The Daily Northwestern - November 5, 2013

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sports Field hockey Cats take home a share of the Big Ten crown » PAGE 8

NU alum launches app to link sports fans » PAGE 6

opinion Petkov NU should terminate weed-out classes » PAGE 4

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The Daily Northwestern DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Find us online @thedailynu

Harley Clarke Mansion

City to look into lakefront property plan By patrick svitek

daily senior staffer @PatrickSvitek

The Evanston Human Services Committee on Monday night cautiously agreed to look more closely at a new proposal by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to move into the Harley Clarke Mansion. The department’s interest in the lakefront property marks an unexpected turn in the city’s mission to determine the fate of the lakefront property, 2603 Sheridan Road. The Evanston Art Center, which rents the dilapidated mansion from the city for $1 a year, has signaled it wants to remain in the building and work with the city to finance various repairs. That plan, however, hangs in the balance more than ever as the city looks to court the department, which declared its desire for the mansion in an Oct. 18 letter to city manager Wally Bobkiewicz. Diane Tecic, the department’s coastal program director, wrote to Bobkiewicz that the mansion is “ideally suited” for the department’s new Coastal Management program, which would bring offices and instructional space to the building. “We believe that a strong partnership with the City of Evanston will improve both our organizations abilities to manage

the current and future needs and provide an excellent publicly accessible for Evanston and surrounding communities,” Tecic wrote. “We look forward to continuing the dialogue.” The committee apparently liked what it heard, though some members cautioned against adding a new piece to the Harley Clarke Mansion puzzle without keeping their constituents in the loop. “We are in a very ambiguous situation,” Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) told his colleagues on the panel. “Clearly we learned our lessons from the first round of this,” he added, hinting at the vocal opposition that sunk a controversial bid for the property by Evanston billionaire Jennifer Pritzker this summer. Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) called the department’s pitch “fascinating,” while Ald. Coleen Burrus (9th) deemed it a “good idea.” The committee unanimously voted to send the issue to City Council, which next meets Monday night. Despite the panel’s agreement to pursue the department’s plan, its discussion turned into a testy back-and-forth about an issue that has plagued the city for months: the condition of the mansion. Bobkiewicz has said the building needs at least $170,000 for a “minimum of improvements” ranging from the fire alarm system to plumbing. Citing her observations during an Oct.

Annabel Edwards/Daily Senior Staffer

A CLOSER LOOK Evanston Art Center director Norah Diedrich addresses the city’s Human Services Committee Monday night. The panel voted to further review a new plan for the Harley Clarke Mansion, 2603 Sheridan Road.

26 tour with other aldermen, Burrus said the building may be a “massive liability.” She said she would not feel safe sending her children there for art classes. Burrus’ comments earned a sharp rebuke from art center executive director Norah Diedrich, who criticized them as “absolutely unfounded and unbelievable.”

She summoned the art center’s attorney to the podium to clear the air, though Burrus defended her remarks minutes later. “I ask the hard questions because most people won’t,” Burrus told Diedrich. Bobkiewicz assured the committee the mansion is not a public hazard, but it is “important to note there are issues that

need to be addressed.” Bobkiewicz said the department’s next step is likely briefing Evanston residents on “who they are, what they do.” That could take the form of a community meeting in January, he added. patricksvitek2014@u.northwestern.edu

Blackboard alternate piloted Profs launch talks to preview courses

By Paulina firozi

daily senior staffer @paulina_milla

Northwestern has established a program piloting potential replacements for Blackboard, its course management system since 1999. In Fall 2012, NU’s Education Technology Advisory Committee discussed the state of the University’s educational technology. According to a report later published by the committee, it “determined that the most pressing need for action is a comprehensive review of the University’s course management environment, currently anchored by the Blackboard Learn system.” The committee created the Learning Management Systems Review Group, made up of 25 faculty and staff, to issue suggestions for a possible replacement. New Blackboard, LoudCloud, Desire2Learn and Canvas are the four LMS candidates that are potential replacements. Compared to Blackboard, Canvas has a more Web-based interface. Rather

By edward cox

daily senior staffer @EdwardCox16

Source: Canvas screenshot

TIME FOR A REFRESH? Several Northwestern professors are piloting Canvas, a learning management system, in their classes this quarter. The system is one potential replacement for Blackboard, which NU has used since 1999.

than modules and attached files, each course has one page, with users navigating to different sections — including the course’s syllabus, assignments and quizzes — from the left-hand column. Content displays on the rest of the page

instead of moving to a separate page. Professors Katrin Voelkner and Mitchell Petersen both began using Canvas in their classes this fall. They » See blackboard, page 6

A new branch of Northwestern Residential Services on Monday launched a series of mini-lectures that allow professors to discuss their upcoming courses in student residences. Professors will introduce their courses for the next quarter as part of “Coming Soon to a Classroom Near You.” The program is primarily for underclassmen. The purpose of the lectures is to relieve students of some pressure they face when selecting classes by supplementing traditional tools used to find classes such as Course and Teacher Evaluations, said Brad Zakarin, the director of the Office of Residential Academic Initiatives, which was created this year.

“When students are in their own lounge … they feel a little bit more at home and feel the professors are on their turf and so it is a little easier to ask questions that might be daunting to ask in somebody’s office hours,” Zakarin said. History Prof. Michael Allen kicked off the series Monday, introducing his U.S. history course to about 20 students in the Public Affairs Residential College. Allen, a fellow at the residential college, enjoyed refreshments with students while he discussed requirements for his course. “I think this was very helpful,” Weinberg freshman Hayley Landman said. “I got to hear the professor’s perspective, which is not something you can get looking at CTECs.” During the casual one-hour » See mini-lectures, page 6

Lacrosse

NU announces newest game at Wrigley for 2014 season By Steven Montero

daily senior staffer @Steven_Montero

The lacrosse team will be the next Wildcats squad to call Wrigley field home. Northwestern will battle against Southern California in the historic ballpark during the Cats’ final regular season match 7 p.m. on April 26. The

game will air during prime time on the Big Ten Network. NU officially announced the matchup Monday. Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller will pit her Cats against the leadership of one of her former NU All-Americans, Lindsey Munday. Munday graduated in 2006 and became one of Amonte Hiller’s assistant coaches. Now at the helm of the Trojans, she will return to tackle her former coach and alma

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

mater. “Our program could not be more excited for the opportunity to bring women’s lacrosse to Wrigley Field, one of the most iconic sports venues in the world,” Hiller said Monday at a news conference. “We’ve been fortunate to play in some neat settings in recent seasons, including the Coliseum last year, but to take the field in our hometown and with the unique game day atmosphere that Wrigleyville provides will

be an unforgettable experience. The fact that we’re able to welcome Lindsey and her up-and-coming program into the fold only makes it that much more special.” The team has been a powerhouse in the lacrosse world over the last decade, with NU claiming seven of the past nine NCAA Championship titles. The Cats tasted sweet revenge in 2013 as they took down the Florida Gators — one of the only teams in the

nation to consistently challenge NU’s dominance — to win their sixth American Lacrosse Conference title in seven years. Fueled by Amonte Hiller and a disheartening ending in 2013, when the Cats fell through in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, NU will seek to close out its next season with a conquest of the Trojans and defend its stake as Chicago’s Big Ten Team. stevenmontero2014@u.northwestern.edu

INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8


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