HOLIDAY GUIDE
Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern
AROUND TOWN
Councilmembers spread holiday cheer
By ISAIAH STEINBERG daily senior staffer @isaiahstei27
From jumping into the frigid Lake Michigan waters to watching Christmas classics and enjoying local radio stations on a precise timeline, Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) takes the holiday season very seriously.
Evanston’s elected o cials, like families across the country, partake in unique holiday traditions throughout December.
Ask Nieuwsma what the holidays mean to him, and he will respond with Christmas cheer. e councilmember celebrates a traditional, cozy Christmas with his family each year and o ers his children and their cousins $20 to jump into Lake Michigan.
“I didn’t think they’d take me up on it the rst time I o ered, otherwise I would have only o ered ve,” he said.
e Nieuwsmas also follow a strict rule when it comes to holiday jingles: no listening to Christmas music until a er WXRT plays Arlo Guthrie’s classic satirical track “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” on anksgiving.
Nieuwsma added that no holiday season would be complete without the requisite classic movies and TV specials, such as “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “A Christmas Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He sticks to the family classics, however, adding that “baby Jesus likes to keep it light.”
Keeping with his own childhood tradition, Nieuwsma said Santa Claus always delivers his children Scotch Tape in their stockings.
“What’s up with that, Santa?” he joked.
Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) also celebrates Christmas with family. Embracing the spirit of generosity associated with the holiday, Harris typically invites several Northwestern students who cannot make it home for the holidays to her home.
e longtime community servant also has a 30-year tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa. Each year, Harris hosts an “educational” Kwanzaa celebration, teaching family and friends about Black culture.
“Part of Kwanzaa is recognizing those who came before you, so we have a part of the ceremony where we call out our ancestors and bring them into the room with us,” Harris said.
Roughly 15 years ago, Harris added a service component to her annual Kwanzaa celebration. She asks a endees to bring money or items to donate to her chosen charity, which varies each year.
Several councilmembers, such as Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th), also engage with the Evanston community by a ending local holiday events.
Each year, Geracaris a ends Evanston’s Christmas tree ceremony and menorah lighting ceremony at Fountain Square, Kwanzaa celebration at the Robert Crown Community Center, and the Evanston Made Holiday Market to stock up on handmade holidaythemed trinkets.
“It’s become a nice way to see friends and neighbors and acknowledge their holiday traditions,” he said.
A rst-generation Argentine immigrant, Geracaris also celebrates Epiphany, also known as ree Kings Day, by leaving gi s for his children in their shoes. Geracaris, whose wife’s family is Italian, said the family enjoys a traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes each Christmas Eve.
For some councilmembers, such as Ald. Bobby Burns (5th), holidays present an opportunity to reconnect with extended family.
Along with his wife, mother and three children, Burns opens presents on Christmas morning, before traveling to his cousin’s house in Chicago to gather with extended family.
“At the larger family gathering, we enjoy playing games, dancing, singing holiday songs and watching the Christmas Day football and basketball games,” he said. “Every now and then, we hold a family talent show, which usually features poetry, dancing and short skits.” Burns’ family typically accompanies him to the Church and Dodge Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Market, a festive tradition Burns helped establish to support local businesses during the holiday season.
If there existed a competition for the longest-standing holiday tradition, the crown might go to Ald. Clare Kelly (1st), who makes German spritz cookies using her grandmother’s century-old cookie press.
“Making holiday cookies is a long tradition from my
mother’s side of the family,” she said.
Kelly, a former Spanish teacher at Evanston Township High School, celebrates the holidays with her son, Gus, and her brother’s family. Kelly added that she enjoys cra ing handmade ornaments for her Christmas tree.
Like her Council counterparts, Kelly a ends several community celebrations, including the menorah lighting, Kwanzaa celebration, “Las Mañanitas” ceremony at St. Nicholas Church and First Night Evanston New Year’s Eve celebration.
The Evanston City Councilmembers’ unique holiday traditions, many of which prioritize family, relaxation and charitable activities, re ect the diverse traditions and celebrations of local residents.
“( e holidays are) an opportunity to commune with one another and understand di erent celebrations,” Harris said. “It’s just about understanding where people are, hanging out and enjoying each other.”
isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu
Photo courtesy of Juan Geracaris
Evanston City Councilmembers join Mayor Daniel Biss, City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza and community leaders at the menorah lightning in Fountain Square.
ON CAMPUS
City celebrates Kwanzaa
By ANAVI PRAKASH daily senior staffer @anavi_52
Seventy-year-old musician Tony Toneji Garre grew up in a time before Kwanzaa came into existence. He said his family instead celebrated what they called “Li le Christmas,” where they exchanged small gi s to celebrate each other and their community.
Garre added that he always wanted a “form of self-identity” for the African American community but never found one.
“I always thought, what do we have that we can call our own?” Garre said.
is holiday season, Garre will be facilitating a drum circle at Evanston’s Kwanzaa celebration, cohosted by the city and the Fleetwood-Jourdain eatre. e event is on Dec. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Robert Crown Community Center.
Activist Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa, a name derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “ rst fruits of the harvest,” in 1966 e holiday was established in response to the Wa s riots, which protested racist policing practices and segregation in Los Angeles.
e holiday is now celebrated annually from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1
Evanston’s yearly Kwanzaa celebration has been led by Tim Rhoze, Fleetwood-Jourdain eatre’s producing artistic director, for over a decade.
is year’s celebration, “A Legacy Kwanzaa!”, aims to honor the contributions of Evanston’s Black community, Rhoze wrote in an email to e Daily.
For Garre , the “legacy” of Kwanzaa lies in how widely the celebration and its guiding principles have spread to various communities.
“Each one of the principles has a purpose for people to recognize and to gather around and realize there are certain things that maybe have been neglected in certain communities in the past, but now they’re starting to come to fruition,” he said.
Each day of the celebration has a corresponding principle, which revolves around building community and a sense of individual purpose.
“Umoja,” which means unity in Swahili, is the principle for Dec. 26, the rst day of the holiday.
Rhoze said he wants a endees to feel this sense of togetherness at the city’s Kwanzaa celebration, held the same day.
“I want our community to leave the celebration embracing the power of family and community unity, striving together to li each other up,” he wrote.
Along with Garre ’s drum circle, the event will feature various dance performances, including from NAJWA Dance Corps, and an arts and cra s table for families.
Evanston Public Library is leading the cra s table and will have bracelet making with beads matching the colors of Kwanzaa — red, black and green — according to Carmen Francellno, EPL’s family engagement coordinator.
She added that a successful project she hopes to bring back this year is paper kinaras. It allows children to learn where each of the seven Kwanzaa candles is placed in the candle holder, she said.
Francellno emphasized that although there are few Kwanzaa arts and cra s ideas online, having activities for the entire family to do together is an important
aspect of the celebration.
“Kwanzaa itself is a family-based and communitybased holiday,” she said. “I think it makes perfect sense to do something that brings the whole family in.”
She said she hopes some of these cra s will become family traditions that are passed down to future generations.
For his drum circle, Garre said he wants to bring the community together and create a sense of self-awareness, both of which are present in Kwanzaa values.
He added that he is excited to continue sharing these values as the celebration of Kwanzaa continues to grow.
“To know that this is something that is relatively new, but this is something that (is about) self-identi cation, that is something to be proud of,” Garre said. “I’m glad that the legacy is continuing on for it to grow even more so that 20 years from now, it can be even bigger, maybe even a national holiday.”
anaviprakash2027@u.northwestern.edu
The Daily Northwestern www.dailynorthwestern.com
Editor in Chief Jacob Wendler eic@dailynorthwestern.com
General Manager Stacia Campbell stacia@dailynorthwestern.com
Holly and John Madigan Newsroom
Phone | 847 491 3222
Campus desk
campus@dailynorthwestern.com
City desk city@dailynorthwestern.com
Sports desk sports@dailynorthwestern.com
Ad Office | 847 491 7206 spc-compshop@northwestern.edu
THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is published Monday and Thursday during the academic year, except vacation periods and two weeks preceding them and once during August, by Students Publishing Co., Inc. of Northwestern University, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208; 847491-7206.
