The Daily Northwestern — February 12th, 2024

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The Daily Northwestern Monday, February 12, 2024

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12 A&E/Daundry

3 CAMPUS/President

4 SPORTS/Lacrosse

Local band Daundry plays indie, punk music

Caleb Snead and Ty’Shea Woods win ASG presidential election with increased turnout

No. 1 Northwestern survives No. 5 Syracuse

High 42 Low 28

Future of TWI still in jeopardy Parents at Bessie Rhodes worry about bilingual program

By EDWARD SIMON CRUZ

the daily northwestern @edwardsimoncruz

Sonya Dymova/The Daily Northwestern

Yasmeen Elagha said she has heard nothing from the White House or Israeli government since her relatives went missing.

Student fights for family in Gaza Law student Yasmeen Elagha talks missing cousins, ongoing lawsuit

By SAMANTHA POWERS

daily senior staffer @sqpowers04

Warning: This article contains mentions of war, violence and death.

Palestinian Northwestern law student Yasmeen Elagha said six of her family members in Gaza were taken from their shelter in al-Mawasi, a small town outside Khan Yunis, by the Israeli army in a Thursday morning raid.

She said she received a call

Wednesday night from her aunt in Gaza informing her that Israeli soldiers had allegedly entered the family’s shelter by force, tied up the women and children, confiscated almost all of their electronic devices, slashed the tires of their car, and taken six men — including

her cousins 20-year-old Hashem and 18-year-old Borak, both American citizens.

The two brothers are among fewer than 50 U.S. citizens known to be trying to flee Gaza, more

» See ELAGHA, page 6

When Evanston resident Andrea Martinez was picking a school for her son, she had her eyes set on the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, where he could participate in the school’s Two-Way Immersion program. The program allows students to develop literacy and proficiency in both English and Spanish.

Martinez’s brother had previously attended the school, and Martinez said he benefited from having smaller classes and remaining in the same building from kindergarten to eighth grade.

But on Jan. 22, the Evanston/ Skokie School District 65 Board of Education voted to begin the process of closing the Bessie Rhodes building — raising questions from parents about the future of the TWI program.

Martinez said this uncertainty makes it difficult for her and other parents to determine how they will adjust to the potential changes.

“I had a plan with my kid that I thought I didn’t have to worry (about) and now I do have to

worry about, and I would hate for other parents to feel the same way, especially when they’re just barely starting,” she said.

The TWI program at Bessie Rhodes places students identified as English learners alongside students who are proficient in English so they can receive instruction in both English and Spanish.

The program served 178 students in kindergarten through fifth grade as of 2023. School officials said District 65 will expand the program by one grade level each school year while Bessie Rhodes remains open, starting with the 2024-25 school year, until it serves all students at the K-8 school.

According to a memo presented

by Interim Superintendent Angel Turner at the Jan. 22 meeting, the earliest the building can close is after the 2025-26 school year.

In a statement released to the school community Jan. 26, Turner said the district had not yet determined where Bessie Rhodes students would attend school or where the district would relocate the TWI program after the building closes.

“Our district remains 100% committed to the TWI program and expanding the dual language program to middle school beginning in sixth grade at Bessie Rhodes next year,” Turner said in

» See BESSIE RHODES, page 6

Students, guests Evanston celebrates Lunar New Year ring in new year Third annual celebration brings community together with dance, food CISA and CSSA kick off Year of the Dragon at gala

By KELLY LUO

the daily northwestern @kellyluoer

The Chinese New Year Gala, hosted by two of Northwestern’s Chinese student organizations, celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dragon Saturday.

Co-hosted by the Chinese International Students Association and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, the show’s program consisted of dance, music and stand-up comedy performances.

“We want to give students in Northwestern something to celebrate and to make them feel at home,” said CSSA president Angela Zhou, a third-year Ph.D candidate in physics. “We also want to give students a stage to show their talents to other people.”

Recycle Me

The gala also welcomed the arrival of special guests including Zhao Jian, the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, who gave a speech to celebrate the Year of the Dragon and handed out gifts to students who won a raffle.

Zhou said Chinese New Year can be a hard time for Chinese students to feel connected with their celebratory traditions.

“Not only do we not get to celebrate with our family, but we also have to study and work on midterms,” she said. “We see Christmas and Thanksgiving all around, but for Chinese New Year we see nothing.”

We i n b e r g f re s h m a n Katherine Li said although New Year’s greetings can be made through phone calls and messages, the Gala’s inperson activities provided a sense of community for Chinese students who might be missing home.

» See GALA, page 6

By SHREYA SRINIVASAN

daily senior staffer @shreyasrin

Evanston kicked off the Year of the Dragon with its third annual Lunar New Year celebration, filled with a lion dance, free hot chocolate and dozens of flashy red envelopes at the corner of Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue on Sunday.

The festivities were a collaborative effort by MainDempster Mile, Evanston Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander American, Evanston Public Librar y, Evanston Pride, Studio 3 and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita. They were the first to organize a celebration of the holiday in Evanston when it first started three years ago, according to Melissa Raman Molitor, the founder of Evanston ASPA. “It kind of starts with an idea: ‘Why don’t we celebrate Lunar New Year?’ It’s so weird that we don’t do that in Evanston,” Molitor said. “Why are there no spaces in Evanston

that center the Asian American community?”

Local children began the festivities by making nontraditional Lunar New Year lanterns at design store Pink & Tan, a joint effort with art gallery Studio 3, and crafting dragon artworks at Coco Design & Build Co., both of which are Main-Dempster Mile small businesses.

Outside, organizers hung up red envelopes filled with candy and gift cards, inspired by hongbao, the traditional Chinese red envelope usually filled with money and are a symbol of good luck, for event-goers to pick.

“We want to be a welcoming part of Evanston, and we want to be a part of Evanston that helps lift up and make visible any cultural community,” Main-Dempster Mile Executive Director Katherine Gotsick said. “So it was a very easy decision to help, partner, whatever we could with Evanston ASPA to do this.”

While ASPA managed cultural programming, MainDempster Mile took care of finances and helped the

Edward Simon Cruz/The Daily Northwestern

With the help of Freddie’s Modern Kung Fu on Howard Street, the event featured a traditional lion dance where performers mimic a lion to bring good luck.

event’s traditional lion dance, performed by artists from the Howard Street studio Freddie’s Modern Kung Fu, come to life.

“Because we’re a civic organization, we’re intentional about wanting to buy local,”

» See LUNAR NEW YEAR, page 6

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Arts & Entertainment 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8

2 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

AROUND TOWN

S’mores on the Square brings hundreds downtown

By SHUN GRAVES

the daily northwestern @realshungraves

Evanston resident Danielle DeCamp bills herself an expert on s’mores. So, the moment she saw a poster advertising Evanston’s first-ever S’mores on the Square, she knew she had to go.

“I love s’mores,” DeCamp said. “Some people add all this other stuff, but (I love) just the classic marshmallow and chocolate.”

