The Daily Northwestern — Oct. 20, 2021 by The Daily Northwestern

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The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, October 20, 2021

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 3 CITY/City Council

City Council talks Capital Investment Plan’s 2022 budget, priorities

4 A&E/Wirtz

Wirtz celebrates return to in-person productions

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A&E

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Derrick Gragg talks taking on NU

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Employees ask city for ARPA fund distribution At City Council, department heads ask for more roles By ALEX HARRISON

the daily northwestern @alexhairysun

Joshua Hoffman/The Daily Northwestern

Student groups such as Students Organizing for Labor Rights and NU Graduate Workers have been organizing to support campus workers through initiatives such as a button campaign.

Service workers agree to contract

Compass Group agrees to hourly wage increase, benefit extension By WAVERLY LONG

daily senior staffer @waverly_long

Northwestern dining and service workers voted Monday to ratify an agreement for a new contract with Compass Group, the University’s food service provider. The new agreement includes a minimum hourly wage of $19.88 and a permanent extension of

health insurance benefits to all workers, according to a Monday news release from UNITE HERE Local 1, the union representing NU’s subcontracted service workers. Compass workers have been advocating for these demands for over two years. The change in pay is significant. Veronica Reyes, who works at Foster-Walker Complex, said in the release the increase from $14.05 per hour to $19.88 will help her pay for her son’s college

tuition. It’s been more than two years since Compass workers at Northwestern last received a raise, according to the release. Hundreds of Compass workers at NU were laid off at the start of the pandemic in spring 2020. According to the union, Compass did not pay for health insurance for 74 out of 260 active full-time employees in February. Throughout workers’ negotiations with Compass, student

groups such as Students Organizing for Labor Rights and NU Graduate Workers have been organizing to support campus workers. Lanette Smith, who works at Norris University Center, expressed gratitude for NU student support in the release. “I want to thank all of our students who stood up for us like we were family,” Smith said

» See DINING, page 6

Department heads from Evanston’s city government made their cases to use federal relief funding for new employee positions in the 2022 budget at a special City Council meeting Monday. The city published its proposed 2022 budget online last Monday, which includes requests for new employees in four departments. These positions would be budgeted through the next year using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, which gave Evanston a $43 million emergency grant to help recover from the pandemic. ARPA funds are a one-time payment, so they will not be available in next year’s budget. Director of Community Development Johanna Nyden requested additional staff to help process permit applications for constructions or renovations. In the past, the department needed to bring in cross-trained staff members to keep up with new

applicants. Nyden added that funds could be used to update the digital application process. “What we are operating on is like if you still have the iPhone 2, and you’ve never done any updates,” Nyden said. “I think we’ve had (the software) for 15 years. We’ve never invested in it, we’ve never made any improvements to the workflow.” Many of the requested positions were for maintenance and upkeep of city facilities. These include building managers, Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning engineers, custodians, arborists, a lakefront manager and a Zamboni driver for the Robert Crown Community Center’s ice rinks. Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services Lawrence Hemingway said the understaffing in his department leaves some buildings empty, necessitating frequent shuffling of staff members. “Right now I am juggling bodies from building to building,” Hemingway said. “I have a person currently at Levy who’s trying to keep the building clean and run over to the Ecology Center. It’s just not an efficient way, but it’s all we have.” Hemingway added Robert Crown’s maintenance needs are

» See COUNCIL, page 6

Dogtopia opens Bienen Prof. Yampolsky retires newest location Longtime teacher, conductor set to depart Northwestern after 38 years National pet care chain launches an Evanston branch By ISABELLE BUTERA

the daily northwestern @isabelle_butera

Dogs are pulling at their leashes to get inside Evanston’s newest doggie daycare, Dogtopia, just one week after its soft opening. Dogtopia is a national pet care company, offering daycare, overnight boarding and grooming at over 170 stores in the U.S. and Canada. The 900 Clark St. Evanston location, owned by Sarah Lewis, held its soft opening on Oct. 4 and will host a grand opening Friday. “We’ve really seen a transformation in the dogs,” Lewis said. ”This is a new place, it’s a new experience, especially for dogs that haven’t gone to daycare before. But now we’re seeing dogs that don’t want to leave.” Lewis, who previously worked as a CPA tax accountant, said she didn’t expect to work in animal care. That changed after she and

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her husband welcomed a new puppy named Murphy into their household in California. She realized how much impact her dog could have on other people’s lives, and was inspired by it, she said. “We ended up taking Murphy to a Dogtopia franchise there and I was just so impressed with the canine coaches: their level of training, their level of care, and the safety they practiced,” Lewis said. All playrooms are climate controlled with Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning systems circulating air every 10 seconds, Lewis said. The rooms are cleaned twice a day with a custom-made pet-friendly cleaning solution. Trained canine coaches ease each new dog into the daycare experience, Lewis said. Dogtopia staff conduct a meet-andgreet with each new pet, which includes a short health check, a nose-to-tail assessment to identify how the dog reacts to touch and slow introductions to other dogs. Loyola University Chicago

» See DOGTOPIA, page 6

By AUDREY HETTLEMAN

the daily northwestern @audreyhettleman Victor Yampolsky walked into Regenstein Hall of Music for his first rehearsal as Northwestern’s faculty director of Orchestras on Sept. 15, 1984. Now, 37 years later, Yampolsky stands in the back of a room in that same building watching two of his students, Robert Hasty (Bienen ‘96) and Alexander Chen (Bienen ‘23), conduct this year’s chamber orchestra. “What I said to (Hasty) 25 years ago, he still remembers everything I told him,” Yampolsky said of the associate director of orchestras as he watched Hasty conduct. “Amazing.” This will be one of Yampolsky’s last quarters regularly entering the practice room. He’ll retire at the end of the school year after a rich 38-year career at NU. Yampolsky came to the University over 30 years ago as faculty director of orchestras and received a professor title five years later. At the time, NU’s Bienen School of Music only had one orchestra. Yampolsky added two more undergraduate orchestras in the next three decades: a chamber orchestra for freshman and sophomore students and a separate orchestra for non-music

Graphic by Alex Miranda

Bienen Prof. Victor Yampolsky is set to retire after 38 years of teaching at NU.

