Takeaways from a DePaul political science event, Fall Quarter course carts and some warmer weather — finally
plus, Easter celebrations in Pilsen
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It’s your newsletter team Lauren, Angelina, Kateleen, Sam, Aidan, Cullen, Nandi, Ellie, Mason and Noah. We’ve got a good one for you today.
To start, we have some takeaways from a panel event run by the political science department focused on helping attendees make sense of the political moment the U.S. is facing right now under the Trump administration. Then, we have information on a DePaul student who has his F-1 status revoked by the federal government and a shooting on the CTA Blue Line. Next, we have information on Democratic lawmakers who have visited Kilmar Abrego Garcia — who was wrongly deported — in El Salvador and the death of Pope Francis. Finally, we have a recap of some annual Easter traditions in Pilsen and a recommendation for the new season of “Black Mirror” available on Netflix.
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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!
Department of Political Science Sheds Light on Constitutional Questions
By Angelina Ruggiero and Kateleen Quiles
DePaul University’s Department of Political Science professors, students and administration gathered for a panel discussion titled “Constitutional Crisis: Making Sense of the Moment.” This panel took place Tuesday and highlighted topics regarding the Trump administration’s impact on immigration, protests and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Speakers featured were Kathleen Arnold, director of DePaul’s Refugee and Forced Migration Studies graduate program; Eugene Beiriger, associate professor of history; Joseph F. Mello, associate professor of political science; and Joe R. Tafoya, assistant professor of political science. Molly Andolina, associate professor of political science, served as the moderator.
Here are our takeaways:
Constitutional Implications
Mello, who teaches constitutional law, highlighted that Americans should focus their attention on what is happening — the law in action. He stated that courts are weak institutions; they cannot enforce their decisions due to their dependency on the executive branch. “What is legal is whatever Trump can get away with,” Mello said. “Authoritarians love the law because it gives them legitimacy.”
In response to this conflict, Mello argues that Americans should support courts through protest. “This is a democracy: we get to decide what the law is, we tell the courts what we think the law should look like … if we make our voices heard, we will win,” Mello said.
Immigration
Another key issue was immigration. Following longstanding policy, DePaul advises students to contact the general counsel’s office and Public Safety before responding to a request from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
Arnold was adamant about her desire to protect DePaul students. She said she is fearful that her students could be deported or sent to a detention site outside the United States. The federal government has sent people to sites at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and El Salvador.
Arnold expressed concerns about plans for mass deportation in America. Inspectors for the Department of Homeland Security have reported, in their words, “negligent” medical care and “unsafe and filthy” conditions in ICE detention centers.
“Immigration law is not constitutional,” Arnold said. “It is a part of the plenary power doctrine, which is foreign policy. It is not guided by the Constitution – even though it is constitutionally authorized in the Supreme Court.”
Arnold points to the mass revoking of visas from college students in the United States, and how students from accredited institutions have been arrested and detained. After reading a list of crises occurring with deportation globally, Arnold urges the question: “Are these the values that are constitutionally guaranteed?”
Protests
Mello said he worries when he sees students from other universities facing harsh consequences for protesting. He said that students should not protest on campus and should consider other locations. “I tell my students maybe now is not the time,” he said.
Parnika Pagadala, a freshman political science student who attended the panel, said she has felt the presence of police on campus. “DePaul overall is a great school, but even with that, I think it is ironic how we sit in a panel talking about very controversial issues,” Pagadala wrote in an email following the event. “However, anytime we protest on campus, there are cops everywhere, and this makes students feel more unsafe than safe.”
Beiriger explained that the Trump administration is following historical patterns of authoritarianism, from attacks on universities to a threat of economic instability. He noted that protestors and college students such as Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk are being targeted due to their political beliefs.
DEI
Tafoya, who teaches Latinx politics and immigration policy, criticized Trump’s attacks on DEI. “During a time of retrenchment, multiculturalism is an act of defiance,” he said.
“People are profiled, illegally detained, their children ripped from their arms. This isn’t just a political disagreement,” he added. In an email, he later wrote that it is a “denial of constitutional due process.” Tafoya’s response is to expose injustices and to get to work: “We kill ignorance with compassion and insight.”
DePaul News
By Sam Freeman
Course carts are open for autumn registration — Class registration for autumn quarter begins on May 1. Course carts opened today. Students can still sign up for summer classes, as well. Log into your Campus Connect to see all options.
