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The Daily Northwestern Tuesday, April 19, 2016
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
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Cilento ticket violated rules By TYLER PAGER
daily senior staffer @tylerpager
Associated Student Government’s election commission has ruled that Christina Cilento and Macs Vinson’s campaign violated election guidelines by failing to disclose they had received information about the voting margin while polls were still open during this year’s presidential election. In a statement released Monday, the election commission said it found Cilento and Vinson’s campaign violated section 1e of the election guidelines, which states “campaign personnel may not serve on the Election Commission.” The commission ruled the campaign’s use of the leaks and decision not to come forward about them constitutes SESP sophomore Kevin Corkran, the commission member who leaked the information, as “working on behalf of ” Cilento and Vinson’s campaign. As a result, the election commission, which is responsible for overseeing the elections, is petitioning ASG’s Rules Committee to consider sanctions, which could include a revote, public apology or impeachment. This situation is “without precedent in institutional memory,” the commission said in its statement. Cilento said although she disagrees with the commission’s decision, she
will fully cooperate with the Rules Committee moving forward. “I’m just going to let Rules determine what the appropriate action is,” she said. “I just want to share our perspective … so I’ll be working with them in whatever they bring up.” ASG parliamentarian Shelby Reitman, a Weinberg sophomore who chairs the Rules Committee, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Weinberg senior Scott Spicer, who ended his term as ASG parliamentarian earlier this month, said per the ASG Code, the Rules Committee must hold a hearing within 48 hours of receiving the petition from the election commission. He said the committee can decide the violation does not warrant punishment, but if the committee decides to recommend a punishment for Cilento and Vinson, Senate would have to approve the recommendation by a two-thirds vote. On Thursday, The Daily reported Corkran leaked information to Cilento and Vinson at about noon and 4 p.m. on the final day of voting. However, Cilento had originally told both The Daily and the election commission her campaign only received information that the voting margin was “extremely close” once, at about noon. She later admitted to receiving » See ASG, page 6
Courtney Morrison/The Daily Northwestern
TALKING IT OUT Evanston/Skokie School District 65 superintendent Paul Goren and District 65 Policy Committee chairwoman Suni Kartha (Weinberg ‘97) discuss how the board can implement equity policy at a committee meeting Monday. Community members who attended the meeting suggested a partnership with the Organization for Positive Action and Leadership.
District 65 addresses equity Officials hope to implement policy soon By RISHIKA DUGYALA
the daily northwestern @rdugyala822
Evanston/Skokie School District 65’s Policy Committee discussed Monday how to address equity — specifically racial equity — at the first public follow-up meeting
Science Club inspires students NU program helps teach middle-schoolers By ALLYSON CHIU
the daily northwestern @_allysonchiu
Four years ago, Chicago Public School student Evelyn H. didn’t like science. This year, the 13-year-old won her school’s science fair with a project testing how many layers of insulation are needed to keep a house warm. “I felt like science wasn’t my thing, but now it’s very interesting to learn about it,” she said. “Now when we learn about it, I try to ask questions to understand it.” She said her change of heart came after she participated in Science Club, a free afterschool program sponsored by Northwestern that aims to help students understand science concepts while sharpening critical thinking and problem solving skills. Evelyn is one of about 100 students in the Chicago area who attend the club, composed of middle school students from low-income households. Students attend weekly meetings at the Pedersen-McCormick Boys & Girls Club, a youth center in Chicago and the group’s inaugural site. The club was founded in 2008 by Science in Society, a research center for science education and public engagement at NU. Rebecca » See SCIENCE CLUB, page 6
Daugherty, the assistant director of Science in Society, said the organization hopes to foster excitement for STEM topics while building relationships between the University and the greater Chicago community. To widen the program’s reach, administrators have plans to expand and have started sessions at a second location at the True Value Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, Daugherty
said. Throughout the year, students cover topics ranging from neuroscience to food science, Daugherty said. Th is quarter, students at the Pedersen-McCormick club are learning about biomedical engineering by working in teams to construct a working prosthetic hand from household items such as aluminum foil, rubber bands, pipe cleaners and paper clips.
Allyson Chiu/The Daily Northwestern
SCIENCE RULES Northwestern graduate student Nisan Hubbard helps his students devise a prosthetic arm out of household items during Science Club at the Pedersen-McCormick Boys & Girls Club. The program uses a hands-on approach to encourage interest in STEM education.
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since the issue was introduced in December. Both committee and community members expressed their frustration during the meeting at Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, 1500 McDaniel Ave. Community members were displeased with the board’s delayed response in addressing equity, while committee members
said they were upset at being perceived as “uncaring.” “For us as a board to get defensive about why the frustration is there is not productive,” Policy Committee chairwoman Suni Kartha (Weinberg ‘97) said. “Instead of coming from a position of being defensive, we have » See EQUITY, page 6
Student bathroom bill introduced Ill. House legislation bases access to ‘private spaces’ on sex at birth By VICTORIA CABALES
the daily northwestern
A bill that would prevent transgender students from using the bathrooms and locker rooms of the gender they identify with has been introduced to the Illinois House of Representatives, potentially compromising Evanston’s recent gender neutral bathroom ordinance if passed. The bill, introduced by State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) would prevent Illinois students from entering “private spaces,” including bathrooms, locker rooms and rooms used during overnight school trips, that are not designated for their legal gender. The representative said he believes the bill is important because of the “anatomical differences” of students of different sexes. Bills similar to Morrison’s have been emerging throughout the country in states such as North Carolina and Tennessee. “[The bill] will help school communities because it allows schools to provide privacy for all the students in the school building,” Morrison said.
“As a representative, I hear from many constituents that they desire that privacy when they’re in those intimate, vulnerable spaces, such as restrooms and locker rooms.” The bill also makes accommodations for single-occupancy restrooms and changing rooms upon request if students feel they do not identify with their anatomical sex. “I believe that it is a reasonable and compassionate compromise,” Morrison said. If passed, Morrison’s bill may alter efforts made by Evanston officials last year to make bathroom facilities in the city more welcoming to the LGBT community. In November, Evanston City Council passed an ordinance requiring gender neutral signage for public facilities and businesses in the city with only one single-occupancy bathroom. If there are three or more restrooms in a facility, at least one of them must be labeled as gender-neutral. According to the ordinance, “‘each single stall restroom [should be] accessible to all gender identities.” In Chapter 21 of the Evanston Human Rights Ordinance, gender identity is defined as a person’s self-image, regardless of the individual’s sex at birth. » See BATHROOM BILL, page 6
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