The Daily Northwestern
Hol i d a y Guide
DEC 2021
Recycle Me
INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8
2 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
How to stay safe and COVID-19 aware this winter By ANGELI MITTAL
daily senior staffer @amittal27
The World Health Organization designated the highly infectious Omicron COVID-19 variant to be a cause for concern Friday. As gatherings start to ramp up for the holiday season, local doctors and scientists are urging residents to get COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots as well as take precautions against the virus. Cases are on the rise, and some scientists like Shikha Jain, assistant professor of medicine at University of Illinois Chicago, attribute the increase to COVID-19 fatigue and indoor gatherings. “People aren’t taking as many steps to protect themselves. People aren’t wearing masks as diligently as they were before. So I do think we’re going to see an increase in numbers,” Jain said. “But unlike last year, we do have vaccines that are going to hopefully protect a lot of people as long as they’ve gotten their vaccine series completed.” It’s critical for children aged 5 to 11 to receive at least their first shot — if not get fully vaccinated — before engaging in holiday gatherings, said Laura Zimmermann (Feinberg ‘07), medical director of Rush University Prevention Center. With the expanded eligibility of booster shots for all adults, Zimmermann said anyone who can get a booster should do so as the holiday season approaches. “We know that antibody-mediated immunity wanes over time the further you get from your original shot,” said Emily Landon, a Chicago-based infectious disease specialist. “It’s becoming clearer and clearer that everyone’s going to need a booster at some point.” Landon said waiting until it’s too late to get
vaccinated is risky for your health, especially as new COVID-19 variants such as Omicron emerge. In response to the announcement of the new variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened its guidelines for vaccination. All individuals 18 and older are advised to get a booster shot either six months after an initial Pfizer or Moderna series or two months after a Johnson & Johnson onedose vaccine. Here’s more on how to schedule a vaccine appointment in Cook County for you or your child. Much is still unknown about Omicron, Landon said, but what they do know is that if you’ve already had COVID-19, you’re still susceptible to the Omicron variant. It may be the most infectious COVID-19 strain yet, potentially even more so than the Delta variant, Landon said. “(Omicron) certainly has the potential to be a more common cause of a breakthrough infection,” Landon said. “Whether or not it’s going to make people sicker, whether or not it’s going to really establish itself, those are things that remain to be seen.” With the development of vaccines since the 2020 holiday season, there have been fewer COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, Zimmermann said. She said unvaccinated people account for the bulk of U.S. cases now, and she predicts cases could rise over the holidays due to gatherings among this group. Older and immunocompromised family members are especially at risk for contracting the virus. She said preventative measures such as vaccinations are essential to try to contain the virus, rather than waiting for it to spiral out of control. “Even if there’s only a little bit more protection conferred by the booster in one individual,” Zimmermann said, “when you scale that to a population level, it could still be preventing thousands of infections.” While Jain said booster shots are unlikely to end the pandemic, getting one is a solid step in that
Illustration by Hank Yang
COVID-19 cases are on the rise. And with the Omicron variant, Chicago health experts say taking necessary precautions, such as testing before holiday travel and getting a booster shot before engaging in social gatherings with family.
direction and will provide added necessary protection as the holiday season approaches. Additional precautions you can take, Jain said, include getting tested before traveling and not socializing if you have symptoms. Besides wearing masks indoors, she also recommends ensuring your living space has adequate air circulation and that the spaces where you plan to gather have good ventilation systems. To avoid transmitting the virus to family members over the holidays, Landon also advises to continue
Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem through light and oil. To commemorate this event, Jewish families light a menorah for eight nights and eat food fried in oil. The most popular dish is latkes, a fried potato pancake. Many students will not be home for the majority of Hanukkah, so Hillel programming is helping to bring holiday cheer and latkes to the Northwestern community.
wearing masks when you’re in public and to keep a safe distance from those who aren’t wearing one. Wearing a mask helps keep you from contracting the virus, Landon said, but it’s most helpful for preventing you from giving the virus to others. “People are a lot more protected than they were last year, but I think if you just throw all caution to the wind, then you might be disappointed with the outcome,” Landon said. amittal@u.northwestern.edu
Many modern Christmas traditions emerged alongside capitalism in the Western world. Join us as we unpack the evolution of Christmas and discuss capitalism’s role in some of your favorite holiday traditions.
jiffy lube SIGNATURE SERVICE® OIL CHANGE
NU students, faculty and staff show your Wildcard & receive $10 OFF oil change With this coupon. Coupon Code NW1
WE NOW DO TUNE-UPS, TIRES & BRAKES! jiffy lube • 1941 W. Dempster, Evanston (just west of Dodge) 847-328-5222 • Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5, Sun 10-4
NU SENIORS: MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE YEARBOOK! Get your Senior Portrait!
PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE BACK IN JANUARY Thu.1/6–Sun.1/16 @ NORRIS Sign up at: www.OurYear.com NU Code: 87150 WALK-INS ARE WELCOME
TRANSITION
2022 Syllabus Yearbook Northwestern University questions? email: syllabus@northwestern.edu web site: www.NUsyllabus.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE IN NORRIS FOR A LIMITED TIME. Several poses will be taken – in your own clothes and with cap and gown. Your choice will be available for purchase. All senior portraits must be taken by Prestige Portraits/Life Touch. $10 sitting fee required.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
The UPS Store For all your packaging and shipping needs.
Shipping out for Winter Break?
SHIPPING STORAGE Services Services Small stuff. Large stuff. UPS ships it all. INTERNATIONAL, TOO
Packing, Shipping & Moving Supplies
Short term. Long term.
FREE PICK-UP available
FREE Insurance (first $100)
NO REGISTRATION FEES!
Holiday Concerts NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Light Holiday Classics: Conducting Student Showcase
Saturday, December 4, 7:30 p.m. Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Holiday favorites including The Nutcracker Suite and Sleigh Ride Reserve free tickets in advance at concertsatbienen.org
For more info and to sign up online: tinyurl.com/upsev
A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
Northwestern Special:
Sunday, December 5, 10:40 a.m. Alice Millar Chapel
Show your Wildcard or mention this ad for
10% Off UPS SHIPPING
A holiday tradition combining readings and carol settings from medieval to modern to portray the Christmas miracle. Free and unticketed. Donations accepted
847-467-4000 concertsatbienen.org
847-869-3000 Visit us in downtown Evanston
1555 Sherman Ave.
Hours: M-F 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 11-4
3
4 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
OPINION
Join the online conversation at www.dailynorthwestern.com
The Daily’s unofficial favorite holiday movies, TV shows By ISABELLE SARRAF and HALEY FULLER
daily senior staffers @isabellesarraf, @haley_fuller_
Maybe the real Knight Before Christmas (2019) was the chocolate gelt we ate along the way. There’s nothing quite like curling up with a mug and a pile of blankets to watch snow glisten on the silver screen. It almost makes you forget that you still haven’t gotten a gift for your brother and that the dog broke your favorite tree ornament. After months of deliberating, planning and arguing, here is our definitive list of holiday classics that can warm even Scrooge’s heart. Spoilers ahead.
