The Daily Northwestern - January 9, 2023

Northwestern

4 A&E/The Waario Nintendo-themed show is a dream come true

Community fridges see fewer donations

Supplies fall short as holiday giving drops off

By JOYCE LI the daily northwestern @joyycee.li

All four of Evanston Community Fridges’ refrigerators were empty on Dec. 19, though two had been restocked just three days earlier.

Anna Grant-Bolton, Evanston Community Fridges’ outreach organizer, said the fridges have all since been filled — but still, they empty out from time to time.

“It’s indicative that there’s a lot of folks who need food in the community,” she said. “That should be a message to all Evanston community members to step up and make sure that we’re supplying that food.”

Eight Evanston Community Fridges organizing members have been actively running the fridges since co-founders Maggie Quinn and Maia Robinson stepped down in October.

Fridge managers — members of the organizing team each responsible for one of the four fridges — clean their assigned fridge and remove expired or unlabelled items.

In addition to the central team, over 20 people help out in various capacities such as stocking the fridges and donating funds.

Evanston Community Fridges has also been collaborating with the Evanston Nouveau Rotary Club since September. Members of this club donate food, arrange food drives and conduct monthly deep cleanings of the fridges.

Deshana Newman, an organizing team member, said the organization hosted its first Thanksgiving food drive back in November. The fridges saw an assortment of Thanksgiving staple foods like turkey, green beans and mashed potatoes as community members donated and helped distribute dinner boxes for the holiday.

“(This initiative was) just phenomenal and extraordinary and a testament to the giving hearts of people that live in the Evanston community,” Newman said.

The fridges saw an uptick in donations during the winter holidays, according to Carrie Jackson, the manager of the Sunrise Fridge, as Evanston residents dropped off holidaythemed dinner boxes the following month.

» See FRIDGES , page 6

AUDIO/Digital Diaries

Season 2 Episode 1: To change or not to change…majors?

8 SPORTS/Men’s Basketball Students denied at the Welsh-Ryan Arena door

Norris debuts new dining options

Students flock to ‘847 Burger,’ ‘Buen Día’ for fresh meal exchanges

By TALIA WINIARSKY the daily northwestern

Northwestern community members now have two new food options to choose from at

the Norris University Center: 847 Burger, offering variations of burgers and a chicken sandwich, and Buen Día, serving tacos, quesadillas and burrito bowls.

Both accept meal exchanges

Pineda wins Miss Asia USA 2023

McCormick sophomore talks finding footing on stage, campus

By LEXI GOLDSTEIN the daily northwestern @lexipgoldstein

High heels and glamor aren’t for everyone, but the shoe fits McCormick sophomore Ariana Pineda, winner of Miss Asia USA 2023 in the eponymous pageant in November.

Pineda, a Pasadena, California native, joined Miss Asia USA in the summer of 2022. She flew to Los Angeles from Evanston almost every week starting Fall Quarter for gown fittings, training and rehearsals.

As a transfer from Rice University, Pineda said she juggled adjusting to Northwestern and competing simultaneously.

“This Miss Asia competition, it was like my one and only shot to participate in something so grand and so something that’s not within what I thought was possible for me,” Pineda said.

The Miss Asia USA pageant emphasizes both beauty and brains, which resonated with Pineda, who is a self-taught coder. She created a gout diet management app, Purity, in 2020.

Pineda said she was inspired to create the app after a conversation with her father, who struggles with gout, a form of arthritis. Purity is the number one rated app for gout, according to the app’s description.

The biomedical engineering major has advocated for women in STEM since high school when she helped found the “makeathon” conference EntrepreneuHER. The virtual event, where participants workshopped a pitch STEM initiatives to judges and investors, attracted hundreds of participants globally, according to Pineda.

“I wanted to imbue that same passion for creation in more girls because I truly think that our generation is going to be the leaders of the world, the shakers of the world and the changemakers of the world,” Pineda said.

Her entrepreneurial spirit was her focus in the pageant. Pineda said she learned more about selfconfidence and empowerment from the Miss Asia USA pageant. Prior to starting pageantry, she said she worried about public speaking.

Miss Asia USA 2017 and

pageant host Rachel Park said she empathized with Pineda’s reservations about public speaking and performing for larger audiences.

“I saw a lot of myself in Ariana when it came to social anxieties,” Park said.

Pineda said the physical demands of pageantry were another challenge.

She said perfecting the model walk was difficult with the combination of long gowns, slippery

and dining dollars.

Northwestern Dining collects data from student feedback, market research and culinary trends to decide how to update their dining options, according to Sophia Bamiatzis,

District Marketing Manager of Compass Group, NU’s food services provider.

“We know that students are looking for customizable

» See RESTAURANT, page 6

Pay raises, rights and rising prices

for the $13 minimum wage, the employer must cover the rest.

Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act

By NICOLE MARKUS daily senior staffer @ nicolejmarkus

Content warning: This article contains mentions of violence and miscarriages.

More than 180 new laws went into effect in Illinois on Jan. 1. Here are nine of the most impactful laws for Evanston residents in the new year.

Minimum Wage Increase

On Jan. 1, the Illinois minimum wage increased from $12 to $13. The increase, though relatively small, is part of an annual increase that will continue through 2025 and ultimately raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the legislation in 2019.

For workers who routinely earn tips, the minimum wage increased to $7.80 per hour. However, if tips do not make up the difference

This new state law creates a task force to examine the causes behind violence against women of all ages in Chicago. The task force’s primary job is to compile data on violent crimes and report these findings to the Illinois General Assembly and the governor. Additionally, it will propose new policies aimed at reducing violence against Chicago women and altering the way these crimes are prosecuted.

Workers’ Rights Amendment

In the 2022 midterm election, voters approved a Workers’ Rights Amendment that guarantees government employees the ability to unionize and bargain collectively over employment terms. Supporters of the amendment say it will help workers secure higher pay, better hours and more favorable working conditions.

Seeger Gray/Daily Senior Staffer

Students line up at the new Norris University Center restaurant, Buen Día, which opened after winter break.

