The Daily Northwestern — January 11th, 2024 by The Daily Northwestern

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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, January 11, 2024

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3 CAMPUS/Dining Halls

4 OPINION/Saturdays

8 SPORTS/Penn State

NU dining staff dish on meal planning in halls

Columnist Scott Hwang discusses his New Year’s resolution never to do work on Saturday

Northwestern bests Penn State on Wednesday

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Dance team returns to city Juneteenth group celebrates Black culture, history By MISHA OBEROI

the daily northwestern

After lying dormant for two years, nonprofit Evanston Present and Future’s Juneteenth Creative Dance Team Program is back in full force, with auditions beginning in February for Black and Brown residents in Evanston, according to the nonprofit’s Facebook page. K e m o n e He n d r i c k s founded Evanston Present and Future and its Juneteenth Creative Dance Team Program in partnership with the Dance Center Evanston in 2020 — the same year she organized the first ever annual Evanston Juneteenth Parade and Celebrations. Noticing the lack of education in schools regarding Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, Hendricks created the program to fill in those gaps through artistic means. “They weren’t taught about what ( Juneteenth)

means to the Black community,” Hendricks said. “And I thought of including dance as a form of art to talk about Juneteenth.” In 2020, Dance Center Evanston trained dancers for the program on Zoom and pre-recorded dance performances that were aired during the virtual Juneteenth Parade. Evanston has held in-person parades annually since 2021. Some residents have asked Hendricks to open up auditions to children who are not Black or Brown, she said. However, she said the program remains available only to Black and Brown children. “We really wanted to create something that was just for Black children to learn about their heritage and to learn what their past means,” she said. After its first year running, the dance program went inactive for two years due to logistics, according to program director Julia Ferguson. But, last year, Ferguson said she stepped up and asked Hendricks to restart the program. Ferguson is

» See JUNETEENTH, page 6

Carlotta Angiolillo/The Daily Northwestern

Faculty voiced concerns over their lack of input in budget discussions at Wednesday’s senate meeting.

NU increases spending on hiring

Provost presents at Faculty Senate meeting on school’s financial position By ISABEL SU

the daily northwestern @isabelsu_

Heading into the 2024 fiscal year, Northwestern Provost Kathleen Hagerty told the Faculty

Senate that the University’s financial position remained “strong overall” in a budget update Wednesday. In 2023, the University had $8.6 million left over from an operating budget of over $3 billion, compared to a positive margin of $138.7 million in 2022.

“The goal of the University is not to have a lot of money left over,” Hagerty said. “But we absolutely do not want to go into a deficit.” A University spokesperson told The Daily that they considered the $8.6 million positive operating performance to be a “good outcome.”

This surplus follows the multimillion-dollar budget deficit NU faced in 2018, which it resolved by drawing $100 million from its endowment in the following two years.

» See FACULTY SENATE, page 6

Paws and Claws expands programs A Medill alumnus Shelter sees best year in history, expands outreach and builds new facility By MAYA WONG

the daily northwestern

Seventy-five cats received a holiday present during Paws and Claws Cat Rescue’s third annual Hope for the Holidays program last month. Paws and Claws, a local cat shelter that rescues cats at risk of euthanization, launched the fundraising program in December, and it will run until mid-January. The program allows individuals to sponsor a cat by funding that cat’s food and care during the holiday season. The cost of sponsoring each cat varies based on their needs, including specific diets and procedures. The organization’s campaign attracted about 50 donors. A shly nn Boyce, the founder and executive director of Paws and Claws, said she is “really proud” of the program’s success, but finds the initiative somewhat bittersweet. “A lot of the cats are spending their first holiday in safety. A lot of them have never had a

Recycle Me

holiday season where they are cared for and loved,” she said. “That element is really lovely, but the other side is that they are not in their forever home.” Several of Paws and Claws’ other initiatives focus on raising money to keep cats healthy until they can find a “forever home,” she said. One of those initiatives is the Paw Print Club, a monthly membership that gives donors access to perks such as merchandise, sneak peeks into events, and even naming a cat. There are currently 170 Club members with varying monthly donation amounts, starting at $10, Boyce said. Additionally, Paws and Claws hosts children’s birthday parties, allows space rentals and runs kitten yoga classes. Boyce said she is proud of how the organization’s community programming has grown. She also has upcoming plans for movie nights at the shelter, she said. Paws and Claws opened its first facility in May 2023. Prior to that, the organization was completely foster-based. — though fostering is critical

talks covering Swift Bryan West works for Gannett covering the pop superstar By JACOB WENDLER

daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler

Photo Courtesy of Olivia Sotos

A cat fostered through Paws and Claws by a Northwestern student. Last year, Paws and Claws rescued 514 cats and aims to rescue 1,000 in 2024.

to the shelter’s operation, Boyce said. There are currently around 100 cats in foster care, for which the shelter provides all food, supplies

and medical care. Many Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students are

» See PAWS, page 6

After working for Northwestern News Network as an undergraduate at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications Bryan West (Medill ’11) took the leap into broadcast news, moving to Phoenix upon graduation to work as an investigative producer at the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, his previous Journalism Residency site. Eight years and two Emmys later, though, West made the decision to leave television news to focus on his mental health and sobriety, joking to a friend at the time that the only thing that might bring him back would be an opportunity to report on Taylor Swift in his daily job. In September, that dream came true: Gannett — the biggest newspaper chain in the

country — listed an opening for a reporter who would cover Swift’s life, career and music full-time. West applied quickly, attaching a video submission that listed 13 reasons why he should get the job, including his journalism bona fide’s and his intimate knowledge of Swift’s career. In November, he landed the job and relocated to Nashville to be based at The Tennessean as a part of the USA Today network. He’s since written articles on college courses dissecting Swift’s music, her relationship with Travis Kelce and a fan’s all-out Swift-themed Christmas decorations. Two months into the job, West sat down with The Daily to share what he’s learned as the media’s first full-time Taylor Swift reporter. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. The Daily: How have your skills from Medill helped prepare you for your current gig at Gannett?