Movies The Holiday (2006) Technically, there is no winner in this holiday media listicle. However, the 2006 cinematic masterpiece, “The Holiday” absolutely takes the fruitcake. Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law? This star-studded cast presents a rom-com that’s so delightfully cheesy, you really do wonder if anything can happen when the Santa Anas blow.
A Christmas Prince (2017) As journalists, we are suckers for rom-coms starring female journalists who are on assignment or trying to find work-life balance. We know we shouldn’t be. But we are anyway. Aldovia may be an off-brand Genovia, but the spunky young princess who warms up to the undercover journalist and helps save the day makes up for
the country’s obviously ripped-off name. Binge all three movies in the trilogy — even though they are royally predictable, you won’t be able to stop watching.
Full-Court Miracle (2003) A Hanukkah staple inspired by a true story, “Full-Court Miracle” is the only Disney Channel Original Movie to center the Jewish holiday. Amid the Christmas-heavy December movie lineup is this buried gem that follows a struggling boy’s basketball team at a Jewish day school. When a former college basketball player is convinced to coach the team, the Lions (yes, of course that’s the team’s name) try to turn things around before facing their rivals, the Warriors. Between the gefilte fish at Shabbat dinner and the David-versus-Goliath stakes, the movie holds a special place in the hearts of early-aughts Jewish kids and basketball fans alike. Alex Schlotsky walked so Troy Bolton could run.
It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992) This is not the iconic Charlie Brown special where Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, Linus and the gang see the beauty in a wilted Christmas tree and sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” No, this is better. They prepare for the Christmas pageant, and everything devolves into chaos. “Hark!” is confused for “hockey stick.” Peppermint Patty wears a sheep costume, but forgets what sound sheep make. Charlie Brown struggles to sell Christmas wreaths. Snoopy is a violent bell-ringing Santa. This is the best Charlie Brown special of all time.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) A little known fact: Disney’s 1991 classic “Beauty and the Beast” has two direct-to-video spinoffs, one of which was a self-described Christmas musical fantasy film. Entertainment Weekly may have called the 74-minute long feature “all in all, a pretty soggy Christmas fruitcake.” But this deep cut — which features Broadway legend Bernadette Peters, mind you — is entirely worth it for the original song “As Long As There’s Christmas.”
TV Glee (Season 4, Episode 10): “Glee, Actually” A week before the world was supposed to end, Dec. 13, 2012 delivered us one of the most significant cultural shifts of all time. That fateful night changed the course of holiday music history the moment Jake and Puck sang a Hanukkah song for Glee’s third and arguably best holidaythemed episode. No modern Hanukkah playlist would be complete without the Puckerman brothers’ cover of Yiddish classic “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah” arranged by the Barenaked Ladies.
Rugrats (Season 4, Episode 1): “A Rugrats Chanukah” Were you really a Millennial/Generation Z cusper if you didn’t own “A Rugrats Chanukah” on VHS? You may be asking yourself what a 1996 cartoon is doing on this list, but a Maccababy’s gotta do what a Maccababy’s gotta do. “A Rugrats Chanukah” was the first episode of a children’s television show to focus on the holiday, and its heartfelt storytelling sticks with you even 25 years later.
The West Wing (Season 2, Episode 10): “Noël”
Illustration by Carly Schulman
Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major will never hit the same. “Noël” won Bradley Whitford the 2001 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Emmy Award, and for good reason. Amid the show’s quick, chaotic second season is this gem of an episode, set around Christmas, that centers a singular character processing trauma
and tragedy. There’s something comforting about the way “The West Wing” acknowledges that healing takes time. We can all find solace in Josh Lyman’s struggles with his mental health, and the way friends will do anything to lift you out of darkness.
The Proud Family (Season 1, Episode 11): “Seven Days of Kwanzaa” Tucked into the first season of objectively one of the best cartoons of our childhoods is a timeless history lesson interspersed with the comedic relief of “The Proud Family” we all love. After inviting a houseless family to spend Christmas dinner with them, the Prouds discover they celebrate Kwanzaa, and spend the week learning and indulging in each other’s traditions. The episode, which provides a refreshing perspective on cultural appreciation, is one of the only Disney shows to date that celebrates Kwanzaa.
Downton Abbey (Season 2, Episode 9): “Christmas at Downton Abbey” Like all seasons at Downton, the holidays are full of drama — clearly the writers never heard of the importance of a long winter’s nap. But at least we get to enjoy the turmoil with a mug of hot cocoa in hand. Mary risks her dignity by shunning her fiancé and instead choosing Matthew, who proposes as snow gently falls around them. They conclude the season with a heartwarming kiss in front of Highclere Castle, and that’s all we could really ask for.
Honorable Mention: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Season 2, Episode 1): “The Holiday Special” The “Something in the Air” music video is everything. Even in the middle of the summer, Haley will watch that scene. The ugly holiday sweaters, the onesies, the overly decorated school hallways, the camera work. Nothing else matters: this is“What Time Is It?” in “High School Musical 2,” holiday edition. Also, Olivia Rodrigo. Enough said. isarraf@u.northwestern.edu, haleyfuller2022@u.northwestern.edu
Riker: My experience perusing Macy’s with 20 bucks By JOHN RIKER
daily senior staffer @john__riker
Twenty bucks can go a long way. But can it buy a full outfit from a high-end clothing retailer? On Thanksgiving eve, I ventured to the Macy’s at the Westfield Old Orchard mall with $20 in my pocket to find out if the feat could be done, and perhaps to succeed where former Sports Editor Greg Svirnovskiy had nobly failed. I set a couple of rules for my pursuit. One, I had to buy the outfit in the unfamiliar and expensive terrain of Macy’s. Two, I had to purchase both a shirt and a pair of pants. And three, the ’fit had to be as fly as me. Another motivation pulled at my proverbial strings. A couple days earlier, Ray O’Connell from athletic communications expressed his high hopes for my outfit at the Illinois-Northwestern football season finale, and I couldn’t let Ray down. With the stakes set, I strolled into Macy’s, the sweet symphonies of “An Evening with Silk Sonic” streaming through my AirPods. I brushed off the distractions of Macy’s red bows and ornaments and got to work in the men’s section. A Black Friday presale extended to most of the items, and suddenly, my outrageous goal seemed within
reach. I sampled a black velvet jacket with gold accents for $25, then a baby blue zip-up hoodie on half-off sale for $37.50. Both were well over the price range, but feeling the soft textures and bold colors against my skin got me in the mood. Each would make a fine addition to my wardrobe collection, but rules are rules. I took brief trips to the athletics and suit sections — two low-risk, low-reward detours that fulfilled their purpose — refreshing my mind for another swoop. Slowly but surely, I returned and worked the price down. My hands grazed the eclectic fabrics of a rack of $12 shirts. Any pair of chinos or formal pants would price me out of my budget, but pair a tee with some athletic shorts and maybe I could hit $20. Then, as I combed through the discount tees, I saw it. A “42 Wallaby Way Sydney Australia” shirt, replete with a glorious sunrise, Marlin and Dory from “Finding Nemo” and a comforting blue shade. I checked the size — medium. I’m in business. The problem was that the price tag wasn’t there, so I proudly wheeled my treasure to the cashier stand. I handed it to the cashier, explaining the price tag situation, and she checked the computer. Minutes passed, her eyes darting across the screen and my heart palpitating. We made eye contact. This was normally a $28 shirt, she said, but with the sale it would be … $20.