First copy of THE DAILY is free, additional copies are 50 cents. All material published herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright 2024 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN and protected under the “work made for hire” and “periodical publication” clauses of copyright law.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208. Subscriptions are $100 for the academic year. THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect ad insertion. All display ad corrections must be received by 3 p.m. one day prior to when the ad is run.
Join us each week for an exciting educational lecture by Alexander C. Edison, a theoretical physicist working in our Amplitudes and Insights group on formal relativistic quantum field theory and quantum gravity, binary black hole physics, and late-time cosmology. Effective Field
Saturdays, 11:00AM Norris University Center
January 11
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
Models and Predictions
January 18
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
Gravity from Newton to Einstein
January 25
Norris Lake Room 2-180
Ripples from a Maelstrom
February 1
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
Looking at Ever Smaller Scales
February 8
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
The Standard Model is Almost Perfect
February 15
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
Baby Pictures of the Universe
February 22
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
Galaxies: Glitter in a Snow Globe
March 1
Norris Northwestern Room 2-160
A Bright Future Ahead
Illustration by Iliana Garner
NU copes with seasonal depression
By MAIA ALVAREZ the daily northwestern
Psychology Prof. Wendi Gardner was diagnosed with winter seasonal depression a er moving to Ohio from Florida for graduate school.
As she experienced her first Midwest winter, she said she noticed a severe dip in her energy levels. It wasn’t until a few winters later when a friend suggested Gardner see if she had seasonal affective disorder.
“If you’ve come from a sunny place that doesn’t have a lot of changing light across the seasons, you would have no way of knowing that you are vulnerable to this,” Gardner said. “It has been life-changing in learning this about myself.”
Seasonal affective disorder, more commonly known as seasonal depression, is a subtype of major depressive disorder that is recurrent each year due to seasonal changes. Individuals are most commonly diagnosed with winter SAD when the lack of natural light impacts their mood. In some cases, if an individual feels a shift of behavior due to higher temperatures, they can be diagnosed with summer seasonal affective disorder.
SAD symptoms are similar to depression symptoms including withdrawal, less pleasure from typically enjoyable activities, increased irritability and fatigue and a decrease in concentration.
Some symptoms, like increased weight gain or loss and increased cravings for carbohydrates, are unique to winter SAD, according to clinical psychologist and Feinberg Prof. Jonah Meyerhoff.
He added that there must be a clear pattern of onset and offset of SAD, with onset being in the winter months, for several years in order for someone to be diagnosed. However, people can experience these symptoms without being diagnosed, he said.
Communication senior Diana Deng said in her first winter quarter at Northwestern, she practically always stayed in her dorm because she, as a Beijing native, wasn’t used to the winter’s extreme weather conditions.
“My roommate and I — we agreed that the first winter we had in Northwestern was the toughest quarter we had ever,” Deng said.
freshman Valentina Paulino is an international student from Brazil, where winters are generally hot and dry rather than cold and snowy.
Paulino said even though she has never experienced seasonal depression, she has already felt melancholy with the sun setting early.
However, she said she is relieved to have already found a safe community within NU to help her navigate these emotions.
“On one hand, I’m kind of scared and worried,” Paulino said. “But on the other hand, as a South Area resident, I feel like Northwestern offers a lot of resources and events for well-being and mental health.”
Paulino said she has attended several South Area events, including bracelet making and free snacks and drinks.
Gardner said she copes with SAD by shining a 10 , 000 lux desk light on herself every morning for at least 30 minutes while she does work and drinks a cup of coffee.
This kind of light therapy is effective because it aligns with an individual’s internal circadian clock, Meyerhoff said.
On campus, students and faculty can access free white light therapy by making an appointment with the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion Wellness Suite.
Another preventative measure for seasonal depression is cognitive behavioral therapy specific to SAD, Meyerhoff added.
Gardner said students should also maintain their exercise routine during the winter months because exercising can help ease depressive emotions by producing endorphins, which are
natural hormones made to improve well-being and happiness.
Since being diagnosed with SAD, Gardner now monitors sunrise times and ensures she interacts with bright lights as soon as she wakes up at 6 a.m. Now, she loves winter.
Paulino said she is going to prioritize her well-being during Winter Quarter by spending her time reading, watching movies and relaxing when needed. She said she also plans on regularly checking in on her friends so they can make memories together during the winter.
“Hold on to your loved ones and really use the resources that Northwestern has,” Paulino said. “Don’t isolate yourself. Don’t go through this alone. We’re all in this together.”
maiaalvarez2028@u.northwestern.edu
Medill
Illustration by Nineth Kanieski Koso
Individuals are most commonly diagnosed with winter SAD when the lack of natural light impacts their mood, and they feel symptoms such as withdrawal and increased fatigue.
Students celebrate holidays in dorms
By SASHA DRAEGER-MAZER daily senior staffer @sashadm27
With the festive season well underway, students often look to their dorms in search of a community to celebrate with. Several residential colleges host events in late November and early December to nurture the holiday spirit.
Hobart House hosted a home-cooked meal for its residents the day after Thanksgiving. Residents signed up to cook a variety of dishes, including traditional Thanksgiving fare like sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and stuffing, as well as other plates like baked brie, caramelized pears and pide, a Turkish flatbread.
“A home-cooked meal is just always appreciated, especially (when) you can’t go home and see your family on a holiday that’s oriented around it,” said Charlie Sutcuoglu, a Weinberg senior and social chair on Hobart’s executive board.
Residents hustled between the kitchen and dining area Friday evening, preparing their dishes and setting a long table with their culinary creations. They submitted ingredient requests ahead of time via a form, allowing Hobart to fund the potluck.
“People just sort of volunteered to make things, and then I went grocery shopping,” said Weinberg junior Allie Hill, the president of Hobart’s executive board.
Hobart will also host a traditional event called “cocoa and complaining,” where residents get together during Finals Week to complain about their exams.
A couple buildings west of Hobart, Willard Residential College is in the midst of a busy Reading Period, with holiday events planned throughout the week.
On Tuesday, residents gathered for Cookie Fest. The scent of freshly baked cookies and sweet frosting wafted through the kitchen, where residents chatted as they decorated.
“I love making cookies,” said Medill freshman Yana Johnson said as she enjoyed a warm butterscotch cookie. “I do it at home during the holidays, so this is nice to do at Willard.”
The weeks before Winter Break can feel lonely with the chilly weather and early
nightfall, she added, so coming downstairs to cookies and friends was a welcome surprise.
Later in the week, Willard will throw a holiday party and a “pajama Christmas movie night.” Communication freshman Laurel Eith and Weinberg freshman Julia Wolfson planned the holiday party, which will feature holiday decorations, more cookies and a screening of “Home Alone.”
It’ll allow residents to relax and take a break from studying, Wolfson said. She hopes people will “enjoy the holiday spirit and chill vibes,
and have a good time.”
Ayers College of Commerce and Industry is also spreading holiday cheer by hosting an all-in-one holiday event for its residents the weekend between Reading Period and Finals Week.
Last year, residents did holiday music karaoke and decorated a tree, said SESP sophomore Alicia Li, Ayers’ executive board president. She hopes to bring those traditions back this year and make Ayers feel like a home away from home for its residents.
“Especially our first-years, because we know that, obviously, going to college isn’t easy,” Li said. “You’re away from your family or you’re away from your friends from home.”
Besides karaoke and a tree, there’ll be hot chocolate, gingerbread houses to decorate and a white elephant gift exchange.
“We just wanted everyone to feel like they are all part of this community and celebrating the holidays together,” Li said.
sashadm@u.northwestern.edu
Sasha Draeger-Mazer/The Daily Northwestern
Equipped with frosting and sprinkles, Willard residents jazzed up once-plain shortbreads as they chatted and munched on homemade cookies fresh from the oven.
