The Daily Northwestern — October 30, 2024

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THE ELECTION ISSUE

Residents withhold votes

By FEMI HORRALL daily senior staffer

When Newland Smith cast his ballot in the 2024 Illinois primary election, he did not select any candidate to be nominated to run for president. Instead, he wrote in “Gaza.” Smith wasn’t the only one to withhold his vote. Over 42,000 Chicago voters cast ballots indicating no votes or write-in votes in the 2024 Democratic primary, compared to just over 12,000 in 2020. A portion of this increase was caused by the Uncommi ed Movement, a group who withheld their votes in protest of the United States’ handling of the war in Gaza.

Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, a ack on Israel killed 1,200 Israelis, according to Israeli o cials, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian o cials.

Students favor Harris

Surveyed undergraduates largely support Democratic ticket

While Vice President Kamala Harris called for a cease re during her speech at the Democratic National Convention, she also stated that she would “always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.” Smith said he “may well not” vote for her, former President Donald Trump or any thirdparty candidate in the Nov. 5 general election.

“I don’t see either the present administration of the vice president running for president and the Democratic Party or the other candidate being able to do justice in stopping this u erly insane, devastating war,” he said. “So I hate to be in this position, but that’s where I’m at.”

Smith is a member of Evanston Cease re, a coalition of Evanston residents striving to pass a cease re resolution in the Evanston City Council.

Some other members of the organization are also considering withholding their votes.

Dickelle Fonda said she plans to wait until

By SCOTT HWANG daily senior staffer

In its inaugural undergraduate campus poll conducted three weeks ago The Daily asked students how likely they are to vote and which presidential candidate they plan to vote for.

The answers: Very likely, and overwhelmingly for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Over 90% of students from the U.S. said they were “very likely” or “likely” to vote. Meanwhile, 91.7% of students with a voting preference said they would vote for Harris, compared to only 5.0% for former President Donald Trump.

But the poll, which consisted of only multiple choice questions, did not provide a full picture of students’ thoughts on the election.

To find out more, The Daily reached out to a group of students who indicated they would be willing to answer more questions but did

not know in advance what topics they would be asked about. Twenty students provided written answers to The Daily’s questions about the election. Here are three takeaways.

1. Harris is widely preferred to Trump — but with varying degrees of enthusiasm

If you plan to vote in the November U.S. presidential election, who do you plan to vote for?

Cole Morgan (sophomore, McCormick): “I am voting for Kamala Harris because I agree with her policy goals and her ability to lead. I am also voting for her because I believe that Donald Trump is unfit to lead in numerous ways, including his age, his character, his policy goals, his harmful language and his criminal liability.”

Efren Ponce (senior, Communication):

See POLLING , page 14

ETHS students, teachers urge voter participation

By ANAVI PRAKASH daily senior staffer @anavi_52

Miten Patel, an AP United States Government and Politics teacher at Evanston Township High School, took students to the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, the city’s early voting station, on Tuesday.

e trip was open to all ETHS students to allow eligible voters to cast their ballots and younger students to see the election process up close, said Patel, the adviser of ETHS Politics Club. He said no ma er how old a student is, they should be aware of how important voting is and the power an individual vote can have.

“Eventually, you will be 18, and hopefully you re ect on the time you went to the Civic Center and you got to watch other people vote, and when it was your turn to vote, you actually went and did it,” he said. Eli Coustan, a senior at ETHS, is preparing to be an election judge on Nov. 5 to help people vote in person. He was also an election judge for the March primary election this year.

Election judges help set up and manage the polls as voters come in to cast their ballots on Election Day. High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens and have a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to become election judges.

Coustan said he wanted to be a judge a er going to the polls with his parents during previous elections because he realized the importance of election judges to the in-person voting process. He added that it was a way for him to be involved with the election process despite being too young to vote.

During the March primary, he said he was “shocked” by the low turnout of voters in his precinct — he estimated only 150 out of about 1,000 in his precinct came to the polls — a pa ern that was re ected in all of Cook County, which had a voter turnout rate of about 18%.

He said people believe the presidential election is the only important race, but when it comes to issues like crime, it is the state and local o cials that can actually make a di erence.

Coustan emphasized that the low voter turnout among those ages 18 to 24 was “frustrating” because

the issues relevant to elections impact them along with everyone else.

“I recognize that it can be easy to feel disillusioned with the state of our country right now, and it can be easy to feel like you disagree with both candidates on issues,” he said. “I know that’s the thing going through the minds of many 18 to 24 year olds.”

Students’ discussions about politics have shi ed focus to polarization in the last four years, according to ETHS senior Marin Ubersox, founder and copresident of Politics Club.

Ubersox said most, if not all, members of the club are le -leaning, which can cause conversations to be an “echo chamber.”

One topic that created an “even split” among the group, though, is the Israel-Hamas war, Ubersox said.

She said this made it more di cult for people to have discussions on the issue and for the club’s leadership to facilitate.

She said some of her peers have debated who to vote for based on the war. Ubersox said for her, it’s about voting for the “lesser of two evils.”

She added that all of her friends who are 18 are planning to vote. She said the ETHS community as a whole is “uniquely” civically engaged because the school community encourages it.

Although most students at ETHS are too young to vote, their “sense of urgency” has increased due to the “tension” across the country, said Betsy Gutstein, a civics teacher.

Gutstein said she felt more pressure to ensure students were equipped with every tool and resource

possible to help them recognize credible information and listen to opinions they may disagree with.

She said her civics classes watched Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which coincided with the second week of school.

Gutstein said she also assigned students to watch the presidential and vice presidential debates. Students came back with “astute” observations and didn’t shy away from calling out the candidates, she said.

“ ey’re coming of age at a time when the country has been very divided, continues to be divided,” she said. “ ey’re really concerned.”

anaviprakash2027@u.northwestern.edu

Illustration by Shveta Shah

ETHS civics teacher Betsy Gutstein said in her twenty years at the school,

students’ sense of urgency around political issues, including the environment, has increased.

Student Orgs facilitate political dialogue

By NINETH KANIESKI KOSO

the daily northwestern

As the general election draws closer, many political clubs on campus are hosting events to encourage dialogue across party lines.

Northwestern’s chapters of College Democrats, College Republicans, Political Union and BridgeUSA are all encouraging students to submit their ballots but also to discuss the candidates and their policies. Weinberg sophomore and NU College Democrats treasurer Danielle Jing said the group has been assembling students to spread awareness about the upcoming election.

Many of their efforts have specifically targeted swing state voters, particularly in the Midwest, Jing said. In October, members of NU College Democrats traveled to Michigan and Wisconsin to canvas by knocking on voters’ doors.

“I think that this election is definitely one of the most important political events that many students are going to experience, especially because it’s the first election that many students are going to be voting in,” Jing said. “It’s really important especially in this election with how grand the stakes are for us to feel like we can make a difference.”

During each general meeting, NU College Democrats’ members write letters to swing state voters. Members also participate in phone banking, a practice of calling voters as part of a political campaign, she said.

NU College Democrats also invited Van Jones, an American political analyst and CNN host, to present at its fall speaker event Tuesday. Jing said she hopes Jones will provide students with a new perspective on politics, encouraging them to become more politically aware.

“We’re hoping that his insights will be able to show students why, number one, this election is so pivotal and, number two, why the media is so important,” Jing said. “It’s more important than ever to know how the media is connected for this upcoming election.”

Weinberg senior and NU College Republicans president Jeanine Yuen said the organization

primarily focused this quarter on encouraging both members and non-members to vote.

Yuen said NU College Republicans will collaborate with other political clubs on election night, holding a watch party and panel to facilitate conversation about the election and some of its issues.

“I hope that from seeing the panel, students can see that it is of utmost importance to have everybody get along, regardless of political opinion,” Yuen said. “Hopefully, with sharing (our opinions) and hearing from others, people will be able to know a little bit more about the political landscape here, about why it’s so important to vote and why it’s so important to know what you want for the future of our country and what each candidate represents.”

Weinberg junior and NU Political Union events chair Clark Mahoney said NU Political Union is a place where people can talk about controversial topics with people they may disagree with.

On the Monday before election day, the group will host a general debate discussing Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

“I don’t expect someone to change their mind

or change who they vote for, but at least hear what someone else might have to say on the other side,” Mahoney said. “I think that it’s important to hear what other people say.”

In collaboration with NU College Democrats, NU Political Union will be hosting an election night watch party. Mahoney said he hopes people come together on a “tense” night to relax.

Medill senior and BridgeUSA at NU co-president Jonah Elkowitz, a former Daily staffer, said although BridgeUSA may not have many events before the election, the organization hopes to have some political “icebreaker” events after the election that focus on gathering people from different political backgrounds to converse.

“We take an approach to hearing people out individually on different issues without slapping a label (on them),” Elkowitz said. “We want students to feel comfortable because I’ve talked to a lot of people who are incoming students and current students that are afraid to join political clubs on campus because they’re worried about being alienated.”

ninethkanieskikoso2027@u.northwestern.edu

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Nineth Kanieski Koso/The Daily Northwestern Political Union hosts debates every Monday on various topics.

THE DAILY’S 2024 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

With only a week until the general election, it’s time for voters to fill out their ballots. Beyond the presidential face-o between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, there are several competitive elections coming up in Cook County and Illinois. Here’s The Daily’s guide to some of the candidates Evanston voters will see on their ballots on Nov. 5.

-- Lily Ogburn

FEDERAL

FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (Vote for one)

KAMALA D. HARRIS (TIM WALZ)

DONALD J. TRUMP (J.D. VANCE)

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR. (NICOLE SHANAHAN)

ILLINOIS 9th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

COOK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY

Current Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced last year that she would not seek reelection a er two terms in o ice. Now, three candidates are facing o in what could be a competitive election.

Republican candidate Bob Fioretti is a veteran attorney seeking the state’s attorney’s o ice. According to his campaign website, Fioretti wants to enforce the law as it’s written in Cook County, watch for corrupt politicians and back law enforcement. He also ran unsuccessfully in 2022 for Cook County Commissioner as well as in 2020’s democratic primary for state attorney.

Democratic candidate Eileen O’Neill Burke has spent over thirty years as a prosecutor, defense attorney and judge. She’s looking to redesign the state’s attorney’s o ice, address root causes of crimes and get guns o the streets, her campaign website says.

Learn more about what’s on the ballot for Evanston voters in the November 2024 general election

Incumbent Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who has been in Congress for over 25 years, is running for her seat again this year. According to the League of Women Voters of Illinois’ nonpartisan voting guide, Schakowsy aims to advocate for AI regulation, increase access to a ordable healthcare and continue defending abortion rights.

Republican candidate Seth Alan Cohen is challenging Schakowsky this election season. A Marine Corps veteran, Cohen hopes to end deficit spending, work with Democrats on climate change legislation and improve regulations that aid in legal immigration, according to his campaign website and LWVI.

ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 18

Incumbent Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) is the current majority leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, and she is seeking reelection this year. According to her campaign website, Gabel is focused on ensuring access to a ordable health care, reducing gun violence in Illinois and maintaining a balanced state budget.

Republican candidate Charles Hutchinson is running against Gabel this year. According to his campaign website, Hutchinson is a Wilmette lawyer advocating for pension reform, lower property taxes and the removal of lead pipes from Illinois’ drinking water infrastructure.

COOK COUNTY CLERK

Cedric Giles is the current Interim Cook County Clerk, replacing Karen Yarbrough who was serving as the Cook County Clerk until her death in April 2024. Three candidates are looking to occupy the o ice.

COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CLERK

Libertarian candidate Andrew Kopinski is an attorney and real estate broker challenging the Republican and Democratic candidates in this election. Kopinski told the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois he wants to promote police accountability through civilian oversight boards and use diversion programs for people with mental illnesses and juveniles with criminal histories.

Attorney and current Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos ousted Iris Martinez, current Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, in the Democratic primary in March 2024.

Republican candidate Lupe Aguirre is also seeking the o ice. He has worked as a lawyer and Chicago police o icer.

Libertarian candidate Michael Murphy, also looking to become circuit court clerk, works in information technology.

ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 1

Joy Cunningham, the current Illinois Supreme Court Justice for the 1st District, replaced former Chief Justice Anne Burke a er she retired and le her seat vacant in November 2022. Cunningham is now the only candidate running for the position.

ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT JUDGE DISTRICT 1

There are four vacancies needing to be filled in the 1st District for Judge in the Illinois Appellate Court. There are also two current appellate court judges seeking retention, which are Judges David Ellis and Thomas Ho man.

