DePaul’s spike in robberies, Young Lords honored, and WGA reaches a deal
Plus, a new episode of The Chicago Minute
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! We’ve got a good one for you today. It’s your newsletter team — Alexandra, Lauren, Audrey, Gia, Sam, Emily, Elizabeth and Hailey — back with another exciting newsletter to start off your week!
Tonight, Associate Editor Lauren Sheperd details the recent uptick in robberies on DePaul’s campus over the past month and the response of the DePaul community to these violent attacks. Also, Young Lords, an organization that worked to combat gentrification and displacement for Puerto Ricans, were honored with a plaque outside of DePaul’s School of Music on September 18. In addition, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has come to an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer’s (AMPTP) after the WGA started a strike five months ago.
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With that, let's get into the news!
The Chicago Minute: Little Village Celebrates Big for Mexican Independence
Article by: Emily Figueroa
Video Editor: Kiernan Sullivan
Camera: Isabel Perkinson, Anna Retzlaff and Kiernan Sullivan
Animation: Julia Hester
The Chicago Minute is back with a new episode, this time celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This episode features Little Village’s celebration of Mexican Independence. Watch the full episode and read the article here. Below, is a short preview:
DePaul Students Affected by Spike in Robberies
By Lauren Sheperd
A string of robberies and battery against DePaul University students on or near campus have left members of the DePaul community concerned. Just over the weekend, public safety released two alerts informing students of two robberies and one battery that happened near campus.
The first incident occurred around 10:07 p.m. on the quad, according to an email released by public safety. The two male offenders demanded the property of two students sitting on the quad and then fled south down Seminary.
The next incident occurred early on Sunday morning on the corner of Belden and Racine. The three victims were approached by four offenders who demanded their cell phones, wallets and purses. According to the public safety alert email, one of the victims was struck in the face by a gun. These alerts have not yet been published on public safety’s webpage.
These were not the first incidents of violent attacks over the past month. One student – who chose to remain anonymous because of the status of the investigation at DePaul – was robbed and assaulted on September 9.
The incident occurred on Sheffield just past the Ray. This source and her three friends were walking north and when they passed the alley between the Ray and Belden, they were attacked. “By the time we were even able to get more than a few feet away from the alleyway, they jumped out of the alleyway and took one of my friends' phones,” she said.
They started running and were quickly stopped by the perpetrators. This source sustained several injuries. She was pushed to the ground by one of the perpetrators and punched. “My nail beds themselves were like falling off,” she said, due to a fight over her wallet which was attached to her wrist.
One of the girls managed to get away and ran to flag down public safety. According to this source, three public safety cars drove by without stopping.
Once the attackers had run, this source was able to hit the emergency button in front of the Ray, though public safety response was delayed. The source said it took about 20 minutes for public safety to arrive at the scene.
Following the robberies that occurred last weekend, DePaul President Robert L. Manuel released a statement.
“Chicago continues to grapple with criminal activity, including robberies throughout the city. Public Safety remains on heightened alert and is actively working with the Chicago Police Department to address these most recent incidents on campus,” Manuel wrote. “We are grateful for the strong relationship we have with the police and our elected officials, and we will continue to proactively work with them. ”
In his statement Manuel also laid out immediate steps the university is taking which included increased public safety and police presence on both campuses. He also encourages students to take extra safety precautions and to be aware of their surroundings, especially late at night.
DePaul News
By Audrey Leib
Young Lords Honored
The Young Lords, an organization that worked to combat gentrification and displacement for Puerto Ricans, were honored with a plaque outside of the School of Music at 804 W. Belden Ave. The building is significant for the Young Lords organization because of their occupation of the building in May of 1969. At the time, the building was not owned by DePaul University and instead was the McCormick Theological Seminary’s Stone Administration Building. The Young Lords were working together with the Poor People’s Coalition and occupied the building peacefully, the explanation being that the seminary had an obligation to protect the poor people of Lincoln Park from gentrification and the displacement from former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley’s urbanization planning. Find out more about the September 18 event here and look out for a story on the Young Lords later this week from 14 East.
DePaul Athletics Talent Search
Last week, DePaul’s athletic department put out a request for performers to sing the National Anthem. Any students interested can email a recording of their acapella rendition of the National Anthem to dpumarketing@depaul.edu. All of those selected must be able to commit to making the DePaul game day experience fun for all. Find out more about auditioning here.
Chicago Headlines
By Gia Clarke
Chicago murder suspect found dead in Oklahoma - Nathaniel Huey Jr. was found dead and a woman fatally wounded in their car. The car linked to Huey Jr. was located via license plate number outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma, 650 miles away from the killing of the family. The car struck a concrete barrier and Huey Jr. was found in the driver’s seat with a gunshot wound. This happened after both were cited as people of interest for the murder of a suburban Chicago family. The victims of the murder allegedly committed by Huey Jr. were Alberto Rolon, Zoraida Bartolomei and their two sons. NBC’s David Li has more.
Bears defensive coordinator resigns - After a bit more than one season, Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigns from his position. In his professional resignation statement, Williams mentions that he needed to take a step back to care for his health and his family. Williams had a two-decade long career with the NFL, originating in 2001 where he was the defensive assistant for the Buccaneers. That has come to an end as of September 20. WGN9’s Larry Hawley and Jenna Barnes have more.
City Council pushes to eliminate subminimum wage - A common practice in the U.S. is to pay tipped employees less in their hourly wage, which makes most of the employees’ livelihood based on tips. However, Chicago City Council’s new plan will help raise the wage, which would eliminate subminimum wage in Chicago. The plan is projected to begin July 1, 2024 until they reach the minimum wage level on July 1, 2028. The plan involves an 8% wage increase per year. Since announced, the plan has gained a lot of controversy from restaurants and tipped workers. WGN’s Tahman Bradley has more.
