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Friday, February 28, 2014
NU denies request for NAMI chapter By Rebecca Savransky
the daily northwestern @beccasavransky
After about five months of planning, drafting and updating proposals to abide with administrative requests, two students were denied the opportunity to start a mental health support group on campus. Bienen junior Emily Fagan and Weinberg junior Supriya Bharati said at the beginning of the year, they both became interested in starting a Northwestern chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness, an organization focused on advocating for and supporting individuals with mental health issues. “Our plan was to have a safe space where those people could come together and meet one another and feel like they’re a part of something and they’re not alone,” Fagan said. After communicating with the administration for several months, the students received an email Tuesday telling them they would not be able to bring the idea on campus. According to the email, several administrators researched the organization’s chapters at different universities and looked more closely into the students’ proposal. Natalie Furlett, associate director for the Center for Student Involvement, wrote in the email that the University could not support a NAMI chapter
because administrators were concerned about students offering peer support services without extensive training. In the email, Furlett wrote that NU officials reached out to administrators at several other universities, many of whom told her the purpose of their NAMI chapter was to host speakers and programs, noting none of the other chapters had peer support groups. “They thought there would be too much of a liability,” Fagan said. “They were so worried that we wouldn’t have a plan in case someone wanted to hurt themselves so then we asked them, ‘What are your plans for other groups?’ And they just never really had an answer.” Furlett; Todd Adams, dean of students and John Dunkle, Counseling and Psychological Services executive director, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Through the process, the students said they also had the support of the Associated Student Government president Ani Ajith, NU Listens and several other student groups on campus. Ajith said he met with Fagan and Bharati several times to discuss their idea. He helped connect them with the Center for Student Involvement in order to gain University recognition, he said. The administration needs to make sure the proposed ideas will not present a liability, be discriminatory or violate any » See nami, page 7
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Panel debunks city myths
Lan Nguyen/The Daily Northwestern
ALL AROUND THE WARD Ald. Jane Grover (7th) leads a panel in a discussion of Evanston and Northwestern myths at a combined 5th and 7th ward meeting. The on-campus gathering included representatives from the Evanston Police Department, University Archives and the Evanston History Center.
By lan nguyen
the daily northwestern @LanNguyen_NU
A panel debunked popular Evanston myths on campus on Thursday at a combined 5th and 7th ward meeting. Associated Student Government hosted the meeting at Louis Hall, which drew in about 30 people, in hopes of
highlighting collaboration between the city and the University. “We’re glad to see some students out here tonight,” said Kevin Harris, vice president of community relations. “It gives students an opportunity to reach out to city representatives, learn more about the city of Evanston and bond with all the community members.” The meeting featured a six-person panel, moderated by Ald. Jane Grover
(7th), that helped dispel rumors about Northwestern students, Evanston’s history and city laws, among other topics. Grover discussed NU’s image as a party school, saying “there is a perception in Evanston that Northwestern students are hard partiers.” She argued against this perception by referencing The Princeton Review’s list of » See ward, page 6
Partnership will give campus Franco to return to NU construction jobs to residents By Tyler Pager and Rebecca Savransky
the daily northwestern @tylerpager, @beccasavransky
James Franco will speak Saturday at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall as part of a combined effort between A&O Productions and the Fiedler Hillel Center. Franco is known for his roles in the “Spiderman” trilogy, “127 Hours” and “Pineapple Express.” He also wrote and directed a short film, “Herbert White,” In addition which to having debuted in 2010 at something the Su n intelligent to dance Film say about the Festival. A&O film industry, spokeshe’s also a very woman Rosalind Mowitt funny guy. said Franco Rosalind Mowitt, was the secA&O ond highspokeswoman est ranked speaker on the poll the group sent out to students. “This is honestly one of the highest polling speakers we’ve ever been able to bring,” the Weinberg senior said. “He also appeals to a wide variety of people. In addition to having something intelligent to say about the film
“ Ciara McCarthy/Daily Senior Staffer
JOB PARTNERS Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and University President Morton Schapiro discuss the new Workforce Development Program on Thursday. The initiative will provide construction jobs to Evanston residents.
By ciara McCarthy
daily senior staffer @mccarthy_ciara
Northwestern and Evanston officials released details at a press conference Thursday about a new program that will provide employment for Evanston residents on NU’s campus. In its first year, the Workforce
Development Program will aim to provide 25 Evanston residents with either jobs or apprenticeship opportunities in construction projects at Northwestern. The University also committed to spend $1 million annually at local businesses to furnish newly constructed buildings. Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said she thought of the idea while biking near campus and looking at the
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
many ongoing construction projects. “I thought, ‘We need jobs working on those buildings,’” she said. Tisdahl approached University President Morton Schapiro with the idea and said he was immediately receptive. Schapiro expressed excitement Thursday to launch the latest feature » See apprentice, page 6
Source: Terri Richardson
HE’s BACK James Franco will be in Evanston on Saturday as A&O Productions and Hillel’s winter speaker. Franco spoke at the Chicago Humanities Festival at Northwestern School of Law last week.
industry, he’s also a very funny guy.” The event will feature a Q-and-A session with Franco, moderated by RTVF Prof. Jeffrey Sconce. Franco recently spoke at a Chicago Humanities Festival event at Northwestern’s law school, where he showed a screening of the film and read excerpts from his upcoming poetry collection “Directing Herbert White,” which covers his experience directing the film. » See A&O, page 6
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