Discovering yourself outside of your phone, the beginning of a Bulls rebuild and threatening calls to a North Center taqueria
plus, returning to your video game roots
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It’s your newsletter team Lauren, Meredith, Emily, Noel, Elliot, and Sam. We’ve got a good one for you today.
To start, we have a discussion on how phones and a general addiction to the internet have impacted our individuality. Then, we have information on a Palestinian-Israeli group's efforts to bring peace to campus, a “Day Without Immigrants” in Chicago and Trump’s tariffs. To wrap up, we have information on threatening calls made to a North Side taqueria following Trump’s inauguration and reviving your Minecraft addiction during the remaining cold months of winter.
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.
With that, let’s get into it!
If you didn’t have your phone, would you know who you are?
By Meredith Bach
The phone: in an age where every aspect of our life is inextricably linked to it — our family, our memories, our medical records, time itself — the phone almost becomes synonymous with the self. Nowadays, our phones aren’t even just reflections of ourselves, they teach us how to be ourselves. The media we get from them tells us what to eat, where to go, what to like, what to think.
This dependency begs the question, would we know ourselves if we didn’t have our phones?
When we get enough information from our devices to characterize and define our entire identities, one thinks of that age-old saying: you are what you eat. Or, in this case, we are who our phones tell us to be.
You could call me dramatic — plenty of friends have before. But this isn’t pure theatrics anymore. I’m discussing something far more grave than phone addiction. When one considers the repetitive algorithmic systems that feed us this information, they may see an issue that threatens our very personhood.
Algorithms famously sort what’s trendy or likable to the top, right? So, if we are what we eat, and we are all consuming a vaguely similar subset of popular information, are we not all being sculpted into sameness?
When everything becomes a facsimile of the previous thing, days exist in a continuum of likeness, stimuli tilts towards the same calculated sounds and captivating visuals and our individuality slowly dissolves. It’s no wonder ‘chronically online’ people all sound and act so similarly. It’s no wonder we seem to talk circles around the same news stories, celebrities and thoughts. Everything feels the same because in a way, it is.
Even worse, our venture to be sincere and natural online lands itself on the same digital assembly line as the rest of our content. Authenticity itself has melted into a mainstream of sorts. Consider the case of the classic Instagram ‘photo dump’: we attempt to expose the more personal or casual details of our days in a carousel of shots that ultimately replicate every other post we’ve ever seen. Is it not the same collection of coffee-table reads, Trader Joe’s flowers and humble mirror selfies? Or is it just me?
Once again, we’ve franchised and packaged a new set of social norms that are anything but. And so, we remain entrapped in this system of repetitive sameness.
Can we blame the brain though? We have more going on inside the phones in our pockets than a human should ever experience in their whole life. We’ve become so polluted by information; there’s no wonder we would prefer something digestible over the unfamiliar.
Yet, we must resist the urge to wade in such an isolated, digital world. To define things for ourselves, reach conclusions on our own. As the world becomes more intertwined with the phone, we are only made more responsible to distinguish our lives apart from it.
We must confront physical experience, human interaction and forces that are not bound by data or screentime. For it is this kind of messy, undetermined influence, free of control or curation – that will breed true authenticity.
It’s like all the Pinterest boards always boast: You are the sum of everyone you’ve ever met, the food you’ve tried and the places you’ve been (or something like that) ... not the videos you watch or the media you consume.
I am reminded of a conversation I had while studying abroad in Florence, Italy, with a man named Simone de Casto. He was a renowned executive pastry chef who had gone on to teach culinary classes to students at our university. We sat in an Italian courtyard, nursing shots of espresso, when I asked him about curiosity and inspiration.
“You have an Instagram. It's called the world,” he said.
“Go outside, watch the seasons, watch the colors. Smell. Breathe. Try to create something, okay?”
DePaul News
By Emily Diaz
The Timeline Theatre and DePaul Theatre School bring “Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley” to Cortelyou Commons — The DePaul Theatre School (TTS) will host performances of the play “Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley” in Cortelyou Commons from now until March 2. In collaboration with the Timeline Theatre and arts nonprofit the American vicarious, TTS will retell the real-life story behind critically acclaimed author and civil rights activist James Baldwin and American conservative writer William F. Buckley Jr.’s historic debate surrounding the future of American civil rights. The play will zero in on the polarized race relations of the 1960s through two of America’s most influential literary figures. More information about the play and tickets can be found here.
Palestinian-Israeli organization to open dialogue on peace and reconciliation at DePaul — DePaul University has invited The Parents Circle-Family Forum (PCFF) for an open dialogue on campus this month. The PCFF, an over 700-member organization consisting of Palestinian and Israeli families who have lost loved ones to conflict and war, focuses on bridging differences through reconciliation. Two members will share their experiences of losing their sisters to violent conflict. The event will take place on February 11 at the St. Vincent DePaul Church. The event will take place from 6-8pm. More details can be found here.