30 years of lincoln zoolights
By BARBARA BOMFIN and REGAN HUIZENGA the daily northwestern @barbarabom0203 / @reganmichele215
Spreading holiday cheer for its 30 th year, Lincoln Park’s annual ZooLights has returned with live holiday music, festive attractions and more than three million twinkling lights.
“We’re ready to welcome everyone back this holiday season as Lincoln Park Zoo transforms into a magical winter wonderland in the heart of Chicago,” Lincoln Park Zoo Event Manager Meg Hein wrote in this year’s press release.
Attendees can experience ZooLights from Nov. 15 through Jan. 5 . Tickets cost $7 to $10 depending on the day, and free tickets are available on select Mondays.
The event is presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ.
Chicago resident Megan Lee visited the lights with her friends and her friends’ daughter. It’s a tradition for her friends to come as a family, she said. Lee added that her favorite part was seeing the wonder on their daughter’s face at the sight of the lights.
Spread throughout the park, trees glimmer and glisten against the backdrop of the Lincoln Park skyline. The lights feature colorful displays of various zoo animals and Disney characters. One section flashes to the rhythm of upbeat holiday tunes.
The zoo’s attractions include the Endangered Species Carousel and the ferris wheel.
Attendees can also journey on the Lionel Train Adventure or transport themselves to an alternate world in the Gorilla Trek VR experience.
Other experiences include live ice sculpting from Arctic Artists and photo opportunities with Santa at the Pepper Family Wildlife Center.
Snowy’s Spirits & S’more, a holiday-themed pop-up bar, is located at Bird’s Eye Bar & Grill. Across the zoo, the aroma of cocoa and popcorn wafts throughout the many hot cocoa and snack stands.
New this year, ZooLights also features the Light Lounge at Foreman Pavilion: a familyfriendly lounge with interactive light toys and comfortable seating that glows.
“It’s a comfortable place to sit down and enjoy your time and get a little respite from walking around,” Chicago resident Kenneth Johnson Jr. said. “You can watch the kids move around in a close environment.”
Street performer Nancy Namest is a longtime musician at Lincoln Park Zoo.
With her guitar, assortment of jingle bells and melodious voice, Namest creates a special connection with children through her music.
“It is just the best part of my day (because) the children healed me … when I needed it,” Namest said.
She added that the holiday season can be an emotional time, but she found light during a dark period of her life by sharing her carols and bright spirit with the children at ZooLights.
Now, she said, it has become an integral part of her life.
“It is just such a spiritual connection and the zoo is just such a wonderful place to be,” Namset said.
barbarabom m2028@u.northwestern.edu reganhuizenga2028@u.northwestern.edu
christkindl’s 28th year
By BEN SHAPIRO the daily northwestern @benshapiromedia
With more than 50 vendors selling everything from gourmet stuffed pretzels to wooden animal figurines, Chicago’s 28 th annual Christkindlmarket brought people from around the world together at Daley Plaza.
The Christkindlmarket mirrors traditional German Christmas markets, serving drinks like “Nürnberger Glühwein,” a traditional German mulled wine, and handmade glass ornaments from Germany. It runs from late November until Christmas Eve and opened Friday to packed crowds.
The Christkindlmarket has locations in Chicago and Aurora, Illinois. There is no admission fee to either market.
For Pia Schulenberg from Cologne, Germany, attending the market is an annual tradition. She manages family-owned booths at the market and took over the job from her aunt and uncle nine years ago.
Schulenberg said her family has operated booths that sell paper stars and candle holders since the early days of the Chicago market. She travels from Germany to Chicago every winter season to continue the business and stay connected to family traditions.
“I’m with my aunt and my uncle, but my parents and my brother are back in Germany,” Schulenberg said. “Even though it’s hard work, it’s a lot of fun. It’s become a tradition to me.”
Schulenberg hopes her products “bring a little bit more light to the dark season.” The candle holders she sells are native to southern Germany, and she enjoys bringing a piece of German culture to Chicago every winter.
She added that she looks forward to the market to reunite with many of the same vendors she sees every year.
“All the exhibitors feel like family to me,” Schulenberg said. “It’s always fun to come back and see everyone again.”
Andersonville resident Hadley Koontz is working with Schulenberg this year. She normally comes to market as a customer but found the job online and decided to participate as a merchant this year.
Koontz moved to Chicago in 2016 and said
the Christkindlmarket has become a winter staple.
“I love the Christkindlmarket,” Koontz said. “I was looking for some seasonal work, found a listing, did an interview and showed up last night for the first time.”
The market attracted first-time visitors as well. Jayme Deneault recently moved to Chicago from Portland, Oregon and came to the Christkindlmarket on opening night. She said her aunt convinced her to attend — and she
By MAYA HEYMAN the daily northwestern @mayaheyman
As the first snowflakes hit the ground this winter and the holiday season approaches, Evanston offers a variety of events. From attending concerts and strolling holiday markets to watching light shows, there is a way for everyone to celebrate the holidays this year.
Evanston Holiday Light Celebration
The city’s annual tree lighting is at Fountain Square on Dec. 7 from 4 : 30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include performances from the Evanston Children’s Choir, Northwestern Community Singers and Soul 4 Real A Capella. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Mayor Daniel Biss, take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and drink complimentary hot cocoa from Colectivo Coffee on a first-come, first-served basis.
Flapjacks & Flannels
The Levy Senior Center is hosting an event for families, providing full breakfast and offering selfies with Santa, dreidel and snow-globe making. It will take place on Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 : 00 p.m. Registration is $10 for adult residents and $5 for resident children.
Warm Bevvy Walk Stroll through Evanston’s local businesses while enjoying warm beverages. Participants will receive a custom mug and go to a variety of stores to enjoy shopping. Tickets are $10 per person, and the event will be held Dec. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Evanston Symphony Holiday Concert
Evanston Township High School is hosting the Evanston Symphony Holiday Concert on Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. with performances by the North Shore Choral Society, Chicago Ballet Arts, Evanston Children’s Choir, Evanston Dance Ensemble and the Evanston Symphony Holiday Gospel Choir. Advance tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children.
Evanston Made Holiday Market At 924 Davis St., shop for art, jewelry, textiles and home goods made by Evanston artists. The market is open Dec. 5 to Dec. 22 , and artists will also host workshops and special events.
Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Tannenbaum Chabad House is celebrating Hanukkah on Dec. 26 from 5 : 30 p.m. to 7 : 30 p.m. by lighting a 10 -foot menorah at Fountain Square. The event is open to all and will feature greetings from Mayor Biss, live music, an LED robot dancer and Hanukkah treats.
Kwanzaa Celebration
The Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre will host a celebration of Kwanzaa at the Robert Crown Center on December 26 at 6 p.m. Each year, the theatre hosts an event that typically includes local food vendors and artists and a dance performance.
CTA Holiday Train
is glad she did.
She explored the market by tasting different foods including poutine, bratwurst and apple cinnamon beer. Deneault said that the market felt homey and she is excited to turn it into an annual tradition.
“I’m always looking for good food — the foodie aspect was great,” Deneault said. “I’m sure we’ll be here every year.”
benshapiro2028@u.northwestern.edu
Enjoy a ride on the CTA Holiday Train, where Santa waves to riders from his sleigh filled with trees and reindeer, located at the head of the train. Inside each car, elves hand out candy as Christmas songs play on the speakers. The Holiday Train runs on every line from late November to late December. The Purple Line Holiday Train runs on Dec. 18 , Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 . Normal CTA fares apply. mayaheyman2028@u.northwestern.edu
Barbara Bomfim/The Daily Northwestern
A vibrant section of the lights flashes to the rhythm of various upbeat holiday tunes as guests walk past. Over 3
Ben Shapiro/The Daily Northwestern
Caption: A visitor at Chicago’s Christkindlmarket looks through the window of a booth selling holiday knickknacks.
festive scenes around chicagoland
The Daily delves into the Community Singers’ annual caroling tradition and how the group comes together to prepare. Members also speak about how the group has brought them a sense of community over the years.