Memorial services to honor Pope Francis will be planned for DePaul faculty, staff and students — Pope Francis passed away today, and the DePaul University community joins the rest of the world to mourn his passing. In an email to faculty, staff and students, DePaul President Robert Manuel said: “As a Catholic and Vincentian university, we felt a deep spiritual resonance between Pope Francis and our patron, St. Vincent de Paul. Both lived as reformers — affirming the sacred dignity of those most in need and seeking out those on the margins of society. Their examples challenge us to be more faithful, more just, and more loving.” The university is planning memorial services to honor Pope Francis’s passing. Service details will be shared when they’re scheduled.
DePaul alumni Nico Lang to speak at DePaul on Wednesday — Nico Lang, DePaul alumni and the award-winning author of the book “American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era,” is scheduled to speak at DePaul on Wednesday, April 23, 6-7:30 p.m. in SAC 154. The book features eight trans and nonbinary teenagers across the country that span the spectrum of race, class, religion and the red-state/blue-state divide. Lang’s book showcases the struggles that transgender youth face when they live in a state that intentionally targets them through state laws. View more details about the event here.
DePaul student sues Trump administration after losing legal status — Two weeks ago, a DePaul student was notified by the university that his F-1 status, which allows him to study in the United States, had been terminated. He is a 26-year-old graduate student studying business analytics and was expected to graduate in June. The student and his attorney filed a complaint for declaratory and injunction relief against Kristi Noem, the U.S. secretary of homeland security, and Todd Lyons, the acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The student is one of more than 1,000 across the country whose legal statuses are being terminated. Read more in 14 East’s latest article from Lauren Sheperd and Sam Freeman.
Chicago Headlines
By Aidan Piñon
Thousands at follow-up protest in Daley Plaza — Thousands of protestors gathered Saturday at Daley Plaza for the second time in two weeks. Starting at West Washington and North Dearborn Streets, the group marched around the Loop before returning back to the plaza. The demonstration was part of the 50501 movement — which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” A follow-up to the more than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations held in all 50 states two weeks ago, organized by more than 150 individual groups, Saturday’s protest was slightly smaller than the “Hands Off!” demonstration. The crowd filled the plaza once again, forming a sea of anti-Donald Trump and anti-Elon Musk signs mixed between Palestinian, transgender, Ukrainian and upside-down American flags. Tarek Khaill, education coordinator with American Muslims for Palestine, was one of several speakers. He called for an arms embargo against Israel for its ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which has killed more than 51,000 people, and urged unity in the crowd over their shared struggles. “Right now we’re slipping into fascism and I don’t think that’s hyperbole,” said Cesar Roman, a 32-year-old South Loop resident who was at the protest. “Using bigotry and fear mongering to target minority groups is a hallmark of fascism. … [And this is] all one big melting pot country, so we need everyone to show up. No one can be on the sidelines, we need to be in the streets.” Violet Miller at the Chicago Sun-Times has more.
CTA Blue Line rider shot on Near West Side — A person was shot aboard a CTA Blue Line Sunday night near the Racine stop, according to Chicago police. The shooting happened on the train near the Racine stop in the 400 block of South Racine Avenue around 9:14 p.m. Chicago police said officers responded to a call of someone shot on the train and found a person with a gunshot wound to the upper right thigh. They were taken to Storger Hospital in good condition. Additional information about the victim was not released, nor have any other injuries been reported in the incident. Tayson Wilcon said he was on the CTA to pick up his car before the shooting happened. "It's just crazy, you can even ride a couple stops to go get your vehicle to those who use public transportation, you come into all encounters like this, it's just crazy," he said. As of Monday, no arrests were made. Jeramie Bizzle at CBS Chicago has more.
Mild temperatures with sporadic chances for rain and storms expected this week —Tomorrow, highs will be around 70 with mostly sunny skies and a chance for rain and afternoon storms. On Wednesday, the chance for rain is back with highs in the mid-70s, and possible afternoon storms. Thursday will be the warmest day of the week, with highs in the upper 70s. Rain chances will be back again on Friday with highs around 70. It will be cooler and dry this weekend. Highs will be in the upper 50s on Saturday with mostly sunny skies. Sunday will be in the low to mid-60s with partly sunny skies. Kaitlin Cody at Fox 32 Chicago has more.