ILLINOIS CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT

Democratic candidate Monica Gordon currently serves on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, representing the 5th district.

Libertarian candidate Christopher Laurent is a veteran and member of the Chicago Police District Council.

Republican candidate Michelle Pennington runs a real estate business focused on a ordable housing in the Bucktown neighborhood.

There are 11 vacancies for judges in the Cook County Circuit. There are also 76 circuit court judges seeking retention. However, Judge Lisa Ann Marino was not recommended by the Chicago Bar Association for retention, due to “significant” concerns about her knowledge of the law, temperament, and diligence, according to the CBA Judicial Evaluation Committee.

Illinois residents to vote on three advisory referenda

By NAOMI TAXAY and SHREYA SRINIVASAN daily senior staffers @naomitaxay / @shreyasrin

Illinois voters who have yet to cast their ballots have a week to decide how they plan to advise the state legislature on three referendums about election interference, a tax increase and IVF. e ballot measures are advisory questions, meaning they are non-binding and the outcomes have no legal e ect. ey allow legislators to gauge the current thoughts of voters on various subjects, which could inform their decisions in the future, according to Illinois Policy.

“ e advisory referendums on this year’s ballot deal with what I believe are some of the major topics at the top of the minds of voters and the general public,” said State Rep. Jay Ho man (D-Swansea), who co-sponsored the bill the questions were proposed in, Senate Bill 2412, along with State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). e bill passed in May this year.

e bill incited some backlash among prominent voter enfranchisement organizations, including League of Women Voters of Evanston. is was due to a proposed amendment to the Illinois Election Code that would block political party commi ees from pu ing candidates on the general election ballot if they did not go through the primary process, which was passed extremely quickly. None of the three referendums concern that change.

If any of these referendums overwhelmingly

pass, the General Assembly may consider them in spring legislative session, Ho man said.

Election Worker Protection and Candidate Accountability Referendum Act

e rst referendum question asks, “Should any candidate appearing on the Illinois ballot for federal, State, or local o ce be subject to civil penalties if the candidate interferes or a empts to interfere with an election worker’s o cial duties?”

A “yes” vote on this question would advise ocials to subject any candidate on the ballot, or individuals acting on behalf of candidates, to civil penalties if they interfere with election workers’ duties.

Several states, including New York and Pennsylvania, have enacted anti-election interference laws in anticipation of the upcoming election. is referendum could lead the state legislature to add Illinois to that list in the future.

“We’ve all read some horrendous newspaper accounts and accounts of election workers being threatened, being harmed,” Ho man said. “A lot of times these are simply volunteers who are helping to provide a fair and impartial election process.”

Elizabeth Grossman, executive director of Common Cause Illinois, an election protection nonpro t, said speci cally mentioning candidates was an interesting addition. She said that this referendum might be anticipating future election interference.

“You don’t want to be reactive,” Grossman said. “It has the same goal of just making sure our election workers are able to safely go about their duties

and make sure that our elections are free and safe and fair.”

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 90% of local election o cials have worked to increase election security since 2020.

Property Tax Relief and Fairness Referendum Act

e second referendum question asks, “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?”

A “yes” vote would advise state o cials to amend the Illinois Constitution to raise the income tax.

“ e property tax burden seems to be increasing,” Ho man said. “So the question really is, how can you address that?”

Supported by former Gov. Pat Quinn, this referendum would amend the Illinois Constitution to create an additional 3% income tax on income greater than $1 million, dedicating those extra funds to property tax relief.

In 2022 data collected from the Civic Federation, Illinois had the second highest e ective rate on owner-occupied property, trailing behind New Jersey.

“Right now, there are tax breaks for millionaires and tax bills, high property tax bills for everyday people,” Quinn said at a Capitol news conference Oct. 9. “ at’s not a fair system.”

If a law is passed according to the recommendation, the state could generate $4.5 billion in

revenue, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. Owner-occupied properties would get property tax relief in the form of rebates if a law is passed.

Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum Act e third referendum question asks, “Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy bene ts, without limitation on the number of treatments?”

A “yes” vote would support advising o cials to include any medically assisted reproductive treatment, which includes in-vitro fertilization, to be covered by health insurance plans that already provide full pregnancy bene ts. Currently, group insurance plans and health maintenance organizations in Illinois already cover IVF. While Illinois already requires group health plans to cover fertility bene ts, the referendum asks if individual health plans should be required to fully cover fertility treatments without copay. It also speci es that IVF would be covered no ma er the number of times it is needed to be e ective, Ho man said.

Ho man believes that a law supporting this referendum could apply to “short-term health plans,” and the health insurance exchange.

shreyasrinivasan2026@u.northwestern.edu

NU sta , faculty donatins lean toward Democrats

By JERRY WU daily senior staffer @jerrwu

Since the start of 2024, Northwestern employees have contributed at least $720,000 to political campaigns and committees ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

An analysis of over 7,900 FEC filings revealed a strong lean toward Democratic candidates among University employees. At least 98% of the total number of employee

donations went to Democratic candidates, tallying more than $660,000.

The data collection only sampled staff, faculty members and administrators who listed “Northwestern University” as their employer from Jan. 1 to Oct. 29. The analysis also found that employees overwhelmingly support Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for president with more than $200,000 in direct donations. In comparison, former President Donald Trump’s campaign received about $2,700 in direct donations.

This placed NU among the

Turning Point Health, Lake Street Church tackle election anxiety

In collaboration with Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center, Lake Street Church hosted “Coping with Election Anxiety” on Wednesday to o er the Evanston community spiritual and practical strategies for reducing stress related to the upcoming presidential election.

e Rev. Michael Woolf said he noticed an abundance of election anxiety this year during weekly worship, especially regarding former President Donald Trump. is prompted Woolf to provide a forum for the community to learn coping strategies and manage fears.

“Whatever your political persuasion, (even) if you like Donald Trump, then most people who like him would still admit that he causes a lot of chaos and that stability is not his main drawing point,” Woolf said. “He is a person who is about changing things … burn it to the ground and rebuild it, and that’s scary.”

During the event, Turning Point’s Chief Growth Officer Joe Flint led the group through a 4-7-8 breathing technique, where the individual inhales through their nose for four seconds, holds their breath for seven seconds and exhales completely for eight seconds. Flint said the exercise utilizes counting as a means to divert the individual from the thought they are anxious about.

He said the technique is bene cial when handling one’s “Anger Iceberg,” an ideology where more emotions are hidden under the surface while they are angry.

“O en people have a lot of anger about things like elections or laws that are passed, or new societal (circumstances) and situations, and they get caught up in a place

in which that comes out as anger with people,” Flint said. “Anger is an expression of anxiety, o en because of not being able to control the situation.”

In addition to breathing exercises, the event taught meditation techniques.

Despite resenting the practice at rst, Woolf said meditation was his “big gateway towards real mental health” aside from religious exercise. Since then, Woolf has introduced several people to meditation, where it has had a profound e ect on them, he said. He encouraged a endees to try di erent meditation tactics, from online applications to meditation candles.

“It’s like magic. It is also (a) sort of skill that you have to develop. And it’s sort of painful at the start to develop this skill, si ing with silence, noticing what thoughts come up and not. I think a lot of people get discouraged as they try to sit,” Woolf said. “If you actually go into it thinking that you’re going to win meditation, then that’s the only way that you can lose meditation.”

Attendee Sandra Atkinson said when participating in elections in the past, she voted for candidates with whom she was politically aligned and whose policies she believed in.

However, she said a potential second term for Trump worries her about the future of elections and American society.

“I never really been in an election before where I thought that one of the candidates put fear in my heart,” Atkinson said. “I have that feeling now, and I’m afraid and I’m stressed, and so that’s why I came here.”

Maia Alvarez

top 2% of organizations with employees that collectively contributed the most money to candidates, party committees and other political action committees, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying.

NU, however, ranks among the top 20% of organizations that have expended money in lobbying efforts, according to OpenSecrets.

Democratic campaign platforms, including ActBlue, Harris Victory Fund and Harris for President were among the top recipients of donations for NU employees.

ActBlue, a nonprofit fundraising platform and PAC used for Democratic campaigns, notched over 6,000 individual donations from NU affiliates. The Republican fundraising platform WinRed drew about $2,500 in donations.

Prominent Illinois politicians including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also chalked up over 30 unique donations.

The results from the analysis also largely fall in line with recent student voting patterns on campus too.

In The Daily’s inaugural campus poll released earlier this month, 79% of respondents identified as either “very liberal” or “somewhat liberal,” compared to only 6.6% who identify as “very conservative” or “somewhat conservative.”

And nearly 91.7% of students said they would vote for Harris.

The poll also found that most students consider themselves to be politically engaged. Four out of five respondents — 80.2% — said they were either “somewhat political” or “very political,” with 25.7% being “very political.”

One of the top University affiliates to donate to political candidates is still Pat Ryan (Kellogg ’59) — who, with his wife Shirley Ryan (Weinberg ’61), made the largest donation in University history to redevelop Ryan Field.

This year, Pat Ryan has already doled out over hundreds of thousands of dollars to various Republican candidates’ campaign committees.

Election Day in the U.S. will fall on Nov. 5 this year. jerrywu2027@u.northwestern.edu

Misinformation can decrease turnout, experts warn

By ISAIAH STEINBERG daily senior staffer

@isaiahstei27

Ever since former President Donald Trump first called CNN “fake news” in a December 2016 tweet, attacks from both sides of the aisle have caused news sources and social media accounts to come under increased scrutiny as potential conduit of misinformation.

Since then, much of the focus on misinformation has occurred at the national level. But misinformation, especially about election integrity, can decrease voter turnout and create distrust in elections at the local level, said Anne Sullivan, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of Illinois Task Force on Mis/Disinformation.

“What really can suppress voting is the idea that you

don’t know who to trust,” Sullivan said. “Hearing all these messages about your ballot not being secure, or your mail ballot not being counted if you mark it the wrong way or not hearing the correct voting hours — that can really cause somebody who maybe is not inclined to vote in the first place to give up.”

Part of the problem, Sullivan said, is that voters may not know how to identify misinformation in the news and on social media platforms.

A Pew Research Center study published Oct. 10 found that 73% of U.S. adults said they had seen misinformation about the 2024 elections at least somewhat often, and 52% said they sometimes find it difficult to determine what is true.

Chicago resident Marcy Jenkins said she gets her news from NPR, The New York

Times and The Wall Street Journal. She added that she prefers mainstream outlets because their journalists are subject to fact-checking in the editing process.

“I also listen to other perspectives on podcasts and stu , but I have to admit, I do not read or watch right-wing news to balance,” Jenkins said at Evanston Public Library’s main branch.

Evanston resident Dina Berne said she trusts PBS because it is publicly owned. She added that she verifies information by checking if she can find it from other sources.

Ahead of the 2024 election, the League of Women Voters of Illinois has produced educational videos on election integrity, media literacy and how to identify misinformation, which are available on the Mis/Disinformation Task Force page

of the organization’s website. On Oct. 16, Sullivan presented about misinformation and disinformation at the Evanston Public Library.

“The most important thing in fighting misinformation is getting the right information out there and predisposing people to the right information before they hear the wrong information,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan encouraged local residents to visit the Cook County Clerk’s website to learn more about election security and find voting information.

Communication Prof. Erik Nisbet studied the presumed influence of election misinformation on Americans’ satisfaction with democracy in 2021. He said the best strategy to combat misinformation is “inoculation” — educating citizens on how to spot

misinformation before they encounter it.

“Just like how we get vaccinated against viruses, by talking about what the most common forms of misinformation are and the strategies that people use to manipulate us, it gets our guard up mentally so we’re less likely to be infected by misinformation,” Nisbet said.

Misinformation can affect people’s willingness to vote early or via absentee ballots, Nisbet said. He added that, in 2022, some Illinois officials spread misinformation about local election integrity similar to the misinformation disseminated nationally.

In an advisory referendum on the ballot this year, Illinois voters will be asked whether candidates should face civil penalties if they interfere with an election worker’s o cial duties.

Sullivan said a big challenge

this year has been the politically charged nature of the term “misinformation.” When many voters believe labeling something as “misinformation” is a political tool, it is difficult to establish trust in reliable sources of information, she said.

As Evanston and the U.S. gear up for historic presidential and local elections, Nisbet and Sullivan said voters should attempt to objectively evaluate the information they consume before sharing it.

