THE T RCH SEPTEMBER 2025 Sep. 6th: No Trump, No Troops By: Audrey Freitas / Staff Writer Tension between President Donald Trump and Chicago leaders reached a boiling point over Labor Day weekend, as 13 Democratic members of Congress from Illinois issued a statement condemning Trump’s plan to send the military into Chicago. “Abuses of government and military power to target and punish dissent are the tools of authoritarians,” the lawmakers wrote. “We demand you suspend any plans for the deployment of military personnel to Chicago and cease your unlawful power grabs and Executive Branch overreach.” Additionally, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Aug. 30th, aimed at limiting the role of federal agents and military personnel in the city. “This order affirms that the Chicago Police Department will not collaborate with military personnel on police patrols or civil immigration enforcement. We will not have our police officers, who are working hard every single day to drive down crime, deputized to do traffic stops and checkpoints for the president,” Johnson said at the conference, addressing the order. Exactly a week after Johnson’s executive order, President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself on Truth Social, standing before a fiery Chicago skyline with helicopters overhead and the phrase “Chipocalypse Now.” The post, captioned, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning… Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” showed a striking resemblance to posters from Francis Coppola’s 1979 film Apocalypse Now. That film depicts the Vietnam War and explores moral decay, blurred line between authority and madness and trauma of soldiers. In the film, one of the generals wages war as an escape, indulging in destruction without regard for civilian casualties. Trump’s post has been seen as a metaphor glorifying military power. The post appeared one day after Trump issued an executive order authorizing the Department of Defense to adopt the secondary title of Department of War. While this order does not change the congressional approval needed to formally rename the department, it allows for a rebrand for official correspondence and public relations. Trump said the order was meant to send a “message of victory” and steer our government away from past attempts at being too “woke,” and it was supported by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In response to Trump’s comments about the idea of deploying federal troops, Chicagoans mobilized in public outrage, organizing the first ‘No Trump, No Troops’ protest, to coincide with the expected arrival of federal forces. In a social media post two days before the protest, the Coalition Against the Trump Agenda and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights issued the following call to action: “In response to Trump's threats to send federal troops into Chicago despite no Continued on Page 3 requests from local or state
Edition 1 Table of Contents EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-In-Chief Avery Causley-Ingram Managing Editor Madeline LaFrombois Arts & Culture Editor José Hernandez Sep. 6th: No Trump, No Troops By: Audrey Freitas RU Dining: Declining Balance is Back By: Michael Marini Fashion Recap: Yooh Ahn on Fashion, Career and Life By: José Daniel Hernández Sports Editor Liora Zeqiri Parasocial Relationships Today: A Funny Bit or a Genuine Issue? CREATIVE TEAM The 2025 Chicago Cubs Regular Season Breakdown Digital Content Editor Linnea McBride Graphic Design Editors Isabel Garay-Raffaelli Priscila Gonzalez TORCH WRITERS Aline Rios Audrey Freitas Derri Crenshaw Jack Young Jr Michael Marini Ruby Williamson Advisor David Weissman o1 02 04 06 By: Amanda Cruz 08 By: Liora Zeqiri The Ben Johnson Era Begins with Promise and Pain 09 Fall Fashion: Tips to Stay Stylish in Chilly Weather 10 12 14 16 By: Aline Rios By: Derri Crenshaw The “Tayvis” Timeline By: Linnea McBride From Social Status to Social Media: The Evolution of Fashion Influence By: Madeline LaFrombois Student Event Spotlight / Word Search STAY UPDATED STAY UPDATED WITH THE TORCH! WITH THE TORCH! RU Dining: Declining Balance is Back By: Michael Marini / Staff Writer This semester, Roosevelt University reintroduced the declining balance dining system, which replaces the swipe system many students were familiar with. DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this paper do not reflect upon the paper, staff, or Roosevelt University. For any questions, comments, or concerns, please DM us through our Instagram, which is consistently monitored by Digital Content Editors. Previous System: It provided 14 meal swipes per week, and an additional $750 flex dollars to be used on campus at places like the C-store for $2282.50 per semester. Each swipe gave students 45 minutes of all-you-care-to-eat access to the cafeteria New System: Under the new declining balance plan, every food item has an individual price that is deducted from a student’s balance at checkout. The cost of the plan ($2,250–$2,650 per semester) determines each student’s starting balance and their average daily budget, which ranges from about $20.27 to $23.87 per day for the semester. Dining Services Response: At the Sept. 3 Student Government Association Town Hall, Food Service Director Bill Reich said that reducing food waste was a major reason for the change. Data showed that students on the old plan were eating about nine of their 14 meals per week, meaning five meals went uneaten. Some students have voiced concerns about budgeting stress, potentially running out of funds mid-semester, and not meeting their nutritional needs. This is an ongoing story. Read more updates on our website.