Hundreds of people roasted marshmallows over four fire pits Saturday in Fountain Square to create their own classic s’mores. The event, hosted by Downtown Evanston and the city’s Parks and Recreation

Department, drew plenty of foot traffic to a district still grappling with office and retail vacancies.

A local Girl Scouts troop helped the district prepare 600 kits that contained marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers and a napkin. Participants also received wooden sticks they could roast their campfire creations with.

Though Downtown Evanston doled out kits to anybody who came, early registration slots filled up more than a week ago, according to Andy Vick, the district’s executive director.

“This is a great crowd,” he added. “We’re seeing all kinds of people: young folks, old folks, families, NU students. It’s really just a great opportunity to come out and enjoy downtown on a beautiful February night.”

Downtown Evanston has grappled with empty storefronts and vacant office space for nearly four

years — since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the district has prioritized events that would attract more foot traffic.

Vick said the idea for S’mores on the Square arose when he helped brainstorm programming that would help visitors warm up during the winter. The flameroasted sweets would also encourage more people to frequent downtown, he added.

“That’s the not-so-hidden agenda here,” Vick said.

“We want to expose people to downtown and to our businesses.”

Michael Greenstone came to S’mores on the Square with his wife and their 3-year-old daughter. He said the event was great for his daughter, Ariel, who spent the entire day excited for the sweet treats.

They planned to eat a hearty meal afterward.

“We are going to have dinner downtown after this,” Greenstone said. “We probably wouldn’t have done that without this event.”

Downtown Evanston paid for the kits and roasting materials, and the city set up the fire pits. The district will again host S’mores on the Square on March 9.

Amanda D’Agostino, the city’s special events coordinator, lauded Saturday’s “great turnout.” It helped that the weather warmed up ahead of S’mores on the Square, she said.

“Getting people down here in the middle of the winter can be a little difficult,” she said. “We thought that a s’mores event — a free event — would help bring people down here.” shungraves2027@u.northwestern.edu

Piven Theatre receives grant for empowerment program

By JACK VERVERIS

the daily northwestern @jackververis

Kevin D’Ambrosio has worked as a stage and voice actor for more than two decades, but he said he’s rarely seen projects like the Piven Empowerment through Enrichment Program.

“As a person with a disability, to have a community that is supported and celebrated — that’s the meaning of life right there,” D’Ambrosio said.

PEEP, an improvisation program for adults with developmental disabilities, has run since 2004 as a part of Evanston’s Piven Theatre Workshop — a long-standing performance space and acting workshop located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center.

Now, Piven Theatre stands to receive $15,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its PEEP program.

Donna Osowski has been a part of Piven since 2006, and is currently the education and community partnership manager at the theatre. She became the PEEP lead in June 2022, helping

organize and teach with two other instructors.

“Everybody needs to be seen,” Osowski said.

“I think it can be so easy to not give everyone a chance to be seen and heard in the world, and I think having theatre helps that.”

While the program initially served acting teachers, it quickly shifted to students. In the eight-class course, participants go through a variety of acting and ensemble games, like mirroring each other’s expressions and movements.

“We don’t do scripted material so much,” Osowski said. “It’s in the moment, trying to listen to an individual.”

The program culminates in an open workshop, where friends and family can visit and see the players’ progress —, and an invitation into the wider PEEP improv performance ensemble.

The program offers numerous accessibility options and plenty of time for actors to catch up with one another. However, both D’Ambrosio and Osowski emphasized its similarity to other theater classes at Piven.

“It’s about working with each individual to find the best way for everyone to communicate with each other,” Osowski said. “But, in some

ways, that’s pretty much any acting class.”

The grant wasn’t exactly unexpected — the theater received $10,000 from the endowment in 2022 — but it was certainly appreciated, said Piven Artistic Director Jennifer Green.

“Anyone in the arts is pleasantly surprised when funding continues,” Green said. “But we were thrilled that, after taking a look at the program, they saw that it was meaningful and important to the community for it to continue.”

While the roughly 15-person class sometimes requires a waiting list, it’s also always been free, thanks to a variety of grants throughout its nearly 20-year history.

Green said the grant is unlikely to go toward any specific expansions in the program and will instead help support the instructors and keep the class free.

“It’s not just the cost of the individual class but the wider infrastructure that supports it,” Green said. “It means that once the dollar comes in, that dollar can be used to help educate and offer new opportunities for artists.”

Spring courses will begin Feb. 28. Students unsure about the program should come by and

watch a class and see if it’s for them, Osowski said.

“If you look to the wider world of theatre, often disabled artists are unrepresented.” Green said. “This was a way to really center the experiences and stories of this community.” jackververis2027@u.northwestern.edu

Sofia Sorochinskaia/Daily Senior Staffer

The grant will help support instructors and keep the class free, according to Piven Artistic Director Jennifer Green.

ORDER YOUR 2024 NU SYLLABUS

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

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

3

ON CAMPUS

BLAST hosts annual ballroom contest

By JOYCE LI

daily senior staffer @joyycee_li

Over 150 students dipped, twirled and sashayed Saturday in the Northwestern DanceSport Classic, a ballroom dance competition hosted by NU’s Ballroom, Latin and Swing Team, or BLAST, at the Woman’s Club of Evanston.

Competitors hailed from schools across the Midwest, including the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Purdue University.

“My favorite part (of collegiate ballroom) is definitely just seeing all the friends that I make throughout the competitions,” UChicago graduate student Colin Richter said. “It’s almost like an involuntary friend reunion that happens every few months.”

According to Weinberg sophomore Abby Miggiani, the coordinator of NU DanceSport Classic, the competition has been held sporadically since 2006, but became an annual event in 2019.

The competition was originally held in the Louis Room in Norris University Center, but BLAST members said the room was carpeted after the competition was canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Ballroom

dance requires a non-carpeted floor, so the team relocated to the Women’s Club.

Miggiani said the competition’s new location makes it unique among collegiate-level ballroom competitions — typically held in gymnasiums.

“The venue just adds a layer of poshness or archaic, historical feeling to it, which people normally associate with ballroom,” Miggiani said.

According to Miggiani, the aesthetic of the venue stands in stark contrast with the lively, casual atmosphere of the competition. While dancers competed, spectators gathered around the floor, cheering and yelling out the numbers of their favorite dancers.

The all-day competition featured four main genres: American Smooth, International Standard, American Rhythm and International Latin. Each genre consists of a different set of dances. For instance, American Rhythm consists of the Rumba, Cha-Cha, Bolero, Mambo and Swing.

Weinberg junior and BLAST President Kaytlyn Mittag said dancers tend to compete in multiple categories.

Mittag, who had experience in ballet and jazz before she joined BLAST, said one of her favorite things about ballroom dance is the variety of styles she gets to try.

“If you do ballet, you get to do ballet,” she

said. “But if you’re doing ballroom, you get to do waltz and tango and quickstep, and so on and so forth.”

