Shuttle bus pilot launches, sixth B-Side episode and the start of Spring Quarter
plus resources and FAQs for Spring Quarter
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! We’re back from our short break with a scaled back newsletter for you, including the latest episode of the B-Side and some campus updates. It’s your (abridged) newsletter team — Claire, Cam and Grace.
The Sixth Episode of The B-Side
By Francesca Mathewes with Grace Del Vecchio
The start of the COVID-19 pandemic called into question certain aspects of our lifestyles that we weren’t forced to address before and this certainly was the case of former 14 East Editor-In-Chief Francesca Mathewes. In the personal essay first performed at 14 East’s live storytelling event, 14 East Live, “A Softer Look in the Mirror” looks inward at Mathewes’s personal and professional development throughout the first year of the pandemic and the process of learning to give herself grace while adapting to the ever-changing world around her.
Written and recorded by Francesca Mathewes
Produced by Grace Del Vecchio
ICYMI: On March 18, DePaul announced that its campus mask policies will change. For the first two weeks of Spring Quarter, masks will continue to be required in classrooms and labs on campus, and optional but recommended everywhere else.
Starting April 11, masks will no longer be required. Catch more breaking news updates on our Twitter here:
DePaul launches private shuttle service for students
By Cam Rodriguez
DePaul students will have a new way to get around this quarter, thanks to Facility Operations and the Student Government Association. Launching tonight for its five-mile-long maiden voyage, a new shuttle service designed to bring students to and from the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses is providing semi-private – and swanky – trips.
The shuttle service, which is run by Signature Transportation Group, is made up of a fleet of three charter buses each with the capacity to fit 55 people, according to DePaul spokesperson Russell Dorn. Two out of the three buses are ADA accessible, and those needing an accessible vehicle can request one from Parking Serivces with 24 to 48 hours notice by calling 773-325-7275.
Schedule-wise, the shuttle runs between 4 and 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday. According to Dorn, the first shuttle arrives at Lot H, the parking lot behind the Lincoln Park Student Center, at 4 p.m., and will depart for its destination, the Loop’s DePaul Center, at 4:15 p.m.
Then, buses are staggered every thirty minutes from Lincoln Park and vice versa, until the final bus leaves the Loop at 10 p.m.
“As the pilot program continues, we may adjust the shuttle’s operations based on what we learn from usage,” Dorn wrote in an email to 14 East.
But why now? At a university town hall on March 7 that featured members of DePaul Public Safety as well as the Chicago Police Department, when students voiced concerns about perceived safety on transit coming to and from classes and a desire for a private shuttle like that of Loyola or Northwestern, Public Safety director Robert Wachowski replied that the university “[doesn’t] have the resources.”
The pull for a shuttle trumped the purported lack of resources, it seems. According to Dorn, after SGA representatives pushed for the shuttle service after the town hall, “DePaul administration was quick to act on this request, and many community members came together to make it happen,” with Facility Operations – and Public Safety – being “essential in implementing the program.”
Tonight, at 8:30, the Loop shuttle was empty, the driver lingering to see if any passengers would board. “If you come on, I’ll go,” he said to the three 14 East staff members staring down row after row of vacant seats. We declined the ride, and he idled briefly before heading out to Lincoln Park with phantom passengers in tow.
The program will continue to run for Spring Quarter on a pilot basis, and masks are encouraged but not required, per the university’s change in guidance after Chicago dropped its mask mandate in late February. A valid DePaul student ID, however, is, according to Parking Services.
Thoughts about DePaul’s new shuttle service, or your commute to and from classes or work? Let us know by replying to this email or leaving us a voicemail or text at 847-802-9606.
Do you have questions about DePaul’s COVID-19 policies? We have answers! Catch our FAQ thread on Twitter here:
Have any other questions? Reply to this email and we’ll get back to you with coverage and info. (Or we’ll track down the answer.)
Resources
Need resources regarding warming centers, rental assistance, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back in your inbox next week with a full newsletter – until then, hang tight, and if you’re in Chicago, stay warm!
All the best,
Editor-in-Chief Grace Del Vecchio
Managing Editor Cam Rodriguez
Engagement Editor Claire Malon