Disaster. That meant the seemingly storewide halfoff sale didn’t even apply, and there was no way I could pair this shirt with another item. The setback sent me into a frenzy, now battling against the limitations of my budget and the factor of time. I now only had 30 minutes before my movie, “House of Gucci,” started a couple stores down. I kicked my strategy into a higher gear. I planned to drop $12 for Champion shorts, leaving $8 for a top. A navy long-sleeve got me down to $10, but the fabric started shedding on my nice white turtleneck and felt more like a waffle than a waffle-patterned shirt. Worse, the shirt dislodged my AirPod when I tried to fit it over my big head, and I wasted precious time sprawled on the floor trying to find it. Fifteen minutes left. I spent a couple minutes trying on a $280 navy blue jacket in the mirror, a necessary distraction, then snapped back in. Ten minutes left. With eight minutes left, I stopped to reassess. I wouldn’t find an outfit for less than 20 bucks. I wouldn’t find this AirPod. I wouldn’t make it on time to the movie. But I could still find a fit for the Illinois game, and I could still make Ray and The Daily proud. I brought the baby blue hoodie from the start of my visit to the register and coughed up $40 for it, then I threw it over my turtleneck during my stroll across the mall. Success evaded me, but that’s for the next
sports editor to achieve. I came away with a sweet hoodie, and I even found my wayward AirPod when my turtleneck unwrapped. Minutes later, I strutted into Theater No. 2 to watch “House of Gucci,” proud and fashionably late. johnriker2023@u.northwestern.edu
John Riker/Daily Senior Staffer
The Daily Northwestern Volume 143, Issue 28 Editor in Chief Isabelle Sarraf Holiday Editors Olivia Alexander Joanne Haner
Managing Editors Rebecca Aizin Samantha Boas Alex Chun Jacob Fulton Maia Spoto
Designers Evelyn Driscoll Angeli Mittal Carly Schulman Meher Yeda Audio Editor Jordan Mangi
Copy Editors Anna Bock Audrey Hettleman Russell Leung Web Editors Samantha Anderer Diego Ramos Bechara Natalie Wu
THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
5
Holiday magic returns to Alice Millar Chapel By LILY CAREY
the daily northwestern @lilylcarey
A longtime Northwestern holiday tradition will return Sunday when the Alice Millar Chapel Choir performs its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols concert. This year’s concert will involve a holiday service at the Alice Millar Chapel and feature members of the choir, the Northwestern Philharmonia and the Millar Brass Ensemble performing carols from cultures around the world, including Polish, Latvian and Haitian pieces. Dr. Stephen Alltop, the director of music at the Alice Millar Chapel, said he’s excited to see the event’s holiday magic return to the chapel. The event was held virtually in 2020. “We’ve been doing A Festival of Lessons and Carols for many decades, and it’s a particularly beloved event,” Alltop said. “Generally, the chapel is packed with people.” The tradition of Lessons and Carols itself originated with a production at King’s College in Cambridge over a century ago, and has since spread all over the world. The event typically consists of nine readings and choir and ensemble performances that accompany each
Illustration by Angeli Mittal
reading. Alltop said the University has put on its own performance of this event for several decades. This year in particular, the choir, orchestra and brass ensembles are emphasizing variety in their musical choices. The program includes a diverse range of selections from different cultures, time periods and musical styles. “The contrasting styles, I think, is the biggest thing that catches my eye. It’s not all just basic Christmas-type
hymns,” said Drew Ritchie, the choir’s assistant conductor. “There’s slow, lush, beautiful, legato pieces, and then there’s a lot of high energy, fast, exciting, very polyphonic music.” Ritchie and Alltop agreed assembling such a complex program has required lots of time and effort from everyone involved. However, they both emphasized this year’s choir is an incredibly skilled group that has risen to the challenge.
Compared with other chapel choir concerts, the repertoire for an event like Lessons and Carols is especially large. Ritchie noted the ensemble has to learn many songs in a very short period of time, sometimes rehearsing eight to 12 different pieces in a single rehearsal. But Alltop said the group picked up this large selection with remarkable speed. The choir, which comprises NU students of all different years and schools, resumed in-person rehearsals at the beginning of Fall Quarter. Communication junior Sam Jenkins said returning to a normal rehearsal schedule has made the group even stronger. “The day we all took off our masks for the first time, our sound tripled — it was incredible,” Jenkins said. “We have come together really fast as a group.” The show this year will mark the first time many members of the choir, including Jenkins, have performed the event since 2019. With the Festival of Lessons and Carols right around the corner, choir members are excited to share their holiday spirit with the Evanston and NU communities, providing a new take on a long-standing tradition. “We’re just here to make beautiful music and sing for people,” Jenkins said. “It’s such a great thing to give to the audience.” lilycarey2025@u.northwestern.edu
NUSO to play winter Student ballet debuts “The Nutcracker” concert Saturday By ALEXA CROWDER
the daily northwestern @alexacrowder
This holiday season, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall will be filled with the sounds of festive classics like Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” The Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra will play a one-night-only holiday concert Saturday, which doubles as a graduate conducting student showcase. The concert is a rarity within the Bienen School of Music, since the orchestra scarcely puts on holiday performances. Bienen junior and first violin Kirsten Lee said the exception stems from Bienen Prof. Victor Yampolsky’s impending retirement, as he fills his last year at NU with pieces that are personally meaningful to him. Yampolsky assigned six graduate students from Bienen one piece each to conduct. Alexander Chen, a first-year graduate student in Bienen’s conducting program, will conduct Mozart’s “Exsultate, jubilate.” “My job is to prepare the orchestra to play this piece,” Chen said. “They’re very talented students. I’m there to help them play what I know they can play, which is really high quality music.” “Exsultate, jubilate” also features soprano soloist, vocal performance graduate student Helaine Liebman. Chen said coordinating the vocalist with the orchestra provides an extra challenge in conducting the piece. Rehearsals in the concert hall began in midNovember, but the assistant conductors’ preparation started well before then. Bienen secondyear graduate student Jake Taniguchi, another
assistant conductor, had already engaged deeply with his piece before setting foot on the stage. “You need to be the expert on that piece — you need to study the music and look at the music and understand the music,” Taniguchi said. “You cannot be learning a piece along with the group. You are now the teacher.” The rotation of assistant conductors differs from a typical NUSO concert, where Yampolsky would be at the helm for the entirety of the performance. Lee noticed each of the six graduate students has a unique style. Lee is taking an advanced conducting course this quarter and said she has enjoyed watching older students apply the skills she’s learning in class. She’s been particularly influenced by her classmate Moyue Zhou, a second-year graduate assistant conductor. “They’re all really passionate about the music that they’re conducting, and about music in general,” Lee said. “It’s actually really inspiring to watch all of them improve musically.” Taniguchi said the collaboration between student conductors and ensemble members will make the concert special for performers and audience members alike. Lee and Chen said they appreciate the special festive theme, especially its relation with both their childhood memories. Both musicians said they often played “Sleigh Ride” with their youth orchestras, as did most of NUSO. “In the first rehearsal when we did (‘Sleigh Ride’), everyone was just in a good mood,” Chen said. “I want the audience to leave and be like, ‘Wow, that put me in a good mood. I’m ready for the holidays now.’ ” alexacrowder2024@u.northwestern.edu