“Those of us who believe in the democratic process and believe the elections are secure can share that information face-to-face with people who might be having doubts,” Sullivan said. “I think that can go a long way toward combating the disinformation that’s out there.”

isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu

Cook County Jail expands pretrial voter access

By NAOMI TAXAY

daily senior staffer @naomitaxay

The 2024 presidential election has been charged with rhetoric around the criminal justice system, especially as Kamala Harris’ campaign has a empted to leverage a “prosecutor versus felon” narrative against her opponent.

Yet, the vast majority of incarcerated people — including about half a million awaiting their trial, who are presumed innocent and are legally eligible to vote — will face signi cant challenges in voting. At least seven jail precincts across the country, including one in Cook County, have implemented in-person voting to mitigate these challenges.

During the 2018 primary, less than 7% of those incarcerated at Cook County Jail cast an absentee ballot. In the 2022 primary, just two years a er the jail established a polling precinct, that rate jumped to 25%, higher than the rate in the city of Chicago.

“I think voting helps you stand up for yourself, as opposed to feeling like everything is being done to you,” said nonpro t Chicago Votes fellow Darrion Benson, who was at Cook County Jail during Barack Obama’s rst presidential race. “I think that changes the way people feel, like they have advocates in their corner, or they can actually advocate for themselves.”

e U.S. Supreme Court ruled 50 years ago that people who are detained pretrial retain their right to vote, but it didn’t require jails to provide them ways to do so.

Even if they do have access to mail-in ballots, there are still many barriers to voting for incarcerated people.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, widespread misinformation about eligibility, including among election o cials, is one of the biggest barriers to voting in jail. Incarcerated individuals awaiting their trial may also face numerous obstacles, such as registration deadlines, voter ID laws, jail mail delays and limited access to registration forms.

Senate Bill 2090, which required county jails in the state to implement a formal process that ensures the opportunity to vote and created the Cook County Jail polling place, was signed into

law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2019, aiming to mitigate these barriers.

To empower individuals in custody to be wellinformed voters, the Cook County Sheri ’s O ce partnered with organizations like Chicago Votes and Injustice Watch, a nonpro t investigative newspaper that covers the Cook County court system, to o er the jail population nonpartisan resources to learn about the elections, according to Director of Programs Antonio Porter.

This year, Cook County Jail offered two weekends of early voting, Porter said. Once the dates were con rmed a few months ago, the jail announced when voting would take place and what people would need to do to be registered, he said.

“When you can partake, you become more interested, and I think that interest drives an awareness about the people making decisions about your life,” Benson said. “If you actually have the opportunity to vote, you can pick people that will be more just in choosing your fate.”

Many people skip over the judge section on their ballot because they don’t recognize the names, according to Jonah Newman (Medill ’12), a managing editor at Injustice Watch. e organization created a judicial election guide, also posted online, and held workshops in the jail.

e guides Injustice Watch sent to Cook County Jail for the 2020 general election were improperly marked as contraband, and all 1,000 copies were sent back, Newman said. Since then, the news organization has coordinated with the sheri ’s o ce to deliver them directly to people in the jail, he said.

Newman said they still got a few reports this year that individuals did not receive their guides, despite the jail reporting that they had been distributed throughout the vicinity.

“It’s important to us to be ensuring, maybe especially ensuring, that information gets to folks inside the jail, who have direct experience with the courts and with the judges, and are directly impacted by the decisions they make,” Newman said.

Voters are able to bring the guides with them as they vote, said Conner Kozisek, who helped coordinate the jail’s poll watcher program this year. Kozisek said voting in jail is unique because you can’t bring phones into the jail, and there is limited information available.

Poll watchers for Cook County Jail are usually people who have experience working in carceral spaces, like law student volunteers who are interested in public defense work, Kozisek said. Illinois also has same-day registration, which has been huge for eligible voters who haven’t voted before, Kozisek said. However, there are often issues with the residents’ address section that poll watchers make note of so they can follow up with the sheriff’s office, the county clerk’s office or the Board of Election

Commissioners. “I think there’s a general understanding that voting can increase civic engagement and connection with one’s community. So by prohibiting people from being able to vote, that creates a disconnect from their community,” Kozisek said. “ ere’s a belief that maybe increasing access to voting and participating in voting reduces recidivism.”

naomitaxay2027@u.northwestern.edu

Illustration by Lily Ogburn

The Cook County Jail’s voting rate for the 2022 primaries was 25%, higher than that of the city of Chicago.

2024-25

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Daily Sports Desk gives 2024-25 men’s basketball predictions

By THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN SPORTS STAFF the daily northwestern

Fresh off two consecutive March Madness appearances, Northwestern is preparing to kick off its men’s basketball season with tonight’s exhibition against Lewis.

The Daily’s sports desk predicted NU’s future ahead of the 2024-25 season’s commencement.

Record: 19-12 (9-11 Big Ten)

Key Player: Brooks Barnhizer

Breakout Contender: K.J. Windham

The past two seasons have been dreamlike for Northwestern basketball, reaching back-toback March Madness appearances and filling Welsh-Ryan Arena for nearly every home game.

But now, the Wildcats must face reality. Boo Buie, the architect of NU basketball’s rebrand, has graduated. The ’Cats have lost their leading scorer and top assist leader.

Graduate student guard Ty Berry and graduate student center Matthew Nicholson return, while senior guard Brooks Barnhizer prepares to become the primary scoring option for NU. Expect graduate student transfer guard Jalen Leach, joining the ’Cats from Fairfield, to contribute key minutes. Freshman guard K.J. Windham starred in NU’s European exhibitions and may have a strong role in coach Chris Collins’ squad.

The nonconference slate should be breezy. But NU faces a vaunted conference schedule that includes tough matchups and a Big Ten Conference featuring new schools like No. 22 UCLA and an Eric Musselman-led USC.

If the ’Cats are to make their third straight NCAA tournament, Barnhizer has to contribute First-Team All-Big Ten numbers. He averaged 14.6 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game and nearly two steals per game last year. The senior from Lafayette, Indiana, has the caliber to shoulder the team’s primary scoring.

This year, Collins, The Pioneer, has a chance to blaze a new trail for NU hoops.

—

Henry Frieman, Sports Editor

Record: 16-15 (8-12 Big Ten)

Key Player: Brooks Barnhizer

Breakout Contender: Jalen Leach

Northwestern’s past two seasons have set new program ceilings and paved the way for coach Chris Collins to reinvigorate his work on the recruiting trail — the Wildcats’ 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports.

However, Boo Buie will no longer be the marquee man in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The alltime program leader in career points, Buie forged a new winning culture in Evanston, where he helped NU knock off the nation’s No. 1 ranked squad in back-to-back seasons. Now, the onus shifts to senior guard Brooks Barnhizer, who returned to the ’Cats after testing the NBA Draft waters in the spring. Barnhizer was in a walking boot for much of the offseason, but he is expected to start in the season-opener against Lehigh on Nov. 4.

NU will climb as high as Barnhizer leads it, and his supporting cast is set for significant roles in 2024-25. Graduate student center Matthew Nicholson will return for his fifth and final season, and graduate student guard Ty Berry will need to continue his pre-meniscus tear form from beyond the arc.

Look for graduate student transfer guard Jalen Leach to provide a much-needed scoring presence during his lone season in purple and white.

— Jake Epstein, Gameday Editor

Record: 18-13 (9-11 Big Ten)

Key Player: Ty Berry

Breakout Contender: Angelo Ciaravino

Coach Chris Collins’ squad is amid one of Northwestern basketball’s most successful stretches ever, tallying consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. However, the road back to March Madness will not be easy for the Wildcats.

NU was ranked No. 16 of 18 in the preseason Big Ten media poll. The new-look conference is one of the most competitive in the nation, as 11 teams received votes in the first AP poll of the season. The ’Cats have home games against three preseason ranked teams and face Purdue on the road after consecutive seasons with upset wins over the Boilermakers at WelshRyan Arena.

Three returning starters from last season, graduate student guard Ty Berry, senior guard and preseason All-Big Ten honoree Brooks Barnhizer and 7-foot graduate student center Matthew Nicholson, headline NU’s roster. Junior forward Nick Martinelli and graduate student guard Jalen Leach, a transfer from Fairfield, are also expected to take on key roles in Collins’ lineup.

Keep an eye on freshman guard Angelo Ciaravino. The 6-foot-6 newcomer from local Mount Carmel High School starred while the ’Cats were in Europe this summer, averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in two of the team’s exhibition games.

After sharing the starting backcourt with program legend Boo Buie for the last three seasons, Berry will be counted on for his experience and leadership nearly nine months removed from a meniscus tear. Berry had four games with 20 or more points and eight with multiple steals last season. He can take on an even bigger role in the offense while still anchoring NU’s defense.

Collins’ crew has a tough road ahead, but they are battle-tested enough to be one of the Big Ten’s toughest outs.

— Andrew Little, Reporter

Record: 18-13 (9-11 Big Ten)

Key Player: Jalen Leach Breakout Contender: K.J. Windham

The Northwestern blueprint for success has been simple: Slow the game down, swing the rock and take care of it when you get it. From both a talent and schematic perspective, that’s why the graduation of Boo Buie is so bittersweet.

Calling Buie the engine of last season’s

offense is an understatement. No other ’Cat has averaged his mark of five assists per game since 2017, or at least 19 points per game since 2012.

Coach Chris Collins offers stability and a high floor for NU this season with the effort and scrappiness that has become synonymous with the ’Cats renaissance. The task for this season is attempting to recreate Buie in the aggregate.

Senior guard Brooks Barnhizer, known for his defense, projects to shoulder the scoring load, and graduate student transfer guard Jalen Leach should step into the primary playmaking role. Freshmen guards K.J. Windham and Angelo Ciaravino both showcased muchneeded touch from beyond the arc in NU’s European exhibition games and will likely be threats in off-ball action.

The road to an NCAA tournament bid has become even harder, with the revamped Big Ten slate offering old foes, like No. 14 Purdue, and new challenges, like No. 22 UCLA.

There may be some early-season kinks to work out, but nonconference play creates the perfect environment for the team to get to know itself. This is a year of opportunities for familiar faces to don new hats and for newcomers to make big impacts, and that makes each game even more important to watch. — Alex Boyko, Reporter

Record: 19-12 (10-10 Big Ten)

Key Player: Matt Nicholson

Breakout Contender: Justin Mullins

With the Boo Buie era officially in the rearview mirror, Northwestern faces the challenge of forging a new identity in an increasingly competitive Big Ten landscape this season.

Entering his 12th season at the helm, coach Chris Collins will turn to senior guard Brooks Barnhizer to shoulder the ball-handling responsibilities that Buie once carried. Alongside him, graduate student guard Ty Berry and graduate student center Matthew Nicholson will look to pick up where they left off before injuries sidelined them both ahead of last year’s postseason.

Those late-season injuries opened the door for younger players like junior forward Nick Martinelli and redshirt sophomore forward Luke Hunger to prove themselves indispensable, while junior guards Blake Smith and Justin Mullins also saw critical minutes off the bench. Though Smith and Mullins may not see as much playing time with Nicholson and Berry back in action, their readiness will be essential in fostering a next-man-up mentality, especially in the event of early foul trouble.

In addition to his returners, Collins has bolstered his roster with additions from the transfer portal, including graduate student guard Jalen Leach from Fairfield and 7-foot center Keenan Fitzmorris from Stony Brook, who will add depth to a frontcourt in physical conference matchups.

The path to a third-straight NCAA tournament appearance will not be an easy one, especially with Big Ten expansion schools like No. 22 UCLA joining the fray. Success for the ’Cats will hinge on continuing its legacy

of home-court dominance as conference wins on the road will likely be a difficult challenge. — Audrey Pachuta, Senior Staffer

Record: 20-11 (10-10 Big Ten)

Key Player: Brooks Barnhizer

Breakout Contender: Jalen Leach

After making March Madness in consecutive years for the first time in program history, the Wildcats have an opportunity to find success, but this time, without guard Boo Buie. With two of NU’s top scorers gone in Buie and guard Ryan Langborg, senior guard Brooks Barnhizer will have the opportunity to step up. The preseason All-Big Ten appointee averaged 14.6 points per game last season but will need to continue putting up big numbers as a leader of this year’s squad.

