The Daily Northwestern — February 18, 2021 by The Daily Northwestern

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Rue Simmons talks national reparations City’s reparations can act as model, Rue Simmons says By ALEX HARRISON

the daily northwestern @alexhairysun

Illustration by Jacob Fulton

Garrett Gilmer, the new executive director of CAPS. Gilmer hopes to improve access to mental health services through open dialogue and a social justice framework during his time at NU.

Gilmer assumes new role at CAPS Garrett Gilmer, new executive director, to prioritize inclusion By EVAN ROBINSON-JOHNSON

daily senior staffer @sightsonwheels

Northwestern Counseling and Psychological Services has a new executive director, Garrett Gilmer, who said he plans to emphasize inclusion and accessibility in his role. Suppor t star ts w ith

listening and trying to form a partnership with students, Gilmer said. He acknowledged that trust is a process and is especially challenging in a remote environment. “His student-centered approach, along with his aim to ensure an equitable experience for all, aligns with the core values of (AccessibleNU) and (Dean of

Students Office) and we are absolutely thrilled to begin this new partnership,” Associate Dean of Students and Director of AccessibleNU Jill Sieben-Schneider wrote in an email to The Daily. Gilmer comes to NU directly from Bowling Green State University, where he worked as director of the counseling center.

Gilmer started the position two weeks ago, as students and faculty were hearing about alleged sexual harassment and racial discrimination in the NU cheer program. Gilmer said CAPS staff members were made aware of the news and prepared to meet with students accordingly.

» See GILMER, page 6

Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th) spoke at a national reparations forum Wednesday to share details on Evanston’s reparations efforts, which will act as a model for other municipalities. The forum was hosted by the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) and the National Black Cultural Information Trust (NBCIT). It occurred just hours after a House Judiciary subcommittee reviewed H.R. 40, a bill that would establish a commission to study and develop policy for reparations at the federal level. H.R. 40 has been introduced in every congressional session since 1989, but has never been passed. Rue Simmons, the chair of Evanston’s reparations subcommittee, said the city’s efforts, which center around housing and economic justice, stemmed from a focus on local history and injustices. The first facet of Evanston’s reparations initiative is a homeownership assistance program with $400,000 budgeted to assist descendants of Evanston residents who faced housing discrimination due to city rules between 1919 and 1969. “We decided to advance

reparative justice in the form of reparations for Blacks in Evanston, and not wait on H.R. 40,” Rue Simmons said. “We did it appropriately and in line with the injury that is documented and able to be defended in our city. And that’s largely found in the area of housing, zoning and other wealth-stripping actions.” The forum was moderated by Matsimela Mapfumo, also known as Rev. Mark Thompson, a longtime activist and host of the daily podcast Make It Plain. Offering questions on both H.R. 40 and reparations in general, Mapfumo challenged critics of H.R. 40, and pointed to Evanston’s efforts as an example of more direct reparative work. “If you don’t agree with H.R. 40, or you’re not happy with it… We can say, ‘let’s do a commission and see what forms reparations can take,’” Mapfumo said. “In the meantime, (you) could be doing something in (your) own locale, as what has happened in Evanston.” Rue Simmons said the success of grassroots organizing in Evanston is indicative of the strategy’s viability in cities nationwide. She specifically referenced Amherst, Mass., which recently voted unanimously to commit to a reparations program of its own. “The model has been introduced in Evanston, and many other cities now, including Amherst,” Rue Simmons said. “Just start the work. Reach out to your elected, and your elected

» See RUE SIMMONS, page 6

Medical professionals address Black wellness, resiliency

At a Second Baptist Church webinar, Black medical professionals highlight building Black community By JORJA SIEMONS

the daily northwestern @jorjasiemons

AMITA Health gynecologist Riley Lloyd emphasized the importance of building Black community amid the pandemic Monday night.

“ W hat helps our community is when we’re better neighbors,” Lloyd said. “We tend to run away from (mental health)…we’re going to have to reach out more and face those demons and bring people in.” Lloyd was joined by four local Black medical

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professionals at the “Bridging the Gaps: Black Health and the COVID-19 Vaccine” event, hosted by Evanston’s Second Baptist Church (SBC) and AMITA Saint Francis Hospital Evanston. SBC senior pastor Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors and Kenneth Jones, Saint Francis Hospital’s

chief executive officer moderated a conversation about the state of COVID-19 and the role of the vaccine. Richard Phillips, regional medical director of Illinois Emergency Medicine Specialists and medical director for AMITA Health’s emergency department, stressed how sick

the virus makes people. He recalled his first COVID-19 patient — a 20-year-old Black man — was in the hospital for five weeks even though he had been relatively healthy prior to his diagnosis. “If all 100 people on this webinar were to get COVID-19, about 20 require

hospitalization, which is significant,” Phillips said. While COVID-19’s effects differ from patient to patient, he told viewers it is “not just like the flu,” and can produce substantial health consequences.

» See TRUST, page 6

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INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | A&E 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

AROUND TOWN

Wandering Cafe brings mobile street food to city By SAM LEBECK

the daily northwestern @sam_lebeck

A sustainable take on street food is pedaling to a corner near you. The Wandering Cafe, Evanston’s first licensed food bike, is working to support local farms and maintain a low carbon footprint with seasonal menu options. Evanston residents Molly Laatsch and Daniel Trujillo (Weinberg ’17) founded the fully-mobile Wandering Cafe in early 2020 to provide the city with sustainable street food. In the midst of both the pandemic and a Chicago winter, they have turned their attention to pick-up orders. Trujillo, a California native, was inspired by food trucks on the west coast and Northwestern’s own Brewbike to create the cafe with Laatsch, a Midwest native and private chef. The cafe is unconventional compared to other brick-and-mortar restaurants in the Evanston area, but both Trujillo and Laatsch said a mobile business allows them to focus on environmental goals. Laatsch said the pair wanted to provide street food in a more eco-friendly and accessible way than a food truck could provide. She said Trujilo did a lot of research on bike cafes and when he pitched the idea to her, she was all in. Laatsch and Trujillo stressed the importance of community support — the cafe sources a majority of its ingredients from local businesses like Village Farmstand and smaller farms in the area. Laatsch

Shorefront awarded grant for preservation of city’s Black history Shorefront Legacy Center was awarded a twoyear grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Wednesday for its archives and local reparations research initiatives. “Shorefront’s two-year grant will increase engagement

Photo courtesy of Molly Laatsch

The Wandering Cafe cart is still serving during the pandemic. Customers can order meals throughout the week, then pick them up on Saturdays in front of Temperance Beer Co.

emphasized that now is a great time to work on a local level and help boost community businesses and products.

