The Daily Northwestern — May 13, 2021 by The Daily Northwestern

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A&E arts & entertainment

7 CITY/Public Safety

Mayor Biss creates new public safety committee

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Evanston’s 81st City Council sworn in Daniel Biss, alderpeople start terms Monday By JASON BEEFERMAN

daily senior staffer @jasonbeeferman

“Over the last 10 days, it has become clear to me that the current challenges will not allow me to effectively lead our department, especially during these unsettling times in college athletics,” Polisky wrote. “I do not want to be a distraction to our incredible men and women as they pursue a collective goal — to help our student-athletes become the best they can be.” Just hours before Polisky resigned, a cohort of student athletes, former students, alumni and

Evanston’s 81st City Council was sworn in Monday evening at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, beginning the terms of Mayor Daniel Biss, City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza and four new alderpeople: Clare Kelly (1st), Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th), Bobby Burns (5th) and Devon Reid (8th). Five members of the last council — Alds. Peter Braithwaite (2nd), Melissa Wynne (3rd), Tom Suffredin (6th), Eleanor Revelle (7th) and Cicely Fleming (9th) — were reelected and will continue their time on the dais. Biss said that the new council had a diversity in experience, which he called an advantage. “We have an opportunity now, with a really wonderful mix of experienced people and incumbents,” Biss said. “I feel so excited about what we can do together with that mix.” During the new council’s

» See POLISKY, page 6

» See SWEARING IN, page 6

Graphic by Carly Schulman

Mike Polisky stepped down after students and faculty called on the University to reconsider the hiring decision.

Mike Polisky resigns as Athletic Director NU community calls for continued investigation, scrutiny in search for new AD By SNEHA DEY, JACOB FULTON and YUNKYO KIM

daily senior staffers @snehadey_, @jacobnfulton, @ yunkyomoonk

Ten days after Northwestern announced Mike Polisky’s appointment to athletic director, he resigned and will depart from the University. Polisky stepped down after students and faculty called on the University to reconsider the hiring decision.

NU to require vaccination starting fall 2021 Northwestern will require students to be fully vaccinated for the 2021-22 academic year. Faculty, staff and visitors will not be required to get the vaccine, Provost Kathleen Hagerty announced in a Wednesday community email. Students who cannot provide proof of their vaccination status and have not received an exemption may not be eligible to register for fall classes, according to the email. “Requiring students to be vaccinated will best support the health of our community and position us for in-person classroom and co-curricular activities for the Fall Term,” Hagerty wrote to the community. The University plans to release information around exemptions in June. International students who cannot secure a vaccine appointment will be able to receive a temporary exemption from the vaccine requirement on the condition they will sign up for vaccination upon arrival to campus.

» See VAX REQUIREMENT, page 6 Recycle Me

For former cheerleader Erika Carter (SESP ‘18), whose petition to reconsider the University’s decision to promote Polisky garnered over 1,300 signatures, the resignation was a relief. “I feel like my efforts had been actually going toward something, but then at the same time, I know that the fight is not over,” Carter said. Carter was among the over 200 faculty, staff, students, alumni and Evanston community members who marched Friday to protest the appointment. NU Community

Not Cops also hosted a Saturday noise demonstration in solidarity with NU cheerleaders who had raised concerns about Polisky’s appointment. In a federal lawsuit filed in January, a cheerleader alleged Polisky did not allow her to meet with then-Athletic Director Jim Phillips about her complaints of sexual exploitation within the cheerleading program. In an independent investigation by The Daily, sources also claimed Polisky failed to adequately address racial discrimination allegations.

Carter said she still believes Polisky violated NU policy. University President Morton Schapiro stated the University engaged an independent investigator who found no such violation in the initial portion of the inquiry. However, Carter told The Daily the University should still investigate Polisky and publicize the investigation’s findings. In the Wednesday announcement, Polisky said the community response to his appointment prompted his departure from both the role and the University.

Faculty Senate talks racial justice at NU

Community Safety Advisory Board prepares to propose fundamental changes to NU leadership By ISABELLE SARRAF

daily senior staffer @isabellesarraf

Feinberg Prof. Clyde Yancy and Chief Diversity Officer Robin Means Coleman discussed racial justice at Northwestern during Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting. Yancy, co-chair of NU’s Community Safety Advisory Board, said senior leadership called him back in November indicating that the University was “at an impasse” when it came to campus safety. Since then, NU has released two external reviews of University Police and the Department of Safety and Security. The first report detailed UP’s budget and operations. The second reassessed DSS’s responsibilities, including its role in student mental health response. Instead of placing mental health responsibilities on campus police, Yancy said,

NU may reroute that authority elsewhere as a result of the assessment’s findings. Yancy also called for the reinvention of Counseling and Psychological Services. The board has heard suggestions supporting the removal of weapons during wellness checks and reduction of their use on campus, he said. He said the board has made it clear to senior leadership that it intends to propose fundamental change including some principles of abolition. “People are not happy on our campus,” Yancy said. “They’re receiving extraordinary education. They understand the value of that education. But the climate in which this is occurring is not one that is conducive to wellness.” Coleman, the board’s other cochair, said institutional responses to racial justice problems often result from protests and demands. She said it is essential to proactively institutionalize the board’s

work. “To be frank, I’m totally over the task forces,” Coleman said. “We actually know the work that needs to be done. We truly do. We don’t need another task force… This is the moment to finally say ‘enough’ and do that work at the institutional level.” Despite faculty calls for updates, Yancy said the board cannot disclose further details until the board goes public with their slate of recommendations. At the meeting, McCormick Prof. Luís Amaral expressed anger toward a lack of transparency, especially as faculty have asked to give input. After Yancy and Coleman repeatedly stated that senior leadership would be the ultimate decision-makers for universitywide policy change, Amaral pointed out a hierarchy in which he said administrators “fall behind the leader” and silently accept leadership’s decisions. Amaral said Mike Polisky’s

Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman

This month’s Faculty Senate meeting included discussions around racial justice at Northwestern as the Community Safety Advisory Board prepares to make recommendations to University leadership.

promotion to athletic director was indicative of the administrative climate. He asked Yancy and Coleman whether, given their positions at the University, they would prioritize standing behind administration or defending those “abused by the University.”

