arts The Current NU lecturer spills on television writing experiences » INSERT
ASG allocates funds to DM registration ‘scholarship’ » PAGE 3
opinion Patel Complaining too much? Rethink your responsibilities. » PAGE 4
High 45 Low 28
The Daily Northwestern DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Find us online @thedailynu
NU assesses role in Sand Creek Committee updates community, invites John Evans Study Committee comments at forum By tyler pager
the daily northwestern @tylerpager
Ebony Calloway/The Daily Northwestern
going public The John Evans Study Committee meets Wednesday for an open forum in University Library about its research on John Evans and his role in the Sand Creek Massacre.
Emotions ran high Wednesday night at University Library as the John Evans Study Committee held an open forum to give an update on its research, answer questions and take suggestions from the Northwestern community. Provost Dan Linzer formed a study committee last year to investigate the role University founder John Evans played in the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre and whether NU benefitted financially from Evans’ actions. The massacre resulted in the death of more than 100 Cheyenne and Arapaho people in the Colorado Territory during Evans’ time as governor. The committee, which is led by English and history Prof. Carl Smith, includes three additional NU faculty
and four professors from other universities. Heather Menefee, co-president of the Native American and Indigenous Student Alliance, said the environment at the event, which was attended by about 80 people, felt tense. “It wasn’t helped by people raising their voices and committee members raising their voices and cutting people off and getting angry or defensive, but I think overall I guess it’s successful in that so many people showed up,” the Weinberg junior said. Although the committee was created following a community petition, some students, faculty and alumni have said they are disappointed with the narrow focus of the study. Menefee said the focus is “pretty self-serving on the part of the University.” “Having a committee with a narrow focus on John Evans is in some ways a privilege that the University can afford, but it continues the erasure of indigenous people and their voices in a story about them,” she » See john evans, page 6
Associated Student Government
ASG confirms VP of diversity, inclusion By sophia bollag
Senate in brief:
daily senior staffer @sophiabollag
•
Associated Student Government Senate unanimously approved sophomore Thaddeus Tukes at its meeting Wednesday as associate vice president of diversity and inclusion, a position that has been vacant since Spring Quarter. “I think he’s fantastic,” said student life vice president Anna Kottenstette, a Communication senior and former Daily staffer, who added that Tukes convinced the selection committee in his interview he was the right person for the position. “The way that he spoke and the way that he made everyone believe in what he was saying, we thought would be incredibly important for this position and really contagious on campus.” Last year, ASG made two failed attempts to fill the position left vacant by Hayley Stevens (Weinberg ‘13) in May. The ASG executive board “revamped” the position this fall, president Ani Ajith said. Although Tukes said he found out the
•
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said Wednesday evening that towngown relations are better than they have ever been, crediting University President Morton Schapiro with helping turn around the historically contentious relationship between the city and Northwestern. “The good news about Northwestern is that we have a better relationship,” she said. “President Schapiro is a terrific president, and he is much more an advocate for the community. ... He genuinely believes that a great university needs a great town.” For the next step in improving the city’s bond with NU, Tisdahl floated the idea of an “Evanston-Northwestern plan that incorporates best practices in town-gown relations.” Despite her optimism, Tisdahl said NU could always do more to give back to the city, whether it employs more residents or makes up for its tax-exempt status with other forms of financial support. The mayor’s comments on the cityUniversity relationship came during a wide-ranging interview with The Daily and other Evanston journalists on the TV show “The Reporters.” It is expected to be released in full Saturday through Evanston Community Television . In addition to town-gown relations, Tisdahl addressed the proposed expansion of the so-called “Safe School Zone” around Evanston Township High School, violent crime in the city and her evolving role as mayor.
‘Safe routes’
» See ASG senate, page 6
» See tisdahl, page 6
‘safe spaces’ Medill-Bienen sophomore Thaddeus Tukes answers questions from Associated Student Government senators. Tukes was confirmed unanimously Wednesday night as ASG’s associate vice president for diversity and inclusion.
! s t a c d l i w
daily senior staffer @patricksvitek
that look like me,” Ajith said. Tukes said he wanted to clarify that diversity is a very broad term and said many groups on campus are minorities, including music students and students in Greek organizations. “It’s not just race or gender,” he said.
•
Sarah Nelson/Daily Senior Staffer
I saw a lot of holes not only in communication but representation,” Tukes said. “I wanted to be an ambassador for these groups.” In his introduction of Tukes, Ajith, Weinberg senior and former Daily staffer, said the position is not meant to assist only minority groups. “The position is supposed to serve all students on campus, not just students
By patrick svitek
Having served on the ETHS board from 1989 to 2001, Tisdahl told the reporters she has “strong views” about student safety. An intergovernmental agreement between the city and D202 would charge anyone who has been told to stay out of the Safe School Zone with criminal trespassing if they try to reenter it, including expelled and suspended students. In June, the D202 board voted unanimously to work with the city to extend the zone to across the street from ETHS, but the proposal has not yet reached City Council over civil rights concerns raised by some aldermen on the Human Services Committee. “I think that the idea of ... arresting a kid for standing on a public sidewalk and not moving on when the
•
position was open only the night before the application was due, the MedillBienen dual degree student expressed his enthusiasm for the role during his speech to Senate on Wednesday. “I applied for this position because, not only observing events at the school last year but also this year and speaking with different heads of organizations of different underrepresented groups,
Confirmed a new diversity and inclusion associate vice president, Medill-Bienen sophomore Thaddeus Tukes Allotted $4,000 from the Senate Project Pool to subsidize Dance Marathon registration fees for students who indicate financial need on their registration form Elected six students to the Student Activities Finance Committee Elected four students to the 10K Initiative Committee, leaving two vacancies reserved for students outside ASG
Tisdahl talks town relations
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Students, Faculty, & Staff on ALL PURCHASES in OCTOBER at Whole Foods Market in Evanston!
*Offer valid October 1–31, 2013 with current WildCARD. Discount not applicable for wine, spirits, or beer. Valid only at Whole Foods Market Evanston locations 1640 Chicago Ave. Evanston, IL 1111 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL
INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 5 | Sports 8