The Daily Northwestern — January 14, 2020 by The Daily Northwestern

The Daily Northwestern Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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Political Union narrowly votes against assassination of Iranian general Suleimani

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Council approves denuclearization Evanston joins Back from the Brink movement By GRANT LI

the daily northwestern @_grantli

Joshua Hoffman/ The Daily Northwestern

One of the country’s most influential Muslim scholars, Hamza Yusuf Hanson, spoke about his experiences studying the Islamic sciences with Mauritian scholars on Monday in Lutkin Hall.

Muslim scholar talks Mauritania

Hanson discusses history of Islamic expansion, administrative role By RYANN PERLSTEIN

the daily northwestern @ryannperlstein

One of the country’s most influential Muslim scholars, Hamza Yusuf Hanson, spoke

about his experiences studying the Islamic sciences with Mauritian scholars on Monday in Lutkin Hall. Hanson is the president and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, the first accredited Muslim liberal arts

college in the United States. He is also currently on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s “Commission on Unalienable Rights,” which Hanson described as an “interesting experience.” The bipartisan commission’s role is to evaluate issues related to

human rights. Hanson began his talk by describing the history of Islamic expansion, later focusing on Mauritania, where most of his academia and scholarship » See HANSON, page 6

City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting nationwide denuclearization as part of the international Back from the Brink movement at Monday’s meeting. Back from the Brink has worked to pass similar resolutions at all levels of government across the country. Monday’s resolution calls for Congress to take up the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The agreement prevents nuclear development and provides for remedial action to assist those who have been negatively affected by nuclear technologies. The treaty was approved by the United Nations in July 2017, and has since been in circulation for ratification. Fifty countries need to ratify the treaty for it to take effect, and 33 have already ratified it. The resolution was originally brought to the Human Services Committee by various faith-based organizations, including Northwestern’s Sheil Catholic Center, in collaboration with other groups such as Neighbors for Peace, Union of Concerned Scientists

and Chicago Area Peace Action. The groups contacted Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th), whose husband is on the board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, to introduce the resolution. Revelle also said the city should consider passing the resolution because Evanston is a member of the Mayors for Peace, and this is one of the initiative’s action items. Many of those involved attended the meeting to speak in support of the resolution, including state Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston). She plans on raising a similar resolution at the state level. “We know that the use of a fraction of the global nuclear weapons arsenal would have devastatingly irrevocable consequences to our planet, and that a national defense strategy based on nuclear armament increases, rather than decreases, our national security,” Gabel said. Some of the speakers alluded to recent international events and foreign policy decisions as support for a heightened sense of urgency. Marcia Bernsten, a board member of Chicago Area Peace Action, said Trump’s actions, especially in the past 2 weeks, have, “definitely put us on a more combative footing with Iran.” David Combs, a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists, noted that more than $22 million of Evanston’s federal tax » See NUCLEAR, page 6

Budget deficit D65 finds steady opportunity gaps limits construction Student performance consistent with 2016-17 progress report NU plans for new buildings put on hold By TROY CLOSSON

daily senior staffer @troy_closson

Northwestern’s budget deficit in Fiscal Year 2018 froze construction on residence halls in the 10-year Housing Master Plan and delayed renovations of other campus spaces. Senior vice president for business and finance Craig Johnson told The Daily last week that — at least for some of those spaces — a remodeling could be on the horizon. As the University ended Fiscal Year 2019 several million dollars in surplus, Johnson said NU will refocus on renovating vacant buildings on campus while deprioritizing new construction projects. Johnson said one of those spaces is the Donald P. Jacobs Center, formerly home to the Kellogg School of Management. The vacant building was planned to become a social sciences “hub,” housing the Buffett Institute for

Global Studies, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and the Global Engagement Studies Institute, among other programs. Provost Jonathan Holloway told The Daily in 2017 that the hope in consolidating those departments into a single space is to increase interaction between faculty. At the time, he added that construction wouldn’t begin until summer 2019 at the earliest. On Northwestern’s facilities management page, no construction start or projected completion date is currently listed. The James Allen Center on North Campus is also set to finally undergo a revamp, Johnson said — according to a University construction plan, the building will be closed for renovations between December 7, 2020 and April 7, 2021. The project will upgrade student and faculty spaces, along with dining halls and the building’s mechanical systems. After the first few floors were completed in Fall 2017, Johnson said Mudd’s fourth and fifth floors are also back on the priority list for renovations. They’ll be used as lab » See BUILDINGS, page 6

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Opportunity gaps continue to exist between black and white students, low-income and highincome students and students with and without Individualized Education Programs, according to data presented at Monday’s Evanston/Skokie District 65 meeting. Kylie Klein, director of research, accountability and data, presented the district’s Accountability and Achievement Report for the 2018-2019 school year. Published each January, the report highlights students’ academic progress and identifies opportunities for improvement in District 65 schools. “Three years ago, I reviewed my first District 65 Achievement and Accountability Report as a District 65 board member,” board member Anya Tanyavutti said. “I believe I used the word ‘demoralizing’ in relation to the outcome. To be honest, I felt » See D65, page 6

Daily file photo by Noah Frick-Alofs

District 65 board president Suni Kartha. Kartha said school officials should consider the implications of the Achievement and Accountability Report on their own schools at Monday’s Evanston/Skokie District 65 meeting.

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2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

AROUND TOWN

Council approves city manager search contract By EMMA YARGER

the daily northwestern @emmayarger

City Council approved a 6-2 contract with hiring agency GovHR to perform the search for the next city manager at Monday’s meeting. The motion passed 3-2 in the Administration and Public Works committee meeting Monday, which put the contract before City Council consideration. Wally Bobkiewicz acted as city manager until September 2019, when he left to be the city administrator of Issaquah, Washington and was replaced with Interim City Manager Erika Storlie. Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th) specifically voiced her opposition to the GovHR contract with GovHR at the public works meeting and voted against the motion at the council meeting. Fleming, who was one of four aldermen who participated in the interview process, said she opposed the contract because GovHR has hired many city staff members, and she feels this makes them biased in their decision for the next city manager. Ald. Thomas Suffredin (6th) said he also had concerns about entering a contract with GovHR due to his past experience with the agency. “The revolving door is problematic,” Suffredin said. “(GovHR) is a landing place for dismissed Evanston employees.” Although some aldermen raised concerns over GovHR’s ability to find the next city manager, the majority approved.