“If the president of this university decides to ignore your recommendations, what would you do?” Amaral asked. In response, Yancy said he took on the role because of community

» See FACULTY SENATE, page 6

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

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

AROUND TOWN

Gun control advocates stress intersectional solutions By WILLIAM CLARK

the daily northwestern @willsclark01

This story contains mentions of gun violence and domestic violence. After nationwide firearm deaths reached a 20-year high in 2020, Evanston- and Illinois-based advocates are pushing for further implementation of gun-violence prevention policies. Although gun violence increased nationally in 2020, some advocates say the issue doesn’t receive enough attention within the Evanston community, especially when it happens in Black and lower-income neighborhoods. Black men are eight times more likely to die by firearm homicide than the general population, according to a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. Carolyn Murray, a gun control advocate and former 5th Ward aldermanic candidate, said City Council needs to take gun violence and its effects on the community more seriously. In 2012, when Murray was working to launch Evanston’s first gun buyback program in recent memory, her 19-year old son Justin was shot and killed in Evanston outside his grandmother’s home. “My son is dead, and he’s never coming back,” Murray said. “So my advocacy is because I care, and I’m very passionate about my community.” Since the buyback program launched, Murray said it has helped get over 300 guns off the streets. Historically, the program was funded by donations from Northwestern, NorthShore University HealthSystem and other private organizations. However, Murray said the gun buyback program is currently running low on funds, and will need more money to continue operating. But Murray said gun buybacks alone aren’t enough to address Evanston’s gun violence problem. “Evanston needs to take a very hard look at how we resource… and what (programs) we provide for families that are at high risk for gun violence,” Murray said. She said she wants the city to increase funding for gun violence prevention programs and implement a city-wide task force to investigate cases of gun

Illustration by Hank Yang

Local advocates call on city council and the Biden administration to address gun violence while taking racial and gender disparities into account.

violence and potential solutions. Ald. Devon Reid (8th), who was sworn in Monday, said he plans to remain “laser-focused” on the issue of gun violence, especially as it impacts the 5th and 8th Wards. However, Reid said he wants to avoid punitive gun control measures that rely on policing and incarcerating people who possess firearms illegally. Some gun control advocates say defunding police departments and investing in alternate community safety programs would be easier if less people were armed, although many gun control laws have historically been enforced by police departments. [cq] “We need to… try to get guns off the street, but do it in a manner that does not violate the rights of our residents,” Reid said. Instead, he said, Evanston should increase support for people in situations that increase their likelihood to commit acts of violence. Reid said gun violence can be related to factors like mistrust of established legal

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channels, such as police and court systems. However, while local gun violence prevention initiatives are important, some advocates said the issue also needs to be addressed at the federal level. Peyton Arens is an Illinois State Director for March for Our Lives, a national, youth-led gun control advocacy group. He said the organization wants the federal government to address gun violence as a public health issue that’s interconnected with other structural disparities, including lack of access to mental health care, rather than an issue that can be dealt with entirely by law enforcement. Arens said gun control can go hand in hand with police demilitarization. A demilitarized system could include departments of unarmed people tasked with responding to situations like mental health emergencies and routine traffic violations instead of armed police officers, reducing the likelihood of violent encounters, he said. Creating that type of system, however, would be

easier if less people were armed, Arens said. “If there’s less guns on the street… police don’t necessarily have to respond with a firearm,” Arens said. “Transferring resources to different departments in a more broad system would make sense, especially in an area as dense and populated as Chicago, because police are forced to handle a lot of different things that they aren’t specifically trained to handle.” At the national level, March for Our Lives has demanded President Joe Biden set aside $1 billion to fund gun violence prevention initiatives and research. The organization is also pressuring Biden to appoint a Director of Gun Violence Prevention to support community-level violence prevention initiatives and recommend gun control measures to Congress and the president. Intersectionality in these programs will be essential, Arens said, because gun violence disproportionately impacts low-income communities and people of color. According to the CDC, firearm homicides impact Black, Native American and Latino communities considerably more than White and Asian American communities. Hillary Douin, the director of the Domestic Violence Program at the YWCA Evanston/North Shore, said gun control is also connected to domestic violence prevention. A 2003 study from the National Institutes of Health found that women are five times more likely to be killed by abusive partners if there is a gun in their household. Douin said measures like universal background checks and the removal of guns from homes where a judge has granted an order of protection can address domestic gun violence. In Evanston, Murray said an intersectional approach to gun control means recognizing that Black communities face disproportionate violence. She said she wants racial justice activists in the city to include gun violence prevention in their activism. “We systematically have made other priorities more important than saving… Black kids,” Murray said. “Until we put resources into our communities to make our quality of life just as fair as any other residents throughout the city… we really can’t (say) that we care so much about these Black men.” williamclark2024@u.northwestern.edu

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

ON CAMPUS

Policy leaders talk Black maternal health

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By JACQUELYNE GERMAIN

eic@dailynorthwestern.com

the daily northwestern @jacquygermain

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with Black women that causes their maternal health to fare worse than other racial groups — the problem is systemic racism within the healthcare system, U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) said in a Wednesday discussion. The panel, which was focused on Black maternal health disparities, was hosted by the Center for Health Equity Transformation and the DuSable Museum of African American History. The event, in collaboration with the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, was the second part of CHET’s Black Maternal Health Crisis Series. Candace Moore, chief equity officer for the City of Chicago, moderated the discussion, and Cassandra Osei, CHET’s clinical research project manager, led the question and answer session. Underwood, a registered nurse, said she uses her clinical background to approach racial disparities in connection to reproductive health. “(Black women) are not heard, and we’re not listened to,” Underwood said. “There are some systemic things happening that as a result have caused (Black women) to die for decades at disproportionate rates.” The panel began with a discussion about Illinois’s expansion of Medicaid coverage for mothers from 60 days to one year after birth. Illinois is the first state to institute such an extension. The policy change has the potential to save lives, panelist and U.S. Rep. Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.) said. “What happens to moms doesn’t just happen in the first 60 days, it can happen the whole entire postpartum period which is a year,” Kelly said. “And 70 percent of moms have one complication during that year.” A few weeks after the expansion, on April 29, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law proposed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. The provision

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The Feinberg School of Medicine. Panelists discussed systemic barriers in maternal health care and actionable steps to improve Black maternal health outcomes in a Wednesday discussion.

requires Medicaid to cover doula services for pregnant people, allows workers to use sick days for caregiving responsibilities and requires implicit bias training for healthcare workers. Panelist Ann Borders, executive director of the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative, said these policies are important steps in improving postpartum safety and addressing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. “Legislation is the first piece of the puzzle,” Borders said. “And then we have to figure out how to implement strategies that are going to really make this legislation work for patients.” Panelist Shaquan Dupart, founder of the Chicago Black Doula Alliance then discussed how COVID-19 has worsened the already-strained relationship between Black people and the healthcare system, including for Black pregnant individuals. Underwood said the Black Maternal Health