majors. After a run with the Moscow Philharmonic in Russia, Yampolsky immigrated to the U.S. in 1973. Teaching in a foreign language was difficult, he said, as he didn’t always have the words to express himself in the proper way to students. “At the beginning I was frustrated because I did not have language,” he said. “And I wanted to explain a lot of things to students but I didn’t have words for it — the Russian was popping out.” That language barrier didn’t seem

to impede too much on the quality of his instruction, as alumni of Yampolsky’s masters in conducting program have gone on to create impressive resumes, and many conduct orchestras around the world. Former student Giancarlo Guerrero (Bienen ‘92), has received six Grammys. Yampolsky said he emphasizes to students how much music can impact its listeners, and how much meaning it has beyond the notes written on the page. Chen, a master’s student in conducting, first met Yampolsky at

Carnegie Mellon University during his undergrad when Yampolsky came to the school to guest-conduct. After Chen approached Yampolsky to introduce himself, the professor shared advice about music, conducting and life for the next 20 minutes, Chen recalls. “I didn’t even have to ask him. He just offered (advice) to me freely,” Chen said. “From then on I knew: not only does he really care about music, but he just is naturally a teacher.”

» See YAMPOLSKY, page 6

INSIDE: News 2 | A&E 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

Council discusses Capital Investment Plan budget By LILY CAREY

the daily northwestern

After the release of Evanston’s proposed 2022 budget last week, the city staff discussed this year’s Capital Improvement Plan — and its emphasis on environmental justice — at City Council Monday. The 2022 Capital Improvement Plan is a program designed to address infrastructure issues in Evanston and is slated to receive $64.3 million for citywide projects. That funding accounts for about 18% of the total proposed 2022 budget of nearly $355 million. “There is a focus in the city of Evanston on … looking at issues like equity, access and just generally solving the problems that are …most impactful to people,” Lara Biggs, the Engineering and Capital Planning bureau chief, said in her CIP budget presentation. This year’s budget focuses on combining CIP infrastructure goals with environmental justice, especially through the Climate Action and Resilience Plan. CARP aims to get Evanston to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with several goals along the way to help the city combat climate change. Councilmembers want to work toward combining CIP planning with CARP environmental goals. Multiple projects already on the 2022 CIP memo fall into both of these categories, including stormwater system upgrades, water main renovations and a street resurfacing and upgrading project on parts of Church Street, Main Street and Green Bay Road.

“This is a model for other departments in the city to always be thinking about climate action and environmental justice,” Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) said. Both CARP and CIP goals are also targeted toward environmental justice initiatives, especially for areas where improper infrastructure could put residents at risk for impacts of climate change-induced severe weather. Councilmembers advocated for green infrastructure projects to be focused in marginalized communities throughout the city in order to ensure all of Evanston is equally prepared for potential climate change impacts. “A lack of funding for this infrastructure … disproportionately impacts Black and brown folks,” Nieuwsma said. “Those are communities that tend to have the lowest-quality facilities (and) the lowest-quality roads.” Funding for this year’s CIP is coming from two main sources: bond sales and projectspecific funds. The sale of general obligation bonds, which are government bonds without any restriction as to what they can be used for, account for $10.4 million of the proposed 2022 CIP budget, while water and library bond sales account for an additional $5.8 million. The remainder of the budget comes from various funds that allocate money to specific project categories, such as water management, sewers and parking. Many of these funds come with geographic or categorical restrictions on how they can be used, meaning CIP projects must be appropriately divided into these funding possibilities. Ald. Devon Reid (8th) expressed concerns

Nick Francis/Daily Senior Staffer

Councilmember Devon Reid (8th). At this week’s City Council, Reid said more money should be allocated to the 2022 proposed budget’s Capital Improvement Plan.

that spending for CIP projects should be increased in order to keep up with infrastructure demands. “We need to raise additional revenue,” Reid said. “Having safe bridges, roads and clean drinking water and facilities … is extremely important and one of the basic things that government should do.” But Biggs said the current funding sources prevent the city from allocating more money

to CIP. Once budget deliberations have concluded, discussions of CIP will be left to City Council, as the initiative will be adopted into the general citywide budget. From that point, Biggs said, it will be up to councilmembers to decide how to carry out the current goal of green infrastructure for 2022. lilycarey2025@u.northwestern.edu

Faculty Assembly talks controversial bylaw amendment By JOSHUA PERRY

daily senior staffer @joshdperry

Northwestern’s Faculty Assembly discussed a proposed amendment to its bylaws at its first meeting of the 2021-22 academic year Tuesday. Assembly members said the amendment would nullify the

Assembly’s voting power. Former Faculty Senate President Therese McGuire introduced the resolution, which she said was approved by the Senate’s governance and executive committees. The strongest revision presented would make all resolutions and recommendations passed by the Assembly “nonbinding,” which Assembly members said would eliminate their power in University politics. McGuire said all changes proposed

Illustration by Angeli Mittal

are intended to clarify and simplify the document. The Assembly fell short of its quorum of 408 faculty members with 206 attendees, so while it was able to discuss the amendment, it could not take a vote. Faculty Senate will vote on the amendment again at its next meeting. Political science Prof. Jacqueline Stevens objected to the amendment, calling it a “brutal power play” that undermined the joint power arrangement of the Assembly and Senate. “This isn’t simply a ‘simplification’ or ‘clarification,’” Stevens said. “There’s a very fundamental change being proposed here to deprive the Faculty Assembly of authority as part of a bicameral institution.” Spanish & Portuguese Prof. Jorge Coronado agreed that McGuire misrepresented the amendment, and he added that the virtual format of the meeting limited his ability to communicate with other faculty members. Others in attendance echoed his concerns about the meeting’s format. Coronado’s main objection, however, was with the “nonbinding” clause. Just because members of the Assembly weren’t regularly exercising their right to vote, he said, doesn’t mean it should be taken away. “The idea that the Faculty Assembly hasn’t been used much is not a reason to remove that possibility,” he said. “On the contrary, what the Faculty Senate leadership and us faculty should be doing is encouraging people to (participate).” Some faculty members in attendance said their

colleagues were not informed properly of the gravity of the night’s meeting. Pritzker Prof. Sam Tenenbaum said he didn’t understand why the Assembly needed a quorum to have a say in the resolution when faculty members could give their input remotely. But not all in attendance were opposed to the changes to the bylaws. Medill Prof. Ceci Rodgers, President-elect of Faculty Senate, said she was glad the clarifications were made because neither the Senate nor Assembly have ever been “legislative bodies.” “There isn’t anything in my view that’s been taken away from the faculty assembly,” Rodgers said. “If anything, it’s basically streamlining and codifying what has always been the case.” McCormick Prof. Luís Amaral said he understands that many people don’t get involved in University politics until an issue directly involves them. Still, he said he believes when faculty members need to use the Assembly, it should be able to serve their needs. NU needs to pay more attention to faculty concerns, Amaral said. In his view, the amendment is a step in the wrong direction. “I wish that we would be working on something that actually tries to increase the representation of faculty in decision making,” Amaral said. “Let’s try to make something in which we all are better heard and have a more important role in what happens at this University.” joshuaperry2023@u.northwestern.edu

