Stay-at-Home Order Extended, Long Distance Short Story Club, DePaul’s COVID-19 Related Crowdfunding

and an album meme challenge

Apr 24, 2020

Hello everyone,

The weather’s been dreary, but that’s all the more reason to stay inside. We hope you are still keeping safe and doing well. We are your Thursday team — Associate Editor Meredith Melland and Event Planners Justin Myers and Mikayla Rose Price — back with more COVID-19 news.

In our 11th issue of 14 East’s newsletter of COVID-19 DePaul updates, we’ll address DePaul’s crowdfunding and Vincentian Service Day efforts, Illinois’s extended stay-at-home order and changes in regulations in other parts of the country, as well as how short stories can connect people. And, not to be forgotten, there are some choice memes.

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What’s the latest at DePaul?

Inspire DePaul, the university’s crowdfunding site, has raised over $100,000 for funds related to COVID-19. These include the Student Emergency Assistance Fund and the Vincentian Assistance Fund, as well as a fund centered around providing personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers. Students may email the Dean of Students office here to request assistance through the Student Emergency Assistance Fund and here to request through the Vincentian Assistance Fund.

Meanwhile, on Monday, The DePaulia reported that DePaul’s financial aid pool for the 2020-21 fiscal year is the second smallest increase in the past decade. DePaul will offer $266.4 million, The DePaulia reported.

Registration for Vincentian Service Day ends on April 27th. Though all in-person campus service programs have been suspended, a virtual version of the event will be held on May 2nd. How do you serve a community remotely? Vice President for Mission and Ministry Fr. Memo Campuzano says there are several options. Participants can work as correspondents and reach out to groups like senior citizens, the people experiencing homelessness or workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. They can also make donations to the previously mentioned Inspire DePaul funds or food pantries, as well as using skills to provide things like teaching assistance or personal protective equipment.

What’s happening in Chicago?

Governor J.B. Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order until May 30. Starting May 1 there will be changes to this order to help slowly reopen the state. In spaces where you can’t stay 6 feet away from others, you will now be required to wear a mask. Some non-essential stores will be able to reopen, but only for online and to-go orders. Greenhouses and garden centers will be able to reopen — April showers do bring May flowers.

Yesterday, officials announced 2,049 new coronavirus cases in the state — the highest Illinois has seen in a day since the start of the outbreak. Today Illinois has 1,826 newly confirmed cases. Although these numbers are discouraging, Pritzker said that “our curve is bending the right way.”

Today, Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduced the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force. It will not only focus on helping the local economy recover but also prioritize mental health, business development, police stimulus and regional coordinators. Lightfoot spoke outside of the Chicago Water Tower — a building that survived the Great Chicago Fire — to symbolize Chicagos’s strength.

Chicago’s summer is going to be a lot different and quieter this year. Chicago is home to a handful of festivals that locals and tourists alike flock to. Chicago’s Pride Parade set for June 28 has been postponed until Labor Day. Music fans of different genres can agree on one thing — they will miss attending live performances. Chicago’s Blues, Jazz, Gospel and House festivals all have been canceled. Festivals that are set to run later in the summer, like Lollapalooza and Pitchfork Music Festival, have yet to announce a cancelation or postponement.

Chicago’s “new normal” is constantly evolving and it looks like online learning is here to stay.

Chicago Public Schools’s (CPS) remote learning system was built with the intention that it was only a temporary replacement. Now, CPS’s CEO Janice Jackson said that administrators are planning to build a remote system that will be stronger and more viable. A credit/ no credit option has been suggested by the Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey. This proposal is an attempt to help students who do not have direct access to the internet or a computer.

Other Chicago News:

Former Dallas police chief was sworn in as Chicago’s new police superintendent, by Block Club Chicago’s Kelly Bauer
Depaul alumna and Chicago attorney Cierra Norris freed almost a dozen inmates from Cook County jail, by ABC 7’s Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Ross Weidner
Chicago once had a “Tiger King” before the documentary “Tiger King” went viral, by Chicago Tribune’s staff
A new coffee bar opens in Edgewater as an attempt for a man to save his online business, by Block Club Chicago’s Joe Ward

If you don’t want to watch the news, here are the national headlines to know:

The Mayor of Las Vegas suggested Wednesday that the city should reopen casinos and hotels as a trial — but many residents resist that, from NBC News’s Caitlin Fichtel.