Charlotte Che/The Daily Northwestern
By CHARLOTTE VARNES
daily senior staffer @charvarnes11
Growing up as a military kid, Medill freshman Angel Jordan moved often. But regardless of where she lived, she knew one part of her life would stick around. “Ballet was my one constant thing that I could always count on,” Jordan said. “Because I could always find a ballet studio.” Dance played a similarly important role in Communication freshman Amanda de la Fuente’s experience. De la Fuente, who grew up dancing in Chicago, learned to calm her anxiety and set boundaries as she advanced in the ballet studio. Both Jordan and de la Fuente were surprised when they arrived at Northwestern and discovered there were no student ballet organizations — yet. Jordan said she and de la Fuente decided to “just go for it.” The pair founded Eight Counts, a new ballet group on campus that’s kicking off its first unofficial production of “The Nutcracker” this quarter. The pair flyered around campus, spoke with members of other dance groups and connected with Physics Prof. Gayle Ratliff, who has a classical ballet background. Ratliff would soon become their faculty advisor. “I’m just super excited,” Jordan said. “There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for it … In (about) a month, we had a list of 18 names and a faculty advisor, and we were working on a constitution, and everything just started happening.” As the organization took shape, Jordan said she and de la Fuente realized the holiday season was quickly approaching and the group’s new members might be interested in putting on “The Nutcracker.” They sent a mid-October email to anyone who had reached out with interest in joining the group asking about whether they would dance in “The Nutcracker.” Gradually, the cast grew to 10 dancers. The group started choreographing a filmed performance of “The Nutcracker” in October. Eight Counts doesn’t audition members to join the group. Everyone who wants to dance is welcome, regardless of skill set or experience. “A lot of our choreography, we ended up just changing to their body,” Jordan said. “(We’d say), ‘oh, it doesn’t make sense for you to do this if you can’t get your leg 180 (degrees). Neither can I — that’s fine. We’re not going to do that.’ ” Weinberg junior Carly Galvin said she was initially worried about jumping back into ballet with Eight Counts because she hadn’t performed since her senior year of high school. She was a “little bit rusty,” Galvin said. But she didn’t find the choreography overwhelming in the end. Certain changes, like taking a dance number off pointe and moving some of her dances to indoor spaces, made her feel more comfortable. “The Nutcracker” rehearsals have taken place all over campus, from East Fairchild to The Wirtz Center ballroom. De la Fuente said most of the group’s rehearsals happen during the day, because that’s when most theatre spaces tend to be available. While organizing “The Nutcracker,” de la Fuente and Jordan also applied for the group to become an official student organization. But Student Organizations and Activities ultimately denied their application, because another group — Ballet
Company — also sought approval at the time. Now, the groups are merging to become Eight Counts: A Ballet Company. De la Fuente said the organization’s disapproval was initially confusing given that there are several already-existing dance groups on campus that are very similar to one another. She wasn’t sure why ballet was any different. “We were so excited to get started, we were (thinking), ‘Once we get approval, we’re going to start working and actually doing things,’” de la Fuente said. “Now, we have to step back and refocus a bit, which is stressful.” But de la Fuente said the group is looking forward to merging with Ballet Company and working toward inclusivity in ballet together. When founding Eight Counts, both de la Fuente and Jordan were conscious of how the structure of ballet has the potential to negatively impact dancers’ mental health. De la Fuente said the ballet world can generally be harmful to dancers’ wellbeing. “The ballet world is extremely stressful and anxiety-inducing,” she said. “We want to create the most welcoming and inclusive environment possible so that people don’t feel stressed. They feel most comfortable being themselves and challenging themselves, but also enjoying it.” Galvin said she has struggled with having a larger chest as a dancer, calling it a “point of exclusion” in the past because most costumes are not designed for dancers with that body type. Her old dance studio, though, always tailored costumes to fit her body. She continues to feel welcome at Eight Counts, whose costuming policies allow dancers to wear whatever feels most comfortable. “That’s what made me first join the group, (Angel and Amanda) being like, ‘We want this to be an inclusive space, regardless of race or size or sexual orientation,’” Galvin said. “It’s been a great experience, from that perspective.” Eight Counts hopes to wrap up filming by the end of Fall Quarter. Their goal is to premiere the film on Jan. 7 — Jordan’s birthday, and the day after Día De Los Reyes, a holiday that honors the Three Wise Men, which de la Fuente celebrates. “It’s a very festive time for us,” de la Fuente said. “We’re going to try to combine all these celebrations into one and have a big screening party.” charlottevarnes2024@u.northwestern.edu
Maia Spoto/Daily Senior Staffer
6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
Holiday Happenings s
s
Jan. 2 flight price hikes cause conversation By ILANA AROUGHETI
daily senior staffer @ilana_arougheti
On New Year’s Eve, Communication sophomore Nozizwe Msipa will take a nine-hour flight from London to Chicago. But her dorm doesn’t reopen until the next day, and she still has to figure out where she will stay. This one-way ticket was Plan B. Plan A was to arrive in town a week late, but Msipa worried about falling too far behind if she missed two meetings for each of her classes. In an ordinary year, Msipa would just have arrived on campus the day before classes started, generally a Tuesday in early January. However, this year’s Monday start date means students catching Sunday flights back to campus must buy into what is, for most airlines, the most expensive travel day of the month. “You try to travel back the first or second but guess what, that’s when the entire world wants to travel,” Msipa said. Provost Kathleen Hagerty told The Daily the academic calendar is reverse-engineered. University administration sets the end date for the year and works backwards, typically rotating through a few scheduling models based on the year’s calendar. “Probably every seven years, you get this unusually bad day,” Hagerty said. “This is like a peak of inconvenience.” Hagerty said administrators ultimately realized that setting Tuesday, Jan. 4 as the first day of classes would not disrupt the rest of the year’s calendar. Students including Medill sophomore Julianna Zitron also brought this alternative to the University’s attention, emailing senior administrators to inquire into any flexibility in the Winter Quarter schedule. “I was looking on all the flight price websites, and they’d have a little diagram showing a green flight, a yellow flight or a red flight based on price,” said Zitron. “And the only day that was red for the entire month of January was Jan. 2.” However, Hagerty said these discussions occurred
