A COVID vaccine, Winter Quarter protocol and our final newsletter of 2020
Plus some media recs and good news from the 14 East staff
Welcome to our final COVID-19 Updates Newsletter of the Year! As many of you know, this newsletter began as a biweekly newsletter back in March with the goal of keeping DePaul students and members of our larger Chicago community as updated as possible in a time of incredible chaos, fear and change. It was a way to keep us all connected in unprecedented moments of isolation.
In late May, when a summer of protests Black lives began, this newsletter became a resource – we researched and compiled where folks could access food, free and affordable mental health and educational resources for learning more about anti-racism.
And this fall, as we all returned to an online learning environment and COVID-19 cases started rising again, we’ve kept up week-to-week on DePaul’s’ mail-in testing program, university updates, regulations from the city and more.
This newsletter has been, above all, a weekly ritual. Each Monday, our team comes together to share information, resources, recommendations and stories from our community with each of you reading this. And that, in itself, has been so important in getting through 2020. So thank you, thank you, thank you - from the entire 14 East team – for submitting to, sharing and opening this newsletter each week. It’s been an honor and we’re excited to keep it going in ‘21.
On that note, let’s get into the news. This week, to mark the end of 2020, we’re sharing with you our top “good news” moments of the year:
Here’s some of 14 East’s favorite moments of the year in personal, Chicago, national or worldwide news:
Sea urchin science made an adorable revelation in 2020 when it was discovered that the creatures will actively pick up and wear 3-D printed hats atop their spiny appendages. Justin Myers, Event Coordinator
Because I finally got out of my head this year, I've been published 15 times across food, gaming, business and e-commerce topics. Some of those places are 14 East, Food and Wine, TalkPoverty and Healthline. I've also successfully pitched three articles at WIRED, TheTakeout, and Kotaku that I hope will be published before or at the top of 2021! Robin Mosley, Associate Editor
In response to Black Lives Matter protests in May, the city of Charleston, SC, removed a long standing statue of John C. Calhoun, a known advocate for slavery, in Marion Square, the central park of downtown Charleston. The removal of statues and symbols are just a drop in the bucket of what is needed to dismantle racist systems in this country – but growing up in South Carolina, the removal of that statue was something I never thought I’d see and sparked hope that more progress is within reach. Francesca Mathewes, Editor-in-Chief
Chicago headlines
This morning, Chicago’s expanding housing crisis took a deeply saddening turn, as the body of a homeless man was found this morning in the Chicago River. CPD are investigating but do not suspect foul play was involved.
Mayor Lightfoot has made noves to gut a city ordinance “that would guarantee arrested people prompt access to an attorney.” This move has been criticized by many Chicago civil rights groups, who view it as a setback in their attempt to reform police rather than defund.
Northwestern University has distanced itself from a former adjunct professor after a nasty, misogynist tirade directed at soon-to be-FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden was published in The Wall Street Journal. In the article, Joseph Epstein lambasted Dr. Biden for utilizing her doctor of philosophy title, deeming it unbecoming for a woman.
DePaul News
We hate to rush the start of Winter Quarter and the end of break, but there’s a lot to review in preparation for when classes resume.
First, all Winter Quarter classes will be held remotely for the first two weeks. This is a precautionary measure to allow the campus a two- week window to quarantine after the holiday season, understanding that many members of the DePaul community may be visiting home or with family during this time, though those gatherings should be limited per CDC guidelines.
Those who are visiting home should also review the city’s emergency travel order to determine their best course of action upon their return. Currently, 46 states are listed in Chicago’s emergency travel order as having a high enough level of risk to warrant a two- week quarantine or, in some cases, a negative test result upon return to the city.
On-campus residents, even if they spent their break in their dorms, are required to follow through with a full two-week quarantine upon the start of Winter Quarter. Students will be strictly restricted to their units, with one person per unit. If you are living on -campus and haven’t already done so, it is important to review the move-in information and building restrictions. In some cases, wristbands and cCampus cClear apps are mandatory for exiting your dorm for any reason during this two-week period.
It’s also important to keep up to date with campus buWilding closures, as we begin the new quarter. The Lincoln Park Student Center will be closed from December 19 to January 17, and no building access will be available during this time. This impacts all building resources including mail, dining and computer access.