Barbara Bomfim/The Daily Northwestern
Brooke Nelson/The Daily Northwestern
Ridhima Kodali/The Daily Northwestern
Ben Shapiro/The Daily Northwestern
Barbara Bomfim/The Daily Northwestern
Ben Shapiro/The Daily Northwestern
Brooke Nelson/The Daily Northwestern
Brooke Nelson/The Daily Northwestern
Barbara Bomfim/The Daily Northwestern
A&E
By BAYLEE KRULEWITZ the daily northwestern @bayleekrulewitz
Not long a er my great-grandmother passed away, a Jewish orphanage she had frequently donated to sent a pamphlet to her home asking for money. It was a sad and ironic testament to her lifelong generosity. My great-grandfather, grieving, was despondent that even in death they asked more from her.
My mother, however, reacted di erently. It turned out that once you ipped past the solicitation, the pamphlet provided Hanukkah blessings as well as recipes. So, my mother kept the pamphlet as a token of her memory of her grandmother and her hope for the future.
Now, more than three decades later, my family still uses the latke recipe from that pamphlet (with a couple of modi cations).
Ingredients:
- 3 medium sized potatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1 small onion
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- ¼ cup our
- Flaky salt (to taste)
- Oil for frying
Directions:
1. Peel and grate potatoes. en, drain the
potatoes’ excess water. Mix grated onion, seasonings, eggs, the potatoes and our in a bowl.
2. Heat enough oil to cover the bo om of the frying pan.
3. Fry ba er by tablespoons until a rich brown appears on both sides.
4. Sprinkle generously with aky salt and drain the excess oil on paper towels.
5. Enjoy with sour cream and/or apple sauce! Decide wisely — your choice of topping is very telling. bayleekrulewitz2028@u.northwestern.edu
Latkes: a tried and true delicacy how gingerbread houses stand tall
By JAHNVI SAMPAT
Snow akes dance in the night sky, red and green Christmas lights twinkle on your tree, and you sit by the replace in an ugly Christmas sweater, sipping a warm cup of hot cocoa. But there’s just one problem: e gingerbread house you dreamed of building and decorating will not stand up. Do not fret, here’s your Christmas miracle to save you from this tragic disaster. ese tips will help you build the perfect gingerbread house so that your gingerbread people can have a home for the winter.
Making the Gingerbread Cookies
If you’re an overly ambitious baker (like me) and want to bake your cookies from scratch, choose a
recipe that suits your goal.
For a purely aesthetic gingerbread house, consider using a recipe with vegetable shortening rather than bu er to minimize spreading.
However, if you have a sweet tooth and will indulge in your creation, use a recipe with bu er for rich, decadent cookies.
Regardless of the recipe, chill your cookie dough in the fridge before baking to prevent the cookies from spreading. If you do not have gingerbread house cookie cu ers when making the shapes, try using free online templates to get precise pieces. When free-handing the pieces, pre-score your cookie slab and cut the shapes with a sharp knife as soon as the cookies are out of the oven since they will be warm and more pliable.
Before assembling, ensure the pieces are completely cooled — ideally overnight — to avoid structural issues.
e “Glue”
e traditional “glue” used to assemble gingerbread houses is royal icing, made from egg whites and icing sugar. To increase stability, use a thick consistency by adding si ed icing sugar gradually until the icing is rm enough.
Alternatively, chill the icing in the fridge with the bowl covered to prevent crusting. Another tip is to use squeezy bo les instead of piping bags to reduce mess and improve convenience.
An unconventional but sure-shot method for helping your house stay upright is using melted sugar as your “glue!” Heat sugar in a pan over low heat, stirring until it turns a caramel-like brown. Be careful not to burn it. Once the sugar has melted, dip the sides of the pieces and stick them together, waiting a few seconds. As the sugar hardens, it will create a strong bond and help your house stay upright. For similar results, you can also melt candy
like gummy bears, marshmallows or caramel. e Assembly
Begin assembling your house in stages, starting with the sides. Once you have iced the side or dipped it in sugar, stick it to the adjacent piece and hold it together for a few seconds. A er securing the walls, coat the base with icing or melted sugar before placing it on a at surface. Next, a ach the roof to the base, icing the insides for reinforcement. For extra protection, use cups or props to support the structure while it dries.
Your house is complete, and the gingerbread people have a house for the winter. Now it’s time to decorate your house as your heart desires, so have fun with it! Happy baking and decorating!
jahnvisampat2028@u.northwestern.edu
Rudolph cookies to light up the holidays
By MARLEY SMITH the daily northwestern
@marleyssmith
As snow starts falling and temperatures drop, the oven begins preheating. Every December, my mom and I create tins of Christmas cookies to hand out to all of our loved ones.
We spend hours in the kitchen baking our favorite holiday-inspired cookies. Some recipes come and go. However, the arguably cutest holiday cookie recipe that will remain with us year a er year is our reindeer cookies. ese are the one treat that my brother insists on joining us to make. While me and my mom
decorate them with care, hoping to make them as cute as possible and akin to Rudolph, my brother takes his own spin on it. He insists on making crazy sci- creations, ing as many M&M’S and pretzels as possible. If you love peanut bu er, or just enjoy adorable cookies, I urge you to prance on over to your kitchen and have some fun making these holiday reindeer cookies. Ingredients:
Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Combine peanut bu er, brown sugar, shortening, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat on medium speed until fully combined. Add egg and beat until just combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together our, baking soda and salt. en add to the wet mixture on low speed until just combined.
4. Form dough into small balls and gently pinch the bo om to make the nose. en gently press on the top to slightly a en. Space the cookies apart on a cookie sheet and bake.
5. A er seven minutes, or once they start to brown, remove the cookies from the oven and press two of the pretzels into the top sides of the cookies as antlers (I like to break the pretzels in half for a be er look). en, press two chocolate chips into the cookie as the eyes and a M&M at the bo om as the nose.
6. Enjoy!
marleysmith2027@u.northwestern.edu
Barbara Bomfim/The Daily Northwestern
festive rom coms for people of all tastes
By LYDIA PLAHN the daily northwestern
While you can enjoy romantic comedies yearround, the holidays lend themselves especially well to romance. Maybe it’s the snow or the twinkling lights or the countless Hallmark romance movies released every year or the reruns of “Love Actually.” Either way, the holiday rom-coms are here to stay. For those who do partake in an extra lovey-dovey December, here is what you should watch, listen and read:
To Net ix and chill
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
“While You Were Sleeping,” my introduction to the “L”, is one of the rst movies I watch every year. Sandra Bullock shines as a CTA employee, Lucy, who is harboring a crush on one of her regulars, Peter. When he falls into the tracks and she must save him, his family assumes she is his ancée while he is in a coma. Lucy, who doesn’t have a family to spend Christmas with, is taken in by her fake ancee’s big family and begins to grow closer to Peter’s
brother Jack — played by Bill Pullman. It’s a touching movie about family and love, and now I get to rewatch it and spot familiar Chicago landmarks.
Holidate (2020)
Net ix has been pumping out holiday movies without fail for the last couple of years. While many of them are misses or simply overhyped (for example: “A Christmas Prince”), some of them, like “Holidate”, are worth the watch. It stars Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, two 20-somethings who decide to be each other’s holiday dates for every year to avoid the awkward question of “Are you seeing anyone?” at family events. “Holidate” has lots of charm, a comically impeccable Kristin Chenoweth and even an Evanston shout-out!
e Family Stone (2005)
Many holiday lm plots revolve around the classic bringing home your signi cant other to meet the family, but few do it as well as “ e Family Stone.” With a cast almost (if not more star-studded) than “Love Actually,” “ e Family Stone” creates a family with a superb Diane Keaton matriarch that feels authentic. Sarah Jessica Parker plays Meredith, the outsider brought home to meet her boyfriend’s parents, played by Keaton and Craig T.
Nelson and many siblings, where she is instantly an outsider. Watching Meredith try to t in is a joy, but the real star is Keaton’s heartbreaking performance.
Menorah in the Middle (2022)
Another classic plot of bringing your partner home to meet the parents — but for Hanukkah this time — “Menorah in the Middle” has the classic familial tensions that surround running a family business and moving away from your hometown. It stars Lucy DeVito and Jonah Pla as Sarah and Ben, childhood friends who are reunited for the holiday, despite Sarah bringing her ancée home with her. While a romance movie, the true fun is in watching Sarah’s and her family’s interactions.
To cozy up with a hot chocolate and blanket
e Kwanzaa Brunch: A Holiday Novella
A workplace holiday romance, “ e Kwanzaa Brunch” by DL White, is a light-hearted story that switches the point-of-view every chapter between Sienna Charles, a smart, career-driven woman who has been working the same job for 10 years, and her company’s new hire, Booker LaSalle, whom she meets
on her way to their company’s Kwanzaa brunch. eir wi y banter alone makes this worth the read.
To groove to some holiday tunes
“Once Upon a Christmas” Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers (1984) While many Christmas albums are a compilation of the classics rebranded, “Once Upon a Christmas” has a variety of original duets that make them mainstays of any Christmas playlist. “A Christmas to Remember” and “Christmas Without You” are nostalgic tracks capable of channeling anyone’s festive spirit.
“Merry Christmas Darling” e Carpenters (1970) One of the sweetest Christmas songs out there, “Merry Christmas Darling,” has been a classic for over 70 years. Whenever I hear Karen Carpenter’s melodious voice singing “Greeting cards have all been sent,” it brings a smile to my face. Even if you don’t enjoy the song, it’s impossible to deny that e Carpenters are musical geniuses.
lydiaplahn2027@u.northwestern.edu
the best christmas movie ever, actually
By KATAREENA ROSKA the daily northwestern @katareenaroska
ere are numerous things in this world to be angry about, several to scream profanities at the sky and curse the gods above for. When I’m feeling gloomy about the state of the world, I turn to the arrival gate at Los Angeles International Airport –a place where even when there’s no space to walk and your baggage has been missing for two hours, there is love to be found.
I draw inspiration from “Love Actually,” which I believe might be the cheesiest and tackiest holiday movie ever. Even though it’s almost garish in all its holiday cheer, I never fail to watch it every holiday season.
Metacritic gives it a “metascore” of 55 – a D on the grading scale for those of us not familiar with the pretentious art of scoring movies. e nal nail in the co n might be its 3 5-star average rating on Le erboxd, an app that has a reputation for ge ing the last say on anything in cinema.
Upon the conduction of an informal poll amongst my friends, “Love Actually” received several condescending “Ughs.”
Even if modern day society doesn’t like it, I denitely do. Every holiday season, the people I love are put to the test with my annoying, abundant Christmas spirit and overwhelming love of “Love Actually.”
is 2003 Richard Curtis lm strikes a delicate balance between rubbish and touching. If you’re
too busy turning your nose up at it, you might miss the magic.
Perhaps it’s Hugh Grant’s delightfully bumbling British charm (and his gorgeous hair) that’s on full display as the Prime Minister that draws me back in time and again. Or perhaps it’s the lovely, underappreciated Rodrigo Santoro’s “Karl” that we never get to see much of that calls my name.
But, “Love Actually” also has some near-fatal aws.
e movie is set primarily in London, England, where even in the 2000s, many ethnic groups rose by 50% of their total population. With that in mind, having just one person of color in the cast is absurd.
“Love Actually” also reinforces atrocious beauty standards, bludgeoning the audience with remarks about Martine McCutcheon’s body and a empting to insult her character, Natalie, by calling her “chubby.”
e lm does fall victim to overdone tropes for the sake of time constraints and well, wrapping everything up in a sappy li le bow. It’s a bit unlikely, even for someone who still believes in Santa, that Colin Firth is able to nd love worth learning a new language and traveling across the world within a month before Christmas.
I’ve been on campus for nearly a full quarter and have had no luck.
But “Love Actually” does not fail us when it comes to eliciting emotion and a couple of tears.
e movie, in its two hour and 15 minute runtime, argues that the holidays are best when you embrace love of all kinds.
Maybe your greatest love is your reluctant best
friend – Bill Nighy’s character, Billy Mack, knows how that feels. Perhaps family will forever be your greatest priority – Laura Linney’s Sarah can relate. And if you’ve ever been betrayed by a man, which I know you have, Emma ompson’s Karen might o er a vulnerable feeling of being seen, all set to Joni Mitchell’s heart wrenching “Both Sides Now.”
If you look past the movie’s sins, you will nd a story that maybe – just maybe – makes you believe in love, people and everything else in between. And so when I say there’s love to be found at the LAX arrival gate – I mean my mom standing there, arms open to embrace. I mean my dad and my grandparents, waiting for me on the other side.
I mean that there’s love in driving home and reuniting with my hometown friends, who I’ve only managed to keep in touch with through phone calls squeezed into small bits of our busy schedules. ere is love in pu ing on “Love Actually,” stomaching the eye rolls and comments about what a bad movie it is, in having people who tolerate my terrible taste. Because if you don’t just look for it – if you believe in it – a cheesy, sappy, and u erly lovesick world like “Love Actually” might just be possible. Even at LAX.
katareenaroska2028@u.northwestern.edu
The Daily’s 2024 holiday cheer playlist
By LAURA HORNE the daily northwestern
All I Want for Christmas Is You — Mariah Carey A predictable rst, but there’s a reason it tops the charts each year.
Most holiday lyric: Oh, I won’t ask for much this Christmas // I won’t even wish for snow // And I’m just gonna keep on waiting // Underneath the mistletoe.
Step Into Christmas — Elton John Peak Christmas tree decorating music. Makes
e season of “Jingle Bells” and “Sleigh Ride” is upon us. While some might wait until a er anksgiving to start celebrating, others have been incessantly singing Christmas carols for a few weeks already — personally, my holiday playlist is queued up Nov. 1. And so, I present to you a carefully cra ed mix of songs aptly titled “Holiday Songs I Listen to as Soon as It’s Socially Acceptable.” Maybe these aren’t individually the best holiday songs, but I believe they’re necessary to channel the festive spirit.
me want to sing, dance and, as the song says, “watch the snow fall forever and ever.”
Most holiday lyric: So I’m sendin’ you this Christmas card // To say, “It’s nice to have you here.”
We Need a Li le Christmas — Johnny Mathis I had to memorize this one in preschool, and it’s stuck with me to this day.
Most holiday lyric: Slice up the fruit cake // It’s time we’ve hung some tinsel on the evergreen bough.
Feliz Navidad — José Feliciano
Just vibes. It’s so fun, and you’re lying to yourself if you think otherwise.
Most holiday lyric: Próspero año y felicidad.
Last Christmas — Wham!
Tired of upbeat Christmas pop? Here’s some heartbroken lyrics with a classic ’80s vibe.
Most holiday lyric: “Happy Christmas,” I wrapped it up and sent it // With a note saying, “I love you,” I meant it.
Drummer Boy — Justin Bieber, Busta Rhymes I used to think “Mistletoe” was the supreme Justin Bieber Christmas song until I got to college – don’t blame me, blame my roommate.
Most holiday lyric: Yeah, I’m on the beat ‘cause the beat goes dumb // And I only spit heat ‘cause I’m playing for the Son.
Do ey Know It’s Christmas? — Band Aid Last verse. Enough said.
Most holiday lyric: Feed the world // Let them
know it’s Christmas time again.
Cold December Night — Michael Bublé
My one big wildcard pick, but it’s a cute, wholesome and Hallmark-y holiday love song – give it a listen!
Most holiday lyric: Won’t be wrapped under a tree // I want something that lasts forever // So kiss me on this cold December night.
