The Daily Northwestern — Oct. 13, 2021

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Serving the Northwestern and Evanston communities since 1881

The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, October 13, 2021

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 3 CAMPUS/Political Union

Political Union debates merits, drawbacks of objectivity in journalism

4 A&E/Forman

Forman talks experience at Disneyland Hong Kong

A&E

Find us online @thedailynu 8 SPORTS/Field Hockey

A rundown of Blank’s NCAA legacy

High 72 Low 64

City Council drops tenative budget 2022 sees increase, calls for pandemic recovery investment By JORJA SIEMONS and ILANA AROUGHETI

daily senior staffers @jorjasiemons, @ ilana_arougheti

City Council released Evanston’s 2022 proposed budget Monday, suggesting the allocation of more funding to economic recovery from the pandemic, human services and pensions. The proposed budget, authored by Interim City Manager Kelley Gandurski, represents an increase of nearly $60 million from that of 2021. Over half of the increase comes from American Rescue Plan Act funding. City staff listed some top priorities for the next fiscal year as supporting underserved communities impacted by the pandemic, investing in economic development and addressing chronic city underfunding. Last week’s City Council meeting included a discussion about allocating the $43 million Evanston is receiving through ARPA. City staff recommended the largest portion

to be allocated to “Revenue Loss Funding,” which includes hazard pay for some city employees. Councilmembers also debated the best way to use ARPA funds toward the city’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan. The Environment Board’s CARP Implementation Task Force recommended a $5 million allocation for projects furthering the city’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Gandurski said the city’s general fund is on track to maintain a $2 million surplus this year. Added to the $17.4 million currently in the general fund, this will tip the fund over its surplus limit. To counteract this, council will budget $1 million toward general expenses in 2022. The city has saved on debt payments and made more revenue on entertainment taxes this year than expected. This is set to increase profits by $275,000 from last year, especially due to taxes on digital streaming services. But revenue from parking tickets is projected to drop significantly throughout the rest of this year, bringing in an estimated $400,000 less than last year, along with hotel and sports entertainment taxes. These sources will be allocated with lower expectations for generating revenue next year.

» See BUDGET, page 6

Illustration by Angeli Mittal

Within the new union, Northwestern’s library workers hope to negotiate with the University for better benefits.

University library workers unionize At Tuesday assembly, over 130 announce move, deliver demands By ILANA AROUGHETI

daily senior staffer @ilana_arougheti

Over 130 Northwestern library workers announced their unionization at a Tuesday assembly. The workers organized at The Rock at noon, then marched to Provost Kathleen Hagerty’s office

to deliver a list of demands. Library workers are responding in part to furloughs and other financial cuts enacted during the pandemic, including retirement fund decreases, layoffs and a lack of hazard pay, according to a Tuesday news release. NU Library Workers Union will unionize in connection with SEIU Local 73, which represents primarily public service and school

district workers in Illinois and Indiana. Library workers are asking that the University either formally recognize the union has formed or at least recognize the union’s right to form, according to the release. University spokesperson Jeri Ward told The Daily that NU is currently reviewing the petition from Local 73 seeking to unionize library employees.

“Is Northwestern going to voluntarily recognize us? No. Are they going to talk to us in good faith? No,” Interlibrary Loan Assistant Drew Clower said during the march. “But we are going to not let them scare us. No fear, no doubt. We got this — we already have enough support to win.”

» See LIBRARY, page 6

Council debates lakefront parking Five things to know Councilmembers discuss extension of pilot program, which began Aug. 2

re: UP-elect Blank

By ALEX HARRISON

Students express concerns, leaders laud appointment

the daily northwestern @alexhairysun

City Council debated Monday whether to extend a pilot program implementing parking fees along the lakefront into a yearlong initiative. The pilot program was approved by council on July 26 and began on Aug. 2. It requires vehicles without a current-year Evanston wheel tax payment to pay $3 per hour to park on designated streets and in parking lots along the lakefront. The program is slated to end on Oct. 31. The proposed extension would establish seasonal rates of $3 per hour from April to October and $0.50 per hour from November to March. It would also add new locations to the program, including sections of Lake Shore Boulevard, Kedzie Street and Sheridan Road. Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) opposed the extension, citing resident complaints and expressing concerns about parking fees’ effect on beachfront tourism. She asked

By HANNAH FEUER

daily senior staffer @hannah_feuer

Who is University Presidentelect Rebecca Blank, and what experience will she bring to Northwestern? As University leaders laud her appointment, some community members have expressed concerns about her relationships with activists and marginalized communities as UW-Madison’s key leader. Here are five things to know about the University’s president-elect.

Nick Francis/Daily Senior Staffer

Ald. Clare Kelly (1st). On Monday, City Council debated the possibility of extending a lakefront parking fee pilot program which began on Aug. 2.

Michael Rivera, interim division manager for parking, if he could provide more analysis of the program’s economic effects, including how many parking

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

tickets resulted from lakefront spots and lots. “Especially at this time, we really need to make Evanston a welcoming destination, and

I think this throws a bit of a wrench into that,” Kelly said. “I don’t really see a cost-benefit

» See COUNCIL, page 6

the Council, a non-profit higher education association, predicts University presidents will achieve gender parity by 2030. She will serve at the same time as Kathleen Hagerty, NU’s first woman provost. This isn’t the first time Blank has broken into a male-dominated profession. She was also the first tenured woman in NU’s economics department, where she was employed from 1989 to 1999. Just 22% of tenured and tenure-track faculty in economics are women, according to a survey the American Economic Association conducted last year.