DePaul’s 6th annual Innovation Day highlights faculty research for social equity — DePaul staff, faculty and students gathered together at the Student Center last Friday for an all-day celebration of budding faculty research projects focusing on achieving social equity. This year’s Innovation Day event, called “Connecting Ideas, Igniting Excellence,” introduced faculty partnerships with nonprofit organizations like Chicago Community Trust, Pilsen Alliance and others. Projects presented ranged from GIS-lead solutions to gentrification, AI-powered preventive healthcare, immigration rights through documentaries and more social impact topics. DePaul faculty shared advice on conducting meaningful research, their personal passion behind their work and how innovation can spark systematic social change. Keynote speakers and panelists also came together to discuss how DePaul, as an academic institution, can further utilize its community influence to fund and support social good.
Chicago Headlines
By Noel Reyes
Chicago Bulls trade two time All-Star Zach LaVine — The Bulls front office officially finalized a three team trade deal involving the Sacramento Kings and The San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. The Bulls sent LaVine to the Sacramento Kings along with a 2025 second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, Zach Collins and the rights to their own first-round pick in 2025. From an outside point of view this trade may seem like a loss for the Bulls due to the lack of star power within the team now. However, it was meant to regain their 2025 first round pick that was previously owned by the Spurs when the Bulls acquired DeMar DeRozen in 2021. However, the question still begs as to whether this trade was enough to justify losing a star player like LeVine, who has had one of the most efficient seasons of his career, averaging 24 points while shooting 51.1% from the floor and 44.6% from 3-point range. Similar trades have been done in the past by teams trying to rebuild. Teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder have proved having luck with prioritizing draft picks and financial freedom rather than being star studded and floating around the middle of the league competitively. Without the leadership and scoring efficiency of Zach LaVine the Bulls will have to adjust for the remainder of the season without him. Now led by younger players with much room to grow into stars in the league, such as Josh Giddey, leaves room for hype around the team for a bright future. Overall this trade signifies a large step in the Bulls rebuilding era. Read more on the trade in the article by Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune
Closing for the Day — Restaurants and businesses in multiple cities across the country are closing for one day to mark a “Day Without Immigrants,” including here in Chicago. With Chicago being one of the first major cities targeted by Trump’s crackdown on immigrants and “enhanced” efforts in immigration enforcement, campaigns like these can be vital in spreading the awareness as to how important immigrants are to cities in the country. It’s part of a social media campaign asking the public to skip classes and work as well as avoid shopping. “Participating business owners in Chicago hope closing their doors for the day will send a bigger message about the role immigrants play in everyday life,” wrote Christine Flores in an article for WGN 9. Reservations of the protest and message by shutting down business for a day comes from Jaime di Paulo, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We just have to be more strategic on how we do this. It certainly doesn’t affect the big corporations, it’s affecting our own communities. And the group that organized it, they don’t realize the impact it has to our businesses,” di Paulo said. Read more on the issue by Christine Flores of WGN9.
String of Assaults in Logan Square Neighbors — Chicago police, neighbors and local alderpeople are warning residents after a series of sexual assaults in Logan Square within the last month. There have been three separate assaults since mid-January. Two of the three assaults took place on the sidewalk, and the other took place in the hallway of a woman’s apartment building. According to the CPD, the man had a sharp object during two of the assaults. The man involved in each assault is described as 29 to 35 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10 and weighing between 150 and 175 pounds. The police alert included more distinctive features such as short black hair and brown eyes. Neighbors have posted warnings on local Facebook groups and other social media sites. The investigation is ongoing though you can read more by Ariel Parrella-Aureli of Block Club Chicago.
National Headlines
By Noel Reyes
Dissolving USAID — As seen in Trump’s first administration, his agenda has been to cut foreign spending in the U.S. and with only a few weeks in this narrative continues. On his first day in office on January. 20, Trump implemented a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance. Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (, known as DOGE), has launched a sweeping effort supported by Trump to let go of government workers and cut trillions in government spending. USAID is one of his main targets. Musk alleges USAID funding has been used to launch deadly programs and called it a "criminal organization." USAID’s mission is to administer humanitarian aid programmes on behalf of the U.S. government around the world. It's part of a Trump administration crackdown that's hitting across the federal government and its programs. But USAID and foreign aid are among those hit the hardest. Read more on the topic by Ellen Knickmeyer and Meg Kinnard.
Trump’s pause on tariffs against Mexico and Canada — Trump had directed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, with another 10% tariff on Canadian oil, natural gas and electricity on Saturday. He also ordered an additional 10% tax on imports from China. Tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China were supposed to take effect on Tuesday at 12 a.m. Just before the tariffs went into effect today, an agreement to suspend tariffs on Mexico and Canada was announced. The suspension will last 30 days as the countries negotiate further on future tariffs. Mexico’s delayed stakes on the tariffs negotiated to send thousands of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to help with Trump’s ongoing crackdown of immigration. Canada agreed to a similar deal in order to delay tariffs by strengthening the Canadian-U.S. border including a joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.” At the moment, the tariffs on China will still go into effect at midnight. However, Trump plans to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next few days. Read more on the topic by Josh Boak, Fabiola Sánchez and Rob Gillies of AP News.
N.Y. attorney general warns hospitals against canceling transgender care — The White House issued an executive order last week that threatened to withhold federal funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming treatments. This threat included puberty blockers and hormone treatments to transgender youth under the age of 19. N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James warns that not providing care may violate state law in a letter earlier today. This letter has put healthcare providers and health organizations in a conflict between state and federal authorities. The order last week left families uncertain of their transgender children and whether they would be able to receive medical care and procedures. Since the release from the White House, more than two dozen states have put restrictions or bans on gender affirming care for children, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Read more on the issue by Joseph Goldstein of The New York Times.
14 East Pueblo: Mexican restaurant Taqueria El Asadero “bombarded” with racist phone calls
By Annabelle Rivera
A North Center Mexican restaurant received numerous racist phone calls this past week, something the owner says is connected to President Donald Trump’s immigration rhetoric.
Taqueria El Asadero opened at 2213 W. Montrose Ave. over 30 years ago and has become a community staple. But Jazmin Flores, the owner’s daughter, said that the restaurant has recently been “bombarded” with harassment.
“It’s people just saying some racist a— sh—,” Flores told Block Club. “I’m just glad my dad wasn’t the one answering the phone.”
Flores said that the calls began after Trump’s inauguration last month. According to her, the restaurant also faced harassment during Trump’s first presidential term, with people telling them to go back to Mexico.
Flores said that the calls are due to Trump’s outspoken views against Latin American immigrants. Trump has repeatedly disparaged Latino immigrants, infamously calling Mexicans “criminals, drug dealers [and] rapists” before his first presidential term. Since taking office, he has signed numerous executive orders that have left Chicago’s immigrant communities gripped with fear of deportation, regardless of their legal status.
Other businesses nearby told Block Club they have not received harassment since the inauguration. Flores said that after she wrote about the experiences on social media, the calls stopped.
Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said in a statement to Block Club that Trump is attempting to sow division between communities with his rhetoric.
“But we won’t buy it,” Martin said. “From the German beer halls to the taquerias, immigrant-owned businesses built our neighborhood.”
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Elliot Allison
60 million meters. Approximately five times the diameter of the Earth. A barely fathomable number that denotes the distance between edges of a Minecraft world. 60 million square meters of explorable space ripe with opportunities for creativity, adventure, frustration and joy.
It’s time to return to our roots and do what humans do best: play with cubes.
Minecraft is the most popular video game ever sold, and with good reason. It serves as the model and template for a survival sandbox game, has had fulfilling support for more than the last decade and, most importantly, it enables and helps people make their own memories and tell their own stories.
Not to sound like a ginormous nerd, which, in hindsight, is a little difficult when writing about a video game, but some of my fondest memories are picking up Minecraft Pocket Edition when I was a little kid. There was a sense of unbridled joy that came with each new update and an unending stream of creativity that helped me bond with my siblings and earliest friends.
The childlike wonder that I associate with the game is precisely why, during these cold winter months, picking back up the controller or sitting down in front of the computer is the move.
For the last six weeks, I have been playing on a large server that my friends and I host together whenever I’m free. We have been, of course, mining and crafting, but also exploring, arguing, fighting and having some incredibly deep and meaningful conversations. The game exists as a vessel of conversation, an activity not unlike going out for a walk in the park, that allows us as humans to express our emotions and thoughts both verbally to one another and by way of the art-like constructions of Minecraft.
At this point, it is worth pointing out, the two-week Minecraft phase is infamous, made so by memes and reels or however you consume your pop culture popcorn. The issue is that the game becomes repetitive, the core loop eventually is too boring to play alone for long periods.
Without a doubt this is true, but I see Minecraft more as a social being than a game designed to be intensely interesting. Playing with friends is where the real joy is, both synchronously and apart. There is equal wonder to joining the server and seeing a house your friend has built as there is joy to building it with them.
The simple creativity and ease of socialization of Minecraft that allows me to unwind and escape this crazy world has cemented it as a stable piece of my relaxation routine.
Plus there’s always the thrill of convincing your friends to get a new hobby.
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