CPS Board is to vote on approving expanded parental leave - The Chicago Public School Board will vote next week to approve extended parental leave for teachers and CPS employees. The original policy was birthing parents only received six-to-eight weeks of short-term disability leave, and non-birthing parents received two weeks paid leave. With the new extended parental leave, everyone, regardless of who birthed the child, gets 12 weeks paid leave. This is the same as other city workers that are not working within the CPS district. Matt Masterson from WTTW has more.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
Hollywood writers reach a deal to end the strike – The Writers Guild of America started its strike five months ago against the major studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Now, screenwriters and the studios have reached a tentative deal that would end one of the longest strikes in Hollywood. Writers asked for guaranteed staffing levels for television series and the continuation of “writer’s rooms,” which ensures consistent storylines and characters, according to the WGA. The AMPTP offered the showrunners to hire at least two writers per show. They also agreed to place bans on written material produced by artificial intelligence. The details of the deal are not yet known to the public. Mandalit del Barco from NPR has more information.
Newsom vetoes a bill on parental support of child’s gender identity in custody cases – California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill on Friday that would force judges to consider a parent’s support for a child’s gender identity in custody cases. The veto was unexpected, considering Newsom generally supports and protects the L.G.B.T.Q. community. In a letter that he released on Friday, Newsom explained, “Other-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities.” He also said that the court is required to consider a child’s health and wellbeing, which includes a parental affirmation of their gender identity. Many L.G.B.T.Q. advocates are disappointed by this decision. Anna Betts from the New York Times has the story.
Hazing lawsuit filed against University of Alabama fraternity – A student and his parents have filed a lawsuit against a fraternity at the University of Alabama, stating that he suffered a brain injury during the hazing process. According to the lawsuit filed last week, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, the student was repeatedly punched, sprayed in the face with water, instructed to yell a racial slur at a Black student and hit in the head with a basketball. It caused him to lose consciousness and later go to a hospital emergency room. He was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and post-concussive syndrome, according to the lawsuit. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity Service Center said, in a statement to WBRC, that the fraternity is being investigated. The Associated Press has more information.
Many see Trump as the likely Republican nominee, including some rival supporters – There are less than four months until the first Republican nominating contest in Iowa, and many Republicans in office believe that Trump will lead the Republican nomination. He is currently facing 91 criminal charges across four indictments. He’s portrayed himself as a victim of a politically motivated legal battle; prosecutors counter that they are following the law. Trump is currently polling around 60% among Republican voters, but in Iowa and New Hampshire he’s around 50%. He will not be at the upcoming debate this week in California. Instead, he plans to give a speech in Michigan. Colby Itkowitz and Marianne LeVine from the Washington Post have the story.
14 East Pueblo: Manuela Guillén Collaboration with Starbucks
By Emily Figueroa
It’s undeniable that Starbucks is the number one stop for coffee lovers when fall rolls around. This year’s fall menu launched on August 24, making it easy for those to accept the change of seasons with open arms and a PSL in one hand. Although the brand jumps straight into autumnal traditions, Starbucks does give Hispanic Heritage Month a moment to shine. Let’s reel it back in before all the pumpkin cold foam obsession and focus on Manuela Guillén, the newest member of the Starbucks Artist Collaboration Series.
Guillén is an artist from Florida whose family is from Cuba and El Salvador. Her artwork began with storytelling and visualizing her parent’s journey to the U.S. Guillén now has her pieces wrapped around tumblers and cups in Starbucks this fall.
The collection with Starbucks has community-centered designs that reflect the vibrant and colorful parts of life, according to a video Guillén posted on Instagram. Some cups have a self-portrait of Guillén, and others have butterflies, plants and animals in every corner. Her goal is to include everyone in her paintings and connect people with the Earth.
Her murals and illustrations are known for her representation of different Hispanic countries and communities. The three cups for sale are ‘Manuela Dream’, ‘Buenas Vibras’ and ‘Manuela Heart’. The collection can be found in any participating Starbucks in the U.S. and is a great symbol of Hispanic success.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Elizabeth Gregerson
Every so often, a book is so rich and poetic that its story stays with readers long after they’ve finished a chapter. This week’s recommendation is one of those books.
“The Glass Château: A Novel” by Stephen P. Kiernan immediately draws the reader into its post World War II world. The book centers around a young Jewish man named Asher. After losing his family and home in France to the Nazis, Asher served as an assassin for the Resistance during the war. Now that the war is over, Asher must grapple with the man he has become and the man he wants to be.
A series of fortunate encounters leads a starving Asher to the doors of le Château Guérin in the French countryside. Here he meets a group of fellow survivors, each with a hidden story as heartbreaking as Asher’s own. Asher decides to hide his Jewish identity from the survivors at the château, all Catholic, until he knows if he is safe among them. Despite their differences, Asher and the strangers he meets are all trying to forget the events of the war and rebuild their life.
Not only does the château serve as a place to rebuild life, it is also a place to rebuild stained glass windows. The inhabitants begrudgingly accept Asher into their home in exchange for his labor in their glass making studio. While Asher and the chateau residents repair church windows broken from bombings, they slowly begin to face their own personal wounds from the war.
“The Glass Château: A Novel” is available in hardcover, paperback, e-reader and audiobook formats. The beauty of Kiernan’s phrasing provides ample opportunities to read and re-read a sentence, if only to enjoy its depth and imagery. Readers will not forget Asher or the people he meets and will find themselves questioning if anyone ever truly wins in war.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team