Fish Tier List Club sparks fin-tastic debates among students By JOANNA HOU

the daily northwestern @joannah_11

One night in September, Weinberg sophomore Alex Lawson started arguing with SESP sophomore Max Byrne about whether the Ocean Sunfish is a “trash-tier fish.” “It’s very big and can’t move. (Its) strategy is just to be so big that nothing can eat it,” Lawson said. “But then I went and did research on the Ocean Sunfish, and they kind of mess everything in the ocean up.” The debate and research Lawson conducted inspired them to start the Fish Tier List Club. Every Sunday, club members meet to participate in 10-minute debates on five pre-selected fish. At the end of the meeting, members vote on each fish, assigning them to one of seven tiers, ranging from S-tier, for the superior, to F-tier, for the worst. Lawson teamed up with Weinberg junior Kabeer Kishore and Byrne to run the club’s Twitter and Instagram, respectively. The Instagram page has 160 followers and 74 people have joined the club’s GroupMe. “The basic goal is to make (the Instagram) as amusing as possible,” Byrne said. “You can see the club and the jokes, even if you’re not going to the meetings.”

Weinberg sophomore Noah Blaisdell, a Fish Tier List Club member, said he enjoys the club’s fun nature. At a recent meeting, Blaisdell, who is from Hawaii, argued for the state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuāpua’a, to receive the

first S-tier ranking. Blaisdell said he structured his argument around the fish’s beautiful appearance and aggressive demeanor. Presenting a fish from home was a special experience, he said.

Illustration by Angeli Mittal

The Humuhumunukunukuāpua’a and Ocean Sunfish tied for the S-tier ranking.

“Growing up in Hawaii, I almost always had a pet fish and I also really like diving in the ocean,” Blaisdell said. “The Humuhumunukunukuāpua’a is our messiah fish of Hawaii.” The Humuhumunukunukuāpua’a ultimately did achieve S-tier based on a group vote. During debates, members evaluate fish on several criteria. While Byrne said they prioritize how the fish interacts with its environment, Lawson said many people rank based on the fish’s vibes. The variety of criteria makes debates interesting, Lawson and Byrne agreed. “(W hen ranking goldfish) you can talk about their cultural significance, or goldfish crackers or (argue) that it’s the classic pet,” Byrne said. Fish Tier List Club’s democratic focus allows all members to defend their opinions, Lawson said. The fish’s ultimate ranking reflects the quality of the argument. However, Lawson said their personal S-tier fish will always be the Ocean Sunfish. “If someone drops the Ocean Sunfish on you, you will die,” Lawson said. “I don’t think there are many fish that weigh that much, so if you get that big, good on you. You’re doing something right.” joannahou2025@u.northwestern.edu

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

847-467-4000 concertsatbienen.org

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

A&E arts & entertainment

As in-person theater returns, wirtz hosts celebration

By CHARLOTTE VARNES

daily senior staffer @charvarnes11

In-person theatre performances are back at Northwestern — and the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts spent the weekend celebrating. The Wirtz Center hosted “Open House: a Weekend for the Arts at Wirtz” from Friday to Sunday. The event ran for two hours at a time and featured 21 rooms, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse at NU performances. Some upcoming shows were highlighted alongside others that were exclusive to the event, giving attendees a look at elements of the theatrical creative process such as table reads, rehearsals, lighting displays, soundscapes and more. Communication sophomore Craig Carroll took part in a table read for the play “Flesh & Blood” during the event. He said he didn’t enjoy the short rehearsal process and low commitment level at first, but ended

up appreciating how the show reintroduced him to performing in-person. “It was a really nice welcoming back (to in-person theatre),” Carroll said. “I haven’t had the experience of bonding with people over a script or performance in so long, (so) it was kind of fascinating to see how quickly we were able to become friends with each other, and I loved that.” During the rehearsal process, Carroll and fellow cast members all said one thing they missed about theatre when they introduced themselves. Carroll remembered walking out of rehearsal with friends and family, and he said others mentioned the smell of a theater or the adrenaline rush from performing — small experiences that contribute to the sense of community created through in-person performances. Carroll said the script reading lasted around an hour and 45 minutes during the event, and the cast filled the remaining 15 minutes with conversations about scenes or rereading scenes they particularly enjoyed. Kelly Helgeson, Wirtz Center’s associate managing director, worked with Production Manager Heather

Basarab and Directors Detra Payne and Scott Weinstein while developing the event. She said the group was instrumental in coming up with a “cool vision” for the event. Some students also assisted the production team. Communication sophomore Ryan Nguyen was an associate producer for the event, helping with everything from making graphics to creating contact sheets to speaking with patrons. He said his experience was especially meaningful because it was his first production with Wirtz. “This was honestly the best introduction to Wirtz,” Nguyen said. “I met so many people — MFA designers, directors, marketing people, anyone and everyone. Everyone who works (at) Wirtz was coming together to put on this open house.” The event featured students from both the theatre department and the Department of Radio, Television and Film. Helgeson said highlighting the different departments was “really exciting,” since the Wirtz Center mainly works on productions with theatre majors. She said she hopes the weekend’s events will lead to

more cross-department collaboration in the future. Nguyen said he especially liked room 12, which was hosted in the Ethel M. Barber Theater. Inside the room, audience members stepped into the shoes of actors who were late for a production and pulled onto the stage to perform different actions like jumping or dancing. “It was cool for audience members to get a feel for what actors experience,” Nguyen said. “I heard one girl come out and she said, ‘I want to perform at Northwestern (now). That was so fun.’ That was a really cool moment and a cool opportunity for the audience.” While the planning process was hectic, Nguyen said he enjoyed being part of the process and looks forward to the event potentially returning next year. “Overall, it was a big success, and audience members kept saying how excited they were to be back and what they’re looking forward to this year,” Nguyen said. “We’re looking to hopefully do this every year.” charlottevarnes2024@u.northwestern.edu