POLICE BLOTTER Power tools stolen from car

Power tools valued at $475 were taken from a car at the 2200 block of Oakton Street, between 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10. The victim, a 56-year-old Chicago resident, said he left his car to enter Home Depot around 2 p.m.

Daily file photo by Evan Robinson-Johnson

Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th). Fleming voiced her concern with having GovHR perform the city manager search.

“There is no one, no one who could have listened to those three interviews.” Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) said. “Who could have chosen any other any other organization, other than this one?”

The committee decided at the Dec. 9 public works meeting not to move forward with GovHR until an interview process with multiple vendors had occurred. Rainey, Fleming, Ald. Judy Fiske

When he returned, he found that a Milwaukee brand saw a Ridgid brand drill and a Ridgid brand charger, valued at $250, $150 and $75 respectively, had been taken, according to Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew. The victim said an unidentified witness gave him a description of a man who may have broken into the car, a blue 2002 Ram truck. Glew said as of now, there are no suspects and no one in custody.

Man charged with unlawful possession of firearm-related items

A 52-year-old Evanston resident was arrested on Jan. 11 at 3:30 a.m for unlawful possession of firearmsrelated paraphernalia. The suspect was approached by police at the 900 block of Sherman Avenue. His car, a 1998 gray Honda Accord, was parked outside of a space, and the man

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(1st) and Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd) reviewed three candidates, including GovHR. The process will include the development of a candidate profile by GovHR. The agency will then create a job announcement where people will be able to apply for the position. GovHR will narrow the candidates and pass along potential hires to the council. According to Storlie, there will be a public component of the interviews, the form of which has yet to be determined. She said residents have expressed interest in participating, and the process will be announced as soon as officials know. During the meeting, council members also discussed the reparations subcommittee. They added Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) to the subcommittee and also deliberated the potential inclusion of lawyers and other community members. The subcommittee will search for programs that can be supported by the reparations fund, which was adopted as part of the 2020 budget in November. Rainey confirmed the American Civil Liberties Union reached out to City Council expressing interest in taking part in the subcommittee as well. The council also voted 5-3 against the establishment of a moratorium on condominium deconversions. If passed, this would have prevented condominiums from being deconverted into rental apartments. Rainey argued that longterm residents would struggle to find alternate housing opportunities, and the majority agreed the council should stay out of the issue, resulting in no change in policy for condominiums. emmayarger2023@u.northwestern.edu

was asleep inside. When officers approached the car, they saw a bullet on the center console, Glew said. The officers asked the suspect to exit the car and located five bullets in total after searching the vehicle. No weapons were found. The suspect does not yet have a court date. — Jacob Fulton

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

ON CAMPUS

Students vote no on Suleimani killing By SPENCER ALLAN

the daily northwestern @spencerlallan

In its first debate of Winter Quarter, Northwestern Political Union narrowly voted that the United States was wrong to assassinate Iranian general Qassim Suleimani. The debate comes a week after President Donald Trump authorized a drone strike on Suleimani, who was a key figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’s clandestine operations. Previous American administrations have avoided targeting Suleimani out of fear of further destabilizing the region. Critics of the attack say it could lead to an all-out war between the United States and Iran. Speaking against the assassination was Weinberg sophomore Anna Cork, who argued that the attack undermined the United States’ reputation in the region and further escalates tensions. “There wasn’t really a legitimate reason behind it,” Cork said. “The claim that the killing was necessary to avert an imminent threat has only gotten more flimsy over time.” Cork also discussed how the attack could strengthen nationalist sentiments in Iran while wearing down the United States’ relationship with Iraq. Last week, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel US troops from the country in response to the killing. Communication freshman Zach Kessel spoke in favor of the assassination, saying that the move was essential to stopping violent attacks on America’s security interests. Kessel is an opinion columnist for The Daily. “There has to be a display of force against Iran that will stop them from continuing the cycle of violence,” Kessel said. “They understand that when we won’t stop their belligerence, it’s OK for them to continue to do so.” Kessel pointed to historical examples of deterrence such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and Operation Praying Mantis, in which US forces retaliated against the demolition of a ship by

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Students at a Political Union meeting. The group narrowly voted in favor of condemning the United States’ assassination of Iranian general Qassim Suleimani.

striking Iranian oil platforms. “The crux of it is this deterrence works,” Kessel said. “If we had not taken out Suleimani they very likely would have continued that pattern of escalation.” Many of the questions asked by students clarified the events of the last week, such as the accidental downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 by Iranian forces. Others in the room questioned just how the effective the assassination was as a deterrent against violence. “It’s dubious to assume Iran is a rational actor,” Bienen junior Sachin Shukla said. “We have not heard the last from Iran.” Shukla referenced events from last September, when two major Saudi Oil Installations were hit by drones allegedly controlled by the Iranian government, as an example of potential retaliation.