Christmas Time Is Here — Vince Guaraldi Trio Tell me this doesn’t take you straight back to elementary school parties with holiday movies and hot cocoa.
Most holiday lyric: Fun for all that children call // eir favorite time of year.
e Christmas Song — Nat King Cole is song is post-Christmas Eve dinner, curled up on the couch, fuzzy pajamas, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (the 1966 version, always), frosted and sprinkled sugar cookies and everything you want the holidays to be.
Most holiday lyric: And every mother’s child is gonna spy // To see if reindeer really know how to y.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year — Andy Williams Have to end on a classic — it perfectly describes the “hap-happiest season of all.”
Most holiday lyric: ere’ll be much mistletoeing // And hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near.
laurahorne2027@u.northwestern.edu
Alexia Sextou/The Daily Northwestern “Holiday Songs I Listen to as Soon as It’s Socially Acceptable” – maybe these aren’t individually the best holiday songs, but I believe they’re necessary for a festive holiday season.
Cate Bouvet/The Daily Northwestern
“Love Actually” includes many overdone tropes, but it never fails to spread holiday cheer in even the darkest of times.
Villaflor: the january dating rule
When I was in high school, I obsessed over university life by reading an obscene number of online articles.
None impacted me as much as the admissions blog from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which saw current students write about topics like impostor syndrome, homesickness and burnout. This was the closest I’d get to learning about the minutiae of undergraduate life before moving to Northwestern. Of the dozens of articles I pored over in my tiny Hong Kong bedroom a little over two years ago, no two stuck with me more than “The November Rule” and “The November Rule 2 : Electric Boogaloo.” They were written nearly three years apart by sisters, one who appeared to abide by the rule and one who did not.
Basically, the November Rule says freshmen should refrain from dating anyone, particularly upperclassmen, until the end of their first semester. The restriction could apply to sexual relationships, too.
After adjusting that unofficial MIT guideline for the quarter system, my 18 -year-old self marched through The Arch with The January Rule and professed it to anyone who would listen.
Of course, life is rarely so simple. I began crushing on someone almost immediately after I met them during Wildcat Welcome. I did tell them I wasn’t “looking for anything” when the topic of dating came up. Upon
reflection, I’m pretty glad nothing happened between us.
I’ve experienced how college is a hectic time packed with mistakes. It was important to experience those freshman-coded mishaps without it impacting another person, let alone someone I had just met.
Some mistakes were more avoidable, like flunking an exam. Others were just illadvised, like jumping into Lake Michigan on a bleak, cold day.
But there were also memories just like the minutiae I used to read about. Buying a warm, savory crepe from Evanston Farmers’ Market. Eating dried mangoes from home during a late night in Mudd Library. These
was that I was afraid of being in the wrong relationship. (I blame my parents. They met in college, and part of me has always wanted that stereo-
I never answered the question, but the truth was that I was a aid of being in the wrong relationship.
typical meet cute!)
I wanted to do it right. If you’re reading this as a freshman or an incoming student: I’m not saying The January Rule is an absolute truth, only that it worked for me. I ended that first quarter reassured about my place on campus, independent of another person. While I was not without my lingering doubts, taking time for myself alleviated a lot of my anxieties before Winter Quarter 2023 rolled around.
A er adjusting that uno cial MIT guideline for the quarter system, my 18-year-old self marched through e Arch with e January Rule and professed it to anyone who would listen.
- BEATRICE VILLAFLOR, op-ed contributor
memories will always be mine, no matter who I choose to be with in the future.
Over midway into my first quarter, a friend asked me if I truly believed in the rule or if I was just scared of a relationship. I never answered the question, but the truth
- BEATRICE VILLAFLOR, op-ed contributor I’m not saying e January Rule is an absolute truth, only that it worked for me. I ended that rst quarter reassured about my place on campus, independent of another person.
The January Rule allowed me to do two things: first, to take my time acclimating to college life. I was able to begin the process of figuring out who I was without being defined by another person.
Second, the rule forced me to reflect during Winter Break. Wildcat Welcome — and International Wildcat Welcome, for international students like me — and Fall Quarter on campus is overwhelming enough. Amid the rush of the quarter system, it is difficult for freshmen to consider their boundaries and expectations in a relationship. It may not be as complex for other people, but it was for me. I used that first break to mull over what it would be like to date in college. What it would mean to negotiate busy schedules and competing priorities. I also didn’t want to fall into a toxic cycle laden with arguments and disappointments. Call me a perfectionist, but
- BEATRICE VILLAFLOR, op-ed contributor
I went on my first date as a college student on Jan. 7 , 2023 . The wind was biting but the barbecue we had for lunch was warm. We haven’t stopped going on dates since.
Beatrice Villaflor is a Medill junior. She can be contacted at beavillaflor@u.northwestern. edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
Memon: The magic within the mundane
There’s something beautiful about a season characterized by the desire for happiness: the mundane rush to class feels surreal when fluffy white snow coats sidewalks; gazing wistfully through the wall of windows in Colectivo Coffee with a Peppermint Fluff Latte brings out the Rory Gilmore in each of us. And being cold suddenly feels nice — we notice less the reds in our fingertips than the rosiness in our faces, the warmth filling Allison Hall more than the cold surrounding The Arch.
I believe it’s not about the snow. It isn’t the lights or music, the flavors or even the winding down of classes and workloads. I love the holiday season because it brings out the childhood versions of everyone around me.
Road decked in a silver glow. My roommate and I sat on our windowsill with my guitar as the temperatures dropped, reminiscing over previous winters and future dreams. I started writing poems again. Energy spread from person to person, overtaking campus with childlike laughter.
The first snow of this academic year reminded me how much joy the simplest
more life than the 26 th of any other month can compare to. This time is not inherently special — we make it special, celebrating what would feel normal from February to October, giving ourselves a fair chance to be captivated.
Shepard Hall to adding wildly complicated harmonies to classic winter songs, we’re making the absolute most of this animated time that we know is fleeting. In this season, we cling to every little moment, and it’s this perspective that bundles us in warmth superior to that of winter coats and earmuffs, decorating the dark sky in golden ornaments and the wind in carols hummed beneath our breaths.
And being cold suddenly feels nice we notice less the reds in our ngertips than the rosiness in our faces, the warmth lling Allison Hall more than the cold surrounding e Arch.
- SOPHIA MEMON, op-ed contributor
I don’t celebrate any winter holidays. My family has never had a Christmas tree or turkey dinner, and there isn’t a holiday I spend months counting down to, but Northwestern Happiness Club hosted a gingerbread house decorating event in University Hall. History Prof. Scott Sowerby belted an intricate, historical three-minute ballad to conclude our final lecture of the quarter, bringing cheer inspired by and completely unrelated to the holidays. Lopsided snowmen lined the sidewalks with button-eyes and stick-smiles. Students returned to campus after Thanksgiving to find trees surrounding Sheridan
My roommate and I sat on our windowsill with my guitar as the temperatures dropped, reminiscing over previous winters and future dreams. I started writing poems again. Energy spread om person to person, overtaking campus with childlike laughter.
- SOPHIA MEMON, op-ed contributor
things can bear. I was almost late to my first class, my 10 -minute walk doubling as I slipped along the sidewalk in my tractionless shoes, but my professor grinned as I stumbled through the doors, several snowballs’ worth of snow clinging to my hair. My friends and I made time for a hot chocolate run that we would have been “too busy” for if this fleeting winter wonderland had not reminded us that certain memories are time-sensitive and worth prioritizing.
The holiday season is meaningful because we’re willing to make our own magic, see excitement in what we wouldn’t have expected to and find happiness merely because we are looking for it. The day after Thanksgiving, stores blast “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Carol of the Bells” over and over again, and none of us complain.
I’m organizing a Secret Santa for my friends, and I hosted Friendsgiving last week. My Dec. 25 will come and go as an average winter day, but Dec. 26 will be filled with far
No ma er which home I’m in om now on, there will always be people to miss. And so, we’ve made bucket lists to savor the time, checking o experiences during reading week and between nals.