» See SWIFT, page 6

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

2 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

AROUND TOWN

City restaurants experience significant turnover By JACK VERVERIS

the daily northwestern @jackververis

In December 2022, after almost 10 years of operating the downtown restaurant Farmhouse Evanston, owners TJ Callahan and Ferdia Doherty decided to try something new. The pair hoped to provide a more polished experience, spending “many, many, many hundreds of thousands” of dollars transforming the rustic location into the upscale Thomas & Dutch, Callahan said. But less than six months after the restaurant’s April opening and after losing “tens of thousands” of dollars per month, Callahan and Doherty closed the new restaurant. While a different establishment quickly took the spot, Thomas & Dutch isn’t the only one facing difficulties: Nine Evanston restaurants, bakeries or bars closed in 2023, according to the city’s Economic Development Committee. And while there were a reported 13 openings, three of those locations have either already closed or have yet to open. “I think there’s a natural ebb and flow of businesses in any community,” said Andy Vick, executive director of Downtown Evanston. “The pandemic has been very difficult for businesses, not only in Evanston; When I go to conferences, downtown districts all over the country are experiencing many of the same things.” However, several ordinances unique to Evanston also pose challenges to local restaurants. Callahan cites Evanston’s unusually high 6% liquor tax as one of the reasons behind Thomas & Dutch’s failure — and a factor scaring away other new restaurants. “The city of Evanston doesn’t seem to understand that there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” Callahan said. “If the city of Evanston wants to implement some of the most aggressive benefits in the country for restaurant employees, then they have to be good with the fact they’re going

Francesco Thorik-Saboia/The Daily Northwestern

Boba Heaven, located on Church Street, was one of two restaurants which opened and closed within six months in 2023.

to have fewer restaurants, especially full-service restaurants.” Heather Bublick, CEO of Chicagoland barbecue chain Soul & Smoke, said unexpected requirements from the city have hampered the opening of a new Evanston location. “The city’s always been so good to us,” Bublick said. “But at times when you’re just trying to get your business open, and you have timelines and budgets and things like that, it’s hard to work in any constraints where you don’t have control. In mid-2023, City Council began discussing eliminating the tip credit, or subminimum wage for tipped employees. This concerned restaurant owners.

According to Patrick Fowler, who owns three local restaurants including Fireside Grill, some owners began meeting to discuss reactions to a variety of proposals around last August. The Evanston Restaurant and Hospitality Group aims to communicate their concerns with their councilmembers and present “one unified voice” on service-related issues, according to Fowler, one of the group’s organizers. Today, the group includes some 350 members. “For a number of years, we haven’t really banded together to advocate for ourselves,” Fowler said. “We had a much more reactive approach where we would just wait for something to be proposed and then figure out how

Approachable Mexican Cuisine

to reply back … Now that we have a group approach, it’s much more effective.” According to Vick, Alds. Krissie Harris (2nd) and Bobby Burns (5th) attended a meeting in September to hear from owners and servers about the effects of eliminating tip credit. While Chicago voted in October to remove the credit, Evanston opted to consider a general minimum wage increase instead. In December, due in part to sustained petitions from the group, Evanston’s Liquor Control Review Board recommended a reduction of the tax to 2%, with a corresponding .25% increase in the home rule sales tax. And, according to multiple sources, Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) has begun emailing members of the Evanston Restaurant and Hospitality Group before council discussions, seeking their input. “The restaurant community has stepped up, and the City Council has listened,” Vick said. “I think that’s part of the legislative process, to start that dialogue, and to make sure that stakeholders express their opinion and articulate their position so that this council can make informed, advised decisions.” Sarah Weitz, co-owner of sandwich shop The Fat Shallot, said she plans to become more involved in the group. She’s already found Evanston restaurant owners to be unexpectedly welcoming since the restaurant’s October opening. “By far, this has been the most supportive area that we’ve ever entered,” Weitz said. “It’s just all about community in Evanston. It just makes it so much more special.” The group now hopes to be “proactive” when it comes to legislation, such as creating its own proposals to streamline downtown parking and other issues the group believes will help local businesses grow despite the current struggles, Fowler said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a great business climate right now,” he added. “But I think we’re being heard, and I think we can get there.” jackververis2027@u.northwestern.edu

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

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AROUND ON CAMPUS TOWN

Dining staff dish on meal planning

The Daily Northwestern www.dailynorthwestern.com Editor in Chief Avani Kalra

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By ISAIAH STEINBERG

the daily northwestern @isaiahstei27

Northwestern students are always talking about dining hall food. From ranking the dining halls to remarking on the abundance of cauliflower in Allison dining hall, students have strong opinions. Still, many don’t realize the complexity of the meal planning process. Juan Aguayo is the director of operations for Compass Group, the food service company contracted by NU. Aguayo said the dining staff create biannual menus for the dining halls. “Our culinary team writes and develops menus for each dining hall based on higher education trends, market trends and the needs and feedback of our Northwestern community,” Aguayo said. “Each dining hall’s executive chef makes adjustments to menus as needed based on product availability, seasonal offerings and special events.” The dining staff also try to accommodate diverse dietary needs, according to Demetrios Kyprianos, district executive chef for Compass Group. The Pure Eats section in each dining hall serves foods free of the top eight major allergens and gluten, and the Foster-Walker Complex East dining hall only offers Pure Eats foods. The food served at Pure Eats is prepared in a separate area with specific cooking utensils to reduce the risk of allergen cross-contamination, Kyprianos said. The dining staff also consider the nutritional value of dining hall food when developing meal plans. “We work closely with our campus dietitian, Maddy McDonough, to ensure that our offerings are not only nutrient dense, but varied in nature,” Kyprianos said. “Maddy runs several reports on our menus using our menu-planning software to gain key insights on macronutrients, sodium content, sugar content and more.” Every few months, the dining halls serve a themed meal as part of NU Dining’s Cultural

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Every few months, the dining halls serve a themed meal as part of NU Dining’s cultural series. Preparing these special meals brings new considerations for the dining staff.

Series. Previous events have included a Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month Dinner and a Lunar New Year Brunch. The dining staff consider additional factors when preparing these meals. “Our main priority when planning the menus for our cultural series is to provide an authentic menu experience,” Aguayo said. “We work with our culinary team as well as an array of student organizations for input and feedback for these events.” Student input is an important part of the meal planning process. Aguayo said. The NU Dining team reviews feedback from the Dine on Campus website, ‘Happy or Not’ kiosks located in the dining halls, live student focus groups, dining committees and social media accounts. Communication freshman Annika Nelson said she generally enjoys the dining hall food on campus.