Students also mentioned, albeit less frequently, President Trump’s motivations and reasons for the strike — points that critics of the assassination say are disingenuous. “Republicans and Democrats who have been in these briefings have expressed they haven’t been able to adequately prove that they had intelligence that this was an actual danger,” Cork said. Cork, as well as other attendees, questioned the legality of the killing on foreign soil. At the end of the hour, Political Union voted 18 for and 15 against the motion to condemn the United State’s assassination of Suleimani, making Monday’s votes one of the closest of the academic year so far. Despite the vote, many students still felt conflicted about the United States’ future in the Middle East. allan@u.northwestern.edu

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OPINION

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Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Students should add “do nothing” to their schedules

ZACH BRIGHT

OPINION EDITOR

Being back at Northwestern as the second week of the quarter begins to ramp up, I can best sum up how I feel with one word: busy. I get up, head to class, study, have more class, and then run desk at The Daily. I’ve found myself wishing that each day had an extra hour just so I could catch up and actually take the time to decompress — and by no means am I alone. Nevertheless, just over a week ago, I was on break and still found myself itching to go back to school. After just a couple days of recovering from fall, I was without work to do or assignments to complete, nothing I found that meaningful to accomplish. I felt unproductive and

bad about it. My experience is certainly not unique. Plenty of other students have found themselves feeling like they should be working toward an end goal at all times. When there is none, they might consider it a sign of failure. The idea that productivity is king has been instilled in many of us both as we’ve grown up and especially here at college. In essence, productivity is the amount of output you get for a certain input. But we shouldn’t value ourselves, our success, and our feelings with this metric. One of our school’s most common slogans touts the importance of getting involved in multiple studies and activities, with an implicit claim that success stems from productivity. I don’t need to go into the problematic underpinnings that “AND is in our DNA” carries. It’s just the product of a culture that values productivity too highly. While productivity clearly has its merits, a lack of it — doing nothing — can be just as

valuable. In much the same way that white space is crucial to effective design, doing nothing can actually be quite beneficial. Sure, you could pull all-nighters left and right in pursuit of productivity, but you will burn out. Actively doing nothing provides you with a clear head and the right mindset to relax. Only then can you actually concentrate on what is important to you. Building this skill isn’t easy. It’s not that simple to just go sit on a bench outside, stare across the lake and tune out. Not everybody has the ability to just separate themselves from what’s happening around them; I certainly don’t. Commitments to the classes you take, the organizations you are part of and the people around you are certainly important and can be hard to see beyond. Regardless, this doesn’t mean you need to feel overstimulated and overworked at all times. Finding a balance is key, and it can be very simple. You don’t always have to listen to

music when you’re walking. You don’t always have to be in conversation with people, inperson, on the phone or over text. The very act of doing nothing requires the occasional embrace of solitude and the absence of things. Doing nothing is obviously not a cure-all. If it’s all you do, you won’t accomplish much in the long run. But at the same time, why is it that something new always has to be produced? Instead of making and doing more and more, draw observations, create connections and piece together what already exists out there; it is equally, if not more, fruitful. Giving nothing a shot won’t cost you anything. After all, it’s just nothing. Zach Bright is a Medill sophomore. He can be contacted at zacharybright2022@u.northwestern.edu. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

Anti-Semitism is a bipartisan problem, not a political tool ZACH KESSEL

DAILY COLUMNIST

After the December 10 shooting at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City, New Jersey, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) tweeted a picture of one of the victims with the caption, “This is heartbreaking. White supremacy kills.” Unfortunately for Tlaib, the perpetrators of the attack were not white supremacists, but followers of the Black Hebrew Israelites. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the organization as a black separatist hate group notorious for antisemitic beliefs. When authorities made the details of the shooting clear, Tlaib deleted her tweet and did not offer any further condolences. Over a month later, with this instance constituting part of a spate of antisemitic violence in the New York area, the problem remains the same: politicians refuse to address anti-Semitism unless it fits their preferred narrative. The recent attacks on Hasidic Jews in the New York Area, culminating in the December 28 stabbing in Monsey, New York, have primarily been perpetrated by black residents of the area. Perhaps because of that uncomfortable truth, we have not reckoned with hatred of Jews in the aftermath of these attacks like we did in the wake of shootings at synagogues in recent years. After those anti-Semitic attacks, we had a national discussion about white supremacy, about nationalism and about the President’s possible role in stoking such sentiments. After Jersey City, Monsey and the rash of assaults on the streets of New York City, what have the media reported? A panoply of victim-blaming rationalizations of violence and a lack of good-faith conversations about antisemitism. On January 2, during the aftershocks of the attack in Monsey, NBC New York published an article saying that “the expansion

of Hasidic communities in New York’s Hudson Valley, the Catskills and northern New Jersey has led to predictable sparring over new housing developments and local political control.” Because shootings and stabbings are nothing more than “predictable sparring” over zoning laws when they don’t fit into the preferred narrative. A day after the Monsey stabbings, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) tweeted, “AntiSemitism is on the rise in America, and it’s being stoked by @realDonaldTrump.” Say what you will about the President’s flirtations with white nationalism and his equivocation in Charlottesville — and there is a lot to be said — these recent attacks had nothing to do with him. It is easier — though no less dubious — to make a case that they could have been inspired by the sentiments regularly expressed by Omar and Tlaib: that Jews cannot be fully loyal to the United States, that Jews pull the strings in our society. Omar talked at an event in March of last year about “the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” referring to Israel. President Trump recently invoked a similar idea, referring to Jews who vote for Democrats as “very disloyal” to Israel. For reference, 71% of Jews voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. The accusation of Jews holding dual loyalty is one that goes back thousands of years, and has been used to stoke fear and hatred of Jews by notorious figures from Haman, the vizier of ancient Persia, to Adolf Hitler. Omar tweeted, “It’s all about the Benjamins” when confronted about spreading antiSemitic beliefs, which continues the timeworn tradition of accusing Jews of buying political influence. In reality, other lobbying groups spend far more. Both Omar and Tlaib have associated themselves with virulently anti-Semitic characters and organizations. Yes, both Omar and Tlaib have endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is Jewish, for President, but it’s not as though Sanders’s record is clean on the