- SOPHIA MEMON, op-ed contributor
Experiencing the holiday season as a freshman offers new layers of complexity; Winter Break will come bearing my oldest friends, returning home for the holidays. I’ll be away from the people I’ve spent the extremely chaotic and intense past few months with. No matter which home I’m in from now on, there will always be people to miss. And so,
Sophia Memon is a Medill eshman. She can be contacted at sophiamemon2028@u.northwestern. edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Le er to the Editor to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com. e views expressed in this piece do not necessarily re ect the views of all sta members of e Daily Northwestern.
The Daily Northwestern Volume 147, Issue 10
Editor in Chief Jacob Wendler
Opinion Editor
Nora Collins
Assistant
Opinion Editor Mika Ellison
Managing Editors Joyce Li Lily Ogburn
William Tong Carlotta Angiolillo Sasha Draeger-Maezer
e holiday season is meaningful because we’re willing to make our own magic, see excitement in what we wouldn’t have expected to and nd happiness merely because we are looking for it.
- SOPHIA MEMON, op-ed contributor
we’ve made bucket lists to savor the time, checking off experiences during reading week and between finals. From visiting the Christkindlmarket to traversing the CTA Holiday Train, and preparing a cross-cultural feast in
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside THE DAILY office.
Letters have the following requirements:
• Should be typed and double-spaced
• Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number.
• Should be fewer than 300 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.
Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of THE DAILY’s student editorial board and not the opinions of either Northwestern University or Students Publishing Co. Inc.
local santas foster holiday spirit
By MAIA ALVAREZ the daily northwestern
Judith Broderick and her husband, Bill Wilson, got their start as Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus, respectively, when one day, at a store, a lively little boy knocked over a display. Broderick recalled that the boy’s mother scolded him before pointing at her husband and saying, “Santa is watching you.”
After this incident, the couple traveled to Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan, so her husband could become a professionally trained Santa.
Broderick said she initially only served as moral support, but soon, she was called “Mrs. C.” by children at her husband’s Christmas events.
Then, the couple was invited to work an event together as Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“There were two little boys who came up to me and said, ‘Can you please put our brother on the naughty list?’” Broderick said. “And I turned to the other little boy and said, ‘Well, what did you do to get on the naughty list?’ And they said, ‘It’s not us. It’s our older brother. He’s beating up our mom.’”
Broderick added that she then spent time communicating with the children’s deaf mother with the little sign language she knew at the time to help the son get the therapeutic help he needed.
Broderick said at that moment, she officially decided that she was going to become a Mrs. Claus. Broderick said she aims to act as a grandmother figure in the role of Mrs. Claus, bridging the gap between any child or adult and Santa so everyone can enjoy the holiday activities.
Now, Broderick teaches health seminars on topics including working with children with autism at North Pole Cornerstones and her Santa school, Santa Nana’s Holiday University. Both were made in honor of Lynn “Lucky” Royse, or Santa Nana — an International Santa Claus Hall of Fame member who took the role of Santa’s sister.
“There’s been a couple of occasions where they say, ‘Oh, well, mom’s not really going to respond. She doesn’t respond to really anything,’” Dammers said. “And I walk into the room and she’s like, ‘Santa Claus!’ and she’s actually responsive to that.”
Santa John Sullivan got his start as a mall Santa at Charlestowne Mall in St. Charles,
Booking season for the Clauses begins in the middle of November and ends toward the end of Winter Break, Santa Irwin Dammers said. He said the warmth he feels each season as Santa Claus encourages him to work every winter, whether he’s working with children or nursing home residents.
Illinois. He was in charge of the photography booth, but when Santa didn’t show up, he put on the costume.
In the 35 years since then, Sullivan said he has worked every type of Santa event, from hospitals to flying into a Christmas party on a helicopter. He is also the creator of Santa in Chicago, a website to help individuals find Santa Clauses in the Chicago and Northern Illinois area.
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
“They are the true believers,” Sullivan said. “They want to believe in Santa, and they’re young enough they don’t have any questions about the sleigh flying through the sky. Life is much different at that age.”
maiaalvarez2028@u.northwestern.edu
Sullivan echoed Dammers’ sentiment and said the warmth young children bring during the holiday season motivates him to continue playing Santa.
Photo courtesy of Maureen Curran
Santa Irwin Dammers said the warmth he feels when he visits people “3 to 80 years old” encourages him to continue working every holiday season.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
FOOTBALL
Wayback Wednesday: NU’s 1995 Rose Bowl victory
By MADELINE LESCOTT the daily northwestern
For this edition of Wayback Wednesday, we’re taking a trip to the holiday guide of 1995, when purple pride boomed as Northwestern football found out it was headed to the 1996 Rose Bowl.
“Purple to Pasadena,” the big block-le ered cover read, alongside images of celebrating students. When e Daily published its Holiday Guide on Nov. 28, 1995, a 6-page Rose Bowl guide preceded it. Wildcats fans had much to look forward to that holiday season.
Held in Pasadena, California, the Rose Bowl traditionally hosted the conference champions of the Big Ten and now-defunct Pac-12 since 1947. Nicknamed the “Granddaddy of em All,” it’s the oldest college football bowl game, and the most a ended one, with around 100,000 fans typically showing out. In recent years, the Rose Bowl has been a semi nal matchup in the College Football Playo 1995 was a dream season for NU as head coach Gary Barne led the ’Cats to a 10-1 regular season, its only loss an upset to Miami (Ohio). Running back Darnell Autry graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as the team won the Big Ten conference for the rst time in nearly 60 years.
The excitement around the Rose Bowl started on Nov. 25, 1995, when Michigan played Ohio State in 1995’s iteration of “The Game.” NU fans held their breath as its postseason fate was decided in Ann Arbor. With a win by the Wolverines, the ’Cats would secure the Big Ten conference championship and earn a spot in the Rose Bowl.
Fans gathered in anticipation to watch the contest at old Evanston sports bars, such as The Huddle and The Keg. Going into the game, the Buckeyes were 11-0 and nine-point favorites. But Michigan running back Tim
Biakabutuka rambled for 313 yards and a touchdown, powering the Wolverines to victory. In the last minute of the game, cornerback Charles Woodson intercepted a pass, securing Michigan’s win and NU’s ticket to Pasadena.
From then on, “Purple to Pasadena” wasn’t a farfetched fantasy — it was real.
Excitement buzzed around the University’s campus.
e bookstore added four phone lines to process the more than 1,500 merchandise orders they received in the three days following the game. At the same time, the Norris Information Desk reported receiving over 5,700 messages inquiring about tickets. A local orist, Saville Flowers, sold all 100 of its long-stem roses within 30 minutes of Michigan’s win going nal. It proceeded to order 400 more to support the demand.
e Rose Bowl guide that was published in 1995 also included information for students looking to a end the game. Season ticket holders got rst dibs on tickets. e remaining tickets were released for other students for $80 each. NU was allo ed 21,904 of the tickets to sell themselves from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.
Special travel packages, including airfare and accommodations, were also advertised for students. A group of four could purchase a shared hotel room in this package at Norris for $879 a person.
While the ’Cats geared up at their Hollywood boot camp, their marching band also had a lot to prepare for. ey played in Disneyland for a Rose Bowl parade over the holidays and practiced for eight to 10 hours daily during the week ahead of the game.
It was a close matchup. e ’Cats fell 41-32 to USC. However, the spirit and still unbelievable record — undefeated in the Big 10 — keep the overwhelming memories from the 1995 season alive.
madelinelesco 2028@u.northwestern.edu
FIELD HOCKEY
NU wins national title
By HENRY FRIEMAN
daily senior staffer @henryfrieman
ANN ARBOR, Mich. –– Coach Tracey Fuchs choked up in the press room as she addressed reporters following Northwestern’s national championship victory Sunday.
Two of her three captains –– senior mid elder Maddie Zimmer and graduate student goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz –– sat next to her, smiles plastered, NCAA trophies proudly displayed on the podium.
“To bring home a second national championship in eld hockey to Northwestern, I’m so incredibly grateful,” Fuchs said. “You always want to bring your best when you come to a Final Four. We did that today and saved our best for last.”
e 50th team in program history is bringing back hardware to Evanston a er the Wildcats (23-1, 8-0 Big Ten) convincingly defeated Saint Joseph’s, winning 5-0 in the national title game.
Senior mid elder Maddie Zimmer scored a pair of goals, as did sophomore back Ilse Tromp. Sophomore forward Olivia Bent-Cole rounded out the scoring with a rst-quarter goal.
In a game re ecting the ’Cats’ season of dominance, NU took a chokehold early and never looked back.
Six minutes into the first quarter, Tromp sent a long pass toward Zimmer. The midfielder burst into the shooting circle at breakneck speed, corralling the pass on the run and converting momentum into a high-powered shot.
The strike blew past Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Marith Bijkerk and struck the left side netting to put the ’Cats up 1-0
“She’s the best in the country, bar none,” Fuchs said of Zimmer, who was named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. “Any time you have her on the eld, you have the chance to win.”
NU ratcheted up its offensive intensity in the first quarter, controlling possession and logging five shots on goal. With four minutes le in the rst frame, graduate student mid elder Lauren Wadas found a streaking Zimmer, who carried the feed into the circle. Zimmer red a centering pass that Bent-Cole redirected to double the ’Cats lead.
On NU’s rst penalty corner, sophomore forward Ashley Sessa inserted a feed to senior back Lauren Hunter, who controlled the ball with a stick-stop. Tromp whipped a drag ick into the bo om le pocket of the cage to extend the ’Cats lead to 3-0 at the opening period’s conclusion.
Hunter’ posted a game-high three assists. When it ma ered most, a player Fuchs described as “someone who always goes under the radar” made a major impact. NU continued its scoring onslaught. With nine
FIELD HOCKEY
Recruiting fuels title bid
minutes le in the rst half, Sessa lined up to insert another penalty corner. Hunter stick-stopped. Zimmer red a sweep to extend the lead to four. “ is team was special,” Fuchs said. “ ey came out and they played every game like it was their last, and didn’t take anybody lightly and stepped up against those teams that really were pu ing pressure on us.”
Sessa, the Big Ten O ensive Player of the Year, also contributed two assists Sunday to set a new program single-season points record (67), breaking ’Cats Hall of Famer Chelsea Armstrong’s mark set in 2012
On one of NU’s ve second-quarter penalty corners, senior mid elder Regan Cornelius found Hunter’s stick on the insertion. Tromp shot her second drag ick past Bijkerk, and the match’s scoreline remained unchanged from that juncture.
Saint Joseph’s recorded just three shots Sunday, which tied the fewest-ever shots tallied in an NCAA championship.
“I have full faith in the players in front of me,” Skubisz said. “I think that we have, in my opinion, the best defensive unit in the country.” rough 60 minutes Sunday, the ’Cats put on a showcase, displaying the best o ensive and defensive units in the country.
When the scoreboard read zeroes, Fuchs hugged her assistants on the sidelines. e NU players made a beeline toward Skubisz and mobbed their goalkeeper, who nished her collegiate career on the highest of highs. So did the rest of the graduating seniors and graduating students.
“I commi ed to Northwestern knowing what this team would be capable of with the sta and the players,” Skubisz said. “I’m just so honored and happy that it turned out exactly how I hoped.”
With the win, the ’Cats have established themselves as a perennial contender. e resume speaks for itself: Four straight national championship game appearances. Two wins.
It’s a credit to the program Fuchs has established over 15 years, backed by associate head coach Georgia Holland as well as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Will Byrne.
On November 24, 1985, Fuchs won her first national championship, as a player for UConn. Sunday, 39 years to the day, she hoisted her third overall and second as a coach.
As she cemented her legacy into immortality, she couldn’t help but notice the coincidence.
“All the stars aligned in every way,” Fuchs said. “To have this (senior) class go out as arguably the best class to ever play for Northwestern makes me and my sta incredibly proud.”
henry ieman2027@u.northwestern.edu
By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — As Northwestern rushed graduate student goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz’s net following Sunday’s 5-0 national title victory over Saint Joseph’s, coach Tracey Fuchs turned to her assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Will Byrne.
Fuchs hugged her longest-tenured assistant within the jubilation and relief of capturing her program’s second national title — and rst since 2021 e duo soon joined the historic squad they’ve built in extended on- eld celebrations.
Byrne, who joined the coaching sta before the 2016 season, has helped Fuchs and fellow assistant coach Georgia Holland usher in the resurgence of a once-fallen Midwestern power into a perennial national dynasty.
He has picked up a myriad of passport stamps identifying potential prospects who not only possess world-class talent — but t the program’s collaborative culture.
“Tracey and the sta have been laying the groundwork for this type of program for a while now,” senior mid elder Maddie Zimmer said. “You bring in the right combination of players who play Wildcat hockey, and this is what you get.”
With contributions ranging from rst-year contributors to graduate students, the Wildcats’ win over the Hawks embodies NU’s comprehensive work on the recruiting trail. Six di erent players tallied points, with both new and returning starters playing marquee roles.
Fuchs said every member of the program serves a crucial role in cultivating the team’s appeal to recruits.
“Our sta works really hard, and the players do,” Fuchs said. “ ey’re the ones hosting and making sure they’re a good t for our culture. And, they do an amazing job.”
While Zimmer red home the opening goal, sophomore back Ilse Tromp’s remarkable feed from more than 20 yards away put the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in a sensational position.
A player who Fuchs said ies under the radar, Tromp delivered a series of clutch plays on both o ense and defense throughout NU’s tournament run. Her goal-line save in Friday’s 1-0 Final Four win over UMass facilitated the rst of two championship weekend shutouts.
But, as Tromp told e Daily on Saturday, her commitment to the ’Cats came purely by chance. Byrne was on a scouting assignment in the Netherlands to watch another player. en, the back elder immediately caught his eye.
A er her show-starting feed, Tromp turned a pair of penalty corner chances into drag ick nishes, tying her career high with two goals. Tromp also spearheaded a defense that gave up just three shots Sunday.
“ is defensive unit is so good,” Skubisz said. “It’s what they do every day. It’s really cool to be a part of that.”
Skubisz, the program’s all-time leader in career shutouts with 37, capped her storied college journey with another awless display in net. She allowed just three goals in her four national championship starts.
Still, Skubisz’s mere presence at NU serves as a testament to Fuchs and her sta ’s recruiting ability. She had originally commi ed to another program, but Fuchs’ sta kept close tabs on the netminder. When she reopened her recruitment, all the chips fell into place, and the goalkeeper soon commi ed to the ’Cats. Skubisz said NU was an immediate culture t, especially between defenders and goalkeepers.
“ e defensive culture is very collaborative and very direct,” Skubisz said. “It was really fun to try to be the head of that culture to a certain extent.
Without the sta ’s collective work on the recruiting trail, the ’Cats wouldn’t have won their rst national title on Phyllis Ocker Field in 2021, nor would they have made the next three national championship games.
ree years a er NU’s rst trip atop the sport’s summit, players who watched the team’s Cinderella run as high schoolers — including Tromp and sophomore forwards Olivia Bent-Cole and Ashley Sessa — played pivotal roles in Sunday’s trophy li Just as Bent-Cole told e Daily on Saturday, national championships are now the standard for the ’Cats. at standard fuels every facet of the program, from on- eld production to pu ing in extra hours on the recruiting trail.
Now, the challenge for Fuchs and company is to sustain their consistent success sans what the veteran coach labeled as the most talented group of graduate students and seniors to ever depart the program.
“Hopefully, this isn’t the end of (the) Northwestern dynasty,” Zimmer said.
jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu
Illustration by Madeline Lescott