The Daily Northwestern Tuesday, January 23, 2018
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Men’s Basketball
2 CITY/Restaurants
Wildcats seek road victory at Minnesota
Aldermen delay approval for proposed restaurant, community space in fifth ward
Find us online @thedailynu 4 OPINION/Martinez
Ansari accusations important to #MeToo
High 34 Low 22
City strikes down 33-story project 601 Davis proposal did not meet city building guidelines By SAMANTHA HANDLER
the daily northwestern @sn_handler
Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer
Annie May Swift Hall at 1920 Campus Dr. The RTVF department updated its production handbook with new sexual harassment policies.
RTVF revises harassment policy
Department updates handbook guidelines on sexual content, nudity By ADRIAN WAN
the daily northwestern @piuadrianw
Joining the national movement heightening awareness about sexual misconduct, the Department of Radio, Television and Film updated its production handbook to “insure more equitable and safe creative spaces,” Communication Prof. Eric Patrick announced in an email to RTVF students. The new regulations, drafted by faculty in consultation with
staff, require students to comply with NU’s student conduct manual as well as the Screen Actors Guild’s policy on nudity and sexual content on set, Patrick said in the email. According to the updated production handbook, producers are obliged to inform performers of any nudity or sex acts expected in the role prior to the first interview or audition. The handbook imposes strict policies on drugs, alcohol, discrimination and sexual harassment as well. Communication Prof. David
New D65 hires to focus on equity Board will add staff to address achievement gap By CATHERINE HENDERSON
the daily northwestern @caity_henderson
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 announced Monday it will hire both a director of black student success and an equity instructional coach to help close the achievement gap. District 65 board members — along with about 30 community members, parents and administrators — discussed their hopes for the two new positions at a school board meeting at the Joseph E. Hill Education Center. The decision follows the 2017 Achievement and Accountability Report, which showed that black students perform below their white counterparts regardless of income, socioeconomic status
or language and that black students are more likely to be disciplined. Vice President Anya Tanyavutti said a director of black student success is an “unprecedented milestone” to address the achievement gap. She said the two positions are the culmination of much “emotional and physical work.” “This calls up my experiences as a black woman in this country where there were times of celebration,” Tanyavutti said. “That kind of joy, but also worry, is something that lives in my DNA. That kind of joy, but also concern or skepticism, in terms of (an) institution’s true commitment to our humanity is part of a very deep, lived experience.” District superintendent Paul Goren said he has noticed community concern about the achievement gap. He said the district needs to follow through on recommendations from the » See GAP, page 6
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
Tolchinsky, the chair of the RTVF department, told The Daily in an email that revisions should help “stave off ” misunderstandings between actors and directors. Student actors should not feel pressured into activities on set that make them uncomfortable, he said in the email. “The policy is meant to promote open communication, active assent, the chance to say no and an environment of mutual respect,” Tolchinsky said. “Understanding what professional standards are by getting to know SAG’s
guidelines will help our students enter the professional world more prepared.” Tolchinsky also noted the revision of the production handbook was discussed by members of production faculty.. Although students will not receive mandatory instruction at this point, the policies are “straightforward” and training may be held if “it looks like there are a lot of questions.” Other minor changes in the production handbook include a » See HANDBOOK, page 6
After hours of discussion, aldermen at Monday’s Planning and Development Committee meeting nearly unanimously voted against a 33-story development project because it failed to meet city building and affordable housing guidelines. Aldermen voted 6-1 to deny Vermilion Development’s controversial plan to build a 318-unit residential building at 601 Davis St. Opponents of the project cited the building’s excessive height and floor area ratio and its failure to meet standard requirements under the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance as reasons for their denial. Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) voted for the proposal, saying the developer should have four more months to revise their plan, a suggestion that fell short with the other aldermen. While Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) said at the meeting she liked that the development would make use of a vacant lot, bring more economic development to the downtown and preserve the University Building, she could not support it. “Despite all these positive elements, I believe the height and the density on the proposed building go too far beyond what
is appropriate for this site,” Revelle said. “Granting allowances in such excess of our zoning would send the wrong signal to other developers who will expect the council then to approve their proposals of significant height and density allowance.” Ald. Donald Wilson (4th) told The Daily that while he voted for the controversial 15-story apartment tower on Sherman Avenue last year, this development exceeded too many requirements and did not provide enough affordable housing. He added that Albion Residential, the Sherman Avenue developer, was willing to put in the full amount of the affordable housing contribution. “The exceptions to what’s allowed were notably less extreme in the Albion situation,” Wilson said. “As you’ve heard a lot of people say, (601 Davis St. is) a pretty big building. It’s 100 feet larger than what would be allowed. The scope of those exceptions were just that much more dramatic.” Vermilion requested eight site development allowances, allowing them to build more than 100 feet over the standard height maximum, surpass the city’s floor area ratio limit and add a drivethrough for Chase Bank. At the Jan. 8 council meeting, the developer asked for more time on the project, though Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) on Monday said they have had more than enough time to make changes to their proposal. Vermilion chief executive officer David Cocagne said at » See DAVIS, page 6
Police seek suspects in armed robbery incidents
Police are searching for suspects in an armed robbery at 920 Chicago Ave. and an attempted armed robbery at 1630 Orrington Ave. that occurred late Monday afternoon, Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew told The Daily. Lucy Sinkler, who owns the CloseKnit Yarn Store at 1630 Orrington, said a man came in and threatened to shoot the people in the shop if they didn’t open the cash register. Sinkler said she got very “annoyed” and yelled at the man, causing him to run northbound on Orrington. Northwestern Chief of Police Bruce Lewis said in an email to students that the man showed a gun in his waistband and demanded money. Sinkler was with a customer and a coworker when the incident occurred. Lewis said in the email that the man was described as a “very thin male in his 50s”
Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer
Police investigate a robbery at Thrift House, 920 Chicago Ave. Evanston Police Department is searching for the suspect.
wearing dark, baggy jeans, a dark jacket and a blue shirt. In the armed robbery at 920 Chicago Ave., the location of Thrift House, Glew said he estimated approximately $300 was taken just before 5 p.m.. At the location,
Glew said the gun was displayed in a waistband. Police are canvassing the area for video surveillance, Glew said. No one is yet in custody, Glew said, and no one was injured in either robbery
attempt. Police believe the robberies are connected, he said. Colin Boyle contributed reporting. — Ryan Wangman
INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8