The Loyola Phoenix

11/03/2022

Content warning: Sexual misconduct, assault, r**e, vulgar language

Marissa Sepulveda cried and physically shook while she sat in the back of Loyola University Chicago’s admissions office, where she worked to recruit new students, at the end of September 2021. In a report to the university, she wrote up the details of the night she said she was r**ed during her sophomore year in 2019.

She was living in a dorm on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus (LSC). It was a Saturday night and Sepulveda said she invited some friends from a club sports team over for a party, including a friend she had recently started casually dating. As the night progressed, Sepulveda said she became increasingly more intoxicated, causing her to dip in and out of consciousness.

The following morning she said she found herself unable to recall the majority of events that occurred the night before.

“I don’t really remember a ton of that night, but essentially, I do remember what happened, which was that I was r**ed by that guy,” Sepulveda told The Phoenix.

Now, three years later, Sepulveda, along with two other women — Madeline Kane and Catherine Ann Cappello — had recently filed a lawsuit against Loyola for allegedly mishandling their sexual assault cases.

The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs were either forced to attend their classes in hostile environments or abandon their education. Furthermore, the lawsuit said Loyola students are routinely injured due to the widespread nature of sexual assault around campus and the failures of the administration to protect its students.

Content warning: Sexual misconduct, assault, r**e, vulgar language  Marissa Sepulveda cried and physically shook while she sat in the back of Loyola

06/03/2022

Loyola alumnus John Schreiber and his wife Kathy are granting $100 million to the university to fund scholarships for historically underrepresented students, according to a university press release.

“Kathy and I felt called to help level the playing field for students who face far higher barriers to opportunities and to give these students access to an education at Loyola that provides limitless possibilities for their futures,” Schreiber said in the press release.

This is the first step in a plan to establish a $500 million portion of the university’s endowment to make these resources a permanent aspect of Loyola’s undergraduate programs.

It will go into effect in the fall semester of Loyola’s 2022-2023 academic year.

https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/06/the-schreibers-donate-largest-individual-gift-in-loyola-history/

Loyola alumnus John Schreiber and his wife Kathy are donating $100 million to the university to fund scholarships for historically underrepresented

04/21/2022

Life rings were added to Pratt Pier, just north of Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, after multiple people drowned in the same space over several years and local activists called attention to the issue.

An Illinois bill that requires life equipment to be available along the Lake Michigan coasts was passed by both houses of the state’s Congress after

04/17/2022

In an effort to aid Chicagoans struggling with high gas prices, the city has launched a program to provide $12.5 million in gas and public transit vouchers. The city has also announced it will be giving away 5,000 bicycles to residents and will be expanding bike lane coverage. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/04/city-to-give-away-5000-bikes-gas-and-cta-vouchers/

With Chicagoans struggling with soaring gas prices, the city and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have announced a program which will provide $7.5 million in pre-paid

04/15/2022

“I really have not slept for more than three hours a night [since] because I’m just staring at my floor,” said first-year Alison Backiel after she and her roommate spotted a mouse in their dorm room April 2.

A mouse was spotted in Campion Hall, once again. Joined by a familiar foe of the campus, mold, the dorm is facing a series of struggles as students head

04/14/2022

For the first time in more than a decade, Muslim students are experiencing the holy month of Ramadan on Loyola’s campus. Besides the last two hybrid spring semesters, this is the first time all Muslim students have experienced Ramadan on Loyola’s campus since 2011.

Students have to alter their schedules to accommodate their spiritual life, as Ramadan consists of fasting from sunrise to sunset.

Junior Nabhan Rafiq said receiving encouragement and motivation from his peers makes the month much easier.

“We all eat at the same time, a lot of us pray at night at the same time,” Rafiq said. “Typically you do that with family, but since we’re on campus, it’s like we’re doing it with our family on campus.”

The holy month of Ramadan has fallen in Loyola’s academic year for the first time in more than a decade, and Muslim students have relied on each other to

04/14/2022

Some seniors are trying to make quick cash selling their extra graduation tickets — some going for upwards of $150 — but Loyola’s cracking down.

Some graduating seniors are selling their extra commencement ceremony tickets online for hundreds of dollars despite receiving them for free.  One

04/11/2022

Loyola hosted a roundtable discussion featuring U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Denis McDonough, to address student veteran needs such as support, mental health care and housing.

