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The Daily Northwestern Monday, February 14, 2022
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VIDEO/Valentine’s Day
Wildcats pull off upset, stun Michigan
Love in the air: NU reflects on loved ones this Valentine’s Day
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Habibi In serves up Middle Eastern food Restaurant brings Palestinian eats to Evanston By ARIA WOZNIAK
the daily northwestern @ari_wozz
Mahmoud Sabla, owner of Habibi In Mediterranean Grill, opened his restaurant over two years ago to bring a hint of his Palestinian culture to Evanston. While Sabla said the journey has not been easy, he continues to stand by his mission to spread “habibi” — “love” in Arabic — through food. The restaurant, located on Church Street, opened in December 2019, right before the COVID19 pandemic sent the world into lockdown. Similar to other small businesses, Habibi In has struggled to continue its services. Even though challenges continue to arise, Sabla and his team are doing all they can to stay afloat. “I’m trying to continue on because I want people to taste the best falafel in their life,” Sabla said. Habibi In looks mostly to the Northwestern community
for business, Sabla said. During peaks of the pandemic and when students leave for breaks, business at Habibi In significantly drops. Ayaa Abds, a Habibi In manager, said she is hopeful for the future with new changes coming to the menu. “There isn’t a restaurant that you’ll find here that’s going to give you big portions, great food and amazing quality for the prices that we have,” Abds said. “It’s an easy way of giving somebody a home-cooked meal.” The business is known not only for the food and cleanliness, but also for great customer care, Abds said.“We want to make sure that you walk in and leave Habibi In with a smile on your face and some warmth in your heart,” Abds said. Evanston resident Fahad Sami has been a loyal customer since Habibi In opened. He said one reason he loves the restaurant is because its workers treat him like family. After witnessing many local small businesses come and go, Sami began posting on the Support Evanston Restaurants Facebook group to spread
» See HABIBI IN, page 6
Illustration by Olivia Abeyta
Making language classes inclusive
Foreign language profs incorporate gender neutral pronouns in curricula By SAMA BEN AMER
the daily northwestern
As notions of gender continue to shift beyond the binary, many Northwestern language professors are reconciling cultural differences between English and their respective language
to accomodate non-binary and gender non-conforming students. In Romance languages, not only are pronouns gendered, but articles modifying nouns are also gendered. French Prof. Margaret Dempster, Director of the French language program, said the controversy is not in
gendering inanimate objects, but rather in the lack of formal non-binary pronouns. “Now linguists, professors, instructors and pedagogues, we’re looking at non-binary pronouns,” Dempster said. “One very popular, popular in the sense of very used now, is iel.” The gender neutral pronoun
comes from merging the French pronoun for he, il, and the pronoun for she, elle. As the use of iel continues to grow in popularity, Dempster said she hopes to see more permanent changes to French grammar to be inclusive of non-binary
» See LANGUAGE, page 6
Campus celebrates Valentine’s Day The Week Ahead: Friends, couples and sudent groups find creative ways to spread the love
What’s coming up in the city of Evanston this week
By NICOLE MARKUS
daily senior staffer @nicolejmarkus
For many couples, friends and Northwestern campus organizations, this Valentine’s Day represents a return to normalcy after two years of quarantine and isolation. However, that’s not the case for Weinberg sophomore Franny Bengtson and her boyfriend. Bengtson tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and moved into 1835 Hinman, NU’s quarantine and isolation dorm. Shortly after, her boyfriend also tested positive. If they’re allowed, they will likely have a relaxed night in with quarantine food, she said. “Obviously, I would never wish for him to get COVID-19,” Bengtson said. “But if he was going to get COVID-19 at any time, I’m very happy for him to have it at the same time as me because now I can still see him.” While the pandemic prevents students from completely returning to normal, some are still making the most of it. The University’s strict rules for gathering last Winter Quarter
Recycle Me
Feb. 13-20 events By AVIVA BECHKY
the daily northwestern @avivabechky
From a fi lm screening to a play to a city councilmember candidate forum, here are some ways to stay entertained and civically involved in Evanston this week. “From Starter to Loaf ” Feb. 15, 7 to 8 p.m.
Illustration by Nathanial Ortiz
created difficulty gathering safely for some friend groups. This year, some groups came together for Galentine’s Day, an alternative holiday that acts as a friend appreciation day. One friend group decided to go all-out with festivities, hosting a gathering filled with food, decorations, pictures and gift-giving. “It’s important because if
you were to be in a romantic relationship, it’s easy to forget the importance of your platonic relationships,” Weinberg freshman Shaylini Seabrooks said. NU’s less restrictive policies have also allowed for the return of sales, fundraisers and performances from campus organizations. These sales often go to charitable causes or to fundraise for the organization.
NUconnections, a startup at The Garage focused on fostering romantic relationships at NU, offered RoseGrams for students to send to other students. They also collaborated with The Table to offer salted brownies with the rose. UNITY Charity Fashion Show, a nonprofit that donates to Chicago charitable
» See VALENTINE’S, page 6
Bookends & Beginnings will host a two-part sourdough bread making workshop on Zoom for Hygge Fest, a monthlong celebration hosted by Downtown Evanston. The organization’s website describes the Danish concept of Hygge as about celebrating coziness and finding joy in the everyday. The event’s first part will feature a presentation from author Eric Pallant, who wrote “Sourdough Culture: A History
of Bread Making From Ancient to Modern Bakers.” Pallant will discuss the culture and history of sourdough and walk through the process of making a sourdough starter from scratch. The second part takes place on Feb. 24 after participants have been able to try out their sourdough starter. Tickets for both parts of the event cost $45 and include a copy of “Sourdough Culture.” The Flavor of Defeat: How big tobacco is still winning and what we can do about it Feb. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m. As part of its program series for Black History Month, Evanston Public Library is hosting a talk on inequities fostered by the tobacco industry. Carol McGruder, the cochair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, will speak about the industry targeting youth and communities of color. Local advocates will discuss how this
» See THE WEEK AHEAD, page 6
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