Momnibus Act, a set of 12 bills dedicated to ending the country’s maternal mortality crisis, seeks to mend this relationship. Underwood said the Act entails diversifying the healthcare system, expanding mental healthcare, supporting incarcerated mothers and more. The discussion concluded with Moore asking the panelists to share actionable steps to support Black maternal health and reduce these disparities. Kelly said it’s important to listen to people’s lived experiences when it comes to maternal mortality. “We need to hear what’s happening with people on the ground,” Kelly said. “We need the stories of people who had a difficult time with their pregnancy … We are truly in this together so share your stories, share your ideas.” jacquelynegermain2023@u.northwestern.edu

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4 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

A&E arts & entertainment

Courtesy of Juleya Woodson

“I Hope They Understand” by Juleya Woodson. Woodson, a longtime Evanston resident, said she was inspired to write a children’s book that celebrates racial and cultural diversity.

Evanston resident’s book celebrates racial diversity By LAYA NEELAKANDAN

daily senior staffer @laya_neel

For as long as she can remember, Juleya Woodson has wanted to write a book. After seeing how Black children were affected by the country’s reckoning with racial injustice last summer, the Evanston resident funneled her feelings into a children’s book, “I Hope They Understand.” “With everything going on in our world, after Breonna Taylor and George Floyd… I felt like the media was sending a message that Black is not beautiful,” Woodson said. “That was my motivation.” Woodson is a family support specialist at Childcare Network of Evanston and a graduate of Evanston Township High School. She said her experience working with children up to age five, as well as with raising her two-year-old son, made her realize how insecure Black children felt in the summer of 2020. Woodson said she wanted the book to act as a “conversation starter” for children so they could recognize and celebrate racial and

cultural diversity. She said children look up to their parents and notice when there is something wrong — and this was especially true last summer. To her, it’s vital for all kids to be able to see themselves in the books they read, Woodson said. Her book highlights the characteristics of a Black child, from the eyes to the lips, reminding Black children of their beauty while educating others. “It’s about helping Black kids feel beautiful, but also opening the conversation for other kids to ask those questions and not be afraid to talk about the differences they noticed,” Woodson said. The book also includes affirmations for the children to recognize that though their skin may look different from others’, it is still beautiful. Woodson remembered not feeling beautiful as a child because beauty was portrayed as “lighter skin, thinner bodies and long, thin hair.” Her experience is not unique — she said many children internalize the feeling of lacking beauty at as young as three years old. “Even as a toddler, they start to classify and categorize people,” Woodson said. “And by three-and-a-half to four years old, they’re

starting to add value to their environment and internalize racism and superiority.” Woodson said the writing and publishing process was less difficult than she thought it would be. After searching for publishers who had released books similar to “I Hope They Understand,” Woodson said she reached out to one who was excited to work with her. Woodson also needed an illustrator for the book. After posting a call for help on Facebook, her college friend and graphic designer, Michelle Wang, reached out. Although Woodson had specific visions for some of the pages, Wang said she still had creative reign with others parts of the book. Wang mainly works on logos and brochures for companies and said she enjoyed the change of pace. “It was fun to get away from corporate colors and do something fun and playful and colourful,” Wang said. “It’s important for all kids to recognize that they are beautiful creatures.” She also said she admires Woodson’s spark that “spurs her on to accomplish great things.” Wang said unlike others, Woodson works to make her dreams a reality. Another of Woodson’s college friends, Kempton Freeman, agreed that Woodson’s

book is essential in the context of current cultural conversations. “Even though we are different, we are the same in the confines of being humans,” Freeman said. “I had to support (Woodson) and make sure that I definitely put it out there to the universe to support her as well.” A cultural advisor in a Wisconsin school district, Freeman shared the book with a kindergarten class. After reading the book, Freeman said the children drew pictures of themselves and discussed the importance of their uniqueness. Ultimately, Woodson hopes to expand on her literary debut, eventually turning “I Hope They Understand” into a series of books. She also wants the series to turn into a movement that helps bridge the racial wealth gap. She plans to create a website focused on educating and inspiring community members, with useful articles, blogs and motivational speakers. “Things won’t completely change unless we meet our kids where they’re at because they’re the next leaders and the purest souls right now,” Woodson said. “They care nothing about race or color, and we need to keep it that way.” laya@u.northwestern.edu

NU singers reflect on impacts of COVID-19 on vocal skills By DIEGO RAMOS-BECHARA

the daily northwestern @d_ramos42

After contracting COVID-19, some Northwestern singers reflected on short-term effects that have impacted their vocal capabilities. Early research suggests that contracting the virus may lead to detrimental vocal effects including respiratory or pulmonary complications –– compromising a singer’s ability to sing with support by engaging their diaphragmatic muscles. This was Bienen freshman Sofia Ricciarini’s biggest concern at the time when she tested positive for COVID-19 in February. Her asthma heightened her fears regarding potential respiratory problems, which might be further complicated by contracting COVID-19. “My biggest issue is just that, trying to sing with a cough,” Ricciarini said. “It keeps my voice a little bit weaker than it usually is.” Bienen Prof. Nancy Gustafson, Ricciarini’s vocal instructor, checked in on her regularly. Gustafson continues to ease Ricciarini back into her pre-COVID singing routine, not hesitant to halt rehearsal if she hears strain or vocal fry. Ricciarini said she reaches shortness of breath at a much faster rate than before contracting the virus — a worrisome effect, as it may hinder her ability to effectively sing with support of the diaphragm.