“The dining hall food is not incredible, but it’s a lot better than what some kids have,” Nelson said. Nelson also said there is not much variety in the food served because of the rotation of common ingredients on the menu. SESP freshman Hope Jordan said she has noticed a pattern of a starchy food paired with a protein-rich food and a vegetable served at each meal. She said she would like more variety since she has noticed the cuisine is mostly American. However, Aguayo said the dining staff aims to cater to a multicultural group of students at NU. “We strive to provide diverse, inclusive, nutritious, delicious, sustainable meals that support our students and faculty, and also create community through food experiences,” Aguayo said. isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu

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4 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

OPINION

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Remembering my high school teacher, Mr. Sackett DAVID SCHIEBER

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

Daniel P. Sackett (Communication ’78 ’79), revered English teacher, theater director and speech team coach at Carl Sandburg High School, died Dec. 8, 2023. Beloved husband for 47 years to Lynda Miles, he was a father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, mentor, coach and friend. He is already missed by so many. He was 67 years old. Mr. Sackett taught at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois, for 33 years, from 1983 until his retirement in 2016. At Sandburg, Mr. Sackett taught his English students how to write with a voice. Mr. Sackett taught his drama students how to act with ardor. Mr. Sackett taught his speech students to speak with precision. Mr. Sackett taught every one of his students that they have worth. Mr. Sackett taught. The impact Mr. Sackett had on his students was determined. Mr. Sackett insisted you saw value in yourself, even if you yourself didn’t see any yet. Mr. Sackett laughed at the absurd, even when the other adults in the room held

a straight face. Mr. Sackett was incisive, and knew exactly how powerful his words were. And he wielded his words with so much love. There is currently a memorial page on Facebook where Mr. Sackett’s former students, friends and colleagues are sharing their memories, and the outpouring of love and grief makes it so clear what a life Mr. Sackett lived. I know all of this because I was one of Mr. Sackett’s students. My life’s trajectory changed when I met him. He was my freshman year English teacher, speech coach and biggest cheerleader at Carl Sandburg High School. During my time on the Sandburg speech team under his mentorship, I learned how to speak in front of large groups without fear; I learned how to stand up and make a point when it seems no one else is willing to; I learned how to set my sights on something big and to just keep chipping away until I get there. I learned how to write! I owe so much to Mr. Sackett. I found passion, self-worth and confidence because I had him in my corner. I now see a direct link between Mr. Sackett’s lessons and the life I have led since. I teach some of the largest courses at Northwestern University with thousands of undergraduates having taken my classes. I regularly give talks on my research, and I can hold my own in any room I’ve ever found myself in.

- DAVID SCHIEBER, op-ed contributer

joke that Elias and Anna were his speech grand-babies. As an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Northwestern, I now have students who I get to watch as I build up their confidence and worth in the same way Mr. Sackett built up mine. Mr. Sackett taught me so much, and I try every day to be more like him. I am crying writing this obituary. After graduating from Northwestern University in 1978, having majored in theatre, Daniel P. Sackett led a life worth following. He went on to build educators, inspire screenwriters, produce leaders, mentor musicians, train scientists, shape poets, create at least one sociologist and bring joy to those around him. To my students: Never underestimate the impact you have on the people around you. Ripples turn into waves. Your impact is profound. To Mr. Sackett: Thank you so, so much. From the tip of my toes to the top of my head, I’m alive! And darn it, I’m a winner!

recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary with our 9-year-old son Elias and 7-year-old daughter Anna. My and Kathleen’s first kiss was on a bus ride coming back from a speech tournament at Downers Grove South High School. Mr. Sackett would

David Schieber is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Sociology at Northwestern University. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

My wife Kathleen, who I met on the Carl Sandburg High School Speech team, and I

”

As an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Northwestern, I now have students who I get to watch as I build up their confidence and worth in the same way Mr. Sackett built up mine. Mr. Sackett taught me so much, and I try every day to be more like him.

Hwang: The most life-changing resolution I have ever made SCOTT HWANG

COLUMNIST

I thought about starting the new year off by writing about one of my resolutions, but announcing to the world that this will be the year I finally stick to an exercise routine seems like a losing endeavor. So I’ll spare you the misplaced confidence. There was one resolution that I stuck to last quarter, though: I didn’t do any work on Saturdays. No schoolwork, no extracurriculars — nothing I would put on a to-do list. As a to-do list lover, that meant a lot. Saturday became my day to rest, to spend with friends, to read for fun, to revel in wild and exhilarating boredom. It was the best decision I’ve made in college. I should state the obvious: it’s an old idea. Judaism and some forms of Christianity, for example, have set aside a day of rest for millennia. I’m not the right person to speak about the history or details of those practices. But many of their goals — spending time with community, slowing down the pace of life — have resonated with me as I’ve attempted to build a rest day into every week.

The Ezra Klein Show, my favorite podcast, has an excellent episode about the practice called “Sabbath and The Art of Rest.” One of its arguments is that we tend to think about rest as time spent recharging to be more productive later. Instead, rest should be about creating time separate from the productivity lifestyle. It was a novel concept to me. It requires a certain

”

College is one of the only times in your life when you have the freedom to set your own pace, with friends close by. A shared day off is a chance to make the most of it.

- SCOTT HWANG, columnist

pace of life to gain admission to and succeed at a school like Northwestern. I was well adjusted to it, but I was also aware of its limitations: burnout, prioritizing career over relationships, unceasing

competition. Those were not the pillars upon which I wanted to live. So I hit pause for one day each week, midterms and finals included. Was it easy? Yes and no. I think we all spend the equivalent of a day per week being unproductive anyway; might as well do it on purpose. But I had to scale back my workload. I only committed to the amount of work I could do in six days a week. The day of rest, as a practice, is really about the rest of the week. In my freshman year, I’m embarrassed to say, I defaulted to doing schoolwork during every empty time slot. Aspirations of productivity filled a vacuum. My resolution changed that. By rule, the vacuum had to be filled by something else. On some days, that meant planned trips: bookstore runs, theatre and dance shows, forays to the Art Institute. But those days were the minority. Most weeks, Saturday arrived before I had the chance to collect myself from the whirlwind of the week, leaving me with no plans and an empty day. What I might’ve done in quarters past became off-limits. I obviously couldn’t work, but I wouldn’t let myself spend my special Saturdays moseying around social media either. I found miscellaneous things to do. I returned to old hobbies and tried new ones. I composed music. I read for fun. I tried writing poetry by the lake, which