issue of anti-Semitism. His national surrogate Linda Sarsour says that Zionism — the belief in the continued existence of the State of Israel — and feminism are oxymoronic, and that Israel is “based on the idea that Jews are supreme to everyone else.” Omar’s and Tlaib’s support for Sanders does not cancel out their history of anti-Semitic utterances and posts. Republicans are guilty of much of the same. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) invited notorious Holocaust denier Chuck Johnson as his guest at the 2018 State of the Union. He has appeared on Infowars as a guest of Alex Jones, who has said that Jews “run Uber, they run health care, they’re going to scam you, they’re going to hurt you.” On March 7 of last year, Democratic leaders in the House wrote a resolution condemning Omar’s anti-Semitic statements. It was quickly watered down, ending up not naming Omar and condemning all forms of hate, not just anti-Semitism. The Democrats’ capitulation is largely the result of an idea prevalent on the left for quite some time: that anti-Semitism is not as legitimate as other forms of hatred because Jews are often white and therefore oppressors themselves. Since Jews are oppressors, there can be no legitimate form of bigotry against them, and any attempt to reckon with anti-Semitism on the left is painted as racist or Islamophobic. Anti-Semitism knows no ideology. It is a quilt of conspiracy theories knitted together by groups of all stripes — Christians and Muslims, liberals and conservatives and members of all races. It pre-exists all of those ideological sects, originating in antiquity. It is entirely irresponsible for some people on the left to ignore any anti-Semitism that doesn’t fit the white supremacy narrative. That being said, the problem doesn’t only exist on the left. The Republican Party has failed to address anti-Semitism within its ranks, and oftentimes downplays the threat of white supremacism. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) repeated on Fox Business the lie that Jewish investor and philanthropist George Soros helped the Nazis take Jewish property during

the Holocaust. Tucker Carlson said in August that white supremacy is “actually not a real problem in America,” contrary to all the evidence that it is, in fact, an issue. The President’s many brushes with anti-Semitism and white nationalism include his “very fine people” incident in Charlottesville, and his campaign advertisement that showed Hillary Clinton against a background of money, next to a Star of David with the words “Most Corrupt Candidate Ever!” emblazoned across. Both parties are guilty here. Neither side addresses anti-Semitism when it doesn’t fit the preferred narrative: the left when it implicates people of color and the right when it implicates alt-right and nationalist figures on their side. As a Jew, it is disheartening to realize that all these acts of hatred could occur in the United States. Fixing the problem of anti-Semitism is a daunting task, and one that will probably never be complete. However, in an age in which anti-Semitic attacks increase in frequency year after year, it is time that both parties address it as the problem it is, not just mentioning it when it serves a political end. To Swalwell, and others on the left who speak up against anti-Semitism on the right, I say: Speak up against hatred on your own side, as well. Only then will I take your thoughts seriously. To those on the right who use anti-Semitism as a smear against the left but refuse to condemn it on their own side, I say the same. Some issues are more than political. Some require the goodness of the human spirit to conquer. This is one, and I hope that our leaders will be more honest, more forthright and more proactive in fighting the great evil that is the hatred of the Jewish people. Zach Kessel is a Medill Freshman. He can be contacted at zachkessel2023@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 141, Issue 6 Editor in Chief Troy Closson

Print Managing Editors Gabby Birenbaum Samantha Handler Marissa Martinez

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 • Should be double-spaced • Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number. • Should be fewer than 400 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

Anthropologists discuss Kurdish conflicts, history By AUSTIN BENAVIDES

daily senior staffer @awstinbenavides

Anthropologists Deniz Duruiz and Zeynep Oguz discussed preconceptions about the Kurdish people and their relationship with Turkey this Monday at Kresge Centennial Hall. Around 25 people attended “The Kurdish Question and Academic Expertise: Borders, Territories, and Statelessness.” Both researchers recounted their ethnographic and anthropological fieldwork in Turkey — elaborating on their experiences in Kurdish provinces, or Kurdistan, located in the eastern province of Turkey. About 30 to 35 million Kurds today live across the borders of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. In October 2019, President Trump ordered U.S. forces to withdraw from Northern Syria, an area predominantly occupied by Kurdish forces, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from ISIS and the Turkish military. Oguz said the U.S. media fails to accurately represent conflicts between the Kurds and the Turks — or any Middle Eastern issues — because it misrepresents and exaggerates them, characterizing these conflicts as timeless and perpetual. “The conflict [between the Turks and the Kurds]… is reduced to an ethnic conflict, so its political character is also ignored,” Oguz said. “It is also souped-up in global context, the role of international treaties, for example… or imperial interests.” Issues between the Kurds and the Turks, Oguz said, aren’t an endless conflict, but it also isn’t recent. After WWI, the Kurdish people were left stateless through a series of treaties, Oguz said.

Northwestern researchers develop key to artificial ovaries

Northwestern researchers may be one step closer to creating 3D-printed artificial ovaries, a discovery that may help the approximately 6.1 million American women between ages 15 and 44 who struggle to conceive.

As a result, the new Turkish government systematically tried to eliminate Kurdish cultural influences from the nation, Duruiz said. These efforts led to the renaming of Kurdish towns to Turkish names, as well as forcing the Kurds to take Turkish names. Today, most Kurds go by two names — their Kurdish family name and the official Turkish name they are required to use for government documents, Duruiz said. The unstable relationship between the Kurds and the Turkish government continued throughout the 20th century, intensifying in the 1990s. That tension led to peace talks that continued until the 2015 election and fully unraveled in July 2016 after an attempted coup on the government led by Recep Tayyip Erdoygan. Following a July 2015 ceasefire, Turkish military forces invaded multiple cities in Kurdistan, killing around 1,000 people — including elderly and children — reducing buildings to rubble and vandalizing homes, Duruiz said. In one instance, she said, a soldier wrote on the walls, “If you are Turkish be proud, if not obey.” Diego Arispe-Bazan, post-doctoral fellow in the Buffett Institute for Global Studies, attended the talk. He said he enjoyed how “layered” the talk was by not reducing the Turkish-Kurdish conflict to a single event. “It wasn’t just that there was one event that produced a conflict, rather there are multiple small ones that led to the situation as well,” ArispeBazan said. Both Oguz and Duruiz said they disagreed with the idea that the Middle East needed to be transformed by Western powers and its narrative that the region as a whole is a problem that needs to be solved. Monica Laronda, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine and a medical director at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and her team found similarities in structural proteins found in pigs’ ovaries, which can then be used to develop an ink to print artificial ovaries for humans. “We are one step closer to restoring fertility and hormone production in young women who survive childhood cancer but enter early menopause as a late effect,” Laronda said to Science Daily. “There

Caroline Megerian/ The Daily Northwestern

Researchers Zeynep Oguz and Deniz Duruiz speak about the situation surrounding the Kurdish question.