leaders, the Coalition Against the Trump Agenda (CATA) and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) are calling all of Chicago to take a stand in mass demonstration in opposition to any increase in federal troops or militarized forces.” is a great city. We’re doing perfectly fine. We love our neighbors. We don’t need ICE taking them away.” The protesters also voiced frustration that local police might be used to support federal enforcement instead of protecting the communities they serve. At 5 p.m., a large crowd began to gather at the corner of “We’d love to see Illinois troops here protecting Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue, starting what people, not protecting the feds. The idea of the Texas became a powerful and peaceful act of resistance. The National Guard coming into demonstration opened with Illinois? That's a borderline speeches from organizers and civil war.” “It’s unconstitutional. It’s community leaders, setting the deeply communal tone immoral. They’re here to Amongst the groups for the march. From there, protesting was the Chicago the crowd marched through take everyday people. People Democratic Socialists of parts of the Loop, most America. I spoke to one of notably making a stop across in our neighborhoods, in our their co-chairs, Lyra, during the river, in front of the Trump the march. Tower. The moment was a bakeries, people who care for “We came out because symbolic act of defiance as we feel it’s really important our children. This is about hundreds of protestors were to show a united front in standing their ground directly ripping families apart.” the fight against fascism,” underneath the glass facade she said. “Trump’s attack bearing Trump's name, many on our city is, first of all, holding signs or chanting. Chicago police maintained a distraction from his own failures, but it’s also an a heavy but non-confrontational presence, directing assault on all of our individual rights. As socialists, traffic and monitoring the event but not engaging with we believe it's essential to stand together with our demonstrators. working-class allies, and as working-class people ourselves, to push these people out of our city.” Among the protestors were not just organizers and activists, but also everyday Chicagoans, moved They emphasized the importance of grassroots by frustration and concern. One woman attending resistance in the face of federal threats. alone, said she was scared of the National Guard “We might not have power at the federal level, but and Immigration and Customs Enforcement we have power in the streets. When working-class (ICE) presence. people band together, shoulder to shoulder, we can “They’re not here to keep us safe,” she said. “They’re defeat anyone, even the most powerful government here to terrorize us. It’s going to decrease trust on earth.” and just make everybody terrified, which I’m sure When asked what they hoped the protest would is their goal.” accomplish, Lyra answered, “We want to make it She called the federal plan unconstitutional and hoped absolutely clear that fascists and ICE are not welcome city and state leaders such as Gov. J.B. Pritzker and here. If they try to occupy our city, we’re going to give Johnson will continue to speak out and empower them a **** hard time.” residents to make their voices heard. They called for a more aggressive and present “I’m tired,” she added before returning to the crowd. approach by city and state officials in protests like this. Nearby, a small group of friends stood close together, watching as the march advanced. Though not part of an organization, they showed up as a unit. “There are a lot of reasons to be out here,” one of them said, “but this one specifically was about the potential deployment of the National Guard to Chicago. That alone is an atrocity.” Their message to the federal government was direct: “Stay the hell out of where you’re not wanted. Chicago While Trump’s executive orders and social media posts are designed to rally his supporters, the backlash in Chicago reveals a city unwilling to be used as pawns in political theater. As legal challenges begin to appear and city officials prepare for potential federal escalation, Chicago residents have made one thing clear: If troops come, they won’t be welcomed, and they will be resisted. If you suspect ICE in your neighborhood or a loved one has been taken by ICE, you can call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights directly at (855)435-7693. “We need to be seeing alderpeople, we need to be seeing Pritzker, we need to be seeing our mayor. Everyone should be in these streets of Chicago protesting. And they need to be here standing shoulder to shoulder with us,” she said. “It’s unconstitutional. It’s immoral. They’re here to take everyday people. People in our neighborhoods, in our bakeries, people who care for our children. This is about ripping families apart.” Sep. 6th from Page 1
