The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, February 1, 2017
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Locals rally against immigration action Activists, lawyers, officials mobilize to assist detainees By DAVID FISHMAN
daily senior staffer @davidpkfishman
On Saturday morning, Suzanne Akhras Sahloul said she woke up depressed, crying and unable to comprehend the action taken by her new president. As a Syrian immigrant, she said Donald Trump’s executive order banning immigration from that country and six others felt “very personal.” But after a friend urged her to take action, she got out of bed and went to protest at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where at least 16 people were temporarily detained. Sahloul, who founded the Syrian Community Network in 2015 to assist refugees, called the order “embarrassing” and “shameful.” “We need everyone to rally against it and speak up,” Sahloul said. “Because if we don’t, it means we agree with his decision.” Over the weekend, about 150 attorneys and at least 1,000 protesters gathered at O’Hare to help detainees gain entry, according to various news sources. Chicago immigration lawyer Fiona McEntee — who
spent more than 12 hours at the airport — said her “heart was breaking” and that there was no justification for the discrimination. At the airport, McEntee said she assisted clients, spoke to media and researched legal options. But officials there barred access to detainees and declined to give information, making it “extremely frustrating” for lawyers looking to help, she said. “There was just no dialogue open at all,” McEntee said. “The overwhelming feeling is confusion. … We are trying to figure out the legal ramifications of (the law). This is something that has just happened, and there’s a lot of unknowns.” McEntee said a lot of the confusion lay in the “poorly written” executive order, which includes ambiguous language and vague instruction. Signed into law Friday, the executive order indefinitely banned Syrian refugees, suspended all refugee admission for 120 days and barred immigration for 90 days from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. But mixed messages and a rocky rollout from the White House has made enforcement tricky. On Monday, Trump defended himself against growing concern
Journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates speaks at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on Tuesday. Coates and Prof. Mary Pattillo discussed a range of topics, from politics to race to literature, at an event organized by the Contemporary Thought Speaker Series.
» See IMMIGRATION, page 6
» See COATES, page 6
Noah Frick-Alofs/The Daily Northwestern
Ta-Nehisi Coates visits campus
Award-winning writer discusses Donald Trump, race in America By MARISSA PAGE
daily senior staffer @marissahpage
In front of a packed audience at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates called Donald Trump’s presidency the “clearest evidence of white supremacy” in America during a talk Tuesday night. Coates, a national correspondent for The Atlantic
and author of National Book Award-winning “Between the World and Me,” spoke about politics, writing, and his experience as a black man and father in a nearly 90-minute conversation with African American studies and sociology Prof. Mary Pattillo. Currently on leave from The Atlantic to work on a new book, Coates has written a number of longform pieces for the magazine, notably the 2014
NU files to dismiss Vassar lawsuit By GARRETT JOCHNAU
daily senior staffer @garrettjochnau
Northwestern filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss former men’s basketball player Johnnie Vassar’s lawsuit against the university, according to court documents. In November, Vassar filed
a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA and NU, claiming the University breached its contract with Vassar when it revoked his athletic scholarship in May 2016. The University’s memorandum in support of its motion to dismiss said Vassar’s complaint failed to show NU committed a breach of contract, as he continues to receive a full scholarship as a current
student. University spokesman Al Cubbage and Steve Berman, Vassar’s lawyer, did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication. Vassar deferred comment to his lawyer. The University’s motion to dismiss addressed multiple other claims in Vassar’s complaint.
The motion to dismiss did not acknowledge claims in Vassar’s suit regarding “shady, dirty, and underhanded” behavior by the University, including allegedly falsified timecards during Vassar’s time on an “internship,” which allegedly involved work as a janitor, or allegations that coach Chris Collins » See VASSAR, page 6
NU invests $1 million in Crown center By JAKE HOLLAND
the daily northwestern @jakeholland97
Northwestern announced Tuesday a $1 million investment in the newly-redesigned Robert Crown Community Center in south Evanston, according to a city news release. The announcement comes about a week after a city official told The Daily that Robert Crown would be rebuilt rather than renovated. The University will make its investment through a programming agreement instead of
a charitable gift, distributing funds in three payments over three years. In exchange, Northwestern will have access to use certain facilities in the center. According to the release from fundraising director Michael Happ, the building and park were established in 1974 to better serve the Evanston and North Shore communities. The complex serves as a space for sporting activities including hockey, figure skating, lacrosse, football and basketball. The University’s $1 million investment in the project raised total campaign funds to more than $5.5 million, according to
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the news release. According to the release, Evanston has $10 million in available bond financing, and Evanston Public Library has $2.5 million. Estimated costs for the entire campaign are about $30 million, meaning the remaining $17.5 million will likely be financed through private donations, program partnerships and sponsorships, the release said. Executive Vice President Nim Chinniah, one of the agreement’s “key architects,” said in the news release that Northwestern is “proud” to make this investment to support the center’s
redevelopment. Ald. Donald Wilson (4th), whose ward includes Crown Park, expressed his appreciation for the University’s contribution to the project. “I am very grateful for the commitment that Northwestern University has made to our community,” Wilson said in the news release. “With the help of Northwestern all of the donors and partners, the Crown Center will help build a stronger community for generations to come.” jacobholland2020@u.northwestern.edu
Polk Award-winning essay “The Case for Reparations,” and most recently his January cover story “My President Was Black,” which reflects on President Barack Obama’s legacy — and how Trump’s election serves as a rebuttal. Coates said he was “shocked,” but ultimately not surprised by Trump’s widelyunexpected election. He said there was an “anti-black influence” in the Trump movement.
“Black folks can’t be Donald Trump,” he said. “If you were that foolish about the world, you might be shot.” Pattillo and several students who had submitted questions earlier examined themes in “Between the World and Me.” The memoir, written in the form of a letter to his son Samori, describes Coates’ experience as a black man in
ASG, Hillel letters decry Trump order By JONAH DYLAN
the daily northwestern @thejonahdylan
Both Northwestern Hillel and Associated Student Government released statements Tuesday denouncing President Trump’s executive order barring citizens of seven Muslimmajority countries from entering the United States. The two letters listed resources available through Hillel, ASG and the university for students affected by the executive order signed Friday. Trump’s order prohibits citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Somalia from entering the United States for 90 days — a timeline that could be extended with another motion — and blocks refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days. The executive order prevents Syrian refugees from entering indefinitely. “Our Muslim and immigrant peers deserve better,” the letter from ASG said. “As a community, we must take a stand against the divisiveness
and xenophobia that the executive order promotes, while also continuing to provide resources and support to those further marginalized and in need of our advocacy.” Hillel also published a letter that was sent to University President Morton Schapiro earlier Tuesday commending him for statements he made Sunday and Monday condemning the order and stating the University would not reveal the immigration status of students, faculty and staff. The letter was signed by Hillel student president Tamar Eisen, Northwestern Hillel executive director Michael Simon and Hillel International president Eric Fingerhut. Simon said Hillel chapters at universities around the country have written similar letters to their presidents, either urging them to take action or praising them for the action they’ve already taken. He said Trump’s executive order resonated specifically in the Jewish community. » See STATEMENTS, page 6
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