Joanne Haner/The Daily Northwestern

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

Madison Grace looks to cater to Evanston shoppers By CHIARA KIM

the daily northwestern @chiarafkim

From jeans to jewelry to candles, Madison Grace is a shopping destination for all ages. The boutique, which opened in downtown Evanston this April, specializes in approachable, wearable women’s clothing. The store, named after its owner’s hometown and middle name, is nestled between Bob’s Pizza and Shang Noodle & Chinese on Davis Street. Warm details scatter throughout the boutique, like bright music and a sign in front of the store that thanks its customers for shopping small. Owner Angelica D’Costa said she hopes the store will stand out to shoppers because of its unique clothes, gifts and everything in between. “There aren’t that many places to shop in Evanston,” D’Costa said. “I would love for our store to be a shopping destination.” The merchandise in the store’s window drew in local resident Randi Nicole, leading her to embark upon a quest for a coat. Nicole, who secured the coat, said she appreciates how “chic” the boutique felt. She said she doesn’t know of any other local stores like it. D’Costa opened the store as vaccination rates increased last spring. At that point, she felt that people were starting to feel more comfortable shopping in-person. Lately, she has

Chiara Kim/The Daily Northwestern

Madison Grace, located in downtown Evanston, offers customers approachable styles for all ages. The store opened amid the pandemic in April.

even seen visitors stop into her store from out of town.

Laura Brown, Downtown Evanston’s business development and marketing manager, has worked

with D’Costa for the Downtown Evanston Instagram. She said she appreciates Madison Grace’s aesthetics. “Sometimes I go in (and) I visit businesses to take my own photos to use on Instagram,” Brown said. “But with Madison Grace, I always feel comfortable just sharing what she’s already posted.” The Evanston boutique joins several other women-owned independent retailers in the city, like Accents Plus, Talia and Stepping Out On Faith. Like those establishments, Brown said Madison Grace has already built a loyal customer base. Madison Grace mainly caters toward women in their 40s, but D’Costa said she sees women of all ages coming in to shop. She noted the demographic has trended younger since September, when Northwestern students returned to campus. “We do have a lot of moms and daughters who come in and shop together,” D’Costa said. “And what’s really cool is that they can both find something.” According to Brown, the store’s “new, fresh” items make it one of the only independent clothing stores that appeals to a younger demographic in Evanston. “Coming out of the pandemic, it was really exciting and inspiring that Angelica opened Madison Grace, took over that space and really pursued her dream of starting her own business,” Brown said. chiarakim2025@u.northwestern.edu

Evanston poet Ann Hudson talks latest chapbook, ‘Glow’ By OLIVIA ALEXANDER

daily senior staffer @oliviagalex

While researching her family ties in Ottawa, Evanston poet Ann Hudson “stumbled upon” the inspiration for her latest poetry chapbook: a statue of a Radium Girl. The Radium Girl statue struck a chord with Hudson because of her prior interest in Marie Curie, the scientist who discovered radium and worked to find treatments for cancer, as well as Hudson’s father’s career in science. Inspired by that encounter and finding the story of radium “unsettling and interesting,” Hudson said she couldn’t keep herself from writing on the topic and released her chapbook, a short book of poems, titled “Glow,” on Oct. 15. “Glow,” she said, explores the complexities and fascinating nature of radium rather than defining the metal as good or bad. The Radium Girls were factory workers in the 1920s who became part of a larger phenomenon of radiation poisoning taking place in facilities across the U.S. The Radium Dial Company managers positioned hundreds of women in Ottawa to be poisoned while they painted watch dials with self-luminous paint and licked their brushes to keep them sharp. “(‘Glow’) is certainly a story that is full of heartbreak, but I also hope that it is a story full of perseverance and hope,” Hudson said. “I hope it’s a glimpse of a world that is more complicated than the kind of binary that we often use when we evaluate something.” Radium itself is not good or evil, Hudson said. Rather, people should examine its applications

and uses. In her writing, Hudson said she hopes to reach people across different disciplines – scientists, historians and appreciators of poetry alike. Hudson also said she recently heard of an upcoming production of the play “Radium Girls” taking place at Loyola University Chicago. “Just by chance, these two pieces of art are intersecting in our community at the same time,” Hudson said. “I think there is local knowledge and local interest in the Radium Girls, (and) I hope that also piques people’s curiosity.” Publisher Laura Van Prooyen, founder of Next Page Press, met Hudson during a joint book reading at Women & Children First, an independent Chicago bookstore. Although Van Prooyen now lives and works in San Antonio, she said the two have kept in touch over the last several years through a writing group and have continued sharing their work with each other. Van Prooyen said she loves the research-based nature of Hudson’s poems and the ways she brings together people of different interests and reasons to read poetry. She said the chapbook’s contents are already being taught in Texas classrooms, which is exciting to Hudson, who is a teacher at the Chiaravalle Montessori school in Evanston. “You can look at these poems from so many different ways — from the feminist look, the scientists, love of historical value (or) the personal stories behind these,” Van Prooyen said. “But most of all, the poems are so tightly rendered with a very clear voice. There’s nothing in there that doesn’t belong there.” To promote “Glow,” Hudson is offering two virtual readings. The first, presented by independent bookstore The Book Stall in Winnetka, will be on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The second reading, held by Next Page Press, will take place on Tuesday at

Photo courtesy of Ann Hudson

Ann Hudson. The Evanston poet released her latest chapbook earlier this month.