Outside of competition, BLAST offers weekly lessons for beginner and intermediate dancers. Like many members, both Mittag and Miggiani joined the club with no prior experience in ballroom dance.

Mittag said she loves the accessibility and versatility of ballroom dance, especially when it comes to dancing with different people. “ You can dance it with anyone who even kind of knows how to dance,” she said. “So even if it’s your first time dancing with somebody, you could still go out there and dance together.”

The team also often hosts dance socials, including an upcoming Valentine’s Day social on Feb. 17 hosted in collaboration with NuTango, according to Miggiani.

She said she appreciates how the spontaneous nature of ballroom fosters connection between dance partners — and even those from other groups.

“When you go out on the floor…you can go into any move and you won’t know beforehand,” Miggiani said. “It teaches you how to read body language in a way that you might not normally know.” joyceli2025@u.northwestern.edu

record low 175 votes last year.

“The immense gratitude filling our hearts fuels Caleb Snead and “Both sets of candidates ran great and clean cam- the passion and urgency behind our work,” Snead focused on the issues,” Graham said. “We and Woods said in a statement to The Daily Sunday.

Ty’Shea Woods win paigns congratulate Caleb Snead and Ty’Shea Woods on The presidents-elect said their first task in office victory and we wish them all the best in their will be to build their executive team. They said their ASG presidential race their ideal team will share their mission to amplify stufuture co-presidency.”

SESP sophomore Caleb Snead and Weinberg sophomore Ty’Shea Woods won the Associated Student Government presidential election with 59.6% of the vote. Snead and Woods will take office as co-presidents during the sixth week of Spring Quarter.

According to Weinberg junior and ASG Election Commissioner Paul Graham, 1,188 students voted in the election — an almost 679% increase from a

Graham said ASG’s Communications Committee played a key role in increasing voter turnout by promoting the election. Presidential candidates and Executive Board members tabled in Norris University Center Friday to encourage students to vote.

The runners-up were Weinberg junior Nicole Aguilar-Medina and SESP junior Anna Alava, who received 36.7% of the vote. The “No confidence” option on the ballot received 3.7%.

dent voices.

“We enthusiastically ask that each and every student hold us accountable to everything we’ve said in our campaign season and beyond,” Snead and Woods said. “The next chapter of ASG will be co-created by us all.”

— Isaiah Steinberg

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Baroque Music Ensemble Presents:

1

This celebratory concert features numerous student soloists performing works by the Italian Baroque master Antonio Vivaldi, including The Four Seasons and the marvelous Concerto “for Dresden” in G Minor, RV 577 for flute, oboe, bassoon, and violin soloists.

(847)-467-4000 concertsatbienen.org

4 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

A&E arts & entertainment

Jay Dugar/The Daily Northwestern

Daundry members Sebastian Jones and Katrina Hildebrandt perform at the Cobra Lounge on Feb. 8.

Local band Daundry epitomizes indie, punk music

By MADELINE KING

the daily northwestern @madelineking_18

With downcast glances and serious pouts of quintessential indie and punk artists, members of Chicago band Daundry delivered an upbeat and hard-hitting performance at Cobra Lounge Thursday night.

About 40 audience members bobbed their heads to songs on the setlist, which mostly consisted of tracks from Daundry’s forthcoming album: “Pria.”

The small standing-room-only venue created an intimate atmosphere, and Daundry embraced the personal mood.

Many of Daundry’s songs began with intricate

bass and guitar, with drums building into the choruses. Instrumentals drove the tracks’ fast-paced tempos — rather than the bands’ singing. The drumming was impressively fast and passionate, with drummer Sebastian Jones’ silver necklace flailing off his chest due to the intense physicality of his playing.

Bassist Katrina Hildebrandt experimented with feedback while performing “Testicular Torsion,” a song written for the band’s upcoming album. She held her light-up, pink toy microphone near her bass to create a unique sound fitting for an indie punk band.

The music was loud enough to feel. Each song captured the passion, angst and coolness associated with grunge and shoegaze music.

It was disappointing that the sound imbalance in

Cobra Lounge left audience members virtually unable to hear Ian Kloehn’s singing over the guitar, bass and drums. From the few vocal lines listeners were able to make out, Kloehn’s nice voice shone through, and it was clear the melodies complemented the music.

But, even when Jones screamed into his mic during the fourth song of the night, audience members were unable to hear his distinct words.

Most of the songs on Daundry’s setlist sounded similar to one another, with the only clear shift being a cover of “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak.

The band retained its post-punk sound while covering such a sad and slow song, making for a dynamic and attention-grabbing performance.

The song showcased a pretty falsetto from Kloehn — a sound that Daundry should lean into in the future.

It was obvious that Daundry was well-rehearsed

but laid-back. The three bandmates decided what two songs to close the show with on the spot after asking for a time check from the booth.

Daundry’s relaxed energy was a constant as the musicians chatted with one another between songs.

The band kept it real and did not shy away from telling the audience what was going on onstage.

“Thought I was going to burp,” Kloehn said into the mic before starting to play.

Much like their music, Daundry’s concert maintains an air of unbothered confidence that is sure to intrigue future concertgoers.

Daundry is set to release “Pria” on Feb. 29. Indie and punk fans will appreciate the hurried tempos and passionate playing the album offers. madelineking2026@u.northwestern.edu

The 96th Academy Awards: The race for Best Picture

By ELENA SCOTT

the daily northwestern @elenamarielll

From the powerful pink takeover of “Barbie” to the delicate world-building of Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” and the breathtaking realism in “Oppenheimer,” it’s no debate that each of the films nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award are qualified to vie for the crown of best movie of the year.

But which movie holds the perfect combination of strengths that will collect enough of the Academy members’ votes to secure the coveted Oscar?

A24’s “The Zone of Interest” follows a similar trend as 2020 Best Picture winner “Parasite,” collecting nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Director after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival to much acclaim. The film captivated audiences with its haunting story and impressive display of Jonathan Glazer’s directorial skill.

However, it’s also accompanied by “Anatomy of a Fall,” the other international film nominated for Best Picture. “Anatomy of a Fall” is propelled forward by an outstanding performance by Sandra Hüller, who also starred in “The Zone of Interest.” Despite Hüller’s Best Actress nomination for “Anatomy of a Fall,” it is unlikely that either film will see a win, as the presence of two international features takes away some of the glamour.

The nostalgic character study in “The Holdovers” was charming to say the least, and the film was especially strengthened by its powerful leading cast of Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and breakout star Dominic Sessa. But even with the adoration the movie is receiving from viewers and critics, its slower pace and coming-ofage arc may not help it stand out from the rest.

In another tear-jerking film, “Past Lives” reminded

audiences why we go to the movies. This nominee accomplished something that distinguishes the true beauty of a film: Despite its unique story, the characters were deeply relatable. I believe the mark of the “Best” is creating that level of empathy, one that touches every different person, reminding us of the power that welltold stories have. Judging by its lack of nominations elsewhere, it is not a top contender, but “Past Lives” was my favorite movie of the year.