too late to be implemented. Calendars are usually set three to four years in advance, she said, with heavy exceptions made during the peak of the pandemic. She said flexibility has always varied among individual faculty members for students who miss classes due to travel early in the quarter. Zitron will take an early-morning flight from LaGuardia Airport on Jan. 3, hoping to make it back to Evanston in time to go straight to her 11 a.m. class. She said living in proximity to a large airport, which acts as a hub for two major airlines, means she has a broader time range of options. Meanwhile, her peers from smaller towns and rural areas would not be able to rush back to Evanston so close to the Monday morning bell. Weinberg junior Jasmine Javaheri will return to campus one day later than planned, spending New Year’s Eve with her family and saving about $300 on her flight from LAX Airport. She said returning to campus has been a more flexible process for her in previous quarters and hopes her professors will remain understanding. “I’m pretty sure if I reach out to the professor and explain the situation, they’ll give me the notes and I can easily meet with a TA to catch up,” Javaheri said. “But it is, unfortunately, extra work that I have to go through because the price disparity was so big.” Changes to the calendar are also constrained by federal guidelines determining how long academic terms have to be and when academic terms can start and end for students receiving federal financial aid, Hagerty said. But Weinberg sophomore Rivers Leche said the earlier start date is also harmful to low-income students in particular. For many, she said the cost of traveling right before the start of classes is an impossibility rather than an inconvenience, forcing students to cut short time with their families. Though Leche booked her flight back to campus from Pittsburgh in early November, she decided by late October that she would remain on campus over Thanksgiving weekend. She saved on flights to justify the upcoming cost of her Jan. 1 departure.
Illustration by Hank Yang
Without a Northwestern Monday to start off Winter Quarter, return flight prices around the start of classes have become prohibitively high, leading students to weigh the merits of coming back early or skipping day one.
“That’s maybe not a choice I should have to make, like, ‘Should I go home for Thanksgiving?’” Leche said. “It really just highlights the pattern of ... (the University’s) mindset is never thinking of low-income students or even middle-class students.” As they work around the New Year’s weekend flight hikes, Msipa and Leche have taken to Twitter to voice their frustrations, speaking with other students who have chosen either New Year’s in Evanston or first-day absences. Leche often discusses her takes
on University decisions with Twitter mutuals, she said, and finds it leads to deep, honest conversations. Leche said the app has been a gratifying space for her to continue voicing questions about Winter Break returns as the University calendar pushes on. “There seems to be no reason and no transparency really from the University,” Leche said. “So, it feels very thoughtless and careless, as a student.” ilanaarougheti2023@u.northwestern.edu
Students dish out details on their most cherished holiday traditions By NIXIE STRAZZA
the daily northwestern @nixiestrazza
From flavorful dishes to festive fashion, Northwestern students are ready to ring in the holiday season. The University boasts a diverse student body from a variety of religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. These differences make for many celebratory customs beyond Christmas trees and cranberry sauce — and highlight the importance of tradition in keeping them connected to their roots. Annual rituals can often be a source of comfort, bringing family members together amid their busy lives. For many, this holiday season will mark a return to in-person celebrations after a year of socially distanced festivities. For Weinberg sophomore Liz Vaynblat, Thanksgiving would be incomplete without porcini mushrooms, a prized fungus in European cuisines. Each year her family heads to The Sea Ranch in Sonoma County, California, to hand-pick porcini mushrooms, a skill Vaynblat mastered with the help of her grandfather. “If it’s a good year, we’ll pick 30 mushrooms,” Vaynblat said. “But even if we don’t find mushrooms, it’s just nice to walk in the woods, be in nature and spend time with family.” The tradition began with Vaynblat’s grandparents, who frequented mushroom groves in Russia. Sauteed, roasted or stewed, the mushrooms serve as a reminder of her family’s heritage since immigrating to the U.S. Vaynblat said there’s a special technique for finding mushrooms that self-proclaimed
experts are often hesitant to share. Color, rainfall and location all factor into the perfect forage. “I love the thrill of finding a mushroom,” Vaynblat said. “I actually wrote my college essay on mushroom-picking.” Medill sophomore Joshua Gregory said he does not celebrate a traditional American Thanksgiving. His family of Jamaican immigrants instead opts for a “jerk turkey” at the center of the table. At Christmastime, Gregory said his grandmother whips up Jamaican Festival, a Caribbean fried cornmeal dumpling sold on the streets of the island. Gregory said these traditions aim to preserve the customs and flavors of his family’s homeland and present the chance to reflect on the sacrifices made for his sake. “My grandma is a really important part of my life,” Gregory said. “She practically raised me.” Like Gregory, Weinberg freshman Maya Vuchic said food is a way for her family to keep in touch with their cultural heritage. In Serbian Orthodox tradition, families each celebrate a patron saint with a feast day known as a Slava. Vuchic’s family holds its Slava in mid-December to pay respect to St. Nicholas, who is a popular patron among Serbian families. Illuminated by a Slava candle in the center of the table, the typical spread includes kebabs, Serbian cakes and Žito, a pudding-like dish similar to Cream of Wheat, Vuchic said. Česnica, a traditional Serbian sweet bread, is commonplace at the Slava feast. The name stems from the Serbian word “čest,” meaning “to share.” Vuchic said a silver coin baked into the layers of dough is thought to bring luck to
its recipient. ”Everyone goes up and tears off a piece of this bread,” Vuchic said. “You all eat it together, and it is a very unifying experience.” Vuchic celebrates the holiday with her grandparents, the first members of her family to immigrate to the U.S. Since her grandmother’s recent Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, Vuchic said the Slava holds new meaning and purpose. “It brings her a lot of joy to see the family together and be able to do something that she has done for years and years and years,” Vuchic said. Weinberg sophomore Janitza Luna said she and her extended family celebrate Nochebuena, a Christmas Eve feast common in Latin American households. More than 80 relatives gather in her living room each year for games, music and good food. The night, which includes a wrapping-paper fashion show down Luna’s staircase, is full of entertainment and extends well into the early morning. After the festivities, Luna said partygoers return on Christmas Day for traditional Mexican dinner fare. Shared plates of rice, beans and tamales keep the multigenerational family in contact despite international borders. Many attendees come from Mexico to Luna’s California home, a trip she said makes the night all the more meaningful. “It is not often I see everyone all together,” Luna said. “ You watch people grow up, because you only see them at the Christmas Eve party.” nixiestrazza2024@u.northwestern.edu
Charlotte Che/The Daily Northwestern
THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
7
Evanston events that will kindle your heart By ELENA HUBERT
the daily northwestern @elenahubert25
If you’re in need of holiday cheer, look no further than these local happenings. Whether you want to browse holiday retail window displays, build a wooden family tree or watch an LED robot dancer at a menorah lighting ceremony, we’ve got you covered. Mark your calendars — here are some of the holiday-themed events taking place in Evanston and the surrounding area, listed in order of start date:
Winter arts and craft expo
Campus events usher in the seasonal spirit By JOANNA HOU
the daily northwestern @joannah_11
The holiday season is in full swing at Northwestern. From student-hosted performances to universitywide events, here’s The Daily’s guide to holiday celebrations on campus this year.
