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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, April 17, 2013
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University previews new student center Early plan includes sports bar, expanded Norbucks, eco-friendly design By JUNNIE KWON
the daily northwestern @junejune423
Source: Associated Student Government
CENTER OF ATTENTION University officials unveiled an artistic rendering of a new-and-improved Norris University Center. The proposed project would cost $150 million but would likely not begin for at least five years.
The words “sports bar” immediately attracted students’ attention at the presentation of the future Norris University Center on Wednesday night before an Associated Student Government meeting. Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, assistant vice president for student auxiliary services, and Kelly Schaefer, executive director of the student center, released conceptual plans and a 3-D animated blueprint for the new center to students. Although Kirchmeier said ASG demands for a renovation date back to two years after the student center opened in 1973, the issue remained dormant until last year. “We all agree, as people have before you, that this facility doesn’t necessarily meet the needs of students today,” she said. The new concept proposal, which would cost $150 million, expands the center’s size from 170,000 to 254,000
gross square footage and moves the loading dock underground. Students, faculty, staff and administrators worked with consulting firm Brailsford & Dunlavey in association with Workshop Architects, Inc. to conduct a yearlong comprehensive study on the student center. As part of the study, the team analyzed a campus-wide survey, which resulted in 4,000 student responses and 1,700 faculty and staff responses. “That is almost unheard of as a response rate, especially at Northwestern, so that shows that this is a pressing issue for the community,” Kirchmeier said. The survey showed respondents appreciated the current location’s proximity to the lake. To resolve location battles, the team analyzed the student center in relation to the University’s future framework, which drives traffic toward the lake. After weighing four concepts on two sites, the team decided to keep Norris’ current location. “One of the architects looked at the group and said, ‘I don’t know that I want » See NORRIS, page 7
Law dean voices support for undocumented students By CAT ZAKRZEWSKI
daily senior staffer @Cat_Zakrzewski
The dean of Northwestern’s law school announced this evening his support for admitting and enrolling undocumented immigrants. In an email to the School of Law community, Dean Daniel Rodriguez said he has started drafting a formal statement on the issue. The law school currently does not address
undocumented students in its written policies. “My position on this is that the law school should be fully open to all students, even those who may be undocumented, because of their immigration status is not relevant to their ability to learn and contribute to our community,” Rodriguez wrote. Last academic year, the Graduate School issued a memorandum expressing its support for admitting and enrolling undocumented immigrants. University spokesman Al Cubbage
said for undergraduate students, the admissions process for undocumented immigrants is similar to the process for international students. “We treat them as citizens from the country from which they are a citizen,” Cubbage said. “That’s the policy.” University President Morton Schapiro explained that the University is not need blind for international students and does not meet their full need requirements. Cubbage said that like international students, undocumented students are
not eligible for government financial aid, including Pell grants, Stafford loans or the Illinois monetary assistance program. Schapiro advocated for citizenship for undocumented high school students who want to attend college in the U.S. “If they’re brilliant enough to get into Northwestern, wouldn’t it be great if they were able to afford and actually come?” he said. “We want a rich, diverse population of students who are going to be world leaders and
can educate one another in the process. I’m sure that there are countless numbers of kids who could benefit from a Northwestern education and could benefit their peers while they all got an education together.” Cubbage noted the University’s long-time support of the DREAM Act, a decade-old bill to grant citizenship to young undocumented immigrants pursuing college degrees or serving in the military for a minimum of two years. czak15@u.northwestern.edu
ASG Election
Multicultural groups press candidates on diversity By JEANNE KUANG
the daily northwestern @jeannekuang
Students across campus cultural groups said at a Wednesday debate that they are unsatisfied with the Associated Student Government candidates’ diversity platforms. “The idea (is) that they only speak about diversity when they come to talk to diversity groups,” Alianza co-president Sobeida Peralta said. “It just gets down to who is more genuine about things. It’s just hard to find someone that actually cares and that cared before campaigning.” The Coalition of Colors, which encompasses nine socio-political groups, hosted the debate, which Communication senior Jazzy Johnson moderated. The four candidates for ASG president and their running mates discussed empowering the multicultural community, reaching out to international students and persuading administrators to address issues of inclusion on campus. The contenders for academic vice president and student life vice president
Skylar Zhang/Daily Senior Staffer
DIVERSITY DEBATE Associated Student Government candidates discuss their diversity platforms at a debate hosted by Coalition of Colors on Wednesday.
briefly introduced their platforms to the audience before the debate. About 40 students attended the debate in Swift Hall and asked challenging questions about the candidates’ concern for campus inclusion. Presidential candidate David Harris stressed the importance of personal experience. “I’m starting to understand what it means to at least appear to be privileged,” he said, noting that he had been unwilling to think about diversity and inclusion until he was forced to when ASG discussed the
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ski team party that sparked a campus dialogue about inclusion last year. Presidential candidate Benison Choi acknowledged that campus culture surrounding diversity needs to change. “I think it’s very important, not just to reach out to students, but to do our best to create a safe space for people to talk about who they are,” the SESP junior said. Weinberg junior and vice presidential candidate Henry Brooke said he wants to enable students and groups to bring up issues themselves rather than have ASG “fight for you.”
“We do not know the problems that you face, which is why we can’t speak on your behalf,” Brooke said. “What we can do is put you in contact with the people you need to be talking to.” The candidates also mentioned other hot-button topics related to inclusion, such as campus mental health services. Students asked how the candidates would support and promote cultural student groups if elected. Presidential candidate Ani Ajith, a Weinberg junior, said currently ASGfunded events for minority interest groups
rarely attract outside students. He suggested finding ways to share culture. Ajith, a former Daily staffer, proposed a “mental health screening day” in partnership with CAPS and For Members Only to “show that it’s something that’s important to all of us and break down these barriers.” “This space, maybe on Deering Meadow or wherever we’re having it, is as much your space as it is mine, because we are Northwestern students and » See COLORS, page 7
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