U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Denis McDonough, visited Loyola March 30 to address student veteran concerns and needs, including employment, housing,

04/09/2022

In 1943, Steen Metz and his family were taken from their homes into Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in the Czech Republic. 76 years later, he spoke at Loyola about his experience at Theresienstadt. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/04/holocaust-survivor-steen-metz-speaks-at-loyola/

When he was only eight years old, Steen Metz from Odense, Denmark experienced an upheaval in his life that would impact him and his family for years to

04/09/2022

Visitors must show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or negative COVID-19 test result effective April 11. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/04/loyola-to-require-guests-to-show-proof-of-vaccination-or-negative-test-result-effective-april-11/

After requiring students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, Loyola recently announced that guests and visitors will soon be

04/08/2022

Loyola students were once again able to apply for Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) Funds made available through federal funding given to the university.

However, while the distribution of grants have benefitted students struggling to pay with both tuition costs and living expenses, an increase in the number of Loyola students applying for these grants has led to an overall decrease in the amounts distributed to each student.

“I'm getting less than half of what I received last time,” Chris Mattix, a first-year graduate student, said. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/04/loyola-students-receive-less-than-anticipated-heerf-grant-aid-for-the-spring-2022-semester/

On March 28, when Loyola students received notice of the amount of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) they had received, many students found

04/08/2022

The SGLC senate voted unanimously in favor of legislation calling upon Loyola to clear companies that profit off of war from the school’s investment portfolio. The move comes following recent anti-war demonstrations on campus. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/04/sglc-unanimously-passes-war-divestment-legislation/

The Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC) Senate passed legislation calling upon Loyola to alter their investment portfolio and divest from

04/07/2022

The Phoenix looks back at the figures that represented Loyola before the ‘blers. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/04/phoenix-101-context-behind-loyolas-athletic-team-nickname-mascot-school-colors-and-seal/

On March 28, when Loyola students received notice of the amount of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) they had received, many students found

04/05/2022

The union which represents Loyola Dining employees has released a report which found workers struggle to support themselves and their families with their current wage. Earning just $17,078 a year, over 60% of employees reported they cannot afford healthy food.

An April report conducted by UNITE HERE Local 1 — the union which represents Loyola Dining employees — found dining hall workers struggle to support

04/01/2022

Loyola replaced Mr. Pak's — the sushi restaurant in the Damen Food Court — with another vendor, Zen Sushi. A Loyola spokesperson told The Phoenix this change was in response to student requests to bring more variety to the food served in the food court.

Jung Pak, the owner of Mr. Pak’s, said he was surprised by the shift because his company served Loyola for nearly 20 years.

“Back on Feb. 9 the food service management wanted to have a conversation with me and the first thing they said was that they found a new sushi vendor,” Pak said. “My heart kind of dropped and I was speechless. I wasn't expecting it at all.” https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/i-was-speechless-mr-paks-closure-surprises-owner-and-students/

Loyola replaced the sushi restaurant in the Damen Food Court with another vendor after spring break, even though the owner of the restaurant, Jung Pak,

03/31/2022

Rogers Park dispensary Green Gate will possibly move to Sheridan Rd, about six blocks from Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus. During a community meeting on March 28, Alderwoman Maria Hadden ensured residents she will not approve the change until she has support from the community. Additionally, the parent company Verano needs to secure zoning approval and a new permit, as well as approval from the Lakefront Protection. Residents had mixed views about the dispensary, while some Loyola students supported the move. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/dispensary-looks-to-relocate-six-blocks-from-lake-shore-campus/

Green Gate, a recreational and medical dispensary operated by Verano, is looking to move from North Rogers Avenue to 6935 N. Sheridan Road — roughly six

03/31/2022

The Chicago Therapy Collective (CTC) — an Andersonville-based organization that supports LGBTQ+ residents — hosted a vigil in honor of Elise Malary March 20 outside of the Women and Children First bookstore in Andersonville.

Malary, who was found dead in Evanston three days prior, was a member of the organization as well as an administrative clerk for the Civil Right Bureau at the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

“We are grieving with you and will ensure the work and investment Elise made in the lives of Chicago’s trans communities will be carried forward,” Lindsey Doyle, a CTC psychologist, colleague and friend of Malary’s, said at the event.

Malary’s cause of death remains unknown as the investigation is ongoing, according to Evanston police.

Content Warning: Black and transgender death, discrimination. Loyola alum Mark Enenbach said he met Elise Malary ten years ago at an Equality Illinois

03/26/2022

What would you do to improve Devon Avenue? That’s exactly what Loyola and the Rogers Park Business Alliance want to find out as they seek to revamp the commercial corridor as part of the community-led Elevate Devon Corridor Plan.

The Elevate Devon Corridor Plan, which is already underway, is designed to improve the one-mile stretch of Devon Avenue between Sheridan Road and Ravenswood Avenue. This stretch runs near Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus (LSC) and marks the divide between the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods. Businesses along Devon near Loyola’s campus include Nori Sushi, Devon Market, Uncommon Ground and the Cozy Corner diner.

The project is being organized in tandem by Loyola, the Rogers Park Business Alliance and the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce. Organizers expect the plan to be complete by Fall 2022, according to the project’s website.

Jennifer Clark, the associate vice president of campus and community planning at Loyola, explained the surrounding community is vital to the university, which is why the university has involved itself in this project. She said Loyola is the largest property holder and employer in both Rogers Park and Edgewater.

The plan is asking for residents to complete a survey regarding what they would like to see on Devon. The website also includes an interactive map where users can pinpoint strong and weak areas of the corridor. Residents have already begun adding their ideas and suggestions to the interactive map. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/loyola-backed-elevate-devon-plan-seeks-to-enhance-the-devon-avenue-commercial-corridor/

Loyola and local business organizations are seeking to improve the business environment and pedestrian friendliness of Devon Avenue with the input of

03/25/2022

Graduation celebration events are planned not only for the class of 2022 but class of 2020 and 2021 too. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/graduation-festivities-return-for-class-of-2022-class-of-2020-and-2021-invited-to-celebration-weekend-in-may/

After a hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, graduation festivities are set to return for students completing their degrees in May — and the class of 2020

03/24/2022

A lack of evidence cleared the student Loyola senior Maddie Kane accused of sexual assault of responsibility following a university investigation. Months later, Kane said she was drugged and chose not to report the incident to Loyola because her first investigation was “draining” and “discouraging.” Though she alerted the fraternities that hosted the events where she said the incidents occurred — and one was investigated by its national chapter for “policy violations” — Loyola doesn’t require student leaders to report misconduct, raising questions about the university’s oversight of Greek Life.

Content Warning: sexual assault, drugsA Loyola senior who said she was assaulted at a fraternity party in February 2020 submitted photos, texts, receipts

03/24/2022

Many Ukrainian American students at Loyola have been troubled by the events unfolding within Ukraine as Russian forces have advanced on Kyiv and other cities across the country.

Four of these students have banded together to form a new student organization at Loyola known as the Ukrainian Solidarity Network (USN).

“We want to try to bring people in and get them involved,” Elizabeth Kryvokulsky said. “We want to teach them about refugee assistance and how to help with humanitarian aid.”
https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/ukrainian-solidarity-network-created-by-four-loyola-students/

Elizabeth Kryvokulsky gathered around the TV with her family in shock as they watched the news of Russia beginning to invade Ukraine.  “There was a

03/23/2022

A lack of evidence cleared the student Loyola senior Maddie Kane accused of sexual assault of responsibility following a university investigation. Months later, Kane said she was drugged and chose not to report the incident to Loyola because her first investigation was “draining” and “discouraging.” Though she alerted the fraternities that hosted the events where she said the incidents occurred — and one was investigated by its national chapter for “policy violations” — Loyola doesn’t require student leaders to report misconduct, raising questions about the university’s oversight of Greek Life. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/it-just-wasnt-enough-a-lack-of-evidence-cleared-the-student-she-accused-of-sexual-assault-when-she-said-she-was-drugged-months-later-she-was-too-discouraged-to-report-it/

Content Warning: sexual assault, drugsA Loyola senior who said she was assaulted at a fraternity party in February 2020 submitted photos, texts, receipts

03/22/2022

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) stands as a testament to the importance of art and unity during trying times for the Ukrainian community.

UIMA was created as an outlet for artists in 1971, a time when the Soviet Union had begun to censor creative expression in Ukraine. Institute curator Adrienne Kochman said the Ukrainian community feels helpless and frustrated as their family and friends struggle elsewhere.

“Given the war in Ukraine and this threat of dictatorship again, what’s really relevant is that that was the kind of environment that this institution was founded upon,” Kochman said.

The Institute’s permanent collection of art consists of 1,200 pieces — 75% completed by Ukrainian artists, with the remaining being Chicago-based. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/ukrainian-institute-of-modern-art-brings-the-community-together-amid-war/

Founded as an artistic outlet during trying times, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) stands as a home for creativity and hope for the people of

03/20/2022

As gas prices in the Chicagoland area continue to rise, some commuter students said they worry about being able to afford gas to access campus.