Shop Local BINGO Norris University Center is hosting a Shop Local BINGO game on Dec. 3 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The University will hand out gift cards from small businesses around Evanston. There will also be other giveaways, including free food.
Holiday Drive Weinberg senior Karina Karbo-Wright is organizing a Holiday Drive with food, decorations and other goods for low-income NU students and Evanston and Chicago residents. The drive is on Dec. 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. in Parkes Hall 122, in cooperation with Associated Student Government. “Northwestern does not do a ton for poor students on campus and relatively nothing for poor faculty and even less for poor people they often displace around Evanston,” Karbo-Wright, ASG’s executive officer of justice and inclusion, said. “As ASG’s trying to become more justice-centered, I think mutual aid is a really important pillar of practicing justice and equity.” Participants can take home 20 free items from the drive. Political education services will also be available. Karbo-Wright said they are still looking for volunteers to help run the drive. Interested volunteers can email them at karinakarbo-wright2022@u.northwestern.edu.
Bienen Holiday Concerts The Bienen School of Music is holding holiday concerts on Saturday and Sunday. They are free and
open to all. At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall will host a concert featuring Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra. Read more here. On Sunday, at Alice Millar Chapel, “A Festival of Lessons and Carols” will start at 10:40 a.m. Read about it here.
Jazz Nutcracker Students in the New Movement Project are presenting a twist on the Nutcracker. Musicians are playing jazz arrangements of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s suite, accompanied by jazz dancers. Bienen senior Albert Kuo, McCormick senior Erin Mohr and McCormick and Communication senior Madeline Durmowicz are leading the effort. “It has everything you could possibly want. You know, the music’s fantastic. The dancing is gonna be phenomenal,” Mohr said. “It’s a holiday classic reimagined, so you recognize it, but it feels brand new.” Watch their performances at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in the Wirtz Ballroom.
RUF International Student Christmas Party On Friday at 6:30 p.m., international students can enjoy a Christmas party hosted by the Reformed University Fellowship in The Great Room. RUF will serve dinner with vegetarian options and host Christmas activities for the event.
Cocoa, Coffee, & Cookies As part of the fall exam relief series, Norris is hosting a snack session to help students de-stress and prepare for their finals. The first 25 students to register receive free NU mugs. All other attendees can also enjoy hot drinks and cookies. This event takes place on Monday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the ground floor of Norris.
The Evanston Art Center will host its 19th Annual Winter Arts and Crafts Expo from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20. The event is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A preview party will take place on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on the Evanston Art Center website.
Handmade gift market from the Woman’s Club The Woman’s Club of Evanston’s annual Holiday Bazaar, a juried market of handmade art and gifts, will run Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, although donations are welcome and will benefit the club’s Community Grants Fund. Attendees are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event and must wear masks if over the age of 2.
Drive-thru lights experience Northbrook’s Willow Hill Golf Course will host its first annual Winter Magic drive-thru lights experience from Nov. 20 to Jan. 2. The event will take place nightly from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., weather permitting. With themed sections such as snowflakes and candyland, the mile-long drive-thru event also features 50 Christmas trees decorated with lights and light tunnels. Proceeds benefit Erika’s Lighthouse, a non-profit focused on adolescent mental health education. Tickets, which must be purchased online in advance, cost $45 per car.
Holiday shopping passport To support small businesses, holiday shoppers can pick up a Shopping Passport at participating stores and get special offers from Small Business Saturday (Nov. 27) to Dec. 18. Customers spending over $100 with their Passport will get a $20 gift card valid at over 60 local businesses including Bookends & Beginnings, Gearhead Outfitters and Madison Grace.
Holiday window decorating contest For the seventh year in a row, Evanston businesses will decorate their windows for a festive competition.
the daily northwestern @selenakuznikov
While the sun starts to set earlier and the weather chills day by day, Chicago’s festive spirit emerges. Before settling down to study for finals, head to the city to find an abundance of holiday classics and hidden gems. Here are The Daily’s top picks:
Christkindlmarket Chicago Enjoy warm hot chocolate and an array of delectable delights at the Christkindlmarket, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this winter. Open at 50 W Washington St. from Nov. 19 through Dec. 24, admission to the market is free. You can also purchase its famous mugs and other products from the online marketplace. A bit closer to Northwestern’s Evanston Campus, the market’s Wrigleyville location will run from Nov. 19 through Dec. 31 and offers a similarly lively ambience.
Menorah lighting celebration The Tannenbaum Chabad House is hosting a menorah lighting celebration at Fountain Square on Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m. Northwestern men’s soccer midfielder Rom Brown (Weinberg ’24) will light the menorah, and Evanston mayor Daniel Biss and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) will offer greetings. Attendees can then enjoy a live performance from Bienen School of Music students, an LED robot dancer and Hanukkah treats.
Tree lighting ceremony Evanston’s annual tree lighting ceremony will be held at Fountain Square Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Evanston Children’s Choir, NU a cappella group Purple Haze and special characters from the Actors Gymnasium will perform. Biss will join Santa and Mrs. Claus to light the tree. Hot cocoa, cookies and other refreshments will be available for purchase.
Wooden family tree workshop The Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse is hosting a holiday workshop in which participants will construct their own tabletop wooden trees. Tickets can be purchased online for $30 per family for the event, which will happen Dec. 4 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the organization’s Hartrey Avenue warehouse. Masks are required.
Black-owned businesses holiday pop-up shop Red Gal Events, founded by Da Jerk Pit owner Ebony Love and indie book author Blaq Carrie B, will host Da Blaq Affair, a holiday pop-up shop for Black-owned businesses. The free event will take place Dec. 5 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center on Foster Street. Vendors will sell food, cosmetics, clothing and more. There will be a cash bar, complimentary photo booth, free raffle and music by DJ MOB, who is from Evanston.