The study of the Kurdish question is just beginning, Duruiz said. In the 1990s it was almost impossible to conduct ethnographic work in Kurdistan because researchers were jailed, she added. “I think we are the first generation of

anthropologists who are educated and in the US, who can translate this knowledge into an understandable, digestible form,” Duruiz said.

are still several steps to go and we are excited to test our new inks.” The team’s experiment tested artificial ovaries on mice, which yielded successful pregnancies with live offsprings, according to the journal article Nature Communications. Their research also compared structural proteins found in pig ovaries and humans. This makes swines the best candidates for further development. These proteins could be a source for bio-ink for 3D-printing human ovaries.

Laronda’s team received a patent in late 2019, and they’re working to develop the technology for human use. Furthermore, the process of protein mapping can be applied to other organs of research interest. “We have developed a pipeline for identifying and mapping scaffold proteins at the organ level,” Laronda said to Science Daily. “It is the first time that this has been accomplished and we hope it will spur further research into the microenvironment of other organs.”

austinbenavides2022@u.northwestern.edu

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HANSON From page 1

took place. The scholar said he was “the first Western person” to study in Mauritania, a country with a culture that Hanson said should be studied more. “As somebody who’s been in it for over 35 years, the tradition itself is a very rich tradition, it’s an under-studied tradition,” Hanson said. “There’s always new things to study.” The event was organized by the Northwestern Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa, the only research center in North America specifically devoted to the study of Islam in Africa.

D65

From page 1 similarly when reviewing the numbers that we see in tonight’s report.” Data indicated gaps among demographic groups in meeting college readiness benchmarks. In the 2018-2019 school year, 83 percent of white students met or exceeded college readiness benchmarks for English language arts, as compared to 33 percent of black students, 38 percent of Hispanic students and 18 percent of students with IEPs. Klein emphasized that the percent of students meeting or exceeding benchmarks increased among some demographic groups: from the 20162017 school year to the 2018-2019 school year, for example, the number of Hispanic students meeting or exceeding ELA benchmarks increased by three percent. “I know they do not reflect the true aptitude of black children and families, and I personally know the pain of being underinvested in and underestimated, and subsequently internalizing wrong messages,” Tanyavutti said. The report also noted a downward trend in kindergarten readiness, which is measured by the Illinois Snapshots of Early Literacy. The percent of kindergarten-ready students decreased by 11 percent in the two-year period between the 20162017 school year and the 2018-2019 school year. Klein said officials plan to analyze the factors driving the decrease in early literacy rates. Some board members expressed concerns over the report’s perceived accessibility and lack of data analysis. Board member Biz Lindsay-Ryan said she hopes future reports explain which programs and policies may be driving changes in student performance. These explanations, she said, could direct school administrators choosing which strategies to pursue. “There’s growth that I’d like to understand more, there’s regression that I’d like to understand more,” Lindsay-Ryan said. “How are you all communicating to the schools here’s what I think is happening? How do we then plan for what we’re going to keep, what we’re going to cut?”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020 Hanson has devoted over 35 years to studying Islam, a religion he said is unparalleled in terms of the close-knit community it creates. “No religion has the integrity of practice that the Muslim religion has. Of all the religions in the world, no religion has absolute agreement on the book,” Hanson said. “Muslims have complete agreement on the book. It’s amazing the elements of unity that are in the religion.” Hanson’s discussion was part of a lecture series with the goal of inviting highly regarded Muslim scholars to campus, according to Zekeria Ahmed Salem, ISITA’s director and associate professor of political science at Northwestern. Many in the audience came to see Hanson Others pointed out the need for qualitative data measurements and ISEL data separated into categories by race and socio-economic status, to see how the groups are specifically performing in contrast to the report’s current presentation of overall trends. Board member Candance Chow said the report lacks data relevant to the board’s 20152019 Strategic Plan. One of the plan’s four goals is increasing the percent of students — both above and below college readiness benchmarks — who make expected gains in math and reading. Although the report includes math and reading data, it doesn’t indicate changes in performance levels for students who start below the college readiness benchmark. She added that having data that measures the Strategic Plan’s progress is critical considering the appointment of a new superintendent. The board appointed Devon Horton as D65’s superintendent last December. “I feel like that’s an important thing to continue through, especially as we have our new superintendent coming on and we’re going to be looking to reframe and rework that plan,” Chow said. Board president Suni Kartha said principals and school officials should consider applying the report’s findings to their own schools. In addition to illustrating several opportunity gaps, the data showed overall attendance rates have remained consistent across the three year timeframe, although chronic absenteeism increased by 1 percent between the 2017-2018 school year and the 2018-2019 school year. New to the Achievement and Accountability Report are school profile reports — four-page overviews showcasing data specific to each District 65 elementary, middle and high school. The profiles break down school-level data by demographic group and socio-economic status, and information boxes define and contextualize metrics like “% meeting or exceeding college readiness benchmarks.” The next board meeting is March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center. evaherscowitz2023@u.northwestern.edu

speak for the first time after following his scholarship online. “I always see him online. It’s an honor to be here,” attendee Ali Al-Sahili said. “Because of his description and explanation of the education in Mauritania and how they do things there, it’s actually a fantasy of mine to be there and to learn from those teachers.” Hanson’s lecture was followed by a question and answer session where audience members asked about a variety of topics, including his involvement with Pompeo’s human rights commission and previous comments about the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2017, after he was asked if Muslim