Weinberg sophomore Arman Popli shared similar sentiments, as he also finds it difficult to sing with as much breath as he did before testing positive for COVID-19. Popli does not have asthma or any other

respiratory conditions. But he said he also felt as though contracting the virus heavily impacted his ability to breathe as effectively as he used to. “My pitch, tone, high (and) low notes all feel the same,” Popli said. “It’s just been incredibly

Illustration by Nathanial Ortiz

After contracting COVID-19, Northwestern singers reflect on the short-term effects they felt impacted their vocal capabilities. Early research suggests that contracting the virus may lead towards detrimental vocal effects including respiratory or pulmonary complications.

difficult to sing for a considerable amount of time and (do) so in a way that feels healthy.” Weinberg freshman Sean Dukes said singing was one of the ways he was able to cope during his time in isolation at Foster-Walker Complex. Dukes performs with the Northwestern Community Ensemble and is part of Freshman Fifteen, an all-male a cappella group on campus. While quarantining, Dukes sang for an audience of one, himself, to pass the time and practice his repertoire. “I’ve been singing ever since I was seven, it’s something that brings me comfort,” Dukes said. “I was singing a lot because that’s all I can really do to alleviate boredom.” Though he did feel the “occasional cough or scratch,” it was never enough to merit concern for his singing capabilities. Now that he’s out of quarantine, Dukes said he feels “back to normal,” and he said he’s excited to return to rehearsal. Dukes and Ricciarini emphasized that their ability to sing well is vital. Whether it be a means to cope, a hobby or an aspiring career path, good vocal performance is important to them and their time at NU. “It is scary because people say there are a lot of long term lung consequences that we may just not know about,” Ricciarini said. “I’m willing to take it easy for now in the interest of preserving this instrument I value so much.” diegoramos-bechara2024@u.northwestern.edu

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

Artists celebrate sexual freedom in NU Sex Week gallery By OLIVIA ALEXANDER

the daily northwestern @oliviagalex

Through the works featured in Northwestern Sex Week’s virtual art gallery, artists reflected on their sexual freedom, the ways in which isolation impacted their relationship with sexuality and imagined a world where everyone can freely embrace pleasure. Prior to the start of NU’s Sex Week, community members submitted art in response to prompts related to the week’s theme of “Sexual Healing.” SESP senior and Sex Week President Eliza Gonring said the art gallery celebrates students and community members’ talents and capabilities. “Arts are crucial (for) being in community with each other,” Gonring said. “It’s a good way to connect (while) having to be quarantined across individual households.” As a member of the queer artist collective Living in Color, Gonring has helped showcase art in exhibitons before, but Gonring said the virtual art gallery is the first to be a part of Sex Week. Sex Week planning committee member and

Weinberg junior Maddie McReynolds said the week lends itself well to art, as both sex and visual art are methods of self expression. She said it’s natural to meld the two and consider the ways they relate to one another. The virtual gallery, McReynolds said, is one way organizers sought to involve community members’ participation in the often speakeroriented week of events. “We’ll have these really great, talented speakers come in, but a lot of that is just oral presentation talking about the specific aspects of sex,” McReynolds said. ”Adding a visual art component does allow people another avenue of expression.” SESP freshman Yaurie Hwang created a piece that was included in the exhibition. Her work is entitled “5:30 A.M.” and depicts a hand and a vagina. Hwang said she hadn’t painted since her freshman year of high school, and the opportunity to create a piece for Sex Week sounded fun. “(Sex) is not a topic that a lot of people do art on, or at least I haven’t done,” Hwang said. “I think Sex Week posed a good opportunity for me to explore that theme and reflect on what I think about it.” Eden Berke, Sex Week planning committee

member and SESP senior, said the gallery invites people to “put an element of themselves” on the organization’s website. Her submission to the virtual gallery is a mixed media piece made using gel pens, watercolor and acrylic paint markers. Berke’s piece features two figures entirely encompassed in one another’s presence. “It radiates feelings of freedom and comfort and joy and pleasure,” Berke said. “That’s a world that I would want to live in.” Art is an extension of people, Berke said, as works come from individual creativity. To her, the gallery will help people explore their sexuality, gender identity and relationship with sex in ways they might not otherwise have been able to. The gallery is one way participants in Sex Week can consider such aspects of their identity, Berke said. “Often at school, we can’t bring our whole selves into work, or we’re expected not to bring our whole selves into the classroom or into other spaces,” Berke said. “We intend for (Sex Week) to be a very open space and a place where everybody can bring everything they are.” oliviaalexander2024@u.northwestern.edu

Courtesy of Maddie McReynolds

Eden Berke’s piece “‫( ןדע ןג‬Garden of Eden).” Berke submitted this work for Sex Week’s virtual art gallery.

Freshman Musical to premiere “The Theory of Relativity” By JOANNE HANER

the daily northwestern @joanne_n_h

Northwestern’s annual Freshman Musical traditionally provides first-years with a chance to explore the theatre community on campus. The pandemic has forced the cast and crew to adapt with a virtual show. This year, the Freshman Musical will put on an interactive livestreamed performance of Brian Hill’s “The Theory of Relativity’’ on June 4 and 5. The show will premiere through a watch party platform so viewers can have direct communication with the actors involved. The show’s director, Jessica Vallan, said the creative team chose “The Theory of Relativity” because the plot hits close to home. The show tells the story of 13 seemingly unrelated college students dealing with their own individual struggles, including homesickness, love and broken homes. “One of our main goals was having a show that felt personal to us,” Vallan said. “As freshmen, we felt like it would be a great opportunity for actors to share pieces of themselves and find pieces of themselves in these characters.” “The Theory of Relativity” is a song cycle, which means instead of having a single storyline, each individual character’s songs loosely tie together. Vallan said this format made it easier for

Courtesy of Mantra Radhakrishnan

The production team of this year’s Freshman Musical hold one of their weekly production meetings via Zoom. Because of the virtual setting, the team does not have to worry about certain aspects of the production process, such as booking spaces.

actors to record themselves in their own spaces and piece the virtual production together, without losing the spirit of the Freshman Musical. Co-producer and McCormick freshman Jasmin

Ali-Diaz described theatre as “magic.” As a coproducer, one of their visions was ensuring that magic wasn’t lost on a computer screen. “Within the Freshman Musical, we want to

make people feel connected even though we’re all very far apart,” Ali-Diaz said. Although all cast members are on-campus this quarter, Ali-Diaz and Vallan are both operating from home. Because cast members are in Evanston, they have been allowed to hold in-person rehearsals following NU’s COVID-19 guidelines. However, each cast member will separately prerecord their individual part for the show. Co-producer and Communication freshman Mantra Radhakrishnan said the behind-thescenes environment of the Freshman Musical has not been lost. She said she originally got involved with the show to bond with fellow freshmen with similar interests, regardless of major. Radhakrishnan said the true collaboration of everyone involved in the Freshman Musical is an experience that will stay with her post-production. “Even if I am the producer, that’s a different responsibility than an actor, but not more power,” Radhakrishnan said. Regardless of the format, Northwestern firstyears said the Freshman Musical has still continued to create opportunities to get involved in collegiate theatre. “For a lot of us, this is our first time in the roles that we’re in,” Ali-Diaz said. “We’re all kind of in the same boat together, figuring it out as you go.” joannehaner2024@u.northwestern.edu

Wirtz student project “Desdemona” tackles sexual stigma By OLIVIA ALEXANDER

the daily northwestern @oliviagalex

Most interpretations of Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello” center the perspectives of men like Iago or Othello himself, but a Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts Student Theatre & Performance Project seeks to empower the female characters. “Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief” aims to raise up the titular character by positively portraying women’s sexuality. The play, written in 1994 by Paula Vogel, will premiere digitally May 28 to 30. The team is filming and editing the play’s thirty scenes for viewers to stream for free on Broadway On Demand. Director and Communication sophomore Sydney Tennill said she is interested in using art to break down the stigma around sex. “Desdemona” features

arts & entertainment Editor Laya Neelakandan Assistant Editors Diego Ramos-Bechara Olivia Alexander Designer Meher Yeda Staff Joanne Haner

characters who engage in sex work without shying away from it. “There’s a lot of sex negativity in our culture, and shame, especially when it comes to women and their sexuality,” Tennill, who is also a member of Northwestern’s Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators, said. “The show talks a lot about sex, and it talks a lot about women with various experiences.” The play follows three women – Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. Desdemona, an upper-class woman, takes to sex work while navigating martial problems. Her self-righteous maid, Emilia, is selfrighteous and looks negatively on Desdemona’s behavior. Bianca, another prostitute, befriends Desdemona. Tennill reflected on the depth of these three characters. “The play does such a good job at really making these women complex and really showing how these women fight for their survival and fight to exist in this world (that) doesn’t give them a lot of options to exist,” Tennill said. Communication freshman Veronica Szafoni plays Bianca. Working on the play, she said, has been empowering, since Bianca has no shame in sex work and still dreams of getting married, Szafoni said. Szafoni added that she finds Desdemona and Emilia inspiring as well. Desdemona does not want to “tie herself down,” Szafoni said, adding that Emilia’s strength in her beliefs is notable. “All of these characters are champions for their own whims and for their own values that they want to stick to,” Szafoni said. “What makes it so cool is (that) it’s feminist, but it’s definitely championing the different things that all these women find themselves attached to.” The characters’ values show up in their costumes, said Communication and McCormick freshman Courtney Sullivan Wu, the play’s

Photo courtesy of Emma McElwee

Communication freshman Veronica Szafoni in rehearsal for “Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief.” She plays Bianca in the show.

costume designer. Emilia wears bright colors to signify innocence, while Desdemona’s pastel dress reflects her high class background and value of purity, Sullivan Wu said. “Each character has a very specific view on their sexuality, how they need to present themselves and their role in society,” she added. “I tried to reflect that through what they’re wearing with the different colors of their costumes.” Sullivan Wu pointed toward scenes in the show when Desdemona puts on a lacy red robe and explained that the outfit represents the character’s desire. Bianca’s costume is black and red

throughout the show because she doesn’t need to project innocence or virtue, Sullivan Wu said. After watching the play, Tennill said she hopes the audience consider women’s agency over their lives. “I hope that it starts a lot of conversations about the relationship between women, sex and sexuality,” Tennill said, “(Conversations about) how society teaches women that it shouldn’t be an important part of (their) lives, conversations about how women, even when stripped of all of their agency… fight for a piece of the world.” oliviaalexander2024@u.northwestern.edu

6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

POLISKY From page 1

donors published a letter in support of his promotion. The letter, tweeted by sports business reporter Darren Rovell (Communication ‘00), stated Polisky’s character is “non-negotiable, and his integrity never wavers.” It called on the Board of Trustees to allow the legal proceedings to complete, and provided a form for supporters to sign their names. An anonymous student on the cheer team said she was surprised by Polisky’s decision to step down. As hours passed following the announcement, however, she said she grew more frustrated. “It’s just still made very clear that nobody above Polisky had any intentions of making that change,” the cheerleader said. “He only really stepped down because of the shame factor, because of the controversy.” Until a new athletic director is appointed, Linguistics Prof. Robert Gundlach will lead the department in

SWEARING IN From page 1

first “call of the wards,” alderpeople thanked their supporters and shared their goals for the next four years. Burns said he is grateful to be the 5th Ward’s new alderperson, and spoke about the significance of having two council members without college degrees. “I’m a night high school graduate, (Reid) is a G.E.D guy,” Burns said. “That means something because no matter what course you take in life, your path can lead to people seeing you as valuable whether you have degrees or paperwork or not.” Reid was the only alderperson to make any legislative motions during the meeting. He proposed adding

VAX REQUIREMENT From page 1

NU joins a growing body of Illinois colleges requiring vaccinations for the fall, including Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University. The University also announced changes to testing protocols effective immediately. Students will now be expected to test with Abbott’s BinaxNOW rapid antigen test twice a week. A limited number of Color tests will still be administered but a PCR test is no

FACULTY SENATE From page 1

feedback calling for universitywide change. He said the board’s plans are not palatable for the president in particular. However, the board functions independently, he said, and is only expected to deliver suggestions to administrators who can make concrete changes. He said the board invites more input and wants to represent the entire community’s interests. The University announced Polisky’s resignation

the interim. He previously served in the interim role in 2008, and has also represented the University as its faculty athletics representative for the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Big Ten. In the release, Schapiro said he plans to share information about the hiring process for the next athletic director in the coming months. Christian West (Medill ‘12) said following Polisky’s resignation, increasing scrutiny should be applied to the search process for NU’s next athletic director. “The students still have some power,” West said. “They can make their voices heard in ways that get the University’s leadership to recognize. It also creates an opportunity for the University to try to do better this time.” While Polisky’s resignation and departure is proof of the impact of student and staff voices, the women faculty members who organized Friday’s protest said the University response to Polisky’s resignation was inadequate. Schapiro’s statement about the resignation

continued to praise Polisky, they said, and failed to address any of the systemic problems students have been bringing to the administration’s attention for an extended period of time. “It does not acknowledge a single concern about the Athletics Department,” the faculty members wrote. “It does not begin to reckon with the cheerleaders’ testimony, which goes back not days, not weeks, but years. President Schapiro owes these courageous students an acknowledgement and an apology rather than silence.” “President Schapiro did not acknowledge why he’s resigning, did not acknowledge Polisky’s role in the harassment… he did not apologize for his mistake in appointing Polisky,” faculty organizer History Prof. Susan Pearson said. “That really shows me that there’s a lot of work left to do with Northwestern, no matter if Mike Polisky is here, no matter if Morty Schapiro is here. There’s institutional and cultural change that still needs to happen.” Moving forward, the faculty members said in the statement that independent investigations into both

the Athletic Department and NU’s Office of Equity will be essential, because both departments failed the students impacted by these complaints. SESP senior and fencer Isabella Min said the resignation announcement prompted relief from her team. If Polisky had stayed, Min said circumstances would have remained difficult for his leadership due to community opposition. She said she wondered how long he would have lasted even if he did not resign. However, Min said the question of how the University will address impact for cheerleaders and student athletes still remains. “Is anything going to be done for the cheerleaders?” Min said. “If it obviously can’t be resolved, will there be reparations? Will there be policy changes… Is anything going to be done?”

legislation that would end Evanston’s longtime practice of selling beach tokens to the next council agenda as a special order of business. He called for the city to use the “$2 million in (budget) surplus from 2020,” to fund free beach access for all residents. “We can use a portion of that (surplus) to make the beaches accessible to every Evanston resident this summer and end the policy of exclusionary, and dare I say racist, policy of charging for beach access,” Reid said. The council will revisit the proposed legislation at the May 24 City Council meeting. Reid also motioned to add an item mandating a temporary hazard pay for Evanston’s essential workers to the next council agenda. Reid said the measure would be especially significant for employees who are

Black, Indigenous and people of color — groups that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. “Hazard pay for work performed in Evanston during the COVID-19 emergency will promote job retention, compensate (workers) for the risk of working on the front lines of a global pandemic and improve their financial ability,” Reid said. Reid said he intends for the proposed hazard pay legislation to only apply to large corporations, like Jewel-Osco and Whole Foods Market — companies he said have turned profits during the pandemic while others have suffered economically. But Wynne disagreed with adding the legislation to the May 24 agenda as a special order of business, which she said does not allow for the necessary thorough

discussion and research that occurs in city committees. “Having a special order of business at City Council is a very foreshortened process,” Wynne said. “I agree, our essential workers are not paid enough, but I can’t support something that to me is a rushed process.” Wynne, along with Braithwaite and Nieuwsma, said council committees and city staff should consider the item carefully before it is placed on the agenda. The council voted 5-4 in favor of Reid’s motion to consider the item as a special order of business on May 24. “We have to do right by these employees and act now and act swiftly,” Reid said. “This is an emergency.”

longer mandated. NU has not yet announced plans for testing requirements for the summer and fall. The changes in testing protocols were made based on recommendations from medical experts, students’ requests to simplify testing protocols and consistent results across the tests from Abbott and Color. More than 75 percent of students are currently fully vaccinated or in the process of getting vaccinated, according to the email. Students who are interested in registering for a vaccine appointment

should work with the University’s vaccination team, the email stated. Hagerty said fully vaccinated students do not need to wear a mask outdoors unless they are engaging in large outdoor gatherings. The update to outdoors mask requirements aligns with U.S. Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention guidelines. All students, regardless of their vaccination status, are expected to wear a mask indoors.

and departure from NU partway through the meeting. Amaral later told The Daily he was shocked to see University leadership defend Polisky in the days following his promotion. Between complaints of Polisky’s failures to handle issues of sexual harassment and racial discrimination, Amaral said Polisky should have been fired before he issued a resignation. Amaral said many members of the Faculty Senate have discussed the cyclical nature of these issues and complaints. This stems from a lack of pressure for

those in power to stand up against the administration, he said — something he reminded his colleagues as they prepare to send racial justice recommendations to senior leadership. “If we don’t speak out, the people in power have this idea that they can get away with stuff like this,” Amaral told The Daily. “They can get away with fancy language about how, ‘We all care about this and that,’ but nothing changes.”

— Sneha Dey

isarraf@u.northwestern.edu

snehadey@u.northwestern.edu fulton@u.northwestern.edu yunkyokim2022@u.northwestern.edu

jasonbeeferman@u.northwestern.edu

Beekeeping is abuzz in Evanston With the recent decline of honeybee populations, The Daily Northwestern spoke to local beekeepers about their efforts to support Evanston bee populations. One such effort was a 2006 beekeeping ordinance, which allowed the Evanston Ecology Center to collaborate with local keepers to create a thriving honeybee population within the city. Check out this video to learn more about beekeeping within the city, and what residents are doing to sustain a healthy population amid this decline. — Sammi Boas

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021

City Council to lease Harley Clarke Mansion to Artists Book House

The city will lease the Harley Clarke Mansion to Artists Book House for 40 years after aldermen voted at Monday’s meeting. For years, residents and elected officials have debated the best uses for the mansion, considering options like a hotel, an environmental education center and demolition to create more parkland. Artists Book House was among four organizations that applied to renovate and operate in the mansion, which has been unoccupied since 2015. Artists Book House plans to launch a bookstore, café and art gallery within the space. Residents will also be able to take classes on

As one of his first acts in office, Mayor Biss creates public safety committee

As one of his first acts in office, Mayor Daniel Biss created the Reimagining Public Safety Committee, he announced at Monday’s City Council meeting The committee, which comprises 17 city officials and community members, plans to analyze the city’s public safety efforts — which encompasses the Evanston Police Department — and provide recommendations for the 2022 city budget. “We are prepared to take on what is perhaps the

Omar Apollo named daytime headliner for Dillo Day 2021 Musician Omar Apollo was named Dillo Day’s 2021 daytime headliner, according to a Wednesday release from Mayfest Productions. Apollo is the first performer Mayfest has announced to the Northwestern community. Dillo Day 2021 will center around the theme of POSTMODERN, and is scheduled for May 22. The event will include both in-person and virtual content after a year of virtual Dillo programming due to COVID-19.

creative writing classes and binding books, according to the ordinance. City Council approved Artists Book House’s proposal in a March 8 council meeting after considering the financial feasibility and public impact that a book-making literary hub would have on the community. The vote on the mansion was one of the last actions the 80th City Council took before the new council was sworn in. Early Monday, Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) and Ald. Devon Reid (8th) criticized the lame duck council’s agenda, alleging it did not have the power to pass ordinances at the meeting. The property’s rent will increase every ten years. Artists Book House will have to pay $1 a month from now until 2031, $1,000 a month the following ten years, $2,000 a month between 2041 and 2051 and $3,000 a month for a decade after that.

Artists Book House will be open to the public in 2026 after three stages of renovations. The first stage, from May 2021 to May 2023, will be for fundraising, designing and obtaining construction bids. The second stage,from May 2023 to May 2025, will include building renovations, including refurbishing the windows, roof, elevator and terrace. The third stage, which spans from May 2025 to May 2026, will include kitchen renovations for the café and landscaping plans. An estimated $6.5 to $8.5 million in funding will be needed for renovations. Artists Book House is required to raise $4 million in 2022 and 2023 to cover the costs of renovations, and will continue to raise $2 million every year after.

most difficult and controversial issue before us,” Biss said. “But it’s also, from both a quality of life and a budgetary standpoint issue, perhaps the most significant one and I cannot wait to get started.” Biss, along with the rest of the 81st City Council, which includes four new alderpeople, five returning alderpeople and a new city clerk, were sworn in Monday. During his mayoral campaign, Biss advocated for less spending on policing and told The Daily the city should reduce the occupational scope of the Evanston Police Department. He also called for increased transparency from University Police and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System. Along with Biss serving as chair, the committee

includes representatives from organizations throughout the city, including Sarah Bogan of Evanston Fight for Black Lives, Betty Bogg of Connections for the Homeless, Betty Ester of Citizens’ Network of Protection, Patrick Keenan-Devlin of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy and Kristen White of YWCA Evanston/North Shore. City officials on the committee include Alds. Bobby Burns (5th), Devon Reid (8th) and Cicely Fleming (9th), as well as Alejandra L. Ibañez and Kymberly Walton of the Equity & Empowerment Commission and Nathan Norman of the youth and young adult division of the city’s Health and Human Services Department. Marcus Campbell will represent Evanston

“My team and I have had Omar Apollo on our radar for years now,” Mayfest Director of Booking Amirah Ford said in the news release. “Watching him develop, Omar has clearly distinguished himself as this genre-bending bilingual rising star.” Born in Hobart, Indiana, Omar Apollo has familial roots in Guadalajara, Mexico. Apollo grew up performing, dancing ballet folklorico and singing in his church choir. When he was twelve, Apollo taught himself to play guitar by watching YouTube videos and imitating how the artists moved their fingers. Smoothly blending English and Spanish lyrics in his music, Apollo’s music draws influence from dream pop, funk, R&B and rap. In

2017, Apollo borrowed $30 to upload his song “Ugotme” to Spotify. It was an immediate hit, garnering over 40,000 streams by the next day and over 15 million streams that year. Since then, Apollo has released two extended plays: 2018’s Stereo and 2019’s Friends. In his latest studio album Apolonio, Apollo sings of queer love and heartbreak. Apollo is also Dillo Day’s first ever Latinx daytime headliner, according to the release. “We’re excited to bring artists, like Omar, that better represent and reflect the identities and intersectionalities of Northwestern’s campus,” Ford said in the release.

— Yonjoo Seo

— Alex Chun

Daily file photo by Evan Robinson-Johnson

The Harley Clarke Mansion, 2603 Sheridan Rd. City Council voted Monday to lease the Harley Clarke Mansion to Artists Book House.

Township High School, Andrew Papachristos will represent Northwestern and Melissa Sacluti will represent EPD. Community activist Sean Peck-Collier and organizer Evangeline Semark will also serve as committee members. “I’m incredibly honored and appreciative of a diverse, remarkably knowledgeable and expert group of folks who agreed to be a part of that,” Biss said. “I also am well aware that that group of people cannot possibly represent the full quilts of views and knowledge and experiences in this community, and so I’m making an open invitation for anybody in this town who wants to be a part of this effort to raise their hand.” — Delaney Nelson

Daily file photo by Noah Frick-Alofs

Omar Apollo is the Daytime Dillo 2021 headliner.

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Thursday, May 13, 2021

SPORTS

@DailyNU_Sports

BASEBALL

How Shawn Goosenberg emerged as NU’s best batter By JOHN RIKER

daily senior staffer @john_riker

In Northwestern’s fall hitting competitions, Shawn Goosenberg wanted to be at the plate during pivotal

moments. The Wildcats’ coaches knew it, too, so they allowed Goosenberg to draft the teams and manipulate the lineups to make himself the batter facing the most high-pressure situations. “I get a little more amped up in lategame inning situations when I know I

have a chance with one swing to end the game or to really make an impact,” Goosenberg said. “That level of focus in those situations and clutch moments, I just feel myself become extra locked in.” In the midst of a breakout junior season, Goosenberg has seen his practice reps pay off at the plate. On an NU team that still leads the conference in home runs – even while missing two series due to health and safety concerns– the star shortstop has hit a team-high 11 homers through 28 games, including three go-ahead or walk-off shots. When it comes to Goosenberg’s talent, coach Spencer Allen doesn’t mince words. “He’s the best hitter I’ve ever coached,” Allen said.

Signs of stardom

Growing up in Encino, Calif., Goosenberg began playing organized sports as a 5-year-old. Sports gave him the opportunity to be a part of a team, to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and simply to have something to do. His early experiences in baseball, basketball and football led him to realize he wanted to continue playing as long as he could. Eric Holtz, the head coach of Team USA at the 2017 Maccabiah Games, first saw Goosenberg at a tryout in the Calabasas area. By the end of the day, Holtz knew Goosenberg had to be on his Maccabiah Games squad. At the Maccabiah Games, Goosenberg won MVP honors and helped Team USA win a gold medal. Across five games, he hit .529 at the plate and displayed his range as a fielder. “Goose was just out of his body,” Holtz said.“There were certain things you just can’t teach.”

The Road to Evanston

Joshua Hoffman/The Daily Northwestern

Despite stellar performances

overseas and at Calabasas High, Goosenberg’s slight 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame and modest statistics made for a quiet college recruiting process. When his coaches got in contact with the staff at NU, Goosenberg jumped at the chance to attend a top academic school and play baseball in the Big Ten. Entering his first year with the Cats, Goosenberg wanted to make an immediate impact. By the second month of the 2019 season, Goosenberg was a regular in the Cats’ lineup. He finished the year with a .288 batting average and was selected to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Third Team, even as NU finished 23-27 overall and ninth in the Big Ten. Goosenberg continued his upward trajectory in the beginning of his sophomore season, translating offseason work in the weight room into tangible offensive improvements. Then, COVID-19 cut the Cats’ season short after just 13 games.