Holiday Delights a cappella concert A cappella chorus Bella Voce will visit St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for its Holiday Delights concert series Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. The chorus will sing both holiday favorites and carols for a celebration of “togetherness, humanity, love and light,” according to its website. Tickets are available for purchase online. elenahubert2025@u.northwestern.edu
joannahou2025@u.northwestern.edu
Chicago’s must see December attractions By SELENA KUZNIKOV
The contest, which will last from Nov. 27 to Dec. 19, is themed “Nature & Wonder.” Residents can vote for their favorite windows from a showcase on the Evanston Holiday Window Contest Facebook page. Awards will be given to the best overall display, best display of theme and best incorporation of product or service.
Lincoln Park ZooLights Take a stroll through illuminated tunnels and past towering candy canes at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Open on select dates between Nov. 19 and Jan. 2, admission is $5 per person Wednesdays through Sundays, and free on Mondays and Tuesdays. ZooLights will have a limited capacity once again this year, so the website advises prospective light viewers to grab their tickets as soon as possible.
Jack Frost Winter Walk & Christmas Tree Farm Located at 1265 W Le Moyne St. in the Near North Side, the Jack Frost Winter Walk & Christmas Tree Farm offers activities ranging from ice skating to axe throwing and bumper cars. The venue’s decorations, like sleighs and Christmas trees set the stage for the perfect Instagram post. Plus, pick out a Christmas tree from the tree farm and explore a variety of food options like themed doughnuts and special seasonal drinks. Ticket
Angeli Mittal/Daily Senior Staffer
prices vary based on date, and the pop-up will be open from Dec. 2 to Jan. 2, 2022.
Amaze Light Festival at Impact Field With seven different themed worlds of light displays and a light show every half hour, the Amaze Light Festival at Impact Field right outside of Chicago in the Village of Rosemont is an event you won’t want to miss. The light festival, complete with a candy shop and festive food and drinks, opened Nov. 19 and will continue through Jan. 2, 2022. Tickets are $23 for adults and $18 for children ages 2 through 12.
City of Chicago Christmas Tree The 108th annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree lighting happened Nov. 19. The 51-foot Blue Spruce tree is located in Millennium Park near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street in Downtown Chicago and will stay lit from 6 a.m. to 11p.m. until Jan. 9, 2022.
103.5 Kiss FM Jingle Ball Just outside of the Chicago area, 103.5 Kiss FM will host its annual Jingle Ball at the Allstate Arena. Live music makes its return with a lineup including headliners like Doja Cat, Lil Nas X and Saweetie. The holiday-themed show will grace the city on Dec. 7. Guests planning to attend must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the show. Masks are required in the arena and ticket prices vary by seat.
Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park Surrounded by skyscrapers and immaculate Chicago architecture, the Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon welcomes skaters of any level. The ribbon opened for the season on Nov. 19, and ticket pricing varies throughout the season. Reservations can be made online to enjoy the scenery and atmosphere of the Downtown skating rink. selenakuznikov2025@u.northwestern.edu
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
SPORTS
@DailyNU_Sports
SWIMMING
NU JUNIOR BECOMES OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST By NATHAN ANSELL
the daily northwestern @nathanjansell
Ask anyone in the swimming world about Northwestern junior and Olympic medalist Federico Burdisso, and they’ll mention his coolness under pressure. Ask his older brother and Wildcat teammate, junior Alessandro Burdisso. “A lot of athletes have a hard time because of the pressure, COVID rules or that no one could watch,” he said. “(For) Federico, it’s about being competitive.” Ask NU’s director of swimming and diving, Katie Robinson. “About expectation or pressure … it gets pretty intense,” Robinson said. “(He does) a great job of handling that.” Ask his personal coach, Simone Palombi. “He has no mental limits,” Palombi said. “He thinks he can do everything. That’s his power.” And yet, surrounding the most crucial races of his life at this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Burdisso hit a psychological wall in addition to the pool walls. Having completed three events and won two medals in less than a week, emotional fatigue was setting in. “I’m not really a stressed guy. I don’t get anxiety, but I felt it there, definitely,” Burdisso said. “I didn’t leave those Olympic Games with good feelings.”
The shallow end Alessandro and Federico were born in Pavia, Italy, located 20 miles south of Milan. It wasn’t long before the brothers took to the water — Alessandro remembered they started swimming around ages 3 and 2, respectively. “We had a summer house near the sea, and my mom didn’t really want to pay attention to us every time,” Alessandro said. “From there, it just went up and up.” “Up and up” came rapidly. After their first competitions about six years later, the brothers continued to train side by side. Federico began his career as a freestyler, and his butterfly results
caught up as years passed. When Robinson first met Federico years later, he was exceptional in both strokes — but what really set him apart, she said, was his prowess as a “world-class flyer.” Federico realized this, too. “Practices in fly are just much better than practicing freestyle, and I enjoy them more,” Federico said. “But fly is hard. In a race, 200 fly, it kills me. Sometimes I wish I was doing freestyle.” As his fitness improved, Federico’s 200-meter fly times progressed like never before. At the 2017 European Junior Swimming Championships in Netanya, Israel, he shaved more than four seconds off the time he had posted at the Italian National Championships only two months prior. Burdisso, only 15 at the time, swam a then-personalbest 1:57.83 to earn a silver medal behind Hungary’s Kristóf Milák. Coaches noticed. Burdisso would go on to win the 4x100-meter medley relay before leaving Netanya, helping Italy to a new junior world record. “After that, I was just a different athlete,” Burdisso said. “I don’t know what changed, but I was just a different person.”
Burdisso goes international Federico had always wanted to study in the U.S. Shortly after Netanya, he and Alessandro transferred to Mount Kelly School in the United Kingdom to hone their English to a level sufficient to attend American universities. The boarding school was a transitional opportunity for the Burdissos’ academics, but it also had a 50-meter pool and a renowned swimming program with an Olympic pedigree. Meanwhile, the accolades kept coming. After a six-medal haul (including two golds) at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival, Burdisso took his talents farther abroad, winning medals in Edinburgh, Scotland; Geneva and Indianapolis over the next year. In the summer of 2018, Stefano Burdisso, Federico’s father, contacted Palombi to coach his son. Palombi’s coaching program started unusually
— he sent part of Federico’s training regimen at a distance for Federico to complete alone. “At the beginning, I didn’t think that I could train Federico (that way),” Palombi said. “It was very strange for a young swimmer.” Federico then began training with the rest of Palombi’s team. Palombi helped the young swimmer with his technique and race mindset, establishing a “mental network” between the two. It worked — he won bronze at the European Aquatics Championships two months later. Shortly after, Federico caught Robinson’s attention. With the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires approaching, Robinson was attending to coach a different athlete, but she too had been in touch with Stefano. She watched as Federico secured three medals in three days. “He didn’t know me then, so he was really reserved and very respectful,” Robinson said. “He was looking forward to the opportunity to both compete at a high level and attend a great academic institution.”