Nine new laws will affect Evanston residents in 2023

Photo courtesy of Ariana Pineda

McCormick sophomore Ariana Pineda transferred to Northwestern in fall 2022. She attended Rice University during the 2021-2022 academic year.

The Daily Explains: City Council’s 2023 budget

By JORJA SIEMONS daily senior staffer @jorjasiemons

Evanston plans to spend more than $397.2 million this year on city projects, funds and personnel, according to the adopted fiscal year 2023 city budget approved by City Council on Dec. 12.

The new budget is a $36 million increase from last year and a more than $101 million increase from the 2021 budget. This year’s budget includes more than $269.8 million in total revenues.

During City Council’s December meeting, Ald. Devon Reid (8th) acknowledged the budget’s increased expenditures.

“There’s a bit of sticker shock for folks that our budget is going from an average of about 290 to 300 million (dollars) for the past few years to almost $400 million,” Reid said. “Our budget isn’t ballooning as much as it seems it’s ballooning.”

Budget Manager Clayton Black said this increase is partially tied to an influx in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

“The city was fortunate. We received $43 million from (ARPA),” Black told The Daily. “Most of the funding is being used for new social services and programs.”

Black said $22.75 million in ARPA funding is budgeted to be spent in the next fiscal year. Still, he noted City Council may not spend the full amount, but budgeting it grants flexibility.

Additional reasons for Evanston’s increased expenses, according to Black, include high returns on taxes including the real estate tax, hotel tax and sales tax. He also cited inflation as a contributing factor for increases.

Black said the 2023 budget will fund 35 new city positions, including positions related to sustainability and Evanston’s lead service line replacement project. Additionally, Black said the budget created seven new firefighter paramedic positions, enabling the city to expand to a third ambulance and cut down emergency medical services’ response times.

“This budget takes the steps to bring staffing back up to where it was before the pandemic,” Black said. He added that some of the budget’s new positions follow recommendations made by consulting firm Baker Tilly, an agency hired by the city, in an August Evanston staffing report.

When the proposed 2023 budget was first published in October, expenses were higher at more than $402.5 million. Since then, city officials have made key revisions that funneled additional funding to specific city areas.

In November, City Council made an amendment to put an additional $4.5 million toward public safety pension funds. This amount puts Evanston on track to 100% funding by 2040, which is 10% more than required by Illinois law.

Councilmembers also amended the budget ordinance to account for a 1 cent increase to the local Motor Fuel Tax, bringing in an estimated $165,000 in revenue per year, pending an amendment of municipal code.

Some of City Council’s key changes to the 2023 budget occurred at the Dec. 12 meeting — just 19 days before the budgetary deadline on Dec. 31.

Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) introduced three amendments to the council, including allocating $70,000 out of the General Reserve Fund to Shorefront Legacy Center, which collects, preserves and educates the public about Black history on Chicago’s North Shore and in Evanston.

During the meeting’s public comment, local historian Dino Robinson, the center’s former executive director and co-founder, spoke about Shorefront’s essential work and local, regional and nationwide impact as a community-based archive.

“Our vision is making local history common knowledge,” Robinson said.

Burns also successfully advocated to allocate $68,042 to WORXBEE, an executive assistant solutions company that will assist councilmembers.

The 5th Ward representative’s third amendment was to increase the amount of revenues generated by the Real Estate Transfer Tax deposited into the Reparations Fund from $1 million to $3 million.

The fund currently supports the city’s Restorative Housing Program, which has so far distributed $25,000 to each of the 16 recipients.

Burns’ amendment passed unanimously, meaning tax revenues previously allocated in the General Fund will be reallocated to the Reparations Fund.

When asked for comment on the city’s budgetary decisions regarding reparations, Mayor Daniel Biss told The Daily the council found a responsible way to move forward.

“I think the Real Estate Transfer Tax is an appropriate revenue source for reparations, both from a legal standpoint and a kind of principle standpoint,” Biss said.

Reid also placed a proposal on the council

agenda to funnel more money into the fund by transferring money directly from the General Fund to the Reparations Fund.

However, during public comment, some residents — including members of the community group Evanston Rejects Racist Reparations — expressed concern about using General Fund money, as everyone who pays taxes in Evanston contributes to the fund. As residents pointed out, this would include Black residents to whom reparations should be paid.

Reid said Burns’ amendment achieved his goal of increasing funding, and his amendment wasn’t brought to vote.

jorjasiemons2024@u.northwestern.edu

ISIDORE STRING QUARTET

Friday, January 13, 7:30 p.m.

NEW ORFORD STRING QUARTET

Sunday, January 15, 3 p.m.

HORSZOWSKI TRIO

Friday, January 20, 7:30 p.m.

JUPITER STRING QUARTET

Sunday, January 22, 3 p.m.

Graphic by Jorja Siemons

Total expenses from approved Evanston city budgets from fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2023, not adjusted for inflation.

ON CAMPUS

Students call for compost bin increase

By FIONA ROACH daily senior staffer @fionaroach03

Some Northwestern students are calling on the University to increase student access to composting bins.

All back-of-house kitchens at NU, including those in dining halls and Norris University Center, currently compost waste from food prep stations, leftover food and some prepared food, according to the sustainNU website.

NU composts about 3.6 tons of food waste per week, the majority of which is generated in kitchens and dish lines, according to Krista Brown, the sustainability and community engagement manager at Compass Group.

However, students living on campus have limited options to compost their own food waste outside of NU dining centers.

“As someone who thinks composting is a really good system — good for the world and for us as people -– I’m a little confused and frustrated with the University,” Weinberg sophomore Sophie Hyman said.

Students have the option to purchase a compost bin for their dorm room or off-campus housing, but many say this places too much responsibility on the individual.

Hyman said she thinks more students would compost if it were implemented campuswide because compost bins in dorms can become “gross” if not properly managed.

Weinberg sophomore Raya Young kept a personal compost bin in her dorm room last year, but she said the task became too much to keep up with.

“I live in a dorm, and it’s not super convenient having food rotting in your room, especially in such an enclosed space,” Young said. “I think it would be a great idea if the University provided composting bins.”

But implementing compost bins around campus for students to use is a complicated process.

A pilot program in 2019 required frequent bin monitoring and encountered contamination

with trash and other non-compostable items.