National Headlines
By Cullen Berry
White House begins process of replacing Hegseth as defense secretary — In an exclusive report, NPR today shared information from an unnamed U.S. official that the White House is seeking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. This comes after The New York Times reported Sunday that Hegseth disclosed classified war plans in a second Signal chat which included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. President Donald Trump has so far publicly and privately stood behind Hegseth, saying that “he’s doing a great job.” Hegseth was previously under fire in the nomination process for allegations of alcohol issues, financial mismanagement and sexual assault. If removed, this would make Hegseth the shortest serving defense secretary since the position was established in 1947. The White House has so far denied that they are looking to replace Hegseth. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that NPR’s report was “total FAKE NEWS.” Tom Bowman and Quil Lawrence from NPR have more information here.
Stocks and dollar continue their fall as investors seek assets outside the U.S. — A sustained trade war with China and along with Trump threatening to fire Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, are the latest factors in a near-universal downward trend in financial markets. The president wants the Fed to lower interest rates to encourage investment, but Powell asserts this will induce inflation just as it has nearly slowed to the Fed’s goal of 2%. Trump warned in a Truth Social post this morning of a slowing of the U.S. economy unless “Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates.” Investors, usually in favor of lower rates, continued to pull back from U.S. markets, fearing firing Powell would mean the loss of the Fed’s independence. The dollar in particular has continued to weaken with a 9% drop since mid-January, its lowest level in three years. The U.S. dollar has been the world’s preferred reserve currency for the past 50 years, but investors are instead seeking out currencies elsewhere, like the Euro and Swiss franc, to hold their assets. Stan Choe from the Associated Press has more information here.
Four more Democratic lawmakers visit wrongly deported man in El Salvador — Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California are the latest members of congress to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison. Garcia, who has protected legal status, was deported to El Salvador on March 15 from his home in Maryland despite a 2019 court order forbidding his deportation. Last week, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland traveled to the country to meet with Garcia and unsuccessfully lobbied the Salvadoran government for his release. The White House has repeatedly insisted that they do not have the power to initiate Garcia’s release and suppressed initial federal statements admitting he was deported by mistake. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court’s ruling that the government must “facilitate” the man’s return, but stopped short of saying the government must “effectuate” it. Democratic lawmakers are hoping that these visits will keep the pressure on the government to return Garcia back to the U.S. Matt Brown and Marcos Aleman from the Associated Press have more here.
Mass shooter who targeted Hispanics in 2019 attack pleads guilty — Patrick Crusius, a 26-year-old from Allen, Texas, accepted a plea deal today in Texas state court to avoid the death penalty. Crusius was the perpetrator of a 2019 mass shooting in an El Paso Walmart that specifically targeted Hispanics, killing 23 people and injuring 22 others. He posted a manifesto on the imageboard 8chan directly before the attack in which he referenced the Great Replacement theory and the Christchurch mosque shootings that occurred earlier that year as inspirations. In 2023, Crusius pled guilty to 90 federal charges, including capital murder, attempted murder and committing a hate crime. He was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences. An additional 23 consecutive life sentences were added onto his sentence today in return for the El Paso District Attorney’s Office not seeking the death penalty. James Montoya, El Paso District Attorney, offered the deal at the behest of a majority of the families of those killed in the attack who sought an end to the years-long proceedings. Aaron Montes from NPR has more information here.
International Headlines
By Nandi Smith and Lauren Sheperd
Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, passes away at 88 — At 7:35 a.m., Pope Francis died after experiencing a stroke that put him in a coma and ultimately led to heart failure. Francis had also suffered from chronic lung disease and was hospitalized earlier this year in February for a respiratory crisis that led to pneumonia. Despite his uncertain health, Francis made his final public appearance to bless thousands of people on Easter Sunday in St. Peter's Square at the same loggia where he was introduced as the 266th pope in 2013. Pope Francis leaves behind a rich legacy of firsts. He was the first pope from the Jesuit order, the first to be born in the Americas, and the first pope of Latin American background, hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He will be remembered for his global outreach, inclusivity and stances on social issues. Seen as the pope to walk the church into the modern world, his compassion and unique approach will be missed. Nicole Winfield at AP has more.
Crisis in Sudan continues — The conflict between Sudan's two rival military powers has been ongoing since 2023, causing a civil war. Outbreaks of major attacks from both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have led to mass displacement as people try to escape violence. This crisis has also prompted food insecurity, mass hunger and raised the risk of famine. Civilians are also in deep need of health services, as disease outbreaks and an increasing number of mostly women and children require wound care. Humanitarian aid providers are distressed as they struggle to respond to the crisis. The United Nations is referring to the situation as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and the representative for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salam, is calling for “immediate and sustained access to these areas to ensure life-saving support can be delivered safely and at scale.” Aljazeera has more.