National News
The New York Times reports that the White House will be among the first to get the Pfizer-BioNTech approved vaccine. Officials are getting the vaccine to make sure other government officials don’t fall ill as they approach the final weeks of the Trump administration. It’s not clear how many doses will be provided, but the first doses have left a Michigan facility for distribution across the U.S.
Vox reports that the COVID-19 vaccine has two challenges: One, manufacturing enough vaccines for more than 300 million people and, two, ensuring people get the vaccine. Under Operation Warp Speed, the government has expedited vaccine research and committed to purchasing doses for everyone. Currently, there’s no federal education or awareness campaign to inform the public about the vaccine. But, experts caution that skepticism shouldn’t be treated as a conspiracy or anti-vaxxer sentiments. Rather, medical racism, misinformation and the quick process behind the vaccine are the culprits of distrust.
Russian government hackers behind an espionage campaign compromised U.S. agencies, including Treasury and Commerce, according to The Washington Post. The hackers, known as APT29 or Cozy Bear, are part of the foreign intelligence service, SVR, that breach email systems. This isn’t the first breach for these hackers;, they’ve hacked the State Department and White House email servers during the Obama administration.
The Los Angeles Times reports that vandals tore down and set a BLM banner on fire during nighttime clashes between Donald Trump supporters and counter demonstrators on Saturday. Police are investigating whether the incidents at Asbury United Methodist Church and Metropolitan A.M.E. Churches are hate crimes.
Some winter break recommendations
This week, Beyoncé’s revolutionary self-titled album turns SEVEN! Along with this, nostalgia is hitting hard, so Chance The Rapper’s mixtape Acid Raphas been on repeat rotation. Aneesah Shealey, Associate Editor
I am wholeheartedly recommending Survivor as your mindless winter break viewing for the next few weeks. The reality show, popular in the early-2000s, features 16-20 contestants who must survive in remote environments and compete in weekly challenges and vote-offs in the hopes of winning a million dollars in the finale. The earlier episodes truly feel like archival footage and the intense group dynamics of each season make the show an excellent form of TV escapism. Francesca Mathewes, Editor-in-Chief (Cam Rodriguez, 14 East’s managing editor, seconds this!)
Derry Girls is also a Netflix favorite of mine as of late – the show follows a group of high school girls (and the only boy at their all-girls Catholic school) in Derry, a city in Northern Ireland. It is both a hilarious coming-of-age story and a reminder of Ireland’s recent history, which makes for a show that is easily bingeable. Francesca Mathewes, Editor-in-Chief
COVID-19 Testing
All of these testing sites can be accessed for free and without insurance.
Howard Brown offers free, walk-in COVID-19 testing at multiple locations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, in addition to mobile testing sites that are updated weekly, which you can access here.
The Illinois Department of Health and the City of Chicago have opened more free COVID-19 testing sites in the city and surrounding counties, which are listed with more information here.
In the spring, the City of Chicago partnered with CORE response to set up free drive-thru and walk-in testing sites in the city, primarily on the South and West sides, with appointments available Monday through Friday. Register here.
The city has also updated its COVID-19 testing program with more mobile sites, which change weekly. More info here.
Mental Health Resources
At Open Counseling, there’s a list of people and nonprofits with counseling services available for free or low cost.
This website compiles mental health resources, including therapist/counselor directories and other online resources.
The Center on Halsted offers behavioral health, anti-violence and educational resources for LGBTQIA+ people.
Howard Brown Health offers anti-racism resources and sliding scale counseling specializing in the LGBTQ+ community.
This document is a resource for Black people experiencing racial trauma. This master list includes specific resources as well as protesting tips and donation links.
This link is a directory of Black therapists in Chicago.
This link is a directory of Black therapists in Chicago who provide services for under $75.
Here’s 7 virtual mental health resources supporting Black people right now, including Chicago-based community organization Sista Afya’s support groups
And the Trans Lifeline’s Peer Support Hotline is a resource operated by transgender and nonbinary staffers for the trans community: 877-565-8860.
The Center for Religion and Psychotherapy in Chicago is a nonprofit that provides affordable, sliding-scale counseling. Call (312) 263-4368 extension 9081 to schedule an intake appointment (counseling is not religious-centered).
That’s it from us, everyone. Thank you again for reading and supporting this newsletter in this terrifying roller coaster ride of a year we’ve had. We wish you all a safe, healthy end to 2020 – see y’all next year!
The 14 East Team