SustainNU Program Administrator Cria Kay told The Daily in an email that compost collections have little to no tolerance for contamination.

“This makes it quite challenging to collect food waste that can actually be composted through bins sitting out in public,” Kay said.

One way to prevent contamination is increased education and awareness surrounding composting, according to SESP junior and Cats Who Compost Community Engagement Head Arthur Lebovitz.

Lebovitz said education, in conjunction with improved access to compost bins, could yield the best results. He added that simple steps such as instructional signage can improve composting practices.

“Even if you put a compost bin, people can still

fill it up with trash, and then it’s the same thing,” Lebovitz said.

Cats Who Compost provides free compost drop-off sites at the Fiedler Hillel Center, Sheil Catholic Center and the University Christian Ministry.

As a barrier-free organization, all of Cats Who Compost’s services are free, according to firstyear graduate student and Cats Who Compost Program Director Natalie Myren, but the club has to raise its own funds to continue its operations.

Lebovitz said he is frustrated by this lack of funding, because he views composting as a service that should be accessible to all people.

“Our club is stretched very thin, spending half of our time trying to fundraise and crowdfund and raise the funds to even be able to operate and provide our compost drop-off sites,” Myren said. “It feels like a task or role that should not be left to us to complete.”

Cats Who Compost partners with other student organizations, such as Campus Kitchen, Mayfest and Wild Roots to educate NU community members about composting.

Both Myren and Lebovitz said many more items, such as dryer lint and pizza boxes, can be composted than most students realize.

“It’s easier than most students expect, for those who’ve never encountered composting before, and it’s also such a huge waste reducer,” Myren said.

According to Myren, the club would be eager for the University to take over management of student-facing compost services, freeing up resources to focus on other initiatives.

Myren said if the University provided compost bins or drop-off spots, Cats Who Compost could concentrate on educational and social events. But in the meantime, the club will continue providing compost services for NU students.

“We live in a culture that overconsumes a lot, and we produce so much waste,” Hyman said. “Composting is a really easy way of mitigating our footprint on the world.”

fionaroach2025@u.northwestern.edu

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Illustration by Gemma DeCetra

Cats Who Compost provides bins near campus for students to drop off their compost.

A&E arts & entertainment

‘The Waario’ brings oohs and waahs to Fisk Hall

By ANITA LI the daily northwestern @lifeisfab02

The idea for a Nintendo-themed musical came to Bienen sophomore Khoi Le in a dream.

And after just three days of rehearsal in a Willard Residential College seminar room, 45-minute-long comedy-musical “The Waario” debuted in Fisk Hall on Jan. 6.

Le and Communication sophomores Baz Holifield and Gavin Shaub discussed who they would hypothetically cast before Winter Break and sent out a fake callback email as a joke. Afterward, the students they emailed started asking about callback times and then the cast list.

“We were like, ‘Why don’t we rehearse it and make an actual show?’” Holifield said. “As more and more people became interested, we realized more and more people find this fun.”

178 students reserved seats to watch spin-offs

of Nintendo characters like Maario, Luiigi, Toad, Peach and Bowser swearing, flipping people off and making sexual references.

The musical, written by Holifield over Winter Break, features Waario (based on Nintendo character Wario) on a mission to defeat Bowser.

The plot is repeatedly interrupted by scenes of actors playing Weinberg sophomore Bobby Axelrod, who himself portrays Toad.

The Bobby Axelrods perform random theatrical bits, including singing Billy Joel’s “Vienna” acapella or attempting to perform a magic trick. Showtunes such as melodies from “Hamilton” and “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical” with Shaub’s rewritten lyrics are scattered throughout the production.

The show ends when the real Axelrod becomes angry at the mockery and storms offstage and out of the room. After a few minutes of fervent discussion between Shaub and Holifield, during which the audience shouted, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”, Shaub announced the show

was over, and the actors took their bows.

“I really liked it,” Communication freshman Ciara Farris said after the show. “I’m not 100% convinced that it’s over. I feel like something weird is happening, and I can’t tell if it’s a joke or if I’m supposed to sit here for an hour as a test of patience or something. But it was really funny.”

Holifield said he drew inspiration from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” for the ending. He wanted to break traditional theatrical conventions by breaking the fourth wall and leaving nothing quite resolved.

“The Waario” was produced independently, meaning it was not produced under a theatre board. This meant the team didn’t have external funding and had to find its own location, leading to two location changes.

Though unusual, the independence gave the cast a lot of creative freedom. For example, Communication sophomore Nick Hollenbeck, who played Waario, said he was able to add in

a line to the script and pick his own costume.

“We want to create accessible theatre where you don’t need context, you don’t need to be educated on a topic,” Hollenback said. “You can just go enjoy it.”

Shows typically rehearse for weeks before opening night, but with the musical’s much shorter preparation time, some actors performed while reading the script on their phones, and others performed without having attended any rehearsals.

Shaub embraced leaving the acting up to chance and having fun.

“No matter what I direct, what Baz writes, (the actors) are gonna be really funny with it, even if they’re reading it for the first time,” Shaub said. “This show embraces chaos a lot, (while) a lot of theatre embraces perfectionism within its process. With a comedy, it’s a lot of fun to lean into chaos.”

anitali2025@u.northwestern.edu

Evanston teens mix and match to make mini magazines

By ESTHER LIM the daily northwestern @eshlim1213

Surrounded by markers, glue sticks, colored pencils, National Geographic magazines and colorful paper, Evanston Public Library assistant Ruby Gibson (Communication ‘22) hosted a zine-making event held in the Loft, the teen space of the library.

With just a couple of folds and a quick snip at the center, she created a small booklet ready to be transformed into a zine — a self-published mini magazine — filled with art, collages, poems or stories.

Gibson said she discovered zines as a creative outlet during her downtime at work as she balances her library job with auditioning for theater productions.

“I became really excited about [zines] as a tool of self-expression,” Gibson said. “I felt like it would translate really well to the teens in the Loft, because one of the one things I’ve observed about the teens that I’ve met here is that they’re all totally different and have really intense, very disparate passions.”