Kim: The importance of balance... and rowing CHIARA KIM

ASSISSTANT OPINION EDITOR

Standing at 5 feet 2 inches, I am probably not anyone’s image of a typical national champion collegiate rower. I started rowing as a high school sophomore, joining a local club team so I could spend more time with a friend who had changed schools. After three years of brutally slow splits and anxiety-inducing races, I made peace with leaving the sport after a surprisingly successful final competition at the end of my senior year (the highly coveted and enviable second place in the Central Regional Championships). When I came to Northwestern, I had a four-year plan. I remember walking into the club fair, my nose turned up at the boat the crew team had brought to the Norris University Center’s East Lawn. I made my way over to the clubs I planned on joining. That first quarter, I signed up for The Daily, took four hard classes, spent an incomprehensible –– and frankly embarrassing –– number of hours in Deering Library, ran seven miles a day, made like three friends and didn’t think about the crew team once. I was also pretty lost. It turns out, the routines I developed in high school and carried into college were unsustainable — especially when I didn’t have an established

network of friends to lean on. I was very grateful to be at my dream school, learning and studying with talented peers and professors on a beautiful campus. But I, like most other college freshmen, missed the stable friendships and habits I had developed in high school. But everything (not to be dramatic) changed one day in my economics study group, when I met my now roommate and one of my best friends. We were doing a classic ‘rose bud thorn’ introduction before discussing supply and demand curves. “My thorn is that since I’m on the crew team, I have to wake up at 5 a.m. every day, so I’m a little tired this week,” Lizzie Dozois said. And that was it. I went up to Lizzie after class and the next day, I was standing next to my dorm waiting for a random white van to pick me up at 5:15 a.m. From the first practice, I relearned a lifestyle involving balance and fulfillment. I went to practice every day at 6 a.m., braving the cold and enduring long workouts, before having breakfast with my friends. I found comfort in the repeated rowing motion I had learned years ago, paired with new routines centered around studying with friends and talking to new people every day. Despite the early wake up time, I went from four to eight hours of sleep per night. I was reinvigorated for my classes, rediscovering my passion for learning. And, I became stronger and faster day by day. I made friends with whom I could sing karaoke, study, go to dinner and, of course, row. For the first time in my rowing career, I thoroughly enjoyed races

because they involved hanging out with my teammates, rowing a grueling yet fun race and, usually, winning. At nationals my second year, my coach told my boat to write a love letter to NU Crew, to all the women who had rowed before us and who would row after us. We pulled some of the hardest races of our lives (I remember nothing but fatigue, pain and exhilaration) and were the first varsity NU Crew eight-person boat to ever make grand finals at nationals. In the end, we became fifth in the nation. From these races, but more importantly, from the endless hours of practice and hard work that led us there, I learned there is value in finding comfort and community in something familiar — it can allow you to break out of the barriers you place around yourself. Every hard workout, every imperfect stroke in the 30-degree weather, every oar click and joyful crossing of the finish line has shown me that the path to finding your passion isn’t always linear. I realized the importance of letting go of expectations of what college and life should be. I learned sometimes you need to take a step, or a stroke, back, in order to move forward. Chiara Kim is a Medill junior. She can be contacted at chiarakim2025@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern. com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

went as badly as you’d expect. I found freedom in boredom. I could just try things, anything, without the expectation of having something to show for it. My favorite moments, however, were spent with others. I had the freedom — and the mandate — to say “yes” to every opportunity. Want to get dinner in Chicago? Yes. Run an errand with me? Absolutely. Take a meandering, Jane Austen-esque walk? Of course. My friends came to expect that I would be down to do anything on a Saturday, no matter how small. That’s the secret: my Saturdays off were not mine alone. In some sense, they belonged to my friends, too. So far, no one I know in college has joined me in taking a weekly rest day, but I hope that it becomes a normal practice. I’m certainly keeping it up this quarter. Do it with the people you love. College is one of the only times in your life when you have the freedom to set your own pace, with friends close by. A shared day off is a chance to make the most of it. Isn’t that the dream? Scott Hwang is a Weinberg sophomore. He can be contacted at scotthwang2026@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern Volume 146, Issue 1 Editor in Chief Avani Kalra Opinion Editor Ethan Lachman Assistant Opinion Editor Chiara Kim

Managing Editors Colin Crawford Jacob Wendler Lily Carey Shannon Tyler Ashley Lee Micah Sandy

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside THE DAILY office. Letters have the following requirements: • Should be typed and double-spaced • Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number. • Should be fewer than 300 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar. Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of THE DAILY’s student editorial board and not the opinions of either Northwestern University or Students Publishing Co. Inc.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

After law prohibits book bans, EPL expands collection By ANAVI PRAKASH

the daily northwestern @anavi_52

Even when the content was “harsh,” Evanston resident Heather Jean said she always encouraged her two children to explore all types of literature when they were growing up. Much of that literature came from the Evanston Public Library, which became a helpful resource when Jean’s daughter came out as queer. “If she didn’t want to necessarily talk to me about something, she could figure it out herself,” Jean said, “She’d had resources here that she could use.” Now, all Illinois residents will have access to these resources because of a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1. Illinois House Bill 2789 outlaws the banning of books in public libraries, making the state the first to pass such legislation. The bill was introduced by Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois secretary of state and state librarian. Giannoulias introduced the bill after 69 books were challenged in Illinois in 2022. In 2023, between January and August, 98 titles were challenged in the state, according to the American Library Association. The law largely targets public libraries, mandating they must adopt the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights or create their own statement ensuring an “adequate collection” of literature that serves the needs of Illinois residents, or risk losing their state funding. At EPL, this legislation led to the adoption of the current ALA Library Bill of Rights, according to Tracy Fulce, president of EPL’s board of trustees. According to EPL Marketing and Communications Manager Jenette Sturges, the library passed an older version of the ALA Library Bill of Rights years ago. Sturges said EPL uses the Library Bill of Rights as a framework for “highly trained” librarians to choose materials without political or other types of interference. “Adopting that standard many years ago gives us a backstop against interference from people who maybe don’t have that kind of skill set

Illustration by Beatrice Villaflor

Evanston Public Library aims to continue diversifying its collection as legislation in Illinois outlaws book bans in public libraries.