Fashion Recap: Yooh Ahn on Fashion, Career and Life Continued on Page 5 By: Jose Hernandez / Arts and Culture Editor On Thursday, Sept. 12th, the Notre store was filled with many of Chicago’s fashion enthusiasts, all there for the annual Notre Talk. Notre is a luxury fashion boutique that carries a variety of luxury fashion brands in-store. These annual Notre talks bring fashion designers to the store to have a talk about their company, their latest venture, and to answer any questions the audience might have. For this year, Notre partnered with UGG and brought designer Yooh Ahn to speak about the UGG x AMBUSH shoe collaboration that had just launched. Yooh Ahn, the owner of AMBUSH, a Japanese-based luxury streetwear brand, caters to both men and women. Its aesthetic can be described as standout classics; with garments like a women’s heart-cutout white t-shirt, or a men’s crocodile leather baseball shirt. While UGG is a well-known American fashion brand, which is famously known for its shearling boots or slippers. The event was lively from the start, with a line forming at 5 p.m. as seats were limited, but the space had plenty of standing room. Being a fashion talk, everyone had great outfits and had their own individuality shown. When the doors opened it was a swift process with just stating your name and seeing if you were on the list. The event had free drinks (which is always a plus in my book), both alcoholic and non. The boutique sells a lot of its display pieces so everything is curated to give off a very cool vibe. While the talk was supposed to begin at 6 p.m., per the event listing, it did not commence until 7:00 p.m.; when Ahn walked in from the front door, drink in hand, recording the audience (talk about fashionably late). She spoke on her background and rise in the industry, the recent collaboration she had with UGG, as well as took questions from the audience. She mentioned how growing up, she really liked magazines and that is what inspired her to get into graphic design and getting a degree from Boston University. She never intended to do fashion, but her knowledge of design paired with the fun she had; a brand was created. She said that the best part of having your own brand is the freedom, “These are my ideas, let me execute them,” letting her dreams and passions guide her creative direction.
Fashion Recap from Page 5 On collaborating with brands she states, “For collaborating, I want to stay true to myself and the brand I’m working with. I pull ideas that I have that I think can mesh with the brand I’m working with. Mixing the ideas that I have with what the collaborators want.” She continues and adds, “You cannot be mad when the collaborators say no to an idea. At the end of the day it is a collaboration and if you really want something do it for your own brand.” When speaking upon the UGG x AMBUSH shoe collaboration she says, “They are comfortable and fun.” There are five shoes in the collaboration with 3 for men and 2 for women. The chukka boots for men are classic silhouettes with the fur added and the weaved texture giving them a contemporary take. The furboots for women have more fur on the silhouette making them not only contemporary but very useful for the upcoming cold weather, mixing fashion with utilitarianism. The audience also had time to ask a variety of questions: When asked about taking a break while in fashion she stated, “I sometimes feel guilty being an immigrant Child. But it is needed. Fashion is a shithole now. The industry wants us to output so much in so little time. Just constant collection after collection… I took a month off in the summer and checked myself in a wellness center to really recover and take care of my body and meditate. You don’t need that extreme. What I do now, I stop. I go to sleep and give myself time to think about whatever is taking up my mind. Don’t push yourself.” Fashion enthusiast and my friend Michelle asked, “As a woman not only in fashion but in a position of power, how do you navigate your career in our society?” Ahn replied, “It was hard in the beginning. It’s a sausage fest. But it is different working with men and women. I had to adopt more. I saw that in order to prove myself, I had to prove myself through my work. To get their respect and then get to do what I want. She adds, “Society is going to continue, We are a product of society and how women get judged. To this day, I get judged by my older peers and get questioned. My looks also get me judged. I am well groomed, but that is because that is how I interpret self respect and I take it seriously. It will continue: society will judge you but you have to be true to yourself.” I believe that Notre talk featuring Yooh Ahn’s talk was amazing because of how real she was. She did not try to sugar coat things. She was authentic and raw, really bringing in the audience to her experiences both personal and professional. The environment was buzzing both before and after as she also stuck around to take pictures with everybody. In all, this event was amazing, I was able to socialize, learn and discuss with a fashion designer. Did I mention it was free? You have to love living in Chicago.