Many staff at the library bring their own interests — from DJing to tabletop role-playing games —to the Loft, Gibson said. For her, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring her creative exploration to the library.

She said she hopes to place copies of zines in the library for people to thumb through.

“My dream is to have a little zine library here so

that people can just make them whenever they want and take one or leave one,” Gibson said. “That’s kind of the spirit of zines, is that they can travel far and

wide for little cost.”

Among the attendees was eighth grader Naimah Sanni, who made a zine about her favorite nighttime

reads of 2022.

The idea of a mini zine library stuck with Sanni: she was excited that her work would be appreciated, regardless of her age.

“The things I do will be looked at by people,” Sanni said. “Just knowing that my work is valuable is something I’ll take away [from the event].”

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi and The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg stood out to Sanni, and she made sure to rate all novels 5 out of 5 stars.

Sanni said the activity also served as a nice walk down memory lane as she recalled all her favorite late-night reading memories.

“I liked going through the whole last year and picking out which [books] really stood out to me and just remembering what it was like to read those books,” Sanni said.

Robert Crown Branch Library assistant Katrina Moravec also sat in for the event. As a new hire responsible for bringing more teen programs to the library, Moravec wanted to gain some insight about the teen events happening at the main branch.

She said she is particularly interested in emphasizing different methods of self-expression and creativity at her branch.

“[Kids] can build these hobbies that don’t necessarily have to, especially when you’re a teen, lead anywhere,” Moravec said. “I want to encourage that side of things — as they grow older, to have those outlets.”

Anita Li/The Daily Northwestern

Esther Lim /The Daily Northwestern

Eighth grader Naimah Sanni said her favorite part about the process was being able to think back through all the books she read in 2022.

Evanston Made show weaves together local artists

By BEATRICE VILLAFLOR the daily northwestern @beatricedvilla

Conversation flowed between artists and guests at 1100 Florence Ave. as they nestled sparkling wine in their hands. Upon first glance, one could have mistaken the art exhibition for a party.

Evanston Made’s 3D & Fiber group show opened Saturday, featuring pieces from ceramics to weaving that were created by artists from the local art collective.

Evanston Made executive director and founder Lisa Degliantoni said one of the organization’s goals is to foster authentic connections between Evanston makers and their growing population of patrons and fans.

“Evanston Made is an organization that

advocates for people who make things,” Degliantoni said. “Our goal is to create events and programs that help all of those people create together.”

The organization’s First Saturday Evanston art events provide new ways to experience community art. The 3D & Fiber show will run until Jan. 29 and is part of a series of exhibitions, with each show highlighting a different artistic medium. Next month’s show centers on prints and printmaking.

Degliantoni said Evanston resident Joyce Elias’ work was a must-see for Northwestern students. Elias’ work, which features reused cigarette boxes, reflects artists’ increasing interest in creating art using found objects and upcycled materials.

Elias’ husband and event attendee Scott Steinman said he is a fan of Evanston Made because of the affordability and uniqueness of the

organization’s pieces.

He pointed out exhibiting artist Josh Chernoff’s art as an example of the high level of excellence maintained by the organization. Chernoff’s woven jars made of rope fascinated Steinman because they are all crafted by hand — including creating and dying the rope.

“We tend to think of art as, ‘Let’s go to the museum,’ which is great,” Steinman said. “(But) there are some very talented and gifted people that are creative and are artistic in ways that they should (also) be in a museum.”

Degliantoni said the Evanston Made community is becoming more vibrant as the number of members and partnerships increase.

She said the collective has grown from about 100 to 450 members in the last eight years.

“That’s the cool thing about Northwestern: You live here for four years.” Degliantoni said. “If you

make jewelry, if you make really cool stickers, if you make letterpress posters, you qualify for being somebody that we work with.”

Since living or working in the city is a requirement to join Evanston Made as an artist, Degliantoni said NU students are automatically eligible for membership. As emerging artists, interested students qualify for membership discounts, dropping the price from $75 to $25.

Steinman said Evanston Made enabled him to discover talented and gifted artists in the community beyond the mainstream art popularized in museums.

“If you’re in a community and you like art, I would always say go seek it out … because it’s not just what we hear through the media,” Steinman said. “It’s all around us all the time.”

beatricevillaflor2026@u.northwestern.edu

Reel Thoughts: ‘Avatar 2’ is shiny with shallow plot

By COURTNEY KIM the daily northwestern

This article contains mild spoilers

“Avatar: The Way of Water” tells a simple, yet captivating story in an enchanting world.

The “Avatar” franchise made an epic comeback last December — more than 13 years after the first movie’s release. Director James Cameron once again pushed the limits of computer-generated imagery, now in a new age of breakthroughs, to deliver a film of the utmost quality.

As expected, the visuals of the movie are nothing short of breathtaking. From the luscious forests to the dazzling ocean tides, the scenery evokes a stirring appreciation for nature. Despite the three-hour running time, each scene carries an undeniable beauty that holds viewers in a magical trance.

The plot is rather straightforward, accompanied

by cliché dialogue at times, but not predictable or boring in any manner. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is now a full-time Avatar and has several children with Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). The first few scenes transmit the placidity and warmth of this loving family, but this is merely the calm before the storm. As Jake says, happiness doesn’t last long.

In the meantime, the humans that traveled back to Earth at the end of the first movie have returned to Pandora with reinforcements to build a new base. Among them is Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who takes on an avatar Na’vi version of himself to finish his mission on Pandora, with a personal goal of seeking revenge on Jake for killing his human form. Jake recognizes the danger his family faces against the colonel and decides to flee the forest.

In contrast to the first movie, a major theme of the sequel is family harmony. Jake’s story hinges on the critical question of whether to fight the

colonel or flee to keep his family safe. He initially chooses to leave the forest tribe so they can remain undetected by the colonel. But when the colonel tracks him down with his huntsman, Jake mobilizes the water tribe’s forces to push back.

Jake’s compulsion to keep his family safe at all costs shows his streamlined character growth from a soldier to a father. While his ingrained military demeanor causes a rift between him and some of his children, he acts purely out of love and concern for them. Recurrences of family strife between the “disobedient” teenage child and the overbearing, strict parent clearly reflect the real-life experiences of many homes with children that age. The film carefully balances both perspectives to show that family members unconditionally love one another, even if it means risking their lives.

