The Daily Northwestern - February 6, 2023

The Daily Northwestern

Monday, February 6, 2023

8 SPORTS/Men’s Basketball Wildcats badger Wisconsin en route to two-point win

AUDIO/Digital Diaries

What if we kissed ... under Weber Arch? NU couples talk romance

ASPA citizens claim political voice Participatory budgeting pilot program sees increased involvement

By CASEY HE the daily northwestern @caseeey_he

When Melissa Raman Molitor, a first-generation FilipinoIndian-American, moved to Evanston in 2011, she saw little recognition for the city’s Asian,

South Asian and Pacific Islander American community.

“There have been no spaces or organizations that specifically support or offer resources for the ASPA community in Evanston,” Molitor said.

So when she heard about Evanston’s new participatory budgeting pilot program that

EFD to revamp lifeguard hiring

Upcoming

By JOYCE LI the daily northwestern @joyycee_li

Content warning: This article contains discussions of sexual harassment and assault.

As the Evanston Fire Department begins recruiting lifeguards for the 2023 season, city officials said they are continuing to improve workplace culture among lakefront staff.

In 2021, WBEZ reported on a petition signed by more than 50 female lakefront employees alleging pervasive sexual harassment and assault from their co-workers. Several city officials resigned, including City Manager Erika Storlie and Parks and Recreation Director Lawrence Hemingway. In early 2022, the city released a report completed by an

independent law firm stating city officials failed to address sexual misconduct along the lakefront.

Now, after taking over from Parks & Recreation, EFD is preparing for its first season managing the lifeguard program. This is also Lakefront Manager Tim Carter’s first full season leading recruitment efforts — last summer, he had just six weeks to prepare after his April appointment.

Because lifeguard operations will fall under the fire department’s purview this summer, Carter said recruitment efforts started earlier, on Nov. 11 at the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program job fair. By the end of January, Carter said the EFD received 120 lifeguard interest forms.

EFD Chief Paul Polep said this year’s lifeguard training would feature more extensive life safety training.

“We’re trying to put our own spin on it,” Polep said.

» See LIFEGUARDS , page 6

lets residents give input on how to spend $3 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funding, Molitor wanted Evanston’s ASPA community to have a voice in the process.

After she expressed interest, Molitor said an organizer for participatory budgeting reached out to her and offered her a seat

on the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee.

“We really need to, as a community, make sure that we are involved in as many spaces in the city as possible,” Molitor said.

Starting in October 2022, the committee and volunteers from

» See BUDGETING , page 6

2 CITY/Family Dance

‘A time just of love’ at Fleetwood-Jourdain

Tenure-track faculty numbers on the rise

University expects to return to longterm average soon

By SAMANTHA POWERS the daily northwestern

In March 2020, the University granted professors an automatic one-year extension to their “tenure clock,” leading many to delay the process to 2021 or later.

The extension, granted to any tenure-track faculty whose review process had not yet begun, allowed professors like Political Science Prof. Chloe Thurston to make tenure despite COVID-19 pandemicrelated setbacks.

“It’s been a really challenging and uncertain time,” Thurston said. “So, in some ways, I’m just very relieved that my research, at the time that I was going up for tenure, wasn’t tremendously set back by that. That’s a matter of luck, really, that the timing worked out.”

Tenure guarantees employment for professors who have progressed through a six-year track and demonstrate the “highest standards” of professional achievement in their respective fields, according to the Office of the Provost’s

website. Northwestern professors must pass multiple rounds of evaluation to receive tenure.

The number of tenured faculty decreased from 32 to 18 between 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to University spokesperson Hilary Hurd Anyaso.

But, that number increased by 24 between 2021 and 2022.

“We expect the numbers to return to the long-term average in the next two to three years,” Anyaso told the Daily.

Now, Thurston, a mother of a young child, said she can relax and not worry about moving since she has received tenure.

“It means you don’t need to look for another job,” Thurston said. “You don’t need to upend your life or your family’s life. I think the other aspect is that it gives you a greater stake in and sense of belonging in the community.”

She said receiving tenure also gives her a heightened sense of security — before, she felt stressed about trying to meet external standards.

However, Thurston said she has learned that imposter syndrome can persist even with greater job stability.

“It turns out that everything

» See TENURE , page 6

White light therapy combats SAD

Students with seasonal affective disorder find solutions on campus

By EVELYN DRISCOLL daily senior staffer @ evdriscoll7

Bienen and Weinberg

sophomore Eloise Brotzman, a California native, did not anticipate the impact the darker Evanston winter and fall months would have on her mental health.

Brotzman noticed that her depression symptoms became more extreme in the winter, but she said using a HappyLight therapy lamp has helped ease her symptoms.

“I use that every morning, usually when I’m getting dressed and when I’m doing my makeup,” Brotzman said. “I’ll just turn it on, and I found that (it) really helps.”

Brotzman is one of many students who use light therapy to counter diagnosed seasonal affective disorder, depression or a general lack of energy based on season.

Feinberg Prof. Dorothy Sit described SAD as recurring episodes of depression that typically begin in the fall and winter and resolve in the

spring. Symptoms include lack of motivation, oversleeping, exhaustion, low energy and loss of interest in activities.

Sit led a study that found that individuals with bipolar depression who used white light therapy experienced a greater positive effect than those who did not.

Though Sit supports the use of psychiatric medications to treat seasonal depression, she added that research on light therapy is part of a necessary effort to create more non-drug depression treatment options.

“We can’t have a onesize-fits-all for treatments,” Sit said. “They really need to offer varieties in order to help more people recover from depression.”

One student, who wishes to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns, has been diagnosed with SAD.

They said their non-seasonal depression symptoms increase during the fall and winter months, and that the increase in intrusive thoughts and anxiety can make it difficult to remain present.

“There’s a general sense of

lethargy that I notice when it’s cold or gloomy outside,” the student said. “Like, my brain is not really active or awake, which can be in and of itself a bit anxiety-inducing.”

They tried light therapy once but said it was not effective for them because they had “already decided that it wouldn’t work.” However, the student said they were able to manage their symptoms this academic year by creating an exercise routine, practicing intentional eating, breathing

and meditation.

The student said they believe preparing early for less light exposure in the fall and winter has helped limit the effects of SAD.