College, calmness and COVID-19 Federico amassed a slew of honors over the next 18 months. He took the 200 fly at the 2019 Italian National Championships, set school records in the 200 fly and 200 free and became the first Wildcat since 2015 to be named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week — twice. “(He’s) like a Ferrari,” Palombi said. “Always gives everything to win.” When the pandemic halted competitions for eight months, Federico decided to remain in Italy with the national team. Even though he was training without Alessandro and Robinson, Federico could work on long course technique (NCAA competition uses 25-yard pools, less than half of Olympic-sized pools) and relay transitions with his longtime Italian teammates. Federico competed in short course events at first, but he convinced coaches to initiate long course training four days a week, including Sundays. Present or not, Palombi could still
coach Federico on his mentality. “He has lots of quotes and phrases that make you think about life and the state of calm and peace,” Federico said. “(Like) Bruce Lee, visualization.” According to Palombi, Federico, a statistics major and mathematics minor, concentrates better when he studies. Palombi, who himself has an economics degree, said Federico is “bored and more difficult to train” if he isn’t mentally engaged. Although Federico considers himself somewhat introverted, he said racing without spectators was an adjustment. “Some people don’t like the public; they want to focus,” Federico said. “But without the public, there’s nothing to do.”
The road to Tokyo With the Olympic Games on the horizon, Federico was laser-focused, and he paused his freestyle training entirely. He defended his 200 fly national title and finished runner-up in the 100 fly, qualifying for the Olympics in both events. He added two medals at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary, before flying to Tokyo. Federico survived the 200 fly heats and semifinals, finishing seventh and fourth to reach the medal race. According to Robinson, Federico’s goal for Tokyo was just to make the final, aiming for a medal in 2024. Federico started the final strong, finishing the first 100 meters only one-tenth of a second behind the leader. “That’s one of his strengths: he was out pretty quick with the rest of the field,” Robinson said. “One of the things he’s gotten better at is maintaining that power and speed throughout the entirety of the race.” Federico reached the 150-meter mark in second place. He had enough energy to hold on for the bronze medal behind Milák, the same swimmer who bested him in Netanya and many times since, and Japan’s Tomoru Honda. Federico became the first athlete to win an Olympic medal while enrolled at NU since 1956. The atmosphere was unsettling
for Federico, and pandemic-related restrictions in the Olympic Village did not make for easy adjustments. Even after he picked up a second bronze in the 4x100-meter medley relay, he felt exhaustion “more than feeling good.” “We couldn’t go out from the village; we couldn’t see other sports,” Burdisso said. “After our last race, we had 48 hours to go back … it was really stressful.”
Back to Evanston Federico returned to NU struggling to find motivation in smaller events. He took a monthlong hiatus, resumed his freestyle efforts and recovered for the NCAA season. Recently, he helped break a 14-year-old school relay record at the Purdue Invitational. Robinson, who acknowledges Federico may not be back “at the top of his game” yet, is not concerned with his post-Olympic progress. For her, results in February and March — championship season — are more important. Four months removed from Tokyo, Federico Burdisso is largely the same person. Even after being recognized at an NU football game, he rarely boasts about his achievements. “If you ask, he’s gonna show you,” Alessandro said. “He doesn’t go to you like, ‘Hey, I won a medal!’ nathanansell2022@u.northwestern.edu
FOOTBALL
CATS CONCLUDE SEASON WITH LOSS TO ILLINOIS By DREW SCHOTT
daily senior staffer @dschott328
Tony Adams was the first player to touch the Land of Lincoln Trophy. After receiving Illinois’ newest piece of hardware, the Fighting Illini defensive back ran to his right, with numerous teammates in near lockstep with him. Soon, they all reached one of Memorial Stadium’s end zones. At least four Illinois players put a hand on the Land of Lincoln Trophy as it was lifted towards the night sky. Meanwhile, Northwestern headed towards the locker room. As the Fighting Illini (5-7, 4-5 Big Ten) celebrated their first victory over the Wildcats in seven years, NU (3-9, 1-8) left the field for the final time in 2021 following a 47-14 loss that gave the squad its second three-win season in three years. “We got to start from the ground up,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We got to get stronger. We got to get our edge back.” The Cats locked in their spot at the bottom of the Big Ten West, with no division wins on their resume.
Rotating starting quarterbacks and a struggling defense under first-year coordinator Jim O’Neil were issues that affected NU throughout the season and were on display against Illinois in Champaign. The Fighting Illini, holders of the conference’s worst passing offense ahead of this weekend, found success through the air as quarterback Brandon Peters threw for 242 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Meanwhile, senior quarterback Andrew Marty was replaced by sophomore
Ryan Hilinski in the first quarter, who proceeded to throw for 123 yards and an interception. A rushing attack led by running back Chase Brown earned 217 yards on the ground, giving Illinois 459 yards of offense. It marked the eighth time the Cats gave up 400 or more yards of offense this season. “We’ll get back to it really soon,” Hilinski said,” because we don’t want this to ever happen again.” NU’s first miscue occurred on its second drive of the game. Marty
prepared to release a pass, but the ball slipped out of his hands and hit the turf. During the following possession, the Cats punted after Marty recovered his own fumble. “We turned the ball over early, gave up explosive plays and had opportunities to get off the field,” Fitzgerald said. “Today was kind of a microcosm of our season.” Hilinski was then intercepted by Fighting Illini defensive back Jartavius Martin. The miscue turned into points courtesy of a 21-yard touchdown run from Williams, who finished with 113 receiving yards. Even though he connected with three receivers on passes of 10 yards or more en route to a one-yard touchdown run, Hilinski’s scoring march only cut the deficit for a short time. At halftime, Illinois led 37-7 and racked up 334 yards of offense. The Fighting Illini’s performance in the second half included only its only turnover of the game and just one more touchdown. But it was enough to hold off their in-state rival, who previously won six games in a row against them, largely thanks to eight consecutive scoring drives. Fitzgerald laid out his plans for NU to bounce back in 2022. Finding
consistency in all aspects of the game and schematically analyzing areas where the team struggled and positional depth are goals, as well as returning to the “championship standard.” Fitzgerald proclaimed that “this type of record will never happen again” on Nov. 30, 2019 after finishing 3-9. Nearly two years later, the Cats are in a similar position to where they were that day in Champaign. Yet there are reasons for optimism. NU has been to two of the past four conference championship games. Players such as sophomore running back Evan Hull — who rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown against Illinois — return. For graduate linebacker Chris Bergin, who played in his 58th consecutive and final game Saturday, what the Cats can achieve in the future is entirely up to them. “I saw growth throughout the season,” Bergin said. “I saw maturing. I saw ownership of leadership by younger guys. This team going for ward has all the potential in the world. The sky ’s the limit for them.” drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu