The Daily Northwestern - Nov. 7, 2012

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The Daily Northwestern DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Find us online @thedailynu

Mariam Gomaa/Daily Senior Staffer

MOVING FORWARD Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden join the crowd’s cheers from the stage at McCormick Place after the president’s acceptance speech. Obama spoke to thousands early this morning after Republican candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney conceded the race.

Democrats dominate races

Obama secures key states, reelection victory over Republican Romney By patrick svitek

daily senior staffer

CHICAGO — President Barack Obama defeated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Tuesday to secure a second term that he vowed to pursue with the same resolve that catapulted him to the White House four years ago. Promising that the “best is yet to come,” Obama told exhilarated supporters early this morning that they have made him a better leader and are sending him back to the White House “more determined, more inspired than ever.” “Tonight, despite all the hardship we’ve been through, despite all the frustrations of Washington, I’ve never been more hopeful about out future,” Obama said in his Election Night remarks. “And I ask you to sustain that hope.” Obama locked up more than 300 electoral votes, edging Romney by better-than-expected margins in most swing states and delivering a knockout punch in crucial Ohio. Obama said he had called Romney to congratulate him on a hard-fought race and is “look(ing) forward to sitting down” with his onetime foe to hash out the country’s problems. At his Boston headquarters, Romney told crestfallen supporters that he hopes Obama will be “successful in guiding our nation”

“I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader. And so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and this great nation,” Romney said. Although Obama’s victory speech echoed of the hope-and-change mantra that first launched him to political stardom, Tuesday’s watch party at McCormick Place was a far cry from 2008’s jubilant rally at Grant Park. The ticket event included several thousand Obama campaign volunteers, many of whom contributed countless hours in the final days of the election season. Four years ago, an estimated 240,000 Obama faithfuls flooded Grant Park to hear the first black president declare victory. Today, Obama was more than aware of how times have changed. “As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts,” he said. “It’s not always a straight line.” At about 10:15 p.m., thousands of Obama supporters at the convention center began brimming with raucous applause as news outlets projected an Obama win in the battleground state of Ohio. Moments later, NBC News called the presidential contest for the incumbent. Several hours later, Obama took the stage at McCormick Place to thunderous clapping. “Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward,” Obama said. “It moves forward because of you.”

Ill. voters lean Democratic in local, national elections By Susan Du

daily senior staffer

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), State Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Skokie) and State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) all won by a wide margin Tuesday night against Republican challengers Timothy Wolfe, Glenn Farkas and Eric Lieberman. Debra Shore, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, was also re-elected. As the wins became apparent, cheers erupted from local Democrats at the candidates’ joint watch party at Evanston’s Prairie Moon. Biss, formerly a state representative, will fill the senate vacancy left by Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Evanston). Incumbents Schakowsky and Gabel retained their posts, the former collecting 66 percent of the vote and the latter 62.4 percent with 97 percent of precincts reporting. Schakowsky left early in the night to join crowds at McCormick Place in Chicago — but not before predicting her win. “I’m hoping that you’re going to have a great celebration, I want to tell you,” Schakowsky said

patricksvitek2014@u.northwestern.edu

to local supporters. “I appreciate you so much and I’m very hopeful that my election is going to go just fine. I owe you all of that.” Gabel attributed her lead early in the night to the campaign efforts of supporters, noting that the Democratic Party of Evanston helped knock on 37,000 doors. “There’s a lot to do in Springfield, as you all know,” Gabel said in anticipation of her work ahead. “And we are here to represent the people so we are really looking forward to working with all of you.” Evanston voters overwhelmingly opposed unlimited political contributions from corporations in response to a referendum asking whether U.S. Congress should pass a bill allowing the federal government and states to impose restrictions. Eighty-two percent voted for the referendum question and 17 percent in opposition, with 50 of 53 precincts reporting. The state referendum question of whether to amend the Illinois Constitution to require a three-fifths majority vote of governing bodies in order to increase benefits under a public pension system was split more evenly, with 55.8 percent voting in favor and 44.2 percent opposed. Designed to address the state’s daunting unfunded pension liability — $83 billion — the amendment has been met with resistance from unions. shijundu@gmail.com

More election coverage inside >>

City organizers look to expand gun buyback program By Susan du

daily senior staffer

With the city’s gun buyback event officially scheduled for Dec. 15, the initiative’s fund has reached a total of $19,050, including a $10,000 donation from Northwestern. Citizens concerned about local

gun violence proposed this summer the idea of holding a buyback to decrease the amount of firearms in the community. The organizational efforts were expedited following the Sept. 22 shooting death of Evanston Township High School freshman Dajae Coleman. Recently released details of the December event specify that it will

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be held at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1711 Simpson St. It will be an “amnesty-based” buyback, meaning those turning in weapons, ammunition, clips and magazines will not be consequently subject to police action. There is a two-gun limit per participant, and reimbursements will be paid in cash. Participants must be Evanston residents,

and guns must be operational but unloaded. Evanston Police haven’t released an official price for guns, but Cmdr. Jay Parrott and West Evanston Strategic Team co-chair Carolyn Murray both indicated that an approximate rate is $100 per firearm. The expectation for the program is a harvest of about 100 to 200 guns, making

the potential total cost of the event $1,000 to $2,000 and leaving at most $18,050 unaccounted for. Murray, who pitched the idea of a gun buyback program to Ald. Delores Holmes (5th) this summer, said organizers have discussed utilizing the extra funds to hold additional » See guns, page 7

INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Forum 6 | Sports 8


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