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Y'all wanna know why DePaul University won't cut ties with CPD? It's not because of their "vincentian values." The members of their Board of Trustees have political and financial ties to the city that they're not willing to sacrifice.
Let me explain more below.
Let me explain more below.
On DePaul's website you can find a list of the board. These board members are some of DePaul's biggest donors and they make the big financial decisions.
Members include CEOs, Presidents, and Managing Directors. They each have a bio on their website. https://offices.depaul.edu/secretary/board-of-trustees/Pages/list-of-trustees.aspx
Members include CEOs, Presidents, and Managing Directors. They each have a bio on their website. https://offices.depaul.edu/secretary/board-of-trustees/Pages/list-of-trustees.aspx
For example, Mary Dempsey is a member of the Board. She's president of DePaul College Prep—A high school with close ties to DePaul.
Dempsey is also one of Lori Lightfoot's bffs. She donated 50k to Lori's mayoral campaign in 2018 making her Lori's largest campaign donor.
Dempsey is also one of Lori Lightfoot's bffs. She donated 50k to Lori's mayoral campaign in 2018 making her Lori's largest campaign donor.
There's also Jim Ryan. The chair of the Board.
In his bio, it says he's the managing director of Fresh Powder, LLC. When you google it, you find that it's actually a branch of Berkshire Hathaway—one of the biggest multinational holding companies and conglomerates in the world.
In his bio, it says he's the managing director of Fresh Powder, LLC. When you google it, you find that it's actually a branch of Berkshire Hathaway—one of the biggest multinational holding companies and conglomerates in the world.
Berkshire Hathaway is owned by the fourth-richest person in the world, Warren Buffet. He actually did a Q&A with DePaul students from the Business School a couple years ago.
But why does this matter, right?
Well...
But why does this matter, right?
Well...
Take this with a grain of salt.
A few weeks ago there were reports of "bricks" randomly appearing at different protests presumably for the use of looting. I remember following those reports and trying to figure out who delivered these bricks.
A few weeks ago there were reports of "bricks" randomly appearing at different protests presumably for the use of looting. I remember following those reports and trying to figure out who delivered these bricks.
Pictures were circulating and people were saying that these bricks were being delivered by Acme Bricks.
Acme Bricks is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
None of this has been confirmed so please don't run with this information but as always, follow the money.
Acme Bricks is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
None of this has been confirmed so please don't run with this information but as always, follow the money.
Why would a company as large as Berkshire Hathaway be interested in delivering bricks to protests?
I don't think it's related at all to the fact that they own a variety of manufacturing companies that are probably making $$ right now re-building stores that have been looted.
I don't think it's related at all to the fact that they own a variety of manufacturing companies that are probably making $$ right now re-building stores that have been looted.
Once again, please don't quote me. I'm just following the money.
Isn't it weird to y'all that DePaul's Board of Trustees have these political and financial stakes that are in obvious conflict with our demands for them to cut ties with CPD?
Isn't it weird to y'all that DePaul's Board of Trustees have these political and financial stakes that are in obvious conflict with our demands for them to cut ties with CPD?
There are also other members of the Board that are kind of sketchy like Gerald Beeson. He's the COO of Citadel—one of the biggest multinational hedge funds based in Chicago. It's owned by Ken Griffin, the richest man in Illinois.
Google him. He's kind of a mess.
Google him. He's kind of a mess.
Most of his financial contributions have gone towards politicians like Bruce Rauner (yikes), Rod Blagojevich (yikes again), the Daley family (yikes^3), and Rahm Emanuel (*sigh*).
Once again, I wouldn't be surprised if our demands were in direct conflict with their interests.
Once again, I wouldn't be surprised if our demands were in direct conflict with their interests.
I could go on for hours, tbh. The information is on their website and I'm sure there are many of us here who could do some investigative reporting.
The point is that DePaul's decisions aren't necessarily made by the administration. They're made by the Board of Trustees.
The point is that DePaul's decisions aren't necessarily made by the administration. They're made by the Board of Trustees.
The members of the Board have political and financial interests that guide DePaul on how to spend their money and make decisions. They are the ones we should be demanding answers from.