She has the second longest tenure of any current leader of a public Big Ten institution

She will be NU’s first Blank has been chancellor of woman president the University of Wisconsin– Blank’s appointment follows a steadily rising trend of women serving as University presidents. In 2016, only 30% percent of University presidents nationwide were women, according to a survey conducted by the American Council on Education. But

Madison for eight years. As chancellor, she led several initiatives to improve educational outcomes and equity at UW-Madison. Most notably, Blank led the implementation of Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which

» See BLANK, page 6

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


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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

AROUND TOWN

EPL hosts talk on Native American media portrayals By AVIVA BECHKY

the daily northwestern @avivabechky

Ernest M. Whiteman III spoke about Native American media representation and its real-world ramifications in his virtual presentation hosted by Evanston Public Library Tuesday night. Whiteman — a Northern Arapaho media educator, filmmaker and writer — addressed stereotypes around Native Americans, authentic representation and erasure. He also spoke with the audience about their preconceived ideas of Native Americans. “When it comes to how Natives are represented and how it affects Native Americans, I always ask people to imagine something,” Whiteman said. “Imagine that whenever you meet a person, that they have already made up their mind about you. They have already decided about you all these things because you are a Native American.” Library assistant Kellye Fleming, who organized the event, said the presentation was particularly timely given that Indigenous Peoples’ Day was the day before. Fleming said she hoped attendees would learn about the impact media representation has on perceptions of Native Americans. “(Representation) is kind of like a mirror to our world,” Fleming said. “Who is seen and who isn’t seen, and what that means for the people that get to see themselves and then the people that don’t get to see themselves.”

Apply for Cook County rental assistance by Oct. 29. Here’s how. State and national eviction moratoriums expired Oct. 3, once again leaving residents at risk of eviction if they are unable to pay rent. Renters and landlords who can’t pay rent and utility bills because of the pandemic can apply for up to 18 months of Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance by Oct. 29. Here’s how to apply.

Daily file photo by Caroline Megerian

Ernest M. Whiteman III speaks at an event in 2020. At Tuesday’s virtual event, he discussed representation of Native Americans in media.

In the talk, Whiteman examined tropes throughout television and film surrounding Native Americans. He discussed the violent “savage” and villain stereotypes, as well as the subservient “good Indian.” Whiteman said this depiction perpetuates the idea that Native Americans are “always the enemy to defeat” — an idea that leads to violence against Native people. Moreover, films and TV shows commonly display Native Americans as stuck in the past and out of touch with modernity, he said, noting the pattern appeared in shows ranging from “Star Trek” to “Little House on the Prairie.” Whiteman linked that stereotype to erasure of

Native American perspectives. “When you get depictions that sort of continually drop us in the past, there’s this ownership that happens by non-Native audiences that think they can do whatever they want because Natives are vanished,” Whiteman said. He said Native Americans should be the ones telling Native American stories. Whiteman pointed out how Native-led shows like “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs” have become a hot topic in popular culture. However, he said, positioning two shows — which each have flaws

First, check if you’re eligible. Applicants must meet all four of these qualifications: a) Be a renter or landlord in suburban Cook County. b) Have proof you experienced pandemic-related financial challenges. c) Need to pay rent, utilities or other housing-related expenses either now or in the future. d) Have a household income at or below a county threshold. For example, households of one must make up to $52,200 annually to qualify, and households of two must make up to $59,650 annually to qualify. A full list of household income eligibility requirements is available on the rental assistance website.

Next, gather your required documents. To apply for assistance, you’ll need to verify your identity, and list the people in your household and present your household’s monthly income. You also must submit proof of pandemic-related financial emergency and enter your landlord’s name and email address. If you’re applying for utility assistance, you also should submit your latest utility bill.

Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) Presents:

THE CIERA 12th ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURE

STRANGE NEW WORLDS: IS EARTH SPECIAL?

Phil Plait

aka The Bad Astronomer

FREE!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Content tailored to a general audience—all are welcome! LIVESTREAMING details at bit.ly/CIERAPublicLecture2021

Thursday, October 14 5:30PM Cahn Auditorium 600 Emerson Street ciera.northwestern.edu

Then, fill out the application online by Oct. 29. The rent assistance application help center is available to take calls in multiple languages, including English and Spanish, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays at 833-221-9821.

— as the only ones with accurate Native American representation burdens them. As Whiteman discussed positive representation, he challenged the idea that better shows are emerging only now. He pointed to “Northern Exposure,” which aired between 1990 and 1995, as an example of an older Native American-led show. He also talked about recent examples of representation driven by Native American writers, actors and directors. For some members of the audience, like Evanston resident Nancy Braund, the presentation helped encourage a deeper look at representation. “It got me thinking about how films especially have done a poor job of representing people who are quote: ‘different,’” Braund said. At the end of Whiteman’s talk, he emphasized how media depictions erase real Native Americans. On the shared Zoom screen, he put up an image of two drawings of Native Americans. He then asked the audience which of the figures on screen was a better representation of Native Americans. After a discussion about the stereotypes in both images, Whiteman pointed out that he, too, was visible on the screen. He said that by showing representations of Native Americans, he rendered himself invisible. The representations, rather than the reality, were what captured people’s attention. “Representation matters, right?” Whiteman said. “It influences how people interact with Native Americans, in every gamut of society.” avivabechky2025@u.northwestern.edu Other assistance is available, too. Residents who don’t qualify for this program or are seeking other forms of assistance can turn to other resources provided by the county.. They can also apply for the Legal Aid for Housing and Debt Program, Rent Help for Chicago and Help for City of Chicago and State of Illinois Residents. An online version of this article is available at https://dailynorthwestern.com/2021/10/13/city/ residents-can-apply-for-cook-county-emergencyrental-assistance-by-oct-29-heres-how/ with hyperlinks to online websites, checklists and applications. — Maia Spoto


THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

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ON CAMPUS

NU Political Union talks objectivity By JOSHUA PERRY

daily senior staffer @joshdperry

Students voted in favor of prioritizing journalistic objectivity over advocacy at Monday night’s Political Union debate. Political Union, a nonpartisan student group, regularly hosts member-led debates centering around a political issue, where attendees vote on a consensus. Monday’s debate was led by Weinberg junior Will Secker, who was proobjectivity, and Medill junior Spencer Allan, a former Daily staffer, who argued in favor of advocacy in journalism. Secker said he views objectivity as a standard for journalistic expression. Objectivity is critical to news consumers, he said, because it establishes trust in the free press and ensures that the public is provided with accurate information. “Objectivity is a good idea to strive for because it’s predicated on truth, fairness, facts and reality,” Secker said. “And it’s also good in its impact, because objectivity helps keep citizens informed in a reliable way. It doesn’t try to spin narratives, or help readers come to predetermined conclusions which may warp our view of reality.” Journalists have a responsibility to news consumers to uncover truths about society without crossing the line into advocacy or bias, Secker said. While he stressed that journalists shouldn’t be activists, he said objective reporting can still support the causes of activists as long as it’s truthful. Allan said he originally began his journalism studies believing objectivity was a principle he could stand behind. However, as he continued his reporting, he found the remaining objective was less simple than it initially seemed. Journalism is inherently biased, Allan said, because editorial decisions on coverage, interviews and included information can have a significant impact on the narrative of a story. The press has a responsibility to platform the voices of the oppressed or unheard, he said, not

remain fully neutral. “The pursuit of objectivity in journalism has historically blinded us journalists to having empathy toward people in their causes,” Allan said. “When we try to pursue objectivity absolutely, we end up sort of ignoring the more human aspects of the field of journalism.” Allan agreed with Secker that journalists don’t need to be activists, but he stressed that when journalists attempt to stay out of the fray ideologically, the status quo is often reinforced. Objectivity in reporting, he said, is a barrier to advocacy. However, some students didn’t believe that either journalistic value needed to be prioritized over the other. While she prefers journalists check their biases, Weinberg sophomore Yasmeen Mohammed Rafee said she believes the media industry as a whole can strike an

ideological balance. “We can still have both advocacy and objectivity, I just think that mainstream media should be objective,” Mohammed Rafee said. Weinberg senior Anna Cork said she was happy the debate topic was more abstract this time, since most Political Union debates center on specific policy decisions. Cork, who voted against prioritizing objectivity, said the opposing side made some points during the discussion that resonated with her. However, in her view, all ideologies are fundamentally relative. “Everyone has very different opinions of what news is objective and how objectivity works… which is I guess why I don’t think objectivity is really a thing that exists,” Cork said.

joshuaperry2023@u.northwestern.edu

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Check out Rebecca Shaid/The Daily Northwestern

NU Political Union meets for a debate on journalistic objectivity Monday night. The group holds regular debates where students are invited to share their views on political issues and engage in dialogue with their peers.

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4 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

arts & entertainment

A&E

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

DISNEY AND A DEGREE By NICOLE MARKUS

the daily northwestern @nicolejmarkus

Like most Northwestern students, Communication sophomore Annabel Forman is balancing extracurriculars with her classes. The difference? She’s currently acting in Hong Kong Disneyland’s Halloween special “Let’s Get Wicked.” She took a gap year to act in the show after high school and attended NU (mostly) in-person her freshman year. Now, she’s returned to Hong Kong to reprise her role this fall. The Daily talked to Forman about how she balances school while acting in a show over 7,500 miles away from her home in Ohio. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. The Daily: How did you get involved i n Ho n g K o n g Disneyland? Forman: I was on the waitlist at Northwestern. I figured out kind of late in the college process that it was the perfect school for me. I decided that I would drive from Ohio, where I live, to speak to them inperson, but I didn’t want them to think that I was crazy. I went online and randomly Googled acting initiatives in Chicago, and the casting call came up from Hong Kong Disneyland. I fit the age and height requirements, so I went in, and then I ended up getting a job. It was such an amazing opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up. The Daily: How are you attending college while in Hong Kong? Forman: I have really amazing professors that

I connected with in my first year (at NU), who… offered to proctor independent studies for me so I can continue to get class credit while being (in Hong Kong). The Daily: Can you explain your role in Hong Kong Disneyland? Forman: When I came in 2019, I was part of the workshop process for “Let’s Get Wicked,” which was a new Halloween show that Hong Kong Disneyland wrote and debuted. Now, I’m back at “Let’s Get Wicked.” My role is in English; I do not speak Cantonese, unfortunately. Thankfully, that’s not a part of my job requirement. I’m the Mistress of Ceremonies for the show, so I narrate the story (and) introduce the villains. I have a male counterpart who speaks Cantonese, so he’ll say his line in Cantonese and I’ll repeat an English version of it. The Daily: How have you navigated the language barrier moving from the U.S. to Hong Kong? Forman: I thought it was going to be a lot more difficult than what it was, but Hong Kong is (so) warm and welcoming, and the majority of people speak or understand basic English. Everybody’s just so kind and compassionate here that it’s really quite easy to get around and navigate. The Daily: Where do you see yourself going after your contract is up? Forman: I am coming back to campus. I’ve got my heart set on that NU degree as much as Hong Kong tries to pull me to stay. But I definitely would love to come back after I finish school and spend a lot of time (in Hong Kong). I think it’s truly a magical place. I was always a person with a very straightforward plan in life: There was high school, college, career — type A. But taking a gap year and coming here and then leaving school to come back here has really thrown a wrench in the way that I look at the world and what I want to do with my life. I think Disney does provide great opportunities to live in foreign countries and do the work you love while getting to experience parts of the world that are just beyond amazing. nicolemarkus2025@u.northwestern.edu

Photo courtesy of Annabel Forman


THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

5

Virtual Dittmar exhibit captures 12 pandemic months By KIM JAO

the daily northwestern

Personal quarantine experiences, societal turning points and an overwhelming sense of isolation resonate through “A Year of Creative Confinement,” artist Marcia Babler’s (Weinberg ’75) collection of 48 visual metaphors. Babler said she came up with the idea for the virtual exhibit when she realized the pandemic-related

dialogue in her art groups needed to be documented. Much like the pandemic itself, she said she was uncertain how long her project would run, but decided to follow “wherever the creative energy went.” “There’s a power to visual depictions of events, and I think people really relate to visual things,” Babler said. “And that goes into the power of art to document and to communicate and to provide lessons for ourselves to reflect on.” Babler is a professional artist with numerous works that have been accepted by curators, educators and