Sania Sania, a first-year studying biology, said the amount of money she spends on gas has increased dramatically since.

She told The Phoenix she usually spends anywhere from $50 to $60 each time she stops at the gas station. However, over the past two weeks, Sania said she spent nearly $86 per week on gas. Sania explained that she must use premium gas for her car, so she must pay a steeper cost.

Some students such as Olivia Murad, a first-year studying chemistry, have chosen to look away while filling up her tank in hopes to lighten the pain from spending money on gas.

“The next time I fill up my tank will be pretty heart-breaking,” Murad said.

Demand for gas is increasing as people begin to return to normalcy as Covid-19 cases decrease; however, supply is not readily keeping up, leading to heartbreak of commuter students as their wallets diminish in an effort to attend class.

Zakira Langia, a Commuter Ambassador for Loyola, urges students to participate in carpooling and to utilize their U-Pass given to them from Loyola.
https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/pain-at-the-pump-loyola-commuter-students-voice-their-concerns-about-rising-gas-prices/

Loyola’s Main Parking Garage fills up as commuter students flood in each day to attend class at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus (LSC). At the same time, as the

03/18/2022

“Oh I am going to go to Pittsburgh that’s for sure… I am just so excited to go that I just hope we stay there through the whole thing, that would be wonderful. I know our team will do their very best, they always do their very best.”

Sister Jean gives her prediction for how far Loyola can go in March Madness while giving her opinion on this year’s team and how special it is for her. The team chaplain and Chicago icon will also be traveling to Pittsburgh with the Ramblers to support and pray for them.

03/17/2022

“Every team when you’re in the NCAA tournament (has) to field either champions in their respective conferences or they’re top in their conference,” redshirt junior guard Braden Norris said. “All 68 teams can win games in the tournament so we’ve gotta prepare the same each day.”

Loyola is set to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the first round of the NCAA tournament and will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in only their fifth matchup ever.
https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/march-madness-round-1-preview-the-ohio-state-buckeyes/

03/16/2022

Loyola 2012 graduates Sean Connolly and Caitlin Botsios are guiding high school students to take charge of their education and develop career skills through their non-profit, Helix Education. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/loyola-alumni-close-helix-cafe-rebrand-their-non-profit-with-students-help/

03/09/2022

The Office of Sustainability launches a new branch of their Cycle and Recycle center that aims to reduce the amount of disposable masks found in landfills. Students can bring their non-woven disposable plastic-based masks, 3-ply surgical masks, KN95’s and N95 masks to the drop-off location inside the main parking structure at Loyola’s LakeShore Campus.

This program is established as the result of the ongoing landfill crisis in the United States and hopes to reduce waste by utilizing TerraCycle to reuse and upcycle the components found inside disposable masks.

Hannah Yun, proposer of the initiative explained, “In 2020 alone, 52 billion disposable face masks were produced, and as we continue to see the usage of face masks in 2022, the amount of disposable face masks that have been mass-produced and used throughout the Covid-19 pandemic is staggering.”

The Office of Sustainability encourages the Loyola community to participate in recycling their worn-disposable masks. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/loyolas-office-of-environmental-sustainability-establishes-disposable-mask-terracycling-program/

Loyola has partnered with a waste-management company to provide a way for students and staff to recycle used disposable masks.  The Cycle and Recycle

03/08/2022

As winter storms occur in Chicago, the years old tradition of placing household objects as parking dibs on public streets has continued.

However, Loyola students who reside in Rogers Park have mixed feelings about whether or not parking dibs should be allowed.

“If a large amount of snow has accumulated around your vehicle it takes you a lot of time to dig it out, not just five minutes,” said Ben Jester, a junior at Loyola. “But if the weather has been fine for several days and you don’t need the space for any other reason besides its convenient location, then I don’t think that warrants it.” https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/city-of-chicago-announces-decision-to-remove-parking-dibs-on-streets/

Parking dibs, like deep-dish pizza, are one of the things that Chicagoans take seriously. Michael Greco, a Loyola alum who lives in Rogers Park, learned

03/07/2022

Local Black business owners and Chicago students were the center of this year's annual Black History Celebration. The event was held Feb. 27, featuring entrepreneurs Betty McDaniels, Terry Gant, Natasha King and Chanelle Bell, and performances that celebrated Black art and history. https://loyolaphoenix.com/2022/03/rogers-park-holds-20th-annual-black-history-celebration/

The Loyola Park Field House gymnasium was transformed Feb. 27 into a space that celebrated Black history, art and entrepreneurs.  The walls were