Like the first movie, themes of environmentalism and colonialism are present. There are many parallels between the destruction humans inflict

on Pandora and its people, and the acts colonizers on Earth have historically committed in their conquered territories.

The new movie certainly falls behind in the surprise element. When the first Avatar was released, James Cameron was an unmatchable pioneer not only in 3D technology and CGI, but also in ideation and creative storytelling. However, “Avatar: The Way of Water” carries less of this wow-factor. The story can come off as basic for those that were expecting something better than “Avatar.” It portrays the same villains and themes, and with the action only beginning in the last third of the movie, some may call the plot slow-moving.

Yet, “Avatar: The Way of Water” is a rare cinematic masterpiece that delicately touches on the topics of love, sacrifice and conservation, all while providing an exhilarating experience.

courtneykim2026@u.northwestern.edu

Liner Notes: Obama’s music picks, from SZA to Springsteen

By ELENA HUBERT daily senior staffer @elenahubert25

From Oprah Winfrey’s gift guide to Reese Witherspoon’s book list, celebrity picks can be viewed as gospel. As usual for around this season, former President Barack Obama blessed us with his own gospel: his favorite songs of the year.

The 25-song list was all over the place genrewise, encompassing R&B, reggaeton, rap, country, indie and pop. With arguably less than half the list’s artists considered “mainstream,” some have speculated whether the former president created the list himself. However, I will assume these are truly Obama’s picks, although I am guessing Sasha and Malia were the source of some.

Obama’s playlist offers us not only a look into a usually private public figure’s preferences, but also an oddly on-the-mark compilation of plain good music. Having listened to an unhealthy amount of music in 2022, I have somehow qualified myself as

fit to judge the picks of the former commanderin-chief, and, to compress the list of 25 songs, I’ve picked my most notable.

“The Heart Part 5,” a surprise release anticipating the album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” is Kendrick Lamar at his finest: rhythmic, reflective bars that spare no prisoners. The Pulitzer Prizewinner — well-earned for his cultural behemoth “DAMN.” in 2017 — here tackles the carceral system, drug use and cancel culture. “The Heart Part 5” is definitely a valid choice in terms of cultural relevance, but I prefer “N95” from “Mr. Morale…” where Kendrick’s bars hit hardest in a punchy, breathy style with heavy 808 drum beats and synth.

With “Tití Me Preguntó,” Bad Bunny’s inclusion on this list should be surprising to none. The Puerto Rican powerhouse was the most streamed artist on Spotify in 2022, which I attribute to the universal power of an ass-shaking anthem. “Tití Me Preguntó” is pure fun, with Bad Bunny rapidly rolling through his lines like his “novias”— girlfriends — as he details in the song. My mom discovered this song before me, much to my dismay, and I

hope it has become the catalyst of many dance parties at the Obamas’ house like it certainly has in ours.

Another Spanish-language song on Obama’s list, “SAOKO” by ROSALÍA, has similar danceinducing qualities, but with grunge instrumentals. On the track, the classically trained flamenco singer pairs her rhythmic, high-pitched vocals with low, electronic bass as she remarks on her love of change. This theme is evident on the entire “MOTOMAMI” album, where ROSALÍA impressively weaves through flamenco, reggaeton, trap and more. My preferred track on the album is the ballad “HENTAI,” where ROSALÍA’s crystal clear vocals inspire tears, but “SAOKO” definitely follows the list’s overall theme of high-energy bops.

To Twitter’s amusement, one of Obama’s favorites was Ethel Cain’s “American Teenager,” a dreamy indie song critical of American institutions — namely, the military. “The neighbor’s brother came home in a box, but he wanted to go so maybe it was his fault,” croons the 24-year-old Cain, whose experience likely lined up with Obama’s military

involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan. We can’t speculate whether Obama recognized this lyrical irony, but he did recognize a banger. To me, this track is Generation Z’s “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen: punchy, energetic and oh-so-rebellious. Following Obama’s recommendation, I hope the American people will grant the same reverence to Cain as Springsteen, but only time will tell.

Rounding out my picks of Obama’s list, “Tamagotchi” by Omar Apollo and “Shirt” by SZA are both high-energy, drum-driven tracks that suspiciously scream Gen Z. Again, whether Obama is just really “with the kids” or one of his assistants got a fun assignment will remain a purely speculative debate.

But anyway, indie artist Apollo takes a break from the moodiness of his album “Ivory” with the bouncy, seductive and bilingual — English and Spanish — “Tamagotchi.” However, I feel Apollo and his falsetto shine brightest on heart-wrenching, softly accompanied tracks like “Evergreen” and “Invincible.” Similarly, SZA’s return to music, following her 2017 moody masterpiece “Ctrl,” on

the album “SOS” was most salient in her saddest tracks. While “Shirt” may have inspired many TikTok dances, “Nobody Gets Me” and “Ghost in the Machine” are SZA’s most vulnerable, well-executed tracks.

For my favorite songs of the year, I’ll go with “Wet Dream” by Wet Leg, “N95” by Kendrick Lamar, “Shotgun” by Soccer Mommy and “Just Like Heaven” by The Lumineers. So, Mr. President, if you’re looking for a ghostwriter next year, I can send you my rate.

elenahubert25@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment

Editor Selena Kuznikov

Assistant Editors

Tabi Parent Jamie Kim

Design Editors

Valerie Chu Kelly Rappaport Anna Souter

Illustration by Ziye Wang

From SZA to Bad Bunny and Ethel Cain, former President

Barack Obama chose his 2022 music picks, seemingly with an eye to Gen Z.

choices with authentic flavors that can also address a variety of dietary needs including allergen friendly, vegan and Halal options,” she wrote in an email to the Daily. “Both 847 Burger and Buen Día’s offerings align with what we hear our students want, while addressing their needs.”

NU Dining partnered with Compass Group to spearhead the restaurants, creating sample menus and taste testing the food. They designed the spaces so they would not require major renovations from the previous two restaurants, Associate Director of Operations Dan Foley said.