Photos courtesy of Marcia Babler

gallery owners around the world. Writing program lecturer Ellen Wright said she appreciates Babler’s compelling ability to connect thinking with the visual experience and create images that are appealing, both visually and intellectually.” The exhibit is divided into 12 sections, starting with July 2020 and ending in June. Each month has a central theme — for example, August 2020 is entitled “Back to School?” and explores uncertainty surrounding the return to school. January is entitled “Re-Boot” to reflect new beginnings and vaccine developments. For Babler, the pandemic consolidated her belief in art as a method of documenting life and learning lessons. Babler began the creative process of each piece with observation, drawing sketches and jotting down notes. She then translated these ideas into a visual form using virtual and physical art mediums. Every section in the exhibit takes on a different style and medium, drawing inspiration from different art movements. Babler said she sees a parallel between the artistic process and the world’s experiences in isolation. “An artist is a problem solver,” Babler said. “You don’t have a clear direction of where things are going, and you have to be open to that direction.” To Babler, artists must problem-solve to convey a message using different mediums. Beth Shadur, an artist and Prairie State College

gallery director and curator, said she sees Babler’s art as interactive. “I’m very interested in how she creates pieces that communicate, but also allow for the viewer to be actually involved in the communication because the viewer has to really interpret these works,” Shadur said. Meg Salzman, Babler’s close friend, said “A Year of Creative Confinement” evokes an overwhelming sense of isolation and portrays the pandemic’s endlessly evolving nature. She recalled the piece “Ups and Downs,” a distorted fish-eye depiction of endless staircases, and how it encompasses the uncertainty of shared pandemic experiences. “We keep pivoting, changing and climbing the stairs of the pandemic, but we don’t know where it’s leading,” Salzman said. Viewers can access Babler’s virtual exhibit through the Dittmar Gallery website’s homepage until Oct. 25. Viewers can also attend an Oct. 20 Zoom Artist Talk with Babler to hear about her artwork’s influences and discuss the exhibit’s pieces. Ultimately, Babler said the exhibit offers a unique opportunity for life to come full circle. “It’s just a real joy for me to have my work on display at my alma mater,” Babler said. “That’s very special to me.” kimjao2025@u.northwestern.edu

Terrain Biennial connects artists with their communities By JOANNA HOU

the daily northwestern @joannah_11

After a year of pandemic-related uncertainty and disconnect, the theme of the Evanston art festival Terrain Biennial, “Keep in Touch,” centers around connecting artists with each other and their communities. Terrain Biennial runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15 and features 23 unique art installations across various neighborhoods. This year, Evanston’s exhibits are part of a coalition of 51 locations worldwide displaying artwork. Founded by the late artist Sabina Ott, Terrain aims to spotlight local art. The festival provides artists with unique venues for displaying their art, including street corners, front yards and public walls. Dropn Pearls Hair Artistry owner Yeefah Thurman said she loves the idea of making art publicly accessible. Her piece, an interactive library box, tells a story of how White propaganda fuels anti-Black sentiment. “The purpose of (my) piece is to foster conversation… and foster racial healing,” Thurman said. “If my advocacy were sequestered in some kind of high end art gallery, then who is the message really getting to?”

Thurman, who hails from a long line of civil rights activists, said advocacy is important to her work. Art gives her a platform to share stories from marginalized communities, she said. Terrain hosted a public viewing of Thurman’s work at 1100 Florence Ave. on Oct. 3. The artist recalled witnessing a particularly heartwarming reaction to her work. “At the front of my piece is a mirror that says ‘Look at yourself, what do you see?’’’ Thurman said. “A little girl was passing by with her mommy and she says, ‘Look, Mommy, I can see myself!’” The audience is only half of the equation: Terrain also gives artists the freedom to explore. Kathy Halper’s sculptures, titled “Social Animals,” feature three dogs engaging in neighborly conversation. Halper said her art aims to encourage people to recognize their humanity and to bring neighborhoods together. Terrain was one of Halper’s first times playing around with sculpture. “(Sculpture work) was a new thing for me,” Halper said. “I learned so much from doing these three. Now, I really feel like I understand how to go about doing this.” Natan Diacon-Furtado’s art also incorporates experimentation. His final display is a product of collaboration — after making 11 intricate postcards, inspired by global southern patternmaking,

Photo courtesy of Kathy Halper

he mailed his art to local artists Alice George and Shawn Decker, who created the display. Because his postcards are presentable in any direction and order, the final product is a result of George and Decker’s arranging. The piece is featured on 1324 Ashland Ave. “Alice and Shawn

get (the postcards) and get to decide how they get presented to the world; it’s like their curation and my piece,” Diacon-Furtado said. “Not a lot of places are really into the idea of artists collaborating with their venue.” joannahou2025@u.northwestern.edu

Craig’s Bond send-off delivers By JOHN RIKER

daily senior staffer @john__riker

For most of the pandemic, “No Time To Die” was a light at the end of the tunnel for moviegoers stranded at home. The 25th James Bond film was delayed three times, moving all the way from its planned release date of April 2020 to last Friday. Movie theaters dangled titles like “Black Widow,” “Tenet” and “Wonder Woman 1984” to lure audiences back to theaters after the pandemic, but “No Time to Die” captured the public’s imagination — and for good reason. “No Time To Die” marks the fifth and final Bond film for actor Daniel Craig. Given the cultural cache and sensational action sequences of predecessors “Casino Royale” and “Skyfall,” the hype seemed merited and made the years-long wait agonizing for even the casual Bond viewer. “No Time To Die” delivers on the promise of a spectacular cinematic experience. The car chases, the beautiful backdrops and color palette, the heartpounding Hans Zimmer score, a nefarious villain — it’s hard to imagine a bettersuited film to showcase in theaters than this one. “No Time

To Die” has its flaws, but Craig’s last ride is more boom than bust. Bond’s curtain call kicks off its present day timeline with the retired agent whisked out of his idyllic retreat by a couple of CIA friends and his 007 replacement, Nomi (Lashana Lynch). Once again, the stakes are global. A poison meant to target Spectre members becomes weaponized, and with it comes the potential for mass destruction. The fi lm’s most obvious appeal, the action scenes, is at a peak level despite its protagonist losing a step. Each scene is a spectacle, but a strength of “No Time To Die” is its use of cinematography and editing to put the viewer in Bond’s shoes and make the moviegoing experience even more immersive. The action also has real stakes, making each successive fight more than a thrill and mounting to a wild finish. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga’s most daring maneuver is his commitment to finding 007’s humanity. “Casino Royale” proved that a spy thriller featuring the anti-hero Bond could succeed without an emotionally resonant (read: convincing) romance, but this film’s Bond girl, Madeleine (Léa Seydoux), wonderfully complicates the equation and enables the series’ most intimate look into Bond’s character. But no character steals scenes quite like this Bond villain, Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek). Whether it’s his cracked mask, measured delivery or his complete psychological control of the film’s central characters, Safin is capable and terrifying. The Bond chronology is filled with nefarious villains, but Safin is an equal to Bond, one worthy of the Craig series climax. It’s not a perfect film. “No Time To Die” is a nearly three-hour movie and doesn’t need to be. I’m not at all against long runtimes — “The Godfather” and “Scarface” are two classics that come

to mind that couldn’t possibly be any shorter — but the heart of the story that the film tells is surrounded by a lot of excess that distracts from the main beats. Conversely, Nomi and Paloma (Ana de Armas) have promising moments, but only show up for a couple scenes at a time. In the spy genre, “No Time To Die” holds its own with the “Mission Impossible” movies and at least deserves to be in the conversation with the more streamlined and dynamic “Casino Royale.” The characteristic sophistication and sensuality of the Bond movies is in full force — this is not a film that falls short of expectations. It’s one thing to be worth the price of admission at the movie theater. It’s another to be a rewatchable classic. Time will tell if “No Time To Die” will have an enduring legacy in a saga with 24 other movies, and its case is made more difficult by its lengthy runtime and muddled narrative. Even if its splash is limited to the box office, Craig’s Bond, the one my generation grew up watching, certainly had the send off he deserved. johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment Editor Laya Neelakandan Assistant Editor Diego Ramos Bechara Designer Angeli Mittal Staff Joanna Hou Kim Jao Nicole Markus John Riker


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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

LIBRARY From page 1

In the release, library workers criticized the University for failing to rehire library workers after announcing a budget surplus late last year. Fewer staffers made it difficult to carry out existing library programming, but NU often expected them to go above and beyond with new programming, according to the release. Workers also expressed frustration toward NU’s use of a merit-based system to distribute raises that they said should have instead been disbursed to reflect rising cost of living expenses. “Our union will give us the power to require transparency and have a voice in hiring and transfer practices and reorganizations,” Library Assistant Jill Waycie said in the release.

Clowers said the union will host several meetings in the coming weeks to discuss next steps. According to the union website, a bargaining committee made of library workers, with guidance from a Local 73 negotiation professional, will work to broker a contract with NU renegotiating library employees’ benefits. Organizations including NU Graduate Workers, Students Organizing for Labor Rights and the Milwaukee Art Museum staff union have expressed their support for the new union. “The fight won’t be easy,” NUGW wrote in an Instagram post, citing expectations of intimidation and backlash from Northwestern’s administration. “But we believe in our fellow workers in their fight for a unionized, dignified workplace!” ilanarougheti2023@u.northwestern.edu

BUDGET

COUNCIL

The city plans to allocate $2,550,000 toward the Health & Human Services budget, mostly to fill 23 of the 29 city government positions left unoccupied during the last year to save money. The city got rid of 15 positions last year, but later said it found civic offices too understaffed. Gandurski recommended a 9.53% water rate increase and a 5% sewer rate decrease for 2022. The proposed water fund will increase from over $44 million from the 2021 adopted budget to over $57 million. The combined water and sewer rate for Evanston residents has been stagnant since 2015, marking this year’s 1.96% increase as the first increase in seven years. The average resident will pay $10.32 more per year, while residents qualifying for energy assistance will see a rate decrease by about $189 compared to what they paid in 2021. However, the Water Fund’s proposed budget does not allocate money to large scale lead service replacement beyond current programs. Gandurski said the city anticipates receiving relevant funding from the Illinois or federal governments. The police pension fund budget is set to be raised from over $14 million to over $16 million. Meanwhile, the fire pension fund budget will decrease by over $512,000. The police overtime budget will decrease while the fire overtime budget increases. Some funding allocations will rely on upcoming City Council decisions. Councilmembers are expected to weigh in over the coming weeks on whether the city will continue to fund crossing guard services for Evanston schools, as well as on whether free beach tokens will be available next year. A funding source has not been established yet for these two programs, Gandurski said in the proposal. So, if the council approves either one, it may inspire an increase in property taxes.

analysis, not only for the pilot but also a five-year projection.” Rivera told councilmembers the program generated over $81,000 in revenue between Aug. 2 and Oct. 10. A six-month implementation is projected to raise an additional $220,000 to $240,000. Rivera committed to providing a memo with additional information before the next council meeting. Ald. Devon Reid (8th) said he supports the program, and would like to see it expanded to include Evanston-registered vehicles. The resulting revenue could fully replace what’s currently raised annually by residential beach tokens, Reid said. Eliminating the tokens entirely would result in a $1 million revenue gap, Lawrence Hemingway, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department director said at a May 26 council meeting. “We had our proposed budget released today, and we’re looking to cover the cost of keeping our commitment that we made last summer to make beaches free,“ Reid said. “If we were to include intown residents, we could cover the cost of making the beaches free for all Evanstonians.” The council passed a May 24 resolution to open free beach access to residents on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. This was in response to historians and advocates who campaigned for daily free access, saying beach admissions fees constitute a city effort to block marginalized residents from enjoying Evanston’s beaches. Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd) said she is “philosophically opposed” to the program, arguing that charging residents and visitors to park along the lakefront creates undue barriers to enjoying lakefront access. “The lake is not ours, we’re the stewards of it,” Wynne said. “Our recreation areas should be open and available and not have any barriers to them.” The ordinance passed introduction 6-3, with Kelly, Wynne and Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) opposing. It is scheduled for a final vote on Oct. 25.

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jorjasiemons2024@u.northwestern.edu, ilanaarougheti2023@u.northwestern.edu

alexharrison2023@u.northwestern.edu

BLANK

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guarantees free tuition to Wisconsin-resident students whose household adjusted gross income is $60,000 or less. More than 4,000 Wisconsin students are attending the University with zero tuition and fees, according to a news release from UW-Madison. During a time of urgent funding needs, Blank also led a capital campaign that raised more than $4 billion for the institution. She helped lead the Raimey-Noland Campaign, which included funding for scholarships that increase the diversity of the student body, the recruitment and retention of a more diverse faculty, and research that addresses issues of social and racial justice. Blank launched the Target of Opportunity Program, a faculty diversity initiative, in 2018, giving additional support to the recruitment of prospective faculty members from historically underrepresented groups. U.S. News and World Report ranked UWMadison 41st when Blank started as chancellor in 2013 and 42nd in 2021. UW-Madison’s four- and six-year graduation rates are at their highest ever, and applications to the University have doubled in the past ten years.

She’s served in three presidential administrations Blank served in the Obama, Clinton and Bush administrations in economic advising roles. She served as acting secretary of commerce and deputy secretary of commerce under Obama, a member of the Council of Economic Advisers under Clinton and senior staff economist on the Council under Bush. Blank also worked as a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, the dean of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at University of Michigan and a professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University.

Student activists have criticized her response to racism and policing

in the institution,” wrote another. In a private email obtained by The College Fix, Blank also expressed frustration with a member of UW-Madison’s student government. “Our student government leader is particularly oppositional this year, and has been difficult to work with collaboratively,” Blank wrote. “This creates a lot of problems, since student government is an important group for communicating with students.”

She has expressed mixed views about removing campus landmarks In 2020, UW-Madison students called for the removal of an on-campus Abraham Lincoln statue on their campus. According to a student petition, one of the statue’s primary donors frequently published articles instigating violence against Black people, and Lincoln ordered the execution of 38 Dakota men in 1862. Blank opposed the statue’s removal and released a statement arguing that Lincoln’s legacy should be both celebrated and critiqued. A Letter to the Editor published in the Badger Herald also said Blank minimized the impact of the execution in a meeting with student leaders, reportedly saying Lincoln “could have killed more than he did.” NU has had similar controversies. In March 2020, the Board of Trustees said it would not reconsider its decision to keep University founder John Evans’ name on the John Evans Alumni Center. A 2014 University of Denver study deemed Evans “deeply culpable” in the Sand Creek Massacre, which killed about 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho people. In August 2021, however, Blank approved the removal of a rock from campus that was referred to in a 1925 newspaper article with a nickname that included the n-word. “Creating a more inclusive environment in our universities and our society is a difficult task, but a critical one in our contentious, polarized times,” Blank wrote in a statement. “Progress is made incrementally, with real — not performative — change.” hannahfeuer2023@u.northwestern.edu

In September 2020, UW-Madison’s student government voted ‘no-confidence’ in the University’s police force. According to student activists at the institution, Blank responded that she hadn’t heard any specific complaints about UW-Madison police. In October 2020, UW-Madison’s Graduate Worker Union and BIPOC coalition wrote an op-ed in The Badger Herald critiquing Blank’s refusal to defund University police and listen to student activists. Following the announcement that Blank would be the next president of NU, several people tweeted about negative experiences with the Chancellor surrounding issues of social justice. “My deepest condolences to all students of color at Northwestern,” one user wrote. Blank “was often silent when it came to issues surrounding racism

Photo courtesy of Shane Collins

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

7

Indigenous communities rally for holiday recognition By JACK AUSTIN

daily senior staffer @jackaustinnews

Drum beats and incantations rang out Monday morning in Pottawattomie Park while Marissa Garcia, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, performed a healing dance called a “jingle dance” in a traditional dress she made herself. Garcia was among a crowd of more than 50 people who gathered to celebrate and support the replacement of Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day on every level of government in Illinois. “When I dance, I dance for the people, I dance for my family, I dance for myself,” Garcia said. “It’s nice to see all these people gathered here today to fight for what we’ve been fighting for, for all of our lives.” Les Begay, a member of the Diné nation, said he was frustrated so few commissioners stood up to support the county resolution. “How could you have Racial Equity Week, just three weeks ago, and not be in favor of (Indigenous Peoples’ Day)?” asked Begay, co-founder of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Coalition of Illinois. “This is (also)

about racial justice. I’m confused why it’s such a difficult vote for them.” The coalition chose Pottawattomie Park to host the rally for its symbolic power acknowledging indigenity, according to Begay. Pamala Silas, a member of the Menominee and Oneida nations, spoke of the importance of remaining positive, preserving culture and educating on a wide scale. “We have to stay grounded in what we are trying to do on a larger scale,” said Silas, associate director at Northwestern’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research. “We have to start with the people whose lands were taken.” For many Indigenous people at the event, the push for this holiday has been a part of a lifelong fight for recognition. Sergio Serone, a descendant of Indigenous tribes from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, said Indigenous Peoples’ Day would give recognition to Native people living in Chicago and beyond. “Just the acknowledgement, that’s all we are asking for,” Serone said. “For people to know that we are still here, we live amongst everyone else, we still practice our old ways.”

Misconceptions about both Christopher Columbus and Indigenous people are still abound, Begay said. He attributed this largely to tendencies in the education system to tell the story from the perspective of colonizers. Schools will often teach the story of Columbus discovering America and myths surrounding Thanksgiving, but Begay said the history of Native people is overlooked. “History is written by the conquerors,” he said. “There is so much rich history of Native people that is just erased and forgotten.” State Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) first introduced a bill to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day last year. She said she was met with an onslaught of emails, phone calls and Facebook messages with angry constituents who wanted the holiday to stay. Ramirez introduced a new bill at Monday’s event that would recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day statewide. The Cook County Board of Commissioners delayed the vote to change the holiday, formerly known as Columbus Day, to Indigenous Peoples’ Day in May, and then again last week. The most recent

delay came in response to pushback from Italian American organizations on the change. Chicago Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) said defendants of Columbus say the date is meant to celebrate Italian American heritage. La Spata, who is of Italian descent, rejected this idea and asked for other Italians to not celebrate Columbus. “There is this vocal minority that clings to a hurtful and oppressive symbol of destruction,” La Spata said. “The silent majority of Italians need to step out of neutrality. Neutrality in a racist society is choosing racism.” Medill Prof. Patty Loew, director of Northwestern’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research and citizen of the Mashkiiziibii, said there are aspects of Italian culture like food, music and architecture that should be celebrated. But she said to celebrate Columbus is to perpetuate pain. “Why do we celebrate a wicked colonizer who brought slavery and violence and land loss to an entire continent of people?” Loew said. “Decolonization is, for me, an attempt to look seriously at our institutions and the power imbalances” jonathanaustin2023@u.northwestern.edu

Jack Austin/Daily Senior Staffer

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SPORTS

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

@DailyNU_Sports

A rundown of UP-elect Rebecca Blank’s NCAA legacy By GABRIELA CARROLL

daily senior staffer @gablcarroll

Northwestern’s newest president comes to Chicago’s Big Ten Team from one of its biggest competitors — Wisconsin. Rebecca Blank, currently chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Madison, joins NU after overseeing one of the best eras in the history of Wisconsin sports. In the two highest revenue-producing sports, the Badgers have taken off throughout Blank’s tenure. They won four division titles in football, and in men’s basketball, they reached two Final Fours in addition to winning a Big Ten Regular Season Championship. Blank also took part in the controversial decision to cancel and then reinstate the 2020 football season. Additionally, she has also expressed hesitation about current name, image and likeness policies — legislation that was passed in Illinois in July allowing collegiate athletes to profit off their appearance and name. Blank will replace outgoing University President Morton Schapiro, who has been vocal about his passion for Northwestern sports and has frequented the sidelines at football games with coach Pat Fitzgerald. Under Schapiro’s leadership, the school constructed a new indoor training

facility on Lake Michigan, renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena, built the new Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and secured funding for long-awaited renovations to Ryan Field. The only private school in the Big Ten, NU has a smaller enrollment with significantly lower football attendance rates compared to Wisconsin. Average attendance at Camp Randall in 2018 was 77,153, its lowest in 20 years. Even at a peak in 2018, average reported attendance at Ryan Field in 2018 only reached 43,873. (The stadium only holds 49,256 people.) Blank was part of the group of Big Ten presidents and chancellors who made the initial decision to cancel the 2020 Big Ten football season, and then to reinstate the season. The university leaders faced scrutiny for communicating about the decision to reinstate the season on a private portal, exempt from open information laws. “I would be delighted to share information, but perhaps we can do this through the Big Ten portal, which will assure confidentiality?” Blank responded in an email chain begun in August by Michigan President Mark Schlissel that was obtained by the Washington Post. Since 2021, Blank has served as the president of the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents/Chancellors, a role held by Schapiro before her. She is also on the NCAA Board of Governors. Blank also testified in front of

Congress in September 2020 about her opposition to direct payments from universities to college athletes and restrictions she favored for NIL legislation, which went into effect in the NCAA this summer. Those concerns included the separation of NIL opportunities from recruiting, implementation of antitrust exceptions for the NCAA. “The main benefit these students take away is their educational degree. It’s not about coming here to earn money and be an employee,” Blank said at the hearing. In the news release announcing Blank as Northwestern’s newest president, Blank spoke about her focus on student athletes as students. “I am deeply committed to the idea of student athletes,” Blank said in

the release. “Athletics teaches focus, teamwork, all qualities that benefit students in their future careers. When you compete, you should compete to win; but we should always put the health and well-being of our students ahead of athletic success. These are students, not professional athletes.” Blank also led the search for Wisconsin’s new athletic director after long-time athletic director Barry Alvarez retired this year. Northwestern recently hired its own new athletic director, Derrick Gragg. Both Blank and Gragg have experience working directly with the NCAA, with Blank on the Board of Governors and Gragg as the NCAA’s senior

BASKETBALL

vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement. Blank will oversee the early tenure of the new athletic director, in addition to the Ryan Field renovation, as some of her first tasks. Recently, Blank oversaw the beginning of renovation projects at Camp Randall Stadium and the Kohl Center, starting in 2019. gabrielacarroll2023@u.northwestern.edu

LACROSSE

Basketball prepares for seasons Fall ball comes back as NU plans to dominate

By LAWRENCE PRICE

the daily northwestern @lpiii_tres

By CHARLOTTE VARNES and MARYKATE ANDERSON

the daily northwestern @charvarnes11, @mkeileen

With Big Ten Basketball Media Day, the Chicago College Basketball Luncheon and tickets sales all underway, the 2021-22 Northwestern men’s and women’s basketball seasons are quickly approaching. For the first time in nearly two years, both programs will see school spirit in the Welsh Ryan Arena stands as fans return to the root on the Wildcats from the stands for 34 regular season home games. Both women’s coach Joe McKeown and men’s coach Chris Collins have expressed excitement for the return to normalcy. But each squad enters with roster additions, a new schedule and distinct goals.