trying to come in and tell us which kinds of books belong on our shelves,” Sturges said. The ALA Library Bill of Rights is mainly used when purchasing materials for EPL, and since 2005, there have only been two book challenges at the library, Sturges said. The first was a children’s book called “Pinkerton, Behave!” Some parents thought a picture of a robber with a gun was “too violent,” she said. The second was in 2023, with a “Geronimo Stilton” book, a children’s series that follows the life of a mouse. A resident thought a sneak peek of the next book in the series contained racist imagery. Neither book was taken off the shelf and

the referenced “Geronimo Stilton” book was not purchased because it isn’t “high literature,” Sturges said. To challenge a book at EPL, a person must be an Evanston resident. This policy is one way EPL keeps books accessible, Sturges said. For the last two years, in an effort to expand diversity, equity and inclusion in their collection, the library has been using a program called collectionHQ, Sturges said. The program collects data and identifies library materials that represent a specific identity. EPL uses the data to buy materials featuring a more diverse range of voices, Sturges said. Such efforts have caught the eyes of new

Evanston resident and SESP Prof. Paula Hooper. After participating in an educators’ workshop on technology, Hooper said she really appreciated EPL’s emphasis on diverse participation. “I know that the commitment to diversity and to equitable living is really embedded in the way that (EPL) does its programs as well as shares books,” Hooper said. “And I know that the library has a lot of programs where they try to represent and support the growth of all kinds of ways of thinking and validate all different types of lifestyles.” anaviprakash2027@u.northwestern.edu

WINTER IS HERE! SIGN UP FOR YOUR SENIOR YEARBOOK PORTRAIT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. GEORGE R. R. MARTIN CREATOR OF "GAME OF THRONES" CLASS OF 1970 NU SYLLABUS YEARBOOK PORTRAIT 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.

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6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

SWIFT

From page 1

West: I am so grateful for my education at Medill, and the biggest way that helped prepare me is to be a one-man-band and to cover all facets of journalism. So at Northwestern, we learned how to write for print, how to write for magazine, how to shoot and edit video. I would definitely say the Medill F has helped me so much in life. I got my Medill F on — at the time it was Gov. Blagojevich. I wrote my paper super fast and had missed, I think, the J, and that’s what I got my F on. So I take that with me, even in this reporting position. Especially with Taylor Swift, I want to be really cognizant of getting her lyrics correct and getting her song titles correct, including punctuation. And so Medill and the Medill F have helped prepare me for that.

The Daily: What do you think being on the Taylor Swift beat allows you to see that other reporters — who might cover Swift as music critics or business reporters, for example — might miss? West: I love covering this sick beat, which, as you know, is a nod to one of the lyrics in her songs. But I would say since I’m full-time, I’m fully immersed in all things Taylor Swift, and she has her hands in so many different industries. There’s Taylor Swift the businesswoman, Taylor Swift the billionaire, Taylor Swift the NFL-goer. There’s Taylor Swift, the Grammy award winner. There’s Taylor Swift, who is starting her cinematic era. I’m really excited, she has signed with Searchlight Pictures and she’s going to be directing a film that she wrote herself. But that would be what I believe sets me apart: I’m fully immersed in this Taylor Swift universe and covering all aspects and facets of her life. The Daily: Your hiring sparked a conversation

PAWS

JUNETEENTH

foster parents, Boyce added. “It’s really nice for students, especially those who are really missing their pets back at home but can’t commit to long-term adoption,” she said. With only three paid staff members, she said Paws and Claws’ 170 volunteers are the driving force behind the shelter’s operation. In addition to feeding the cats and cleaning their facilities during weekly shifts, volunteers socialize and form special bonds with them, according to Destiny Reinhardt (Weinberg ‘23), who volunteers at Paws and Claws. Reinhardt adopted a kitten from Paws and Claws last year after she “fell in love” with it, she said. For her, volunteering has been a rewarding experience, and she said she loved seeing how new cats acclimate to human interaction and how their personalities change over time. 2023 was Paws and Claws’ most successful year, Boyce said, with 514 cats rescued and its highest adoption numbers ever. Most of the rescued cats came from underfunded municipal animal shelters or animal control facilities from Chicagoland and beyond, according to Paws and Claws’ Cat Care Manager Sean Johnson. In 2024, the shelter hopes to rescue 1,000 cats and eventually hire a veterinarian to perform important medical procedures, Johnson said. He said he’s confident Paws and Claws can reach these goals. “It’s a very big goal,” Johnson said. “We’re going to need a lot of help from volunteers and fosters. Whatever your availability is or whatever your skill sets are, there’s definitely something that would contribute.”

especially passionate about it because her daughter participated in 2021. “I felt like the girls who participated felt ownership and pride in their portion of the parade,” she said. Program participants learn dances that are rooted in African American and Black cultures, Ferguson said. Ten-year-old daughter London Lytle echoed her mother’s enthusiasm. She said the program, where she learned mostly hip-hop dances, was a “new learning experience” for her, and she will participate again this year. The team is planning to expand the program

From page 1

mayawong2027@u.northwestern.edu

FACULTY SENATE From page 1

Last year, the University increased its spending on faculty hiring, as well as its data science and research computing investment. The University also spent 4.5% more on salaries, wages and benefits, making those payments 55% of total 2023 operating expenses. “We’ve made a lot of investments in hiring faculty,” Hagerty said. “Last year was especially productive in the sense that our success rate, or the number of offers that were accepted, was well above the historic trend.” The University hired more tenure-track faculty last year — the number of 2023 tenure-track hires equals the number hired in 2021 and 2022 combined. Though spending on faculty increased, so did the payout rate from the endowment, up by nearly 9% last year. The endowment, which makes up more than 20% of the University’s revenue, declined from nearly $15 billion at the beginning of 2022 to $13.7 billion in August.

within journalism about the role of personal bias and fandom in music and sports journalism. Considering how committed and sometimes intense Swift’s fandom can be, do you ever feel like you have to take a step back and kind of look at her career more critically? West: I’m a journalist first and I’m a fan second. Northwestern’s education helped prepare me for this moment of being able to cover Taylor Swift in a non-biased way. What I would say to the criticism is that I went to an institution like Northwestern, I spent 10 years in the journalism industry, I won prestigious awards and I work with an incredible team. USA Today is a prestigious institution. I have editors that I still report to, I have story ideas I still have to cover. It still has to go through the filters of journalism in order to go out to the general public. What I would also say is my fandom, or following her for two decades, makes me an expert in her career path.

