pictures on social media and not be able to do anything.” PG&E’s own faulty power lines were found to be the source of the November 2018 Camp Fire that razed the Northern California town of Paradise to the ground; it was the single worst wildfire in the state’s history, killing 85 people, burning over 150,000 acres of land and causing over $16 billion in damages. The largest fire currently burning in California is the 8,391-acre Saddle Ridge Fire, which started in Sylmar, Los Angeles. As of Sunday, 80 percent of the blaze was contained; thousands saw their power cut by Southern California Edison, whose own transmission tower was reportedly the origin of the blaze. According to Christie Klimas, an associate professor of environmental science and studies at DePaul, rising temperatures in California have led to drier forests, making them more susceptible to fire. “Some of the ecosystems in California are fire-dependent,” she said. “And so the lack of fire, because people don’t like having even small intensity fires burn close to their houses, means that there’s been a buildup of flammable, dry biomass in some of these areas, which makes them more likely to burn now than they would if they burned every couple years.” It was a dry, windy weather pattern that led PG&E to announce Monday, Oct. 7 that they were considering shutting off power for 800,000 customers. Joseph Schwieterman, a professor in DePaul’s School of Public Service, said the company had to balance its duty to provide power for customers with the potential that its own lines might contribute to deadly forest fires. “Energy companies, public utilities supplying energy, are regulated monopolies that are expected to act in the public interest,” Schwieterman said. “That gives them a higher level of responsibility than most other corporations. With climate change, it’s created a whole new dilemma: whether to compromise customer service for the sake of preventing wildfires. There’s no easy answer to that since we don’t have clear metrics on the tradeoffs. “The companies are really between a rock and a hard place,” he added. On Tuesday, Oct. 8, PG&E announced
NOAH BERGER | AP Flames from a backfire, lit by firefighters to stop the Saddleridge Fire from spreading, burn a hillside in Newhall, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.
that power outages would take place the next day. PG&E’s communications and computer systems crashed that night, as did its website while customers checked on the status of their power. Outages began for many without warning that Wednesday morning, leaving nursing homes and other emergency services searching for alternative power. Most power was back up Friday morning, but 12,000 residents were still powerless on Saturday. Many low-income residents felt the sudden loss of power as well, with no ability to afford a backup power plan. For those with sleep apnea in need of a CPAP machine, it was a particularly difficult period, as the shutoff put their lives in danger during sleep. Residents reported difficulty tracking down their needed medication in the dark and food storage was difficult without refrigeration. “In California, the company simply wasn’t equipped to fully assess all the tradeoffs,” Schwieterman said. “You know, we talk about medical issues and first-aid and so forth. And I can’t think of another area where private companies were forced to choose between two equally bad options.” California Governor Gavin Newsom has demanded PG&E pay affected customers a $100 rebate. Customers expressed frustration with PG&E’s communication strategy, and Bill Johnson, the company’s chief executive, pledged improved communications with residents in the future. “Californians should not pay the price for decades of PG&E’s greed and neglect,” Newsom said in a statement Monday, Oct. 14. “PG&E’s mismanagement of the power shutoffs experienced last week was unacceptable.” Wyman, the DePaul student from Southern California, said she believes PG&E has a duty to protect public safety. “They have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the residents they serve,” she said. “California being insanely dry most of the time makes it susceptible to fires and an electricity company should be up-to-date to keep everyone safe.” Klimas, the DePaul environmental studies professor, said she wasn’t sure if PG&E’s decision to shut off power was “the most effective solution.” “That’s a hard question, that’s a loaded question,” she said. “I think it’s a reasonable way to prevent what could potentially be a great amount of damage.”
Impeachment Inquiry week in review By Brian Pearlman Nation & World Editor
MONDAY, Oct. 14 — Democratic-led House committees heard behind closed doors from Fiona Hill, a former member of the National Security Council and expert on Russia; she testified that former National Security Adviser John Bolton called Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani a “hand grenade who is going to blow everybody up.” TUESDAY, Oct. 15 — In an interview with ABC News, Hunter Biden, the son of former vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, said he never discussed his work at Ukrainian gas company Burisma with his father; State Department official George Kent testified behind closed doors that three people close to the White House — the “three amigos” — were given almost total control of U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine: Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Ambassador to Ukraine Gordon Sondland and special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker; Giuliani said he earned $500,000 from a company run by Lev Parnas, who was indicted last week for campaign finance violations; Giuliani said he would not comply with impeachment subpoenas; at a ceremony honoring the Stanley Cupwinning St. Louis Blues, Trump said, “I wouldn’t worry about it, fellas,” when asked about the possibility of impeachment. WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 — David Correia, a businessman indicted last week on federal campaign finance charges related to the 2016 Trump presidential campaign, was apprehended at Kennedy Airport in New York; Michael McKinley, a former aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, testified behind closed doors that his decision to resign a week ago was influenced by “the implication that foreign governments were being approached to procure negative information on political opponents” within the White House. THURSDAY, Oct. 17 — Trump ordered flags be flown at half staff after Elijah Cummings, leader of the House Oversight Committee — one of six committees conducting the impeachment inquiry — died of unspecified causes related to longtime health issues; in prepared remarks leaked to the press, U.S. ambassador to the European
PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS | AP
US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland arrives for an interview with three House committees leading the impeachment inquiry on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.
Union Gordon Sondland said he was “disappointed” that the president asked other diplomats and himself to involve Giuliani in dealings with Ukraine; acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney admitted Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine over demands the country investigate the origins of the 2016 investigation into the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and the location of a hacked DNC server; Mulvaney also said most of those out to get Trump were “career bureaucrats” who disagreed with his politics; in response to the comments, Schiff said, “Things have gone from very, very bad to much, much worse”; Perry said he would resign by the end of the year. FRIDAY, Oct. 18 — Mulvaney walked back his Thursday comments, saying in a new statement that they had been misunderstood and that there was no quid pro quo; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he agreed with Mulvaney’s clarification; former Ohio governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate John Kasich said he supported the impeachment inquiry after hearing Mulvaney’s comments Thursday; the U.S. Energy Department said it would not comply with House impeachment inquiry subpoenas. THE WEEK AHEAD: Expect closeddoor interviews with eight more officials including Bill Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine.
12 | Opinions. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
Opinions
The need to go green
Students care about sustainability. It’s time the administration follows suit. By Jenna Ranieri Contributing Writer
I like to think of myself as relatively green thinking. I recycle whenever I can. I like to choose brands that follow environmental ethical codes of conduct, whenever economically feasible. However, I have always shied away from actively joining the conversation and acting to reverse the damage that has been done. Taking on such a daunting task has always intimidated me. I never felt that I had time to properly educate myself on the depth of the problem. I didn’t make time to form an opinion other than “climate change is bad.” Like so many other students at DePaul, I’m a
double major trying to balance school and a demanding internship. I’ve been relying on politicians to make the needed changes that will save my future. I’ve been relying on DePaul to follow our Vincentian values and help sustain our community. I’m done waiting. You should be too. A good place to start enacting change is by educating yourself. Many professors on campus care deeply about this cause and want to make DePaul a better place. For example, Sarah Richardson, a professor of biology, takes her classes around campus, looking at species of trees and insects. “One thing I’d like to see that they’re not doing is planting more native plants,” she said. “Native plants will support native insects and that will support more birds.” James Montgomery, a professor of environmental science and studies at DePaul, worked on The Sustainability Initiatives Task Force over a decade ago to produce a proposal to make DePaul more sustainable. The proposal was officially announced in 2011, but nothing changed. “It’s just been collecting dust,” he said. “And that has been the most disappointing part for me.” There have been strides on campus to improve sustainability. The Facilities
and Operations department partnered with DePaul’s Student Government Association to add solar panels to the roofs of two buildings. This year, DePaul’s dining centers have partnered with Lakeshore Recycling Company, which allows both campuses’ dining centers to compost kitchen scraps and leftover food. Now it’s up to us to use it. However, a lot needs to change. Other universities sell reusable mugs that students can purchase to reduce waste in dining centers. When asked about the waste produced in the dining centers, Mark Little, resident district manager of DePaul’s Chartwells, avoided the subject and instead questioned me on what waste I was referring to and whether the dining halls are inherently wasteful. Every plastic straw, to-go container and single-use coffee cup adds up. Their production, transportation and disposal all negatively impact our community. That’s a huge impact. It is not okay for the people in charge of making an impact to ignore this or make students feel uneducated when they question the system. So many students are already reluctant to talk about environmental issues due to lack of time, knowledge or vision on what campus could look like. We need people in charge of our university who take this seriously and be willing to work with us to help us with our civic duty to help our community. There is so much change that needs to happen. It doesn’t matter where you
start, it just matters that you find time to start. There are several opportunities for students to work with others and educate themselves. Professor Barb Willard is helping educate students by teaching sustainability classes in the College of Communication. “Really, where we can make the most impact is in our own community,” Willard said. “If people really care about this and they’re in the DePaul community, then get active.” DePaul Urban Farming Organization is a student-led initiative to bring sustainable practice to whoever wants to join them. Every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, a group of volunteers work to harvest, plant and maintain a garden no one knows about. The opportunity to educate yourself on sustainable practices is sitting across the street from Wish Field. Students teach each other not only how to plant, grow and harvest their own crops, but the importance of growing and buying locally. Senior Lauren Paris is the co-president of DePaul’s chapter of Climate Reality Campus Corps. The organization works tirelessly to get administration to listen to serious concerns students have about sustainability at DePaul. They encourage students to use #WhatAboutDePaul and vocalize administrative changes they’d like to see. “This is hard work,” Paris said. “Serious sustainability, we’re not just talking about recycling, but more so renewable energy or where we are getting our food.” Neither students nor professors have time to figure out who can make this change happen. There needs to be a full-time sustainability coordinator to do this for us. That is exactly what Paris and Campus Corps are working to achieve. It is hard work, and it takes time. Students need to decide whether they care enough about their future to make it a priority. These are suggested starting points for action. There are so many places out there to find information and make a difference. This is what must be done, so go out and do it.