“My first winter here was a huge adjustment (because) I didn’t really recognize that this was seasonal depression,” the student said. “Not being aware of what it was kind of created a formula to exacerbate it far worse than it had

» See SAD, page 6

Illustration by Ziye Wang

When Melissa Raman Molitor heard about Evanston’s new participatory budgeting pilot program, she wanted Evanston’s ASPA community to have a voice in the process.

training to stress safety after harassment report

‘A time just of love’: Family Dance preserves joy

By COLE REYNOLDS the daily northwestern @charcole27

Soap bubbles drifted through the air and burst on Ricky Malone’s shoulder as his daughter Rianna Malone buried her head in his chest. Hand-in-hand, they swayed to slow music at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center’s annual Family Dance.

“That’s a time just of love,” Malone, a Chicago resident whose daughter lives in Evanston, said of the slow dance. “Of bonding between a father and daughter. That’s all you want with your children.”

At the Family Dance — formerly named the Daddy-Daughter Dance — about 80 guests enjoyed food, coloring and crafts, though the dance floor held attendees’ attention for most of the afternoon.

But the event came amidst a time of uncertainty for Fleetwood-Jourdain. Evanston/ Skokie School District 65 is set to soon open a neighborhood school in the predominantly Black 5th Ward for the first time in over 50 years.

And as the city and District 65 begin planning, some of their past design proposals have suggested closing the community center to build the school — leaving questions that Family Dance organizer Briana Jenkins said occupied her mind for the last few weeks.

“There’s some people … that have grown up in this community center — from grandparents to parents to now their kids. So we’re a part of their lives,” Jenkins said. “Taking that away, I think, from those who have grown up in this area — grown up with this center — is uncomfortable.”

Carlos Roach, a camp counselor at Fleetwood-Jourdain, said they’re one of those people. Roach said their parents grew up at the center. And they remember smiling and eating nachos while attending events similar to the Family Dance themself.

To Roach, Fleetwood-Jourdain is more than just a building: It represents Black community

history. And they said they worried that the proposals for the new school would disrupt that.

Amid questions about Fleetwood-Jourdain’s future, they said events like the Family Dance have even more meaning.

“It’s important that they can see this as a community place,” Roach said. “That (Fleetwood-Jourdain) has to be here.”

The lack of clarity still leaves FleetwoodJourdain in a bit of limbo, Jenkins said. Until the city commits to a final plan, she said she tries to stay in the moment.

And Jenkins said the Family Dance let her focus simply on being in community, if only for one night.

“Tonight, it’s about our family dance and love and joy,” she said.

And joy reigned supreme for those couple of hours. At the event, parents and children split into teams and competed in various activities. The children did burpees and the parents interlocked arms, singing “Let It Go” from Disney’s

“Frozen.”

In the end, the children won the competition. For punishment, the adults impersonated runway models, strutting across the stage to shrieks of delight from their children.

For many parents, the Family Dance was a chance to spend time with their own kids — an opportunity Rianna appreciated.

“He works every single night,” Rianna, 9, said of her father. “I miss him sometimes, and I’m glad to spend time with him.”

Malone said he grew up going to another community center, where he gained communication skills that helped shape the rest of his life.

He’s glad to share similar experiences with Rianna at Fleetwood-Jourdain, he said.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity that this place provides,” Malone said. “It’s a moment she’ll remember for the rest of her life. I know I will.”

colereynolds2026@u.northwestern.edu

Cole Reynolds/The Daily Northwestern

Caste system discussed at Buffett talk

By RUSSELL LEUNG and MAIA PANDEY daily senior staffers @rjleung, @maiapandey

Princeton University anthropology Ph.D. candidate Nikhil Pandhi spoke on intersections of anti-caste activism, pain and literature at an event hosted by the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs’ Race, Caste and Colorism Project on Friday.

Pandhi, who is currently writing a dissertation about the connection between caste and health disparities in India, discussed his thesis research and the legacy of Indian politician and civil rights activist B.R. Ambedkar during the talk.

The caste system, Pandhi said, subsists on a system of pain and punishment. He said he is most interested in studying “ordinary” pain.

“The ordinariness of pain … does not destroy language, but its normality from a grammar of words and phrases and gestures, and beckons us towards the grammar of sounds and silences, crying out for the possibility that one’s pain could reside in another’s body,” Pandhi said. “Pain, in this sense, preempts sociality.”

He outlined three degrees of pain that lowcaste people endure. He said that first-degree pain covers physical punishments, seconddegree refers to poor living conditions and enslavement and third-degree pain relates to the socialization of caste.

Pandhi dedicated his talk to the many people who have discussed their experiences of caste with him — several of whom he said would be dangerous to name given the “stakes of structural casteism in India.”

“To my interlocutors, your stories are the reason I’m drawn to doing the discordant anthropology that is literature,” Pandhi said. “Your stories give me hope that there are myriad ways of manipulating caste.”

Pandhi said listening to stories of pain is one way to combat casteism.

He also translated several works from Hindi

to English for his Friday talk, including writings by contemporary South Asian poets and Ambedkar himself.

Asian languages and cultures Prof. Laura Brueck said Pandhi combines his skills as an ethnographer, translator and literary scholar to research health and medicine in India.

“Nikhil ethnographically investigates how caste becomes chronic as a determinant of individual and communitywide health disparities,” Brueck said.

Following his talk at University Hall, Pandhi led a Saturday workshop on translating South Asian literary texts at the Haymarket House in Chicago. Participants translated and discussed “Bhaichara,” a Dalit feminist story by author Rajat Rani Meenu, during Saturday’s workshop. Second-year comparative literary studies

Ph.D. student Soumya Shailendra organized the Saturday translation workshop and attended the Friday talk. Shailendra said she appreciated the interdisciplinary nature of Pandhi’s research, from his references to Black feminist thought to his work between different academic fields.

“Nikhil is working between two departments and two disciplines that don’t necessarily always talk to each other — that is anthropology and literature,” Shailendra said. “But, Nikhil’s way of engaging both of these disciplines is to actually pay attention to the way they’ve pulled into the lives and the challenges of oppressed communities.”

russellleung2024@u.northwestern.edu maiapandey@u.northwestern.edu

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Katie Chen/The Daily Northwestern Princeton University anthropology Ph.D. candidate Nikhil Pandhi discussed his thesis research about caste and health disparities at the Friday event.

A&E

Ziwe, Larry Owens crack up audience at A&O show

By KUNJAL BASTOLA the daily northwestern @kunjal_bastola

Famous. Black. Hottie.

A&O Productions hosted Ziwe (Communication ‘14) and Larry Owens in the Ryan Auditorium on Friday. Starting the show with an allusion to Princess Diana’s Northwestern sweatshirt, Ziwe delivered hilariously relatable jokes and Owens wowed us all with his amazing voice.