7:30 p.m, Hudson said. Robert McDonald, event coordinator at The Book Stall, said Hudson will be joined by two other poets during Wednesday evening’s reading. Liz Ahl and Joanne Diaz (TGS PhD ’08), who also explore research-based poetry, will share their work as well and discuss the research and writing process. McDonald said the event’s virtual format allows more people to be present, and regardless of whether or not the attendees are writers, they will

Kubis starts at-home embroidery business By EVELYN DRISCOLL

the daily northwestern @evdriscoll7

Trading quarantine boredom for an embroidering passion, Weinberg junior Kendall Kubis spent her newfound free time under a stay-at-home order creating an Instagram business. Kubis started embroidering Christmas gifts for her friends and family, but quickly realized she could donate proceeds from the handmade embroidery pieces to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless mutual aid fund. “It was mostly a product of seeing the way that Evanston was treating the homeless residents here and feeling like I wanted to contribute in some way,” Kubis said. “I was like, ‘Wow, why don’t I start making stuff and selling it? Might as well — I have some time.’” To request a design, buyers can direct message Kubis’s Instagram, @kendalls.crafts. Kubis employs a pay-what-you-can donation policy. Customers pay extra to cover the cost of the clothing item they want embroidered. Kubis said she prefers to thrift items because it’s more

sustainable. Kubis said her business model includes both commission pieces and her own creations. The commissions allow people to request specific designs. “It’s nice to be able to give people exactly what they want,” Kubis said. “A lot of people have me do things like a specific character from their childhood that holds significance to them.” Weinberg junior Andrew Young said he bought a hat from Kubis that features an embroidered armadillo for Dillo Day. “It’s a good cause,” Young said. “There’s a couple of my friends who do stuff like that, where they’re taking something that’s fun for them to do and turning it into more of a formal hobby or semi-business type of deal.” In her downtime, Kubis embroiders the pieces, usually while she’s watching a movie or talking with friends. Each piece normally takes around four to five hours, but she said she finds the process relaxing amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Kubis said she finds inspiration from other NU small businesses and urges others to support those creators.

“I’m just always so awe-inspired by how people are able to use their hobbies to generate these businesses and do so much good,” Kubis said. “I have so much respect for them. I hope to someday get there when I have more time on my hands.” Communication junior Dhrithi Arun bought a black hat with an embroidered Pikachu from Kubis. She said she enjoys watching her friend turn her passion into a business. “I see her (embroidering) all the time anyway, so the fact that she managed to turn it into a small little business was pretty cool,” Arun said. After starting in-person school, Kubis said she plans to keep the Instagram small-scale, but hopes that she can take on more commissions this winter. Arun reminds potential buyers: their support doesn’t just uplift Kubis, but it also furthers local mutual aid. “A big push to anyone who is thinking about buying it, because she is pretty humble about it, but I think the pieces are really well done,” Arun said. “(The hat) is so cute. I wear it all the time.” evelyndriscoll2025@u.northwestern.edu

receive an appreciation for poetry as a craft, he said. “I would encourage (people) to read outside their comfort zone, and that might include poetry,” McDonald said. “In the same way that I would encourage people who maybe never read mysteries to read a mystery, or never read nonfiction to pick up a book of nonfiction, it’s exciting to know there’s a whole world of thinkers and artists and writers out there.” oliviaalexander2024@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment Editor Laya Neelakandan Assistant Editor Diego Ramos Bechara Designers Angeli Mittal Evelyn Driscoll Staff Evelyn Driscoll Chiara Kim Charlotte Varnes

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

YAMPOLSKY

COUNCIL

DINING

In classic Yampolsky humor, the conductor ended the conversation by telling Chen he would send him a bill for the session, though “of course he never did.” Now, Chen is a first-year pursuing a master’s in conducting, which Yampolsky directs. The program only accepted six students in Chen’s year. Though Chen said Yampolsky’s teaching method can be a bit daunting at first, he ultimately appreciates how much it has helped him grow. “He sees abilities in other people that sometimes they themselves don’t see,” Chen said. “He pushes you to go out of your comfort zone, and then only afterwards, when you’ve accomplished these great things, you realize, ‘Wow, if it wasn’t for him, I would have never gotten to this point.’” Hasty first met Yampolsky in 1994 when he attended NU for his master’s in conducting. He returned to the University in 2000 to pursue a doctorate and has been here ever since. Over the past 27 years, the relationship between the two has developed from student and teacher, to colleague, to the point where Hasty now calls Yampolski “one of (his) best friends.” One of Hasty’s favorite memories with Yampolsky came after Hasty’s brother passed away. Hasty took his family up to Door County, Wisconsin, to see his colleague conduct, and remembered the compassion Yampolsky showed for him and his family in the wake of the tragedy. “You try to balance your personal and your professional life and try not to let it mix too much, but with him, you know, it was different,” Hasty said. “He’s not just a colleague, but he is one of my best friends, and I really wanted to be sure, at least until he retired, so that we could be a team until he was done.” Hasty said he admires Yampolsky’s to-the-point teaching method, which he says is something he especially needed as a master’s student. Though he acknowledged the blunt approach can rub students the wrong way, he said Yampolsky’s sense of humor smoothes out the roughness. Yampolsky plans to pull from conductors who shaped his own career for his final concert series. The conductor said he hopes the series will allow concertgoers a moment to step away from the chaos of today. “Our country is being pulled apart, and many, many of us are angry, sometimes without knowing why, but it’s not what we are supposed to be,” Yampolsky said. “So, if there is an evening I could present to our public, where they would feel something is calming down for them, it could make them feel better.” Yampolsky’s first concert of the fall season will take place at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Ultimately, he said what he will miss most about Northwestern are his relationships with students. “I teach (students) how to be phenomenal performers, but I teach them much deeper and wider. I teach them first of all that music in their life is nothing separate from their life,” Yampolsky said. “I like to tell them that what we learn here is not a job, nine to five.”

expected to rise entering 2022, as the building settles more than a year and a half after construction completed. He said they also expect more wear and tear as more residents use the facility. Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) said the city’s widespread understaffing problem needs to be addressed quickly and with compassion, so as to avoid further burnout and departures among city staff. “Our staff is tired,” Braithwaite said. “Many of our staff are able to help, but there’s really no human way to understand that unless you take the time to have the conversation.” Two public hearings on the 2022 budget will occur during regular City Council meetings: a Budget Public Hearing on Oct. 25, and a Truth in Taxation Hearing on Nov. 8. The council will then have just under six weeks between Nov. 22 and Jan. 1, 2022 to pass a final budget for the new year.

in the release. “This has been a hard journey, but Northwestern students had our backs every step

