Illinois abortion access resources, important dates for summer classes and the meaning behind green in abortion rights movements
plus meet 14 East’s new management!
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! We’re returning from a short break where our staff was able to rest and relax after a hectic school year and transition to summer. It’s your newsletter team — Kate, Mariah, Bridget, Sam, Emily and Monique — back with a lineup of resources and updates.
The landmark Supreme Court decision last Friday overturned the constitutional right to abortion, devastating many across the country who lost vital access to abortion. Today, we’re sharing resources for those in Illinois and beyond as well as updates on the university parking permits and Tuesday’s elections.
Before we do so, we’d like to introduce 14 East’s 22-23 management! Monique Mulima leading as Editor-in-Chief, Bridget Killian as Managing Editor, Richie Requena returning as Pueblo’s Managing Editor, Grace Vaugn as Deputy Managing Editor, Kate Linderman as Special Projects Editor, Citlali Perez as Engagement Editor and Emily Soto as Multimedia Editor. We are so excited to continue 14 East’s mission of bringing important information to all of you and to grow the magazine even more with our talented staff.
From staff past and present, we couldn’t do it without your support. If you want to show support for 14 East and ‘In the Loop,’ we invite you to donate directly to our newsroom. Whether it’s a one-time contribution or a monthly gift, every cent helps us build a newsroom that serves you, our readers, and we get 100% of your donation.
We’re taking a quick break next week for the holiday, and will be back the following week. Now, let’s get into the news.
What the overturning of Roe v. Wade means for Illinois: How can we help?
By Mariah Hernandez
On June 24, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, and people across the U.S. are panicking. With this decision, abortion services are now being banned in Illinois’ surrounding states such as Missouri, which had a trigger ban, or Wisconsin who may face the reinstatement of their pre-Roe abortion law from 1849. Despite Illinois being deemed “safe,” the overturning of Roe still struck a chord for people across the state.
What are the laws in Illinois?
In Illinois, abortions are still legal. Illinois did have a trigger ban in place but it was overturned in 2017. The right to an abortion is protected under the Reproductive Health Act which was passed in 2019.
Abortions are offered up until fetal viability (limits may differ based on clinic). An abortion may also be performed after this time period to save someone in a medical emergency. There are no waiting periods. Clinics are not required to notify parents if a minor receives an abortion.
Whether you are seeking help or wanting to help others, be sure to check out the resources below:
Midwest Access Coalition
The Midwest Access Coalition refers to themselves as a “practical abortion fund.” They don’t provide money for an abortion instead, they assist with finances for travel, lodging, food and medication. MAC provides services to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Planned Parenthood
There are several Planned Parenthoods in Illinois that provide abortion options. Clinics typically offer the abortion pill but sometimes there is an option for an in-clinic abortion procedure.
Planned Parenthood provides a ton of research on abortions and reproductive rights. They have information spanning from how to spot a fake abortion clinic to what the abortion pill and procedure are like. You can also visit a clinic in person to learn more.
They offer volunteer opportunities as well. Volunteering can help make a difference due to the increase in abortion patients Planned Parenthood expects due to bans in surrounding states.
Elevated Access
With Elevated Access, volunteer pilots will help provide travel for people in other states that do not have access to abortions, as well as other forms of healthcare like gender affirming care. Elevated Access has been working with the Midwest Access Coalition to create the organization. Interest forms can be filled out on their website and there are available non-flight volunteer opportunities.
Chicago Abortion Fund
The Chicago Abortion Fund grants financial assistance to those seeking an abortion as well as other forms of support. CAF helps pay for abortions, schedule appointments, gas, food, childcare and more. They support people coming to Illinois from all across the country.
The helpline is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST. You can call them at 312-663-0338.
Illinois Medicaid
Illinois Medicaid insurance will cover the cost of abortions. You will need to check with your clinic to ensure they accept Medicaid. Planned Parenthood is an example of a clinic that does accept Medicaid. You can check here to take a screener and see if you qualify. The website Abortion Finder can also provide information on clinics and services available around you.
ACLU Illinois
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has various resources to guide people through their reproductive rights in the state of Illinois. They also provide information on the laws and protections in Illinois. They also specifically have a guide for youth in Illinois. They are a great resource to learn more about laws within Illinois and the protections given to people in need of reproductive healthcare.
The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was an attack on reproductive rights across the country whether or not your state is directly affected by the decision. In Illinois, a trigger ban was repealed, but we are surrounded by several states that are not so lucky and will be immediately impacted by this Supreme Court decision. Supporting others now is crucial.
Times like these can feel scary and unsettling, if you need someone to reach out to there will be a list of mental health resources at the end of the newsletter.
DePaul News
By Kate Linderman
No university response to Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court Decision
DePaul has yet to release a response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion last Friday, though they may not release a response at all. The Catholic university did not respond to Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion leak in May showing plans to overturn both Roe and Casey. DePaul spokesperson Russel Dorn told The DePaulia in May that they hoped the DePaul community would hold discussions even if the university did not take a stance.
Important Dates for Summer Session 1
The last day to withdraw from Summer Session 1 is Tuesday, July 5. A grade of W will be assigned to all classes dropped between June 18 and the July 5 deadline. Friday, July 1 will be the last day to select auditor status for the Summer 10-week term. Auditor status means the student will not receive a grade for the class nor are they responsible for assignments and tests. “AU” will show on a student’s transcript if they select this option.
