The Daily Northwestern - May 30, 2013

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ARTS The Current We may not know who the headliner is, but we sure know how to do Dillo Day right » PAGE 8

Andy’s creates custard treat for city anniversary » PAGE 2

OPINION Kamel Defending beliefs is beneficial » PAGE 4

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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, May 30, 2013

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM

CAPS to add 3 therapists NU approves funding for new positions Behind the budget The numbers on CAPS funding Current NU ratio of full-time therapists to full-time students

3 New Full-Time Positions

1 : 1,245 NU ratio with new hires

Number of students who accessed CAPS

1,910 (2011-12)

1 : 1,000 Ratio at peer institutions

2,045 (2012-13)

1 : 945 0

1,500

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NU apologizes after official mocks parents, counselors

The University apologized Wednesday morning for a fake internal database that mocked parents and guidance counselors of Northwestern applicants. Screenshots of the phony classification system and email correspondence about it were posted earlier this week on admissions message board College Confidential. The images show Michael Mills, associate provost for university enrollment, sharing with more than two dozen colleagues a made-up program in which NU applicants are sorted by their parents’ and guidance counselors’ apparent gripes about admissions decisions. The categorizations include “Go to $%%!”, “I’ll call my %$^&ing Senator,” “Who’s your boss?” and “I know Pat Ryan!” — the NU trustee (Weinberg ‘59) after which Ryan Field and Welsh-Ryan Arena are named. “It was an ill-advised attempt at

humor by a member of our staff,” University spokesman Al Cubbage said in a statement. “It was an internal email that misguidedly made fun of the abrasive and threatening calls and emails our admission office occasionally gets from irate parents and counselors about our admissions decisions. Northwestern strives to treat all our admission applicants respectfully and appropriately. This was an error and we apologize for it.” In an April 26 email shown in the screenshots, Mills promoted the database to his coworkers, including Christopher Watson, dean of undergraduate admission. “I’m taking suggestions for a new field I’ve created, called ‘Angry Calls from Counselors and Parents,’” Mills wrote. “Be sure to check out the Custom Values already there…” As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the screenshots were no longer on College Confidential. Cubbage declined to comment further. — Patrick Svitek

Infographic by Walter Ko and Kelsey Ott/The Daily Northwestern

By CAT ZAKRZEWSKI

daily senior staffer @Cat_Zakrzewski

After repeated calls for improved mental health services on campus, Student Affairs has approved the funding of three additional therapists for Counseling and Psychological Services next academic year. The Undergraduate Budget Priorities Committee announced the additional funding in an email to all students Tuesday. CAPS received as many new positions

this year as Student Affairs funded in the last three years combined. John Dunkle, executive director of CAPS, said he has been asking for additional staff since 2010. Student pressure for more staff at CAPS elevated this year after the deaths of three students, including the suicides of Weinberg junior Alyssa Weaver and McCormick sophomore Dmitri Teplov. The changes to CAPS come as a record number of Northwestern students are seeking out its mental health services. For the first time ever, more than 2,000 students have used CAPS this academic year, and Spring Quarter isn’t over yet.

The annual number of students accessing CAPS increased this year by about 7 percent compared to last year and has steadily risen since 2010, Dunkle said. “I’m really pleased, to be honest,” said Patricia Telles-Irvin, vice president of student affairs, about the number of students using mental health services. “It’s an incredibly important resource on campus that students should use.” Dunkle said he thinks the increasing number of students accessing mental health services is in line with national trends and rising figures at schools » See BUDGET, page 6

Source: College Confidential screenshot

‘SHOVE IT!’ In this screenshot posted earlier this week on admissions message board College Confidential, Michael Mills, associate provost for university enrollment, shows off a fake internal database that groups Northwestern applicants by their parents’ and guidance counselors’ complaints. University spokesman Al Cubbage said Wednesday it was an “ill-advised attempt at humor” that was not intended for public release.

Senate OKs 2 exec spots; diversity post still empty By SOPHIA BOLLAG

daily senior staffer @sophiabollag

Hillary Back/The Daily Northwestern

CHIEF CONFIRMED SESP junior David Harris is sworn in as chief of staff at an Associated Student Government meeting Wednesday. Julia Watson was also confirmed for a cabinet position as the public relations vice president.

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

Associated Student Government’s top diversity post will remain vacant through the summer after the latest nominee withdrew early Wednesday ahead of the weekly Senate meeting. Senate filled two other vacancies in the cabinet at the meeting. The position of diversity and inclusion associate vice president was the subject of controversy three weeks ago when Senate rejected Medill sophomore Stephen Piotrkowski due to concerns about his qualifications and ability to connect with multicultural groups on campus. After Piotrkowski was blocked, ASG began the search for a new nominee, up for confirmation Wednesday. An ASG committee chose Weinberg junior Aanchal Narang, but she told top ASG officials early Wednesday that she couldn’t take on the position, citing its time commitment. “She called me ... and she was kind of distraught,” executive vice president Alex Van Atta said. “She realized she wasn’t going to be able to dedicate the amount of time she knew the position required.” Van Atta, a McCormick junior, said Narang may have been worried about facing the same aggressive

questioning Piotrkowski did, but Van Atta did not think it influenced her decision. “I think it would be hard not to take it into consideration,” he said. With the post empty, student life vice president Anna Kottenstette and academic vice president Sofia Sami will oversee the diversity and inclusion committee for the rest of the academic year and summer. Sami said although she understands why someone may pass on the position, she was disappointed Narang withdrew from consideration. “It was an unfortunate circumstance,” said Sami, a Weinberg junior. “That’s how we all felt.” Kottenstette said although the empty position will be challenging for everyone in ASG, she and Sami will work to ensure the committee functions without a leader. “Moving through the summer, it will be interesting,” said Kottenstette, a Communication junior. “It will be keeping in contact with people over the summer and making sure that projects are being maintained. Obviously it is not an ideal situation for anyone.” Senate quickly confirmed SESP junior David Harris as chief of staff and and Weinberg sophomore Julia Watson as public relations vice president. At the same meeting where Senate

It was an unfortunate circumstance. That’s how we all felt. Sofia Sami, academic vice president

rejected Piotrkowski for the diversity post, it also denied Watson for public relations vice president. Members of ASG attributed the failed confirmation to lasting tension from a close presidential election in which Weinberg junior Ani Ajith beat Harris. Watson was Ajith’s campaign manager, and some senators thought she was chosen over Harris for the public relations position for political reasons. Another nominee, Weinberg junior Stephanie Hong, was rejected for chief of staff in what some senators also called a political move. When Watson was renominated for public relations vice president Wednesday, senators asked her only five questions and did not question Harris. At the first nominations meeting, debate and questioning over the two positions lasted about an hour. Senators also confirmed SESP freshman Chris Harlow as the director of residential life, who will work under Kottenstette. sophiabollag2016@u.northwestern.edu

INSIDE Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8


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