ARTS The Current Jun Sung Ahn shows off his skills on YouTube Âť INSIDE
SPORTS Football Where in Florida will the Cats go for their bowl game? Âť PAGE 8
OPINION Muller Rahm impresses in One Book talk Âť PAGE 4
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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, November 29, 2012
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Emanuel ‘blunt’ on Chicago, Obama Chicago mayor speaks at One Book event, discusses city politics By CAT ZAKRZEWSKI
the daily northwestern
Although Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (Communication ‘85) came to Northwestern to speak at a One Book One Northwestern event Wednesday afternoon, he focused more on Chicago politics and the 2012 election than this year’s book, “Never a City So Real.� “Let me be blunt and frank, I have not read this book,� Emanuel joked to the audience. “That’s your responsibility, not mine.� Emanuel discussed the features of Chicago that contribute to its international status during his remarks and then answered questions from event moderator and SESP Prof. Daniel Lewis. The Northwestern community packed the Ryan Auditorium in the Technological Institute and attendees who did not arrive early enough for a seat were able to form “spillover� seating in a nearby lecture hall. The Office of the President sponsors the community-reading program that hosted Wednesday’s event. University President Morton Schapiro, who was in attendance, told The Daily on Tuesday he was “excited� for Emanuel’s visit to campus, explaining the Chicago mayor met the requirements several campus organizations he met with were looking for in a speaker. “Who’s a celeb, who knows something about Chicago, who knows something about politics — Rahm Emanuel,� Schapiro said about deciding what speaker to bring to NU. Emanuel began by explaining
Melody Song/The Daily Northwestern
MISTER MAYOR Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to students, faculty, and Evanston residents. The event, held at Ryan Auditorium, was presented by One Book One Northwestern.
that the narrative of Chicago is one of immigrants and the American dream. He then touched on his service as President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff and explained how Obama’s experience as a city organizer in Chicago influenced some of his policy decisions in office, particularly in reviving the automobile industry. “I think the president’s experience on the south side of Chicago really mattered,� Emanuel said. “In the Oval Office, at the end of the day, all you have are your values, your judgment and your ability to see the end of the road clearly when everyone else sees fog.�
Emanuel also said policies mattered more than demographics in determining the president’s reelection. “Don’t let anyone try to steal what happened here,â€? he said. “Ideas count in politics.â€? He explained he has committed to the president’s own campaign goal of rebuilding America in his own role as mayor of Chicago, focusing on improving the quality of the workforce in the city through education and improving the city’s infrastructure. He explained his support for full school days and Âť See EMANUEL, page 6
Kai Huang/The Daily Northwestern
CHICAGO COMPLAINTS Protesters pass out flyers just before Emanuel’s speech.
Schapiro backs ‘brothel’ changes, hopes for more
University President Morton Schapiro said Tuesday that proposed reforms to Evanston’s over-occupancy law are a “good first step� but do not go far enough to solve the problem. “You don’t want to have laws that don’t make sense and you don’t want to have laws that people don’t obey,� Schapiro told The Daily. “If you have a chance to solve half the problem, solve it, then go to the next half.� Schapiro endorsed the proposal, which was drafted by Ald. Don Wilson (4th) and briefly discussed at Monday’s city council meeting. The Daily first reported last week that Evanston officials were looking into reforming the law, parts of which have been on the books since the 1960s. Current law prohibits more than three unrelated people from living in the same housing unit. Wilson’s proposal would increase that limit to six for multiplefamily dwellings like apartments, granted there are as many bedrooms as occupants in the unit. The proposal would also increase the unrelated occupancy limit for all other types of units, including houses, from three to four residents. However, many Northwestern students live in off-campus houses with six or more roommates. Schapiro and student leaders say aldermen still need to address that part of the problem. “They should probably change that next,� Schapiro said. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just make it better.� Schapiro joins his Evanston counterpart in embracing the changes. Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, described by Schapiro as “breathtakingly brilliant,� signaled her support for the proposal earlier this month at an on-campus event. The proposal, hailed by students as a step in the right direction, come during a period of detente between the city and the University after years of hostility. City manager Wally Bobkiewicz said Monday night that Wilson’s proposed changes to the “brothel law� will come up before the council on Jan. 14, 2013. — Marshall Cohen
Governor launches state pension crisis campaign Campaign urges reform for pension woes, worst in nation By CIARA MCCARTHY
the daily northwestern
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn launched a campaign this month to raise awareness about Illinois’ current
pension crisis. The campaign, entitled “Thanks In Advance,� includes a website, Facebook page and Twitter handle. The website features several videos, the first of which discusses “The Pension Squeeze.� In the clip, an actor explains the basics of the pension system and cites some sobering facts about the situation in Illinois. The video also stars “Squeezy, the Pension Python,� an animated, orange python whose image is coiled around various
“
Our public pension crisis is the most urgent issue facing everyone in the state,�
Mica Matsoff, Senior adviser to Gov. Quinn
government buildings to demonstrate the way pensions squeeze the overall budget, causing other government
programs to be cut. The Pew Center for the States has ranked Illinois last in unfunded pension liability, which is estimated at $95 million. Mica Matsoff, a senior adviser to Quinn, said the campaign tries to raise public awareness and increase education about the complexities of the pension system. The campaign is also intended to bring a sense of urgency to addressing pension reform.
“Our public pension crisis is the most urgent issue facing everyone in the state,â€? she said. “The governor thinks it is imperative that we solve this immediately.â€? Matsoff said most constituents don’t know pensions are the biggest problem facing Illinois. On Tuesday, the campaign released two more videos created in partnership with Salman Khan of the online Âť See PENSIONS, page 6
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