“I thought that the show was great,” said Weinberg freshman Symone Harris, an attendee at the event. “I really appreciated the fact that a strong black woman was given a platform to come speak to us.”

Ziwe, whose full name is Ziwerekoru Fumudoh, is a comedian, writer and host of the latenight talk show “Ziwe.” She graduated with a double major in radio, television and film and African American studies in 2014.

“There are jokes in this set that will be for me and there are jokes that will be for you,” Ziwe said, prefacing the show. “But in order to get one you have to take one. Does that make sense?”

During her segment of the show, Ziwe used a slideshow presentation to deliver her lines, which hit close to home for many NU students.

Weinberg freshman David Walker said the performance was tailored to the attendees.

“It was catered to our audience,” Walker said.

“I feel like she was giving a tribute to us, Northwestern students in general, because she was doing a PowerPoint presentation.”

Ziwe has live interviews with many notable celebrities on her show, including Julia Fox, Phoebe Bridgers and Michael Che. During the event, she reenacted these interviews with audience participation.

Students laughed along when an audience member posing as Julia Fox and Ziwe debated if Italians were people of color and “Michael Che” answered yes when asked if they supported gay rights or women’s rights more.

“I think Ziwe did a great job in making that uncomfortable but still very entertaining,” said Weinberg freshman Ella Marks.

Her Wikifeet presentation set had the audience on the verge of tears of laughter. As if going through Britney Spears and Victoria Justice’s Wikifeet profiles wasn’t enough, Ziwe called on the audience to promote her feet on the site.

“I believe in activating young people to do things, and in this case I believe it’s to vote for (my feet),” she said, prompting a chorus of laughs.

Owens stars on the HBO show “Abbott Elementary” and amazed the crowd with his songs, especially one about his therapist Marjorie.

“Marjorieeeee, my therapist, she’s all I need…,” he sang.

The real question is: when is that coming out on Spotify?

Communication senior Alyssa Burton, a member of the A&O Productions speakers committee, said the show has been in the works since September.

“We did have Ziwe in mind for a while since we brought her for an online show during the pandemic,” Burton said. “We knew that she’s really grown in popularity since then, and a lot of people on campus are really interested in her.”

Weinberg freshman Zakyra Ashby said she loved seeing an NU alum do great things. It made her feel like she had a special connection to Ziwe during the show, she said.

Ending the show on a satirical note, Ziwe brought in her audience to sing her hit song “Stop Being Poor.” She left her audience with a repetition of “stop being poor, stop being poor” stuck in their heads as motivational fuel for Winter Quarter. Ziwe knows us too well. Whatever your expectations were, Ziwe and Owens not only met but exceeded them all. After one hour of laughing harder than I have before, all I can say is that my Spotify wrapped next year will consist of two songs: “Stop Being Poor” and “Marjorie.”

kunjalbastola2026@u.northwestern.edu

‘Kaleidoscope Eyes’ explores female friendship dynamics

By ESTHER LIM the daily northwestern @eshlim1213

Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

On their last day of filming, the cast and crew of “Kaleidoscope Eyes” celebrated with hugs and screams waist-deep in a frigid Lake Michigan. They had just captured the perfect shot for the final scene. With a humble $1,300 budget raised through the crowdfunding site Indiegogo and a passion for the story they wanted to tell, the on-campus, independent project wrapped up filming last summer.

“Kaleidoscope Eyes” was written and co-produced by Medill junior Rebecca Shaid, directed by Medill senior Victoria Benefield (both former Daily staffers) and produced by Communication junior Minh Bui.

“I remember when Victoria called cut,” Bui said. “They walked up to the shore, and they were like, ‘We’re done. It’s over.’ And all of my worries up until that point about whether or not this (film) was going to happen completely disappeared.”

“Kaleidoscope Eyes” follows the story of three friends who decide to take psychedelic mushrooms at the end of their first year in college. Through this experience, the trio reflect on the good and bad of freshman year and how they have grown.

While the film explores heavier themes of sexual assault and mental health as it dives into the female college experience, Shaid said she also wanted to highlight moments of joy, love and support within female friendships.

“We all go through s–t, and we all have trauma — sometimes shared trauma, sometimes individual,” Shaid said “But it’s supposed to show the beauty of female friendship and how you can get through this. You can get to the other side.”

To treat this story with the care it deserved, Shaid said it was important for this project to be female-led.

For Bui, the film’s intentionality in telling a nuanced, meaningful story about the female experience also had greater implications for the industry’s future.

“I think these are the important steps that we as young artists love to make and kind of have to make to ensure that the industry has more

opportunities for non-male identifying artists,” Bui said.

This vision also manifested on set, where Benefield made sure to prioritize the wellbeing and comfort of those working to tell this story. For depictions of sexual assault, an intimacy coordinator was present on set to help the cast and crew navigate the scenes.

Communication sophomore Angelena Browne played Bailey, one of the three girls. She noted that this emphasis on supporting individual team members extended beyond heavy scenes.

“There was a time where we were outside filming in (Erickson-Koch Memorial Garden) for a while and people were getting a little chilly,” Browne said. “Every time we had a pause, they would throw blankets at us — ‘Please warm up before the next shot!’ Stuff like that was always the priority, and I feel like that may not always be the case.”

To present this story authentically and honestly, Benefield and Communication junior Yanni Economos, the director of photography, hoped to immerse audiences through the cinematography.

To achieve this effect, Economos operated a

handheld camera and a shoulder rig to convey constant movement and used tighter shots.

“Victoria really stressed the idea of being close to the characters, being right there, kind of experiencing the moments with them,” Economos said. “Every occurrence in the film was being shown through their eyes, essentially.”

“Kaleidoscope Eyes” is currently going through the post-production editing process. Benefield hopes the film will be set to premiere in June.

While there were challenges that the team faced without the resources and financial support of a grant, Benefield said this film — a true passion project — rested on the love the cast and crew had for each other as a community and the story.

“We’re not doing this because we have to or because we got money for it or because there’s some clout involved in getting a grant,” Benefield said. “We’re doing it because we love this story, and we think it’s super important. We love these people that we’re working with. It was all on us. And I think that responsibility makes it more meaningful.”

