SGA Questions President Manuel, DePaul Student Sues DHS Over Revoked F-1 Visa and the Vatican Sets Date for New Pope Election
plus, the opening of Chicago’s farmers markets
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It’s your newsletter team Lauren, Audrey, Mason, Noël, Sam, Isabella, Annabelle, Jana, Ellie and Nupur. We’ve got a good one for you today.
To start, we have a summary of DePaul President Robert Manuel’s Q&A session with the Student Government Association last week. Then, we have information on DePaul’s first ever Truman Scholar, Victoria Gomez-Meza, and a preview of protests led by Coalition Against the Trump Agenda in Chicago this coming weekend. Next, we have Trump’s continuing crusade against sanctuary cities, including Chicago, and the International Court of Justice’s hearings on Israel’s humanitarian aid obligations in Gaza. To wrap up, we have the nomination of a Latina-owned design firm by Hospitality Design Awards for their work on Carnitas Uruapan and recommendations for Chicago farmers markets as the weather warms up.
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Tonight’s newsletter is sponsored by DePaul’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
With that, let’s get into it!
DePaul President Robert L. Manuel in the Hot Seat During Student Government Association Q&A
By Audrey Leib
The DePaul Student Government Association (SGA) held a question and answer event with DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel last week. This event was held in preparation for Manuel’s questioning in Congress coming up on May 7.
Questions were posed by members of SGA. The first question asked to Manuel was why he wanted to put DePaul under the scrutiny of Congress.
“The assumption is I put us there,” Manuel then laughed dryly. “Nobody wants to do the testimony before the congress. We were chosen for lots of different reasons and the opportunity to tell our story and talk about the work we do here.”
Speaking more on the news coming out of the government, Manuel said he found it “hard to digest.” After this, the live video cut out for around 10 minutes.
The next question after this pertains to Palestinian student safety being seen as a threat under Manuel’s administration.
“I can get the same question from Jewish students, I can get the same question from students, trans students, lots of different areas,” Manuel said. “If you’re referring to the effects of the encampment, I’m happy to sit down and talk with you about what my thinking was during that process. None of it was to politicize one side or the other, rather to keep the safety for all in the university.”
Manuel said that individual safety concerns need to be brought into his office and adjudicated on a case by case basis. He added that if any of his actions were being seen as political, students concerned should meet with him to discuss.
“I am aware that all of the activities of last year have distanced us. You to me, me to you. I am willing to sit down with any of you at any time to have this conversation,” Manuel said. “That’s not what this testimony is. That’s why I was really grateful, Isabella (SGA President), for the invitation to come, because I hope you take me up on that.”
On the deportation of students, Manuel said that any information on students that law enforcement requires the university to hand over will be shared. He noted that DePaul is supporting international students by helping them access to immigration lawyers. DePaul is also trying to work with international embassies.
The last question posed was about questions Manuel was afraid to answer at the congressional hearing.
“In conversation, sometimes you try to persuade and sometimes you just tell your story. I’m telling my story,” he said. “I may fail their test, but it’s an opportunity to put DePaul’s statement and values out there.”
Manuel’s congressional hearing is on May 7 at 10:15 EST (9:15 a.m. CST). He will be joined by the presidents of Haverford College and California Polytechnic State University.
DePaul News
By Mason McKee
Second DePaul student loses visa, sues DHS — A DePaul master’s student is suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons due to their F-1 student visa being revoked for a 2024 traffic violation. This comes more than a week after another student lost their F-1 status and later filed a complaint with DHS. The second student’s visa was set to last to the end of 2027 and they had completed all requirements for their Masters of Science in December 2024. Due to their visa being revoked, they will not be able to work under their OPT program that allows F-1 visa students to work up to a year after completing school. For more information, you can find LiLi Jarvenpa and Rose O’Keeffe’s article at The DePaulia.
DePaul has its first Truman Scholar with Victoria Gomez-Meza — First-generation college student and daughter of immigrants Victoria Gomez-Meza is one of 54 students from 49 colleges nationwide to be named a Truman Scholar, the first honoree from DePaul. The founder of the student organization First Gen DePaul, Gomez-Meza has dedicated herself to serving other first-generation college students like herself through working in the TRiO office and helping organize the National First-Generation College Celebration week last November. “When I found out I got the scholarship, I was super excited,” Gomez-Meza said to DePaul Newsline. “It felt like validation — that the work I’ve been doing is being seen, that I’m on the right path. It was a reminder that I’ve committed my life to public service, and this was a way to celebrate that.” For more information, you can find Russell Dorn’s article on DePaul Newsline.
Chicago Headlines
By Noël Bentley
Coalition Against the Trump Agenda kickstarts into May — The Coalition Against the Trump Agenda has three back-to-back days packed with events beginning on Thursday. Each day is dedicated to different demographics currently being targeted by the Trump administration. Thursday is the “May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights” starting at 11 a.m. in Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph. On Friday, May 2 are “Student walk-outs at high school and colleges across Chicago.” The walkouts are happening all around Chicago, and the march starts at 5 p.m. at Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn St. Finally, Saturday May 3, is the “Black and Brown Unity March” starting at noon and will also have a starting point of Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph. You can find more information on the Coalition Against the Trump Agenda website.