Parasocial Rel Today: A Fun a Genuine By: Amanda Cruz /
Parasocial relationships have a wide range: From having multiple posters of your favorite actor on your wall to crying over an artist getting married. Many of us may be in a parasocial relationship without even realizing it. In today’s time, technology and online communication are the new normal. Not a day goes by that we aren’t using the internet, it’s only natural that so many of us fall victim to parasocial relationships. But what even is a parasocial relationship? Psychologist Adam Borland defines parasocial relationships as, “one-sided relations or bonds with people you don’t know.” While many of the examples used here are with celebrities, these relationships can range all the way to fictional characters - think of characters in a book, villains in a video game, or even sidekicks in cartoons. Although the term “parasocial” was coined by Donald Horton and sociologist R. Richard Wohl back in 1956, the popularity of the word has rapidly increased with the rise in social media usage. When a celebrity posts an image with a sad, meaningful caption, it almost feels as if they’re confiding in you. Despite that post being seen by millions of their followers, the post can invoke a sense of closeness because of the vulnerability displayed. It’s not limited to only images - livestreams, vlogs, Twitter posts can be included. While all of these things can be harmless, they can start to make us feel more attached to these celebrities in a more intimate way. If you’ve been on any form of social media within the past two months, you know that Taylor Swift recently got engaged, and fans are ecstatic. There are hundreds of posts from her fans being hysterical about it. Although Taylor doesn’t know a single one of these people personally, she had countless different people crying and canceling their life events over her as if they were her best friend. It’s only natural that we grow an emotional attachment to things (or people) that we like, but it can become unhealthy when it starts to overshadow real life. Parasocial relationships aren’t exclusive to Western celebrities. Another strong example of parasocial relationships in today’s time is K-pop and the global fanbase that has grown around it. Many of these K-pop idols do the exact same thing as Western celebrities, but they add a whole new, seemingly personal layer to it. On top of the regular social media posts, many idols text on these paid apps (Bubble, Weverse, Mnet Plus Chat) that are structured to make it seem like they’re actually texting you. These apps cost about 3-13 dollars a month, and are set up in a way where you can “text” your idol, and they message you back. Although the chance of them actually reading your message is very slim,K-pop companies are strategic with parasocial relationships - they created multiple paid services that can make these famous idols seem more like your friends lationships nny Bit or e Issue? / Staff Writer than a celebrity. On the other hand, it’s important to note that parasocial relationships aren’t all bad. For many people, including me, it can be genuinely helpful. When a celebrity speaks up about their experiences with mental health, it may make someone who’s currently struggling feel comforted. lonely teenager may feel more seen by watching a YouTuber who’s “just like them.” In the end, parasocial bonds are still bonds. They can provide motivation, inspiration, or simply give you an interest to look forward to. During the pandemic, for example, many of us found ourselves latching onto fictional characters or online content creators just to feel something. Parasocial relationships aren’t inherently negative; it’s just about keeping things balanced. So, are parasocial relationships a genuine issue or just a funny internet bit? In reality, it can be both. While having a parasocial relationship can be nothing but an interest, maybe even giving people comfort or a sense of community, they can also take over our lives and distort our perception of reality. “In the end, parasocial bonds are still bonds. They can provide motivation, inspiration, or simply give you an interest to look forward to.”