Illustration by Gemma DeCetra

Block exhibit bridges gap between science, empathy

By TABI PARENT the daily northwestern @tabithaparent12

In a conversation Saturday afternoon in the McCormick Auditorium of Norris University Center, the Block Museum of Art’s Artist-atLarge Dario Robleto discussed the intersection between science and empathy displayed in his exhibition, ‘The Heart’s Knowledge: Science and Empathy in the Art of Dario Robleto.’

‘The Heart’s Knowledge’ is the “culmination” of Robleto’s nearly five-year participation as the University’s first Artist-at-Large. The program is a partnership between the Block Museum and the McCormick School of Engineering that aims to create connections between contemporary artists and Northwestern students

and faculty.

Robleto was joined by Harvard University Prof. Jennifer L. Roberts and Lucianne Walkowicz, an astronomer and co-founder of The JustSpace Alliance.

“Art and science are both acts of faith in the imagination, uniting their respective perspectives, methodologies and technologies,” said Lisa Graziose Corrin, the Ellen Philips Katz director at the Block Museum.

Block’s Pick-Laudati Curator of Media Arts Michael Metzger facilitated a discussion centered around what bridges between the arts and sciences the participants have encountered in their careers thus far.

Roberts, a contributor to the catalog that accompanies the exhibition, said she considers much of her work as an art historian as similar to scientists’ work.

The panelists also discussed the claim that

science is typically thought of as an emotionless, data-driven pursuit, while the arts and humanities are generally viewed as more rooted in the human emotional experience.

“I’m invested in the goals of science, and I’m all for objectivity,” Robleto said. “But I’m also concerned about what happens when each generation of scientists becomes more and more removed from the humanity embedded in the data.”

Roberts agreed with Robleto that the sciences often fall prey to being absent of emotion. But she said the humanities field should not be so quick to congratulate itself for being the locus of human emotion as people are often hesitant to be vulnerable in humanities academic settings.

Similarly, Walkowicz stressed the impact of moments in her career as an astronomer where emotion has infiltrated her work.

“Emotion is a tool that has to accomplish something for science in order to exist in that realm,” Walkowicz said. “If you are a person who is interested in completely obliterating this boundary and existing in like liminal space between art and science, that comes with a lot of feelings of being misunderstood.”

The exhibition is on display at the Block from Jan. 27 through July 9.

Attendee and Chicago artist Lydia Cheshewalla said for her, the allure of the conversation was the transdisciplinary nature of Robleto’s work that the panelists focused on.

“I think (the exhibit) is doing really important things, which is mainly transcending art to these levels of being able to speak alongside science and within science and help us all collectively grow,” she said.

tabiparent2025@u.northwestern.edu

Open Tab: Great ambience, even better food at Habibi In

By KUNJAL BASTOLA and RACHEL SCHLUETER the daily northwestern @kunjal_bastola @rschlueter26

Habibi In Mediterranean Grill brings authentic Middle Eastern flavors and a cozy dining experience to Evanston.

Since 2019, Habibi In has served Mediterranean food at 825 Church Street. The restaurant is fast-casual style, where customers order at a counter and can dine in or carry out.

Its menu consists of large entree plates with a choice of meat, salad and pita. Customers can also substitute rice for the salad. Habibi In offers a variety of marinated and roasted meats, including chicken, beef shawarma and kebab.

The restaurant also serves kibbeh — a blend of ground beef, wheat and onions — and beef kofta — a dish that mixes ground beef with fresh herbs, onion, garlic and a combination of warm spices. Habibi In added chicken kofta to its menu just this January.

If you’re a hummus lover, then Habibi In has the perfect item for you. On its side menu, you can find chicken shawarma over hummus: a bowl of smooth, rich hummus topped with the restaurant’s delicious chicken shawarma. It comes with two slices of pita bread, the perfect accompaniment to hummus.

If you’re looking for a handheld version of all things Mediterranean food, look no further

than the chicken shawarma pita. The fluffy pita was filled with onions and sweet tomatoes, which were complemented with sour Middle Eastern pickles.

Of course, no sandwich is complete without a delectable sauce, and Habibi In did not disappoint. The pita was served with a side of Habibi In’s “famous white sauce,” which had a subtle sweet garlic flavor. Habibi In also provides a side of its homemade hot sauce but warns customers that it is extremely spicy. On the counter, a sign warns customers to enjoy the hot sauce “at your own risk.”

We found the perfect way to enjoy the hot sauce without burning our stomachs was to mix it with the “famous white sauce,” which created the perfect spicy yet cool condiment.

In addition to the chicken shawarma pita, Habibi In also serves a variety of other wraps and pitas with beef or falafel. A meal includes a sandwich, a drink and a heaping side of delicious fries. Pro tip: the “famous white sauce” is a wonderful dipping sauce for the fries too.

The atmosphere is on par with the great food. The walls are decorated with art depicting Mediterranean themes and culture, and there is plenty of seating for customers who want to stay in and enjoy their food. The staff is extremely friendly, and the food comes out at a very efficient rate.

Habibi In also hosts events throughout the year to bring customers together to enjoy

delicious food. Last December, the restaurant held a World Cup watch party and served complimentary tea and baklava for fans who attended.

Now, if you’re ever in the mood for great

Mediterranean food at an affordable price, you know just where to go!

rachelschlueter2026@u.northwestern.edu kunjalbastola2026@u.northwestern.edu

Liner Notes: Måneskin delivers sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll

By TABI PARENT the daily northwestern @tabithaparent12

In the age of simperingly sweet pop hits from the same few artists who seem to have taken permanent residence in the Billboard Hot 100 (love you, Taylor Swift, but I am staring pointedly at you), the United States is missing music with a little more angst and black eyeliner behind it.

Italian rock band Måneskin is lucky to be just mainstream enough to avoid falling through the cracks as the general music-listening populace attempts to answer an endless question: What

exactly is rock ’n’ roll?

Certainly, the band’s appearance is the epitome of rock. There is a certain smudgedmakeup-skin-showing sex appeal to the four members of the band that evokes rock ’n’ roll in its most basic, cartoonish form. Each member’s appearance begs the question: Do all rock stars always need to look perfectly sleazy and flawlessly grungy? Måneskin frontman Damiano David’s recently buzzed head seems to say yes.

Rising to fame globally after winning the international Eurovision Song Contest for Italy in 2021 with its song “Zitti e buoni,” Måneskin may soon be regarded as the new savior of rock ’n’ roll — a genre which seems to be ever-dying.

But, if the latest album release from the band has anything to say about it, rock ’n’ roll still has a ways to go before it finally dies the death rock stars have been bemoaning for decades.