From page 1

audreyhettleman2024@u.northwestern.edu

From page 1

alexharrison2023@u.northwestern.edu

DOGTOPIA From page 1

senior Sara Morano, who began working at Dogtopia last month, said she took the job because she misses her dog at home. “This just seemed like a dream job, to just be around dogs and play with them,” Morano said. ”The most fun (is) seeing dogs become best friends with each other.” At daycare, dogs spend the mornings with each other in playrooms separated by size and temperament. Then, they take a two-hour rest in their crates for lunch, before continuing to play until their parents come to pick them up. Front desk coordinator Elizabeth Tokarczyk applied to work at Dogtopia since she could bring her dog Wilson to work. Dogtopia impressed her because of its commitment to clients, she said. Pet parents can check in on their dogs through

of the way.” The University and Compass were not immediately available for comment. waverlylong@u.northwestern.edu live webcams in each of the playrooms, and all staff undergo comprehensive training. “I love that you have to do 30 hours of training before you ever walk in this building,” Tokarczyck said, “Even just as the front desk, even though I’m not in a room every day as like a canine coach, I still have to go through the same training as they do.” After weeks of training and almost two years of build-up, Lewis is excited for Dogtopia to hold its grand opening on Friday. Beyond the hours of training for staff, Lewis said a lot of work has gone into the business. “There were times when I didn’t know if it was going to actually happen,” Lewis said. “But seeing everything come together with a store, and seeing our pet parents just being so grateful and thankful and these happy dogs, it’s totally worth it.”

isabellebutera2025@u.northwestern.edu

Kellogg students create bekome in Garage By AVANI KALRA

the daily northwestern @avanidkalra

After struggling for more than ten years to find the right therapist, second-year Kellogg student Shanna Traphoner-Liu decided to take action. “I thought, ‘Okay, something has to be done about this,’” Traphoner-Liu said. “It’s continuing to be such an emotionally exhausting, tedious, time-consuming process.” As a result, Traphoner-Liu had the idea to create bekome, a web platform “helping Gen-Z, millennials and people of color find their right therapist based on personality, lifestyle and cultural fit.” She met her co-founder, second-year Kellogg student Vanessa Gottlieb, in Kellogg’s New Venture Discovery class. Together, they developed bekome in The Garage, an 11,000 foot space that’s home to more than 500 student founded startups and projects at Northwestern. The team participated in The Garage’s Propel program, a mentorship and networking experience that offers female student participants up to $1,000 to begin a startup. Now, as a Resident Team in The Garage, bekome receives funding, advice, community and mentorship. bekome has paired around 18 clients with therapists since launching in the spring, Gottlieb said. The website matches its initial clients, or beta testers, with therapists based on a survey, or allows

users to select their own from a detailed “therapist directory” on the organization’s website. Gottlieb said therapist profiles include descriptions of therapy styles and testimonials from other clients. The system is similar to Hinge, a popular dating app, Traphoner-Liu said. Unlike other platforms, bekome’s therapists are required to record a video introduction. A successful therapist-client relationship often depends on chemistry and body language, Gottlieb said, so it’s important for clients to see the mannerisms and speaking styles of potential therapists. bekome’s real goal, though, is to humanize, Gottlieb said. “If you go to a Psychology Today profile, it’s often more like a resume than a human,” Gottlieb said. “You have no idea who this person is, whether you relate to them and whether you’re going to be comfortable being vulnerable with them.” Second-year Kellogg student and bekome beta tester Emma Lichtenstein said the videos were the most helpful part of her journey. Lichtenstein selected two therapists from bekome’s directory in July and was able to meet with both for a 15-minute consultation before making her choice. “As a biracial woman, something that was important for me was navigating those relationships with cultural competency and different backgrounds,” Lichtenstein said. “That’s not something that was necessarily on a therapist profile, but I was able to directly ask questions

during that 15-minute conversation.” bekome works to offer access to therapists from an array of backgrounds, Gottlieb said, because power structures in therapy have made it a primarily white practice. Traphoner-Liu said cultural competency in bekome’s partner therapists was important to her. Growing up in Birmingham, Ala., she said, her options were further limited by a lack of therapists of color –– her first therapist didn’t quite understand Traphoner-Liu’s struggles to “assimilate and fit in.” “At the time, I had no idea what a ‘fit’ in a therapist meant,” Traphoner-Liu said. “I just knew it didn’t help me after multiple sessions, and I stopped therapy thinking that it wasn’t for me.” Later in life, Traphoner-Liu said, she returned to therapy but was unsuccessful in finding a good fit in college. She said she was disappointed again when she arrived at NU and found Counseling and Psychological Services unhelpful. Bekome and Traphoner-Liu were recently accepted into the Kellogg Zell Fellows program, an entrepreneurship fellowship that will allow bekome to further expand. “We want to be the one-stop shop, the go-to place for young adults to pursue their mental health,” Traphoner-Liu said. “Making change and truly destigmatizing something is a grassroots movement, and we want to be at the helm of that.” avanikalra2025@u.northwestern.edu

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DAILY CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Triangular sails 5 Giant among speakers 9 Belfry hangers 13 Online money 15 Scoville __: chili pepper heat measurement 16 Overly fussy, say 17 *Well-worn, as carpets 19 Tiny 20 Bro or sis 21 Desert partly in northern China 22 Put a thin cut in 23 Greek Mars 25 *Lawn mower’s spot 29 Internet connection 31 “Friendly Skies” co. 32 URL ending of a 37-Across 33 Least distant 37 Campus VIP 38 *Give the go-ahead from the control tower 42 To the __: maximally 43 Oven pan 44 Cooling rocks 45 Diddley and Peep 46 Core concepts 50 *“Dilbert,” e.g. 55 Metz milk 56 Russo of “Tin Cup” 57 Loads from lodes 59 To and __ 60 Marine steering mechanisms 61 *Slapstick slipper? 64 Entr’__ 65 Writer Harte 66 Swiss Miss product 67 Common awards word 68 Barrie’s nonconformist pirate 69 Remove, as clothing ... and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues

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DOWN 1 Stuff thrown overboard 2 10-time MLB All-Star 3 Like fishhooks, usually 4 Atlanta-to-Miami dir. 5 Forrest’s shrimploving friend 6 Broadcasting 7 __ Elton John 8 Mont Blanc summer 9 Uses a bucket in a boat 10 Film noir protagonist 11 Suggested, flavorwise 12 Cunning 14 “Macbeth” role 18 Follow closely 22 Kenan Thompson is its longest-tenured cast member, briefly 24 Loi maker 26 Uses Pledge, say 27 Patronize, as a restaurant 28 Behind 30 French sea