GRAPHIC BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
Opinions. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 13
Is Trump guaranteed a second nomination? The opposing 2020 Republican candidates are noticeably missing from media narrative By Rebecca Meluch Contributing Writer
As I tuned in last Tuesday night into the Democratic debate, I saw 12 different faces on the stage; this means 12 different voices and 12 different arguments to pay attention to. These 12 represent the largest number of candidates to ever appear in a primary debate. With the amount of faces on the Democratic stage, I started to feel overwhelmed and thought, “Why haven’t I seen or heard of any Republican primary debates?” During the 2015 Republican debate, there were 11 candidates participating, holding the previous record for the greatest number of candidates on stage. Not saying that I’ve cared for the Republican debates and candidates in the past, but I realized that coverage of the 2020 Republican primaries is nearly nonexistent. Former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, former South Carolina congressman Mark Sanford and former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh are all competing for the Republican nomination, but all are struggling to gain traction with the media. Weld was the first to announce his campaign against Trump, and it seems to me since then he has only used his platform to criticize Trump rather than focus on his own political objectives at all. Sanford and Walsh, when compared to Trump and Weld, are using their platform to promote issues that they plan on battling like debt, spending, and corruption in politics. Specifically, Walsh is tackling Trump in his campaign by calling him a “would-be dictator” and criticized the rest of the Republican party for becoming a “cult.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump is dominating the media’s attention for the Republican primary. By observing the minuscule media attention that the three competing candidates are receiving, each platform gives the impression that the object of the campaign is to dismantle Trump to gain support from the rest of the Republican party. Sanford, while focusing his platform on debt and spending, has openly criticized Trump for turning away from traditional conservative beliefs. The media has not centered its attention around other Republican candidates because Trump has a tightening grip on both the Republican primaries and party. According to Fortune, five states have canceled their Republican primaries so far in order to throw their support fully behind President Trump. The cancellation of these primaries
makes me wonder if Trump’s competitors ever had the chance to gain traction and media coverage in the first place. By states canceling these primaries, is this a way of rigging the election in Trump’s favor? “Presidents are rarely [seriously] challenged for their renomination,” said Wayne Steger, a political science professor at DePaul. “The two conditions that must exist for that to happen are a division within the political party and a president who is unpopular with the people of one of those factions. Trump has a couple of nomination rivals, but neither is a serious challenger.” Running against an incumbent is a challenge in any election, especially one as media dominant as Trump. “Because it’s such an uphill battle for any
candidate to challenge a sitting president in their own party, I feel the lack of coverage represents the small chance those candidates have to win the party,” said junior Drew Haynie. Although the incumbent president rarely gets challenged by members of their party, I’m surprised to see that the Republican party itself is in support of Trump, given his shaky approval ratings. “It is a little bit surprising because Trump is so unpopular, his approval rating is at [about] 41 percent last time I checked,” said Brandon Tejeras, president of the DePaul Democrats. “He’s really just focusing on his base and not really expanding his electoral prospects, so I’m a little surprised there’s not as many people coming out and saying “‘we need to be better Republicans and better candidates if we want to keep this presidency in Republican hands.’” Tejeras explained it may be difficult for the party to not support Trump’s campaign. “The Republican party is in a really weird bind.” he said. “On the one hand they need to stand with their president, because if they don’t they’re not going to win their own re-elections with some of the House members and some of the Senate members. They can’t really come out and endorse other candidates because they could lose their elections next time around.” When states cancel their primaries, they don’t give the rest of the Republican party a fair chance of coverage and traction. Although Trump is backed and supported by the Republican party, I wonder if the media will give Weld, Walsh, and Sanford more coverage of their political platforms, aside from the fact they are each targeting Trump.
The limitations of kindness
Ellen Degeneres’ friendship with George Bush betrays the community she helped empower By Rebecca Rogers Contributing Writer
The internet exploded last week when photos and videos surfaced of Ellen DeGeneres and former President George W. Bush sitting together at a Dallas Cowboys game. The two were laughing together and seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. The internet erupted with comments wondering how she could sit next to him, how she could be friends with him and how could she betray the LGBTQIA+ community? Ellen responded to the hate with a segment on her talk show, saying, “When I say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ I don’t mean only the people that think the same way that you do. I mean, ‘Be kind to everyone, it doesn’t matter.’ Sure, Ellen, but what about when everyone includes the people who have made it their life’s work to withhold certain rights from you? Who have actively attempted to take away your freedom? Do you have to be kind to them? As a queer woman myself, Ellen has always been a huge inspiration to me. Since before I came out, I have been in awe of her ability to live her life authentically and freely. But when she sat next to Bush, who, in February 2004, announced his support for an amendment to the Constitution that would ban
same-sex marriage, something didn’t sit quite right. I felt betrayed, but I also felt conflicted. Ellen has done great things for many people, but can I support her kindness for everyone platform when not everyone is kind to me? The legitimacy of the LGBTQIA+ community is still being debated today as the Supreme Court works to determine whether or not the Workplace Discrimination Act applies to us. How can Ellen, who has one of the biggest platforms in the world for the community, sit idly by and share a laugh with Bush when she could be talking about the potential suffering that her siblings in the community have been and will be facing? I just don’t understand it. Jacob Bender, a junior at DePaul, believes that he and his siblings in the LGBTQIA+ community should not feel obligated to support someone who does not support them. “If any person opposes the public existence of, or equal rights for a specific group of people based on something that cannot be changed, I don’t have to give them the time of day,” he said. “George Bush campaigned in 2004 pushing for a Constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, and to this day has yet to denounce his past support. He
made it clear he doesn’t believe I, or others in the queer community, are deserving of equal rights, exclusively because I’m queer.” Chris Bury, senior journalist in residence at DePaul, brought up an important opposing point, which is that there is a large population of the U.S. that resonates with what Ellen said about treating others with kindness. “I think that in an era where people are increasingly separated by politics, it’s caused a lot of trouble in personal relationships,” he said. “Everyone can identify with going to a big family reunion where there’s an uncle there who you don’t agree with about anything, yet he’s part of your family so you want to have a relationship. Do I think that people should blow up their relationships based on political views? No, I don’t. I understand people who are upset and want to sever these relationships, but I don’t think it’s a good thing for the country or for our personal relationships.” This is something that I can understand. I certainly don’t agree with everyone in my family about everything, and sometimes we argue about big issues, but they are my family. Yes, you can cut out family members, but family is different than friends. Sometimes you’re stuck with family, but you get to choose your friends. Ellen made a conscious decision to engage with Bush, and that’s where the line could be drawn. However, in a country that is divided
by hate, it’s easy to want to just cut off everyone who doesn’t agree with you. But maybe that isn’t the only reaction possible. Perhaps we don’t have to be kind to everyone, but maybe we can learn as a country to respect each other if we can’t be kind to each other. Paul Booth, a professor of digital communication and media arts at DePaul, points out that there is a difference between being kind to someone and being respectful toward someone. “I think that nuance has been lost in the conversation because we don’t have to be supportive of people who disagree with us,” he said. “We can respect them as human beings, but we don’t have to be kind to them.” Considering three rather different opinions on the matter, I’m here to say that no one should feel obligated to treat someone a certain way when they don’t support your right to live. If you are able to look past your differences with somebody and have a relationship, that’s your prerogative, and I’m happy for you that you have that patience in your heart, but just because Ellen did it doesn’t mean we all have to. Fight for your rights alongside the people who support you and let Ellen handle the rest. GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
14 | Focus. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
Focus
What may ne
Unofficial wonders of the world may be lo By Ella Lee Arts & Life Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF VOLKER THEWALT VIA FLICKR
Buddhas of Bamiyan replaced by holographic imagery following destruction by the Taliban in 2001.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROB STOELTJE VIA FLICKR
Leptis Magna offers connections to Libya’s ancient times.
Mark DeLancey, associate professor and chair of history and architecture at DePaul University, sits across the table in his fourthfloor office. Windows give way to an almost distracting view of the Chicago skyline, and illuminate a bookshelf filled with a vast array of work on the Islamic world. He has studied Islamic art and architecture for nearly three decades. He tells of extravagant art and grand forms of architecture throughout the Middle East and parts of northern Africa, highlighting the differences amongst them, but also noting similarities. From the questioner’s point of view, however, the most relevant similarity is their existence in countries on the Department of State’s Do Not Travel list. “Keep in mind that many of these countries you can visit, just not on an American airline, so you’ve got to get off in Europe and jump through some hoops,” DeLancey said. “But it makes it a little more difficult. But what do you miss? You miss a sense of our common humanity with these places.” The U.S. Department of State has issued 13 countries with a Level Four “Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest such ranking there is. Countries with a Level Four advisory are characterized by civil unrest, terrorism, armed conflict and other forms of instability. Until such issues are resolved, they are not likely to be visited. The concerns of visiting such countries, while valid, prevent people from seeing art, architecture and natural beacons of beauty. Stephanie Howell, a communications professor specializing in intercultural communications, said art holds invaluable insight into culture. “Art can give insight into cultural values,” Howell said. “Art can give insight to rituals. Art can give insight into traditions, holidays and performative practices. Art can give insight into that culture’s history.” Art and architecture are key pieces of the human experience that we often miss out on. The instability that put such countries on the Do Not Travel List deprives people not only of experiencing what is often a touchstone of another culture, but prevents any firsthand appreciation of what a culture has to offer. Windows into the past, embodied representations of culture or simply the grandeur of a natural
structure are all things we are deprived of. “If we are considering architecture as an art, and the question is, ‘How does art serve as a window into the past help us better understand culture(s)?’ then we have established that art and architecture is a window to that culture’s history in the framing,” Howell said. “The art gives us context. Again, the art can give us insight into cultural values and understandings.” DeLancey points to Leptis Magna, located in Libya, as an example of a landmark that brings perspective to the times of ancient Libya. “It was a major city in North Africa,” he said. “They engaged in Mediterranean trade, particularly because the Severan Dynasty originated there.” The history of Leptis Magna also reveals the importance of North Africa to the Roman Empire, something often overlooked in evaluating its global reign. “I like to also point out that DePau Rome is African too,” DeLancey said. “North Africa was the breadbasket of the Roman Empire. And a whole imperial family originated in Leptis Magna.” Leptis Magna is one of many connections to the past and archaeological sites that most people are likely never to see. Iraq’s ruins of Samarra stand tall today, despite their construction in the eighth century. The Fakhr ad-Din Mosque in Somalia, the Maidan i-Shah in Iran and the Great Mosque of Damascus in Syria are all remnants of history spanning hundreds to thousands of years. Empires have risen and fallen since their creation. The site of the Great Mosque of Damascus has been repurposed for multiple religions and has withstood the instability in Syria. DeLancey said the ancient remains of Samarra played a role in the Iraq War.
“Art can give in to rituals. Art c give insight int ditions, holiday performative p tices. Art can g insight into tha ture’s history.”
Stephan
Focus. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 15
ever be seen
ost in countries plagued by civil unrest
“At one point in time, Samarra was in the news all the time as a site of resistance in the Iraqi War,” he said. “And one of these minarets, in fact, was used as a sniper nest. And it was in the news for a period of time.” On the other side of the globe, in Venezuela, exists the largest waterfall in the world: Angel Falls. Those familiar with the movie “Up” may recognize it, as it was the site on which Carl landed his floating house. They called it Paradise Falls in the movie, but at one point in time, it was possible to experience part of a Pixar film in real life. Now, Angel Falls is largely inaccessible. Venezuela, under authoritarian rule by Nicolás Maduro, has been shaken by food shortages, corruption and violence. Travel there has become nearly impossible. Josely Hernandez, a 21-yearold student at Waubonsee Community College, born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, said there have been many changes since she moved to the U.S. at 3 years old. “We went back a lot to visit, but as things got worse, it got more expensive to go visit and a lot more difficult, so we didn’t really get the opportunity to go back,” Hernandez said. “And at the moment it’s kind of discouraged, so we don’t really get the opportuul professor nity to go back anymore.” Hernandez said Angel Falls is a place that sticks out in her mind when she thinks about Venezuela because her brother is a pilot who has toured the location. “It’s always beautiful and it’s always providing life to everything around it,” she said. “And I feel like, if at some point in time, the government got shut down or kicked out or whatever, I feel like Venezuela could have the opportunity to rebuild itself and make it how it used to be when my parents were younger.” The world is home to great depths of architectural marvels and places of beauty. Unfortunately, as has been the case throughout global history, that beauty can become a target. The Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan, formerly the largest Buddha statues in the world, are an example of this, as they were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
nsight can to trays and pracgive at cul-
nie Howell
In a sense, the Buddhas were resurrected in 2015. Through holographic imagery in the vacant space they once occupied, they attracted visitors and were met with general approval. Though on the surface it seemed to be a purely positive act, there is cause to be wary of the statues’ rebirth, according to Robert Linrothe, associate professor and chair of the department of art history at Northwestern University. Linrothe, who earned his art doctorate from the University of Chicago in 2016, said the problems posed by “resurrecting” art include the privilege it gives to our understanding of art compared to its original creators. He said part of the reason for the Buddhas’ prominence was that it served as a beacon for travelers along the Silk Road. Replacing them with a hologram changes the meaning of their placement. Linrothe also noted the importance of art in residing in its original location. Stripping paintings or statues from their original place in the world, and therefore their place in history, removes them from the context their creator intended. The world’s finest places of beauty are meant to be respected, and as awe-inspiring as they can be, the temptation to recreate them can be problematic. The best way to view them is in their original state, which means many of these places won’t be available for some time. Unfortunately, this is a reality of landmarks that exist in places of armed conflict. Destroyed remnants of the past can’t be rebuilt and viewed later while keeping the artist’s original intent. And along with the Buddhas of Bamiyan, some of these connections to the past are disappearing. “There are so many creative and inspirational pieces that I won’t be able to see and admire. It makes me wonder what I’m missing out on,” said Michael Harris, a senior at DePaul. What still remains, DeLancey said, serves a role in the human experience “I think it changes your perspective on how people in those parts of the world relate to us in the wider world,” he said. “It gives you a sense that there is something of value there as well. These aren’t just empty places, these are places where there are extraordinary monuments to human civilization and what people are capable of. I think those are important things that we miss out on.”
State Department Travel Advisories* Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions • Paraguay • Ghana • Thailand Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution • France • Germany • Italy Level 3: Reconsider Travel • Nicaragua • Sudan • Honduras Level 4: Do Not Travel • Libya • Iran • Afghanistan *full list can be found on interactive map on the State Department’s website
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOKHA VIA FLICKR
The Great Mosque of Damascus holds hundeds of thousands of years of history within its walls.
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI | THE DEPAULIA
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAY GILLILAND VIA FLICKR
Angel Falls served as the inspiration for “Paradise Falls” in Disney’s “Up.”
Arts & Life
16 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
The power of community art PHOTO COURTESY OF MURALS FROM THE YARDS
Mural called “Lupita Con Los Ninxs On The Tree,” made by high school students from PECHS in 2017. Located at 47th St. between Seeley Ave. and Hoyne Ave.
When a community is upended, sometimes public art is best By Patsy Newitt Asst. News Editor
The Latinx Cultural Center held a “Fighting Gentrification with Community Art” panel in Munroe Hall this past Wednesday, addressing the way many communities use art as a form of activism against gentrification. Panelists included Eduardo Arocho, the director of Humboldt Park Boathouse Gallery and tour guide for Paseo Boricua Tours Co., and DePaul senior Victor Hugo Lara, mathematics student and founder of Murals from the Yards. The panel was a dichotomy of Chicago neighborhoods in different stages. For Humboldt Park resident Arocho, public art is an act of claiming space in the gentrifying neighborhood and a way for long-term residents to prove they aren’t going to allow Humboldt Park to gentrify freely. For Lara, Back of the Yards resident, it’s community building — a refusal to let outside perceptions of the South Side neighborhood affect the community’s growth. Gentrification describes the transformation of a neighborhood to reach middle-class standards, according to the original definition by sociologist Ruth Glass in 1964. Lower-income residents are displaced as property values rise and rents increase, changing the social character of the neighborhood. For many in the Latinx community, this manifests as a destruction of communities that were built to survive a system that had no space for them in the first place. “Gentrification is a form of colonialism,” said Monica Ramos, Latinx cultural center coordinator. “Our communities have been built around spaces. It’s not just a heritage sentiment — it’s a sentiment of survival.” Long-term residents in Humboldt Park have used murals and sculptures to minimize the damage of gentrification, Arocho said. He focused on art in Paseo Boricua —the six block stretch on Division Street between Western and California avenues in Humboldt Park. Since the Division Street riots in 1962, Arocha said, the community has been active in keeping the Latinx population in Paseo Boricua. In the ‘90s, the community began using public art as activism, he said, and have been successful in limiting gentrification processes. “When a community begins to gentrify, you become invisible,” he said. “You lose the sense of community and
it feels like [the neighborhood] can only get better if we’re not there. [Public art] is a way to stabilize and claim space.” Arocho described the strategy to claim Paseo Boricua — placing murals in each corner of the area. “The idea was, if we control those six blocks, then we can spread from them later,” he said. Art like the Puerto Rican flag sculptures positioned on the border of Paseo Boricua, he said, gives long-term Latinx residents a better sense of belonging, as well as ward off gentrifiers. “Developers look to cater to a certain group of people,” he said. “And Puerto Rican flags are kryptonite.” For Lara in Back of the Yards, public art is a way of solidifying the community. News portrays Back of the Yards as crime-ridden and dangerous, he said, which can often infiltrate the way residents view the community themselves. Through art, they are reclaiming the narrative. With this in mind, Lara created Murals from the Yards, an organization that documents murals in the neighborhood, giving local artists credit and preserving the images. “When members of the community create the murals themselves, they have more of a sense of attachment to it,” Lara said. “It’s more meaningful to have engagement with it.” Murals from the Yards emphasizes youth involvement. With education cuts, Lara said, art programs are usually the first thing to go. Murals from the Yards aims to abate this. Some murals themselves were created by local high schoolers, like “Lupita con Los Ninxs on the Tree,” painted by students of Peace and Education Coalition High School on the wall of a fence on 47th Street The murals are largely located on privately owned property, like “Ninx de Arte,” painted on the wall of a privately-owned viaduct. Murals from the Yards brings them into the public eye. “We make these murals a part of the community,” Lara said. Unlike Arocha, Lara doesn’t see much evidence of gentrification in his own experience in Back of the Yards. “[Back of the Yards] gets abandoned from the rhetoric that it’s dangerous,” he said. Sometimes he feels like the news portrayal of his neighborhood helps minimize gentrification by depicting it as a negative. Moving forward, Lara hopes to create mural tours led by youth and a continued restoration of murals.
BIANCA CSEKE | THE DEPAULIA
Victor Hugo Lara, founder of Murals from the Yard. Arocho hopes that public art will continue to be a way for people outside the community to be aware of who was there before. When entering gentrifying neighborhoods, Arocho urges an understanding of the complex nature of community histories and recognizing privilege. “Share and know the history of your neighbors,” he said. “Be a part of the communities.” As Chicago neighborhoods continue to change and developers seek out new neighborhoods, recognizing long-standing communities could help minimize damage. Art can help. “Art is a form of resistance; it’s expression and communal memory,” Ramos said. “It reminds us of who we are and where we come from.”
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 17
Wiggin’ out? For students struggling with mental health, DePaul’s UCS is here to help By Keira Wingate
said Bill Johnson, a staff psychologist on campus. “Because the kind of negative stereotypes are reducing and normalizing this idea. We’ve done a good job bringing awareness.” Even though the number of students seeking help has gone up, according to Johnson, it brings into question the reason as to why. Yes, it is a good thing more students are going in, but it isn’t clear whether the rise in students seeking counseling services is directly correlated to a decrease in stigma or a real increase in how widespread mental health issues are. Johnson mentioned the many types of therapy sessions available to students. One in particular that he has seen great success in is group therapy. “You learn that you are not alone and new and relating skills,” he said. “Group is better than any individual therapy.” Johnson added that it is often the best treatment for emotional stress and that there is a therapist in the room that’ll help guide the discussion. “I’ve seen an increase in anticipation of group therapy,” he said. Johnson said the UCS also goes to classes to explain counseling services, ways to deal with stress and goes into detail about healthy eating, which can help with mental health as well as physical health. “DePaul’s therapy services have helped so much since I’ve started college,” Foltice said. “I moved here from Michigan, so when I started college I didn’t have any resources here in Chicago to help me out when things got tough to handle. I started going to the counseling center and they were such a big help with guiding me through what I was feeling and how to healthily express and deal with situations, feelings and thoughts.” Of course, talking to someone can be tough, but it can help to come to grips with problems in life and also offers an emotional release, according to Mental Health America. That is a common problem among people who feel that staying strong is the best thing to do, when in reality, it is healthy to get them out and not have them build up. “I also never hesitate to contact my professors if times get tough and I need a little extra help with completing my coursework,” Foltice said. “So far in my experience, the professors here at DePaul are so understanding and are always willing to help.” Full-time and part-time DePaul students currently registered and enrolled in a degree program are eligible for counseling services. Besides individual and group therapy; psychiatric evaluation and medication management, crisis intervention and referrals to community providers and agencies are also services offered through UCS.
Asst. Arts & Life Editor
There is a plethora of mental health illnesses that affect millions of people every day. The conditions that they can put you under are no joke, causing you to wonder why they aren’t taken more seriously. Maybe it is a lack of understanding or fear, but it has come a long way nonetheless. 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness, but two-thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek treatment, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Increasing numbers of college students are reporting that mental health issues are affecting their academic progress, according to United Educators. In a national study done by United Educators in 2017, approximately 24 percent of students cited anxiety and 16 percent cited depression as affecting their academic work. A shocking statistic from United Educators states that death by suicide is the second leading cause of fatalities in youth ages 15-24. Many students work, play sports, intern and go to school. Some even do all of those things at one time. Trying to work toward a college degree can deteriorate your mental health if students are feeling overworked and like they don’t have a life outside of academic work and jobs. “I definitely think that there are times when school makes my mental health worse,” said Brittany Foltice, a sophomore at DePaul. “There is such a big emphasis on ‘hustle culture’ and always trying to be the best and accomplish as many things as humanly possible. This sometimes can make you feel that no matter what, you aren’t doing enough, and you aren’t good enough to become successful.” Seeking help for mental health issues can be costly, time-consuming and sometimes downright impossible for some college students to. In such a stressful time, talking through depression or anxiety can be helpful. Talking with a therapist or counselor can help you deal with thoughts, behaviors, symptoms, stresses, goals and past experiences, according to Mental Health America. Luckily, college campuses offer counseling and therapy to students. The counseling services at DePaul partner up with many other campus groups in order to bring more resources to students in regard to mental health services. University Counseling Services (UCS) partners up with groups such as Mission Ministry and Academic Enrichment to help bring knowledge to students about the services offered. “Every year, again the number of students seeking services has gone up,”
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
18 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
Not by the book GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
By Ella Lee Arts & Life Editor
The cat’s out of the bag: A DePaul professor released a new book on Oct. 18 titled “Ante-Animots: Idioms and Tales,” which takes commonplace idioms and uses language to spin their intended meanings in unexpected ways. The author, Nicholas Hayes, is a part-time faculty member in the School for Continuing and Professional Studies and the assistant director of the Office of Prior Learning Assessment. The idea for the book came to him when exploring the Online Etymology Dictionary for fun. “I was looking up a bee’s knees and I saw that actually in the ‘20s there were all of these idioms that people were using, and they’re just so preposterous that it was hard to let go of some of these images,” he said. The book’s title, he said, is a bad joke. “Animaux” is the French word for “animals,” but the book’s title changes the suffix of “maux” to “mots,” which means “a witty remark.” The use of “ante” in the title is an homage to other writers who have used similar jokes before. Among the idioms in the book are classics like “bee’s knees,” “chicken out” and “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Perhaps the book’s purpose is best exemplified by the idiom, “a bull in a china shop.” “Perfumed fat anoints the sleek Apis bull,” Hayes writes. “The mound rests between his horns. It melts down his forehead. He snorts; his nostrils flare. He sweats and looks for anything that could free him from
“Ante-Anomots: Idioms and Tales” explores language through the transformation of idioms the dry desert heat. Shoppers cower in his fantastic shadow as he wanders dusty cobblestone streets. Low buildings barely come to his shoulder He sees a gleaming glass building and walks into it. He steps down the stairs and sees the doors slide open. The air conditioner blasts, and he gingerly navigates precious porcelain.” Along with the more well-known figures of speech, Hayes also includes a collection of bizarre phrases like “canary tusks” and “flea’s eyebrows.” Some of them are more personal than others for Hayes. “Some [idioms] were not things that I had used, but things that people I know have used,” he said. “There’s one, ‘frog skin,’ which was what my great grandmother called $5bills. [...] And I guess in a really abstract way you know if you look at a $5 bill it kind of looks like frog skin, right?” While the idioms and stories are fun to read, they’re also smart. Hayes said he drew from both French and Egyptian history when writing some of the tales, referencing famous figures like revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat and Egyptian goddesses Hathor and Sakhmet. “Normally, you wouldn’t have put them together, but I heard this one story and it was basically how these two goddesses are actually different aspects of each other,” he said. “So [Hathor] is embodied by a cow, and then
Sakhmet is represented by a lion — a giant cat. So that kind of fed into these cow, cat images and the dichotomy between that.” Finding the right publisher for the book took time. After a year and a half of sending the stories into contests and publishers, and after receiving “a fair number of rejections,” he reached out to Blaze Vox, the group which published his first book, about something unrelated. He mentioned his stories in passing, and the process went forward swiftly from there. “[Blaze Vox] proudly [is] a publisher of weird little books, and I feel that this definitely fits into that description,” he said. That’s not to say the rejection wasn’t tough. “I get rejections, but there is still always this feeling where it always feels poor, you know, it’s really personal,” Hayes said. “When I teach writing, I tell my students this, too: When I get disappointing news or when I get disappointing feedback, I try to give myself a 24-hour window where I sulk. And you know, I’ll swear that this will never see the light of day and I’m going to just bury it, and then after that period, I get over it.” Now that the book is out, Hayes said he doesn’t care where it is read, be it classrooms or at coffee tables. He just hopes it allows people to escape the confines of their own preconceptions about language. “I would hope that it is sort of a space of provocation, but not necessarily how a lot of times you hear that word, especially today, in kind of a negative rise,” he said. “But for me, you know, just that sense of a break from what we expect.”
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 19
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Vine walked so TikTok could run Joey Cahue
Contributing Writer
Apps come a dime a dozen, but the few that truly stick out have a cult-like following. Way back when, Vine was the “it” thing that created many memorable quotes and memes. As we waved goodbye to Vine in 2017, we stumbled upon TikTok, which was created only a year before Vine closed its doors. If you’re unsure what TikTok is, it’s a social media app developed by ByteDance, according to Time. It’s available in 33 languages and it’s available for download on iOS and Android. TikTok videos vary in length. They can be anywhere from 15 to 60 seconds long. Some are even as short as six seconds. Basically, anyone with a smartphone and a video idea could download the app and create whatever they want. They could even add music, sound effects and filters. Sound familiar? That’s because this app is similar to the late Vine. Vine shut down in January 2017, according to Fortune. Vines could only be six seconds long, but again, same rules apply. Anyone with a smartphone, video idea and creativity could produce whatever content they want. James Mourey is a professor at the Driehaus College of Business at DePaul and an expert in pop culture and social trends. Mourey believes that TikTok wasn’t generally set out to replace Vine, but that they “realized a market opportunity that
Vine never exploited,” he said. The problem with Vine was in its core appeal: super short six-second videos. While this makes for simple viewing, it doesn’t really translate well to marketable opportunities for companies or revenue generation.” Mourey said that one could argue that TikTok is crushing it in terms of popularity – TikTok has more downloads than Vine at the moment. “Some numbers estimate 800 million downloads compared to Vine’s 200 million – but again, that’s ‘downloads’ and not necessarily ‘engagement,”” he said. He also said it’s easy for people to lose focus on videos that are too long. “We know people don’t tend to watch videos any longer than two minutes, and the rise of Insta-stories and comparable alternatives have trained consumers to focus even less,” he said. Mourey thinks TikTok will remain popular, but that they need to learn to monetize their services through ads or brand-sponsored videos. He explained what Vine’s downfall was. “The downfall of Vine was Twitter’s inability to monetize the service,” he said. “Although it would be great if these apps could operate for free, that’s just not how business works.” Mourey said TikTok should be able to stick around for a while, but it must have a grounded business model. Selena Cotte is a graduate student at DePaul who recently presented her paper
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on TikTok and Vine at a conference. Cotte said the major difference between the two apps is that TikTok has several editing features that Vine didn’t have. She also said TikTok is consistently being downloaded. “TikTok has become a huge phenomenon, much bigger than Vine ever was, it seems, as it’s consistently been the most downloaded app on the App Store since sometime last year,” she said. “Also, not only does it capitalize on Vine nostalgia, it also comes at a time when people, especially younger people, are just more online than ever.” Does it fill the void? Cotte believes it does. “I personally believe that TikTok holds the same cultural space that Vine did,” she said. “Both platforms produce the same kind of absurd, blink-and-you-miss-it content in spite of the platform differences.” Cotte added that the creators of Vine are beta testing Byte, which she referred to as the “official” Vine successor. With that, it could disrupt the connection between Vine and TikTok. Paul Booth, a professor of media and cinema studies and digital communication and media arts at DePaul, believes that TikTok didn’t intend to replicate Vine entirely, and that they added their own twist with being able to add music to their videos through the app. However, he thinks the popularity will wither when something else comes along.
This generally happens with trendy apps. “I think it will be popular for a time, and then it will lose popularity when something else comes along,” he said. “When almost any social media technology becomes big, it has a wave of popularity and then slowly loses followers.” DePaul student Emily Trujillo misses the iconic Vine, but still adores TikTok. She thinks TikTok is just as addictive as any other social media app. “It’s honestly a combination of Twitter and Instagram of having to scroll and watch 15-60-second videos filled with comedy,” Trujillo said. As much as she loves TikTok, she considers Vine “iconic.” “I think TikTok fills the void a little in the sense of still watching funny videos, but to me, it is still not as iconic as Vine,” she said. Trujillo compares TikTok’s appeal to the way YouTube appealed to young people back in the day. “I think TikTok appeals to much younger gens, the same way YouTube and vine appealed to us older people,” she said. “Plus, I believe that instead of playing outside younger gens have screens to play on while back then we did not really have them.” While it looks like the two aren’t too comparable, it’s safe to say that TikTok is dominating the app stores. Hopefully, it won’t be as short-lived as Vine.
20| Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
MOVIE
MAKEOVER ‘Gemini Man’ starring Will Smith, shows a new way to film movies, in a way that has never been done before in cinematic history.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
‘Gemini Man’ brings a brand new film process to the table By Gavin Farrow Contributing Writer
“Gemini Man” -- which has been in development for two decades--is indicative of the late-1990s sci-fi action genre. Brimmed with the corny, formulaic plot devices of that era, it simultaneously rips off James Cameron’s “Terminator 2” and Paul Verhoeven’s more self-aware sci-fi films. The writing is hilariously hokey, especially as it drivels out of Will Smith’s two self-serious performances or the plethora of talented cast members who can’t quite sell these expository, ridiculous lines. That being said, this is a film everyone should see in theaters. Director Ang Lee, one of the last maverick filmmakers in Hollywood, shot this film in a rare format unseen before he first attempted it in 2016. This process is so rare, in fact, that only
select theaters in Asia with the proper projection setup can play it in theaters the way Lee intended. This format is quite complicated to explain. For one, the film is shot in 120fps (frames per second). The regular frame rate for films is 24fps. Select few films have experimented with doing more, such as “The Hobbit” films’ faulty attempt at 48fps. Before 24fps was settled upon as the standard frame rate around the introduction of sound films, many films were projected in 16-18fps. The decision to use 24fps was arbitrary: the frame rate of the projector was fast enough with 24fps that the human eye tricked itself into detecting motion, so filmmakers and producers settled for the illusion. Filmmakers have stuck to 24fps consistently for most of film history. Then along comes Ang Lee, who shoots his 2016 flop “Billy Lyn’s Long Halftime Walk” in 120fps before doing it again with “Gemini Man.”
What’s the difference between 24fps and 120fps? Well, as 120fps has more frames per second, it is able to capture in detail more of the world in front of the camera. The result, due to the speed of the frame rate, is a hyper-real look of the mise-en-scene in front of the camera. Add onto this the additional aspects to Lee’s format, D and 4K, and everything before the camera seems to pop out at the audience in an extremely jarring way. 3D, is the illusion of the two-dimensional image of films appearing three-dimensional and 4K is literally 4,000 pixels, which means a higher resolution of the image. Unfortunately, no one in the United States can see it in this way. Only 14 movie theaters in the nation can screen “Gemini Man” in 120fps, 3D, and 2K, as opposed to 4K. Fortunately, there are two theaters in the Chicago area currently screening the film in this format: the AMC Hawthorn 12 and the AMC River East 21. “Gemi-
ni Man” is currently floundering at the box office, which is a shame because its expensive, bold attempts at pushing the medium of cinema forward are formally revolutionary. Ang Lee is a pioneering filmmaker, putting his cinematic clout on the line to create a film that sparks audible, exciting reactions in the crowds with extremely immersive action sequences and Will Smith facing (absurdly) another, younger Will Smith. It truly must be seen in theaters as close to the format as Lee wanted. “Gemini Man” does indeed have terrible qualities for a traditional film. However, it is not a traditional film. It is a technically thorough film that pushes cinema forward, challenges the norms of film-going, and creates awe that is as close to seeing films for the first time. “Gemini Man,” thanks to both its technical innovations and wonderfully silly narrative, is a cult classic in the making.
The legacy of Led Zeppelin II By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
When I was a sophomore in high school, I was exposed to Led Zeppelin for the first time. Despite being one of the most popular and beloved bands of all time, my 15-year-old self thought I was ahead of the curve for listening to only their most wellknown songs. The band’s sophomore album, “Led Zeppelin II,” turns 50 on Tuesday. The album, often considered one of the best and most influential of all time, features some of the band’s most popular tracks like “Heartbreaker” and “Ramble On.” Songs from the album retain heavy rotation on classic rock stations and it is one of my personal favorites. However, the album—as well as the band’s larger legacy—has some heavy baggage. The album’s lead single, “Whole Lotta Love,” remains one of Zeppelin’s most popular and recognizable tracks and it isn’t hard to see why; the iconic guitar riff courtesy of Jimmy Page and lead singer Robert Plant’s wailing vocals are quintessential Zeppelin at their best. The baggage comes in the form of plagiarism accusations. In 1962, blues musician Muddy Waters recorded “You Need Love” for Chess Records, with Willie Dixon penning the lyrics.
The lyrics to both songs are strikingly similar. Dixon’s lyrics read: “You’ve got yearnin’ and I got burnin’ Baby you look so ho sweet and cunnin’ Baby way down inside, woman you need love Woman you need love, you’ve got to have some love I’m gon’ give you some love, I know you need love” While “Whole Lotta Love”—originally credited to Page, Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham— contains lyrics like: “You’ve been learning Um baby I been learning All them good times baby I’ve been yearn-yearning A-way way down inside A-honey you need ah I’m gonna give you my love, ah I’m gonna give you my love ah, oh” While songs about love— romantic or sexual—tend to skew similar, the cor-
relation between the lyrics of both songs was enough to raise eyebrows and, later, a lawsuit. Dixon sued the band in 1985 for writing credits, eventually settling out of court for an undisclosed amount. This wasn’t the first time Dixon took the band to court; in 1972, he filed a suit for copyright infringement over Dixon’s track “Bring It On Home,” also on “Led Zeppelin II.” Zeppelin included a version of the song on the album intended to be an homage to Dixon, who subsequently viewed it as plagiarism. Following the suits, Dixon was included as a credited writer on both tracks. Page later claimed that he created “Whole Lotta Love’s” riff organically, and that Plant was to blame for the similarity to Dixon’s track, having not changed the phrasing or content of the lyrics. “Most of the big British rock music came from all the blues music,” said Jack Burkes, a DePaul senior and Zeppelin fan. “All of the guitarists and musicians from the era liked blues music and their idols were like Muddy Waters and all those
GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
big musicians from back in the day. And then they did their best impression of those guys.” Given that some of Zeppelin’s most popular tracks were partially lifted from Chicago blues musicians—who only got their dues after going to court—it puts the ethics of their status as rock icons into question. “I mean, they’re successful because they’re a white band,” Burkes said. “White fans just like it more because it was a white artist and they just got more popular.” Zeppelin is the sixth-highest-grossing music act of all time, having sold over 250 million records worldwide. While Dixon maintains his status as an icon of blues, his work helped propel Zeppelin to extreme wealth and fame, while having initially not reaped the benefits of the work he helped create.Zeppelin is not the first or the last band to lift ideas or melodies from lesser-known artists; it’s a practice that is still being discussed today, from Robin Thicke to Ariana Grande. It is not a bad thing to enjoy Zeppelin or even “Led Zeppelin II,” despite some of their more popular work perhaps being repackaged from other artists. It’s important, however, to remember those who came before Zeppelin and helped to inspire their music who refused to be forgotten. For the 50th anniversary of “Led Zeppelin II,” I raise my hat not only to Zeppelin, but Dixon as well.
Studio Eleven:
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 21
Variety hour is an introduction to all comedy has to offer By Sam Rahman Contributing Writer
The sounds of standup, improv, musical and sketch comedy rang through the halls of the iO theater Friday night as the cast of “Studio Eleven” performed their variety hour. The dozen-person cast first assembled 13 months ago in September 2018 and has performed its self-written sketches weekly ever since. The group of 20-somethings and 30-somethings exude the confidence and joy only 20- or 30-somethings can while bringing the audience along on an hour-long joyride of witty bits and hearty laughs. Each Friday performance is pitched and written by the cast in the preceding week, which is no small feat by any means. The variety hour presented by this cast of 11 is accompanied by special guests that lend their comedic abilities to break up the contagious sketches with standup, music and other niches of comedy. Guest comics for the Oct. 18 performance included sketch comic Lily Reed, standup comic AJ Marroquin and musical improv comic Laura Mulcahy. Although it must be mentioned that future guests may differ, if Studio Eleven can continue to procure such talent for subsequent shows, audience members will have no choice but to return weekly for several more doses of the unique, incredibly funny and objectively talented entertainers. Laura Mulcahy, drawing comedic inspiration from writer, singer and comedian
Performers at the Oct. 18 comedy show at Studio Eleven Karen Kilgariff, performed an improved musical roast of the audience that will not soon be forgotten. As Mulcahy is a regular of the iO, I hope to have the pleasure of watching her perform again as I cannot shake my first impression of her as a new Bo Burnham – a compliment I feel the Chicago comedian rightfully deserves. Although a compliment, I reluctantly make the comparison, as I am sure she will not follow the previously treaded paths but blaze her own way and personalized comedic style. Sketch highlights of the evening included “Queerent Events” – an ongoing
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pride-filled segment on comedy news routines co-hosted by Caleb Hearon (2nd on top row) and Alex Collyard (top right) – an actor I can only describe as a less flamboyant Jonathan Van Ness with the beard and long bun-tied hair to match. Topical humor included in this edition of the weekly segment covered everything from Parisian zoos to barbie dolls to Mick Mulvaney. Another favorite skit from the night saw a boyfriend desperately attempt to learn more about his black girlfriend’s culture through intently listening to an aptly described ‘black culture ASMR podcast.’
Devin Middleton (3rd on bottom row) gave an incredibly hilarious performance as the podcaster, laying down equal parts soothing and informative quips and roasts on the white boyfriend portrayed by an equally charismatic Nick Rowley (bottom left). Studio Eleven’s comedy stylings are so broad and all-encompassing, any prospective audience member is bound to enjoy the show. Whether a veteran audience member of comedy clubs or a novice looking for a fun night out and a calm toe-dip into the pool of possibilities that is live comedy, anyone and everyone will be enjoying themselves by the end of the hour. The performers not only love what they do, but do it well. Both facts are sure to make themselves quite apparent as the evening marches on. Studio Eleven is offering discounted tickets to shows for DePaul students. Simply private message @studio.eleven. show on Facebook and receive whatever discount is available for the show. Charna Halpern and Del Close started the iO, originally named “The Improv Olympic,” when the two began teaching improv classes while sharing a “vision for a deeper, more robust form of improvisation.” The first official Improv Olympic theater landed the organization in Wrigleyville in 1995 after bouncing from space to space since its inception in 1981. Their current theater was recently taken over by the iO in 2014 after the organization simply outgrew their smaller location.
Review: Ta-Nehisi Coates’s debut novel By Luke Murphy Contributing Writer
Few writers have names that hold the weight of Ta-Nehisi Coates in 2019. The 44-year-old Baltimore, Maryland native has amassed a devoted following on the back of three nonfiction books, a handful of essential pieces of journalism for The Atlantic and a collection of “Black Panther” comics. And now, the 2015 National Book Award winner for nonfiction has something new: a debut novel. “The Water Dancer,” a sprawling, 403-page story of magic, the Underground Railroad, slavery, love and the power of memory arrived Sept. 24 with great curiosity and expectations. Still, somehow Coates seems to have exceeded those expectations. The novel follows the story of young Hiram Walker. Born during the Antebellum period in Virginia to a black mother and her master, a white man, Hiram is blessed and cursed with the power of memory. Whether he sees it, reads it or hears it, Hiram remembers. However, there is one exception: his mother, a woman sold by his father when he was still a child. Over the course of the novel, we watch as Hiram grows into his powers, from a curious, observant young boy into an often brilliant, cunning and brave man. Along the way, recognized for his talents, Hiram is recruited to the Underground, a resistance group of black and white men and women. The leader of that group is none other than Harriet Tubman, or Moses, as she is known in the novel, along with a handful of other names. Hiram, thanks
to his flawless memory, strong intellect and potential for even more magic (to say exactly what would be a spoiler), rises quickly in the ranks of the Underground, spearheading many a rescue mission, including the potential rescue of Sophia, the woman he loved at the Lockless plantation in Virginia. This love story is at the very heart of Coates’ debut novel. It is perhaps the most consistently beautiful storyline, and the one handled with the most grace. For as promising as the idea of magic is, and the attached metaphor of Hiram not being able to come into the extent of his power until he accepts his history, it is at times a clunky, unwieldy presence in the book. The few times the novel does veer off the train tracks, losing its footing tonally, is when magic comes into play. That is not to say it doesn’t work at all, for it often does, but the presence of literal magic does not work with the consistency of the story of Hiram and Sophia or Hiram and his relationships with people in the Underground. Ultimately, while the plot does work on both a profound level and a page-turner level - for “Water Dancer” remains, while chock full of ideas, immensely readable - the skill Coates most brings to the table here, which was present in his nonfiction work, is his ability to craft individual sentences on a rare level. Consider the very first sentence of the novel, a description so vivid, so artfully constructed, that Coates wastes no time reminding us of the power he holds with his pen. “And I could only have seen her there on the stone bridge, a dancer wreathed in ghostly blue, because that was the way they would have taken her back when I was young, back when the Virginia earth
was still red as brick and red with life, and though there were other bridges spanning the river Goose, they would have bound her and brought her across this one, because this was the bridge that fed into the turnpike that twisted its way through the green hills and down the valley before bending in one direction, and that direction was south.” While “The Water Dancer” stands as a real accomplishment, and at times a masterful debut novel, perhaps the most exciting part of it is that it is still his first work of fiction. Where will Coates be in two books? In three? As good as “Water Dancer” PHOTO BY OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB is, it is entirely Cover of the novel “The Water Dancer.” probable that he will only get better as spends more work and individual sentences, we now and more time learning to craft a story en- have reason to believe Coates is capable of tirely his own over the span of hundreds of even more. And, just like Hiram, it’ll be a pages. While we knew coming into “Water joy to watch him come into the full extent Dancer” the skill he had for nonfiction of his powers.
22 | Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
‘Z mbieland 2’
Some sequels are known to fail, but ‘Zombieland 2’ surpasses expectations By Aaron Somo Contributing Writer
Ten years ago, “Zombieland” hit theaters and quickly racked up the box office accolades with its wise cracking, in-yourface comedy and the cast’s dysfunctional family dynamic. A decade later, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) and crew remain the simple zombie killing machines that just want to enjoy the little things. Director Ruben Fleischer knew the appeal of the original film and stayed true to its nature: a gory, comedic twist on the zombie genre that never took itself too seriously. In an odd way, “Zombieland 2: Double Tap” feels like it takes you back to 2009 – a welcome feeling for anyone who wants to reminisce on simpler times. A world in which history splits off from reality 10 years ago allows for a step away from current tensions with a few light riffs on modern culture sprinkled in. The original cast of Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus), Emma Stone (Wichita) and Abigail Breslin (Little Rock) burst back onto the big screen with action and gore galore. The eccentric little group walks into some family drama this time around when Columbus proposal scares off Wichita, along with a little help from Tallahassee’s overbearing parenting of now much older Little Rock. When Wichita returns, Little Rock has taken off with a pacifist musician
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
From left: Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson return for the long awaited sequel of ‘Zombieland.’ who refuses to kill zombies. So, their chase to find and protect Little Rock begins, opening up the scene for some hilarious new appearances, from the likes of Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch, Rosario Dawson and Zoey Deutch. Deutch receives the most screen time of the newcomers as Madison, the airhead valley girl who nobody needed but everyone will thoroughly enjoy. Her lovable idiocy adds a playful wrinkle to the otherwise moody, sarcastic crew. For example, she has a brilliant idea she pitches to create a service where strangers drive around other strangers in place of taxis, which everyone else scoffs at as an excellent way to get murdered (Uber was founded in 2009 right when their world ended). Her role seamlessly blends
into the in-your-face comedy that drew so many to the first movie and continues in this sequel. The pair of Wilson (Albuquerque) and Middleditch (Flagstaff) create an unexpected but familiar duo of their own. One where the tough-hided Albuquerque enjoys every second of mowing down zombies with his fidgety, commandment-driven wingman Flagstaff. The similarities are obvious to everyone but the two duos themselves, who can’t decide whether they like or hate one another. Then Dawson enters the film with a cool-headed swagger that cannot help but attract the likes of Tallahassee. The film set low expectations to begin with and easily surpassed them. Reminding viewers why they liked a Twinkie-loving gun
nut, an overly cautious rule junkie and two cunning con-artists in the first place. If you are looking for witty, snarky humor, then you may be at a loss with this production. However, the director and cast gracefully perform to their humorous strengths in a way that never seemed to try too hard. The movie is pointed and simple, created without any deep metaphors for human greed or exposing the bloodlust of other countries. If you enjoy sitting back without having to contemplate the meaning of life while watching a movie, as I often do, then “Zombieland 2” is just what the doctor ordered. They didn’t change too much but made enough tweaks to keep the story interesting. The conflicts between characters were believable without being so heavy that they retract from the comedy. Most importantly, there was an end goal, but the journey proved to be every bit as compelling. Add in some Elvis Presley, car troubles and some good old hippie positivity and you’ve got a worthy sequel to an iconic zombie movie. Go see this film with the expectation of some good laughs from some inherently meta commentary and a few heartwarming moments sprinkled in. When you do see the movie, make sure to stick around after the credits for a couple surprise scenes. One, including a reappearance of beloved comedy legend Bill Murray.
3... 2... 1... DEAD
GRAPHIC BY GINA RICARDS
‘Countdown’ brings back classic horror scares By Rebecca rogers Contributing Writer
Nervous laughter emanates throughout the theater. Audience members can’t help but cover their eyes, peeking through their fingers at the screen. Gasps can be heard across the rows. “Countdown,” written and directed by Justin Dec, centers around an app that predicts when you are going to die. For most people, it’s a source of fun. Their app says they’ll die in 50, 60, 70 years. But when young nurse Quinn (Elizabeth Lail) downloads the app, she has a different reaction. Her app says she is going to die in less than three days. The film then turns into a race against the clock as Quinn and friends must figure out how to avoid dying, or worse. The concept of “Countdown” is one we’ve seen before, but this time, it’s a much darker take. It’s been seen in “TiMER” in 2009, a romantic comedy where a timer counts down to when a person will meet their soulmate. More recently, it was seen in a season 4 episode of “Black Mirror,” “Hang the DJ,” where an app tells you how long your relationship will last. Dec’s take on the premise does not end as joyfully. What happens when the app gets to 0, you ask? Unfortunately, the answer comes in the form of a spiritual demon that tortures
you until the moment that your last breath leaves your body. Overall, the movie is successful in scaring its audience. Hearing the gasps and shrieks when the demon shows up behind an unsuspecting minor character is exactly what one wants from a scary movie screening.
There’s nothing like involuntary audience participation in a horror movie. It sparked reactions that haven’t been seen in a horror movie in a while. The horror genre today is very smart and often more on the disturbing side than on the actual spooky side, and this was a fun throwback to the ways that more traditional scary movies func-
tion. Hearing “don’t go in there!” and “oh no!” made it less scary while watching because the audience was having so much fun enjoying the reactions of fellow viewers. P.J. Byrne gets a shoutout from me as Father John, the unconventional priest who Quinn and the gang seek out for advice on how to save themselves. Byrne brings just the right comedic timing at just the right moments. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much during a horror film. It almost felt wrong, but when Father John hands Quinn’s friend Matt (Jordan Calloway) a tiny cross, insisting that “it’s not the size of the cross that matters, it’s the size of the spirit,” and then pulls out a ginormous cross for himself, you can’t help but giggle. A movie like this is a prime opportunity for pranksters looking to make a quick buck. Last week, a real-life app called “Countdown” debuted on the App Store. Like in the movie, the app “predicted” when the user would die. It was taken down within days, but before its removal, it had surpassed TikTok, YouTube and Instagram to become the No. 1 free app on the App Store. Overall, “Countdown” is a movie that sticks with you. I felt like I was watching “Psycho” again based on the way the audience and I were reacting. When I walked home that night, I felt like I needed to look over my shoulder, and I almost slept with my light on. I suppose my biggest take away from the film was: don’t get the app. “Countdown” releases in theaters Oct. 25.
GRAPHIC BY GINA RICARDS
Arts & Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019 | 23
Costumes that never end
Every year Halloween favorites return for a scare By Madison Bradley Contributing Writer
For all of the creativity and individualism that surrounds Halloween, the same tried and true looks show up at every party. Whether it’s because they’re cheap or because they always look good, some costumes are doomed to haunt Halloween ‘til the end of time. The question is, can the sexy angel costume hold up in the beginning of a Chicago winter? For college students, money is notoriously tight. Courtlind Hickey, general manager of Chicago Costumes, estimated that his pre-packaged costumes run from $30-75 and often don’t include accessories. Many students opt to spend as little money as possible on Halloween and elect to make their own costumes. DePaul sophomore Audrey Redifer tends to take this route when it comes to her costume choices. “I like to dress up as
something recognizable, using stuff I already have in my closet,” she said. So far, Redifer has dressed up as Kim Possible and a fairy. Freshman Gabby Herring dressed as a Pink Lady from Greece last year, but now chooses to follow in Redifer’s footsteps. “I would love to buy a costume,” Herring said. “But, I’m a broke college student so it’s looking like a makeshift situation this year.” Even if Redifer and Herring do decide to build their own costumes, Chicago Costumes can still be of use to them. The walls of the store are filled with non-costume specific items such as wigs, makeup, clothing, animal ears and masks. Hickey’s store is perfect for one-stop Halloween shopping. “You could put together any number of costumes for under $20, or build a really elaborate one for $200,” Hickey said. As long as you have a pair of black leggings and a plain t-shirt, you can get away with spending $5 on cat ears and call it a day. A popular yet slightly more risqué cat outfit, as seen in the movie Mean Girls, consists of only black lingerie and cat ears. A wonderful idea, though it poses some bumps in the road. 30-degree weather isn’t forgiving on bare skin and lace. Girls’ costumes in particular have changed to accommodate the
cold Chicago fall. This Halloween seems like it may be a cold one apparently, since October has not seen a warm day in weeks. “There definitely are a lot of sexy costumes, but the nature of that has changed,” Hickey said. “They are definitely still tight, just cover more skin.” The days where moms could force their kids to put a long sleeve on under their costumes are far gone. DePaul students will have to find other ways to stay warm. In Herring’s opinion, there should be no guilt in bundling up. “I get cold very easily,” Herring said. “If it’s freezing, I will be wearing a coat with no shame about it ruining my costume.” If money is no object, and the temperature is irrelevant, pop culture costumes may be the way to go. According to Hickey, Eleven from Stranger Things has been popular in recent years. He also mentioned witches, angles, devils and the obvious sexy cats as fan favorites. For boys and men, Hickey cited a Chicago Bears sweater as a best seller item. He also stated that Hopper’s button-down and Steve Harrington’s Scoops Ahoy uniform from Stranger Things have been popular bagged costumes. Some people are clueless as to what they will be wearing on Halloween night, but are more focused on the vibe they want. All in all, it’s still great seeing college students let
their childhood shine through during this time of year – although, it may be a bit more risqué. “I want to feel good and attractive, but I definitely want to be a little goofy and have fun with it,” Herring said. She is planning on sticking to house parties, and hopes she’s at least slightly protected from the cold. The most important thing to remember is that no matter how late you start planning your costume, you can always put something spooky together. This year will bring new costumes on top of the beloved originals that never seem to fade out of view. Whether you are a cat, devil, scream or something out of the ordinary – like maybe Blue’s Clues – stay safe and stay warm this spooky season. “One year I went as a bag of leaves,” Redifer said. “That was my peak; I will never have a better costume.” GRAPHICS BY ANNALISA BARANOWSKI
Up next.... New traditions at Auditorium Theatre By Keira Wingate Asst. Arts & Life Editor
Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is returning for its second year at the Auditorium Theatre on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The Chicago Philharmonic will bring the movie to life by performing the classic score by Danny Elfman. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a classic Halloween film as well as a Christmas film for some. This event is still very new to the theatre and has become a new tradition in Chicago. With an orchestra playing songs such as “This Is Halloween” and “Jack’s Lament,” it is bringing engagement into the film. In case you need a refresher, the movie is about the misguided adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloween Town’s Pumpkin King, and his adventures in the completely unfamiliar Christmas Town. Seeing it on the big screen with the orchestra filling the audience’s ears with Jack’s antics will be like seeing it for the first time all over again. “I’ve tried to watch [“The Nightmare Before Christmas”] a million times,” said Chloe Grogean, a new Chicago resident. “But I’ve never paid attention. I don’t know why, because I love Tim Burton. I heard about the
event and it sounds cool. I honestly just need to sit myself down with no distractions and go into it with the mindset that this is an iconic Halloween film with beautiful animations and music that is worth watching.” Orchestras have been known to accompany live screenings of films, such as the “Harry Potter” series and the ‘Star Wars’ series, but “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a bit unusual. It doesn’t exactly seem like a movie that would be accompanied by a live orchestra. But when you think back to the main songs it becomes clear that it is a solid choice or The Auditorium Theatre. “I think it’s one of the best animated movies of all time, honestly,” said Avery Ferin, a senior at DePaul. “It was such an important movie for me during my childhood. The soundtrack is epic and massive and beautiful, so the chance for it to be seen with a live orchestra would be magic.” On top of what will be a stellar performance, there will be fun Halloween-themed activities, such as trick-or-treating around the theatre, and themed backdrops perfect for any Instagram page. The event will bring together many aspects of the Halloween season all in one night, making it perfect for attendees of all ages.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas”playing at Auditorium Theatre
PHOTO BY LUKE BANDOSKE
ACROSS FROM THE LPC QUAD 1120 WEST FULLERTON CHICAGO, IL 60614 773-528-1264 OFF PORTAGE PARK 4727 WEST MONTROSE CHICAGO, IL 60641 773-282-1264
www.ChicagoCostume.com
24 | Arts &Life. The DePaulia. Oct. 21, 2019
St.Vincent’s D e JAMZ “Spinning fresh beats since 1581” By Emma Oxnevad
2. Born to Die-Lana Del Rey Two weeks in a row of Lana Del Rey, but she was a necessary edition to a list about spooky jams. The titular track off of her breakthrough album is classic Lana: deep, sweeping vocals, sullen lyrics and a melodramatic aura. The idea that living life on the wild side because we’re all destined to kick the bucket one day is not only fun, but terrifying. Just like Halloween!
Opinions Editor
While it’s not quite Halloween yet, I see no point in holding off in sharing my favorite spooky jams. There are the quintessential Halloween songs—The Monster Mash, Thriller, etc.,— but that’s not this list. For this week’s DeJamz, I’ll include songs that are spooky on a deeper level, because what is life but a series of horrors?
3. Where Did You Sleep-Nirvana Of all the tracks, this is probably the most traditionally spooky. Nirvana’s cover of the traditional Appalachian murder ballad remains one of their most iconic performances and also one of their most haunting. The album on which it appears, “MTV Unplugged in New York,” was the first one released after frontman Kurt Cobain’s death, which almost certainly makes it haunted.
1. Hey Ya!-Outkast Everyone and their mom is now aware of the fact that the catchy melody and fun beat hide some more somber lyrics about a relationship breaking up. Well, here’s another article talking about it. This song dominated freeze dance games at my elementary school, setting me up for a lifetime of hidden unpleasantness (kidding!).
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4. Ohio-Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young One of the most famous countercultural anthems of all time, this song captures an eerie vibe unlike any other. The song was penned out of outrage and horror following the infamous Kent State shootings, in which four students were shot and killed by Ohio National Guardsmen. The constant repetition of “four dead in Ohio” sticks in the back of your mind like no other and is a reminder of the lives lost. 5. Fire-Bruce Springsteen I love Springsteen. So does everyone else. But this song is one big yikes. The lyrics are undeniably creepy (“You say I don’t like it/But girl you’re a liar”) and the whole song has a slimy vibe. This song is very out of character for The Boss, whose love songs skew more sincere and enthusiastic as opposed to pushy and aggressive. ACROSS
DOWN
1. Andrew Lloyd Webber hit 5. Low digits 9. “Bleah!” 12. Rev. Roberts 13. Suffer from 14. Woody herb 15. Produced 17. Campus facility 18. Awful review 19. It may be educated or wild 21. Clergy counterpart 24. Hatchery sound 26. Communal pronoun 27. “I’ve finished,” on a radio 29. Santa’s burden 33. To’s partner 34. Explosion maker 36. Kicks 37. Piquancy 39. Punishment for a sailor, maybe 40. IT worker’s complaint 41. Drink garnish 43. Take home, as a pet 45. Inside info 48. Angle opener 49. Heavy weight 50. Grew larger 56. Texas tea 57. Apple discard 58. Jogger’s gait, perhaps 59. Paper towel measure 60. Sebaceous gland woe 61. Reasonable try
1. Minor player 2. “What ___ friends for?” 3. Malibu hue 4. Failed as a sentry 5. Comparative word 6. Cereal crop 7. New Year’s ___ 8. Bulrush relative 9. Craving 10. Dolls’ accompaniers 11. Fashion lines 16. First synthetic fiber 20. Downs’ opposite 21. Barn area 22. A psychic may see it 23. Attend to a pressing detail? 24. Corolla part 25. Goofs up 28. Adjective for a cad 30. Retro hairdo 31. Crescent horn 32. Like most sweaters 35. Midwest hub 38. Local mail H.Q. 42. Long stories 44. Cockpit array 45. Layover 46. Spring 47. Partner of one? 48. Elder, e.g. 51. “___ so fast!” 52. React to spilled milk? 53. Drunkard 54. Waste watchers’ org. 55. One who’s coming out
Sports
Sports. Oct. 21 2019. The DePaulia | 25
Trainers’ relationship with sports teams proves crucial By Nate Burleyson & Aaron Somo Asst. Sports Editor and Contributing Writer
With the sports industry as entertaining and lucrative as it is, the people who help keep the product on the field are a key part of how it all functions. Trainers work often far away from the spotlight, but play a huge role in sports teams at all levels. The profession has been steadily growing for the past decade, as more medical attention is given to athletes’ bodies in the modern era. This has become an enticing field for many young athletes who want to stay around the world of sports. A cross between sports knowledge and body sciences, the educational field for the profession has grown significantly DePaul has a few of its own graduate assistant athletic trainers who perform valuable work for the school’s athletic teams. Mallory Gizowski previously attended Carroll University in Wisconsin, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She now works across the athletic department with the women’s soccer team, men’s and women’s tennis team and the men’s golf team. She does all of this while pursuing s a master’s degree in the sports, fitness, and recreational leadership program. Gizowski was decisive in her choice to work as a graduate assistant saying, “Once I graduated from Carroll, I knew I wanted to continue my education and get my master’s degree.” Allison Podborny, another graduate assistant and athletic trainer at DePaul, attended Northern Illinois University where she received her bachelor’s degree. She gained internship experience at the University of Alabama as well as the University of Florida before choosing to further her education at DePaul. Both Podborny and Gizowski were attracted to DePaul for its proximity to home. Podborny added that she was excited for the opportunity to work with the men’s soccer
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
Allison Podborny stretches out an injured DePaul men’s soccer player during a contest against Villanova on Friday, Sept. 20 at Wish Field. team., “Everyone who saw me was very family-oriented and I really liked that,” she said. Although the two report to head athletic trainer Sue Walsh, they have a good amount of autonomy. At this point in their studies, they are comfortable being independent on the field. “I don’t necessarily need to confirm everything I do with my athletes, but certain
situations I do,” Gizowski said. Though they do not always need much assistance, Podborny said the resources are there if they need them, between multiple assistant trainers and a readily available Walsh. Some student-athletes have spent more time with Podborny and Gizowski than they may have liked due to injury. Athletes
like Joshua Bowser, senior midfielder and defender for the men’s soccer team, know the feeling. He recently suffered from some aggravated muscles which have built-up fluid. Athletic trainers are supposed to make a bad situation manageable. Bowser said that his experience with athletic trainers has been nothing but positive. Trainers need to be open and honest with athletes about their condition.“They’re always honest about what they can do for you and will refer you to another doctor if that’s what you need,” Bowser said. Bowser believes that this honesty has helped build trust between trainers and the players, instilling faith that they are doing all they can to get athletes healthy and back on the field. He had minimal interaction with the athletic trainers prior to this year as he had avoided injury. Podborny accompanies the team to all games and her attentiveness provides a sense of security to the players on the field. These athletic trainers constantly help to mend an assortment of injuries. Gizowski said there is a wide variety of injuries she deals with, and the most prevalent involve the knee, hip flexor, hamstring and shin splints. Podborny identified sprained ankles as a very common injury across all teams she works with. Both Podborny and Gizowski are hoping to continue in sports medicine at a Divison I university college after obtaining their master’s degrees. Specifically, Podborny wants to work with a football team. As they work toward the next steps in their careers, these athletic trainers are training to provide valuable care to studentathletes at DePaul. The sports many love to watch rely on the work of trainers like Podborny and Gizowski. Working with trainers throughout this process has opened Bowser’s eyes to all the work these graduate assistants put in. “They really do a lot that most of the time goes unnoticed,” he said. “It would be nice if they got some more appreciation.”
OFFENSE, continued from back page corner kicks. “I think our team just executed really well. Obviously, we have a game plan and they did really well getting on the end of the balls and making sure they ended up in the goal,” she said. “I think it’s always our goal to score on set pieces. It’s a nice chance for a restart and I think it’s great we were able to finish on those because it’s a great opportunity.” All the scoring took place in the first half and Bina Saipi added the fourth and final goal off yet another corner kick. “I think that we had a lot of momentum in the first half,” Turner said. “I think in the second half we did a good job of attacking still and our chances didn’t go in the second half as much as they did in the first half but I think it was still a solid performance through the whole game.” Getting back in the win column is something DePaul desperately needed after losing their two previous games. “It’s definitely nice,” Batliner said. “It’s refreshing. We’re excited moving forward. It gives us some momentum so we’re happy with the win.” As impressive as scoring four goals is, it’s equally important that the team also kept a clean sheet. It’s their second straight shutout win at home, with the previous win coming against St. John’s. For DePaul, the short-term goal will be building upon the win and not resting on their laurels. “Georgetown is going to be a really good
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul redshirt junior midfielder Bina Saipi goes for a pass against two Seton Hall defenders on Saturday at Wish Field. team and I think we’re really ready and I think it’s really good for us to get four goals in this game, and I think that that’ll carry us over into the next game,” Turner said. Head coach Erin Chastain will be pleased
with her team’s performance. They never let Seton Hall get comfortable on the ball and reclaimed the ball quickly whenever they lost it. It’s a quick turn around for the
Blue Demons as they will face the aforementioned Georgetown Hoyas on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. at Wish Field.
26 | Sports. Oct. 21, 2019. The DePaulia
ALEC FARLEY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul sophomore forward Jake Fuderer scores from a free kick in the second half of a 2-0 win against Providence on Saturday at Wish Field.
Men’s soccer rolls past Providence on alumni day By Ernesto Hernandez Contributing Writer
Sophomore forward Jake Fuderer scored on a free kick and sophomore Yousseff Ramadan put the game away with a goal of his own with two minutes to go to put the Blue Demons (5-5-3) ahead of Providence (8-5) in a Big East contest on Saturday at Wish Field. Coming into the game Saturday, DePaul hadn’t seen a win in the previous four contests, while Providence entered on a two-game win streak. The 2-0 victory came with the help of an energetic alumni-filled crowd, with an estimated 649 people in attendance, the largest home crowd the team has seen this season. The Blue Demons notched their first Big East win of the season, improving their record to 1-1-3 in the conference where they now sit in fourth place. The Blue Demons and Friars battled throughout the first half as both teams saw about even possession. Sophomore midfielder Jacob Seeto’s aggressive play earned him a yellow card 20 minutes into the first half. The game was intense throughout as both teams totaled 10 fouls by the end of regulation. The Blue Demons have averaged 8.9 fouls per game this season and Providence average 11.9 per game. DePaul men’s soccer alumni were recognized on the field after the scoreless first half. It was an event that attracted almost three times the amount of fans from a usual game, which was a welcome sight for the alumni and players. It made the win even sweeter. “Watching how fast and how big and strong they are, it’s hard for me to realize that I used to do that,” said Joe Sondag from the class of ’09. “The boys are looking good and I think they’ll get a result today.” The Blue Demons would go on to get
a win after Fuderer’s free kick goal in the 66th minute. He lined up on the right side of the box following a foul and delivered a strike to the top corner. The goal was followed by a big celebration from fans and teammates. “It was very exciting. The celebration after a goal is something you’ll remember forever,” Fuderer said. Fuderer’s free kick gave DePaul the 1-0 lead which would be enough to hold off Providence’s attempts at an equalizer. Up until the momentum-changing goal, “It was a very open game and both of us had chances,” Fuderer said. The scoring wasn’t done yet. In the 88th minute, senior defender Max De Bruijne charged the ball down the field to assist sophomore midfielder Youssef Ramadan for a safety goal to put away Providence for good. It was his first goal of the season. “It was good to get a couple of goals, especially in front of the alumni. It was a great experience playing in front of them,” said Ramadan. “The energy was great, they brought it and we just wanted to, you know, bring it back for them.” The alumni presence proved to be a key factor in DePaul’s victory. Head coach Mark Plotkin attributed the team’s second-half performance to the fans. “I saw a ton of old teammates and old guys I’ve coached, so it’s just awesome to put on a performance like that in front of them and make them proud,” Plotkin said. “It’s really cool to have such a great following come back and see how much they support these guys, and they have every right to support these guys, they’ve been awesome.” Providence totaled 15 shots, eight of which were on goal. Eight of the shots came in the first half and the remaining seven came during the last 45 minutes of play, keeping redshirt junior goalkeeper Drew Nuelle and the rest of the defense busy as they worked to maintain the shutout.