Both “Maestro” and “American Fiction” — neither of which have a strong chance of securing many members’ votes — seem to have fallen to the wayside of the Oscars’ buzz, particularly in a year with multiple strong contenders.

Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan earned nominations for their leading roles in “Maestro,” and the film further proved Cooper’s ability to go beyond his typical role as a charming supporting actor. Mulligan commanded the scenes she was in, giving depth and personality to the pair’s bittersweet love story. That said, the biopic holds little weight in this year’s crowded Best Picture category, especially when standing next to the success of “Oppenheimer.”

“American Fiction” was sweet like a midday matinee, and its sharp wit earned it five nominations across the 23 categories. Yet, compared to its opponents, the film is rather superficial, and cleverness alone has rarely been enough to take home the gold.

“Barbie” conquered the world, broke box office records and stole audience members’ hearts. Its success poses the question of whether popularity and revenue are large enough factors to sway the Academy. However, the lack of nominations for director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie show that it is unlikely to fare well with voters, if only for its less prestigious subject matter.

The showdown will ultimately be a race between

three pictures: “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things.”

Martin Scorsese’s nearly 3.5-hour epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” was a superb example of storytelling, and it may win over the votes of traditional film fans that are nostalgic for grand productions of this length.

The film’s spotlight of an Indigenous story, combined with the success of lead actress Lily Gladstone, are additional strengths.

“Oppenheimer” seems to be the frontrunner, and it is true that Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster offers every aspect Academy members love: an all star cast, protagonist vs. antagonist framing and skillful storytelling exhibited by Nolan’s signature overlapping timelines.

Bella Baxter’s (Emma Stone) exploration of the human experience through the eyes of director Yorgos Lanthimos in “Poor Things” may offer more

competition than critics are expecting. The film weaves humor, theatrics and world-building into a hilariously profound story with impressive performances.

The defining factor may come down to flashiness, as we saw with last year’s winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” To some degree, “Oppenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” are becoming old news. Don’t forget — members of the Academy are real people who are consuming these films in a similar way that we are, influenced by media and trends.

“Poor Things” has crept into the running, and its ability to drastically stand out from the other nominees may prove to be its greatest strength. The awards have never been and never will be a science, but I expect the crown to be given to Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things.” elenascott2026@u.northwestern.edu

Illustration by Danny O’Grady

From “Past Lives” and “Oppenhiemer” to “Poor Things” and “Barbie,” the race for Best Picture continues.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

5

Seong-Jin Cho, Chicago Symphony Orchestra dazzle

By BEN KIM

the daily northwestern

Saturdays are always a busy time for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. But, this past Saturday, the Symphony Center was especially packed for Seong-Jin Cho: winner of the prestigious Chopin Competition in 2015 and one of the world’s most in-demand pianists.

The conductor, Gemma New, walked confidently onto the stage to begin the performance, and the orchestra began Aaron Jay Kernis’ “Musica Celestis.” Written exclusively for the strings, angels singing endless praises of God inspired the piece.

The composer divided the music between several sections, as if ethereal sounds were coming from all around the venue. It started with soft, drawn-out chords imitating a choir. Then, passionate outbursts led to a more tumultuous atmosphere, and the piece descended into chaos. A majestic chord — perhaps a “savior” — brought peace to the piece, which ended just like it started: with utter serenity.

The concert’s highlight was Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 3,” with Cho as the soloist. The audience received Cho very

warmly as he walked onstage. He delivered the piece with a performance of consummate power, musicality and technique.

The first movement was somber and resolute, and Cho hit all the right notes (literally and figuratively). Opening in Beethoven’s signature anguished key of C minor, Beethoven unfolded the music in unexpected, daring ways; uncertainty and darkness soon overshadowed fleeting moments of light. The mutual musicianship between Cho, New and the CSO were impeccable; they intently listened to each other and stayed together in difficult passages.

The second movement was f ul l of Cho’s signature lyricism and shimmering orchestral textures. The pulse was at times unsteady — but such mishaps often happen in slow pieces where it is harder to count the beat together.

The third movement, which started without pause, was vintage Beethoven: an exciting tour de force leading to a triumphant ending. Cho kept the atmosphere lively, thoroughly observing Beethoven’s obsessive markings to play loud and accented.

Following the last note of the concerto, the nearly sold-out audience erupted in

joyous applause. After a few curtain calls, Cho expressed his gratitude with an encore of the jaunty third movement from Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Sonata in E minor.”

The intermission was followed by Felix Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 3,” also known as “Scottish.” The first movement was reminiscent of Beethoven’s music. A hymn-like introduction gave way to dark, tumultuous moments and wild frenzy, after which the hymn came back to conclude the movement. New took a variety of stylistic liberties, slowing down even when there was no marking to do so.

New and the CSO musicians controlled the fleet-footed second movement excellently. A single folk-like tune was tossed around various instruments in creative ways that kept the piece from sounding repetitive. The slow third movement featured a warm melody and romantic dialogue between a solo violinist and a cellist.

It was much more in time than the slow movement of the Beethoven concerto.

W here the final movement of Beethoven’s concerto had some sections of calm, Mendelssohn, in the final and fourth movements of his symphony, kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Any semblance of resting space was met with chaos. This

back-and-forth created tension, which the CSO handled superbly.

At the height of energy, the orchestra halted.

Then, a triumphant final melody declared victory in the musical struggle, and the symphony concluded jubilantly. It was great programming on the orchestra’s part, as the Mendelssohn ended with the same key that the very first piece, Kernis’ “Musica Celestis,” started with: a full-circle ending suiting a wonderful evening of music.

Prior to the concert, the CSO and the Korean-American Association of Chicago hosted a Korean Lunar New Year Celebration.

Korean presenters demonstrated traditional Lunar New Year rituals and invited audience members to participate.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is hosting its second College Night of the 2023-24 season on March 21 at 5:30 p.m., alongside a concert featuring Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. Tickets for students are $15. Complimentary food will be provided, along with student-geared activities, and a Q&A session with a CSO musician will be held before the concert. benkim2026@u.northwestern.edu

Evanston artist explores antisocial world in new exhibit

By ISAIAH TATUM

the daily northwestern @isaiahltatum

Surrounded by friends, family and spectators,

local artist Kathy Halper debuted her exhibit “JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out,” a depiction of her appreciation of the antisocial, on Sunday at the Evanston Art Center.

“JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out” is a wordplay on the popular phrase “FOMO”

Isaiah Tatum/The Daily Northwestern

Evanston Art Center’s new exhibit by Kathy Halper depicts Evanston’s architectural design and scenes of Halper’s intimate life.

— fear of missing out — demonstrating her acceptance of a clear social calendar and quiet home life.

Halper’s collection, primarily composed of paintings, is a shift from her previous work, which has included a series of embroidered art displaying the lives of teenagers, and another that focuses on life disappointments.

Halper’s art career began in her mid-thirties, when she began illustrating flowers with pastels. Her talent was evident immediately, said her husband Rick Levine.

