The Daily Northwestern Friday, January 19, 2018
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Housing committee offers new model ‘Neighborhoods’ centerpiece of plan to shift framework By MADDIE BURAKOFF
daily senior staffer @madsburk
Nearly two years after it was formed, the Undergraduate Residential Experience Committee released its full report, recommending that Northwestern move from its current residential model to a new framework of five different “neighborhoods” across campus. “The goal of the recommended framework is to preserve the traditions so many have come to define as synonymous with their residential experience and to build on community connections,” Provost Jonathan Holloway and Vice President for Student Affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin said in a Thursday email to students and faculty. “Here, students have expanded options to build their personalized sense of home, bonds and trust.” The committee — made up of faculty, staff and students — was initially formed under a charge from Telles-Irvin, and convened in January 2016. In a change from the current model of residential halls, residential communities and residential colleges, the proposed framework would have “houses” — the report suggests a size of
75 to 150 students — within the wider neighborhoods of 700 to 1,100 students. Smaller buildings currently in existence would be standalone houses, while some larger buildings may be divided into two or more houses. The neighborhoods would aim to “universalize” many aspects of current residential colleges, according to the report. Paul Riel, assistant vice president for Residential and Dining Services and the committee’s co-chair, told The Daily the student-faculty connections, student governance systems and emphasis on programming and traditions are all things the neighborhood model would hope to emulate. However, the report recommends eliminating permanent themes for residential units — like those carried by most current residential colleges — saying these could be a “limiting factor” for student and faculty interest. Instead, houses should include informal “interest groups” that could change from year to year, according to the report. Members of residential colleges had previously voiced concerns about the proposed neighborhood model at town halls held by the committee in October 2016. Jolie Boulos, the president of Public Affairs Residential College, said she believes the neighborhood system is “well-intentioned,” but that it would not be able to recreate the “bonding experience” of the » See HOUSING, page 6
Noah Frick-Alofs/Daily Senior Staffer
Communication senior Dasha Gorin proposes changes to the controversial Media Arts Grant system. The co-president of URSA said she hopes faculty members will join students in supporting reform.
RTVF students share frustration Group proposes changes for contested, controversial grant program By ALAN PEREZ
daily senior staffer @_perezalan_
Radio, Television and Film majors expressed overwhelming frustration at a town hall Thursday regarding the perceived lack of support and funding from the program’s faculty, and they discussed proposals to change a highly-contested grant program for extracurricular projects. The Undergraduate RTVF Students Association hosted about a dozen students in a forum
at Norris University Center to voice complaints and brainstorm ideas to address them. Topics included faculty support, the program’s size and equipment access, but the meeting’s main focus was the controversial Media Arts Grant program. URSA presented a reform proposal to the MAG system, which uses a funding formula for student films shot outside of classes. The system has raised tensions between students and RTVF administrators since it was implemented in 2016. Dasha Gorin, co-president
of URSA, said she hopes faculty members will join students in supporting reform. “It’s very important that this gets widespread support,” the Communication senior said. “We don’t want it to be just student groups.” The new grant system replaced an old procedure that yielded unchecked fiscal control to student groups. Grants for extracurricular films are now allocated by a MAG committee of students and faculty, whose members are not publicly disclosed. Students mobilized against
the change, arguing the decision to move to MAGs was made without their consultation and effectively diminished student influence in the funding process. No administrators or faculty attended the town hall. In an email to The Daily last year, Department chair and RTVF Prof. Dave Tolchinsky said students were largely content with the MAG system. But Gorin said that complaint isn’t the primary reason students object to the MAG system. » See RTVF, page 6
EPD revives high school curriculum Haitian residents Explorer Program returns to teach students about law enforcement By JULIA ESPARZA
daily senior staffer @juliaesparza10
Evanston Police Department revived its Explorer Program after 30 years and aims to give high school students hands-on opportunities to learn about careers in
law enforcement. The program — which meets twice a month — is a “mini police academy” where high schoolers will have a “robust” curriculum, which includes learning about crime scenes and becoming CPR certified, Evanston police officer Enjoli Daley said. The program is meant to “groom” the next
generation of officers, said Daley, who oversees the program. “Our hope is that we continue to build relationships with our community’s youth,” Daley said. “(The Explorer Program) is a worthwhile project and is positive for our department and community.” Eleven Evanston Township
Daily file photo by Daniel Tian
Two parked Evanston police cars. Evanston Police Department revived its Explorer Program, which is meant to
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
High School students attended the Police Explorer Program’s first meeting Jan. 10 at EPD. The program’s application and interview process required students to have at least a 2.5 grade point average, have an interest in law enforcement and be of “good moral character,” Daley said. Daley said she did most of the work to revive the program. She said she crafted the proposal, created much of its curriculum and worked with ETHS to find interested students. “We want these students to have a positive police officer impact on their life,” Daley said. “There’s always a tough relationship between police and youth.” Daley said at the program’s first meeting, officers introduced themselves to the students, went over expectations and gave participants a tour of the police department. ETHS vocational teacher Darlene Gordon helped Daley coordinate student interest in the program. Gordon said giving kids the opportunity to interact with police officers in a “low-stress” situation is important. » See EXPLORER, page 6
shaken by Trump City’s community dismayed by ‘shithole’ remark By SAMANTHA HANDLER
the daily northwestern @sn_handler
When Gary Gaspard immigrated to Evanston in the 1980s, he started driving a taxi to earn a living. He said he was inspired by the Northwestern students he drove around, and soon earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Gaspard said he considers Haiti his home of origin, but that Evanston is truly his home. So when he heard President Donald Trump call Haiti a “shithole,” he cried. “I had tears in my eyes just like a little kid,” Gaspard said. “I lost my voice. It was very awful. We might have problems, but we don’t come from a ‘shithole’ country. We contribute a lot to this community. We contribute a lot to the United States.” The 54-year-old former
mayoral candidate has lived in Evanston for over 30 years, ever since he immigrated from Portau-Prince, Haiti’s capital, at 19. He produced radio programs, served in student government at Northeastern Illinois University and worked with at-risk youth in Chicago. Mayor Steve Hagerty wrote in a Facebook post on Jan. 12 that he is glad so many Haitians, including Gaspard, have made Evanston their home. “Their contributions to Evanston and the wider country and world are immeasurable,” Hagerty said in the post. “Our community and our country are richer because of our Haitian neighbors and all immigrant neighbors for that matter.” Gaspard said after hearing Trump’s comment, he now believes that the president is racist. He said he used to think that Trump was just playing a political game to earn support with his base, but Gaspard’s opinion of the president has now changed. “Now I think he is playing the » See HAITI, page 6
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