Graduate student returners for the ’Cats, guard Ty Berry and center Matthew Nicholson, will bring four years each of experience in the Big Ten to support Barnhizer. Junior forward Nick Martinelli will likely see consistent court time after showing his potential by playing in all 34 contests last season and nabbing a careerhigh 27 points at Maryland in February.

Newcomers to NU include graduate student guard Jalen Leach, a transfer from Fairfield who averaged 16.2 points his senior season. Guard K.J. Windham, as part of the ’Cats freshman class, comes to NU as the No. 2 ranked player in his home state of Indiana. Expect to see coach Chris Collins give both court time early. It’ll be a fresh start without the team’s point guard of five years, but if ’Cats veterans and new faces mesh, NU could make its third run in a row for March Madness in 2025.

— Paloma Leone-Getten, Design Editor

Record: 19-12 (10-10 Big Ten)

Key Player: Nick Martinelli

Breakout Contender: K.J. Windham

Northwestern comes into this season without two of its critical players from last season’s campaign. Boo Buie’s and Ryan Langborg’s impacts on the team’s success last season cannot be understated.

This season will hinge on NU’s ability to fill those holes. The Wildcats return key players like graduate student guard Ty Berry, graduate student center Matthew Nicholson, senior guard Brooks Barnhizer and junior forward Nick Martinelli. They will be the core of this offense because of their rapport and experience, but this season’s newcomers will also have chances to make an impact. Transfer Jalen Leach will try to fill the hole Buie left. The graduate student guard from Fairfield averaged 16.2 points per game last season, but he will need to adjust to the Power 5 life. First-year guard K.J. Windham will also see important minutes this season. Similarly to last season, NU’s nonconference test will come against Dayton, but, other than that trip to Ohio, the ’Cats should win most of their nonconference matchups.

The Big Ten is loaded with great teams this season, which could prove difficult for the ’Cats. NU will have to face teams like No. 14 Purdue, No. 17 Indiana, No. 22 UCLA and No. 25 Rutgers. If the experience of ’Cats returners and the potential of the newcomers mesh well, Chris Collins’ squad could come close to the success it achieved in the last two seasons. — Anna Watson, Senior Staffer

Berry, Nicholson return to hardwood for critical fifth seasons as ’ Cats

By ALEX BOYKO the daily northwestern

Northwestern men’s basketball starts in mere hours, and two familiar faces are set to make their long-awaited returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Graduate student guard Ty Berry and graduate student center Matt Nicholson suffered seasonending injuries last year. They will return to the court Wednesday night for the Wildcats’ exhibition game against Lewis.

After starting the year on a heater, shooting a career-high 43.3% clip on three-point attempts, Berry missed the team’s final 11 contests after sustaining a torn meniscus in a win over Nebraska. The guard’s presence was sorely missed for the ’Cats’ March Madness run, where the team shot nearly 8% below their regular-season average from beyond the arc.

Nicholson’s impact in the paint was similarly absent in NU’s final game against UConn after he suffered a foot injury in a duel with Iowa three weeks prior. Once the Michigan native knew the scope of his rehab process, there was no question about where he would spend his graduate season.

“There’s no place I’d rather play. This has been my home for four years, why not make it a fifth?” Nicholson said.

With senior guard Brooks Barnhizer sidelined

for the opening game, Berry and Nicholson will be the only upperclassmen from last year’s team to play in Wednesday’s exhibition. Coach Chris Collins spoke highly of his returning graduate students and the importance of the two making their debuts, especially with what they bring to the locker room.

“The culture we’re trying to drill here, you have to have the older guys, so that when new players come into the building, they see how we do things, they see how hard we train,” Collins said.

Collins said roster continuity and veteran leadership define a team’s culture.

“That’s going to be our motto going forward … to keep veteran leadership in the program,” Collins said. “And you see that with Brooks and Matt and Ty and Nick Martinelli.”

The focus on maintaining a veteran presence comes at a much-needed time, with the graduation of Boo Buie and Ryan Langborg and the potential for four newcomers to play substantial minutes this season.

It will be difficult to replicate the success of the past two seasons, but continuity in the coaching staff and starting lineup — with three of five primary starters returning — will certainly help.

The identity molded and upheld by Collins has gone a long way in revitalizing the basketball scene at Northwestern and fostering an environment that seniors want to return to. The

realignment of the Big Ten ensures competitive conference play will continue, and the team will need graduate students like Berry and Nicholson in the future.

The impact of their presence in the program

and university community is immeasurable. “Evanston. Welsh-Ryan. It’s been everything I’ve ever wanted,” Nicholson said. alex.boyko2026@u.northwestern.edu

Daily Sports Desk gives 2024-25 women’s basketball predictions

By THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN SPORTS STAFF

Fresh off two consecutive March Fresh off a season in which the program had its first sellout in history, Northwestern women’s basketball returns to the hardwood of Welsh-Ryan Arena to build upon its disappointing 2023-24 campaign.

Here’s a look at The Daily Sports Desk’s predictions for the Wildcats.

Record: 15-14 (8-12 Big Ten)

Key Player: Caroline Lau Breakout Contender: Kyla Jones

It’s been a rough two years for Northwestern women’s basketball.

The Wildcats have won just six of 36 Big Ten games in the past two seasons. But there are positives to look forward to this year.

Senior guard Melannie Daley, who averaged a career-high and team-high 13.3 points per game on a career-high and team-high 49.4% field goal percentage, returns to lead the ’Cats in coach Joe McKeown’s 17th season at the helm.

NU boasts a pair of top-ranked recruits, including Chicago native Xamiya Walton –– a guard ranked No. 50 in the ESPN HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings –– and New Jersey forward Tayla Thomas, by way of IMG Academy.

Several transfers, like guard Kyla Jones from Brown and forwards Taylor Williams and Grace Sullivan, will see substantive minutes on the floor for the ’Cats this season.

Junior point guard Caroline Lau, who excels as a passer and can connect from long range, returns to lead the ’Cats through a competitive schedule. Six Big Ten teams –– including No. 3 USC and No. 5 UCLA –– are ranked within the AP Top 25 poll. All six are slated to face the ’Cats.

The squad is amid a rebuild nearing its end and should take some steps toward competitive Big Ten play. McKeown must utilize his coaching experience and programbuilding expertise for any success this season.

— Henry Frieman, Sports Editor

Record: 14-15 (7-11 Big Ten)

Key Player: Melannie Daley Breakout Contender: Casey Harter

Northwestern has never found its footing in the post-Veronica Burton era.

The Wildcats have just six conference wins in the past two seasons, and the Big Ten gauntlet became even tougher with the addition of former PAC-12 giants like No. 3 USC and No. 5 UCLA. But coach Joe McKeown went to work in the transfer portal ahead of the 2024 season.

Senior guard Melannie Daley — dubbed “Midrange Mel” for her signature jumper — took a significant leap during her third season at Welsh-Ryan

Arena. NU will need a comparable, if not elevated, level of production from the Hastings, New York, native to stand a chance down the stretch.

The portal addition of former Brown guard Kyla Jones provides both experience and point guard moxie for the ’Cats, who have lacked both aspects at times in the past few seasons. Expect Jones to garner a hefty minutes share in 2024-25.

With NU looking to build toward the future, sophomore guard Casey Harter is a prime candidate to make a pivotal second-year leap. Add in a top-100 recruit in freshman guard Xamiya Walton, and the ’Cats might just conjure up some magic this season.

— Jake Epstein, Gameday Editor

Record: 15-14 (7-11 Big Ten)

Key Player: Caileigh Walsh Breakout Contender: Kyla Jones

The past four seasons of Northwestern women’s basketball have been like night and day.

The Wildcats started with back-to-back winning seasons and a second-round NCAA tournament appearance in 2021. But in each of the past two years, the ’Cats have finished 9-21 and have a combined 6-30 record in Big Ten conference play.

Coach Joe McKeown’s team underwent a roster overhaul this offseason as it attempts to course correct, with three transfer portal additions and four new freshmen recruits.

The rebuilt roster has a chance to make an early statement with notable non-conference games against Utah, Harvard, UNLV and Charleston. NU’s performance in the season’s first two months will be very telling for its Big Ten prospects.

The ’Cats return four players who started in double-digit games last year. Senior guard Melannie Daley is back after leading the team in scoring last year and is joined in the backcourt by junior guard Caroline Lau, the only player to start in all 30 games last year for McKeown.

Kyla Jones, a graduate student transfer guard from Brown, and sophomore guard Casey Harter will also feature in the rotation.

Senior forward Caileigh Walsh averaged 13 points and a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24. The team will count on her veteran leadership and shooting as a stretch forward.

A healthy mix of returning veterans, transfer additions and exciting freshmen gives the ’Cats a chance to surpass their dismal record from the past two seasons.

— Andrew Little, Reporter

Record: 11-18 (5-13 Big Ten)

Key Player: Melannie Daley

Breakout Contender: Xamiya Walton

Walking to Welsh-Ryan Arena on a chilly winter afternoon to watch senior guard Melannie Daley bring the midrange game back to Chicagoland might be exactly what old-school basketball fans need. It’s as pure as a basketball experience gets.

The ’Cats have struggled recently, but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about this season. Northwestern retained its offensive identity through its best two players last year — Daley and senior forward Caileigh Walsh — and saw a revitalization of the roster with seven new names entering the fold.

Freshman guard Xamiya Walton comes to Evanston with the perfect storyline to succeed — a Chicago native, the top-ranked recruit in Illinois from her class and the first high-school athlete to receive an NIL deal in the state — and the resume to back it up.

The team also has a major schematic aspect that should help new talent adjust faster: ball movement.

The ’Cats recorded an assist on 70.5% of their field goals last season. Not only was this the highest mark in the NCAA, it’s the same as the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.

While it’s not fair to expect the same level of success, creating opportunities for newcomers to get shots up during games bodes well for development.

The return of junior point guard Caroline Lau and her 5.4 assists per game means so much for the team’s ability to continue playing its brand of offense and figure out how this roster fits together.

— Alex Boyko, Reporter

Record: 13-17, 6-12

Big Ten

Northwestern’s 2023-24 season was one to forget, plagued by persistent struggles to stack up against a powerhouse Big Ten and dominated by stars like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes. The Wildcats managed just nine wins overall and stumbled to a finish with only four conference victories, leaving fans yearning for brighter days.

But fast forward eight months, and coach Joe McKeown has plenty to be excited about as he prepares for his 17th season in Evanston.

With three transfers and two top 100-ranked freshmen joining the helm, the ’Cats will look to turn a rough season on its head with fresh life in the program.

Freshman forward Xamiya Walton, a 5-foot-7 Chicago standout ranked No. 50 by espnW, comes with an impressive high school resume, averaging 23.3 points and 5.1 assists while setting an Illinois High School Association record with 15 three-pointers in a single game. Joining her is Tayla Thomas, ranked No. 56 by espnW. She averaged 18 points and 16 rebounds per game at Florida’s IMG Academy, making her a strong candidate to immediately make her mark in the paint after Paige Mott’s departure.

NU’s biggest transfer portal pickup is graduate student guard Kyla Jones, who averaged 17.1 points and 4.7 rebounds at Brown last year. Jones will play a key role in this rebuilding year for McKeown’s squad.

While the ‘Cats may not make a big splash in a talented Big Ten field, especially with the addition of perennial powers like No. 3 USC and No. 5 UCLA, they are poised for a more promising season than last year.

— Audrey Pachuta, Senior Staffer

Record: 14-15

(7-11 Big Ten)

Key Player: Melannie Daley

Breakout Contender: Kyla Jones

Northwestern is in the middle of a rebuild and may be poised to make some strides toward success this season.

With the Wildcats finishing 9-21 in each of the last two seasons, there is clear room for improvement. But picking up some key transfers and a strong freshman class, things may be looking up for NU.

Key returners include junior guard Caroline Lau. The ’Cats’ captain averaged 7.8 points per game and logged three double-doubles last season, building on a strong freshman campaign. Senior forward Caileigh Walsh will bring three solid seasons of experience back to Welsh-Ryan Arena as one of the team’s top scorers — if she can stay out of foul trouble. Last season’s leading scorer Melannie Daley will also return to NU for her final season. The senior guard racked up 398 points during her junior season.

Newcomers to NU include graduate transfers Kyla Jones, from Brown, and Taylor Williams, from Western Michigan with a one-year stint at Michigan last year. Jones joined Brown’s 1,000-point club during her senior season and led her team in points per game, while Williams holds the Western Michigan record for rebounds in a single game with 21. so expect to see her as a fixture in the ’Cats lineup. Freshmen include top Illinois recruit Xamiya Walton and forward Tayla Thomas.