“She started making these pieces of art. I was just amazed,” Levine said. “This skill fell out of her, it felt like.”

Halper was working as an advertising copywriter when she pivoted to art to be able to stay home with her young children. She added she is an entirely self-taught artist.

“I’ve considered what I’ve done for the past 30 years as giving myself an art training,” Halper said. “I’ve constantly been looking to develop skills.”

Levine said his wife demonstrated a passion for art and a willingness to improve while working on her earlier pieces.

Three years ago, Halper gave herself a challenge. She was going to depict her story of introverted attitudes and document her present life in all its reserved simplicity.

Halper began working on “JOMO” during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving plenty of time to contemplate her artistic direction.

“I wanted to feel like I was making work that was purely my voice,” Halper said.

Halper decided early that she was going to use paint as her medium. She was drawn to an assortment of different materials to pair with painting, including cardboard, glitter, fabric and clay. No element was off limits, she said.

Halper said she found that the lack of social expectations she found in quarantine was enjoyable. A mundane task such as walking her beloved dog, Fiona, was something that vitalized her.

Then, she began to paint.

“The first pieces I did were neighborhood scenes,” Halper said. “I started to focus more on internal scenes — scenes in relationship to my family members. Our daughter was living with us at the time, my husband, of course, and the dog is always present.”

Portraits such as “Succession Finale,” “Mother & Daughter” and “10:30” display the reclusive moments we take for granted, including those moments shared with loved ones, Halper said. Other paintings like “Folk Art Fiona” and “Walking Fiona” feature her dog and Evanston architecture, two popular muses in her collection. Throughout “JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out,” Halper distorts perspective and utilizes bright colors to emphasize the disruption of life.

Halper said she feels like she was able to fully realize her vision.

“I do feel like I have created my world,” Halper said. isaiahtatum2027@u.northwestern.edu

From ‘Frankenstein’ to ‘Hannibal’: When do remakes work?

By LILLIAN ALI

daily senior staffer @lilliannnali

There’s a good chance your favorite movie is an adaptation.

L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was adapted for the screen at least seven times before Judy Garland starred in Victor Fleming’s iconic 1939 adaptation. Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” has been adapted into film and remade at least 17 times, according to the University of Virginia — ranging from a 1940 movie, a 2004 Bollywood-style Musical (“Bride and Prejudice”) and a 2016 horror-comedy (“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”).

This is all to say: When someone writes a good story, someone else will probably try to remake it. For stories like “The Wizard of Oz,” “Frankenstein,” and “Pride and Prejudice” — all well-established in the literary canon — it makes sense that so many artists want to bring their own interpretations to the table.

Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” a book series that started in 2005 with “The Lightning Thief,” is another work that’s seen multiple adaptations. Riordan criticized the 2010 movie: “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” He refused any involvement in its sequel.

Last December, though, Disney+ made a new attempt at adapting the series in the form

of a streaming television show. This series, while not universally loved, has seen far more success among audiences and critics than the movie. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of critics and 80% of audiences rated it positively.

Riordan, who was involved in its production, has praised the series.

The success of the new Percy Jackson series stands out against a culture of “remake fatigue.”

A 2019 study by betting website Casumo and SEO firm Verve Search aggregated IMDb and Metacritic scores to see whether viewers actually like all the remakes they’re seeing. They found that audiences really, really don’t.

Audiences preferred just 9% of remakes over the movies they were originally based on, and only 21% of remakes make more money than their original films. Disney — the host streamer of the new Percy Jackson series — has come under fire for its seemingly never-ending production of live-action remakes.

This isn’t to say remakes are always disliked.

In some cases, the new iterations become more prominent than their originals.

The winner of the 2021 Academy Award for Best Picture, “CODA,” is an English-language remake of the French Belgian film “La Famille Bélier.” “The Departed,” another Best Picture winner, is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs.” Neither “La Famille Bélier” nor “Infernal Affairs” were nominated for Academy Awards.

So, what makes one remake succeed where another fails? At the end of the day, a remake

is successful if it offers its audience something they want. The 1939 “The Wizard of Oz,” while not the first color film, is the first version of Oz in color. It took audiences from the drab grays of everyday life into a Technicolor fantasy world. Now, it’s one of the most famous films around.

The Percy Jackson series offers fans of the books something they’ve been waiting for since the 2010 movie: a genuinely good Percy Jackson adaptation. The Disney remakes, while often profitable, have been criticized for losing the “magic” of the original animated movies — audiences criticized the 2020 remake of Mulan for losing its themes of gender conflict and personal growth, for example.

Remakes can work if they offer the audience something they’ve never seen before. One of my favorite shows, NBC’s “Hannibal,” is the fourth franchise to have adapted the character of Hannibal Lecter, who originated from Thomas Harris’ series of thrillers. It steps out of the shadows of the adaptations that came before it by pushing visual style and character dynamics to extremes; it’s a fresh perspective on iconic characters.

“Remake fatigue” or not, the process of innovation and derivation is baked into the creative process. Without generations of performances and adaptations of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” we wouldn’t have its modernized retelling in the form of 1999’s “10 Things I Hate About You.” Without Jane Austen’s “Emma,” we wouldn’t end up with

1995’s “Clueless.”

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is, itself, the result of centuries of study, interpretation and storytelling of Greco-Roman mythology.

The best remakes remind us that great art inspires great art. lillianali2026@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment Editor Lexi Goldstein Assistant Editors Madeline King Jackson Weier Design Editors Paloma Leone-Getten Bettina Sánchez Córdova Creative Director Danny O’Grady Photo Editor Sonya Dymova

6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

BESSIE RHODES From page 1

the statement. “We are also looking forward to sharing an update on our planning for expanding the dual language program to other middle schools in the coming years.”

However, some parents — like Evanston resident Ryan Lezcano — remain concerned about the district’s consideration of reducing or eliminating the TWI program.

A group of parents will begin meeting biweekly to brainstorm ways for the district to listen to their perspectives, according to Martinez.

The District 65 board also approved a new design plan and budget for a school to be constructed in the 5th Ward at its Jan. 22 meeting.

The Illinois School Code requires the board to hold at least three public hearings before closing the Bessie Rhodes building. Lezcano said the district should pause its plans to close the building until it can clearly communicate what would happen to the

TWI program and students who would be affected by the changes. “(The district has) time to look at the data in the next six months to a year and say, guess what, we do have room for the K-8 program,” he said. “We want them to do that exercise and convince us that they have done their due diligence.”

The 5th Ward school was previously set to serve K-8 students but will now serve K-5 students, due to projected budget overruns.

Many Bessie Rhodes parents support the construction of the school but feel the district is putting students at a disadvantage with its inconsistent communication, said Evanston resident Aidé Acosta.

“It’s very problematic that the district has created an atmosphere of misinformation (and) miscommunication and has almost pitted two communities against each other,” Acosta said. “I support the building of a new 5th Ward school, but creating an injustice on another community is not okay.” edwardcruz2027@u.northwestern.edu

LUNAR NEW YEAR

ELAGHA

Gotsick said.