While the transition process was initially hindered by supply chain issues, NU Dining renovated both former burger spot Patty Squared and Olive Mediterranean Grill, which offered Mediterranean food, over winter break. Olive Mediterranean Grill will still be available to students at Tech Express’ Best of Local options, according to Bamiatzis.

“We have an obligation to try and provide quality and cost controls and all sorts of things to hungry students and faculty and staff,” Foley said. “And every now and then that means we flip things.”

Foley said a more efficient setup behind the counter for both new restaurants will result in faster turnaround times for food than occurred at Patty Squared.

Weinberg sophomore Dhruv Patel, who usually eats at Norris University Center’s MOD Pizza or Wildcat Deli about twice a week, said he tried the fried chicken sandwich from 847 Burger. He also appreciates that the new restaurant offers a vegetarian burger option.

“It’s nice to have a new variety of sandwich here,” he said. “Also, it was pretty good in terms of quality.”

Weinberg freshman Anna Truong bought Buen Día’s chicken tacos through the meal exchange option. She said the meal was better than the tacos from Elder Dining Commons, and that she enjoys the value of chips and salsa being included in her meal-exchange.

Truong prefers to use meal exchanges over dining dollars and plans on trying other options from Buen Día, including the quesadillas and other types of tacos.

“It’s better than getting pizza all the time,” she said.

taliawiniarsky2026@u.northwestern.edu

Gas Tax Increase

In Illinois, on Jan. 1, the gas tax increased to 42.4 cents per gallon, a 3.2 cent increase. Officials cited inflation as the reason for the hike. The increase was intended to take place in summer 2022 under a 2019 law, but officials postponed it for six months. There will be an additional raise in the tax starting July 1.

Student Loans

In accordance with Senate Bill 3925, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will offer some student loan repayment grants. To qualify, applicants must be working for a human services agency funded or contracted by the state. The human services agencies must provide services that assist others with their well-being, such as physical, emotional and economic health.

FRIDGES

From

She said she thinks the holidays remind people of the importance of putting food on the table.

“We’ve heard from many, many members who have all this leftover food, and they are now thinking that they can bring it somewhere else instead of just letting it go to waste,” Jackson said.

At the same time, Newman said community demand is still outnumbering the fridge supplies, with donations often stocking fridges for one hour or less.

Organizers also encouraged more residents to participate in maintaining the fridges. Beyond donations, Grant-Bolton said people can go on grocery runs to supply the fridges — and get reimbursed through donation money.

As the holiday season comes to an end, Jackson said she hopes community members stay committed to keeping the fridges stocked.

“The need is always there,” Jackson said. “It’s not a seasonal thing. There are people in the community who need these resources on a daily basis.”

joyceli2025@u.northwestern.edu

The law will offer up to $25,000 per year to recipients with a master’s degree and above.

Trauma-informed School Boards

All Illinois school board members will undergo annual training on “trauma-informed practices” going forward under Senate Bill 2109. The trainings will include information on the prevalence of trauma in students and information on how biases related to sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, gender identity, race and ethnicity can cause trauma. The Illinois State Board of Education now mandates these trainings annually under the law.

SAFE-T Act

This law eliminates Illinois’ current cash bail system, which requires defendants to pay a fee in order to wait out trials outside of jail. However, the cash bail system often means in practice that wealthier defendants can post bail while lower-income people

cannot. Under the SAFE-T Act, the state would adopt a pretrial release framework that uses decision factors like public safety and flight risk to make bail decisions. Currently, there is a legal battle over the law after an Illinois judge blocked the adoption of the bill.

Increased Reproductive Healthcare Rights

Multiple laws went into place Jan. 1 related to supporting reproductive health.

Senate Bill 3120 says those who have a diagnosis that negatively impacts pregnancy or fertility, or who suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth, can take 10 days of leave.

Under House Bill 5254, health insurance plans must cover hormone therapy treatments for people who have had a hysterectomy that induced premature menopause. This hormone therapy helps prevent medical conditions such as osteoporosis and is therefore considered medically necessary under the law.

nicolemarkus2025@u.northwestern.edu

From

floors and high heel shoes.

“I couldn’t balance,” Pineda said. “The first time I tried (the high heels) on, I had to hold onto the desk because I literally couldn’t stand up. And so I had to do a lot of my own practice.”

Pineda’s practice paid off, and she was crowned the 34th Miss Asia USA.

Virgelia Villegas of Virgelia Productions, the pageant’s sponsor, said Pineda’s beauty, poise and hardworking nature made her a good fit for the Miss Asia USA title.

“She’s very focused,” Villegas said. “She was into really making sure that her parents, her community and overall the people that supported her and our sponsors will be very proud of her.”

Pineda said she is now enjoying new opportunities following her win.

She is in touch with photographers and movie producers, and she plans to visit Japan this summer to attend fashion shows. Pineda was featured on a float with actor Danny Trejo in the Rose Parade, a New Year’s tradition in Pasadena, on Jan. 2.

“You’re not just a photo prop,” Pineda said. “I did it for the network. I did it for publicity, to get myself out there, to market myself, to market my mission and to market the product I was working on.”

lexigoldstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

Join us for weekly lectures by Northwestern Postdoctoral Scholar Ian Mondragon-Shem. He will present an eight-week series on the development of quantum technologies.

Graphic by Ava Mandoli

UChicago Prof. discusses robot-human interactions

By ERICA SCHMITT daily senior staffer @eschmitt318

Imagine a world where humans empathize with robots. Well, according to recent research at the University of Chicago, they already do.

About 40 students gathered in classroom B211 in the Technological Institute Friday afternoon to hear about University of Chicago computer science Prof. Sarah Sebo’s research as director of the HumanRobot Interaction Lab.

Sebo presented her talk “Social Robots that Shape Human-to-Human Interactions,” featuring two of her research projects that focus on better understanding human and robot interactions.

“I often find that human-robot interaction is really compelling because it tells us what are the building blocks of the human experience and what it takes to have a social interaction with another person,” Sebo said.

The first study focused on whether a robot’s vocalizations — whether “vulnerable,” “neutral” or “silent” — could shape trust among human teams of three in a competitive activity. Results showed that people were more social in team activities when the robot used vulnerable utterances after losing the game.

