An ICPA Award-Winning Newspaper
April 6, 2022 Dominican University
Divine Eminence Spring Fashion Show h
Read more on pg. 3 Photo by: Shonda Dudlicek
Students Fundraise for Ukraine Read more on pg. 5
Photo by: David Tejuosho
Showcasing Emerging Artists Read more on pg. 8
Photo by: Chelsea Zhao
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Dominican Star
opinion
editor in chief
Chelsea Zhao online content manager
Azhley Rodriguez
social media manager
Rachel Huser
Assignment Editor
Daniela Tovar-Miranda starcast
Matthew Williams staff writers
Matthew Desmond Daniela Tovar-Miranda Chelsea Zhao contributing writer
Katy Agans Chloe Cabrales Natalie De La Torre Kalla Williams designers
Cristian Raya David Zlotnik
Advisers
editorial/design adviser
Shonda Dudlicek
Letter From the Editor Dear Dominican students, staff and faculty, Welcome to the first issue of the spring season! As the weather warms up gradually in the coming weeks, I hope you’re able to get some outdoor times before we return next time for finals. The month of April signals many major events such as Easter Sunday on April 17 and Earth Day on April 22. The events for the month of March gave me nostalgia for the
John Jenks
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About the Star
The Dominican Star, the student newspaper of Dominican University, is published twice a month. The Dominican Star is not submitted to any person or organization for prior approval. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to voice their opinions to the editor. All letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters should not exceed 300 words and should be emailed to domstarnews@ gmail.com. Editors reserve the right to refuse submissions that may be deemed as libelous, unethical, in poor taste or prompting legal issues. The Star reserves the right to edit submissions for length, style and standards of good taste. This publication presents opinions that do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, reporters, faculty or the administration of Dominican University. To leave a voice message, call the Dominican Star 708-488-5106
being so unique to our institution — once again demonstrate how inclusive our community is for anyone who wishes to engage in the fun. If you are an underclassman, be sure to check out the Easter Egg Hunt in exchange for prizes in the Social Hall on April 13. I personally have not had any luck finding any Easter eggs all three years, but I might try out my luck this year. In this issue, we are also exploring two other
unique angles: fashion and nutrition science, from our student experts in these programs. And have you checked our DU Starcast yet? It’s a great way to get to know all that’s happening around campus on your drive to school. Enjoy the weather and Happy Easter Break! Chelsea Zhao Editor-in-Chief qzhao@my.dom.edu
Balanced Diet Improves Sleep Quality
faculty adviser
pre-2020 times, we saw a plethora of activities put out by student organizations: the stunning performance by the Starlettes dance team, the peace for Ukraine fundraiser, the annual fashion show, return of the casino night event, Coming Out of the Shadows (Saliendo De Las Sombras) and pronoun buttons … the list goes on. All of these events – especially Saliendo De Las Sombras and Fashion Show
Kalla Williams
Food for Thought When was the last time you got eight hours of sleep? In juggling classwork, a social life, sports and activities, it may come as no surprise that the average college student gets about six hours of sleep each night. But what many students may not realize is that diet plays a critical role in improving the overall quality of sleep. Macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and
water) as well as vitamins and minerals fuel the body while you rest as much as during exercise. Eating protein-rich foods like fish, chicken, nuts and seeds will help you feel fuller after a meal and stay satisfied for longer. This then allows your body to sleep for a longer period of time and is proven to increase sleep quality. Now, you may have experienced a time when you ate a lot of junk food, felt really uncomfortable, and struggled to stay awake after. That happened because foods high in saturated fat take a lot longer to digest during sleep. Imagine the body as if it were a machine. When it slows down to rest after working all day, fatty foods tend to linger
behind in the system more so than plant-based foods high in fiber. This has the double whammy effect of giving you little energy to go about your busy day and then also disrupting your sleep at night. On the other hand, studies have shown that people who stick to diets high in fiber, whole grains and lean meat tend to experience many more health benefits when they finally hit the hay. Keep in mind that caffeine also inhibits getting to sleep, so consider drinking your last cup of coffee at least three hours before bedtime. Just as nutrition can impact your sleep, you had better believe that sleep can also influence your dietary habits. Ever had a week where you were just too busy to get
much sleep, and you kept on craving fast food and candy? It turns out that getting adequate rest is essential for balancing the hormones that drive hunger. There is actually a direct correlation between the hours you spend asleep and the levels of ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”) in the body. You can think of it as a sleep-deprived snacking syndrome with an easy cure. Eating a balance of protein foods, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats, while also staying hydrated, will support high-quality sleep and help you live a better life. Don’t just get a good night’s rest – eat a healthy dinner first! kwilliams1@my.dom.edu
Take Steps to Heighten Health, Happiness
Matthew Desmond Pursuing Happiness No one has to tell you that the weather is getting warmer, and, as the snow goes away, so does one of your excuses for not exercising. An easy and fun way to exercise is just to get out and walk, and we’re talking a little more than just the two minutes it
takes to get to and from class. Not only will walking help you emotionally, but it can also help you physically. According to the Mayo Clinic, taking a walk can increase the production of endorphins, which are chemicals made by the nervous system to alleviate pain and increase happiness. It will also help your cardiovascular health. Not only will you feel happier and healthier when you walk, but walking can also be a nice break from studying. As students, we all get to the point where our brains need a break from sitting at our computers.
Walking can be a great form of a break. Going for a walk outside can recharge your batteries. When you take a break to go for a walk, you come back feeling rejuvenated. Your walk also does not need to be very long. Even if the walk is just 10 minutes, you are still giving your brain a good break. You might even return to work more productive. Getting outside to walk gives us a change in scenery. We have an entire 30-acre campus we can explore. While you are walking, you can hear the buzzing from our campus beehives, visit the greenhouse, or even take a trip behind Parmer
Hall to visit the Grotto and the Labyrinth. If you want a longer walk, Thatcher Woods is less than a mile away. Don’t drive, walk there. The woods, which are part of the Forest Preserve of Cook County, have 245 acres of forest, floodplain and prairie. There are miles of paved trails and unpaved trails; some of which go along the river. It is open sunrise to sunset all year round. There is also the Trailside Museum, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out the website. There are often guided walks and other nature programs. See Page 6
April 6, 2022
campus news
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Fast Fashion Comes with a Cost
Buying from ethical and eco-friendly fashion companies can be tricky to support, especially if you are running on the typical broke college student budget. We college students often walk the fine line between paying for our education costs and trying to save. But we end up blowing up all our money, and if you are anything like me, all that money goes straight to
purchasing even more clothes. With the fashion industry being one of the leading causes of negatively harming the environment, it has never been more critical for brands and consumers to embrace sustainability. But how is that possible when fast fashion purposely makes things much more accessible for broke college students like me to continue their mass consumption habits? As consumers, it is essential to break out of those cycles. Do your research and be mindful of the company you are buying. It is not always easy, but if you care enough about the environment and the people affected by it, you will try to start investing in
a conscious lifestyle. Here are a few tips to start practicing! Start buying from a local thrift store, do secondhand shopping or support local businesses This is an inexpensive, costeffective way of supporting your environment. Because of how wasteful fast fashion brands are, you are reducing the number of clothes coming out of landfills by buying secondhand. Buy higher-quality items that last longer You will get the most use out of higher-quality items! In addition, you will not feel the need to buy more things since you are not quickly disposing of them. Buy
higher-quality items instead of purchasing perishable items from fast fashion brands that you might get rid of within just a few weeks or even days of use. Buy from transparent brands I know we may love those price tags fast fashion brands offer but try to consider a business that cares about its environment and people. I suggest you download an app called Good on You. This app provides detailed ratings of how well or lousy fashion brands practice sustainability. It tries to provide consistent measurements across the industry, making it such a reliable source. I have used this app ever since I discovered it most
recently!
Invest in versatile and staple clothing Having an array of versatile staple clothing will give you less of the sense to buy more clothing. Investing in staple items that are needed in wardrobes, such as comfortable essentials, neutrals, basic tees, classic button-ups, etc., will do you good! Everyone can make a difference, and it will do you good to start making intelligent environmental choices a habit. So even if you are a broke college student, by choosing to live a conscious lifestyle, you are doing the right thing for the future life of the earth! ccabrales@my.dom.edu
2022 DU Fashion Show: Divine Eminence
Fashion design students featured their best work in Divine Eminence, the spring fashion show held April 2-3. The show in Parmer Atrium showcased a range of 85 styles including business wear, active wear, men’s wear and conceptual garments made from fabrics like satin, silk, lace, velvet, leather, organza and sequins. The show was organized by five student committees and included Dominican students as models. Alumna Hailey Washington and seniors also displayed their collections to the sold-out shows. Photos by: Shonda Dudlicek
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Dominican Star
campus news
Chelsea Zhao Staff Writer
E. Nina Jay is a Chicago-based writer who uses poetry to bring awareness to violence against women and girls. From her identity as a Black lesbian and a survivor of incest and rape, she uses words to tell truth in her poems of self-discovery and revelation. She spoke at a writing workshop for sexual harassment awareness through the Wellness Center on March 24 in Crown 330. Jay warmly introduced herself and exuded a welcoming energy. Her expressive bright eyes look determinedly and she is a confident figure with a story to tell and utters each word with exactness and a pure feeling. She does not avoid her past of sexual assault trauma when she was 19, and the 10 years of silence after, but instead addresses it with a courageous frankness. In 2021, Jay published “De-stoning: Migrations away from the outpost,” and in 2019, she published “Bricks Blood & Water.”
“One of my poems talks about when I took my power off of his [her perpetrator’s] body, how weak he looked. All that power I thought he had, how dangerous I thought he was, how I was looking at myself reflected on him,” Jay said. `“And once I took myself back off from him, and he was just the thing he was. Somebody who felt he needed to do that.” Jay said she struggled with the fear of violence decades after, but now she recognizes it as a source of power and strength. “Like I’m an emotional amazon: I love to feel,” Jay said. “And you know, the fact that there were feelings I was trying not to feel, that I was living a life trying not to have a certain emotion, that I could be using as power.” She showed an artistic image of a lion, half flesh and half stone, as a symbol of her recovery and realization of power. “When I saw this picture, though, everything becomes clear to me, and that’s when I knew that that was what was happening to me: I was allowing myself to turn into a building,” Jay said. “Even this process
right now is so many stones falling from me. And I can see flesh again. And the things I’m uncovering, that I almost let myself die like this, blows my mind. And I thought I was whole,” Jay said. In the writing workshop, Jay read poems of her collection.
“Like I’m an emotional amazon: I love to feel.” - E. Nina Jay After a powerful reading of her poem Lion King/Lion Song about confronting trauma, Jay paused and asked, “Can you feel my power? Can you feel yours?” to her audience. DU faculty and students entered the space to journal and share their thoughts around a circle. Her poems inspired thoughtful discussions on power, fragility, empathy
and violence. When asked about her advice to others experiencing trauma, Jay pondered and clarified advice as implying a form of hierarchy, encouraging others to seek the validation of the self. “And in one of those expert spaces, I learned
and I had to unlearn that I was never broken. Nothing ever broke me. What he did, it was not a reflection of me, it was him. He was the broken one.” qzhao@my.dom.edu
Friesen Co-Publishes CBD, COVID Research Daniela Tovar-Miranda Staff Writer
Dominican chemistry Professor Brent Friesen is a part of research team that found evidence that cannabidiol, CBD, may help combat COVID infections in human cells and in mice. The study, published Jan. 20 in Science Advances, found that small doses of CBD, equivalent to the approved dosage for severe epilepsy, blocked COVID cells from making copies of themselves due to the anti-inflammatory protein interferon in CBD. The research did not show any indication of CBD preventing COVID infection. The research also cautioned that the effects of CBD come only from a high-purity, specially formulated
dose. The senior author was Marsha Rosner, professor at the Ben May Department for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago. Friesen recently discussed his contribution. “We mostly provided the chemicals that they were working with; the drugs and CBD and that was our contribution to the process,” said Friesen. “We did the chemistry part, which is the isolation of compounds from natural sources and analyzing compound purity and then she did a lot of the biological work. The activity, essays, in vitro, and some series of experiments in rats for clinical data.” Before becoming a part of Rosner’s study, Friesen was researching several chemical
compositions of CBD such as CBD oil, CBD plus hemp oil, full spectrum CBD, and broadspectrum CBD with a group of researchers at the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, where he is an adjunct assistant professor. The researchers were then contacted by Rosner’s lab to collaborate on the research due to their work with cannabis and CBD. “Science is a highly collaborative enterprise, so there was a group at the University of Chicago with Marsha Rosner who was the lead investigator. She was trying to pivot and do something that would be helpful for treating COVID. Rosner knew about our paper and she knew we were in Chicago so we started
consulting with her,” said Friesen. “There’s 23 authors in the paper so that’s a huge effort and a lot of people involved.” The research for the UIC study was published Jan. 6. Friesen coauthored it with Takashi Ohtsuki, Shao-Nong Chen and Guido F. Pauli, who all worked at the University of Illinois (UIC) together. As an undergraduate, Friesen majored in chemistry at Bethel College and later pursued a doctorate in organic chemistry at the University of Minnesota. In between, Friesen lived in Africa researching herbal medicine, and focused on being a natural-products chemist. Friesen has worked at Dominican since 1999 and in addition to his UIC research also works with
students on Dominican’s campus. Junior Efren Gonzalez-Cortez, who is a chemistry major, is working as a research assistant working with Friesen using an extraction technique to separate biomolecules such as proteins and enzymes. “Working under Dr. Friesen’s guidance has helped me achieve many valuable skills that I will continue to evolve during my undergraduate experience and beyond,” said Gonzalez-Cortez in an email statement. Gonzalez-Cortez will be presenting the research he is working on under Friesen later this semester at (G)URSCI & Experiential Learning Expo. dtovarmiranda@my.dom. edu
April 6, 2022
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Dining Hall, Cyber Café Inspections Good Dominican’s Dining Hall and Cyber Café earned good scores on their most recent public health inspections. River Forest regularly inspects food services for maintenance, safety and sanitation, according to the Director of Operations for Dining Services, William Plamondon.
The 2021 inspection highlighted that Dominican’s kitchen appliances are wellmaintained and up to date and food is being stored at proper holding temperatures. Nutrition lecturer Alyson West examined the report and determined that Dominican was doing a good job. “I would be satisfied with the most recent health inspection. These
results indicate that DU Dining takes food safety seriously and has good policies and procedures in place. Because of COVID-19 the village did not inspect Dominican in 2020. The 2019 inspection also was good,“ West said. “My first impressions of the 2019 health inspection records for Cyber Café and the Dining Hall is that they are OK,” she said. “The holding temperatures were proper, which is important for food safety, and there were no violations for food handling, preparation, etc. The reported violations related to equipment and cleaning, which can be addressed with maintenance and a more frequent cleaning schedule.” During the COVIDrelated shutdown, Dominican took time to repair and replace kitchen equipment in order to make sure
that everything was up to standard when the university reopened, according to Plamondon. Proper equipment is very important, West said. “The nutrition and dietetics profession places great emphasis on the essential role of good food safety practices in foodservice operations and our broader food system,” she said. “Food may be made unsafe via contamination, improper holding temperature, etc., from equipment that is not well maintained, thus I would say it is very important to keep equipment up to date and safe.” Dominican’s health inspections haven’t always been good. In 2018, inspectors found the facilities in disrepair and food stored at improper temperatures, among other things. Students were reassured by the latest report. Anna Meyer, a sophomore, has always
had good experiences with eating in the Dining Hall. “It’s been fine. I don’t like that the plates aren’t always dry, it leaves some stains,” she said. “But the food is always wellcooked, and the staff is nice.” Junior Carlie Merola has never had any issues when eating at the Dining Hall. “The quality of the food is always prepared well, and I trust it,” she said. “They (the staff) always wear gloves. I’m a germ freak and I don’t get freaked out by the dining hall.” The next inspection will likely be in the fall of 2022. kagans@my.dom.edu For previous stories on helath inspections visit: https://dominicanstar. com/du-dining-servicesrequired-amends/
Friends Host ‘Peace for Ukraine’ Fundraiser Chelsea Zhao Staff Writer
Ukrainian students organized a Peace for Ukraine fundraiser in the Social Hall on March 30. The event was first organized through a group chat of Ukrainians, around 14 people, who attended Dominican University, according to Tatiana Zharka, a senior who organized the event. Nataliia Chukhrii, another senior organizer, said the group hopes to use the money raised for the Come Back Alive
fund, Ukrainian fund that is for the “army and those who were injured.” The students served items such as pierogi, varenyki (doughnuts), and even cookies made by two nutrition science graduates. The students also played videos of Ukraine and Ukrainian people on the overhead projector. Zharka said many Ukrainian students have families still in Ukraine and fear for their safety during the war. She sees this event as a way to educate the DU
community and to show support. “I think it’s very important for us to educate our peers here in Dominican about the situation that’s going on in Ukraine. It will have lingering effects on other countries as well, this is kind of the minimum we could do to show our support,” Zharka said. Gabriela Corral, a sophomore in behavioral neuroscience, sees the event as a way for students to actively engage with the DU community.
Photos by: David Tejuosho
“I believe college students or students in general have a lot of influence, and this fundraiser is to show how we can make a change, even if it’s like a little bit, it means a lot to the people involved directly,” Corral said. Yvonne Villegas, a sophomore in accounting, said she wishes to show her solidarity. In her business class, the class also discussed the impact on economics. “We talked about it a little bit in
macroeconomics, because it affects inflation and stuff like that because of gas prices, but other than that it hasn’t been touched upon,” Villegas said. “Here we feel guilty, you know, we are safe and we’re not so directly impacted by the war, but this is the least we can do just because it feels so hopeless when we’re not doing anything,” Zharka said. qzhao@my.dom.edu
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Dominican Star
news
Acting on Students’ Mental Health Katy Agans
Contributing Writer Dominican’s Wellness Center is trying a new approach to mental health through improvisational acting therapy for students. Counselor Joyce Mojica runs the improv therapy. Mojica originally got the idea to start an improv therapy group on campus after being trained in improv herself. She said she thought it would be a fun way for students to connect with each other while also getting to de-stress and have fun. The sessions themselves consist of short getting-to-knowyou improv games. An example of this is a game in which students stand in a circle and give the person next to them three
compliments. This helps students start to observe their surroundings while also learning how to support others in the group. After everyone feels comfortable with each other, the games shift to focus on helping students get out of their heads and be present in the moment. This includes playing more improv games as well as students improvising short scenes based on audience suggestions, according to Mojica. Mojica emphasizes that the main focus of these sessions is to use improv techniques to help students work on being present in the moment in a fun and safe environment. “The point of improv therapy is to learn mindfulness, staying present, laugh, and just
generally having fun,” she said. “Improv is focused on being present in the moment, building trust and just responding rather than overthinking. The elements of improv focus on mindfulness and relationship building. It helps students begin to notice what’s going around them and respond in the moment rather than thinking too far ahead.” The goal is for students to leave each session feeling lighter and less stressed, according to Mojica. Allie Wright, a junior who participates in improv therapy, echoes these sentiments.“I always look forward to improv therapy because it’s so much fun! I love hanging out with other participants and letting off steam. It’s so relaxing and I always leave feeling
good,” she said. This is a form of group therapy, meaning people get the chance to connect with one another while also learning how to develop coping skills. It’s not about being good at improv, but rather learning how to be OK with making mistakes, building relationships, and focusing on mindfulness, according to Mojica. Improv can seem intimidating to a lot of people. Mojica is aware of this and doesn’t want this hesitation to keep people from participating. “I would say, come try it, lean into the unknown. That’s partly what improv is about. I was intimidated at first, which is why I took improv classes in the first place! I loved it so much that I wanted opportunities to
play. The one thing to do is bring an open mind and an attitude of play. Laughter is good way to cope with stress,” she said. Even if students have improv experience, improv therapy can be a place where students can let go of the idea of preforming and just have fun. Emma Brandenburger, a senior and president of the improv team on campus, feels like the eliminated pressure of performing allows her to relax during the sessions. “It was a nice environment to unwind,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like you need to be good. It feels like the stakes were lower and it was just fun. It was calming.” kagans@my.dom.edu
Interns Create Financial Resources
Natalie de la Torre Financial Wellness According to a Financial Literacy survey, only 57% of American adults are considered financially literate. College students are infamously known for their lack of money, yet they are seldom exposed to resources or strategies on how to better manage it. The blossoming of Dominican’s very own Financial Wellness program is providing our heavy first-generation community with resources on how to improve their financial standing and learn more about *whispers* money. The Financial Wellness Program at Dominican aims to empower and educate the community about money and an array of topics relating to it. The program was developed in the summer of 2020 by Ramiro J. Atristaín-Carrión and is supported by the Title
V grant. When asked about the creation of the program, AtristaínCarrión said: “Financial literacy is a must and college is expensive and what has changed from when I was in college are the economics of an undergraduate education. Students like me used to be able to ‘pay as you go’ for their education. That’s not the case any longer. The cost is much more now and many graduate with debt. I wanted to see students graduate knowing how to manage their money and make it work for them. Having a financial wellness program is a value that DU can offer to its students. Plus, it helps that I love to coach students.” The program houses internships, volunteer opportunities, workshops and partnerships. There are a few informative workshops, which are offered both in English and Spanish, available to every DU student through Canvas that can be accessed by communicating with the financial wellness program. As of this spring, 42 undergraduate interns have completed the program. Graduate
students are also immersed in the program, with 402 graduate students enrolled in the workshop modules in the Fall of 2021. Every semester, a new cohort of undergraduate students partake in the opportunity to see and experience the growth of the financial wellness program while creating resources for the larger Dominican community to be posted on the financial wellness website. The program was created with a specific progression in mind to prepare the interns to delve into financial literacy and be prepared to create resources about financial aid, credit, investing, budgeting, and array of other topics to the larger community. AtristaínCarrión finds the interns to be “an important component” because they can attest to “what students find interesting and useful when it comes to financial literacy …” Interns are initially taught about financial concepts and the importance of behavior in their journey to financial wellness. Salvador Ruiz, a Dominican senior and
Financial Literacy intern, talked about the value he found in the modules where financial concepts were taught: “I liked the modules about learning different financial topics.” The importance of aligning values with objectives is something emphasized throughout the beginning of the internship. Being able to recognize your values and turn these into an action plan is extremely useful on a path to financial well-being. Once interns recognize their values, they receive guidance from the program lead, graduate assistant and internship lead for the program to create a personal action plan according to their unique goals. Once interns have become immersed in financial concepts and have set their unique goals, the process of creating a resource for DU’s Financial Wellness website is initiated. There are a multitude of topics that are covered under the umbrella of Financial Wellness: personal assessment, goal setting, financial aid, the importance of and managing credit, and
many more. Interns scope one of these topics with the intention of creating a deliverable and interactive flyer, video, presentation or infographic that best conveys the information they want to communicate. Project Management is another skill that interns are taught throughout the internship. Salvador, current financial literacy intern, says the importance of planning things out, and creating a plan was something valuable he learned aside from financial concepts. Research of a topic and the creation of a script for the intern’s presentation is crucial to realizing the final project. Financial literacy interns create a script with the information they want to convey on their final project. The resource is realized after the completion of the script and is followed by a presentation explaining and showing off the topic and project. The resource is then added to the website for the Dominican community to use and help them realize their financial goals. See Page 7
April 6, 2022
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Financial Resources Continued From Page 6 The development and growth of the financial literacy program has been met with support from various departments and the larger community. Atristaín-Carrión says he is “proud of DU for supporting this effort of making it possible to have the program and be able to impact numerous students with personal finance concepts. They will benefit over the long run as they make use of what they learn and hopefully have less stress about money.” Aside from creating and building up the Financial Wellness website, the program
partakes in several partnerships throughout the semester to help Dominican students. Toward the end of March, the Financial Wellness Program partnered with Ladder Up, a nonprofit offering free financial services to disadvantaged communities, to bring tax assistance to Dominican’s campus. The program’s interns had the opportunity to help Dominican students prepare their taxes. Ajitzi Perez, current financial literacy intern, enjoyed being part of the tax assistance workshop. Ajitzi said, “I liked Ladder
Up because I got to talk to more interns and help other people out.” This in-person event provided relief to the heavy remote world we are currently living in while allowing students to prepare their taxes for free. The program also provides several workshops throughout the semester, covering different topics which are open to everyone. This semester the program has covered budgeting and the importance of setting (S.M.A.R.T.) Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound financial goals. There are
upcoming workshops on how to start an emergency fund and how to manage credit. The program will also be partaking in Money Smart Week on April 1213, which will offer the Dominican community with a few resources and information about financial wellness Previously, the financial wellness program has partnered with various Dominican organizations and high schools, such as Oak Park-River Forest, to expose more people to the importance of financial wellness. For upcoming workshops and Money
Smart Week, reach out to the financial wellness program with any questions at financialwellness@dom. edu or contact Ramiro J. Atristaín-Carrión at ratristain@dom.edu. ndelatorre1@my.dom.edu Natalie de la Torre is currently the Financial Literacy Internship Lead with the Financial Wellness Program and work closely with lead, graduate assistant and interns of the program to create resources, exposure and events related to topics about Financial Wellness.
Steps Continued From Page 2 Walking can also help you to become more mindful. On a walk, you have the chance to feel the breeze, hear the singing of birds and see colorful plants. It will feel good to replace the noise and stress of school, studying, and your job with the sounds of nature. You can feel your feet on the soft grass or the hard pavement. This can help to ground
you in the moment and give your brain a break from thinking about the next thing you have to get done. When we walk to and from classes, we often just think about our busy to-do lists or what will happen in class. However, through walking by choice, we can take time to actually enjoy the experience. You can use this time to appreciate solitude, or
you can make walking something you do with friends. Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes and bring water. Another thing you can do is bring a plastic bag to pick up trash. You will be doing something good for the planet as well as for yourself. mdesmond@my.dom.edu
Have a story? Share it with us! domstarnews@gmail.com FREE TO DU STUDENTS more info at events.dom.edu
Dominican University Performing Arts Center & St. Catherine of Siena Center
(G)URSCI & Experiential Learning Expo All Day Annual Scholarship Lunch Noonan Reading Room 12:30 p.m. (invitation only)
Thursday-Sunday
THEATRE ARTS LAB SERIES
Silent Sky THU 7P / FRI & SAT 7:30P / SUN 3P
20
Wednesday
O’Connor Art Gallery Opening Senior Thesis 2022
23
Tuesday, April 5
Wednesday, April 6
Saturday/Sunday
Annual Fashion Show Divine Eminence
7-10
President Glena Temple will be inaugurated as Dominican’s 11th president this week. The events for the week are as follows:
Prayer in Rosary Chapel and livestreamed at 4 p.m.