Morita, the first Asian American woman to serve on the Cook County board, and State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), served free hot tea and chocolate to the eventgoers. Morita’s office also distributed red envelopes filled with candy and well wishes from the duo.

“I’m sixth-generation Chinese American and fifth-generation Japanese American, and Lunar New Year was always the biggest celebration with my family,” Morita said. “So many of us have cleaned our houses and cut our hair, and we’re excited to be here with all of you today to have the lion dance, to expel the bad spirits and bring in new energy for the new year.”

Molitor said it is important to increase representation of the ASPA community in Evanston.

Her organization is currently working toward an Asian American arts and culture center, she added.

“It’s vital for the Asian American community to see themselves reflected in their community, to feel a sense of belonging,” Molitor said. “The more that we as a community can support these kinds of things, I think, is really important.”

Mayor Daniel Biss gave a speech at the event.

He praised the event, lauding its advocacy of the Asian American community in Evanston. Mandarin and Korean translations organized by the Evanston Public Library followed each speech.

“As we enter the year of the dragon, I think we can all be excited by an auspicious and wonderful and enjoyable and peaceful new year,” Biss said.

than four months after Israel launched its ground and air offensive in the strip which has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials.

The offensive began after the militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed about 1,200 Israelis, according to Israeli officials.

She has been working for months to secure the safety of her relatives in the region, she said. After hundreds of calls and emails to the U.S. State Department, U.S. embassies in the region and human rights groups, Elagha said her family members are still trapped in Gaza.

In December, Elagha filed a lawsuit against the State Department for failing to provide the same protection to Americans trapped in Gaza that it has to Americans in Israel — an issue of equal protection, she said.

Elagha said she hasn’t heard anything from the Israeli government or the White House since her two American cousins went missing. She has been in contact with the offices of Illinois’ U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin.

Now, Elagha said she is now filing a new lawsuit against the State Department after her cousins were taken from their shelter by Israeli soldiers. The government is now beholden to a “higher legal duty,” she said.

The Daily spoke with Elagha on Jan. 16 and on Feb. 9, after her family members went missing. The following responses, taken from both interviews, have been edited for brevity and clarity.

From page 1

From page 1

shreyasrinivasan2026@u.northwestern.edu

The Daily: I want to ask you a little bit about your memories of Gaza before the conflict began on Oct. 7.

Elagha: It is the place that I feel safest. Before I went to Gaza (in December 2022), a lot of my friends were like, ‘Oh my god, are you sure? You’re literally going

GALA

From page 1

“It gives me a semi-sense of home,” Li said.

“The last time I’ve been around so many Chinese people was when I was back in China during the summer.”

The event is one of few opportunities in which undergraduate and graduate students come together. Li said she views this as a great way to create a sense of belonging among Chinese students across all levels of study.

Shuwen Chai, a second-year computer science Ph.D candidate, said galas are often a Chinese New Year tradition celebrated with family and friends. As many international Chinese students cannot spend the holiday with their families, attending the event with friends feels more personal.

“It’s a kind of symbol for your homeland,” said Chai.

Traditional Chinese food and snacks were into a warzone.’ And I was like, ‘I’ve been there before, I know what it’s like. It doesn’t fit the stereotype.’ …

When I go out (in Gaza), I feel like I’m an actual person. I feel like I’m seen for who I am as an individual, instead of, ‘Oh there’s that Arab girl, there’s that girl who’s wearing a hijab, there’s that girl who’s Muslim.’

Instead, I’m not like a walking stereotype in Gaza. I’m seen as the full person that I am and people recognize that. People dignify that.

The Daily: You mentioned combing through pictures of violence that come up on TV or on social media feeds. Does it affect you emotionally?

Elagha: I have witnessed videos and pictures of the dead bodies of my family members, people I’m related to, people I met when I last went to Gaza. I have watched my own flesh and blood cry and sob over our relatives. I saw a video of one of my cousins — he’s so young, he’s only a few years old — crying into his mother’s arms, because his two older siblings who are six and 14 were killed by an Israeli airstrike. … And those are things I will never forget. Those are things that allow me to understand that I have an even bigger responsibility to continue to advocate, because I need to tell people that this is happening to my family.

This shouldn’t happen to any family. No one should ever have to witness their siblings’ decayed bodies being buried.

The Daily: In your day-to-day, what kind of dissonance does it create to be moving through a world that remains relatively unaffected by something that’s so deeply connected to your life?

Elagha: Honestly, it doesn’t feel like I am functioning in the same universe as anyone else. Last semester, when this was happening, I was honestly a mess in every single one of my classes. I wasn’t able to actively

also served alongside the performances.

Weinberg sophomore Kathelyn Tung, a CISA junior executive board member, helped prepare and serve food for attendees.

“Every New Year, my family and I will also make dumplings by ourselves,” Tung said.

“These preparations really make me feel at home.”

The Gala also had a handful of attendees from beyond the Chinese community.

“I think it’s good that we saw non-Chinese audiences,” Zhou said. “I wish it could be an opportunity for them to know more about Chinese culture and what Chinese New Year means to us.”

Ending with the classic Chinese New Year song “Unforgettable Night,” the gala concluded with new year’s greetings from all of the event’s hosts and performers who gathered onstage. kellyluo2026@u.northwestern.edu participate. … There were so many dynamics happening, activity all around me, and I would just be sitting in the middle of it. And it would just feel all silent, and I would just be so consumed by the moment that sometimes I didn’t even realize that I would be literally sobbing during class. I would just touch my face and I’d be like, ‘Oh, I’m crying in front of my professor.’

The Daily: Where are you seeking comfort and community during this time?

Elagha: Oddly enough, the people who have been providing me the most comfort are my family members in Gaza. They have such a strength and steadfastness that I envy and know that I could never have. …

They’ve been the ones to constantly remind me to find strength in my faith, and they are the ones who are a voice of reason in a world that truly makes no sense at all. And sometimes I get embarrassed that they provide me comfort, because it’s so warped and twisted. But I also take it as a testament to how strong they are, how resilient they are. And it just makes them all the more admirable in my eyes.

The Daily: How do you have the mental capacity right now to continue pursuing your case? You said you were on the phone with lawyers just a minute ago. Do you feel like you’re in a fog?

Elagha: I can’t be. Unfortunately, the Palestinians don’t have the space to be in a fog. We don’t have the privilege of being dazed … we have to keep going.

Because our lives and our families’ lives literally depend on it. Being productive, and doing the work, and doing interviews and advocating for my family has actually been making me feel that I’m getting one step closer to getting them back. samanthapowers2026@u.northwestern.edu

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024

7

Bennison’s Bakery hosts annual paczki eating contest

By CARLOTTA ANGIOLILLO

the daily northwestern @carlottaang76

Spectators packed the sidewalks around Bennison’s Bakery to watch participants devour Polish pastries in the bakery’s 13th annual paczki eating contest Saturday.