ALEC FARLEY | THE DEPAULIA
Senior defender Max de Bruijne embrasses with former Blue Demon soccer player, Harry Hilling, after the team’s 2-0 win over Providence on Saturday at Wish Field. DePaul only attempted two shots in the first half but would step it up in the second half. “I thought we really organized defensively and we always talk about when we have our moment in the attack, we have to make sure that we take care of it because obviously we’re not putting up twenty shots a game, so when we get
chances they have to be quality chances...” Plotkin said, “...and we put away two today.” Riding off of a win, DePaul will be in Omaha, Nebraska next Wednesday to face off against Creighton.
Sports. Oct. 21, 2019 The DePaulia | 27
Sports Illustrated gutted by new media layoffs By Emma Oxnevad Opinions Editor
In early October, another event in a harrowing year for jobs in journalism took place. This time, a storied publication took the hit. Sports Illustrated announced mass layoffs on Oct. 3. It was reported that 40 staff members in total were fired. Following the layoffs, disgruntled employees signed a petition calling for the magazine’s new owner, Authentic Brands, to revoke their 10-year licensing deal with digital publisher The Maven, according to The New York Post. Sports Illustrated is the latest in a growing trend of mass firings at print publications. Approximately one in four American newspapers did layoffs in 2018, according to USA Today. Earlier this year, companies like Buzzfeed, Vice and Verizon—which owns HuffPost, Yahoo and AOL— laid off large portions of their staff. “We’ve seen time and time again in recent years outlets scaling back their print staff, but it’s usually been happening at newspapers,” said Tim Stebbins, a DePaul graduate and former member of Radio DePaul Sports. “That it would happen at Sports Illustrated, which has equally as big of a digital presence now, was saddening. I grew up reading Sports Illustrated. I remember waiting for it to come in the mail every week and still have a bunch of editions that I saved, whether it be for the cover story alone or the entire magazine. It was
the gold standard of journalism for me, and it’s sad that even it couldn’t beat the mass firing issue plaguing journalism today.” Some have attributed the layoffs to an oversaturated media market, with the rise of sports blogging and social media making the field even more crowded. “Sports blogging is great because it offers people a platform to show what they can do in terms of writing,” Stebbins said. “It also enables the mentality of feeding the beast, as in writing more and more stories to keep up with the demand for consumers to have more content to read online. A lot of sports bloggers would kill to land premier positions, like those at SI, so my guess is it’s cheaper to pay bloggers, and SI makes more money with a blogging team because they have more content getting produced now compared to when they did longform content that took weeks to report and write.” Some have said that the layoffs show a concerning trend for journalism as a whole, with preference being given to reactionary pieces DePaul professor over longer, more thorough ones. “This is a huge loss, not only of a cultural institution but of one of the old models of sports journalism publishing that, like it or not, seems less and less viable these days,” said Justin Staley, a senior professional lecturer in the university’s Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse. “One of the best parts about [Sports
“The issues facing [Sports Illustrated] are the same issues facing legacy media in and out of sports journalism.”
Bruce Evensen
Illustrated] was its patience to publish stories that meant something, to give writers space and the time to write longer stories that often transcended sports. That’s not to say that writing like this has completely disappeared—there’s still great sports journalism out there—but the weekly publishing model being all but gone paves the way for the kind of reactionary, clickbait journalism that has poisoned so much of journalism as a whole, but that has served shareholders very, very well.” Others have said the magazine’s owners have left the publication vulnerable due to a lack of understanding of the industry. “The issues facing [Sports Illustrated] are the same issues facing legacy media in and out of sports journalism,” said Bruce Evensen, professor emeritus in the College of Communication. “It’s how to do quality work that lives up to the social responsibility of journalism in the midst of fewer resources. The problem is exacerbated when hedge funds that know little about journalism see the industry as a way of making a quick buck. This is nothing new for the field of journalism. And the rise of digital media has made legacy companies like Sports Illustrated even more vulnerable.” Staley said that one of the ways to rectify this growing problem facing sports journalism is for readers to seek out better content over what is most
BASKETBALL, continued from back page The Blue Demons’ other star freshman guard, Romeo Weems, also participated in the dunk contest and showed some impressive athleticism, providing a sneak peek into what fans can expect to see during the season. The contest came down to Romeo Weems and Darious Hall, who put on a spectacular show. Hall emerged victorious and is now the two-time DePaul Slam Dunk champion. While the dunk contest was great, the women’s team looked focused for the start of the season. During the scrimmage, the players looked comfortable and smooth as they played against each other. And the fan support was important for the team. “We are gonna go on a journey for nine months from now until March madness starts, and we want them to come along with us and help us on the way,” senior guard Chante Stonewall said. Concluding the excitement, students in attendance were also given free food and encouraged to participate in a variety of raffles. The biggest hits of the night were the free T-shirts and food. “[It’s good to] show our school spirit and there are free t-shirts,” freshman Gabby Virden said.
RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul sophomore guard Sonya Morris dribbles up the court in an open scrimage during the blue madness event on Thursday. Fans should be in for a show this year as the men’s team looks to drastically improve upon last year’s 19-17 record.
The women’s team has been a dominant force in the Big East in recent years, and look to make another run at the
readily available. “I can only speak about this as a reader: Demand better content,” Staley said. “Read longer articles that require patience. Read the good stuff that’s out there and forget the sites that want to sow discord or use controversy as a model and outspokenness as a cloak of virtue.”
tournament title. Students who came to the event were able to receive DePaul basketball shirts as well as the opportunity to buy different athletics merch from a sale. Raffle prizes were also a key part of the night and kept the energy going. Food also played a big role in getting students to come out. Under the “L” tracks there was an array of food trucks of some DePaul favorites like Parson’s Chicken and Fish, Cheesies, Buona, and Don Rafa Taco. The combination of food and gear made the event a great opportunity for students to come out and experience basketball events before the season starts. In what should be an intriguing year for both DePaul programs, Blue Madness ramped up hype for the start of the season. With the first practices getting underway, and the regular-season schedule just around the corner, students are ready to show their school spirit and the teams are ready to play. The men’s team begins the season against Alcorn State on Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. The women’s team opens their schedule against Miami (OH) on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at Wintrust Arena.
Sports
Sports. Oct. 21, 2019. The DePaulia | 28
Liftoff RYAN GILROY | THE DEPAULIA
DePaul freshman Markese Jacobs goes up for a between-the-legs dunk during the men’s basketball dunk contest on Thursday at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Basketball soars into 2019-20 season with blue madness By Gordy Baba Contrbuiting Writer
The 2019-2020 DePaul basketball season officially kicked off on Thursday night as both the men’s and women’s teams put on a show in front of a packed house at McGrathPhillips Arena. DePaul’s annual Blue Madness event drew a sold-out crowd and gave students their first look at the Blue Demons in action. In a laundry list of activities that included a women’s three-point contest and full team scrimmages, it was the men’s dunk contest that stole the show and capped off an exciting night. The event started with an open scrimmage with the women’s team showing off their skills. The crowd erupted in cheers as the men’s and women’s teams were playing. The most electric moment was the men’s
“I promise you when you see Markese Jacobs on the fast break you are going to see something exciting.” Markese Jacobs
DePaul freshman men’s basketball player team throwing down circus dunks during the open scrimmage. It was an entertaining night and both teams had certain players instill excitement into the crowd with the talent they showed. The women’s scrimmage showed that the team is picking up where they left off their Big East tournament championship campaign
last year. They dazzled and hit deep shots to put on a show. The men’s open scrimmage gave fans a small glimpse of some of the players. Finally, the Blue Demons got to see transfer Darious Hall in action this year as he lit it up from beyond the arc. The crowd was able to participate in a
raffle to be part of a contest with the players. After the mini contest, the dunk contest was ready to begin. The contestants were freshmen forward Romeo Weems and guard Markese Jacobs, sophomore forward Darious Hall and junior forward Paul Reed. Freshman guard Markese Jacobs gave the audience their money’s worth as he rattled off a trio of rim-rattling dunks to the delight of those in attendance. “If any of the guys can do a 360 that would be dope, definitely going on my snap story,” DePaul student Sh’mal Price said. Although Jacobs wasn’t able to pull off the 360-degree dunk, his final act more than made up for it. The 5-foot-11 newcomer took off from near the free-throw line, cocked his arm back, and threw down a thunderous tomahawk dunk over fan favorite player Pantelis Xidias. See BASKETBALL, page 27
Offensive outburst lifts women’s soccer over Seton Hall By Lawrence Kreymer Sports Editor
On Alumni Day, DePaul’s women’s soccer team (6-6-3) gave fans plenty to cheer about as the Blue Demons put four goals past Seton Hall (1-11-1) at Wish Field. With the Blue Demons’ recent offensive struggles going into their game against Seton Hall, only scoring three goals in their previous three games, DePaul got a much-needed boost from their attack in a 4-0 win against the Pirates. Junior midfielder Jade-Eriksen Russo was a menace down the right to start the game. When one of her passes was turned into a back-heel attempt on goal, it was a sign of things to come. Junior forward Morgan Turner got the ball rolling as she lobbed the ball over the head of the opposing goalkeeper to
open up the score. Minutes later, Russo doubled the lead following a scramble in the box off of a corner kick. Halfway through the first half, Turner would add a second to her personal account, once again off a corner. With those two goals, Turner now leads the team with nine goals on the season. After not scoring the last two games, she bounced back in a big way, along with the rest of the team. “It feels really good. I think our team had a lot of energy today and came out really aggressive and I think we were able to generate a lot of chances so I think it helped us a lot,” she said. DePaul did indeed generate a lot of chances to score, and the player setting up those chances was junior defender Jackie Batliner. She finished the game with three assists, including two from
See OFFENSE, page 25
ALEXA SANDLER | THE DEPAULIA
The DePaul women’s soccer team celebrates together after scoring a goal against Seton Hall on Saturday at Wish Field. The Blue Demons won the game 4-0.