Apr 2&3
Inauguration
Maia Chaka
2.24.22 Fashion Show April 2-3
April 7 - 10 THEATRE ARTS LAB SERIES
Thursday, April 7
The Reminders 2.26.22
Inaugural Mass in Rosary Chapel and livestreamed at 11:30 a.m.
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre
Inauguration Ceremony in the Lund Auditorium and livestreamed at 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow
May
Friday, April 8
2
Saturday
Monday
FOLLETT LECTURE
Ebony Thomas
Ada Limón Senior Thesis 3.22.22 Opening 4.20.22
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre
4.23.22
Partners in Justice: Campus and Community Day in person virtual all day
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Dominican Star
campus news
Art Gallery Awards Emerging Artists Chelsea Zhao Staff Writer
O’Connor Art Gallery at DU exhibited art works and awarded prizes at the annual opening reception and awards ceremony on March 30. The gallery features the work of 32 students and 13 art mediums including acrylic, etching, woodblock print, charcoal, photography, fashion garments, etc. “This is amazing, the entire show; all the students are incredibly talented and each person has their own specific theme as well as their own artistic ability,” said Ezmeralda Lopez, who attended the ceremony. A total of eight categories were selected for the exhibit with one winner each. Gina Miraglia’s Untitled (2022) won
the Ceramics category. Ximena Castillo’s Spirituality (2021) won the Design/Illustration category. Emily Reynoso Munoz’s 2 Women at Rest (2022) won the drawing and Best of Show category, Patyjazmin Ruiz’s Rocco Rebelle (2021) won the fashion category; Cesar Torres’ Beware Imminent Father (2022) won the Painting category; Celeste Morales’ Untitled No. 2 from the series Dressed in Noir (2021) won the Photography category and Salma Jimenez’s El Jarabe Tapatio (2021) won the printmaking category. “I’ve always found it really hard to do laying poses, and it was especially a challenge because it’s one of my first times doing a big ink drawing, so it was a little bit tedious, but it
was worth it in the end; I really like how it turned out,” Munoz commented on her work. She did the drawing for a DU art class and the process took around 30 minutes. “My series is autobiographical, so I’m kind of talking about my experience of being a father, and being a laborer and at the same time being an artist,” Cesar Torres commented on Beware Imminent Father. “So I tried to convey those three things and combine them into one and try to use elements from my work.” Torres found the metal fence from a job site and painted the portrait of a man with head of a gorilla with oil paint. “I work labor, so labor usually work a long time, usually you get the sense of being dehumanized by the tough labor, that’s
Photo by: Chelsea Zhao
why, instead of being a man, it’s just going back into being a gorilla, being an ape, and the posture, I just referenced to some of the renaissance and religious paintings,” Torres said. Jimenez’s woodblock piece El Jarabe Tapatio drew inspiration from the dance of the same name. She seeks to capture the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month and her cultural identity. The whole carving process took her a month and she meticulously lined the paper and ink during her art class. The Dean of Rosary College of Arts and Sciences Chad Rohman picked Jimenez’s El Jarabe Tapatio as his Purchas Purchase? Prize. “It [the prize] still feels surreal to me, but at the same time I feel happy that I can share my
artwork and it’s also part of my culture, so I’m glad everyone else can see it as well and contemplate it,” Jimenez said. All the artworks submitted went through a two-tiered process: a panel of faculty from the department of Art and Design selected the entries and a guest juror judged the work. Cydney M. Lewis, an artist, educator and codirector of Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago gallery, judged the works of 2022 submissions, according to Gallery Director Karen Azarnia. Lewis is the 2021 recipient of Make a Wave and had exhibits both nationally and internationally. qzhao@my.dom.edu