One dead and 10 hurt in Chicago shootings this past weekend — A total of nine shootings took place this weekend, ranging from Roseland on the south side to Lincoln Square on the north side. The victims ranged in age, the oldest being 50-years-old and the youngest being a minor aged 16. The only death happened on Saturday night, when a 36-year-old man was shot multiple times and was found on the ground by first responders. For more information, you can find Jeramie Bizzle’s article at CBS News Chicago.
JB Pritzker calls out Democrats in New Hampshire — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke at a dinner on Sunday where he called out the Democratic Party for “flocking to podcasts and cable news shows to admonish fellow Democrats for not caring enough about the struggles of working families.” Pritzker went on to tell Trump directly to “stop tearing down the constitution in the name of my ancestors,” pertaining to the punishments issued for pro-Palestine protests around the country. For more information, you can find Chris Tye, Chrissy Amaya and John Odenthal’s article at CBS News Chicago.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman and Lauren Sheperd
Georgia Gov. signs school safety law — In light of the school shooting on September 4 at Apalachee High School, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law on Monday that’s intended to prevent future school shootings. The shooting last fall killed two students and two teachers. The law requires police to report to schools when they discover a child has threatened death or injury to someone at school. It also requires a faster transfer of records when a student switches schools, creates at least one new position to help with mental health treatment for Georgia’s students and implements anonymous reporting. Public schools are also required to provide employees with wearable panic buttons; they also must submit electronic maps of their campuses to local, state and federal agencies once a year. Richard Aspinwall, the father of one of the teachers who was killed in the shooting last September, told reporters: “I don’t want anyone else to have to go through this. You see it happening all over the country. It’s got to stop. Some way or another, it’s got to stop.” Jeff Amy from the Associated Press has more.
Trump: Pete Hegseth will ‘get it together’ — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly used an unsecure Signal chat to discuss classified information with aides and other people in the Trump administration, sending the Pentagon into chaos. In an interview with The Atlantic magazine, President Donald Trump said of Hegseth, “I think he’s gonna get it together. I had a talk with him a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.” This is the second Signal chat that was reported, involving Hegseth. The first was last month when Hegseth provided details about a March 15 strike on Houthi targets in Yemen to White House officials through Signal, unaware that a reporter had been added to the chat. Hegseth has said these chats only relayed “media strategy,” but the reporter in the chat provided the transcript of the information. Retired military officials and some congressional members said that information was clearly classified. Tom Bowman from NPR has more.
The White House continues its crusade against sanctuary cities — President Trump has signed an executive order to identify sanctuary cities and target jurisdictions that limit them from cooperating with immigration authorities. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the executive order will require the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security identify jurisdictions where law enforcement is prevented from cooperating with Trump’s immigration crackdown. Removing those sanctuary jurisdictions could drain resources and disrupt trust between immigrant communities and police. Trump has also tried to withhold funding from sanctuary cities and states. Last week, a federal judge blocked his latest efforts to withhold funding from 16 jurisdictions. U.S. District Judge William Orrick wrote, “The threat to withhold funding causes them irreparable injury in the form of budgetary uncertainty, deprivation of constitutional rights, and undermining trust between the Cities and Counties and the communities they serve.” Joel Rose from NPR has more.
House Republicans propose charging $1,000 to claim asylum — As a part of a series of new fees being introduced regarding immigration, Republicans in the House Judiciary Committee are proposing a $1,000 for immigrants seeking to legally enter the U.S. through asylum. This would be the first time the U.S. has ever charged anyone seeking asylum. To seek asylum, the individual must be persecuted or fear they will be persecuted in their home country for their race, religion or nationality. In the past, asylum seekers have been Jewish people fleeing the Holocaust or individuals fleeing communist regimes. The proposal, inspired by the Trump administration’s domestic agenda, also requires $3,500 from those sponsoring children and an additional $100 each year that an individual waits for their asylum hearing — the system for this is already backed up several years. For migrants fleeing dangerous and difficult situations, these fees will be extremely burdensome. Michael Gold at The New York Times has more.
International Headlines
By Isabella Ali
Vatican announces conclave to elect a new pope — A conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis will begin Wednesday, May 7, the Vatican announced today. The date was set during the fifth General Congregation of cardinals, where roughly 180 gathered to discuss Church business following Francis’ death on April 21. Of those, about 135 cardinals are eligible to vote, though it is not known yet how many will be able to attend. The solemn process will open with the “Pro Eligendo Papa” Mass before the Cardinal electors move in procession to the Sistine Chapel, where they will swear oaths of secrecy and begin the election. A two-thirds majority is required to choose the next pontiff. The Sistine Chapel will remain sealed throughout the voting. If a Pope is elected, white smoke will rise from the chapel’s chimney. If the ballot was inconclusive, the chimney will emit black smoke. The conclave follows the traditional nine days of mourning, known as the “Novemdiales,” held for Pope Francis. More details to come from Vatican News.