Released Jan. 20, “RUSH!” is the band’s third studio album and its most ambitious undertaking yet, comprising 17 songs — only three of which are in the band’s native Italian. If the album’s title is any indication, “RUSH!” is a fast-paced whirlwind of lyrical rock tropes and commercial stadium tour-ready headbangers that make for perfect angsty bedroom sing-alongs, even if they don’t offer much in the way of reinventing the rock sound.

While “RUSH!” may not be a groundbreaking album in terms of musical inventiveness, it is a powerhouse when it comes to cohesion and storytelling. Throughout the album, David sings about a rock star’s world, replete with ’90’s supermodels, stolen Basquiats and ex-lovers. In the background, the other three band members — bassist Victoria De Angelis, guitarist Thomas Raggi and drummer Ethan Torchio — contribute equally to the story on their respective instruments.

Adding to the allure of the raspy rebellion enshrined in the album’s plotline, it seems Måneskin knows the extent to which its latest album satirizes the most recognizable parts of the rock genre. In the nearly-spoken track “KOOL KIDS,” the band members vocalize their thoughts on their place in the world of rock ’n’ roll: “Honestly, I don’t give a f–k.” Similarly, “BLA BLA BLA” is another ode to nonchalance on the album — David can barely be bothered to speak the song, let alone sing it, and anyone who has a problem with it can kiss his “bu-bu-bu-bu-bu-bu-butt.”

“SUPERMODEL” epitomizes the album’s central assertion that the world could do with a few more rock stars. Its lyrics are a callback to the good ole days of rock (whatever those are) when supermodels ran rampant and were “readily available” to rock stars.

Another example of the album’s ability to seamlessly blend the past and present is the song “GOSSIP.” Featuring Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, the album’s second track is just pop-y enough for Gen Z and nostalgic enough for those old enough to have been one of Morello’s groupies during his time with the group. Morello’s iconic guitar-shredding skills are hard to miss on the track and meld perfectly with Måneskin’s already seamlessly balanced four-person crew.

If “RUSH!” is any attestation, rock ’n’ roll today is not dead — just different. The album succeeds because it remembers its roots but doesn’t overly worship them. Måneskin is nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys this year. If they win, it could cement rock ’n’ roll’s reemergence on the global scene. And if they don’t? That’s just the kind of rebellious thing a rock band would do.

tabiparent2025@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment

Editor Selena Kuznikov Assistant Editors Jamie Kim Tabi Parent Design Editors Valerie Chu Kelly Rappaport Anna Souter

Luis Castañeda/The Daily Northwestern Habibi In’s side of chicken shawarma over hummus is absolutely delectable.

BUDGETING

From page 1

Participatory Budgeting Evanston — a community organization that helps with canvassing, outreach and event facilitation — have organized a series of ten idea collection events for residents to discuss and submit their ideas for the budget.

On Wednesday, Molitor led one of the idea collection events at downtown Evanston restaurant Koi Fine Asian Cuisine & Lounge with more than 40 Evanston residents, community organizers and volunteers from PB Evanston.

Between plates of spring rolls, dumplings and lo mein, residents and volunteers brainstormed and developed ideas for the budget. Chatter and laughter coincided with the clinking of chopsticks and forks hitting bowls and plates.

Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) gave a brief remark at the opening of the event.

“We want you all to know that all voices are going to be heard,” Harris said. “Use your voices so that we as a city can hear you and respect what you’re doing and bring light to some of those voices.”

SESP Ph.D. student in Learning Sciences Kristine Lu moderated a group discussion at the event.

As an organizer for PB Evanston and a technical assistant for the city, Lu said her responsibilities include facilitating the participatory budgeting process, planning events like this and providing training to volunteers.

“PB happened to be a great opportunity … in which we thought, hey, this is a great way we can apply our expertise as researchers and as designers to supporting a real-world opportunity,” Lu said.

Karen Lu, Kristine Lu’s mother, said the number of residents in attendance impressed her.

“I think it’s very important for the people in the society to be involved,” Karen Lu said. “They know how the money is spent and where they want the money to be spent.”

LIFEGUARDS

From page 1

This year’s Lifeguard Academy, a mandatory 30- to 40-hour training program for new and returning lifeguards, will train with EFD’s surface water rescue and dive teams, Polep said. Lifeguards will also be trained to use the fire department’s multi-channel radio system, which will allow them to communicate directly with dispatchers.

Polep said he hopes the reputation of the EFD as an emergency service organization will help change the role of lifeguards and Evanston’s lakefront staff culture.

“We hold ourselves to a certain standard — the way we look, the way we train, the way we

During the discussion, Karen Lu said she wants the city to continue to provide at-home COVID-19 test kits and masks in public buildings and on public transportation.

Evanston resident Maggie Peng said she wants to see the city repurpose underutilized public spaces, like schools and churches, to provide youth programming.

“Residents and people in Evanston need to have more of a voice in what happens with the ARPA fund,” Peng said. “So far, a lot of the funding has been spoken for. And there’s also a lot of initiatives in the city of Evanston where there’s not enough gathering of community voices.”

After several rounds of discussion and voting within groups, five groups of residents presented their three top ideas to applause. Some of the proposals included a city-funded K-12 curriculum on Asian American history in local schools, an Asian American culture center, city-wide Wi-Fi coverage and a mental health counseling program.

Matthew Ouren, the city’s participatory budgeting manager, said the event at Koi marks the end of the idea collection phase of participatory budgeting.

Next, the city will work with budget delegates — a role residents can sign up for — to develop the raw ideas into up to 14 proposals, Ouren said. These proposals will appear on ballots in August.

Anyone 14 or older who lives, works or studies in Evanston is eligible to vote. City Council will then fund the proposals with the most votes and continue down the list until reaching the $3 million allocated.

Molitor said she hopes Evanston’s ASPA community will continue being politically active even after the participatory budgeting process concludes.

“My ultimate goal is to get the community involved civically in general so that we have more voices, more representation, more visibility,” Molitor said. “This felt like a good way to do that.”

caseyhe2026@u.northwestern.edu

act, the way we treat the public,” he said. “I think that is going to be a culture change.”

Last year, lakefront leadership tried to implement new methods of determining leadership, such as hiring more women in leadership positions and eliminating physical training as a discipline measure, Carter and Polep said.

One of the main changes Carter made to last year’s recruitment and leadership promotion process was incorporating interviews.

Carter said this process led to an increase in women in lakefront leadership positions.