This year may not yield a winning record, but new and returning faces could create some success at NU this season.

— Paloma Leone-Getten, Design Editor Record: 11-18 (4-14 Big Ten)

Key Player: Melannie Daley

Breakout Contender: Casey Harter

Northwestern is coming off of back-to-back brutal nine-win seasons, but the Wildcats roster has some potential.

The Wildcats will have senior guard Melannie Daley and senior forward Caileigh Walsh back, who provided a big chunk of their production last year. Another year in the system can only help junior guard Caroline Lau and sophomore guard Casey Harter.

As in most sports these days, however, the Big Ten is a tricky conference to be a part of. The nonconference slate will be a great chance for the ’Cats to pick up some wins, but the conference slate will not be kind to them. NU will have to go head-to-head with top teams in the nation like No. 5 UCLA, No. 3 USC and No. 14 Ohio State.

This team can only improve from last year’s season, though. The ’Cats’ stars will be more seasoned, and their new recruits can help bolster this team for the long haul.

— Anna Watson, Senior Staffer

‘I hate losing’: McKeown reflects on last two years, optimism for season

By HENRY FRIEMAN daily senior staffer @henryfrieman

Northwestern women’s basketball coach Joe McKeown will admit it: the program has been rebuilding over the past two years.

With just six conference wins in the past two seasons and only 18 wins overall to 42 losses, the veteran head coach’s squad has had its worst backto-back season performances.

“I reinforced what I already knew: that I hate losing,” McKeown said. “But you have wins within the season, and I liked how we played at the end of the year. … We were really competitive.”

Now, with new faces joining the squad and young players taking increased roles in the rotation, optimism ripples around the program. The winningest head coach in NU history has the opportunity to flip the narratives surrounding the program.

“There’s a whole new energy around us,” McKeown said. “I really like that.”

McKeown, the Big Ten leader for wins among active coaches, sat down with The Daily on Monday to discuss the upcoming season. Here are four takeaways from the conversation, which mirrored the positive energy surrounding the squad.

Transfers join the rotation

The losing woes of the previous two years may be remedied by a roster overhaul featuring experienced transfers and talented freshman recruits.

Graduate student guard Kyla Jones and graduate student forward Taylor Williams joined the squad this season and will likely see extended time within the rotation. Junior forward Grace Sullivan transferred from Bucknell and will be a rebounding force on the glass.

“The three of them are really experienced, so they can pick (our system) up really quickly,” McKeown said. “Those three are really talented and have played a lot of basketball in big venues.”

Jones, a guard from Brown University, scored 1,097 points through three seasons with the Bears, just the 23rd player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point threshold. It’s a homecoming of sorts from Jones, who hails from Chicago.

Williams joins NU from Michigan, where she spent the 2023 season, but she also spent four years with Western Michigan. While with the Broncos, Williams also recorded more than 1,000 points. She holds a wealth of WMU school records.

Sullivan, a Mundelein, Illinois, native, enters the ’Cats rotation after two seasons at Bucknell. The 6-foot-4 junior will fill the frontcourt vacancy left by former NU forwards Paige Mott and Jasmine McWilliams, cleaning the glass for McKeown’s squad.

Freshman class ready to make an impact

Four new recruits enrolled in Evanston this fall, one making a short drive to campus and the other three traveling from both coasts to the Midwest.

Freshman guard Xamiya Walton comes to NU as a highly-touted recruit, ranked No. 50 in the ESPN HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Walton, who calls Chicago home, excelled at Butler College Prep as a four-year varsity starter.

McKeown has high praise for Walton, who he lauds for her three-point ability and called “smart” and “tough.”

“She’s gonna be a star,” McKeown said.

Freshman forward Tayla Thomas also joins NU as a highly-touted recruit, hailing from IMG Academy in Florida. The New Jersey native is, like Walton, a four-star prospect.

The other two recruits joining the squad are freshman guard Claire Keswick from Wrentham,

Massachusetts and freshman guard/forward Kat Righeimer from Costa Mesa, California.

McKeown said Keswick has been dealing with a lingering injury during training camp but is a “pure shooter.” Righeimer, who set a record at her high school for made three-pointers in a game (eight), is another deep threat.

“Our four freshmen, coming in, just have a whole new life about them,” McKeown said. “They all come in from really successful high school, not just programs, but careers.”

Lau is well-equipped for the leadership role

Junior guard Caroline Lau, last year’s captain, appears primed to reprise her role this season. McKeown said she has been integral in the development of the newcomers on the roster.

“She’s trying to be consistent. She had some incredible games in the Big Ten last year, and you want to build off that,” McKeown said. “The seven new players really look to her for how we do things here.”

During practice Monday, Lau was a vocal leader throughout five-on-five action. After practice concluded, she stayed on the court to take extra shots.

Last year, in a win against Wisconsin, Lau went 9-of-9 from the field, dropping 24 points while logging six rebounds and five assists.

She started all 30 games in 2023-24, averaging 7.8 points per game and 5.4 assists per game. Lau also had 32 steals last year.

“I want her to be herself and have fun being Caroline Lau,” McKeown said. “She’s getting better every day –– she has a great work ethic.”

McKeown, now healthier, uses experience in coaching

McKeown, embarking on his 17th season at NU, has seen almost everything in collegiate

women’s basketball. He’s been a part of the highs, like a pair of March Madness appearances and a Big Ten regular-season title, and a part of the lows, like the past two seasons. McKeown said he frequently looks to the Veronica Burton era as one of the highlights of his tenure. During the 2019-20 season, which got cut short due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Burton and guard Lindsey Pulliam led NU to a 26-4 record. McKeown won Big Ten women’s basketball Coach of the Year.

“The thing that hurt us the most was COVID,” McKeown said. “We won the Big Ten, we were packing (Welsh-Ryan), I thought we could have made a run to the Final Four. We had pros at all five positions.” NU has only had a losing record in six of McKeown’s 17 seasons. One was his first year, as he transitioned to Big Ten basketball from Atlantic 10 play. Two came in the last two years.

McKeown missed six games last season due to illness. Associate head coach Tangela Smith managed the floor in his stead. After his return to the court, he carried a crutch on the sidelines.

On Monday, after breaking down practice, McKeown walked purposefully, the crutch nowhere to be seen and last season’s absence from the sideline far beyond him. He pointed toward the three-point line, where Lau was practicing her long-range shooting, and jokingly demonstrated his competitive spirit, which has fueled NU women’s basketball now for nearly two decades.

“I’m feeling great, I’m ready,” McKeown said. “I can try to beat her from the threepoint line.”

henryfrieman2027@u.northwestern.edu

Key Player: Kyla Jones Breakout Contender: Tayla Thomas

Northwestern cruises into new era with European summer tour

By JAKE EPSTEIN and CLARA MARTINEZ the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n / @claramart1nez7

Nearly 150 days after the clock struck midnight on Northwestern men’s basketball’s improbable return to a second consecutive NCAA tournament — where the program’s alltime leading scorer Boo Buie bid farewell to the purple and white — coach Chris Collins’ squad reconvened for another trip.

An ocean away from the professional scouts, pundits and fanfare of the Barclays Center, an arena where the Wildcats knocked off FAU in overtime but fell to eventual repeat national champions UConn, NU embarked on a European trip from Aug. 20 to 30.

With senior guard Brooks Barnhizer, graduate student guard Ty Berry and graduate student center Matthew Nicholson all unavailable due to injury, a potential cornerstone of Collins’ new era ’Cats squad emerged in emphatic fashion. Being sidelined did not stop Nicholson from spending time with his team in the moments spent sightseeing attractions like the Duomo de Firenze and the Parthenon.

The 7-footer said the trip afforded chances for the newcomers to hit the ground running, as well as role players from last season who will likely see elevated minutes. One such contributor is junior forward Justin Mullins, who showed flashes in 2023-24 but didn’t carve out a consistent role.

Nicholson added that the group experienced significant growth during its European tour, which will prove pivotal once the nonconference slate begins with Lehigh on Nov. 4. The ’Cats will have a curtain raiser of sorts with an exhibition game against Division II Lewis Wednesday night.

“The Europe experience was a huge role in our progression as a team,” Nicholson said. “We needed that experience in order to go into the season maybe a step or two ahead of other teams without having our lead role man back.”

Just centimeters above sea level, freshman guard K.J. Windham soared to star status well beyond his years, illuminating hope for the program’s next wave of talent. The Indianapolis native began his foreign tour with a 17-point display in the opening tilt.

The team started their trip in Venice with a 79-54 win against professional Serbian basketball

‘Midrange

Mel’

By KAMRAN NIA the daily northwestern @kamran_nia

When senior guard Melannie Daley was a freshman, she scored 22 points to lead Northwestern past a Caitlin Clark-led, ranked Iowa team. The young player set season highs in points and rebounds as she knocked down mid-range after mid-range bucket, flashing elite scoring ability.

“She has that extra fifth gear where she can get you a basket late in the clock,” coach Joe McKeown said. “She can go on her own 10-0 run. I saw her do it to Caitlin Clark in her early years here. She is tough to guard.”

Daley said she felt confident during that midseason game, understanding it was “just basketball.” But that wasn’t always true for the Hastings, New York, native. Daley said she was nervous sometimes while entering a new environment in

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Windham was unconscious from deep, draining 5-of-6 3-pointers and sending a statement of his intent to produce from the season’s outset.

Last season, sophomore guard Jordan Clayton was the lone first-year contributor to see minutes — though redshirt sophomore Luke Hunger preserved his eligibility after suffering a season-ending foot injury in 2022-23.

Windham is one of four newcomers to the squad, ringing in the post-Buie era with an influx of new potential. Collins said the trip ahead of the season gave the younger players a chance to gel as a team and uphold the same standard of last season.

“Continuity is a part of the culture we’re trying to build here,” Collins said. “You have to have

the older guys so that new players see how we do things, how hard we train, how hard we practice.”

The team moved to Florence, and Windham’s infallible form forged into Tuscany.

Although the Wildcats lost against Aris Thessaloniki Basketball Club in Athens, Windham once again proved his prowess as a potential impact player from tip-off.

NU capped off its tour around Europe with a boat trip off the coast of Athens.

Collins said the timing of the ’Cats’ expedition across Europe was invaluable, giving the players new and old an opportunity to create chemistry as they backflipped into the cutting waves of the Mediterranean coast.

“We got a boat in Greece and all day long we

were playing music,” Collins said. “It was just a lot of fun with our family.”

Men’s basketball has not traveled since a tour around France and Italy in 2019 in compliance with NCAA rules allowing teams to plan foreign trips every four years.

Echoing Collins, Nicholson said the team’s trek across Europe — combined with the summer Mediterranean heat — was a vital change of pace from the grind of a typical preseason.

“Coming into this,” he said, “That European experience couldn’t have come at a better time.”

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

claramartinez2028@u.northwestern.edu

Daley prepares to make an impact in senior

college basketball.

Going into her senior year, though, Daley said she has become more confident. She shook off the nerves in the 2023-24 season, leading the Wildcats in scoring while averaging 13.3 points per game.

“I told myself, ‘I’m here for a reason,’” Daley said. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t good enough to play for this team, good enough to play in the Big 10. That’s how I’ve grown.”

Daley thrived in the mid-range, a shot she said her dad emphasized the importance of when she was young. It paid off: She shot 49.4% from the field while only making four three-point attempts.

In fact, Daley has only taken 13 three-point attempts in her NU career.

“Once you get the two, the three can come,” Daley said. “It’s harder to go from the three to the two … It’s been years of crafting and getting my shot right.”

Daley said she is refining and rounding out her game ahead of the season. She wants to tighten her handles and add the three-pointer to her arsenal. While she does not plan to “start jacking threes,” being able to knock them down would add another layer to make her offensive game more dangerous.

Over the offseason, Daley worked with Bryan Browne, a basketball trainer and junior varsity boys basketball coach at Mount Vernon High School in New York. Browne has trained her since she was in seventh grade.

“He’s been instrumental in making me the player I am,” Daley said. “I mean, he pushes me. He has forced me to hone in on my handles … He forced me to step out of my comfort zone and pushed me to be the best player I could be.”

Daley said she trusts Browne because she has known him since middle school, and he has come to know her family well. She also said she has seen her game grow while working with him.

Browne said he enjoys training Daley because she is intensely dedicated to her craft. He also said every time Daley went through a slump, she approached him to help her work through it.

“Her fire to be great was always something,” Browne said. “She always wanted to win … Together, we were pushing each other to be great. She’s pushing me to be a better trainer. I’m

season

pushing her to be a better player. … The joy to have her as a player is just something different.”

Daley said she called Browne before facing Iowa back in 2022, and he calmed her nerves. She will try to turn in outings like that frequently this season.

NU posted a 9-21 record and won just four conference games last season. Daley said she wants to make the first-team All-Big Ten and the Big Ten All-Defensive Team this season and lead the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament.

With seven new players on the roster and renewed energy surrounding the program, Daley has embraced an expanded leadership role as the squad prepares for its 2024-25 campaign.

“It feels like a new culture,” Daley said. “It is exciting to go to practice and to be around

the team. We look good in practice. We look a little scary.”

The senior guard’s ambition beyond college basketball is to be selected in the WNBA draft. But she said she has to perform well this season to get there. She has the confidence to do so, multiplied by an ambitious mentality, she said.

“The game is the game. It doesn’t change. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing with, the ball still has to go into the hoop,” Daley said. “That mindset … has me focusing less about who I’m playing, who I’m playing with, and just going out there and killing whoever’s in front of me, whoever’s guarding me, whatever team is playing against us.”

kamrannia2027@u.northwestern.edu

team

Vojvodina.

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal

Daily file photo by Rose Carlson

NU College Democrats hosts CNN’s Van Jones

By NINETH KANIESKI KOSO daily senior staffer

CNN political analyst, lawyer and civil rights advocate Van Jones recounted his experiences navigating journalism and politics and shared takeaways about the upcoming U.S. presidential election Tuesday at Northwestern College Democrats’ fall speaker event in Cahn Auditorium.

The event, moderated by political science and Medill Prof. Larry Stuelpnagel, drew a crowd of about 60 attendees.

Based on his assessment, Jones said Vice President Kamala Harris has had to pull off several challenges in record time — from setting up her campaign to accepting the Democratic presidential nomination — in the upcoming election race.

During the two weeks after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, he said Harris showed her true charismatic self but has since become “tight” as the race has progressed.

“The best thing I ever saw from Kamala Harris was when all of a sudden, Joe Biden stepped back, and it’s loose football and she caught it,” Jones said. “There was nobody telling her what to do. That’s when you saw Kamala Harris.”

Attendee and Medill freshman Sarah Jacobs said she found this take on the Harris campaign very insightful.

“It gave me an inside look as to how she’s had to quickly adapt having just like 100 days before the election,” Jacobs said. “It also put me more in her shoes, almost feeling the anxiety of having to really fight for our nation with such a short amount of time.”

Jones said many young people today lack media literacy.

This skill was essential for Jones when he worked as a special advisor in the White House during former President Barack Obama’s administration, he said.

Jones said he began his career as a journalist at a time when the country was still in the process of desegregating. During his time in college, he interned at the Shreveport Times in Louisiana, where he said he experienced racism and incidents of biased reporting toward Black communities.

The role of the media in keeping these “old stereotypes in place” appalled Jones so much that

he decided to leave the field and become a lawyer.

Jones said his journalistic background benefited him greatly when he attended Yale Law School.

“If you are a good journalist, you know one thing: how to ask questions and how to get them answered,” Jones said. “(Journalism) is the tough discipline of getting to the truth, getting the facts, not letting up, finding out what’s really going on.”

During his time as a lawyer, Jones said he focused on fighting against police brutality and mass incarceration. However, after 15 years of activism in Oakland, California, Jones said he became depressed from witnessing a lack of change.

After frequently traveling to Marin County to “heal himself,” Jones said he noticed a big difference in the pollution levels between Marin and Oakland.

“(Oakland children) got asthma inhalers because the port is polluting these children’s lungs every day, all day,” Jones said. “The kids in Oakland need green jobs, not jails.”

Jones helped found the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, which provided Oakland residents with job support and experience to pursue careers in renewable energy. The Oakland City Council allocated around $100,000 for the program, he added.

This program, Jones said, led to the Green Jobs Act of 2007, which established a renewable energy worker training program across the nation.

From all these experiences, Jones wrote a book called “The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems,” which ultimately led him to begin working under Obama to manage a program for clean energy solutions.

All of this came crashing down, Jones said,

when Fox News “canceled” him by criticizing him for his “leftist radical” political activities in the ’90s while he was a lawyer.

In a matter of days, Jones said he became an unwelcome figure at the White House and eventually resigned from his job. This left him clinically depressed, he added.

From this experience, Jones urged young people to resist the culture of “mob destruction of people” over mistakes. The CNN political reporter now regularly appears across the network’s political programming.

Medill sophomore Aidan Klineman said he appreciated hearing Jones’ experiences from being an activist to working in the political world to eventually returning to journalism.

“I think (his talk) solidified my own belief that journalism is more than just writing and reporting — it’s more of a broader field,” Klineman said. ninethkanieskikoso2027@u.northwestern.edu

Nineth Kanieski Koso/The Daily Northwestern

During his time as a lawyer, Jones said he focused on fighting against police brutality and mass incarceration.

A&E arts & entertainment

Maggie Rogers captivates fans at United Center

By JOSIE HALPORN the daily northwestern

The United Center glittered Thursday night for part two of Maggie Rogers’ The Don’t Forget Me Tour.

As the triumphant opening chords of “That’s Where I Am” began to play, Rogers emerged into a cloud of artificial fog dressed in a silver robe.

The last time I saw Rogers perform, in April of this year, she wore a casual T-shirt and jeans. I was at Chicago’s House of Blues, where Rogers played a stripped-down set to celebrate the release of her new album “Don’t Forget Me.” What makes Rogers extraordinary is her ability to captivate an intimate audience of 1,000 people, and then, six months later, dazzle an

arena of more than 20,000 people.

After a mellow opening set from singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty — complete with lumberjack-themed set decor — Rogers performed a 100-minute set underneath a sparkling disco ball with a mix of songs from her newest work, “Don’t Forget Me,” as well as her 2022 album

“Surrender” and her 2019 record “Heard It in a Past Life.”

Rogers whipped her hair to the quick beat of

“Drunk” and skipped down the runway stage in knee-high boots during “The Kill.” Behind her, a wall of colorful lights flashed in intricate choreography, and a massive screen broadcasted a close-up view of Rogers singing. In rocking “So Sick of Dreaming,” Rogers switched a lyric about the New York Knicks to reference the Chicago Bulls.

Rogers appeared to be completely at ease in

this large venue, dancing around the space in a way that reflected her confidence and growth as an artist with over a decade experience in the industry. Even Rogers’ older songs “Say It” and “Alaska,” which she wrote in her early folk-pop days, earned cheers from fans old and new.

In the middle of her 19-track set, Rogers brought Mavis Staples onstage for a rendition of the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There.” The 85-year-old belted out impressive and wonderfully raspy riffs, as Rogers and the audience called back with “I’ll take you there!” Rogers beamed onstage with the legend, both of them playing the United Center for the first time in their careers.

Rogers also incorporated an acoustic set reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour surprise songs. With a glass of bourbon in hand and incense burning on top of the piano, she

showed a more raw side of herself through songs “I Still Do” and “All the Same.” In a surprisingly lengthy monologue to the audience, Rogers joked about performing in Bugs Bunny’s stomping grounds — a reference to the iconic film “Space Jam” — and promised a return to the studio to make her next record.

For the finale, Rogers performed “Light On,” a tune she has likely sung countless times in concert, with so much spirit you’d think it was her first time performing it. Confetti fell onto the crowd, who held colored pieces of paper over phone flashlights to give the arena a rainbow light effect. As Rogers and her band bowed at the end of encore “Don’t Forget Me,” I could tell she would be playing arenas for a long time to come.

josiehalporn2025@u.northwestern.edu

Dillo Day Artist Poll gauges student interest in artists

By KATE POLLOT

For four days in late October, Mayfest Productions invited Northwestern students to rate their interest levels on different artists for this year’s Dillo Day, NU’s annual student-run music festival.

The poll, which was released Oct. 22 and closed Oct. 25, included 64 different artists for students to rate.

Weinberg senior and Mayfest booking director Nathan Dent said the poll was intended to gauge which artists and genres students are interested in, with the goal of taking students’ preferences into consideration when booking artists for Dillo Day.

“At the end of the day, we really just want to do right by the rest of the student body and give people a lineup that they’ll enjoy seeing on Dillo Day,” Dent said in a statement to The Daily.

The organization declined to provide specific statistics from the poll.

This year, McCormick freshman Abigail Buell said she is looking forward to experiencing Dillo Day for the first time. Her excitement was bolstered by the caliber of the artists listed on the poll.

“It definitely surprised me that Kesha was on the list because she’s a huge artist,” Buell said.

Other artists listed on the poll included Fiona Apple, Suki Waterhouse and 6LACK.

While the poll collects information on specific artists, Mayfest extrapolates this data to make broader inferences about the demand on campus for certain genres, Dent said.

“We’re a small team, and although we think and work very hard, we can’t speak for every Northwestern student. But the poll can,” Dent said.

The poll will contribute to the rest of the booking process. As Dillo Day draws closer, Mayfest will continue narrowing down the list of potential performers with the results in mind.

The booking process for Dillo Day begins in mid-summer and continues into the school year. While Dent said Mayfest accounts for students’ preferences, one of the biggest factors in the process is finances.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out that booking a festival is quite expensive, and a lot of our initial contenders get knocked out simply because they’re beyond what’s financially feasible for us,” Dent said.

The annual event is free to NU students. Since the festival began in 1971, Dillo Day has featured artists such as Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar and Smash Mouth. Last year, rapper Swae Lee headlined the event.

McCormick sophomore Lucy Madsen said she enjoyed seeing both the artists and the rest of the student body on the Lakefill last year.

“It made the Lakefill really nice, just having everyone out there,” Madsen said. “It’s kind of like the first taste of spring.”

In addition to established musicians, Dillo

Day also features student bands and DJs. These performers are selected through a “Battle of the Artists.”

Aside from music, Dillo Day festivities include food trucks, a photo contest and an overall theme. Last year, the theme was “Camp Dillo.”

“We’ve always been trying to make every festival the best one yet, and I think that’ll only continue this year,” Dent said.

katepollot2024@u.northwestern.edu

The team will consider past Dillo Days when planning for this year, reflecting on what should be repeated, improved or done away with entirely.

Illustration by Shveta Shah

Mayfest Productions sent out a

Jacob Wendler/The Daily Northwestern

Student artist Perl explores passion for music at NU

By ILA DOHRMANN and ABBY KELSO the daily northwestern

As soon as Medill freshman Jared Perlmutter knew how to work a computer, he began experimenting with music and developing his own unique sound. By high school, he was performing at gigs in the New York area.

Perlmutter, who goes by the stage name “Perl,” is a self-taught house artist and producer. Less than a month into his freshman year, he performed as the student opener at A&O Productions’ annual Blowout, a rare accomplishment for a first-year student. Perl said Blowout openers are typically seniors or more seasoned artists or bands, but he wanted to take a risk by applying.

“In the back of my head, I was like, ‘I have faith, and I trust in my music,’” Perl said.

The A&O team was impressed with his track and offered him the role. Perl said he practically “jumped for joy” when A&O emailed him the news.

Perl said he grew up surrounded by music, taking both guitar and piano lessons and performing in a makeshift band with his two older siblings. He attributes his music taste in part to his father, who introduced him to disco and ’80s music when he was young.

Perl received his first turntables in middle school as a gift from his parents, which is when he started to produce original music. He said he developed his skillset through watching online videos.

“Off the bat, I think our entire family saw something special. We realized that he not only was really passionate about it, but he was really good at it,” Medill senior Jesse Perlmutter, Perl’s older sister, said.

Perl described what he creates as emotional house music. He said he takes inspiration from house artists such as Disclosure, it’s murph and RÜFÜS DU SOL.

Perl said he plans to release a single titled “Never Letting You Go” featuring artist Chloe Jane in late November.

During his senior year of high school, Perl sent out a track he had been working on to countless up-and-coming artists whom he hoped would do vocals on his track. Jane replied, and the two began collaborating.

“It probably would have never come to fruition if I didn’t just send my song out to a million people, and a million people didn’t respond,” Perl said. “But all it takes is one.”

Since arriving at NU in September, Perl said he has taken advantage of the University’s expansive music scene. He is currently taking a music technology class and plans on pursuing a minor in music technology in Bienen School of Music.

Jesse Perlmutter said NU has provided her brother with invaluable opportunities to explore his passion for music.

“As an artist, he’s really finding his sound and coming into his own, and I’m excited to see him take off,” she said. “I think this is only the start.”

Weinberg freshman Lee Gillies, Perl’s roommate,

said Perl’s passion for music is evident in his conversations with fellow students.

Weinberg sophomore Grant Hetherington, who has watched Perl perform, echoed Gillies’ sentiment and said Perl has the “biggest smile on his face” when playing songs.

“It’ll be super interesting to keep following him and see how his sound develops and evolves over time, and hopefully how he grows as an artist,” Hetherington said. “I hope he pursues it, because he’s very talented.”

In the future, Perl said he hopes to collaborate with other student artists at NU and become involved in Chicago’s house music scene.

“My goal is to just see where it takes me and keep doing it because I love it,” Perl said. “But there’s obviously no such thing as an overnight sensation. It’s about working at it and not giving up.”

iladohrmann2028@u.northwestern.edu

abbykelso2028@u.northwestern.edu

Queen Priyanka’s tour combines drag and pop music

By GABE HAWKINS and BROOKE NELSON the daily northwestern

@gabe18violin

Under vibrant lights, colorful makeup and glitter bodysuits, Toronto-based drag artist Queen Priyanka performed her solo act to a crowd of over 50 people at Schubas Tavern in Chicago Wednesday night.

Priyanka’s performance, one of many of her multi-city tour, featured rousing pop numbers, comedic segues and a mock pageant with audience members.

The tour follows the release of Priyanka’s debut album “DEVASTATIA” in August, which included eight singles and collaborations with Canadian singer Ralph and drag artist Lemon.

The concert commenced with opener and self-proclaimed “Palestinian Pop Princess” Amira Jazeera, accompanied by artist Chillona.

Friend of Jazeera’s and audience member Matt Callahan said the pair was a “dynamic duo” and applauded their energy on stage.

After a second opener by fellow drag queen and mentor Xtacy Love, Priyanka took to the stage. Kicking off the set with her pop track “I’m a Star,” she performed a 70-minute, high-energy and intensively choreographed spectacle with songs from both her new album and “Taste Test,” as well as select tracks from her time on “Canada’s Drag Race.”

Priyanka was accompanied by dancers Emily Xavier and Loic Belair, who added a layer of

extravagance and comedic flair.

Chicago residents Jonathan Kadetski and Will Stockdale said they are avid followers of the drag scene, having first seen Priyanka on the inaugural season of “Canada’s Drag Race,” where she clinched the winning title. They said they streamed her music in anticipation of the event.

“We love watching ‘Drag Race,’ and we’re so excited to hear her sing,” Kadetski said.

Having been filmed before the pandemic, Priyanka’s season of “Canada’s Drag Race” aired at the height of COVID-19 when other reality series were put on hold.

Priyanka said winning the season during a pandemic allowed viewers to feel more connected to her.

“I kind of became the light at the end of the tunnel for a lot of people,” she said. “Winning ‘Drag Race’ has changed my life but has also given a lot of other people hope that they could be winners too.”

After winning “Canada’s Drag Race,” Priyanka said she knew she wanted to pivot to pop music. She found that the intersection between drag and pop was more closely linked than people may think, citing the high production value and flashy costumes donned by popular touring artists.

“I don’t think it’s as hard a fight as I thought it was going to be,” she said. “If you look at Chappell Roan, if you look at Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé, all of them are doing drag.”

While drag has long been a sanctuary for

Priyanka, recent backlash has called the genre into question, she said. U.S. Supreme Court’s Spectrum WT v. Wendler decision allowed for drag bans on college campuses across the country.

Priyanka argued that drag restrictions are prejudiced. She also criticized those who use their religious views as a justification for opposing the genre.

“As long as you give us space to be who we want, I’ll let you believe in your God,” she said. “There is always space in my house for you to love God if you want to and have a religion. But it doesn’t

mean that hate has to be involved.”

In the meantime, Priyanka said she is maintaining an optimistic outlook on the future of drag. She said overcoming the stigmatization of drag will be a struggle, but there’s still room for everyone.

“The challenge is finding what the common ground is for all of us to exist on this earth together with love,” she said.

gabehawkins2028@u.northwestern.edu

brookenelson2028@u.northwestern.edu

‘Until the Flood’ premieres at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

By NAVYA SINGH

Playwright Dael Orlandersmith’s “Until the Flood” premiered on Saturday at the FleetwoodJourdain Theatre, exploring the 2014 social uprising in Ferguson, Missouri, after a police officer

shot 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Orlandersmith said the play’s characters are inspired by interviews she conducted with Ferguson residents during the period of social unrest, addressing themes of police brutality and racism throughout the play.

Told through monologues by individual characters, actor Jazzma Pryor and actor Jasmine “Jaz”

Robertson portray nine characters of different races, genders and ages.

“Three of my four characters are white,” Robertson said. “That has been a challenge, just in adapting and crafting it and really submerging into that sort of space to get through those characters.”

While the story is based on real-life events and interviews with real people, Pryor said the show characters are fictional, allowing for more flexibility in shaping them.

In one scene, Robertson’s character has an emotional moment of realization: he could have been in Brown’s shoes.

“The actors made you feel like they were that person,” audience member Mimi Livesley said. “They could change hands and become somebody else.”

Pryor said she hoped audiences would reflect on their own perspectives and not default to preconceived impressions of people based on appearance.

“I would love for audiences to go in there just with a clean slate and an open mind,” she said.

The production has performances scheduled every weekend through Nov.10.

Robertson said she also hopes the audience pays attention to the set, a

by

people holding their hands up, as if being pointed at with a gun.

“It’ll be good for the audience to have that anchor in the mural to go back and reference,” Robertson said. “It’s a very core part of the show and what the show is about.”

navyasingh2028@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment

Editor Betsy Lecy

Assistant Editors Karina Eid Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez

Design Editors Paloma Leone-Getten Danny

mural painted

artist Sarah Kaiser. In the mural, the text “R. I. P. Michael Brown” is written with silhouettes of

Gabe Hawkins/The Daily Northwestern Queen Priyanka kicked off her show-stopping act with “I’m a Star,” a rousing track honoring her success.

O’Grady

Daily file photo by Christina Lin

Perl said he takes inspiration from other house artists, such as Disclosure, it’s murph and RÜFÜS DU SOL.

Photo Courtesy of Basil Clunie Jazzma Pryor and Jasmine “Jaz” Robertson perform in “Until the Flood” at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre.

From page 1

“Kamala, because she’s the only choice. I can’t say I fully support her as a candidate, nor that she’s a lesser of two evils, but she is the best we’ve got right now.”

How would you feel if Vice President Kamala Harris was elected the next U.S. President?

Amber Lueth (junior, Weinberg): “I would feel pretty happy. The president doesn’t need to do an amazing job, they just need to not be 80 and not be a felon who tried to overthrow democracy.”

Jonah Rosenberg (sophomore, Weinberg): “I would be satisfied. I do not think there has ever been a candidate that more represents my views than her. While perhaps not quite as progressive as myself, I do believe Kamala would do a great job in the White House.”

Holly Simon (freshman, Weinberg): “I would feel relieved that it wasn’t Trump, happy and proud that the American people elected a woman of color, worried that she might not stick to the ideals she campaigned on and hopeful that she could bring in a new and more effective era of Democratic Party policy.”

How would you feel if former President Donald Trump was elected the next U.S. President?

UNCOMMITTED

From page 1

“the very last minute” to vote. If Harris changes her stance on the war in time, Fonda will vote for Harris. If not, she won’t vote for either Harris or Trump, she said.

It is highly likely that Illinois will vote blue next week. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden won over one million more Illinois votes than Trump did. For this reason, Fonda said she is not worried that she will be helping Trump win the election if she refrains from voting for Harris.

“As a 75-year-old woman, I’ve waited a long time to vote for a woman for President,” Fonda said. “And I want that, but in good conscience, I can’t give her my vote at this point.”

In swing states, on the other hand, people withholding their votes will have much more of

The Daily Northwestern

Clark Mahoney (junior, Weinberg): “I think Trump would promote a bad image of the U.S. abroad. But I believe that we would still be fine.”

Cooper Stringer (junior, Weinberg): “The damage he would do, legally and culturally, to the political landscape of America might leave a legacy as damning as the Reagan decade.”

2. Abortion, climate, LGBTQ+ rights and the economy are key issues among students What issues are most important to you?

Zakariah Massoud (sophomore, Communication): “Reproductive health and bodily autonomy, access to education, LGBTQ rights and a free Palestine. Kamala is the only option for all of those save the last one.”

Claudia Johnson (sophomore, Medill): “Climate change has been the most important issue to me for years now, though I feel it has fallen by the wayside this election cycle in favor of abortion rights and immigration.”

Chloe Campbell (junior, Weinberg): “Abortion is incredibly important — it should be fully legal. Banning assault rifles is also important to me.”

Gabrielle Rice (freshman, Weinberg): “The most important issues to me are the economy,

an impact on election results. For example, in the Michigan Democratic primary, over 100,000 people cast ballots for “uncommi ed.” Biden won Michigan by only 154,000 votes in 2020.

Margaret Welch, another member of Evanston Cease re, said she would be voting for Green Party Candidate Jill Stein even if she lived in a swing state. Voting for Kamala just to defeat Trump would be an “unacceptable moral compromise” for her, she said.

“I don’t care if the Democrats lose,” Welch said.

“It’s on them for … having such a horrible policy in Palestine and Israel and Ukraine, and I’m not responsible for that if I don’t vote for them. If I vote for them, I’m partially responsible.”

Many uncommi ed voters hope that with enough people refusing to vote, Harris will be pressured into making a more commi ed e ort to stop the war.

health care and immigration. I support policies that benefit working-class citizens, and I believe that Kamala Harris has better policies on these issues for the American people.”

3. Students don’t take the right to vote for granted

Do you plan to vote in the November election?

Clark Mahoney (junior, Weinberg): “I have already voted in this election. I feel that it is my civic duty, some down-ballot races are close in my county, and I would like to hopefully elect our first female president.”

Cooper Stringer (junior, Weinberg): “I do plan to vote. I heard once that your rights are like muscles — you have to exercise them to keep them.”

Amber Lueth (junior, Weinberg): “Yes. Even if my vote makes absolutely no difference, it’s still my civic duty. To not vote is to let down all the people before me who fought and died for the right.”

Clara Shapiro (sophomore, Communication): “I am voting absentee in my home state because I think it’s a small task that can make a big impact. My state is definitely going to go blue for the presidential election, but we have an important Senate race and some other down-ballot things I’m excited to vote for.”

Evanston Cease re member Betsy Wilson is considering either withholding her presidential vote or voting for a third-party candidate. She said now is the time when voters will have the most in uence over Harris’s policies.

“Now is the time to speak out and put as much

Most NU undergrads to vote for Kamala Harris

“If you intend to vote in the November general election, who do you plan to vote for?”

Some responses were lightly edited or condensed for length, grammar, spelling, style or clarity. scotthwang2028@u.northwestern.edu

pressure on her to work against the genocide as we can,” Wilson said. “Now is when we have power. We give up the power a er the election because now she’s trying to win your vote.”

femihorrall2027@u.northwestern.edu

Se ing the record straight

An article titled “Senate honors killed Palestinian American child” published in last week’s paper misrepresented Hanan Shaheen’s role in the creation of the Wadee Resolution.

An article published in last Wednesday’s paper titled “NU sues Moderna over use of COVID vaccine delivery tech” misspelled Kaylin McMahon’s name and misstated her title. e Daily regrets these errors.

WEEKLY CROSSWORD

Data from The Daily Northwestern’s fall 2024 undergraduate poll. Respondents who indicated no opinion, or that the question was not applicable to them, were omitted. n = 948 (Graphic by Jillian Moore)

By CHARLIE SPUNGIN

daily senior staffer @charliespungin

Coach David Braun started his Monday press conference by keying in on Northwestern’s need to practice hard and respond to its loss on Saturday.

Over the last two weeks, his team has failed to notch an offensive touchdown and has been outscored 63-17. The Wildcats’ (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten) offensive output has been nearly doubled by its opponents over the last two weeks, having been outgained by 342 yards.

NU will hit the road to face Purdue as Braun hopes to avoid losing three consecutive games for the first time as head coach.

The ship hasn’t been very smooth sailing for the Boilermakers, (1-6, 0-4 Big Ten) either. After a dominant 49-0 win over FCS Indiana State, Purdue has dropped six consecutive games, including losses by 59 points to Notre Dame, 46 points to Wisconsin and 35 points to Oregon.

Last year, the ’Cats took down the Boilermakers 23-15 in the old Ryan Field’s finale. NU hasn’t won back-to-back games against Purdue since 2017 and 2018.

Here’s what to watch in West Lafayette this weekend.

An offensive resurgence may be imminent

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch has thrown for less than 100 yards in both of his two most recent outings, as the ’Cats have only produced three offensive points since Wisconsin took the field at Martin Stadium on Oct. 19.

On Monday, Braun stood by Lausch as his starting quarterback despite the offense’s immense struggles. NU’s offense is producing just 271.1 yards per game — the worst mark in the Big Ten — and 18.4 points per game.

“He needs to play better, but we also need to play better around him,” Braun said. “Jack knows he needs to play better. (I’m) very confident that he’ll do everything in his power to make sure that that happens.”

On the flip side, the Boilermakers have allowed 451.6 yards per game and 38.4 points per game, both the lowest figures in the Big Ten and among the bottom five for Power Four schools.

Braun pointed toward a variety of factors that can help the offense find its footing against Purdue, including winning the field position battle, having better offensive line play and improving the wide receiver room’s health.

He added that the Boilermakers’ lackluster defensive statistics cannot “lull” the ’Cats to

sleep, acknowledging that they must approach each game with the same attitude.

“Defensively, they’re going to play a lot of man coverage, a lot of single-high defense,” Braun said. “They do a good job of disguising their big zone off that, and we’re going to have to find ways to find efficiency in whatever way we can find it.”

The importance of winning the third down conversion battle

Over its last three games, NU has failed to convert more than three third downs in any game. Offensive coordinator Zach Lujan’s unit has converted just 7-of-39 of its third downs during that span.

When Braun was asked how he would evaluate his third-down offense, he quickly responded that it is “ineffective”.

Meanwhile, Purdue hasn’t been much better, converting 10-of-33 of its third downs over the past three games. The two teams rank at the bottom of the Big Ten in third-down conversion rate, with the ’Cats having the secondworst figure in the nation with a 25.2% rate.

From Braun’s perspective, the best way to improve on third downs is by performing better on earlier downs.

“A lot of it comes down to being better on first and second down,” Braun said. “We have to create more third and four, third and three, third and two, third and one scenarios that we have a great deal of confidence in our ability to convert, move the chains.”

Over the last three games, NU’s average third-down distance has been 6.9 yards, 4.7 yards and 7.5 yards.

Coming hand in hand with more successful early down play, Braun said it’s important to keep the defense on its heels with down-thefield plays, similar to what happened against Maryland.

“We need to find some ways to create some explosive plays,” he said. “It is very difficult to methodically, consistently throughout a game move down the field in 5-yard, 10-yard, 11-yard increments.”

NU’s run defense could be slipping

Three games into the season, the ’Cats boasted a top 10 run defense. Since then, the wheels have started to come off.

After allowing just 57.7 rushing yards per game and no total rushing touchdowns in non-conference play, NU has allowed more than 140 rushing yards in four of five Big Ten games. In every conference game, the ’Cats have allowed at least one rushing touchdown.

Against Iowa, NU allowed season highs with 203 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Graduate student linebacker Xander Mueller did not play and is also unlikely to play Saturday, according to Braun.

The Boilermakers have a pair of efficient running backs with Devin Mockobee and

Reggie Love III. Mockobee has totaled 510 rushing yards on the season, while Love III has tallied 319. Both players rank top ten in yards per attempt in the Big Ten.

Last season, Mockobee rushed for 54 yards and one touchdown against the ’Cats.

“This is (the) Big Ten,” Braun said. “Every week, you’re facing one heck of a back.” Braun emphasized the importance of slowing down the run by having good tackling technique, something he said the team lacked against Iowa. charliespungin2027@u.northwestern.edu

walk-on freshman wagner shines for NU

By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

Northwestern freshman wide receiver Drew Wagner wrestled with significant nerves during his weekday preparation for Saturday’s Iowa game at Kinnick Stadium. Wagner had made several special teams appearances in prior contests, but the Delafield, Wisconsin, native would soon step into a newfound spotlight.

With graduate student wide receivers A.J. Henning and Bryce Kirtz injured, Wagner’s name shot up the punt returner depth chart last Monday. Two days later, Wagner tackled a macroeconomics midterm.

But, the true freshman preferred-walk-on encountered his toughest test Friday, when coach David Braun and special teams coordinator Paul Creighton told Wagner he’d make his first career start at punter returner in front of nearly 70,000 fans in Iowa City.

“The whole week I was really nervous about it, and then on gameday — once I was out on the field — I was still nervous but almost had a sense of relief,” Wagner told The Daily on Tuesday. “It was like, ‘Alright, I’ve prepared for this all week, and I’m ready to just go out there.’”

Since Wagner had yet to record a collegiate touch prior to the Wildcats’ matchup with the Hawkeyes, Braun and Creighton instructed the freshman to focus on cleanly catching his first few punts.

After taking fair catches on a trio of punts, Creighton gave Wagner the green light to try his luck on a return. Although his first return netted negative yardage, Wagner gave Creighton a glance upon his return to the sideline that commanded the longtime special teams

follow in his older brother Matt Wagner’s footsteps.

“He’s always been an underdog,” Brenda Wagner said. “He always told me, ‘Don’t worry, mom. They won’t catch me.’ His older brother was also a huge part of his work ethic, helping him along the way and pushing him.”

Drew Wagner’s first love was basketball. Despite being an undersized guard, he shone on AAU circuits and started on his high school’s varsity squad as a freshman.

While he competed alongside Duke guard Kon Knueppel and Nebraska guard Nick Janowski on his AAU squad, Drew Wagner realized he stood a greater chance of playing football at the collegiate level and shifted his aspirations to the gridiron.

“It was always basketball until after my sophomore year of football going into my junior year, when I started to flip the switch and set my mind toward football,” Drew Wagner said.

Matt and Drew Wagner were set to team up for the first time in the latter’s sophomore year, but Matt Wagner sustained a torn ACL ahead of his senior season that derailed his recruitment hopes and ended his high school football career.

Kettle Moraine High School football coach Matt McDonnell entrusted Drew Wagner with filling his older brother’s role as the varsity squad’s primary receiver. McDonnell, who first met Drew Wagner during a pickup basketball game three years prior, said his young wideout quickly blossomed into an offensive “cheat code.”

“He was our get-out-of-jail-free card,” McDonnell said. “Anytime you’re in a tough situation and you just throw the ball to Drew, something good was going to happen because he just would find a way to catch the ball. … He would go all four quarters and never gave

As the game clock ticked under seven min-

As Drew Wagner developed into a defensive coordinator’s nightmare at wideout, his coaches began incorporating him in the secondary. The gradual process started with practice reps and shifted into situational sets.

Eventually, Kettle Moraine defensive coordinator Chad Buchholz expanded Drew Wagner’s Iron Man-esque role to span the entire course

“It’s incredible because Drew was an offensive guy first,” Buchholz said. “Whenever we needed a lockdown corner in a big play, we would call upon Drew, and he would go out there and just be the man. When you have an

just having good ball security. So when that happened, I just felt like I blacked out from the point where I caught it mates were there cellife.” throughout a standout tle Moraine High School, chance into a show-stop-

… my mouth their season.

Drew Wagner’s mother, kept her younger son off the football field during his

He would go all four quarters and never gave an inch.” of games. can put that to perform at a peak special.”

Heading into the summer before his senior year, he had received six offers from several FCS and service academies.

On June 27, 2023 — 10 days after receiving an offer from Navy — Drew Wagner committed to the Midshipmen. He said he loved the coaches’ vision for the program, but he still had hopes of playing Power Four football on the game’s brightest stages.

Drew Wagner hauled in a combined 103 receptions for 2,056 yards and 24 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons, but college scouts seldom looked beyond his measurables.

Despite little attention from college coaches, Drew Wagner’s local reputation preceded himself, Milwaukeebased trainer Matt Gifford said.

Gifford trained both Drew and Matt Wagner during their respective high school

“I thought this kid could be the next Julian Edelman,” Gifford said. “He has the Wes Welker, New England Patriot slot receiver-type feel where he just knows how to get open.”

Tom Wagner, Drew Wagner’s father, said the Naval Academy aligned with his law enforcement background, but he felt his son was wise to keep his options open. He added that he knew Drew Wagner would thrive in an environment with high athletic and academic pedigrees.

Having sustained a torn labrum and a chipped bone during his junior year, Drew Wagner consulted a surgeon and opted to delay surgery to play out his senior season of high school football. While he fought through significant pain, his risk of aggravating the injury wasn’t elevated.

“It’s a catch-22 because there’s a lot of kids that will just hang it up and opt for the surgery,” Kettle Moraine offensive coordinator Kevin Yarbrough said. “In typical Drew fashion, you almost wouldn’t know he’s playing with that type of injury. It’s a testament to the amount of work he did in his preparation.”

He officially committed to the ’Cats on Feb. 4.

“People always say that ‘When you know, you know,’ and I just kind of knew from visiting — just from the coaches and how awesome they were — I felt like I’d be really happy here,”

When he flipped his commitment — betting on himself to earn a role with nothing guaranteed — Drew Wagner held very few expectations ahead of his true freshman season, he said. All he could control was the work he put

“I was really nervous coming here, just being a walk-on,” Drew Wagner said. “Obviously it’s tough, but I just put my head down and worked. It’s been great to have a lot of good friends here, great coaches, great teammates, all the older guys. That’s one thing I was scared about, they’re gonna be big, scary dudes, but those dudes are like brothers now to all of us.”

Every time he steps on the field — for both practices and games — Drew Wagner said he thinks of his older brother and not taking any play for granted. He added that he’s playing for both of them, actualizing childhood dreams of playing Big Ten football just over 100 miles

Once the season ended, Drew Wagner finally underwent shoulder surgery, which caused him to miss the bulk of his final high school basketball season.

Richert shifted Drew Wagner into a coachtype role, where he mentored his backup into an all-league caliber player that season.

Richert said his former point guard left a lasting impact on the team’s culture.

“It doesn’t matter how tall you are as long as you have that dawg mentality,” Richert said. “He’ll go out and compete against anyone because he’s confident in his ability. He knows no matter who he goes up against, his passion for getting better every day is going to come out in him. He never let his size dictate anything. He never backed down.”

About six months after Drew Wagner committed to Navy, Braun — a Kettle Moraine alumni who applied for the school’s head coaching job early in his career — gave the wide receiver a preferred-walk-on offer. The Wagner family took a visit to Annapolis, Maryland, the day after the ’Cats offered Drew Wagner a roster spot.

There, Drew Wagner said he couldn’t shake the thought of pursuing his dream of playing Big Ten football so close to home. Once he came to the Evanston campus for his NU visit, he said all the pieces began falling into place.

While Braun said the team’s depth chart at punt returner will continue to be evaluated as Henning and Kirtz return to full health, he added that Drew Wagner’s dynamic ability means the ’Cats must find ways to get him

from home. involved.

With Drew Wagner on a path to potentially earning a full scholarship, he said he wants to do whatever he can to help the team win games.

“I just want to get an opportunity to play on special teams or wherever and make the most of it to help this team,” Drew Wagner said. “Some of the older guys, it might be their last year. It’s been amazing to get to know them, and I just want to be the best teammate I can be.”

Creighton said Drew Wagner only has one speed on the football field — max effort on

The ’Cats’ coaching staff didn’t have many expectations for the true freshman entering fall camp, but Creighton said his newest punt returner carries a chip on his shoulder and embodies the culture NU is striving to build.

“Drew’s a perfect example of who we can be in the Big Ten,” Creighton said. “He’s the perfect picture of how Northwestern can freaking win games and compete in this league. If we could take 100 Drew Wagners, we could compete with anybody in the country.”

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

shocked

relented once Drew Wagner reached eighth grade, letting him

Henry Frieman/The Daily Northwestern