Sebo emphasized that robots can have an impact on a person’s emotional response to situations, similar to the Barsade’s Ripple Effect concept in which one person’s positive emotions affect a group of people.

“I think it’s just a really compelling idea that people don’t think about where they might put a robot in a workplace,” Sebo said. “It’s really important to introduce this idea that a robot might influence how people interact with one another, especially people that are going to be developing robots that are going to really impact our daily lives.”

NAACP legal leader to headline MLK Dream Week as keynote speaker

The second study, conducted with University of Chicago second year computer science Ph.D. student Alex Wuqi Zhang, focused on whether a robot can better facilitate conversations between strangers compared to a poster or computer screen.

Sebo and Zhang found that while the number of conversations did not differ between the groups, deeper questions were discussed in length by the robot group.

Some attendees expressed interest in the studies’ setups and asked questions, including fifthyear mechanical engineering Ph.D. student Milli

the University announced Friday.

Ifill will discuss her work as a civil rights lawyer and president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She will then participate in a moderated conversation with Sheila Bedi, who is a Pritzker School of Law professor and director of the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic.

Previously, Ifill has litigated cases opposing voter suppression and advocated for peaceful protestors. She

Schlafly.

“It was exciting that Northwestern is starting conversations about work in different fields like this,” Schlafly said.

McCormick graduate student James Oubre said Sebo taught one of his classmates who recommended he attend the event.

Oubre said he enjoyed learning about a niche field in his area of study he was not familiar with.

“Especially in industrial settings, somewhere like Amazon where there’s a lot of human-robot interaction, it’s important to know how the robots can affect

has also taught at the University of Maryland School of Law for 20 years. Ifill has also received multiple awards and honors, including the Brandeis Medal.

“Professor Ifill is a prolific scholar, impactful educator and a relentless advocate for racial justice,” said Robin R. Means Coleman, vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion, in a University news release. “She is one of our country’s most influential

your workers not only (to) seek to be more productive but also to have happy workers,” Oubre said.

Sebo said she hopes to continue researching and presenting her work to increase interest in STEM and psychology fields.

“I’m really excited to see what the future of robotics will look like, where robots will be effective and what tools we’re going to need to develop and design in order to make their interactions with people helpful and inclusive,” Sebo said.

ericaschmitt2025@u.northwestern.edu

leaders regarding national civil rights and equality.”

The keynote address will bring the University’s Dream Week programming to a close, after a week of events commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The free event will take place Jan. 23 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

Erica Schmitt/Daily Senior Staffer

Around 40 attendees listened to University of Chicago professor Sarah Sebo present research on human-robot interactions at an event Friday.

Civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill will be the keynote speaker for Northwestern’s 2023 MLK Dream Week,

Fiona Roach

Students denied entry to rival game at Welsh-Ryan

By OLATUNJI OSHO-WILLIAMS daily senior staffer @osho_olatunji

Though Northwestern’s home court advantage rang in a triumph against rival Illinois, a packed student section left many NU students waiting outside the doors of Welsh-Ryan Arena, unable to witness the victory Wednesday.

“Nobody knew, when we got there, that not everybody was going to get in,” Weinberg junior Leslie Robins said.

Robins rode a crowded game-day shuttle to Welsh-Ryan with the hopes of seeing her first NU basketball game and snagging one of the heavily advertised white gameday t-shirts, but was stopped at the door by Welsh-Ryan staff.

According to students, the arena’s staff stopped letting them in around 15 minutes prior to tip-off, prompting many Wildcat supporters to crowd the entrance, with some boo-ing them.

With NU currently 12-3 overall and 8-2 at home games, the sold-out rival match brought throngs of orange-clad Illinois fans and a sea of purple to the doors of Welsh-Ryan. Northwestern Athletics Ticket Office’s policy allows NU students with a valid Wildcard to watch home games for free.

Though the student section line stopped early, the ticket-holding line flowed through the doors up until 8 p.m tip-off..

Robins said that after arriving around 7:40 p.m., students were able to enter the arena for half the time she was in line, until Welsh-Ryan staff announced that they were at capacity.

NU is the only school in the Big Ten where home game men’s basketball tickets are always free for students..

While Robins ended her night early by watching the game from a friend’s apartment, other students such as Weinberg sophomore Eduardo Andrade didn’t.

“I kept my eye on the score, but by the time I got back, I didn’t feel like watching,” said Andrade.

Northwestern senior associate athletic director for external affairs Tyler Jones tweeted in response to online criticism about Welsh-Ryan’s lack of student seating for the Jan. 4 game.

“We are working on ideas to provide more students access to future games. Consistent student attendance like Wednesday will better help us operationalize those creative solutions,” Jones said.

Further in the thread, Jones also encouraged students to arrive early since doors open 90 minutes before tip-off.

NU’s student game-day shuttle begins free round-trip rides to WelshRyan 90 minutes before tip-off, with an estimated arrival time of 20 minutes from any of its four stops offered on campus.

Weinberg-Bienen sophomore Ismael Perez said he waited at the Technological Institute shuttle stop for 30 minutes before arriving at Welsh-Ryan at 8:20 p.m.

He said traffic around Welsh-Ryan was gridlocked, and added that there should be a new method of dispersing student tickets, like “ an organized system in which [staff] can ensure the people that are going can get seats,” said Perez.

School of Communication junior Carolyn King said syllabus week, packed game-day shuttles and increased traffic around the stadium caused her to arrive closer to game-time.

She waited half an hour to enter the arena and was admitted at half-time, after Welsh-Ryan staff let students in to replace the exact number of spectators that left. King was grateful for the staff’s crowd management and the eventual NU victory.

“A hard fought moment to get there, to witness that victory, to enjoy it,” she said.

tunjiosho-williams2025@u.northwestern.edu

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Cats give Indiana their first loss in Bloomington

By LAWRENCE PRICE daily senior staffer @lpiii_tres

It’s difficult for any team to win on the road, especially in the Big Ten. This has nearly become impossible at No. 15 Indiana’s Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, an electric arena entrenched in the “winning culture” for decades and seeped into its hardwood floors. Not to mention, entering the contest, the Hoosiers (10-5, 1-3 Big Ten) hadn’t lost at home yet, flexing an 8-0 record.