“We gave people leadership positions based on their skill level and their experience at the beach,” he said. “It didn’t matter how quick they ran or how fast they swam. Chief (Polep) and I are committed to that diversity.”

Gabby Sloane, who started working as a gate attendant at the lakefront six summers ago, said lifeguard leadership roles used to be predominantly filled by men. The scoring

From page 1

to be.”

Students who are not diagnosed with seasonal depression also use white light therapy.

Weinberg freshman Ty’Shea Woods said she bought a light lamp in high school to enhance her mood, productivity and sleep schedule.

“For me, I’ll say it’s just an overall improved mood,” Woods said. “So it’s just like more positive feelings about the day.”

Northwestern offers free white light therapy to students in the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion’s Wellness Suite, according to Assistant Director for Fitness and Wellness Hilary De Vries.

The room consists of chairs, bean bags and a rectangular box of white light that has been filtered against damaging rays. De Vries said she often sees people going into the space with friends.

From page 1

that people say about it not necessarily being at all tied to actual measures of achievement or accomplishment is true,” she said. “It doesn’t seem to go away.”

Economics Prof. Piotr Dworczak, who was also tenured in 2021, received the promotion earlier than the usual six-year period because he received an offer to work at Stanford University.

Dworczak’s research focuses on economic inequality and the redistribution of resources to combat those disparities. As a professor, he said teaching allows him to gain fresh perspectives on his intellectual endeavors.

“It’s really, really helpful to kind of relate to the students’ difficulties in understanding the

system determining these positions used to weigh physical tests above written ones assessing familiarity with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid and training manuals.

“Since a lot of issues have been brought to light and people have been feeling more comfortable to talk about them, I think a lot of issues people have felt about unfairness towards women have gone away,” Sloane said.

Polep said, however, that he doesn’t consider the lakefront’s culture of sexual harassment and assault to be an issue with recruitment.

In previous years, lifeguards could also be punished for breaking rules by being assigned physically strenuous tasks like running or swimming long distances, a practice former lifeguards compared to hazing in the 2021 petition. Though lifeguards will still undergo physical training both during and after Lifeguard Academy, Carter and Polep emphasized that it would never be used as a disciplinary measure.

She added that the space is open to everyone.

“Whether you’re experiencing depression or you’re just not feeling as high of levels of energy, white light therapy has been shown to improve your feelings of wellbeing,” De Vries said. “The idea is to start with low amounts and then you’ll work your way up.”

But, Brotzman said some people may not seek treatment if they are confused about what SAD is.

She said the term seasonal depression is often used by students to describe general feelings of “winter blues,” leading to confusion on when treatment may be necessary.

“I bet that a lot of people also don’t know that they have it,” Brotzman said. “For me, it took moving here to realize that I’m really sensitive that way.”

evelyndriscoll2025@u.northwestern.edu

material, and also for me to understand which parts I need to explain better,” he said. “And it’s not just a matter of teaching, it’s also a matter of really understanding your own research.”

Dworczak added that he is now able to have a more significant behind-the-scenes viewpoint of his department, a difference between his pretenure and post-tenure experience.

Contrary to popular belief, he said, receiving tenure is not a sign to slow down — it’s a sign to proceed full steam ahead.

“I think the point is, if you survive until this moment … it’s not because of the sort of promised reward,” Dworczak said. “It’s because you must be passionate about what you’re doing.”

samanthapowers2026@u.northwestern.edu

Instead, EFD might require daily in-service training, in which all lifeguards, including their supervisors, would complete a quarter-mile swim together.

“If we’re all working together as a team, we’re going to go a long way,” Polep said. “And the goal is to remain a team.”

Carter said he has bi-weekly meetings with lifeguard and beach leadership to discuss all lakefront decisions, including training protocols and emergency response plans. They will also be contributing to lakefront training manuals.

Sloane, who was appointed director of the aquatic kids camp last summer, said she’s happy with Carter’s more collaborative approach.

“(Management) has really done a great job of asking us what we want to see changed and also finding a fair way to do things in a more safe and comfortable environment,” she said. joyceli2025@u.northwestern.edu

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SOLUTION

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on same day. The Daily does not knowingly accept misleading or false ads and does not guarantee any ad or claim, or endorse any advertised product or service. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money. Available For Rent Services Last Issue Puzzle Solved Join the yearbook team! We create the printed volume that chronicles a year at Northwestern. No yearbook experience necessary. Interested? Email: syllabus@ northwestern.edu Post a Classified! Now anyone can post and manage a classified ad. Go to: DailyNorthwestern. com/classifieds Questions? Call 847-491-7206 ORDER YOUR 2023 NU SYLLABUS YEARBOOK SENIORS, IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO RESERVE YOUR COPY AT nusyllabus.com/order

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NU Formula Racing revs up for first fully electric car

By BEATRICE VILLAFLOR the daily northwestern @beatricedvilla

Northwestern Formula Racing is gearing up to compete with its first electric car, NFR 23, in the Society of Automotive Engineers International’s Formula SAE competition in June.

This is the first year the club will use a fully electric engine, according to NU Formula Racing Project Manager and McCormick junior Sarah Yung.

Discussions on whether to adopt an electric engine for the competition began at the end of the last school year following the turnover of NU Formula Racing’s executive board, according to Yung.

She said the organization switched to an electric car to align with sustainable engineering practices and better prepare its members for the industry.

“You can see the trend of electrification happening in industry all over the world,” Yung said. “Companies like Tesla and Lucid Motors, (among other) major car companies, are switching to electric.”

McCormick freshman Kellen Lai writes code for NU Formula Racing’s software sub-team, which constructs programs for the vehicle’s electronics such as display monitors.

Lai said his work at NU Formula Racing is often more similar to real-world manufacturing processes than the theoretical knowledge he gains from his courses.

“It’s just different (from) anything else I’ve done before,” Lai said. “Making something that’s not for a class … you can see something (come from) the code.”

Not all members of the group supported the switch to electric. Some members believed NU Formula Racing still had the chance to improve its combustion engines.

Yung attributed the discontent among some

Pritzker to award Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez the Global Jurist of the Year

Content warning: This article contains mentions of violence.

Guatemalan judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez will

members to the decade-long history and prior knowledge the team has in creating combustion engines.

“Switching to electric (cars) means that we don’t have that base of resources to rely on, and that can be very scary,” Yung said. She added that most first-year electric teams do not pass technical inspections, which means that electric teams can usually enter the competition for presentation and brand but cannot participate in the actual races.