New Heights

After nearly a year off, NU returned to the diamond in March to start off an abbreviated, conference-only schedule. Goosenberg struggled toward the start of the season, hitting just .185 through the Cats’ first seven games. That all changed on March 14. NU was down 4-5 in the bottom of the ninth against Michigan State and needed a momentum shift to pull off its first series victory of the season. From there, Goosenberg took over. He launched a walk-off, three-run shot over the “Green Monster” of Greenville Drive’s Fluor Field, securing a win for the Cats and kicking off a prolific month at the plate for the junior shortstop. Goosenberg earned his first Big Ten Player of the Week honors for his performances against in-state rival Illinois in march, mashing three

homers in three games in another NU series win. Two weeks later, he raised the bar yet again. In another Player of the Week performance, the California native tallied four homers, including a walk-off against Rutgers in the Cats’ first home game in almost two years. In the decisive third game against Rutgers, NU faced a 5-1 deficit with three outs left. With the Cats nearing Goosenberg’s spot in the lineup, Allen knew the strategy. “Before the inning, Coach goes, “Let’s get this thing to Goose, you’ve seen what’s happened before,” said junior first baseman Anthony Calarco, Goosenberg’s longtime roommate. “I was able to get on and right when I got on base, I knew what was gonna happen.” Goosenberg took the 2-2 pitch deep to left for a two-run shot, sending the game into extra innings. NU’s lineup was unable to get it back to their shortstop, losing the game 6-5 and falling in the series. Holtz, now the manager for Team Israel at the upcoming Summer Olympics and no stranger to professional baseball, sees even greater heights ahead for his former player. “He’s got a shot to do some special stuff after Northwestern,” Holtz said. “Like any 17-year-old, he needed to get a little bit bigger and stronger and he has, now as a 21-year-old kid. I mean, the sky’s the limit for him.” Right now, though, Goosenberg’s focus is on lifting the 12-16 Cats to their first winning record since 2000 and continuing to get in opponents’ heads. “It’s really nice having a guy that, when he comes up to bat, the other team’s thinking about it,” senior pitcher Quinn Lavelle said. “He can definitely do damage.” johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu

SOFTBALL

Newport has filled every role NU Softball has asked of her By BENJAMIN ROSENBERG

daily senior staffer @bxrosenberg

Northwestern’s second home game of the 2021 season had turned into a slugfest. The Wildcats led Wisconsin 13-7 in the top of the fourth inning, but after freshman starter Lauren Boyd reached 90 pitches, coach Kate Drohan made a call to the bullpen. So, in came the right fielder. But Morgan Newport was no ordinary right fielder. The fifth-year senior played a key role on NU’s pitching staff as an underclassman before shifting to the outfield. Her time in the circle was limited, but she was ready at a moment’s notice. On that particular Saturday afternoon, Newport did a little of everything. She went 4-for-4, including a two-run home run, and allowed just one hit from the circle the rest of the way as the Cats won 15-7. “When the game asks you to do multiple things, it’s kind of nice,” Newport said. “Doing the same thing over and over again, it’s not as fun. I love being able to contribute to the team in a lot of different ways.”

2017-18: In the circle

Newport played on both sides of the ball in high school and with her club team in DeKalb, Illinois. But she was a pitcher first and foremost during her first two seasons in Evanston. She pitched primarily in relief as a freshman, when the Cats started 1-10 and never fully recovered, finishing below .500. But pitching coach

Michelle Gascoigne said the experience Newport gained that year was critical for her future success. “She’s always had a good mentality, just doing whatever the team asked her for,” Gascoigne said. “As a freshman, she wasn’t afraid to speak up or ask questions and that has gone a long way for her.” Newport was expected to play a similar role as a sophomore. After all, the Cats had five pitchers on deck and wouldn’t need her much. But due to other pitchers’ injuries and struggles, Newport played a huge part in NU’s resurgence — the Cats saw the most wins in a decade with 38. Newport threw a shutout in early March against No. 11 Alabama that kick-started a 10-game winning streak and pitched a five-inning no-hitter in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal against Michigan State. “We relied on her heavily,” Drohan said. “Each year she gained more and more responsibility. Every time the game or our team asked something of her, she stepped up.”

2019-20: To the outfield

Newport found herself pitching less as a junior, instead joining the lineup as the Wildcats’ primary right fielder. Drohan said the motive was to get her more at-bats, and in 2019 she made her most progress as a hitter. Just like 2021, Newport’s best game of 2019 came against Wisconsin. On April 13, she hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Cats the lead, then came in from the outfield to pitch in the fifth, holding the Badgers hitless for the last 2.1 innings to help NU to

an 8-5 win. Newport’s services weren’t required much from the circle, primarily thanks to then-freshman Danielle Williams, who threw over half the Cats’ innings en route to NFCA National Freshman of the Year honors. But Newport rebounded from an offensive slump to help NU win an NCAA Regional in Evanston and advance to its first Super Regional since 2008. She went 8-for-16 that weekend, including a 4-for-4 performance in an elimination game against Southern Illinois and a key two-run double in the Regional final the next day as the Cats defeated Louisville to move on. Drohan called Newport a “streaky hitter,” saying that whenever she gets out, she’s always preparing for her next at-bat. She said she had a “real will” to help the team make history in 2019. When COVID-19 ended the 2020 season abruptly, Newport knew she didn’t want to be finished. As a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, she advocated for springsport athletes to gain an extra year of eligibility, which they were granted on March 30 of that year. “The day after our season got canceled, Kate called me and said, ‘Will you come to my office?’” Newport said. “We’re both still dry-eyed from all the crying we’d done the day before. It was the easiest no-brainer for me. I just felt so unfinished with the game.”

2021: The grand finale

In her final season, Newport has improved all facets of her game, particularly her power. Newport leads

Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman

Morgan Newport celebrates with coach Kate Drohan after hitting a walk-off home run to beat Illinois on May 1.

the team in home runs and she is currently second in the Big Ten with 32 RBIs. Newport said she’s always been “obsessed” with understanding the mechanics of hitting, but this year, her game has hit a “new level.” She’s provided several clutch moments, from a go-ahead two-run triple for NU in the seventh against Ohio State to a walk-off home run earlier in May against Illinois. In the circle, Newport went over 24 innings before giving up an earned run. This weekend’s series against

Nebraska will be her last time playing at home, but Newport said she feels she’s leaving the game with a sense of peace. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration and wants to stay involved with college athletics in some capacity. “She’s been a part of our program during a really pivotal time. I can say without hesitation that it’s because of her that we’ve been able to do this build,” Drohan said. “We’re really honored that she chose us.” benjaminrosenberg2021@u.northwestern.edu