this year, ensuring more people can take part in it, according to Hendricks. The program will also give participating dancers the opportunity to perform at other Juneteenth events and celebrations. Ferguson said the parade will continue to promote Black awareness and Black love in an effort to spread education of Juneteenth and normalize its celebration. “During difficult times, there was always joy, there was always laughter, there was always song, there was always music and dance,” Ferguson said. “And so rhythmic movement is a way to celebrate that and honor our ancestors.” mishaoberoi2027@u.northwestern.edu Chemical and biological engineering Prof. Luís Amaral, said this year’s budget update presentation was the best he has seen. However, Amaral voiced concerns over the lack of faculty input in budget discussions. “It would be nicer for us if we had more of a role and were able to see the numbers on a more disaggregated level,” Amaral said, referring to the fact that the University presents its budget to the faculty as a compilation of the budgets of over 30 units and schools. Faculty also posed questions about how the University’s budgeting plans might address the Northwestern University Graduate Workers’ demands, which include an increased stipend for graduate workers. Hagerty and Amanda Distel, NU vice president and chief financial officer, said they could not speak much on the ongoing negotiations. However, Hagerty said it was important for Northwestern to remain competitive in terms of graduate student stipends. A University spokesperson told The Daily that University officials had a “constructive negotiating

The Daily: Swift’s public relationship with Travis Kelce has sparked a new round of media coverage that both puts her at the intersection of music and sports and seems to signal a departure from her private retreat from the media and public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. What can the relationship tell us about where Swift is in her career and her life? West: The last six years of her last serious relationship were just so, ‘Let’s keep our private life private.’ So, in stark juxtaposition, this has been very much a public relationship. I think what it tells us is, she’s just really happy and they have both embraced this. It seems like the two of them really do love each other and also love sharing this love story with everyone who’s watching. At a time when news can be especially dark, it is kind of refreshing to see them supporting each other, vocally and publicly. jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu

Illustration by Shveta Shah

Kemone Hendricks, who also organizes the annual Evanston Juneteenth Parade, founded the Creative Dance Team Program in 2020 after seeing a lack of education regarding Juneteenth in schools.

session” with NUGW Wednesday, adding that they look forward to continuing the bargaining process. NUGW’s website stated that Wednesday’s bargaining session, the 13th between NUGW and the University, was the first in which no tentative agreements were reached. The parties are slated to meet again on Feb. 1. Other topics discussed at Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting include the progress of the Ryan Field rebuilding project, the cleanliness of Kresge Hall, and plans for next month’s meeting, when Chief Investment Officer Amy Falls will speak to the Senate. Three of the senate’s 12 standing committees also gave reports on ongoing initiatives. The Educational Affairs Committee is still working on revising CTECs to reduce bias, as well as creating more support for students transferring from community colleges. The next faculty senate meeting will take place on Feb. 7. isabelsu2027.1@u.northwestern.edu

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DAILY CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Outlook alternative 6 Drum that may accompany a sitar 11 Little taste 14 “America’s Got Talent” judge Klum 15 Like this answer 17 Texter’s “Didn’t need to hear that” 18 Forward-looking aesthetic of Janelle Monáe and “Black Panther” 20 Siamang or orangutan 21 Trivial complaint 22 Streetcar 23 Speak while flustered, say 25 Singer India.__ 27 Home of the Big 12’s Cyclones 29 Military incursions 30 Part of the digestive system 34 Mega- times mega35 Passing comment? 36 “Illmatic” rapper 37 Job requirement for some visa holders 42 Dashboard prefix with meter 44 Repeat role for Keanu Reeves 45 Hair removal brand 48 Plant-based remedies, e.g. 53 Tell time? 54 Big suit? 55 Gets one’s hands on 57 “Dig in, all!” 60 Tux rental occasion 62 “Anyone can see that” 63 Righteous Babe Records founder DiFranco 64 Post-workout nourishment, and a hint to what can be found in each set of circled letters 67 Start to bake? 68 Single hair

Edited by Patti Edited by Varol Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

1/11/24

By Shannon Rapp & Will Eisenberg

69 Took down 70 DOS pt. 71 Practice room fodder 72 Cider mill fixture DOWN 1 Accra’s land 2 “I’ll start!” 3 TV slot 4 Sworn statement? 5 Use gym weights 6 Japanese mat 7 Keen judgment 8 “So cold!” 9 Lane near Kent? 10 Aide, for short 11 Energizer Bunny’s asset 12 Gets in the way of 13 Yacht spots 16 Dapper 19 River dividing Eurasia 24 Keep up 26 Far-toomemorable songs 28 Ophthalmologist’s concern 31 Part of the KraDai language family 32 Always, in verse 33 “Veep” actor Richardson

Last Issue Puzzle Wednesday’s PuzzleSolved Solved

38 Molecule preceded by m-, r-, or t39 Kenan’s “Good Burger 2” co-star 40 Apple or pear 41 Close of business? 42 Candy bar with an exclamation point 43 Pantheon group 46 Out of it 47 Censures

1/11/24

49 Checkout sounds 50 Use up 51 Put down 52 Tapped pic 53 Shows appreciation 56 Loses, as hair 58 Museo del Prado contents 59 Material for a suit 61 “Sticker shock” no. 65 Letter after sigma 66 Laugh syllable

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024

Queer parenting group fosters awareness, community By JOYCE LI

daily senior staffer @joyycee_li

When Cassie Petoskey had her first child, she decided to practice gender-creative parenting, raising her child without gendered roles, stereotypes or pronouns. However, Petoskey, who serves as Northwestern’s director of alumni engagement, was the only one of their friends practicing gender-creative parenting. In her search for a space to discuss her questions about gender, she came across a flier for a queer parenting support group for NU community members. “I’m really glad that I did take that first step to go to meetings because otherwise, I don’t really have a group to talk about these types of questions,” Petoskey said. “And how cool is it that it’s at the place where I work?” Since September, the University’s Women’s Center has been hosting monthly informal gatherings to discuss queer parenting. Members include parents of LGBTQ+ children, parents who identify as LGBTQ+ and parents looking to create an affirming environment for their children. The meetings are organized by Sarah Brown, the director of the Women’s Center, and Carrie Cox-Wachter, the director of the NU Center for Awareness, Response and Education. “We both have kids, and we got to talking about the fact that we wish we had another forum for issues around sexuality and gender and upbringing because being open about those kinds of topics isn’t quite mainstream yet,” Brown said. Currently, the members of the group are all NU

staff and faculty members, though it is also open to graduate and undergraduate students. “It’s a very generous community of people,” Brown said. “If somebody’s like, ‘My kid just came out to me,’ and there’s also queer folks in the room, they can be like, ‘This is what this was like for me.’” Stephanie Kulke, the fine/performing arts and social sciences editor of NU Global Marketing and Communications, said she joined the group to learn how to best support her child, who came out as non-binary when they were 16. Kulke said she learned about a variety of nontraditional family structures and parenting methods from other members of the group. “It was so expansive for me,” she said. “As a parent, it makes me realize there are so many more options for my child.” Because meetings are held in an academic setting, Petoskey said discussion topics can range from theoretical questions about the definition of gender to practical ones about how to help children when they are questioning their identities or experiencing bullying. Occasionally, discussions will center around a topic that arose organically during a previous meeting. After members mentioned a lack of literature for talking to kids about sexuality and gender identity, Brown said she brought children’s books on the topic to the next meeting. “But mostly, we just kind of meet,” Brown said. “The meetings that have been our best are where someone has taken the floor because something has happened with their kid, where they’re really feeling like they need some support and guidance.” Brown said the group provides a space for parents to speak and learn about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences so their children don’t have to do

Illustration by Beatrice Villaflor

Attendees include parents of LGBTQ+ children, parents who identify as LGBTQ+ and parents looking to create an affirming environment for their children.

the work of educating their parents about their identities. “I often think that it’s doing you harm to be the one who has to explain your identity to a person in your life,” she said. Outside of monthly meetings, members also communicate regularly on Microsoft Teams about day-to-day issues.

Kulke said she feels more comfortable talking to her child and asking them questions about their gender identity because she has a group she can consult. “I don’t want my child to do the heavy work with me,” she said. “I want to support my child.”

joyceli2025@u.northwestern.edu

found in the intestines and can cause infections, but they’re very difficult to treat,” drugs that would prevent an infection of Klebsiella NU Medicine finds that commonly infections when introduced elsewhere in the body. Hauser said in the release. “These strains are called pneumoniae, Hauser said in the release. pneumoniae are highly resistant convergent strains.” “Certainly, we still need to be worried about bacteria is less aggressive to Klebsiella antibiotics, and a strain discovered in Asia in In his recent study published in Nature Commu- these convergent strains; they are still a problem,” mid-1980s can cause serious infections. New nications, Hauser examined 12 convergent strains Hauser said in the release. “They still have the than previously thought the strains of the bacteria discovered in Germany in that were labeled as highly aggressive and antibiotic potential to cause very serious and difficult-toFeinberg Prof. Alan Hauser discovered that new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause less severe infections than previously thought, the University announced Friday. The bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, are

2019 are causing concern in the scientific community, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study. “There’s a lot of concern about these strains because not only do they cause these aggressive

resistant in previous research. After testing the bacteria on mice, Hauser’s team found that 11 of the 12 strains identified as dangerous produced milder infections than anticipated. The team’s long-term goal is to develop novel

treat infections. It’s just that perhaps many of these convergent strains may not cause as severe infections as we originally thought.” — Isaiah Steinberg

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Thursday, January 11, 2024

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Northwestern overcomes Penn State in away game By JAKE EPSTEIN

daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

Three days removed from a statement home victory over Michigan State, Northwestern traveled east to Happy Valley to take on Penn State for the first of a two-game road trip. When the two teams squared off last season, the hosts took both contests in overtime. Looking to avenge 2023’s

senior night and conference tournament defeats, the Wildcats (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) prevailed in a second-half offensive firestorm against the Nittany Lions (8-8, 2-3 Big Ten). Penn State took control early in the first half, forcing three quickfire NU turnovers and scoring the game’s opening six points. Although the ‘Cats battled back and kept the game within striking distance, the Nittany Lions seemed to

respond to every NU run with a timely bucket of their own. Although the ‘Cats posted a 5-of-9 shooting clip from beyond the arc and held Penn State to a 10% conversion rate on 3-pointers, the Nittany Lions had their way inside the arc and at the charity stripe to maintain their advantage. Behind senior guard Ty Berry’s and graduate student guard Boo Buie’s 17 combined firsthalf points, the NU entered halftime in a 40-32 hole. Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal

Following the break, the hosts kept their foot on the gas pedal and extended their lead to double-digits at the second frame’s first media timeout. But, the ‘Cats stormed back on a 7-0 run to bring the margin back to 55-54, courtesy of senior center Matthew Nicholson’s dunk. Sophomore forward Nick Martinelli’s left-handed floater gave the ‘Cats their first lead of the night with just over 11 minutes remaining. On the ensuing offensive possessions, Buie extended the visitors’ lead to 60-55 with a pair of inside scores. With 17 second-half points on an unconscious 85.7% conversion rate, junior guard Brooks Barnhizer helped power his squad to a comeback win. Here are three takeaways from NU’s road victory over Penn State. 1. ‘Cats plagued by sloppy offensive start For a team that prides itself on limited turnovers and maintaining possession, NU’s opening four minutes proved a recipe for disaster. The ‘Cats gave away two turnovers in the game’s first two minutes, while the Nittany Lions dialed

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

up early pressure. Errant passes, offensive miscues and an apparent urge to force the matchups’ action amounted to seven first-half turnovers — compared to just five turnovers in the team’s full game against the Spartans on Sunday. However, Buie’s possessional clinic persisted through the first 20 minutes of action, as the graduate student guard didn’t relinquish possession in the first half. 2. Buie rises up scoring ranks Fresh off his first career double-double Sunday night, Buie carried a prime opportunity to rewrite a school-history wrinkle on Wednesday. Once the second half began, Buie found himself just three points away from eclipsing Evan Eschmeyer’s career tally of 1,805. For one of the most prolific scorers in school history, the point guard is well on his way to becoming NU’s alltime points leader, needing a hair over 14 points per game to eclipse Josh Shurna’s watermark before the postseason begins. Less than four minutes into the second frame, Buie slashed inside and converted a layup to

tie Eschmeyer’s figure with his 10th point of the evening. After Penn State coach Mike Rhoades received a technical foul, Buie stepped up to the foul line and drained both free throws to collect his 11th and 12th points of the night to best Eschmeyer’s career total. 3. ‘Cats face tough test Saturday at No. 15 Wisconsin As coach Chris Collins has repeated throughout the season, the Big Ten schedule flies by fast and furious, and results must be quickly flushed — regardless of wins or losses. Now, NU will play its second consecutive ranked opponent on the road, as Collins’ bunch heads north to face the Badgers (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten). Wisconsin hasn’t lost in Madison since its Nov. 10 tussle with then-No. 9 Tennessee and carries an 8-1 home record. The ‘Cats swept last season’s series against the Badgers, prevailing in a rock fight inside the Kohl Center. Set for a road battle at Ohio State Wednesday night, Wisconsin could extend its winning streak to five games prior to Saturday’s showdown. jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

FENCING

Basketball wins against Fencers dominate in San Jose Wisconsin Wednesday By ROSE CARLSON the daily northwestern

By AUDREY PACHUTA

the daily northwestern @audreypachuta

After suffering two consecutive blowout losses by a combined margin of 70 points, Northwestern secured its second conference win with a 74-69 victory over Wisconsin Wednesday. For the third consecutive game, the Wildcats went to battle without Joe McKeown, who was out due to illness. Associate head coach Tangela Smith took the ropes in his absence for the fifth time this season. Both teams entered the game with a 1-3 record in Big Ten matchups. With the win, NU has now won eight of its last nine matchups with the Badgers. The ‘Cats came ready to play from the get go. In an electric first quarter, they put together a 14-0 run, nailing two three-pointers, including a milestone shot from graduate student guard Maggie Pina that secured her 1000th career point. NU led the Badgers for 10 minutes and 48 seconds during the first twenty minutes of play, but found themselves down by one point at the half after a buzzer-beating threepointer from Wisconsin guard Tessa Grady. In a tight second half, the ‘Cats were able to hold on, despite an 8-0 Wisconsin run that allowed them to tie things up early on in the fourth quarter. Here are three takeaways from NU’s victory over Wisconsin. 1. NU finds much needed relief from turnover trouble In the first 20 minutes of action, NU exhibited great strides in its ball-handling skills — a facet that

has posed considerable challenges for the team throughout this season. With just four turnovers in the opening half, the squad set the tone for a more polished effort early on. In their two most recent games against Penn State and Ohio State, the ‘Cats gave up possession 58 times. Tonight, they surrendered the ball just 10 times. Prior to Wednesday’s contest, NU had double-digit turnovers in all but one game, and accumulated more than 20 on six occasions.

2. Caileigh Walsh continues to dominate With 19 points on a 6-of-14 shooting clip, junior forward Caileigh Walsh has now led the ‘Cats in scoring in four consecutive games. The 6-foot-3 New Jersey native secured the team’s first lead of the night, putting them on the board with a layup within 90 seconds. Walsh also leads the team in scoring for the year, averaging 13 points per game before Wednesday’s contest.

@roselcarlson

While students settled into a new quarter on campus, a group of Northwestern fencers escaped snow-boottrodden Evanston sidewalks in favor of sunny San Jose skies. But this was no vacation — the Wildcats descended upon California with business in mind. From Jan. 5 through Monday, 16 athletes competed in the January North American Cup. NACs are held throughout the year and offer opportunities for individual fencers to earn national points and compete with high-caliber opponents. NU put up a strong showing in Division 1 and Junior events across the disciplines of saber, foil and épée — categories defined by differences in blade and rules of combat. Junior Rowan Park ushered in a return to her home state with a 6-0 pool run in Division 1 Women’s Foil on the tournament’s opening day. Park advanced to the direct elimination round, finishing 33rd out of 156 fencers.

Division 1, a tier that includes all fencers born in 2010 or earlier, is restricted by skill to the most elite levels. Sophomore superstar Megumi Oishi put forth another standout performance for the ‘Cats in this category. The 2023 Honorable Mention All-American went undefeated in her pool and nabbed a 10th place finish in Division 1 Women’s Saber — a step up from her 17th place finish in the same event at the December NAC. NU’s high-flying opening events slowed slightly during the tournament’s third day, as the ‘Cats struggled to find top-50 finishes in Division 1 Women’s Épée and Junior Women’s Foil. Sophomore and Houston native Karen Wang achieved 63rd place out of 200 in Division 1 Women’s Épée — a far cry from her 17th place finish in the December NAC. But Wang’s time at the January tournament was far from over. NU saved the best for last, and the real show began Monday in the Junior events of saber and épée, restricted to fencers born between 2004 and 2010. Wang, seeded 47 in the Junior Women’s Épée ahead of the direct elimination round advanced past an epic upset of 17-seeded Cornell freshman Natalie

Leung in the round of 64, and a 15-10 victory in the round of 32. But, Karen Wang was perhaps too well-matched with fellow épéeist Ziqi Wang. After three scoreless minutes in the round of 16, the two descended into several grueling rounds of back-andforth touches. At the very end of the final round, Ziqi Wang finally found a 12-11 victory, and Karen Wang bowed out with a 14th-place finish. In Junior Women’s Saber, freshman Alex Chen and Oishi breezed through undefeated pool action, earning respective 7 and 9-seeds. Chen placed 36th after a 15-12 defeat in the round of 64. Oishi tallied three consecutive 15-8 victories in the knockout stages, but her triumphant run ended in a 15-5 defeat to Veronica Mika. The sophomore secured a fifth-place finish, and along with it, one of the first A ratings of 2024. The ‘Cats will return to collegiate competition next weekend with a trip east to Medford, Massachusetts for the Tufts Invitational, where they’ll battle for victory against squads from Wellesley, Cornell and Tufts. rosecarlson2027@u.northwestern.edu

3. Maggie Pina scores 1,000th career point Entering the game just one point shy of the milestone, graduate student Maggie Pina notched her 1000th career point in Wednesday’s contest against the Badgers. The 5-foot-7 guard transferred from Boston University before this season, where she led the team in 3-point shooting during her fouryear stint there. Pina tallied her 1000th point off her signature outside jumper, sinking a long-range bucket just seven minutes into the game. audreypachuta2027@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Seeger Gray