Faculty/Staff Parking Permits for 22-23 school year
The university’s discounted parking rates for faculty and staff were released for the upcoming academic year and can be purchased beginning July 1. A 24-hour permit to the Sheffield and Clifton garages and designated surface lots on the Lincoln Park campus will cost $700 for the academic year. Other rates for weekends and the Loop campus can be found here.
Chicago Headlines
By Bridget Killian
Avondale leaders urge city to listen to community development needs – Leaders of the Chicago neighborhood are calling on the city to halt redevelopment of Belmont Triangle to give the community members a chance to weigh in on plans for the location. The vacant lots once held industrial buildings and businesses, but have been empty for many years. City planners are hosting a community meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. to discuss the project. Mina Bloom with Block Club Chicago has the story.
Chicago Pride returns after two years – Chicago’s annual pride parade returned to Uptown Sunday afternoon after being canceled due to COVID-19 since 2020. The parade included many Chicago advocacy organizations, health care providers, performers and more. Many parade-goers brought signs and banners protesting the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Kaitlin Washburn has the story with WBEZ.
Chicago primary elections are Tuesday – Primaries for governor, U.S. senator, Illinois attorney general, Illinois secretary of state, state representatives, Cook County Board president, Cook County assessor and Cook County sheriff are Tuesday. The election for the 1st congressional district seat will decide who will replace Bobby Rush, who is retiring this year. For more information on voting this week, Kelly Bauer from Block Club Chicago has the story.
Cook County reenters high risk classification for COVID-19 – After one week of being medium risk classification, Cook County joins 19 other Illinois counties at high risk. Since June 17, there have been 82 deaths and 27,094 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Hospitalizations are on the rise as well, keeping the county at high risk. Manny Ramos from the Chicago Sun-Times has the story.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
Police Officers Can’t Be Sued For Miranda Violations – In the case Vega v. Tekoh, No. 21-499, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a victim of a Miranda violation cannot sue the arresting officer. According to the majority, “a violation of Miranda does not necessarily constitute a violation of the Constitution.” Adam Liptak from the New York Times has the story.
Gun Control Bill Signed into Law – President Joe Biden signed a gun control bill that demands tougher background checks on buyers under the age of 21 and encourages states to remove guns from people considered a threat. It also includes $15 billion of federal funding for mental health programs. The bill is supported by both Republicans and Democrats, and it is the first notable gun control bill in roughly 30 years to be signed into law. BBC has the story.
Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade – Both sides took action after Roe v. Wade was overturned Friday. In Florida, health care providers have asked that the state’s new law which bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy be put on hold. Florida plaintiffs argue that the law violates individual privacy rights which are outlined in the state’s constitution. In California, a state constitutional amendment that protects reproductive rights is expected to be added to the November ballot as early as Monday. Kate Zernike of the New York Times has more information.
Why Green is the Color of the Abortion Rights Movement – Green handkerchiefs, scarves, signs, and t-shirts dominate the nation as abortion rights activists take to the streets. The green color associated with the abortion rights movement can be traced back to Argentina, where people were pushing for the government to legalize abortion. The “green handkerchiefs protesters adopted were a reference to the white scarves used by women whose children were ‘disappeared’ by the country's military dictatorship in the late 1970s and early 1980s.” Joe Hernandez of NPR has more.
Supreme Court Supports a High School Coach’s Right to Pray on the Field – The U.S. Supreme Court decided 6-3 that a high school coach had the right to pray on the 50-yard line. The case began when Joseph Kennedy was put on leave for kneeling to pray on the field, due to the school’s disapproval. The majority claimed that to prohibit his prayer would be a violation of his constitutional right. Nina Totenberg from NPR has the story.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Emily Soto
Welcome to your summer recs, everyone! To start, I want to share a fun game show I just discovered on Netflix.
As a college student, I’ve had my share of all-nighters. For those of you who have also done the same, you might know what it’s like to try and get through the next day. Your eyes feel heavy, your head is nodding and your thoughts begin to get fuzzy. Jobs take longer than normal and all you can think about is when you can finally go to sleep.
Now try and manage all of that while performing what seems like simple, everyday tasks. You could be taking the batteries out of toys, threading a needle, or hitting the snooze button on an alarm clock. Sounds easy? Not so much for the contestants of Awake.
The contestants are competing for a chance to win a prize of $1 million. If they win a task, they earn their spot in the next round, but if you lose, you leave with nothing — unless you take “The Buyout.” Before the loser of the challenge is revealed, contestants are offered smaller amounts of money to walk away. If you think you lost, it’s a good chance to walk away with some money.
There’s one more catch though, during the first 24 hours, all the contestants are doing is counting quarters and keeping track of their totals — with no pen or paper to record their amount. Their accuracy determines whether or not they win the million dollars. The contestant who makes it through all of the challenges has to be within $25 of their actual count in order to win.
As you watch, you are left wondering how well you would stack up along the other contestants. But don’t worry. You don’t need to stay up all night to find out! The show compares the tired contestants to rested testers to add another interesting detail.
The show’s eight episodes are pretty quick and will keep you entertained on a night in or while you’re pulling another all-nighter.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s all for this week! We’ll see you in two weeks for more updates, recommendations and resources. Until then, take care!
The 14 East Newsletter Team