The winners of the contest, Frank Wach and Teddy Delacruz, ate a total of 25 paczkis, falling two short of their winning number from last year.

Paczkis, pronounced “pownch-keys,” are filled Polish pastries similar to doughnuts.

They are traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday — a Christian holiday.

Wach and Delacruz said they also participate in other eating contests around Chicagoland.

Wach said his favorite type of food for eating contests is gyros, while Delacruz said his is ice cream. According to Wach, they both hate hot dogs.

Eight groups of two participated in this year’s contest. Each team started with 42 competition-sized paczkis, which are smaller than the ones Bennison’s regularly sells.

Participants had five minutes to eat as many paczkis as they could, with an extra minute at the end to eat whatever was left in their hands.

Chemistry graduate student Alyson Plaman, another competitor in the contest, said she only ate a banana the entire day leading up to the contest.

A week after ticketing meltdown, Metra faces issues with Ventra app Metra continues to grapple with a troubleladen Ventra app after a ticketing meltdown last week flummoxed riders on the same day the regional rail system unveiled a new fare structure.

The simplified structure, which also emphasizes buying passes via the mobile app, went into effect Feb. 1. The same day, the app crashed during the morning commute. On-and-off

Plaman competed in the contest last year and decided to do it again to see if she could beat her own record.

Chemistry graduate student Aaron Shoemaker said he watched the competition to support Plaman.

“I think it’s entertaining,” Shoemaker said. “I would never do it, but it’s fun to watch.”

The paczki eating contest began as a way to raise awareness about the pastry and raise money for charitable causes, according to Bennison’s Bakery owner Jory Downer.

“The first year we did it was when the hurricane hit Haiti, and we did it to raise money for the Red Cross Haitian relief,” Downer said.

“We just kept doing it every year and now it’s the busiest week of the year.”

Downer said this year, Bennison’s Bakery will donate a portion of its Fat Tuesday paczki sales to Border Tails Rescue, a nonprofit organization in Northbrook, Illinois that aims to stop canine euthanasia.

According to Downer, the first place prize was $200, along with a shirt that each participant received. He said the contest has mostly remained the same over the years with a few exceptions.

“We raised the prize money once to $500, and then we had half a dozen professional eaters in here,” Downer said. “The guy that won, he ate 36 paczkis on his own, and it turned out a few years later, he was on America’s Got Talent drinking raw eggs.”

Jordan Podolsky, a Bennison’s employee, issues have continued throughout the week, including a slowdown early Thursday, Metra officials said.

“Tuesday and Wednesday were fine,” Metra spokeswoman Meg Thomas-Reile told The Daily. “We had little to no problems. This morning, we saw a slowdown. And why? I don’t know.”

Riders can purchase Metra tickets from train conductors, vending machines at stations and the mobile app. However, they can only purchase select multiple-ride passes on the Ventra app. And, unlike the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace, Metra does not accept a physical Ventra card.

Carlotta Angiolillo/The Daily Northwestern

Frank Wach and Teddy Delacruz won Bennison’s 13th annual paczki eating contest, consuming a total of 25 paczkis in five minutes.

helped bake the pastries for the contest.

She said it took about an hour and a half to bake the paczkis and that it was a “team effort” between her, Downer, and other Bennison’s employees.

“It’s overwhelming, but we still do it. It’s fun,” Downer said. “People look forward to it.”

The agency has continued to instruct conductors to allow passengers struggling with the glitchy app to ride anyway, Thomas-Reile said. Metra riders may continue to face issues with the app, she added, because the problem appears to stem from faulty computer programming.

“We continue to monitor the app’s performance to ensure ongoing availability to riders,” Ventra said in a statement Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter. “We apologize for any inconvenience these issues have caused.”

The issues arose amid a broader effort to simplify Metra’s fare structure. For riders in Evanston, a new four-zone system mostly

means lower fares in both the Chicago and Wisconsin directions. Still, customers in more distant suburbs may pay more than they did previously.

Ventra’s operator, Cubic Transportation Systems, tested the app for customer loads before the new fare structure’s debut. The morning meltdown caught the agency by surprise, Thomas-Reile added.

“This is not how we want our customers’ experience to be with our system,” she said.

“We’re not happy with this. That’s why you ask for testing.”

carlottaangiolillo2027@u.northwestern.edu

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No. 1 Northwestern survives late No. 5 Syracuse surge

By JAKE EPSTEIN

daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

As Ryan Fieldhouse’s gray tarp lifted from its glass wall, showcasing Saturday’s glimmering midday sun against Lake Michigan, two storied programs prepared for their second consecutive season-opening showdown.

“It’s a great rivalry. We’re really just excited for the opportunity to get to play a different opponent,” senior defender Kendall Halpern said. “We showed out … It’s great for us to see them first again.”

Though the journey back to Cary, North Carolina’s Final Four proved arduous for even the most pristine perennial powerhouses. No. 1 Northwestern and No. 5 Syracuse both looked to kick off their campaigns with a primary mark in the win column.

Behind graduate student attacker Erin Coykendall’s eight points, the Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) prevailed in a wire-to-wire victory against the Orange (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten). Seven NU players found twine Saturday in a balanced attacking clinic. “(There was) just really good movement from our offense in general, a lot of good cut-throughs and people making those sacrificial cuts to really draw the defense,” Coykendall said. ‘Whether it was me scoring the goal, or me having the assist, I was just the one at the end of the play, but all the credit goes to our offense.”

After junior defender Sammy White grabbed the game’s opening draw control, the ’Cats seemed to pick up right where they left off in last May’s national championship, overpowering Syracuse’s pressure zone with eight first-quarter conversions.

Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller’s team

fired 15 shots in the first period — with 11 attempts on the cage. Graduate student goalkeeper Molly Laliberty and her defensive unit conceded just two goals in the opening 15 minutes, while the former Tufts star tallied four saves in the frame.

Sophomore attacker Madison Taylor took just 22 seconds to tally NU’s opening goal, darting through the Orange defense en route to a clinical conversion.

The visitors seemed to have no answers for Coykendall, who completed her hat trick with just eight seconds remaining in the opening period.

“She was sharing the ball well, seeing things and how they develop,” Amonte Hiller said of Coykendall. “She was able to take advantage of those open looks and get us easier type goals.”

While the ’Cats held Syracuse in check during the first quarter, the Orange swiftly shook off their attacking cobwebs to get back into contention.

Syracuse attacker Olivia Adamson and midfielders Natalie Smith and Emma Tyrrell combined for second-quarter scores to render signs of once dormant firepower.

However, NU responded to each Orange advance with a firm counterpunch. Coykendall conducted an opportune offensive scheme, notching a goal and an assist in the period. Junior midfielder Samantha Smith and graduate student attacker Izzy Scane also added scores to settle an 11-6 halftime margin.