International Court of Justice to hold hearings on Israel’s humanitarian aid obligations — The United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, began hearings Monday on Israel’s obligation to allow life-saving aid into the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. The weeklong hearings follow a request last year asking the court to assess Israel’s legal responsibilities after the country banned the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from operating in Gaza. The hearings come as Gaza’s aid system nears collapse. Israel’s eight-week-old blockade has not allowed food or medical supplies to reach the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip since March 2. The U.N. will be the first to address the court on Monday, and in total, 40 states and four international organizations are scheduled to participate. Israel is not scheduled to speak during the hearings, but could submit a written statement. Israel's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The United States, which voted against the U.N. resolution, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday. For more updates, visit Al Jazeera.
Putin announces three-day ceasefire in Ukraine — As Russia prepares for its World War II victory celebrations, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to May 11. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha fired back, urging for a ceasefire of at least 30 days, instead of a symbolic pause. The announcement echoes earlier truces that failed eventually with both sides trading hundreds of accusations of violations. The Kremlin said Putin declared the ceasefire based on “humanitarian considerations.” U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to broker a truce, said he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, according to the White House. Thomas Mackintosh and Vitaliy Shevchenko of BBC have the news.
Mass power outage hits Portugal, Spain and France — A sudden, sweeping power outage has hit Portugal nationwide, much of Spain, and parts of France, leaving millions without electricity. Airports in Madrid and Lisbon went dark and stopped operations, and mobile networks completely collapsed in Spain and Portugal, leaving residents cut off from communication. Flights into Spain and Portugal from other European cities were canceled, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded. Metro systems were suspended with passengers in trains stuck inside tunnels between stations. Hospitals and medical facilities reported service disruptions and some had to cancel surgeries. Authorities said they were working urgently to restore power but warned it could take hours before full service returned. More updates from Aleksandar Brezar and Clea Skopeliti of Euronews.
14 East Pueblo: Latina-owned design firm nominated for their work on Carnitas Uruapan
By Annabelle Rivera
A Latina-owned design firm is a finalist for an award commending their work on a recently opened carnitas restaurant.
AGN Design, created by Cicero native Aida Napoles, is one of six finalists of the best interior design of a casual restaurant category at the Hospitality Design Awards.
Napoles designed the newest location of Carnitas Uruapan at 3801 W. 26th St. She teamed up with owner Marcos Carbajal to create a place reflective of the restaurant’s history.
Napoles, who founded her design studio in 2018, said the nomination makes her proud.
“It’s not always that you get to hear a casual Mexican restaurant, owned and operated by a Latino [get nominated],” Napoles told Block Club Chicago. “It just means a lot on all different levels.”
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Jana Simovic
Not only is the sun shining today, it is warming the sidewalks, putting smiles on peoples faces and giving us a hint of the months to come. It finally feels like spring has truly sprung and with that comes one of my favorite seasonal things… Chicago’s farmers markets!!! With many opening their season in the first week of May, expect to see many of the city’s beautiful parks lined with local food vendors and producers.
While you might be familiar with the many urban farms that sell produce all throughout the city, Global Garden’s farm is truly a unique one as it is run by Chicago’s refugee community. Located in Albany Park, right off Lawrence and Sacramento, the farm hosts about a dozen refugee market farmers that grow and sell their own produce — much of which is native to their home countries and used in traditional dishes of Burundi, Myanmar and more.
While supporting the city’s refugee community, Global Gardens also utilizes sustainable farming methods that help promote local sustainability, and it’s something anyone can take part in at numerous Northside farmers markets in the coming months. Lincoln Square’s farmers market opens on Thursday, May 1, the Andersonville farmers market opens later that month while Horner and Portage Park’s both open in early June — all of which host farmers from Global Gardens every week. To find the full list of farmers markets this season, the city of Chicago has a page that breaks down each one by day.
Aside from feeling good to play a positive role within a community as well as working to live more sustainably, one of my favorite aspects of farmed markets is challenging myself to eat and cook seasonally. After a successful hunt for the perfectly green asparagus, local tahini or sweet smelling berry I make it. My mission is to try new recipes that make such produce the star of the show; highlighting the beauty of seasonal produce while expanding my palate.
I recommend looking into local vendors of your respective makers to see if there are any CSA’s (community supported agriculture) where you can pay a monthly fee and receive fresh, local produce. The fun truly is endless however, make dinner party plans with your friends, send your parents pictures of new dishes, make a date out of the hunt or simply change it up and go to a new neighborhood market to enjoy the seemingly endless options Chicago has to offer — I know I certainly will be.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
International students concerned about their visa status can contact the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Students can check their visa status through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) or the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team