The 2025 Chicago Cubs Regular Season Breakdown By: Liora Zeqiri / Sports Editor As the 2025 Major League Baseball regular season comes to a close, the Chicago Cubs have established themselves as legitimate contenders in the National League Central. The Cubs entered this season attempting to bridge the gap between rebuilding and contending, and they delivered one of their most competitive and exciting seasons in recent memory because of several key factors. Powerful Roster This season saw the emergence of several key players, including Pete Crow-Armstrong. Known for his defensive skills in center field and has also become a major offensive weapon, exceeding expectations with his power and speed. Nico Hoerner is another developing young player known as a top-tier defender and has one of the lowest strikeout rates in baseball. The veteran first baseman, Carlos Santana, also brought big moments to the Cubs; helping stabilize the offense, especially during close matchups. Santana, along with Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ, provided much-needed leadership to the rest of the team. Strong Start The Cubs came out of the gates with high energy, which set the tone for the rest of the year. Despite opening the season overseas with a loss to the Dodgers in Tokyo, they quickly found their rhythm and started stacking up wins. The first few months were remembered by consistency and clutch performances that had been missing in previous seasons for the Cubs. Talented Pitching Staff Pitching was a major factor in the team’s success this year. The starting rotation, led by Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, gave the Cubs a good opportunity at winning nearly every game. The staff was notably consistent, keeping games close and letting the offense emerge. Pivotal Moments and Turning Points Throughout the season, the Cubs found themselves in the middle of multiple critical series, especially within the division. Wins against the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals helped define the season’s narrative. The most impressive part of their season, however, was their ability to bounce back after tough losses. Whether it was a blowout or a close game, the team always responded with maturity and belief in themselves. Looking Ahead With the 2025 regular season in the books, one thing is clear: the Chicago Cubs are back in the conversation. Cubs fan and Roosevelt student, Carlos Delgado, said, “This team is not only one of the best in baseball, but young and exciting with plenty of room for improvement.” Regardless of how the postseason works out, this season was a major step in the right direction. The young talent is emerging, the veterans are contributing and the fan base is re-energized.
The Ben Johnson Era Begins with Promise and Pain By: Aline Rios / Staff Writer On Jan. 26, 1986, the Chicago Bears won their only Super Bowl. While the Bears have some of the most loyal fans in the National Football League, sticking through decades of struggle, how much longer can they really hold on? Could their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams, and No. 3-ranked offensive playcaller, Ben Johnson, as their new head coach, be the solution to their playoff and Super Bowl appearance drought? Can Ben Johnson’s coaching ignite the streets of Chicago in a way not seen since 2007? A winning season and a playoff appearance would be a moment of redemption, pride and hope for the entire city. Monday, Sep. 8’s showdown between the Bears and their NFC rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, came with immense anticipation for Bears fans; the city was hopeful for the debut of Williams and Johnson as a quarterback and coach duo. The Bears had a strong start, with Williams leading a flawless opening drive– completing his first 10 passes for 86 yards and finishing with the team’s first opening touchdown drive since 2024. The Bears’ rush defense held solid during the home opener, limiting the Vikings to only 120 rushing yards. A defensive pick-six in the third quarter by NaShon Wright turned the momentum and lit up the atmosphere at Soldier Field. However, it seems like Bears fans can’t catch a break, as the strong early defensive start faded late in the game. The defense shifted to a more passive approach in the fourth quarter and couldn’t stop the Vikings when it mattered most. With a 17-6 lead and a 94.2% win probability, Bears fans were hit with a familiar feeling of disappointment and anger as the team allowed 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Johnson’s debut reveals hope and belief in the process, but fans need to proceed with caution given past disappointments. Although there were some encouraging signs in the season opener, only time will tell if he’s able to turn promise into consistency, especially in high pressure moments like those the team encountered during the first game. This season’s success will be determined by whether the team tightens those loose ends and sustains momentum from kickoff through the final whistle. This loss hurt, but there were promising moments of a team finally building something worth believing in. If the Bears learn to stay consistent, this could be the start of a new era in Chicago.
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