Even with this record and a crowd draped in red and white, the Cats (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) were unfazed by the odds, handing Indiana its first loss at home this season and winning 84-83.

“I just feel fortunate to come away with a really big road win,” coach Chris Collins said. “We knew how important the start of the game was going to be, especially with the crowd.”

Early on, the Cats and Hoosiers were knotted up at nine a piece as both teams fought for the upper hand. Yet, following the first media timeout, NU’s offense and defense took the upper hand. Senior guard Boo Buie and redshirt senior guard Chase Audige stifled and pickpocketed Indiana’s lead guard freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino multiple times, translating into buckets.

Of its first 10 shots, NU knocked down eight, four from behind the arc. When it came to defense, the Cats forced Hood-Schifino into five turnovers by the end of the first 20 minutes, leading to 16 points off turnovers in the first half and a seven point lead going into the locker room.

One of these “good defense turns into great offense” plays encapsulated NU’s pathway to success. While Hood-Schifino drove into the paint from the right wing, he fell into an NU trap with an Audige steal. On the other end, sophomore guard Julian Roper II missed a three pointer wide, but hustled for the loose ball, resulting in sophomore guard Brooks Barnhizer’s left wing trifecta.

Collins said the team understands the importance of the game being more than just talent — it’s also about the fight and heart.

“That’s when you can have fun coaching

a team, when you can spend all your time as a coach worried about game planning,” Collins said.

The Cats were clicking on multiple, if not all, cylinders at many points during the game, using their strengths to the greatest degree possible. Yet, playing in what Collins described as “one of the iconic places in college basketball,” the slightest turn of momentum in Indiana’s favor would energize the large crowd — which could knock any team out of its groove.

This occurred numerous times throughout the contest, where the Hoosiers would begin to catch fire from the field or force multiple defensive stops. Even when the tide began to turn in Indiana’s favor — alongside the added pressure of the amped atmosphere — the Cats were able to keep their composure and quiet the crowd.

Many of those times meant forcing one of their 16 turnovers of the day, or a player making a big shot, like junior guard Ty Berry’s silencing layup after a Hood-Schifino three. Buie credited that to the Cats’ experience in intense situations.

“As the leader and as the point guard, your team follows after you,” Buie said. “You can’t come out, you’ve? got to come out right from the jump and throw that first punch.”

NU was able to stifle the home crowd for most of the second half, keeping the Hoosiers at an arm’s distance for the majority of the time with a double digit lead. This was the case up until the two-minute mark, when the Hoosiers attempted the basketball version of a “two minute drill” — where the winning team misses free throws, and the trailing team tries to mount a comeback.

Indiana gave its best impersonation, bringing the score within four points with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. Luckily, though, the Cats were able to hold on and pick up their second Associated Press top-25 win of the season — and for the third time in 55 seasons — advance to 3-1 in conference play.

“This is not an easy place to play at all,” senior forward Robbie Beran said. “We’re not a finished product yet, and there’s still a lot more things we can clean up, but it’s definitely a good sign.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Epstein: NU’s offensive game struggles as season continues

By JAKE EPSTEIN the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n

Northwestern entered Welsh-Ryan Arena seeking an upset against No.6 Indiana for its first conference win of the season. But, the Wildcats (6-9, 0-5 Big Ten) never reached an offensive groove in a 72-50 home loss to the Hoosiers (14-1, 3-1 Big Ten).

In an all too familiar fashion, NU allowed seven consecutive Indiana points before sophomore forward Caileigh Walsh knocked down a jumper to get the Cats on the board. Both teams converted shots at a similar rate in the first quarter, but NU’s six turnovers and inability to stretch the floor saw it trailing 20-12 after ten minutes.

Hoosier forward Mackenzie Holmes, who averages a team-high 21.1 ppg, scored Indiana’s first eight points of the second period. The Wooden Award Watch List honoree provided an offensive spark that the Cats failed to replicate. NU saw its share of struggles at the line, converting just two of five free throws, and Coach Joe McKeown’s squad trailed 40-24 at the half.

The Cats looked to conjure up second-half magic for the second consecutive game and went 7-for-14 from the field for its best shooting quarter of the contest. NU also knocked down three shots from behind the arc and outscored the Hoosiers 18-16 in the period. However, the Cats missed all seven of their foul shots, leaving them unable to make much of a dent in the Hoosiers’ lead.

“It’s really frustrating,” McKeown said of his team’s inability to convert foul shots. “We’ve got to clean that up – we’re better than that.”

Despite glimpses of third-quarter production, NU collapsed offensively in the final period. In a quarter where neither team converted at least 35% of its shots, the Cats made two field

goals and tallied just eight points in the final ten minutes.

While Indiana’s three-point offense was well off the mark, NU’s inability to take the lid off the basket gave the Hoosiers a smooth path to victory.

“You have got to score the ball,” Mckeown said. “That (to me) is our biggest challenge…we got to do a much better job of finishing.”

Unfortunately, for the Cats, scoring troubles were just a small piece of Sunday’s 22-point loss, which was their seventh double-digit defeat of the season. NU struggled to gain and maintain possession of the ball, amassing 19 turnovers and losing the rebounding battle 46-33.

For a program that is 0-5 in Big Ten play for the first time in the

McKeown era, adjustments must be made to merely compete in a conference stacked with five teams ranked inside the AP Top 25.

The Cats have failed to produce a complete performance in their four-game losing skid, and there lies no let-off in the squad’s grueling schedule with an away matchup at No.16 Iowa Wednesday.

“We need to take what we did (positively) in games and try to replicate that for the entire 40 minutes,” junior guard Jasmine McWilliams said. “We could have rebounded a lot better today –myself included – so that’s something we’re going to want to focus on the next game.”

Olatunji Osho-Williams/Daily Senior Staffer

Wendy Huang/The Daily Northwestern Senior guard Kaylah Rainey attempts a free throw. The Cats went 7-for-17 from the charity stripe against Indiana on Sunday.