Despite the risk of failure, McCormick senior Jacob Silacci, Chief Mechanical Engineer for NU Formula Racing, said there was commitment and passion behind the transition to electric.

“We don’t want to promote that mindset — to steer away from something just because you think you’re going to fail at it.” Silacci said.

Silacci said the group is currently manufacturing the car’s suspension systems and is aiming to conduct the first test drive in late February or early March.

Yung credited part of the club’s success to varied perspectives within the group. Four of the nine executive board members of Formula are women, a ratio Yung said is one of the best in the nation.

“It makes me really proud of this team — how we’ve managed to encourage such diversity and growth in a field (where) that isn’t always the case,” she said.

Silacci said the close personal relationships between Formula’s members allow the team to produce high-quality cars every year.

Currently in his third year as a member, Silacci said mentoring underclassmen is how he continues the organization’s mission of education.

“We don’t strive necessarily to be the best car out there,” Silacci said. “But we strive to do the best job we can to teach our members.”

beatricevillaflor2026@u.northwestern.edu

receive the eighth Global Jurist of the Year Award from Pritzker School of Law’s Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern announced Thursday.

The University is recognizing Gálvez for his history of protecting human rights and defending the rule of law in Guatemala, according to an NU press release.

The award honors sitting judges committed to human rights or international criminal justice.

“Judge Gálvez’s courage and integrity epitomizes

what it means to be a global jurist,” Pritzker Profs. Juliet Sorensen and Ibrahim Gassama said in the press release. Gassama is also the interim director of the center.

Past award recipients include Canadian judge Rosalie Abella and Kenyan judge Mumbi Ngugi.

Gálvez held perpetrators of genocide and murder — including dictators, presidents and oligarchs — legally accountable during the Guatemalan Civil War. Government forces killed thousands of people

during the war, including those from indigenous Maya communities.

Gálvez stepped down as a judge in November after more than two decades on the bench, subsequently going into exile due to a push from Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei.

Gálvez will accept the award at Pritzker’s campus on March 1.

— Kaavya Butaney

Beatrice Villaflor/The Daily Northwestern McCormick freshman Kellen Lai programs electronics for the club’s fully electric car, NFR 23, as part of the software sub-team.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Rapid Recap: Cats scratch out narrow Wisconsin win

By ALEX CERVANTES daily senior staffer @cervantespalex

Sunday, fun day.

After a resounding 17-point defeat to Michigan on Thursday, Northwestern (16-7, 7-5 Big Ten) traveled north to Madison, Wisconsin, to take on the Badgers (13-9, 5-7). The two squads met just over two weeks ago in Evanston, with the Wildcats emerging victorious in a narrow 66-63 affair. Sunday’s game was another 40-minute slow burn.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well — NU shot at a 46.7% clip, while Wisconsin was 38% from the field — en route to a low-scoring brawl. Badger guards Connor Essegian and Chucky Hepburn led the charge for the hosts, with the backcourt duo combining for 32 points. The Cats were similarly led by their backcourt tandem, with senior guard Boo Buie and redshirt senior guard Chase Audige adding 13 and 11 points, respectively.

In the end, Buie’s late pair of free throws helped cement a much-needed 54-52 victory for NU away from home and the regular-season sweep of Wisconsin. Here are three takeaways from the Cats’ clash with the Badgers.

Takeaways

NU offense spreads the wealth initially, though still endures first-half drought

Following the Cats’ blowout loss to Michigan, coach Chris Collins said that the onus falls on him to get other players — notably senior forward Robbie Beran and junior guard Ty Berry — involved when Buie and Audige are struggling shooting the ball.

Collins said the team can’t expect to win games if Beran and Berry aren’t getting touches. It was evident early against

the Badgers that the pair were going to get more shots.

On NU’s first possession, Beran slid up the wing to the top of the key and buried a triple for the Cats’ first points of the game. Minutes later, Buie found Beran unguarded at the rim for an easy lob to hand the visitors a 12-6 advantage. Beran’s five points were part of a 14-6 start from NU. But as soon as it started, the Cats’ offenses sputtered to a halt.

Junior center Matt Nicholson’s transition dunk at the 7:27 mark precipitated a five-minute scoreless drought for NU, characterized by poor, late clock shot selection and three turnovers. A Buie floater with 2:14 to play stymied a 6-0 Badger spurt and provided a much-needed bucket.

By halftime, six of the eight Cats which featured in the first half had scored en route to a 26-23 lead, though NU was shooting just 42.9% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc.

Wisconsin shooters fill it in from beyond the arc

One of the calling cards of Collins’ defensive schemes is sending a second defender to double the post on every entry pass. In a league which boasts phenomenal frontcourt play, taking the ball out of opposing bigs’ hands is imperative to success — and has been just that in 2022-23.

Though the Badgers’ offense is nothing to write home about — it entered the game ranked 144th in offensive efficiency per KenPom — it does boast a trio of prolific shooters in Hepburn, Essegian and Max Klesmit. Hepburn and Essegian, in particular, each shoot above 43% from distance.

In the two teams’ first meeting, Wisconsin canned just 10-of-31 attempts from three-point range. With Klesmit sidelined for the January clash, both Hepburn and Essegian were troubled on the perimeter, combining to shoot 5-of-17 from deep.

As NU sent doubles towards forwards

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl, it opened up opposite kickouts to the Badger shooters. Essegian and Hepburn took full advantage of the openings.

Essegian, who poured in 15 points, buried 5-of-11 attempts from deep. His first triple of the second frame also claimed the Badgers’ first lead of the game, 29-26. Hepburn, meanwhile, led Wisconsin with 17 points and hit 3-of-5 attempts from distance, though struggled from the field overall.

Cats

bench provides incredible lift

With sophomore guard Julian Roper II sidelined after picking up an injury against Michigan, NU’s already short bench slimmed for another game. The

bench trio — sophomore guard Brooks Barnhizer, graduate student forward Tydus Verhoeven and freshman forward Nick Martinelli — stepped up in a big way Sunday.

Barnhizer, Collins’ Swiss army knife off the bench, continues to be a spark plug on both ends of the floor. His activity defensively and his ability to crash the glass has paid dividends for this Cats squad in light of Roper’s absence. Barnhizer, in 28 minutes of action, poured in eight points and seven rebounds.