Monday’s Tuesday’sPuzzle PuzzleSolved Solved

34 “Hair” styles 35 Fowl pole 36 Big time 37 Danger 38 In vogue 39 Chewy candy 40 Periodic table items 41 Tap site 45 Dating letters 47 Mariners’ park, familiarly and formerly

10/20/21

48 Lose interest in 49 Minn. college 51 Atlas box 52 Actress Blakley 53 Steamed 54 Ballpoint, e.g. 58 Bunt on a scorecard 60 Groovy 61 Air rifle ammo 62 Chair part 63 i follower

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

Kappa Alpha Psi presents inaugural Bristow award By MILES FRENCH

the daily northwestern @milesfrench

An alumni association of Northwestern’s historically Black fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, recognized three Black students for their commitment to excellence in academics and community service Friday. The Dr. Clinton Bristow Jr. Award, distributed by the Theta Alumni Association, grants each recipient $1,917, a number chosen to reflect the year NU’s chapter of KAPsi was founded. Weinberg junior Shira Nash, one of the award’s recipients, said being recognized for her achievements alongside other Black student leaders was inspiring. She said she tries to live by the values of “being revolutionary, breaking boundaries, and making waves.” “Everything that I do is kind of centered around empowering and uplifting Black people,” Nash said. “It was amazing to see other students that had similar missions as mine.” Clinton Bristow Jr. (SESP ’71, ’74, ’77), the award’s namesake, was a KAPsi member who dedicated his life to education and battling inequality. During his time at NU, Bristow participated in several protests led by Black students, including the 1968 Bursar’s Office Takeover. Later, he served as the president of the Chicago Board of Education and as president of Alcorn State

Miles French/The Daily Northwestern

The Theta Alumni Association of Northwestern’s chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity gave the Bristow Award to recipients (from left to right): Cody Murray-Bruce, Shira Nash and Wallace Greene. This is the first year the organization has issued the honor.

University — a role he held until his death in 2006. SESP senior Wallace Greene, another recipient, said he felt honored that the scholarship committee recognized his “hard work, resilience and perseverance.”

The Theta Alumni Association founded the award in an effort to honor Bristow’s legacy and support Black undergraduates at NU by recognizing their merit. All applicants were required to have a minimum of a 3.0

Homecoming Wildcats named at Homecoming pep rally on Friday

milesfrench2025@u.northwestern.edu

Scan this QR code with Snapchat or your smartphone camera to view a video of the Homecoming Court crowning ceremony and experience.

As Northwestern prepared for Homecoming, 10 students campaigned to be on the Homecoming Court. The Homecoming pep rally, held on Oct. 15, included games, performances and the Homecoming Court crowning. At the end of the ceremony, Weinberg senior Vanessa Obi and SESP senior Bobby Read were crowned as Homecoming Wildcats. Obi said she campaigned and aimed to win in order to represent queer and Black students on the court. She also said that as a resident assistant and organizer, she wanted to bring attention to campus workers during her campaign. — Emma Yarger

GPA and active involvement in an NU community service student organization. The award was originally established in 2019, but was not issued until this year due to pandemic-related delays. From now on, it will be an annual tradition, issued to three undergraduates at the beginning of every academic year. Communication junior Cody Murray-Bruce, the award’s third recipient, said he appreciates how the honor uplifts and celebrates Black students. “It’s really important that we have things like this for Black students…the ability to celebrate Black students on campus from a standpoint of academic achievement and community engagement on campus,” Murray-Bruce said. All three award recipients gave their thanks to KAPsi for creating a tradition that increases Black representation and visibility at NU. Awards Committee Chairman Robert B. Dixon (Weinberg ‘94) said he hopes the award will strengthen the Black community on campus. He said he hopes the award will show Black students that “they are seen and acknowledged for their work.” Dixon said his hope is that the award, along with Dr. Bristow’s story, will encourage students to “keep fighting and persevering in their studies and in their own dreams of fighting social injustice.”

Angeli Mittal/Daily Senior Staffer

Vanessa Obi and Bobby Read get crowned as Homecoming Wildcats at Friday’s pep rally.

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gragg guides future of nu athletics By JOHN RIKER

daily senior staffer @john__riker

Derrick Gragg hasn’t had much time to rest in the last four months. “I’ve been super busy,” said Gragg, Northwestern’s newest athletic director. “But I call it busy in a very positive way.” Since starting the role on July 1, Gragg has settled down in Evanston, filled positions in the athletic department and presided over the Wildcats’ first full fall sports season since 2019. All of this, naturally, happens in the space between NU’s various sports games, which he watches closely from the sidelines and bleachers. And, of course, there’s the $480 million donation from Pat and Shirley Ryan that his department welcomed last month, the bulk of which will go toward the renovation of the 95-year-old Ryan Field. “It’s amazing: the resources, the loyalty, the program, the institution, the excitement around this,” Gragg said. “It’s a lot going on, but I feel very good and positive about the direction.” In his first role as the athletic director of a Power Five program, Gragg is ready and working to prove he’s the right man for this job, months after the University chose the wrong one.

“I could have gone either way” Before his hiring as the Cats’ athletic director, Gragg served as the senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement at the NCAA offices. But he is quick to point out that his diversity and inclusion work long predates his NCAA tenure. “I was raised by a mother who helped integrate a high school back in 1965 as one of the first Black students there,” Gragg said. “So that’s just part of who I am. I’ve been a pioneer almost everywhere I’ve gone, including coming to Northwestern.” After a decorated four-year career as a wide receiver at Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama, Gragg committed to play SEC football at Vanderbilt. He entered as part of a historic class — the 12 Black athletes in that year’s class of football recruits was a record for the Tennessee university. According to Gragg’s book “40 Days of Direction,” the number was more than those of the past three classes of football recruits combined. The transition to the elite private school wasn’t a smooth one. Gragg’s GPA in his first semester as a student-athlete was just 1.06. After that wake-up call, he said everything changed. “That was one of the first true turning points of my life, and I could have gone either way,” Gragg wrote in “40 Days of Direction.” “The last thing I wanted to do was return home as a failure after less than a year. More than that, I did not want to disappoint my mother, who always sacrificed to provide opportunities for my brother and me.” Gragg’s rededication paid dividends both on and off the field. In a 1990 game against Alabama, Gragg hauled in three

touchdowns, but his finest highlight came during his senior year, when he was named to the SEC All-Academic Team. Decades later, Gragg says the experience of playing at an elite academic school in a major football conference is especially relevant to his new role. “Regardless of what the school is, student athletes really relate to me well,” Gragg said. “I’ve been through what they’re going through, especially at a high academic institution like this, so I understand the experience.”

Preparing for Power Five After his Vanderbilt career, Gragg stayed in the collegiate sports stratosphere, working his way up in the ranks. In 2006, he was named the athletic director at Division I program Eastern Michigan, becoming the youngest Black AD in the nation at age 39. Jim Streeter served as the associate AD for communications under Gragg, and he remembers immediately taking to Gragg’s engaging leadership style, which empowered his staff to make their own decisions. “He would point you in the right direction and say, here’s my goal, here’s my total picture of what we’re doing now — go ahead and try to implement that plan,” Streeter said. “He gave us a lot of leeway in determining what to do and when to do it, how to do it.” Gragg led Eastern Michigan’s athletic department until 2013, when he took the job at another Division I school, Tulsa. Within his first three years, the Golden Hurricane reached the NCAA men’s basketball tournament twice. He finished his tenure with Tulsa having won the secondmost titles across all sports in the big-time American Athletic Conference. One of his major accomplishments was helping Tulsa transition from Conference USA to the AAC. The Golden Hurricane’s position as the smallest school by enrollment in the AAC — a similar position to NU’s own standing in the Big Ten — was a reason for excitement instead of an excuse. Tulsa thrived against schools with more resources and enrollments. “He definitely solidified our department and our university within the conference,” Tulsa executive senior associate athletic director Crista Troester said. “I don’t know how many conference championships we’ve won in (the) American, but we’ve held our own. That’s just a reflection upon the leadership that he provided us as far as doing things on the field.” Gragg left his role at Tulsa for the NCAA offices in 2020, taking a newly created position as the senior vice president of diversity, education and community engagement. Though his work at

the NCAA lasted less than a year, he built on his earlier efforts with leadership development programs and contributed to the offices’ efforts in programming and engagement. In an email to The Daily, DeeDee Merritt, acting director of NCAA leadership development, praised Gragg’s “insight, assertiveness and enthusiasm” and highlighted his past experiences as an athletic director as a valuable resource for the office. And Gragg eventually decided to return to the athletic director role, albeit this time on one of the highest stages in collegiate athletics.

A Department in Disarray On June 4, NU announced Gragg as its 23rd athletic director in school history and the first person of color to serve in the position. The achievement was historic, but the context — and athletic department Gragg inherited — was rife with mistrust and commanded national headlines for the wrong reasons. In the final weeks of longtime athletic director Jim Phillips’ tenure before his departure for the ACC commissioner role, former cheerleaders Hayden Richardson and Alyssa Johnson brought forwardexperiences of racism, sex-

Joshua Hoffman/Daily Senior Staffer

ual harassment and abuse within the cheerleading program. Richardson’s lawsuit detailed sexual harrassment by alumni and neglect from the athletic department, while Johnson’s feature shed a light on the program’s racial discrimination. Then, after a lengthy search process for the next athletic director that included a diverse array of candidates, NU announced Mike Polisky, the deputy athletic director for external affairs and the longtime football administrator, as its pick. Not only was Polisky considered a safe, in-house option, but he was also one of the defendants listed on Richardson’s lawsuit. In response, more than 200 students and community members protested the decision, expressing both support for the cheerleaders and frustration with Polisky’s selection. Polisky resigned nine days later on May 12, saying the challenges “will not allow (him) to effectively lead.” Later that month, University President Morton Schapiro revisited the decision in an interview with the Daily. “Given how it turned out I wish we had tried something else, to be honest with you,” Schapiro said. “As he wrote in the note, it turned out to divide the community, to such an extent that he moved down.” History Prof. Kate Masur, one of six women faculty members who signed an

open letter to Provost Kathleen Hagerty in May, said Gragg’s eventual hiring has not changed her perspective on Polisky’s initial selection. “I feel the exact same about the Polisky hire now as I did then,” Masur said. “It was a really big mistake, and it remains hard for me to understand how Northwestern stumbled into making such a big mistake.”

Gragg’s First Steps This is the department — and the University — Gragg inherited. And though he didn’t discuss the Polisky saga in his opening press conference in June, he has taken steps in his first months to understand perspectives of groups across campus and chart a new path forward. “We want to make sure that we’re in tune with our student body,” Gragg said. “We’re looking for feedback, more suggestions on how to further engage the student body and create more synergy.” There’s another addition that has helped fill Gragg’s packed schedule: meetings with different stakeholders from around the university, from athletes and coaches to students and faculty. Through these meetings, Gragg and other officials within the athletic department have made it a point to listen and to understand. Masur was one of the faculty members who attended a meeting with Gragg and the athletic department. After the dysfunction around Polisky’s hiring, she especially appreciated that Gragg reached out and showed willingness to listen. “That was literally the first communication that we had from the athletic department this entire time,” Masur said. “We never heard from anyone from the athletic department during all of the stuff that went on last year. We never heard from Morty Schapiro either, for that matter, and so this was the first outreach that we had had from the athletic department.” Gragg’s qualifications uniquely position him to make meaningful change as a Power Five athletic director and to lead a university as central to the diversity and inclusion conversation as NU. His coworkers from past stops vouch for his ethics and commitment to diversity and inclusion, and Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren was among those to publicly celebrate Gragg’s hiring. And the issue he stated as his first project, the renovation of Ryan Field, is already underway. Still, it’s Gragg’s first steps as athletic director that have meant the most to community members. “He has a blank slate, as far as Northwestern is concerned,” Masur said. “Northwestern is not a blank slate. Northwestern has all this history. All this damage that was done in the revelations about the abuses of the cheerleaders, and then the hiring of Polisky and the lack of transparency around all of that.” “He can’t make any of that go away, but what he can do is come in and really try to assess the situation, listen to people and make people feel heard.” johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu

Kelsey Carroll/The Daily Northwestern