“We’ve also had the fortunate circumstances that Evanston has really been a community that has looked back within the community to see like

within the local Black communities,” a Shorefront press release read. “The grant will support Shorefront’s work in collections care, programming activities, publications, the African American Heritage Sites Program and research efforts involving local reparations.” The press release said the two-year grant will allow Shorefront to build upon 25 years of educational and outreach initiatives. Additionally, Shorefront can expand its archive collections with a focus on Haitian and Jamaican communities and invest in additional preservation and security measures.

Evanston historian and Shorefront founder Dino Robinson established the center in 1995 to preserve artifacts and educate residents on suburban North Shore Black communities. Evanston City Council honored Robinson last week by naming a part of Church St. after him. Robinson’s work at the Shorefront providing historical documentation of discriminatory policies in Evanston has furthered the city’s reparations program, according to aldermen. He has also started Evanston’s African American heritage sites program, as well as the

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. . , what can I do to support the people that are my neighbors?” Laatsch said. “We’ve definitely seen a lot of people coming out in that spirit of ‘You’re our neighbor, we’re your neighbor, we want to support you, and we want to try your food as well.’” Customers can pre-order items from a rotating seasonal menu throughout the week and pick up their orders outside Temperance Beer Co. The pick-up process, which takes place on Saturdays, follows social distancing guidelines and is mostly contactless. Evanston residents like Ande Breunig expressed support for the cafe’s partnership with Temperance Beer Co., emphasizing the importance of shopping within the community. “The fact that (Molly) has her customers pick up at Temperance gives people kind of an idea of, ‘Oh wait, this is another place that I can patronize that they might not have known about,’” Breunig said. “It’s great intra-marketing.” Like most businesses owners weathering COVID-19, Laatsch and Trujillo plan to adapt to changes on a month-by-month basis. However, their long-term goal is widening the reach of the cafe throughout Evanston. Trujillo said continuing collaboration with local businesses is important to the Wandering Cafe’s plans to expand. “That’s something that we see moving forward as wanting to be the most mobile and accessible food vendor in Evanston.” samlebeck2024@u.northwestern.edu annual Black History Makers program. “(Robinson’s) vision is that Black history should be common knowledge,” Shorefront Board President Chip Ratliff said during public comment at last Monday’s City Council meeting. “He has spent the last 25 years working hours that some of us might not even imagine, or possibly even have in our bodies and souls, pointed towards making sure that Black history on Chicago’s suburban North Shore is kept.” — Angeli Mittal

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

ON CAMPUS

ASG legislation could relocate GSRC

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Rainbow Alliance introduced legislation to relocate the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center to a house on Sheridan Road in Wednesday’s Associated Student Government meeting. Located on the third floor of Norris University Center, the GSRC serves as a safe place for LGBTQ+ students and an area for small gatherings. The current location is made up of two rooms that have a maximum capacity of 10 students. Rainbow Alliance ASG Senator Jo Scaletty, who presented the proposal, said a house would better establish and affirm the center’s place on campus. “Ten students in the two main community rooms at one time really doesn’t provide a lot of opportunity for community building,” Scaletty said. While some expressed concern over the feasibility of the request, with all the houses on Sheridan currently occupied, Scaletty said houses may become available. According to ASG President Juan Zuniga, houses used by Weinberg offices may become available as the offices were on track to move to the Donald P. Jacobs Center before it became a COVID-19 testing site. Zuniga added that the Jacobs Center could act as a larger space for the center after the pandemic. GSRC was meant to inhabit a larger space since it was first established. ASG passed legislation in 2003 to create an LGBTQ+ Center that would be based in a house on Sheridan. The legislation was denied by administration due to a tight budget. That led to

Black House on track to reopen in Fall 2021 after COVID-19 delays Renovations to the Black House are on track to be completed in spring, prior to Northwestern commencement, The Black House Renovation Project announced Feb. 5. The reopening of the Black House is scheduled for fall 2021.

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Elizabeth Sperti speaks at a previous ASG meeting. Sperti co-sponsored legislation that would move the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center to a house on Sheridan Road.

the center, now known as the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, being placed in Norris instead. “We’re really pushing for (a house) on Sheridan because what it currently is is not acceptable,” Scaletty said. Both Scaletty and ASG Chief of Staff Elizabeth Sperti, a co-sponsor of the legislation, stressed the importance of the timeline outlined in the legislation, which includes deadlines for administration’s statement of commitment, the creation of an action plan and starting expansion. The legislation calls for the expansion to start by GMA Construction Group is continuing to work on the roof, walls, HVAC system, electrical wiring and installation of drywall, according to the release. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in fall 2020, but state COVID-19 restrictions put construction on hold from April through June. According to Executive Director of Campus Inclusion and Community Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, who also serves as the co-chair of the Black House Renovation Steering Committee, the pandemic also caused the lead times from various suppliers to increase.

the last day of Winter Quarter in 2021. A timeline could help coordinate house turnover, Scaletty said, and it would ensure accountability from the University. While many factors are up in the air, Sperti said a timeline and a University commitment is important, even as far down the line as five years. ASG will vote on the legislation next week. “Someone has to make them commit to this,” Sperti said. “Might as well be now.” emmarosenbaum2024@u.northwestern.edu Construction on the renovation first began in August 2020. Despite these delays, the release said the project is “nearing completion.” “I’m excited for people to be able to have a space that feels like their own, while also understanding the history and the importance of the space not only to the Black community at Northwestern but to who we are as Northwestern — the history of our community,” Brown-Henderson said to The Daily. — Caroline Brew

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

A&E arts & entertainment

‘Grief Night Club’ tackles mental health through song By OLIVIA ALEXANDER

the daily northwestern @oliviagalex

In his jazz musical “Grief Night Club,” Communication senior Nolan Robinson grapples with the challenges Black men face with mental health. The film, which has been Robinson’s passion project for almost two years, in part draws from his own experiences as a student. “It’s not autobiographical, but it is inspired by struggles and challenges that I faced throughout my time in college,” Robinson said. “Feeling like my feelings aren’t valid or not being able to deal with emotion, not being able to ask people for help.” In the musical, the protagonist, Jordan, is questioning his identity, mortality and he faces

an influx of emotions. When he enters the Grief Night Club, Jordan’s black and white world bursts into color, song and dance. There, he speaks through song, a medium that works when words no longer can, and meets people who encourage him to accept what he is feeling and reach out for help. Medill junior Megan Lebowitz, who attended the virtual premiere, said the film reinforced her understanding that people in her life were there to support her. “The artistic choices that (Robinson) made with editing really blew me away,” Lebowitz said. “There were moments when different boxes would pop up on the screen and move around and overlap and change colors, so I thought that the artistic choices, considering it was a musical film, were really wonderful.” Robinson always knew he wanted the project

to be a jazz musical, especially after watching “La La Land.” For Robinson, jazz is intertwined with improvisation and letting go, a theme present within the storyline of the film. Both jazz and rap, music genres that are present in the film, don’t have rules, Robinson said. Sam Wolsk (Bienen ‘19), the music producer and orchestrator for “Grief Night Club,” said he was able to achieve the classic Big Band jazz sound, even with a downsized orchestra. Wolsk said, who studied jazz at NU, asked each musician to record two different parts and put all the recordings together with Logic, an Apple audioediting software. “In a time where musicians’ (plans) are put on hold, it was really great that this was not only able to happen, but able to happen in arguably a bigger and more special way,” Wolsk said. Wolsk and Robinson met while working on a

musical theater performance when Robinson was a freshman. Wolsk said Robinson at the time was “wide-eyed” and friendly, and asked questions in an effort to learn all that he could. Robinson has plans to assistant-write on Broadway after graduation. He said he wants to continue to combine his dual interests in theater and film and does not want to be confined to Los Angeles or New York City. But before he graduated, he knew he wanted to use art as an opportunity to make a lasting impression on their time at NU. “I have a lot of talented friends and I wanted to get them in on something amazing before they left, something that they could just always look back on and say, well, we made this piece of art,” Robinson said. oliviaalexander2024@u.northwestern.edu

Freshman Kenny Davis talks makeup, TikTok following By NICK FRANCIS

the daily northwestern @nick24francis

Medill freshman Kenny Davis has been applying makeup since she was 14 years old. In quarantine, she started to share her makeup looks through social media. Davis has since garnered more than 42,000 likes on TikTok, and her content has been reposted on Instagram pages with followings of over 300,000. The Daily sat down with Davis to talk TikTok stardom, impactful moments and her personal growth. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. The Daily: What has your makeup journey looked like?

Davis: I first started makeup in general when I was 14, like basic stuff with mascara and eyeliner. In high school, I realized I look good with any color on the color wheel and thought, ‘it’s crazy how much you can do with makeup.’ Then it was May of 2020 during quarantine when I was doing makeup everyday — just practicing — but I decided that I wanted to actually see where it goes and make a social media account for it. The Daily: As you took your craft to social media, how did it begin to change? Davis: People were actually telling me, ‘Okay, you’re actually really good at this.’ I have followers on TikTok who comment on how they’re inspired by me, especially Black women. I realized I want to show Black women that we look good in any color on the color wheel. We look beautiful and we can play around with makeup and different shades of color just like anybody else. I do it now to empower other

Black women to play with color. The Daily: What was going through your head when you realized you were amassing a large following and making this statement? Davis: It was crazy because I consider myself a makeup artist, and now also a content creator. At first, it was how most people start on TikTok: just for fun. I never imagined that people would actually be interested enough in me to follow me. To have them follow me and realize that it’s for a reason, it gives me a sense of purpose. It gives you a really big sense of responsibility, and it is a little bit of a confidence boost. It can be a little bit of a burden sometimes too, but I don’t regret it for the world. The Daily: Can you think of one moment that stood out to you along this journey? Davis: Somebody drew me and messaged me. They were just like, ‘Hey, I drew this

picture of your last look, I hope you enjoy it.’ I looked at it and I loved it and thought, ‘You really drew me. You took time out of your day to draw a picture of me.’’ It was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me, and they didn’t even expect anything back from me. It was a big moment emotionally for me The Daily: Through this evolution, what has makeup meant for you? Davis: At first it was purely for my own self-expression. I think I’ve always been a creative, artistic person; but I can’t draw, I can’t really do art. I always felt like I never had a creative outlet. Makeup gave that to me, and it was something that I used to figure out more about myself, and I see each makeup look like different facets of my personality or different versions of myself that I’m unlocking. nickfrancis2024@u.northwestern.edu

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

The New Tradition Chorus serenades loved ones By LAYA NEELAKANDAN

the daily northwestern @laya_neel

There’s one thing COVID-19 can’t stop: love. Northbrook-based New Tradition Chorus kept Valentine’s Day traditions alive this year through Virtual Singing Valentines. The group pre-recorded songs that people could buy and send to their significant others. The New Tradition Chorus is a predominantly male chorus that has been around since the 1980s. Chorus Manager Dave Dreyer said the group has been doing in-person singing valentines for years. “In the past, we’ve had quartets go out and sing to teachers, retirement homes, secretaries and more,” Dreyer said. “We knew we weren’t going to be able to go out in person this year, so we thought what if we were to put together a couple of Valentine’s songs?” Video producer and chorus member Barry Cain said members recorded themselves singing, and the clips were then pieced together into a cohesive love song. Cain said although the technical process was “quite complicated,” the video editing and audio synchronization led to a successful end-product video that could be purchased and sent electronically to anyone, no matter

Laya Neelakandan/The Daily Northwestern

The New Tradition Chorus sings one of their Virtual Singing Valentines.

where they live. “This virtual thing seems to be very popular,” Cain said. “I had one customer buy five (Singing Valentines) who said this is great because he’s got kids all over the country.” The group, which has members ranging in

age from 19 to early 80s, prepared three love songs for Valentine’s Day, of which a combination of two could be bought for a loved one. The songs included “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved by You” and “You Are So Beautiful.” The choir sings in

the barbershop harmony style, an a cappella style from the 1930s characterized by its fourpart harmony. Russell Hook, the president of the chorus, said the virtual valentines were inspired by the success of a virtual holiday show the chorus put on in December. A member of the group since 1972, Hook said the chorus holds a special place in his heart, as he has made lifelong friends there. “The kind of singing fraternity we have develops friendships through music,” Hook said. “Virtual Valentines was fun to do, even though there was a learning curve on how to produce it.” The group has held virtual rehearsals during the pandemic, Hook said, through which they have been able to keep the choir together. Dreyer said the Singing Valentines were a great way to spread love safely in the pandemic while still performing with others. While singing by himself was not the same as performing with his friends, he said he still loved the experience. “It’s a lot of fun, keeps the tradition going, and keeps our guys singing,” Dreyer said. “We’re all eagerly anticipating the time we can get back together again, and this is the next best thing we can do — share our music with family, friends, or, who knows, even total strangers.” laya@u.northwestern.edu

Northwestern students find internet success on TikTok By NICK FRANCIS

the daily northwestern @nick24francis

TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter all have their forms of viral personalities: some are overnight sensations who stumble into fame, while some carefully craft their online personality. Some also happen to be Northwestern students. Bienen senior Nicole Zhang started creating content on YouTube after one of her peers began amassing a large internet following from vlogging. She first noticed her content gaining popularity when she posted a “day in the life” video, which she has since removed. “When I took it down, it had around 10,000 views, which I was not expecting,” she said. “I got a lot of emails from prospective students asking about majors and...what dorms they should choose and supplies that they should bring.” In the next few years, Zhang began posting

on TikTok. When a viral trend of students featuring their college campuses began spreading, she decided to feature Northwestern. It has since gained over 40,000 views, and some of Zhang’s more recent Northwestern-themed videos have crossed the 80,000 view mark. While Zhang does not consider herself to be a content creator, she said some students have recognized her from her online presence. She said she never expected to see this much attention for her content, both in-person and online. “I get Instagram direct messages all the time, but when I was a senior (in high school), I never thought to look up videos and ask current students what their experience was like,” Zhang said. “This is definitely interesting for me now to be on the other side of things, getting questions directed to me.” Medill freshman Lauren Huttner is taking a different, more calculated approach to her social media strategy. Huttner said she wants to pursue a career in social media marketing and is learning about how to gain a following by posting her own content.

Huttner’s most viral video, “A Day in the Life at Northwestern,” has over 35,000 views on TikTok. After seeing what has excelled on the platform and what hasn’t, she said she is trying to figure out how TikTok’s algorithm promotes content in order to harness it for commercial branding strategies. “I really like the creator economy — I think there’s a lot of cool opportunities there, writing about it, or participating in it,” Huttner said. Huttner said many prospective students now flock to her page, and she is strategizing how to promote fun and innovative ways for her audiences to stay engaged. For Communication freshman Ashley Xu, the COVID-19 shutdowns motivated her to start a TikTok account, which now has almost 350,000 followers and over 10 million likes. Xu has been practicing videography and painting long before she began posting online. Once she began posting on TikTok about her art, she found, like Huttner, opportunities to advance her career in ways she hadn’t been able to before.

“There was an internship listing by HBO Max on TikTok. . .one of the application requirements was just to submit a TikTok we made that explained why we want to be an intern,” she said. “I painted a few characters that were on the (HBO Max) platform and was very lucky — I got the internship.” Xu has also met people at NU who recognize her from TikTok. Though she said she has grown somewhat impervious to inappropriate messages from fans via social media, encountering fans in real life still gives her a sense of trepidation. Since Winter quarter has started, Xu has toned down her TikTok output. She said she is choosing to focus on long-term growth rather than short-term fame, since her art takes a lot of time and dedication. “School is definitely more of my priority — it’s more important in the long run,” Xu said. “If they ever go head to head and have to choose one or the other, school comes first.” nickfrancis2024@u.northwestern.edu

Bria Walker discusses legacy of playwright Ntozake Shange I read it, I kept hearing in my head an upright bass, as it was able to capture the rhythm, the soul and the nuances.” This upcoming summer, the theatre will also be producing another one of Shange’s works, “spell #7.” Although Shange died in late 2018, Walker said her legacy lives on through her work and through those who she has inspired. “Ms. Shange often said that she sought to build a legacy in which Black culture was memorialized and preserved,” Walker said. “I think it’s safe to say, Ms. Shange, you accomplished your goal — we here at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre are forever thankful for your words, for your ideas, for your spirit and for helping us find God in ourselves.”

By LAYA NEELAKANDAN

the daily northwestern @laya_neel

Content warning: This story contains mentions of suicide. When playwright Ntozake Shange was a graduate student, she saw a double rainbow, a beacon of light in her depressive state. From this, her choreopoem was born, a play that is still widely produced today and explores Black identity. Associate Artistic Director of the FleetwoodJourdain Theatre Bria Walker discussed Shange’s work and legacy in an event hosted by the theatre Tuesday night. During the lecture, which was a part of the theatre’s 24/7/365: A Legacy of Greatness series this month, Walker discussed the significance of Shange and her work in the broader context of Black culture and legacy. Shange, a Black female playwright, poet, fiction writer, dancer, educator and activist, is best known for her 1976 choreopoem, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Enuf,” one of the most produced plays around the world. “She wanted to dissociate herself from a culture that championed slavery,” Walker said. “She began to find her voice as a poet.” Walker said Shange’s poem, which the playwright coined as a “choreopoem,” was one that combined poetry and dance and “explored different facets of Black female identity.” The set of 20 poems together drew the attention of a director and producer, and it would later become a play, spending seven months off-Broadway and two years on Broadway. The poems, Walker said, were inspired by Shange’s struggles during her time as an

Laya Neelakandan/The Daily Northwestern

One of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre’s lectures by Associate Artistic Director Bria Walker analyzed the life and work of playwright Ntozake Shange.

undergraduate and graduate student. After attempting to commit suicide multiple times, Shange began to pen poems that would later form “For Colored Girls.” “One night, while driving home and feeling especially depressed, Shange saw a double rainbow over the city of Oakland, California,” Walker said. “It was in that moment she realized women have a right to survive.” Shange also connected with her Black roots, Walker said. The playwright, born Paulette Williams, changed her name to Ntozake, which is Zulu for “she who comes with her own things,” and Shange, which means “one who walks like a lion.” Walker said Shange, who endured endless attacks of racism as a Black woman, later became a voice for social justice movements and embodied the struggle of Black women. In

the playwright’s own words, Shange believed Black women “have as much right, and as much purpose for being here, as air and mountains do.” “And this is for Colored girls who have considered suicide, but are moving to the ends of their own rainbows,” Shange wrote in the choreopoem. Walker said the choreopoem inspired many artists after Shange, and the play continues to be produced across the world. She said the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre’s 2013 production of “For Colored Girls” included a unique aspect: Artistic Director Tim Rhoze added a bass player to compose original music for each character. “Ntozake Shange is iconic in the theatre world… “For Colored Girls” was a play that I always wanted to produce, to direct, to be a part of in some way,” Rhoze said. “In my mind, when

laya@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment Editor Rebecca Aizin Assistant Editors Laya Neelakandan Nick Francis Designer Jacob Fulton Staff Olivia Alexander

6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

GILMER

From page 1

“People are questioning, ‘Should I trust Northwestern? Should I trust these messages?’” Gilmer said, in reference to recent Universitywide emails referring students to CAPS. “We have a responsibility to attend to the mental health of the entire student body.” Several staff members involved in Garrett’s hiring said they were impressed by his experience and commitment to social justice. “I think he’s starting in a moment of a lot of opportunities,” said Fabiola Montiel, who directs clinical services for CAPS Chicago and previously held the interim director position. Gilmer said social justice must go beyond values and dialogue, and could include fundamentally examining NU’s mental health system to make sure it works for everyone. He also acknowledged significant feedback from students who were concerned with the

RUE SIMMONS From page 6

can take it there.” Rue Simmons also emphasized Evanston’s success can be replicated elsewhere. After Evanston’s initial commitment to reparations in July 2019, Rue Simmons said an outpouring of community support gave the project an encouraging start. “Once you say reparations is the commitment in your city, you will be surprised,” Rue Simmons said. “We’ve had law firms, and law departments at

accessibility of CAPS, a lack of responsiveness and a sense that CAPS leans too heavily on external referrals. In the past, students have criticized long wait times for appointments, alleging a relationship between inaccessibility of services and perennial staffing and funding shortages for CAPS. The University reported a $60-plus million surplus at the start of 2020, which allowed CAPS to hire five new staff members — three for the Chicago campus and two sports psychologists, who will work specifically with student-athletes, according to Gilmer. In times when resources are tight, Gilmer said there are still ways to prioritize availability to students, such as reducing the number of staff meetings and looking into creating more group counseling sessions. Gilmer encouraged students to reach out directly to him if they’re having trouble accessing CAPS services. CAPS is also looking to hire a new liaison to

Latinx students to replace Rosemary Magana, who left the position last year. Currently, staff psychologist Kenneth Washington serves as a liaison to Black students, and Sabaahath Latifi was recently hired as the first-ever Muslim counselor at CAPS. Garrett said these roles help break down the emotional and institutional barriers that have historically kept marginalized students from mental health services. Often, Gilmer said the services haven’t been set up for students of color. Gilmer emphasized that he’s not afraid to dismantle and “eradicate” systems that perpetuate social injustice. “Often it means we have to replace and create new systems,” he said. “When folks are saying, ‘Hey, it’s not working for me,’ you have to just start with the assumption it’s not working for them.” In some ways, Gilmer said his commitment to social justice stems from his own identities

universities, and independent family foundations, and international institutions that have reached out to help our city. And I believe that (they) would apply to other cities in this nation.” The international community can also exert pressure on the U.S. to implement reparations, panelists said. Dreisen Heath, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said she is encouraged by the overseas support reparations has received in the last several years. “Through the Universal Periodic Review with the United Nations, we have brought the issue of reparations… as something that countries need

to flag for the United States to rectify,” Heath said. “I think it’s an opportunity, and some bodies have taken steps to properly acknowledge what needs to be done.” As he ended the forum, Mapfumo praised Rue Simmons for her efforts in Evanston. “This is what a Black elected official’s supposed to do,” Mapfumo said. “A Black elected official who is pushing forward something like this, in a piece of creative legislation for our people. We are thankful for that.”

From page 1

Daily file illustration by Isabel Gitten

work in high-risk situations. “There’s nothing about the technology that has raised any concerns in terms of giving it to a pregnant patient,” Robinson said. Panelists said it is important to address

erj@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Colin Boyle

alexharrison2023@u.northwestern.edu

TRUST

According to Phillips, COVID-19’s mortality rate is approximately 50 percent higher for Black people compared to White people. NorthShore University HealthSystem pharmacy resident Nathaniel Johnson proceeded to present information about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to viewers. Johnson said the two trials used to test the vaccines included about 30,000 individuals, 10 percent of whom were Black. The Moderna vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94.1 percent, and the Pfizer vaccine has an efficacy rate of 95 percent. According to Johnson, both vaccines have proven to be very effective and relatively safe. He said common adverse reactions observed in the trials include injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. Barrett Robinson, a NorthShore maternal fetal medicine physician treating high risk pregnancies, said while pregnant individuals were excluded from vaccine trials, he encourages them to receive the vaccine, especially if they

as a gay man with Mexican-American and European-American ancestry. Growing up, Gilmer said he sometimes downplayed the Mexican part of his identity, missing out on key values and culture until he engaged with them later in life. At the same time, Gilmer has tried to work through the privilege associated with his identity as a man, especially since he said he appears as a white man to many people. That process is difficult, and he has tried to confront his mistakes head-on and with honesty, Gilmer said. Just two weeks into his new role, Gilmer has already started working with campus partners and engaging in informal conversations with students. By building up a network of trust, Gilmer hopes to reach students who have previously felt alienated by mental health services. “I’m so excited and super honored to be here,” Gilmer said. “It is very humbling.”

deeply rooted and continuous implicit racism in medicine. To prioritize wellness in Black communities, Lloyd recommended individuals get seven hours of sleep a night and take Vitamin

D supplements, which help in cellular reactions throughout the body. The AMITA Health gynecologist said individuals can determine their optimal dosage based on deficiencies present in a simple blood test. Nabors emphasized the role Black community leaders and pastors can play in raising awareness about wellness in the Black community. He also noted the impact structural racism has on mental health. “Being born Black creates a stress that is uncommon and not natural among other people,” Nabors said. Phillips said an expert is set to speak with his team this April to teach equitable strategies. The regional medical director of Illinois Emergency Medicine Specialists is optimistic about the role of the COVID-19 vaccine in improving Black health. “I’m looking forward to seeing a better day in the future,” Phillips said. “I think what we can give people is hope, and that’s what the vaccine is. It’s hope.” jorjasiemons2024@u.northwestern.edu

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ACROSS 1 Batting practice structures 6 Golfer Jon __, 2020 BMW Championship winner 10 Target 14 Historic mission 15 One saying “Don’t do it!” 16 Say “Do it!” 17 Morning beverage for a plumber? 20 Everlasting, to a poet 21 Tender 22 Condor quarters 25 Greek celebratory cry 26 Plumber’s response about connecting hardware? 31 High points 32 Mists (up) 33 Boring 35 Ala. neighbor 36 5G __: mobile standard 37 Asian language 38 Corn __ 40 Undecided 41 Crafty 43 Like a successful plumber’s bank account? 46 Job ad abbr. 47 Falls hard 48 “Finally, good news” 52 Studio do-over 56 Where a plumber learns new moves? 59 Something to think about 60 Caspian Sea land 61 Doles (out) 62 Alluring 63 Kate Atkinson’s “One Good __” 64 Medium for Michelangelo DOWN 1 Loose garment 2 Came to rest 3 Hang open

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

Northwestern freshmen navigate midwestern winter By LALLA-AICHA ADOUIM

the daily northwestern @lallaadouim

Although Evanston’s Health and Human Services Department issued a cold weather advisory about freezing temperatures on Feb. 6, Northwestern freshmen are still venturing out for food and building snowmen. “I don’t get cold. It doesn’t bother me,” Weinberg freshman Yulan Guo said. “I just wear a jacket and I walk three times a day to Norris.” A steady stream of snow has covered campus the past week, with temperatures falling below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. On-campus asymptomatic testing was temporarily suspended Monday due to the harsh weather. A New Jersey native, Guo is accustomed to low temperatures. She has been frustrated when the cold air freezes her hair when she goes out after a shower. Guo said she doesn’t get excited about the snow and finds it annoying when people do, considering it snows frequently in Evanston. However, her roommate, Communication freshman Lola Selby, disagrees. When it first started snowing, the Los Angeles native said she felt like a little kid. “I woke up a little bit early on the weekend

Olivia Yarvis/The Daily Northwestern

A thin layer of ice covers the lake due to the recent subzero temperatures.

and I was still in my pajamas,” Selby said. “I looked outside… like you see in movies, when the kid presses their face up against the video, and says, ‘Oh my god.’” The cold was still, ultimately, a shock for

Selby, especially since she is used to the warmth of California. “When I’m in the shower, I feel like I’m getting ready for a sprint,” she said.“I have some long, thermal underwear coming in the mail to

hopefully up my game a little bit.” Although Selby said she walks faster outside to keep her heart rate up, a trip to Target leaves her grumpy for the rest of the day, which means she spends as much time inside as possible. However, she said the snow has not affected her social life, as she spends time with the people in her dorm and in Norris. McCormick and Communication dual-degree freshman Lia Chung said she has taken the snow as an excuse to showcase different outfits, including turtlenecks layered under sweater vests. The Georgia native prefers the cold over sweating in the heat and still walks from North Campus to South to meet friends nearly everyday. “The only annoying part is when I wear makeup and there is ice on my eyelashes,” Chung said. As the snow continues to freeze Selby’s ears and ankles, her first Midwestern winter has made her feel like she’s expanding into “five new arenas” of life, she said. “The cold is a good way to stamp these new memories in my mind,” Selby said. “I like having such sharp visceral feelings to accompany all this new stuff. I’m living it for the story.” lalla-aichaadouim2024@u.northwestern.edu

Local business owner donates food to community fridges By LAYA NEELAKANDAN

the daily northwestern @laya_neel

As Chicago sees a record-breaking snowfall, TaKorea Cocina restaurant owner Robert Magiet is using tamales to support both people experiencing food insecurity and local street vendors. Magiet bought almost 200 tamales from the first vendor he saw — and he’s bought over 10,000 food items since. As the founder of West Town Feeds, a Chicago-based organization that provides people experiencing homelessness with daily hot meals, Magiet drops the

food off at community fridges like The Love Fridge, a free fridge network set up across the city of Chicago, as well as shelters and homeless encampments. The pandemic has hit street vendors hard. Magiet said vendors tell him the pandemic has roughly halved Chicago’s pedestrian population. “Supporting (street vendors) is just as important as supporting other local small businesses,” he said. “They’re our neighbors, and they needed support.” Recently, Magiet said some residents have asked to join him in his efforts. Chicago resident Alex Chan heard about Magiet’s efforts through a mutual Facebook group. Chan makes and sells trinkets, such as bottle

openers that look like the Inauguration Day Bernie Sanders meme, as a hobby. He said he wanted to donate his proceeds to a good cause, so he decided to team up with Magiet to buy out a tamale vendor. “I have a truck that’s capable of off-roading… so it’s easy for me to move through the snow,” Chan said. “I took the tamales and stocked the Love Fridges, some of which are in alleyways, and alleys are unplowed.” Chan said he likes helping others “whenever it’s in (his) power to do so,” and has continued to help Magiet buy out vendors, especially in the wake of the recent snowstorm. Chicago resident Manuel Jimenez said he connected with Magiet months ago when

Magiet was distributing free meals to local teachers. Jimenez said he appreciated what Magiet was doing and stayed in touch because he wanted to help his community too. Through social media and word of mouth, Jimenez and Magiet have found street vendors to buy food from so they can drive throughout the city and either stuff the Love Fridges or offer food to people experiencing homelessness. “It’s a humbling experience,” Jimenez said. “Regardless of how hard something might be at the moment, there’s an entire population that people avoid and don’t talk about.” laya@u.northwestern.edu

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SPORTS

Thursday, February 18, 2021

@DailyNU_Sports

NO QUARTERBACK? NO PROBLEM.

Northwestern alumni design The Seeker, world’s first robotic quarterback, in use at six NCAA universities By GABRIELA CARROLL

daily senior staffer @gablcarroll

A new quarterback made its way into Ryan Fieldhouse on Friday — and no, it wasn’t Ryan Hilinski. A 6-foot tall, purple and black robot called the Seeker, designed by Northwestern alumni Bhargav Maganti (McCormick ’12) and Igor Karlicic (McCormick ’12), gives the Wildcats’ pass catchers an accurate and efficient tool to throw the ball without a quarterback. The Seeker’s third co-founder, Iowa graduate Nate Pierotti, roomed with a walkon receiver in college who was frustrated by his lack of practice reps, and wanted to get better on his own. Pierotti played wide receiver in high school, and had used the JUGS Football Machine, a popular pass throwing tool. But he’d struggled to set it up on his own, and wanted to create something more accurate, and easier to use. With only a blueprint for the Seeker on hand, Pierotti pitched it in 2016 to Iowa Assistant Director of Football Operations Ben Hansen. Hansen, excited by the idea, assisted the Seeker team on the football end of the project, and allowed the team to use their facilities. “The JUGS machine hasn’t been updated in a long time,” Hansen said. “At that time, I was like, ‘this sounds awesome.’ In the early stages of the Seeker’s development, Hansen said the team was inside the Iowa facility whenever they were allowed. The old model traveled on big wheels, and had traditional wall plugs, a

far cry from the current iteration. Maganti, Karlicic, Pierotti and their team would fire one football, and track all of the data — where the ball went, how fast it traveled, how accurate their throw was — which they used to refine their algorithm. The Seeker can fire up to six footballs at a time, and comes with two modes, robotic and manual. The manual mode allows players to select with a touchscreen where the ball will go, and customize its location and what type of play it will simulate: a pass, punt or kick. Mechanical engineers Karlicic and Maganti were drawn to the project because of the tracking technology behind robotic mode. With robotic mode, the Seeker tracks the user’s location, and can interact with them based on that data. The receiver wears a small device which tracks their speed, location and acceleration. It can even anticipate their route, firing a ball on that route. Maganti and Karlicic, who were roommates at Northwestern, began working on the Seeker as a side project. “We weren’t originally football superfans, or anything,” Maganti said. “It was just something that was intellectually stimulating. The athletic piece of it, and that engagement and emotional connection to our audience, is something that caught up with us later.” Developing the project at Iowa gave Karlicic and Maganti the opportunity to frequently test out and tweak the Seeker with the Hawkeyes’ players and staff. The player feedback at Iowa led to the Seeker team focusing on randomizing throws and simulating a game-type environment, with

bad throws or tipped passes. Hansen said the players found new functionalities, like using the machine for defensive back drills. Iowa was one of the Seeker’s earliest supporters, but the machine is now in use at six NCAA universities: Northwestern, SMU, Oklahoma, Virginia and LSU. During the pandemic, the Seeker picked up steam in NFL circles. With receivers at home, and no quarterback to throw passes, Monarc saw an opportunity to pivot their target audience and connect with NFL receivers. “We started engaging with these athletes that were at home, and it organically spread,” Karlicic said. “We initially started working with (Detroit Lions receiver) Danny Amendola in Austin. He made a few videos that other athletes started to spread.” Now, Monarc’s list of over 25 NFL customers includes big names like San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron and Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson. While Maganti and Karlicic weren’t football superfans before they started developing the Seeker, the two have fond memories of Northwestern football. Karlicic said delivering Northwestern’s new machine was a full-circle moment. “We’re really excited to be delivering Northwestern’s,” Karlicic said. “That’s where our journey started. Creating things in Ford, and learning how to think like engineers. To circle back all these years later and engage with the University in a really meaningful way, we’re super stoked.” gabrielacarroll2023@u.northwestern.edu

Photo courtesy of Monarc Sport

Bhargav Maganti (left) and Igor Karlicic with Northwestern’s customized Seeker. The Seeker is the world’s first robotic quarterback, and it uses tracking technology to make passes more accurate and practices more efficient.

WRESTLING

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Nebraska upsets No. 24 Wildcats Deakin dominates in

return to competition

By DREW SCHOTT

daily senior staffer @dschott328

By GREG SVIRNOVSKIY

As senior guard Jordan Hamilton’s three-point shot missed the basket and fell into the hands of Nebraska’s Isabelle Bourne, the Cornhuskers put the finishing touches on one of their best wins of the 2020-21 campaign. For the second time this season, a ranked Northwestern squad was upset by Nebraska. Wednesday’s 71-64 loss will likely drop the No. 24 Wildcats out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Jan. 2020. The defeat marked the fifth loss of NU’s season in 16 games and second straight to an unranked opponent. The team now sits in fifth place in the Big Ten and with only four games remaining, including matchups against No. 9 Maryland and No. 11 Michigan, its chances of winning back-to-back regular season Big Ten titles are very nearly gone. The Cats have shown they can beat top teams, evidenced by their upset victory of then-No. 11 Ohio State. However, two losses to Nebraska, a 16-point loss to the Scarlet Knights and double-digit defeats to ranked Michigan and Indiana signify that the road back to a title — especially in a conference with some of the best talent in women’s college basketball — is not easy. “We’re gonna get everybody’s best every day,” senior guard Lindsey Pulliam said. “We have a target on our back now.” NU still remains a defensive force to be reckoned with, holding the best turnover margin in the conference (9.07) and forcing the most opponent turnovers with 21.5. This was evident Wednesday as the Cornhuskers lost the ball 28 times. However, the offensive end is where struggles from the purple-and-white are becoming glaring. The Cats average 71.4 points per game, but they have not reached the 70-point mark in four games. Against Nebraska, NU shot below 40

daily senior staffer @gsvirnovskiy

Joshua Hoffman/The Daily Northwestern

Joe McKeown speaks to his players on the sideline. No. 24 Northwestern lost 71-64 to Nebraska on Wednesday night, the team’s second straight defeat.

percent from the field for the third-straight game with a season-low 32.1 percent performance at Welsh-Ryan Arena. “We just (had) trouble shooting the ball all night,” coach Joe McKeown said. “We just missed a lot of shots around the basket, had opportunities in transition to really go up 14-15 points. And it didn’t happen.” NU’s rivals from Lincoln were also better on the glass. Nebraska racked up 52 rebounds to the Cats’ 33, with the sixfoot-two Bourne grabbing 17 and six-footfive center Kate Cain snagging eight. Even though Hamilton grabbed 10 boards to secure a double-double, NU’s two tallest players — six-foot-three freshman forward Anna Morris and six-foot-one freshman forward Paige Mott — combined for only four rebounds. Crashing the boards is crucial for the Cats, as the team has been out-rebounded in all five of their losses. But it’s been difficult, as junior forward Courtney

Shaw— currently the Big Ten’s 12th-best rebounder with 7.1 boards per game — is still sidelined with a lower-body injury. “We got to do a much better job of blocking out,” McKeown said. “We do have a size disadvantage that we make up for by positioning and keeping people off the glass. So that’s a big challenge right now for us.” It is clear the Cats still have some things to fix before heading into two of the campaign’s most important games. But Pulliam isn’t concerned. She knows her squad can block out the noise and create some special moments. After all, NU silenced the doubters last season by winning its first conference title since 1990. “(We’re) just going in focused and playing the game how we want to play it,” Pulliam said, “and not letting other people dictate to us.” drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu

It had been awhile since Ryan Deakin last wrestled on a collegiate mat. 343 days to be exact, since the senior took home first place at the 2020 Big Ten Championships, capping off a perfect regular season that earned him the number one ranking in the country. Life is different now than it was in early March 2020. Deakin didn’t get to compete for a national championship last year because of the COVID19 pandemic. And an injury kept him sidelined from the mat for most of this current season. Until Sunday. Northwestern (2-5, 2-5 Big Ten) faced off against No. 19 Wisconsin (1-6, 1-6 Big Ten), in the last dual of the season hosted at WelshRyan Arena. The Cats won in an 18-17 nailbiter, erasing a three week-long losing streak and quieting any doubters heading into postseason play. For the first time in almost a year, Deakin strutted confidently up to the mat in his Northwestern singlet and readied himself to take on an opponent from another school. Facing off against Wisconsin’s Garrett Model, Deakin dominated to the tune of a 21-4 technical fall victory, sending a crucial five points the Wildcats’s way. “This is what I do,” Deakin said. “I felt comfortable, just going out there and treating (it) like any other match. Not making it a big deal or anything, just going out there and doing what I do.” Deakin’s dominance was on full display against Model. He led 4-1 at the end of the first period, but accumulated almost 2 minutes of riding time in just the first frame of play. He’d add

seven points in the second period and another 10 in the third. Takedown points came easy. Needing a 15-point lead to seal the deal early via technical fall, Deakin came over top of Model, readjusted and drove through, ending the match with just under a minute remaining in the third period. His victory gave NU a commanding lead in the bout, one of four individual wins in a row from an imposing middle of the lineup. “When you’re out there you try to score points, try to dominate the matches,” Deakin said. “It was nice to put some points on the board, it’s a big momentum builder.” Junior Colin Valdiviez, junior Yahya Thomas and freshman David Ferrante also came away with victories. With NU’s Friday matchup against Iowa postponed due to COVID-19 concerns in the Hawkeye program, the Cats will next face off against Minnesota Sunday before shifting their attention to the Big Ten Tournament set for early March. Coach Matt Storniolo said the scheduling changes haven’t affected his team’s preparation for the weekend. They’ve already shifted the focus past Iowa. And this isn’t the only time the NU was expecting to match up against Hawkeye wrestlers. They’ll see each other in the postseason. “The silver lining is we’re gonna see them two weekends later anyway, at Big Tens and NCAAs,” Storniolo said. “It would’ve been nice to get an additional match in, especially for a guy like Ryan Deakin who’s just coming back. But knowing that there’s a chance this could happen, that’s why we got him in an exhibition match last weekend.” gsvirnovskiy@u.northwestern.edu