With Nicholson in foul trouble for most of the contest, Verhoeven was the Cats’ frontcourt cog for much of the game. He was a pest on the offensive glass, picking up a pair of boards and providing NU with extra offensive possessions. He

NU drops the ball at Penn State

By JAKE EPSTEIN the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n

Northwestern set off for University Park on Thursday, seeking a third consecutive victory to mark a major mid-winter turnaround. Penn State looked to defend its homecourt and regain momentum after dropping five of its previous six contests. The Wildcats (8-14, 1-10 Big Ten) could not maintain their first-half form, and the Nittany Lions (13-10, 4-8 Big Ten) ended their two-game losing skid with a 74-64 home win that evening.

Penn State controlled possession from the tip and Nittany Lion forward Ali Brigham scored the contest’s inaugural two points, but Wildcat junior forward Paige Mott immediately answered at the other end, knotting the game at two apiece. While sophomore forward Caileigh Walsh converted a deep jumper to give NU a 4-2 lead, Brigham tallied six unanswered points, forcing coach Joe McKeown to spend his first timeout.

The Cats fought back to a 10-10 tie after sophomore guard Jillian Brown’s jumper, but Penn State guard Taniyah Thompson knocked down a shot through contact and the ensuing free throw. NU was subsequently issued an administrative technical foul for an improper substitution, and Nittany Lion guard Shay Ciezki sank both technical free throws to complete a five-point possession.

Despite three-point makes from freshman guard Caroline Lau and graduate student guard Sydney Wood, the scoring margin remained at five, and Penn State led 23-18 after ten minutes of play.

The bench proved crucial for the Cats early in the second frame, and a Lau layup capped a 6-0 run, causing Nittany Lion coach Carolyn Kieger to call a timeout with the matchup tied at 25.

Fresh off the timeout, graduate student forward Courtney Shaw scored in the paint and gave NU its first lead since the contest’s second minute. NU’s defensive scheme — referred to as ”the Blizzard” — caused a flurry of Penn State problems offensively, headlined by five turnovers in the second frame. Despite three minutes without a basket, the Cats’ offense awoke after a Brown three-pointer. The team’s forwards had their way inside the paint, as Shaw and Brown combined for sixteen points off the bench, and NU entered the break leading 36-34.

Junior guard Jasmine McWilliams grabbed an offensive board and tallied the first two points of the second half. Mott added in two points of her own, but Nittany Lion guard Makenna Marisa answered with Penn State’s first triple of the contest to cut the Cats’ lead in half. Ciezki knocked down a three of her own before Marisa hit another to grant the Nittany Lions a 45-42 lead.

McKeown had seen enough offensive firepower and looked to extinguish an 8-0 Penn State run with a timeout. The move slowed the rapid Nittany Lion scoringstreak, yet NU struggled to maintain possession or generate offensive production.

Lau hit a crucial three to end a four-minute scoreless stretch, but the Cats’ nine thirdquarter turnovers handed Penn State a 56-47 lead entering the final frame.

Needing its best offensive effort, NU turned to its leading scorer early in the fourth quarter, and Walsh delivered

with her first three-pointer of the contest. Senior guard Kaylah Rainey called her own number from deep, tallying her first three points of the game to bring the match within five points in the remaining 8:15.

The Nittany Lions held a 66-59 lead entering the final media timeout, and the Cats had under three minutes to shift the contest’s course and steal a road win. One minute elapsed and the deficit stuck at seven, which prompted McKeown to signal for a full timeout.

Following the stoppage, Marisa converted an and-one to put Penn State ahead by nine. The Nittany Lions saw out the remainder of the matchup, earning a double-digit home victory.

NU looks to clean up its play at home against Nebraska (12-9, 4-6 Big Ten) on Monday after 23 costly turnovers — 16 of which came in the second half — Thursday night.

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

also added four points alongside his six rebounds, though his most important stat — one block — came in the game’s dying moments.

After Hepburn beat his defender and charged into the lane, it was Verhoeven who met him in the air and rejected his layup attempt. Though he missed the ensuing free throw attempt, his defensive resiliency on that play in particular helped secure a massive victory for the Cats.

Meanwhile, Martinelli, who has blossomed in an increased role due to Roper’s extended absence in January, featured well as a slasher. In 15 minutes, he posted six points on 3-of-3 shooting, scoring on a couple post-ups and a backdoor cut. alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

Wildcats disarm No. 1 Notre Dame at Duals

By KUNJAL BASTOLA the daily northwestern @kunjal_bastola

Northwestern Fencing hosted the NU Duals this past weekend, where it defeated No. 1 Notre Dame 19-8.

The duals took place at Ryan Fieldhouse on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the Fighting Irish, the teams that came to face the Cats were No. 6 Ohio State, No. 11 Temple, No. 13 Stanford, UC San Diego, Air Force, Fairleigh Dickinson, Boston College and Incarnate Word.

Saturday ended in the No. 5 Wildcats’ favor as they took down the country’s top team. NU recorded 19 total points, while Notre Dame tallied eight. The Cats asserted their dominance against their opponent to take down the high-caliber team.

Senior sabre Thea Nguyen and senior foil Anna Biasco went 3-0 in their respective matchups against the Fighting Irish.

“It was super fun to just have the competition we did against Notre Dame at home and get to experience that with all of the support system that we have,” Biasco said. “We got to have so many of our academic advisors and athletic staff around and to have all of that and have my whole team be there.”

NU won every round it played on the first day. Among the teams the Cats beat were UC San Diego and

Temple, with a score of 15-12 in both matchups. NU won with a score of 17-10 against Air Force, and the Cats dominated thoroughly with a score of 27-0 against Fairleigh Dickinson, shutting out all its opponents.

On the second day, NU kept it close with the Buckeyes but ended up losing by one point 13-14. Against Stanford, the Cats were, again, fairly close to a win, but lost 12-15. However, they did score dominant wins against Boston College and Incarnate Word.

Aside from the competition on Sunday, there was a ceremony to honor the team’s seniors: Biasco, Nguyen, foil Celia Crompton, foil Julia Shalansky, epee Blodwen Bindas and foil Isabelle Banin. Parents and friends came out to support the athletes who have given four years to the team. Team members cheered for their seniors who have given their all to the team.

“It’s just been so cool, and it went by so fast, and I’m super grateful for every single moment that I have,” said Biasco. “This one was a match I’ll never forget.”

Looking ahead, NU faces Duke on the road at Durham on Feb.12, with the Junior Olympics taking place the following week. NCAA Midwest Regional Championships are slated to occur in March at home at Ryan Fieldhouse. kunjalbastola2026@u.northwestern.edu

Angeli Mittal/Daily Senior Staffer

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal