The Daily Northwestern - October 3, 2019

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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, October 3, 2019

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Field Hockey

3 CAMPUS/Student Life

Wildcats prepare to beat Maryland

Students spend summer working on political campaigns

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arts & entertainment

PAGES 4-5

District 65 PTA hosts restaurant week Initiative seeks to combat fundraising inequality By ANDREW ROWAN

the daily northwestern @andrewrowan128

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

Medill alum and four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Barstow spoke at the Wednesday event. Prof. Debbie Cenziper, Medill’s Director of Investigative Journalism, moderated the Q&A session.

Pulitzer winner speaks at NU

David Barstow talks investigative journalism, covering Trump By MELANIE LUST

the daily northwestern

At a Wednesday Q&A, David Barstow (Medill ’86), a four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, defended the use

of “fighting words” in the New York Times’ coverage of Trump’s financial history. Prof. Debbie Cenziper moderated the the Q&A session titled “The State of Investigative Journalism.” With a crowd of 150, Barstow discussed his career and

NU hires key LGBTQ admin New assistant MSA director f ills vacant role By YUNKYO KIM

the daily northwestern @YunkyoMoonK

After seven months without an assistant director for Multicultural Student Affairs, Matt Abtahi stepped into the position in September, filling a key role for LGBTQ students at Northwestern. The Associated Student Government petitioned the administration to expedite the hiring process for what many students consider the only personnel resource for LGBTQ students. Abtahi, former interim director of DePauw University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion, started working with the LGBTQ community on Sept. 12. Soteria Reid, co-author of the petition and ASG’s executive officer of justice and inclusion, said the university responded effectively to the legislation. “The result was better than what we even asked for,” the SESP junior said. “That’s rare.”

Early in the summer, the university formed a hiring committee with administrators and LGBTQ graduate and undergraduate students to evaluate applications. The committee then invited four final candidates to the Evanston campus for a day-long interview, which Reid and her co-author Elynnor Sandefer attended. Sandefer, ASG vice president of campus life and former Rainbow Alliance senator, said that she was “very optimistic” about Abtahi’s future at MSA. “I am incredibly grateful that the position is filled right now,” the Weinberg junior said. “(Abtahi) is already taking to Northwestern with an aim in trying to understand what is happening on this campus so that he knows how to proceed from there.” ASG Executive Vice President and SESP senior Adam Davies, agreed that the university acted in the best interest of LGBTQ students by consulting with the co-authors on the legislation. Davies said Northwestern broke with standard hiring timelines for higher education administrators, which typically » See MSA, page 6

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

shared advice with aspiring investigative journalists. “It’s really great to be home at Medill,” Barstow told The Daily. “It’s amazing to see this astonishing new generation of really smart, talented people taking up the banner of reporting.”

Barstow recently completed a 20-year career at The Times. When he was a full-time reporter, his investigative work uncovered corruption in both public and private spheres. He became the » See BARSTOW, page 6

In an effort to combat inequality in PTA fundraising among schools within Evanston/Skokie School District 65, the Evanston/Skokie Council of PTAs partnered with local restaurants for a district-wide, week-long fundraising event. Last week, 21 restaurants partnered with the Council of PTAs for the second annual “Restaurant Week.” The local establishments donated 10 percent to 20 percent of the cost of participating diners’ meals to the PTA Equity Project. PTA Council Vice President Donna Wang Su said the group realized several years ago that there were significant fundraising disparities among schools within the district. Some schools, Su said, may have only been able to raise $25 per student, while others may have been able to raise more than $250 per student.

Thus, the PTA Equity Project was born. The PTA Council started a general campaign to bring schools on the lower range of PTA funds to a more manageable level, Su said. The PEP project is a collaboration among District 65’s 11 schools, which are split into three tiers: receiving, borderline and giving. Giving schools are in the upper levels of fundraising and donate 10 percent of their PTA dollars raised to the pot of funds for receiving schools. Borderline schools do not give nor receive. Su said schools have fluctuated between the tiers since the project was started in 2016. In addition to a GoFundMe page, the second-annual restaurant week is another source of revenue for the receiving schools’ funds. PEP Committee Organizer Ellie Sato said the committee is still waiting on a few restaurants to submit their donations and then will release a total for this year’s fundraiser. Last year, about $5,000 was raised, Sato said. “We’re successful because of the community,” said Old Neighborhood Grill manager » See PEP, page 6

Newport Coffee House new in town

Swedish-style coffee house replaces Cheesie’s in downtown location By SAM HELLER

the daily northwestern @samheller5

Newport Coffee House, a family-owned coffee shop based out of Bannockburn, Illinois, opened its second location on Davis Street this summer, transforming Cheesie’s old home into a high-end cafe with a Swedish twist. After six months of renovation, Newport opened its doors at 622 Davis St. on July 1., joining a crowded market of coffee shops in town. Co-owner and founder Mikael Bengtsson said the cafe brews its own coffee, using fresh beans and “the best equipment money can buy.” “We try to do the best in every process spot along the way, from roasting to the final steps,” he said. Bengtsson and his wife are from Sweden, and they’ve tried to incorporate their culture in the food and the space, serving up some Swedish pastries in the shop as well. While he originally wanted to focus on coffee, Bengtsson said he wanted to create an inviting space for students and Evanston residents, even if they don’t drink coffee.

(Zoe Malin/Daily Senior Staffer)

Newport Coffee House. The space was designed in the Swedish minimalist style.

Newport Coffee House has been open since 1992, roasting fresh coffee daily. Bengtsson and his wife Lotta recently acquired the company, and have since expanded to Evanston.They create more than 10 different blends of coffee, ranging from

Mexican, a medium roast with a sweet and chocolate taste, to Ethiopian Sidamo, a spicy blend with a sweet citrus kick. All of their blends are sold in bags at the Evanston location. Bengtsson said he and his wife select beans from all

around the world, ranging from South America to Africa. The Bengtssons know each of the farmers they source beans from by name and only buy fair trade and organically, said Evanston » See NEWPORT, page 6

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


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