Natalie Smith and Syracuse midfielder Maddy Baxter began the second half on the frontfoot, tallying three scores midway through the third quarter. Although graduate student midfielder Lindsey Frank scored her second of three goals amid the run, the Orange seemed in control.

“We welcome the challenge — it’s really good for us,” Halpern said.

“(We’d) rather that than go out and win by 10.”

Then, Taylor took an inch of space and made Syracuse pay with just under six minutes left in the frame. Two minutes later, White gathered a secondchance shot that Orange goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer could only parry back to the All-American, and she buried the finish.

With Adamson and Taylor scoring last minute goals in the third quarter’s final minute, the ’Cats led 15-10 with just 15 minutes of action remaining.

While NU’s draw-taking trio of Samantha Smith, freshman midfielder Madison Smith and junior midfielder Serafina DeMunno had fortified a significant draw control advantage, Syracuse flipped the script in the final quarter, making for a close-run fight to the final horn.

Amonte Hiller said she was impressed with her team’s overall performance in the circle, but felt wary of a few moments.

“Down the stretch, we lost a few in a row — and that’s how they were able to capitalize,” Amonte Hiller said.

After Adamson opened the final period’s scoring with a pair of conversions, Orange attacker Emma Ward finally found her scoring form despite consistent defensive attention.

A player Amonte Hiller praised as “phenomenal” earlier in the week, Ward worked her way in front of the cage for two goals in less than a minute to bring Syracuse back within a goal.

“She’s really dangerous. The pressure that we put on her — in moments it was stifling, and in other moments she was able to break through,” Amonte Hiller said. “Anytime you play against great attackers, they’re gonna break through … We just need to learn to minimize those breakthroughs as much as possible.”

Francesco Thorik-Saboia/The Daily Northwestern

Right on cue, Frank and Scane packed potent responses, and Samantha Smith added a final NU goal to solidify the 18-15 win.

For Coykendall, the team’s lessons learned superseded Saturday’s scoreline.

“It’s more important that we play a

quality opponent and have data to learn from,” Coykendall said. “We have a lot to learn from — especially offensively.

There’s a lot of area for growth and room for improvement there.” jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

MEN’S BASKETBALL

’Cats defeat Nittany Lions 68-63 at Welsh-Ryan Arena Henry Frieman/The Daily Northwestern

By AAYUSHYA AGARWAL

daily senor staffer @aayushyagarwal7

Four days after Northwestern decisively dealt with Nebraska at home Wednesday, coach Chris Collins and co. returned to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a Super Bowl Sunday showdown against Penn State.

With their lone road conference victory coming against the Nittany Lions (12-12, 6-7 Big Ten) on Jan. 10, the Wildcats (17-7, 8-5 Big Ten) looked to complete the season sweep Sunday afternoon.

Both teams struggled to score at the game’s outset, combining for 14 points by the first media timeout.

Senior center Matthew Nicholson’s hook shot opened the scoring for NU, while junior guard Brooks Barnhizer’s 3-pointer knotted the contest at 7-7.

After the ‘Cats were unable to take the proverbial lid off the basket, sophomore forward Luke Hunger’s 3-pointer gave the hosts their first lead of the afternoon at 10-8. A few possessions later, graduate student guard Ryan Langborg capitalized off an offensive rebound, canning a trey to extend NU’s lead to three with a hair under 12 minutes remaining in the first frame.

Midway through the first frame, the ‘Cats started turning defense into offense. Sophomore forward Nick Martinelli’s steal led to Nicholson’s fastbreak dunk on the other end.

During the half ’s waning moments, both teams exchanged leads.

Penn State capitalized off NU’s sloppy initial play, using a 6-0 run to take an 18-16 lead. Minutes later, graduate student guard Boo Buie’s and-one layup helped the ‘Cats jump out to a 29-25 lead — their largest of the first frame.

Out of the locker room, scoring problems persisted for both teams.

Sparked by Nicholson and Buie’s and-one conversions, NU recorded its first points three minutes into the frame.

Following Martinelli and Buie’s layups midway through the second half, the ‘Cats extended their lead to 48-40 — their largest of the

afternoon. A few possessions later, Martinelli eclipsed double figures on a backdoor cut.

With less than four minutes remaining , the Nittany Lions trimmed NU’s lead to as low as one. Martinelli’s pair of free throws snapped a near-four minute ‘Cats scoring drought.

Behind Langborg’s trey and Nicholson’s second-chance dunk, NU pulled away from the visitors late, keeping their perfect home conference record alive.

Here are three takeaways from NU’s victory over Penn State.

1. Martinelli makes first career start After suffering a knee injury in Wednesday’s victory over Nebraska, senior guard Ty Berry was ruled out of Sunday’s contest — setting Martinelli in line for his first career start.

Racing out on the court to a chorus of cheers, the Glenview, Illinois native was heavily involved on offense early on. Martinelli’s assist set up the ‘Cats’ first points of the afternoon. Minutes later, the sophomore forward tallied his first points off his signature left-handed hook shot.

While those points were all Martinelli managed to muster by halftime, his four rebounds and two assists were especially pivotal as NU exchanged leads with the Nittany Lions. The sophomore led the ‘Cats offensively following the intermission, tallying nine second-half points.

Martinelli wasn’t the only Wildcat to see an uptick in playtime. As a result of a thin-rotation, coach Chris Collins slotted in sophomore guard Blake Smith for his first minutes of the season. Smith saw the court for two one-minute stretches through the game’s first 20 minutes.

2. Sloppy play plagues NU’s early effort With a noon tipoff, Sunday’s student section at Welsh-Ryan Arena paled in comparison to recent bouts.

The underwhelming student turnout appeared to make matters difficult for NU’s offense to generate energy early on. Tossing away multiple errant passes, the ‘Cats struggled running

their usual seamless offense that has given them success over the season.

With Buie struggling from the field, and the ‘Cats shooting at a measly 8-of-28 clip from the field, the hosts couldn’t afford ill-advised plays. The Nittany Lions capitalized on the hosts’ miscues, using multiple scoring runs to exchange blows with NU. Through five minutes, the ‘Cats accumulated three turnovers, and NU entered the intermission with five giveaways.

In the second frame, NU had more success taking care of the ball — having only one turnover.

3. Defensive and rebounding efforts hold visitors in check While the ‘Cats have made offense their bread and butter this season, valiant defense prolled the hosts Sunday.

As NU’s offense struggled, the squad’s defense kept them within striking distance entering the intermission.

The ‘Cats made matters difficult for Penn State’s offense beyond the arc and in passing lanes. By contesting multiple Nittany Lions shots late in the shot clock and deflecting several passes, NU held the visitors to a 2-of-8 clip from deep while forcing seven turnovers over the first frame.

Meanwhile, the ‘Cats capitalized on 10 offensive rebounds, tallying 16 second-chance points. On the other end, the Nittany Lions recorded just one second-chance point off a lone offensive rebound entering the intermission. aayushyaagarwal2024@u.northwestern.edu