Americans should join the Black Lives Matter movement, Hanson said, “We have between 15,000 and 18,000 homicides per year. Fifty percent are black-on-black crime, literally … There are twice as many whites that have been shot by police, but nobody ever shows those videos.” Hanson clarified his previous comment on Monday, saying it “was not related to Black Lives Matter. It was related to police, and it was taken out of context.” Despite these controversies, Hanson still says that “religion should be a source of unity, not division.” ryannperlstein2023@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Noah Frick-Alofs

The Donald P. Jacobs Center, 2001 Sheridan Rd. As Northwestern ended Fiscal Year 2019 in surplus, NU plans to refocus on renovating vacant buildings on campus like the Jacobs Center.

BUILDINGS From page 1

spaces for a variety of disciplines in the sciences. Still, upcoming renovation plans don’t include construction of the new University Commons. For current students, at least, the $180 million replacement to Northwestern’s near 50-year-old student center won’t make it past the model sitting on the ground floor of the current building. Construction on the project was initially projected to be completed by last year. After hitting financial obstacles, executive director of Norris University

NUCLEAR From page 1

dollars go to nuclear weapons. “Chicago, very close to our borders here in Evanston, is one of the top targets in the unimaginable event of a nuclear exchange,” Combs said. Proponents of the resolution cited the support of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). After the meeting, some attendees emphasized

Center Jeremy Schenk told The Daily in 2017 that he thought construction could begin as late as summer 2019 or even 2020. But as the new space — which was planned to include a black box theater, an auditorium with a large stage and a more open layout to ease access to University Library and the Arts Circle — still hasn’t secured a naming donor, Johnson said construction plans are still sitting on the backburner. “Not saying if a donor comes forward we wouldn’t do it,” Johnson said, “but it’s more about remodeling those vacant spaces.” troyclosson2020@u.northwestern.edu the significance of the council’s approval. Evanston is now the 42nd municipality to pass resolutions advocating for denuclearization and the first in Illinois, according to the Back from the Brink website. Most of the other municipalities are concentrated along the two coasts. Combs plans on organizing a group to bring a similar resolution to the Chicago City Council, as well as other cities and towns. grantli2022@u.northwestern.edu

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DAILY SUDOKU Complete the grid so each ROW, COLUMN and 3-by-3 BOX (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

Short Term Lease Until 8/31/20 ! All Properties Steps to NU! Multiple Locations! 2 Bedroom $1244, 3 Bedroom $2240 4 Bedroom $2211$2960 1700-40 Hinman (Newly Remodeled) 2201 Ridge, 2157 Ridge, 720 Simpson Email madeleine@ wrechicago.com or Call/Text at (847) 975-0642

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1/14/20

Level: 1 2 3 4

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FOR RELEASE JANUARY 14, 2020

DAILY CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by RichEdited Norris by andRich Joyce Lewis Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Watering hole 4 African language group 9 Suddenly took interest 14 Québec street 15 Future oak 16 Way to go it 17 City near the Great Salt Lake 19 Has to have 20 Biceps exercises 21 Hosting a show, briefly 23 Tennis do-over 24 Breyers __ Cookies & Cream 25 “Be yourself,” nowadays 27 Arnaz-Ball production company 29 Muss, as hair 30 Magazine VIPs 31 Adjust to one’s environment 35 Old fast fliers 36 Casino advantage 39 Fleshy fruit 42 Barbecue spot 43 Can opener 46 Feathered friends 49 Beethoven’s “Tempest,” e.g. 51 “Be right with you” 55 Chimps and gorillas 56 Furry sitcom extraterrestrial 57 Chutzpah 58 Stick with a pin 59 Early American crop 61 Earth’s most central geologic layer ... or what can be found in each set of puzzle circles 63 Geographer’s volume 64 Tokyo-based watchmaker 65 No-frills bed 66 Filters (through) 67 Jacket material 68 “Very cute!” sounds

1/14/20

By Roland Huget

DOWN 1 Tacit rules of male friendship 2 Was a sign of 3 Set right 4 Passes a law against 5 Pressure prefix 6 “I’m innocent!” 7 Barely detectable amount 8 Far from cool 9 Serenaded 10 Stein filler 11 Like many summer shoes 12 Still being shuffled 13 Tablet crushers 18 “The Time Machine” race 22 Little point to pick 25 Spiral-horned antelope 26 Tricky plan 28 Vientiane people 32 Poisonous African snake 33 Stew morsel 34 Vietnamese New Year

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

36 Cookbook verb 37 Spinal segment 38 Bit of baby talk 39 Oftenabbreviated attire 40 Produce eggs 41 Put in the wrong folder 43 Pudding choice 44 Was humiliated 45 Laundry holders

1/14/20

47 “Easy to clean” ad claim 48 __-Cat: winter vehicle 50 DEA agent 52 Live 53 Muscular power 54 Start of a counting rhyme 58 Cattle poker 60 Microwave 62 Squeeze (out)

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 7

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

District 202 board reviews annual financial report By JACOB FULTON

the daily northwestern @jacobnfulton1

The Evanston Township High School District 202 board reviewed its Popular Annual Financial Report for the 2019 fiscal year at its Monday meeting. The report, which has been publicly available to district residents each year since 2012 and has now been mailed out to Evanston and Skokie residents, explains the district’s spending and sources of funding each year. It highlights notable events and new developments from the fiscal year. According to the 2019 report, the district ran on an operating budget of just over $76 million, a 2.3 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. Still, the school board adopted a balanced budget for the year. The report is a simplified version of District 202’s more in-depth financial report that is not required to be publicly released by the state, according to board president Pat Savage-Williams. Mary Rodino, District 202’s chief financial officer, said the report is important because it provides transparency to the community. “It’s really intended to communicate the results of the operations to stakeholders, especially those who might not have a financial background,” Rodino said. The board also heard from members of the Mayor’s Employer Advisory Council, a 2018 initiative started by the office of Mayor Steve Hagerty to increase workforce opportunities for students who don’t plan to attend college.

Evanston YWCA to host racial healing circles next week

YWCA Evanston/North Shore will host racial healing circles, starting on the National Day of Racial healing, Jan. 21, until Jan. 24. According to its website, the social justice organization aims to eliminate racism and

Speakers recounted the program’s impact in the past year, and shared their plans moving forward, such as continuing their current role of reaching out to high school students and providing them with career counseling and other career-promoting resources. In addition, representatives from Northwestern University reported on their partnership with ETHS, explaining some of the curriculum and events planned to supplement the in-school learning of District 202, including health, wellness and mentorship. The board also unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Black History Month and its plan to incorporate education about African American history into the school’s curriculum in February. The board passes this resolution and similar ones every year in relation to multiple marginalized communities. Board member Elizabeth Rolewicz read the resolution to the board before it was passed. The resolution detailed the historic systematic discrimination and disadvantages African Americans have faced in the United States. “The students and staff of ETHS will continue to learn about and be mindful of African Americans on a national and local level, who have worked to preserve the public good,” Rolewicz said. “The community should welcome and learn from all people of color to support the destruction of beliefs and practices that racially segregate and hinder students from believing that the American dream is for everyone.” Savage-Williams said the annual recognition of the month is part of the district’s work to recognize and prioritize marginalized groups in Evanston. empower women and holds various initiatives to promote gender and racial justice, including the Stand Against Racism campaign, as well as an annual Equity Summit. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched the National Day of Racial Healing in 2017 as part of the organization’s drive for racial equity. The initiative includes events across the country centered on truth telling and trust building, according to the foundation’s website. Karen Singer, the president and CEO of

Daily file photo by Colin Boyle

Evanston Township High School. The Evanston Township High School District 202 board met on Monday to review its Popular Annual Financial Report, among other items on the agenda.

“We do that for Black History Month,” Savage-Williams said. “We do that for Women’s History Month; we do it in remembrance of the Holocaust. We do Latinx month in October. It acknowledges as a board, that we recognize

them and the community. It’s very important that we read it out loud at a board meeting, and that the board votes and accepts it.”

YWCA Evanston/North Shore, said the organization is “honored” to bring racial healing circles to the city. “Healing circles reaffirm the humanity in all of us and lift up what unites us instead of what divides us,” Singer said in a news release. “They help us discover, respect and honor the unique experiences and histories of each participant.” Adults who live, work or worship in Evanston are welcome to participate in the circles. The racial healing circles are a first for YWCA,

and they will consist of 30 or fewer people who meet for a 2.5-hour session. Trained facilitators will lead the sessions at various locations around the city. Participation in the circles is free, but attendees must register by Jan. 16. Those who are interested can visit the organization’s website to learn more about registration and see the specific dates, times and locations of the circles.

jacobfulton2023@u.northwestern.edu

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YEARBOOK SENIORS, IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO RESERVE YOUR COPY AT

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SPORTS

ON DECK JAN.

ON THE RECORD

A lot of leagues say this, but I’d be hard pressed to find a Big Ten coach who goes into any Big Ten game feeling good about it. — Chris Collins, coach

Swimming and Diving NU at Notre Dame, 5 p.m. Friday

@DailyNU_Sports

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

NU has to prove its worth during five-game stretch ANDREW GOLDEN

SPORTS EDITOR

Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman

Veronica Burton dribbles the ball. Her play at guard has been one of the keys to NU’s fast start this season.

LACROSSE

Amonte Hiller wins Tewaaraton Legacy Award

Kelly Amonte Hiller has to make some more room in her trophy closet. Northwestern’s head coach was named this year’s recipient of the Tewaaraton Legends Award, the Tewaaraton Foundation announced on January 10. The honor is given to former college lacrosse players who played before the creation of the award — which annually recognizes the best male and female players in the sport — but would have won the prize if it had existed during their career. Amonte Hiller was a four-time All-American at Maryland from 1993 to 1996. She led the Terrapins to two national titles in 1995 and 1996, and was named the National

Michael Wilbon (Medill ’80) was named to the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame, the NSMA said Monday. Wilbon is a Medill professor and a trustee at Northwestern. He is the longtime co-host of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption and a featured columnist for ESPN.com and ESPNChicago.com. Before ESPN, he worked as a columnist for the Washington Post for over 20 years. During his time at Medill, Wilbon was the sports editor at The Daily Northwestern. He joined the inaugural class of the Medill Hall of Achievement in 1997 and received the top sports columnist of the year by the Society

they beat the Terrapins for the first time since Maryland joined the Big Ten. A second win would make this season even more special. The Cats would finish this stretch against Michigan, who would also give NU a tough challenge at home. All in all, the Cats have a great opportunity to prove that they belong, despite the fact that the Associated Press doesn’t believe that at this point in time. The snub, coupled with the fact that none of the players on the roster have ever played in an NCAA Tournament game, should give the Cats extra motivation to prove they are worthy over arguably their hardest stretch of the season. NU has shown a lot of talent, but still has more to accomplish with half of the season left. But these next five games will be crucial in determining what kind of season the Cats will have. If NU can stack signature wins, Joe McKeown’s team could find themselves not only in the rankings, but in the tournament come March. Andrew Golden is a Medill junior. He can be contacted at andrewgolden2021@u.northwestern. edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to sports@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Year for both of those seasons. Amonte Hiller set records in College Park for career points, assists and goals playing under coaching legend Cindy Timchal, who had previously been at the helm at NU from 1982 to 1990. The Massachusetts native also played for the U.S. national team for more than 10 years, winning World Cups in 1997 and 2001, and earning a spot on the All-World team during the U.S.’s second-place finish at the 2005 World Cup — less than two months after she’d coached the Wildcats to the program’s first-ever national title. In 18 seasons at the helm in Evanston, Amonte Hiller has brought home seven national championships and is a four-time IWLCA Coach of the Year. The Cats open their 2020 season on Feb. 7 against Detroit Mercy. — Ella Brockway

SPORTS NEWS

Wilbon elected into NSMA Hall of Fame

Northwestern fans were shocked on Monday when the AP Top 25 Poll was released and the Wildcats were still left out of the rankings despite winning both of their games this week. While NU shouldn’t have to, if the Wildcats want to give further proof that they deserve to be ranked, that they are an NCAA Tournament team and that they represent the best of the conference, then the team has to win four of their next five games to make a bold statement. In the midst of one of the best stretches in recent history, the Cats have already made bold statements so far this season: they’re sitting at 14-2 and at the top of the Big Ten with four top-50 RPI wins. One of those wins came against then-No. 12 Maryland, who now has four losses and is ranked above NU at 20. They proved they can hang with the Terrapins and thenNo. 16 DePaul, who were a few missed free throws away being upset by the Cats at Welsh-Ryan Arena. But it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. With a strong showing against some of the topranked teams in the Big Ten, NU could prove to the country that

they deserve even more respect. Tournament-level teams don’t just have one signature win, they stack signature wins throughout the season — and now is the perfect opportunity. Facing Indiana on the road would be the perfect start to this five-game stretch where the Cats will face two current top-25 teams and a third that was ranked last week. A win of this caliber would bolster NU’s resume and a lot of the team’s players have already played tough against Indiana before. Last season, the Cats went on the road and pulled out a narrow six point victory against the Hoosiers, so playing in a hostile environment is something NU is used to. If they can come out of Bloomington with a win, the AP voters will have no choice but to put McKeown’s team in the top 25. That is, unless the Cats slip up after such an important game against Indiana. Good teams sometimes play down to their competition, while great teams keep their foot on the gas and blow past beatable opponents. Against Penn State and Michigan State, NU needs to assert its dominance and show the country that it can beat the teams that it’s supposed to beat. Then comes the team’s biggest test when they face No. 20 Maryland on the road. Two weeks ago,

of Professional Journalists in 2001. Wilbon also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 from the National Association of Black Journalists. Wilbon will be one of the coaches of the 2020 NBA AllStar Celebrity Game in Chicago alongside fellow ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. Fellow 2020 inductees into the NSMA Hall of Fame include Dan Patrick, Tom Verducci, Skip Caray, Cawood Ledford and Dick Young. The inductees will be honored at the 61st Annual NSMA Awards Banquet in June. They will be honored alongside the 2019 sportswriter of the year, Adrian Wojnarowski, and the 2019 sportscaster of the year, Kevin Harlan, in addition to equivalent statelevel awards. — Gabriela Carroll

NU prepares for the Hawkeyes By CHARLIE GOLDSMITH

daily senior staffer @2021_charlie

Coach Chris Collins knows where Northwestern stands in a historically competitive Big Ten. With twelve teams in the conference projected to make the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats aren’t exactly in the mix to win the Big Ten championship. “We’re the ones that have been the young team that’s been struggling,” Collins said. “I’m looking out on the floor to finish the game, and you’ve got a guy that hadn’t played organized basketball in four years, you’ve got a sophomore, two freshmen and another sophomore. Playing in a Big Ten league that’s as good as it’s ever been.” NU was the last team to win a Big Ten game this season, but the Cats jumped over that hurdle Saturday by beating Nebraska, 62-57. Now comes a five-game stretch against five of the best teams in the conference. The only unranked team the Cats (6-9, 1-4 Big Ten) will face before the end of January is Iowa (11-5, 2-3 Big Ten), who plays at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Tuesday. But the Hawkeyes are the 26th ranked team in the NCAA, and they beat No. 17 Maryland by 18 points last week. “It is unbelievably excruciating for the coaches,” Collins said. “I have never been a part of a conference (like this). A lot of leagues say this, but I’d be hard pressed to find a Big Ten coach who goes into any Big Ten game feeling good about it.” The Big Ten has twelve of KenPom’s top 38 teams in the NCAA, and none of those teams have lost more than one game at home all season. NU and Nebraska are the two teams on the outside of the tournament field, but Nebraska already has home conference wins this year over Iowa and Purdue.

Northwestern vs. Iowa Evanston, Illinois 7 p.m. Tuesday

No Big Ten team has had a tougher road scheduler than the Cats, who played three of their first conference games on the road. To the scheduler who gave NU its away-heavy slate to start Big Ten play, Collins said, “Thanks a lot.” “We’re 0-4, but our four games were home against Michigan State, then at Purdue, the winningest team in the conference at home in six years, at Indiana, one of the best venues, and at Minnesota, which is a really good team,” Collins said. “You were looking at 0-4, but what have there been? Like, four road wins all year in the league? We didn’t win the Michigan State game, but other than that we’ve held serve.” Penn State lost a home game to

Wisconsin after Collins wrapped up his press conference Saturday, but still only five Big Ten teams have won a conference game on the road this season. Of the rest of the conference, only the Cats and the Iowa played three of their first four conference games on the road. And the lone home game before Saturday’s win was against No. 15 Michigan State, the top ranked team in the conference. Despite the difficult schedule, NU lost by single digits in each of its first four conference games and was competitive every time the team took the court. Collins said he sees that as a positive sign for the program. “I actually feel we’ve been playing some pretty good basketball the last few games and we just haven’t been rewarded,” Collins said. “We’ve shown that we can compete, and so has everyone else.” charliegoldsmith2021@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman

Pat Spencer dribbles the ball. The graduate transfer guard scored 14 points and eight rebounds on Saturday.