Joshua Hoffman/Daily Senior Staffer

McKeown inks contract extension and readies for competitive season

Coach Joe McKeown chats with the team during timeout. The 13-year Northwestern head coach signed a multi-year contract through the 2024-25 season to stay in Evanston.

The saying ‘13 down and 4 more to go’ holds true for McKeown. The women’s head coach signed a four-year contract extension through the 2024-25 season with NU on Oct. 8. Entering his 14th season at the helm, McKeown holds a 224-186 record at the position, reaching the postseason play seven of the last 12 years. He not only sits 27 wins behind Don Perrelli (251 wins in 15 seasons) for most victories in program history, but will also be the program’s longest tenured coach. “To have the opportunity to coach at Northwestern for the next four years is really important to me and my family,” McKeown said. “Coaches don’t get to coach the same school for a long, long time anymore, so I think that’s a thing we are really appreciative of.” McKeown’s contract renewal isn’t the only exciting part of the team coming back for at least another year — senior guard Veronica Burton will be the top returner. Winning back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards, McKeown described Burton as “one of the great guards of college basketball,” a claim he made for good reason. Alongside her constant standout performances guarding opposing players, including her leading the country

in steals (96), Burton stacked up 16.2 points, 4.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game last season. In June, she won a gold medal with the Women’s AmeriCup team. The Cats’ 2021 recruiting class ranked in the top 10 nationally, including fourstar prospects Mercy Ademusayo, Hailey Weaver and Melannie Daley. With the incoming talent and current roster, McKeown and the Wildcats are ready to battle Big Ten competition. “A lot of our players are looking forward to competing again,” McKeown said. “We’re in the league of 14 teams that are so deep, last year we got I think seven in the NCAA tournament.”

Collins hopes for first winning season since 2017 A new season means a clean slate for NU men’s basketball. The Cats finished last season with a 9-15 record, a 12th place Big Ten finish and a 13-game losing streak between December and February. To add to the losses, three-year starter Miller Kopp and captain Anthony Gaines transferred to Indiana and Siena, respectively. Although the negatives build up, there is still optimism for coach Collins’ group.

Besides Kopp and Gaines, NU returns each of its starters and key bench players. Able to keep most of the core group of ballers, Collins likes the improvements they have made and is proud of how the team has stuck together. “We have really invested the last couple of years in a core group of players, and when you do that as young players, sometimes you go through some growing pains,” Collins said. “If you look at our roster now, we have a number of guys in their third and fourth years.” NU flexes four players entering their fourth years of college ball – forward Pete Nance, center Ryan Young and guards Ryan Greer and Chase Audige. The core four are joined by other players such as junior guard Boo Buie, sophomore guard Ty Berry and junior forward Robbie Beran with big minutes under their belts. Searching for its first winning season, Big Ten tournament victory and NCAA March Madness bid since 2017, NU will need to turn this wisdom into wins, first. “I am excited to coach this group,” Collins said. “They really want to win, they really want to get us back to that level of being a team that can play in the postseason.” lawrenceprice2024@u.northwestern.edu

For the first time in two years, fall ball lacrosse is back at Northwestern. Senior attacker Izzy Scane and graduate student attacker Lauren Gilbert headlined a powerful offensive performance, leading the way to the Wildcats’ 21-11 victory over Colorado in their first game of the fall season on Sunday. Graduate student defender Ally Palermo said she especially appreciates the return of fall ball ahead of her final shot at a national championship. “Last year was difficult because we were mainly focused on (how) we might not have the next day,” said Palermo. “I just feel like I have a lot more left to give. And I’m just really excited to get another opportunity.” The fall ball season typically gives freshmen an opportunity to play with their teammates in a competitive setting for the first time. However, since COVID-19 concerns cancelled last year’s fall season, Sunday was also the sophomores’ first experience playing in a more relaxed environment. Sophomore attacker Leah Holmes pointed to the ability to worry less about the scoreboard and to “just enjoy playing and getting better with your team” as a major benefit. Last year, lacrosse couldn’t practice as a full team or compete against other schools in the fall. Instead, the squad divided into groups of about 10 people and held team scrimmages. This format made it difficult to build chemistry for both new and returning players, Holmes said. While playing intersquad competition last season had its advantages, Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said nothing can beat a normal slate of matchups. “We’re excited to play some outside competition this year,” Amonte Hiller said. “ We’re (also) trying to keep the mentality we gained

last year with not playing outside (opponents).” Sunday’s game also marked the return of four veteran graduate student-athletes: Gilbert, Palermo, midfielder Brennan Dwyer and midfielder Jill Girardi. The group played a key role in NU’s 2021 record-breaking campaign that ended in the Final Four. Amonte Hiller said the four players set the tone for the Cats last season and expects them to do so again this year. Returning such a core group of veterans will improve confidence for the entire program, she said. Gilbert called her time playing for NU the “most formative” experience of her life, saying she wanted to come back to make another postseason push and help the team reach its potential. “We had unfinished business last year,” Gilbert said. “Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I wouldn’t be able to pass up an opportunity to get that chance of finishing on top.” The Cats return to Martin Stadium on Saturday to face Florida and Marquette. Ahead of these matchups, Amonte Hiller said the Cats will continue adjusting to new NCAA regulations. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel changed several game rules for the upcoming season, including shifting the format of the game from halves to quarters, eliminating the pregame stick check and resetting the shot clock to 60 seconds rather than 90 in certain scenarios. Holmes said the fall season will be an important time to build bonds and learn from each other. “We have new girls who weren’t here last year, and people are switching positions, so we’re still establishing that trust and chemistry,” Holmes said. “Throughout the fall, we’ll work on that, and then things should flow more smoothly.” charlottevarnes2024@u.northwestern.edu, marykateanderson2023@u.northwestern.edu


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