Russia resumes attacks on Ukraine, Ukrainian delegation heads to London — Following a 30-hour Easter ceasefire, Russia has resumed its attacks on Ukraine killing at least three people so far in the southern Kherson region. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian delegation is en route to London to continue talks with the United States, United Kingdom and France on finding a resolution to the war. Both sides have claimed that the other broke the ceasefire, while each side denies the claims. Russia also rejected a ceasefire offer made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and endorsed by the U.S. Department of State. As the Wednesday meeting in London approaches, Ukrainian officials continue to worry about President Donald Trump’s stance on the war. The Irish Times has more.
Carney ahead in Canadian polls as PM election approaches — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is ahead in the polls with just a week left before Canadians take to the ballot box on April 28. Carney, who took over as Liberal leader earlier this year following the stepping down of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has focused his campaign on fighting back against tariffs imposed by the U.S. and Trump. He also has taken a harsh stance on Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to annex Canada, saying “We need a government that has a plan that meets the moment.” At the beginning of the year, the Conservative opposition was ahead of the Liberals by 20 points, but now trail them. Currently, the Liberals hold 43.7% public support with the Conservatives at 36.3% public support. Promit Mukherjee of Reuters has more.
14 East Pueblo: Pilsen celebrates Via Crucis with calls for solidarity
By Annabelle Rivera
Pilsen’s annual Via Crucis, which reenacts Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, took place on April 18 for hundreds of people.
Actors depicted moments from The Last Supper, The Prayer in Gethsemane and Jesus Before Pontius Pilate on 18th and Halsted streets. They then walked to Harrison Park, where they reenacted Jesus being nailed to the cross, and then to St. Pius V Church to depict his body being placed in a tomb.
Hundreds of people gathered on the warm Friday morning to watch. Some carried signs with pictures of immigration agents at schools and churches. Written on the sign were the words “What would Jesus do?”
“The important message, if you look at the photos, is that Jesus would certainly stand on the side of the immigrant and do all that could be done to protect the immigrant,” Rev. Beth Brown, pastor at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, told Block Club Chicago.
Neighbors and business owners on 18th Street gathered outside to watch the procession. According to Brown, attending is a way to claim space, ritual and religion, all of which she says are under attack.
Via Crucis has taken place in Pilsen every year since 1977. In 2020 and 2021, the event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Ellie Shelton
When I initially began this week's rec — a great rundown of Showtime’s coveted thriller series, Yellowjackets (which I still have my heart set on getting every reader to watch) — I found myself pondering a different thriller series that sets the groundwork for television horror in groundbreaking ways: Netflix’s “Black Mirror.”
Known for their twist endings and reflections of the dark side of technology, “Black Mirror” will have your stomach turning, your tears falling and your faith in humanity dwindling. However, despite its many unsettling episodes, my fascination with the show never wanes. So, when I finally saw that the show’s seventh season was releasing this April, I was buzzing with excitement.
Earlier today, I had the pleasure of running into one of my favorite media ethics professors at DePaul while working on this rec and found that we both particularly loved the messaging and ideas behind Season 7, which dropped on April 10.
While I am certainly biased (I did spend the entire weekend Letterboxd-ing episode after episode), I have to say, this new season has taken it up a notch. The past few seasons have given us some of the most terrifying episodes of television I have ever watched — mostly due to their realistic technological advancements. Episodes like “National Anthem” and “White Bear” are particularly unsettling and often turn viewers like my dear roommate, who is terrified by most anything, away.
While this newest season stays steadfast in its original tech-horror roots, it tackles arguably the scariest thing of all: love and humanity. I found tears pouring down my face after both “Eulogy” and “Hotel Reverie” — two of my favorites from the recent season.
With not one but several episodes that question what lengths you would go for to save the one you love, I found myself absolutely floored by the emotion poured into the most recent season. Without supplying our readers too many spoilers, I can assure you that if you tend to shy away from the more disturbing episodes “Black Mirror,” this season may be an easier watch for you.
As the wonderful Nandi Smith said in her wonderful rec last week, I’ve given hours to the Netflix gods and will gleefully continue to give them away. If anyone is yearning for some heartbreak and beautiful anthology style television — give Season 7 a watch (and then a rewatch to catch the clever easter eggs).
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