Yet another 4.4 million people filed for unemployment this week, rounding the five-week total up to 26 million. Applications may be starting to taper, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Chaney and Gwynn Guilford.
President Trump tweeted Monday night that he planned to sign an executive order halting all immigration to the U.S., but the actual order signed Wednesday only limited entry to people without visas or travel documents with several exceptions, from The Los Angeles Times’s Molly O’Toole and Noah Bierman.
Most Americans are eating less now that they’re stuck at home and others are struggling to access food, messing up the supply chain for farmers and food companies, from WIRED’s Aarian Marshall. Tyson Foods closed or halted production at three meat facilities this week.
The House passed a $484 billion relief bill today that passed in the Senate earlier this week, from Politico’s Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris. The majority of funds will reinflate the small business rescue fund, but $75 billion will go to hospitals and $25 billion will increase coronavirus testing.
Governor Brian Kemp announced Monday that Georgia’s salons, gyms and tattoo parlors can choose to reopen this Friday, with more businesses eligible next Monday. Some workers feel like they have to choose between money and safety, reports Vox’s Emily Stewart.
New research on the coronavirus outbreak in the States suggests the virus’ spread in urban centers started weeks before March 1. The New York Times’s Benedict Carey and James visualized Northeastern University’s model of estimated early infections.
Sports fans craving content might finally get some excitement tonight when the virtual NFL Draft starts. Deadline’s Patrick Hipes has all the platforms you can watch it on.

On to other news: a short story book club helps one student feel connected.

Media studies graduate student and 14 East contributor Rachel Fernandez misses her friends from her Texas hometown year round, especially since they’re scattered across the country and globe. Now stuck in self-isolation, she feels “as hollow as a conch shell,” but uses her friend’s short story book club as motivation to keep going.

One of Fernandez’s close Texas friends started a virtual short story club where people from California to Spain join at noon Sundays to connect.

“We read between 3 and 4 short stories a week revolving around a theme, and the stories are based on suggestions from people in the group,” Fernandez said.

Themes the club has covered include monsters, plants, sci-fi and good triumphs evil.

“It’s actually a very functional book club,” Fernandez said. “We discuss the themes and politics behind the stories and what we like/don’t like about them.”

Though she’s been trying to keep up on the readings, she mainly uses the meetings as a way to mark the beginning of a new week and interact with people outside of classes.

“I join the Zoom calls because I like seeing my friends’ faces and hearing their voices and opinions,” Fernandez said.

She acknowledges that though she is struggling with feeling helpless, she won’t always feel that way.

“I log on every week hoping I’ll feel better, and one day I know I will, but I’ve got to be patient because that day isn’t here yet.”

For now, she will continue to read and look forward to seeing the club’s faces. If you’re feeling similarly unmotivated but want to give short stories a try, here are some of Fernandez’s favorites.

“Bayou” by Bryan Washington

“The Bad Graft” by Karen Russell

“The Reluctant Orchid” by Arthur C. Clarke

“”The Dark Birds” by Ursula Vernon

“Tenth of December” by George Saunders

Here’s what Chicagoans have been listening to:

Have you tried the new social media trend called the Bill Clinton album meme challenge? If you haven’t already made your own, you can here. In the meantime here are a couple made by Chicago community members. On the topic of music — make sure to listen to our weekly quarantine playlist!

Submitted by Jake and Cameron

Did you do the Bill Clinton album meme challenge? Reply to this email with yours!

Bored?

Take a peek into Queen Elizabeth II’s royal chambers with this virtual tour of Windsor Castle
Unleash the power of Japanese pop culture with these kawaii anime-themed workout routines from Anison Fitness. Ganbatte!
What do you mean sports are canceled? Visit here for livestreamed EA sports events and other fun non-sports events like a Sims virtual house party
Tackle this Harry Potter themed virtual escape room created by the Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Penn., and put your logic and library science skills to the test
Watch this lady’s pandemic-approved Facebook remixes of the Bee Gees and the Friends theme song

Overwhelmed?

Go on a calming virtual reality ASMR walk through a park
Pritzker created new Call4Calm mental health resources. Residents can text TALK for English or HABLAR for Spanish to 552-020 and the state will put them in touch with a counselor
Call 312-747-1020 for free teletherapy services at Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers
Call 833-626-4244 for the NAMI Chicago Helpline or 833-TURN-123 for the Bright Star Community Outreach to speak to a mental health counselor
- If it’s late at night: text HELLO to 741741. Crisis Text Line is a 24-hour hotline that serves anyone, in any type of crisis

Want to help?

Lost your main source of income?

Here’s where to apply for unemployment and here’s how to apply
Here’s a list of places hiring by CBS 2 Chicago

Need financial assistance?

Need food or supplies?

Text 312-775-2391 or email LakeviewMutualAid@gmail.com for food, prescription pick-ups, caregiving, medical supplies and more – ”prioritizing folks who are sick, disabled, low-income, elderly, undocumented and Black, Indeginous and/or People of Color”
West Town Bakery is offering free meals to restaurant workers
Manny’s Deli in Little Italy is providing free meals to first responders
Chicago Food Resources

Need more information on COVID-19?

Thanks for sticking with us for another week. Check out 14 East’s lineup this week if you want to see art. No, we are not just patting ourselves on the back (again) — we’re publishing an Art Issue, complete with a virtual gallery. Other than that, please treat yourselves, hug some trees (virtually?) and spin your favorite tunes. We’ll get through this.

Until next week,

Meredith, Justin and Mikayla