The Daily Northwestern - February 27, 2022

The Daily Northwestern

NU Dining removes calorie count labels

Students want to see University promote intuitive eating style

By ERICA SCHMITT daily senior staffer @eschmitt318

Content warning: This article contains mentions of eating disorders.

Students grabbing lunch from the dining halls may have noticed a small change starting earlier this month.

On Feb. 2, Northwestern Dining removed the calorie counts from food labels in all undergraduate dining halls.

Chicago protests war in Ukraine

Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls Vladimir Putin

By SONYA DYMOVA the daily northwestern @sonyawanders

One year after Russia’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine began, hundreds of people gathered at

a

‘criminal’ and ‘monster’

Chicago’s Ukrainian Village to denounce the war and demand global support for Ukraine on Friday.

“We stand here mourning … a daily watch of crime against humanity, aggression with no seeming end because of the

Locals doubt NU Ryan Field studies

the rebuild during its Feb. 22 meeting.

criminal and monster Vladimir Putin,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, addressing the demonstrators.

To represent this “daily watch of crime,” 365 people stood around the edge of the crowd. Each held a sign

commemorating a day of the war. For instance, the “Day 1 of Defending Freedom” poster displayed nine pictures, including an apartment building damaged by shelling, a traffic jam caused

» See UKRAINE , page 6

Campus Dietitian Maddy McDonough said the change was made in response to input from individual research, student feedback and numerous campus resources, including Counseling and Psychological Services and Northwestern Dining.

“We saw an opportunity to positively impact the student dining experience by creating a dining environment that more closely resembles home and provides students with the choice to view calories as personally desired,” McDonough said.

The calorie counts were removed to better support the

student body, she said, especially those with eating disorders who may have limited access to care or resources.

CAPS Eating Concerns Coordinator and staff therapist Fallon Weatherspoon said the CAPS eating assessment and treatment team heard feedback from several students struggling with eating disorders about how calories displayed in the dining halls were triggering, which prompted the change. Weatherspoon added that mealtimes are already very challenging for students with eating disorders.

“(The calorie counts put) more pressure on someone struggling and impacts their ability to kind of be present in the moment during meals,” Weatherspoon said. “It puts more focus on the food and maybe sometimes increases anxiety during the mealtimes.”

Weinberg junior and Active Minds co-President Maddie Kerr, who has struggled with an eating disorder in the past, said they think the removal acknowledges that students struggle with disordered eating and body image issues on campus.

However, Kerr said they were bothered by a common critique of the change: that removing calories displayed would only benefit a minority of students on campus.

“I think it’s just so normalized

» See CALORIES , page 6

Seniors talk ‘Why Northwestern’

By BEATRICE VILLAFLOR the daily northwestern @beatricedvilla

By WILLIAM TONG and ZHIZHONG XU the daily northwestern @william2tong, @zhizhong_xu

With Northwestern seeking city approval for its Ryan Field rebuild, Evanston officials are progressing with plans for an independent study on the project’s impacts.

NU commissioned two studies about the project’s economic impact and public approval. However, because many Evanston residents say they doubt the trustworthiness of research Northwestern published on its new field’s impact, the city has made it a priority to independently obtain data.

The city’s Economic Development Committee unanimously approved Requests for Proposals to commission an independent study on the impacts of a new Ryan Field and determined a process for community engagement on

“I just want us to make our decision about the project based on real numbers and not inflated numbers,” Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) said.

Plans to rebuild Ryan Field would add concerts and alcohol sales to the new stadium. NU is awaiting approval from the city for a special use permit for the stadium’s construction, a zoning text amendment to permit fullcapacity concerts and a liquor license.

In an email to The Daily, NU’s Assistant Vice President of Communications Jon Yates wrote the University has “no current plans to move forward with the stadium redevelopment unless the University can obtain these entitlements.”

Under the Economic Development Committee’s plan, contractors would submit proposals for an independent study by early April. City Council would execute a contract by May, and the research firm would prepare findings for the city before July.

High school seniors and prospective students across the globe have been eagerly awaiting college decision letters for the past few months. For those applying to Northwestern University, hopefuls likely wrote up to 300 words tackling the “Why Northwestern” essay, an optional prompt.

Today, seniors who will soon be graduating look back on whether their time at NU reflected their original supplemental essay.

McCormick senior Wing Chow said he arrived at NU expecting to study mechanical engineering. Instead, he plans to graduate with a degree in industrial engineering and economics.

In his “Why Northwestern” essay, Chow originally wrote about joining the NU Solar Car Team and the marching band, he said. However, he left NUSolar after a few quarters and never even joined the marching band.

Chow also switched his engineering focus and learned about consulting — his future career plan — from a family friend as a sophomore. He then became involved with student group Consultants Advising Student Enterprises.

“Everything just aligned and pushed me (toward) consulting,” Chow said. “It was quite a drastic shift from what I originally wanted to do.”

Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, most members of the Class of 2023 could not live on campus for the full two-year requirement. As a result, Chow said he felt he lost out on a lot of social interaction when he was an underclassman.

He said he wishes he focused less on academics his freshman year and more on his social life.

“At the end of the day, you can only get such good grades, but there’s never really a limit on how many people you can meet,” Chow said.

Weinberg senior Grace Doakes said NU opened many doors for her academically and professionally, which she expected of the institution

when writing her “Why Northwestern” essay as a high school senior.

But, like Chow, Doakes felt the COVID-19 pandemic impeded her ability to cultivate a closer community at NU.

“The Black community is very small at Northwestern, so we have events geared just (toward) the community,” Doakes said.

“With (COVID-19), you couldn’t really have that.”

In her supplemental essay, Medill senior Jenny Huh said she wrote about friends she made in the Medill Cherubs program, but her essay largely emphasized academics — making the affinity space she found

Jonah Elkowitz/Daily Senior Staffer Protesters gather in Ukrainian Village to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

7 CAMPUS/Kamasi Hill ETHS teacher talks AP African American Studies

4 A&E/Concert SZA stuns Chicago with first arena tour for ‘SOS’

Evanston Dog Beach to reopen to

By CASEY HE the daily northwestern @caseeey_he

The Evanston Dog Beach will officially reopen Wednesday — to the delight of the city’s four-legged residents.

The dog beach, located between Clark Street Beach and the Church Street Boat Ramp, allows dog owners to let their beach buddies off the leash and enjoy some Lake Michigan fun.

But in 2018, rising lake levels caused the city to permanently close the beach.

Tim Carter, Evanston’s recreation manager, said the lake level has been rising significantly since 2018 and reached a record high in 2020, submerging the dog beach and flooding lakefront paths and parks.

The water level has since retreated, he said, which made reopening the dog beach possible.

“Right now, staff feels comfortable where (the lake level) is safe enough to operate the beach where people can stay on land and the dogs can get in the water,” Carter said.

Evanston resident Mike Meyers said the dog beach helped motivate him — and his dogs, which he calls “beach dwellers” — to move to the 1st Ward more than 15 years ago.

Before the beach closed, he said he took his dogs regularly.

“At some point, Mother Nature made the beach go away,” he said. “It used to be this big, beautiful thing, and then all of a sudden the water came up and literally evaporated the dog beach.”

With the dog beach closed, Meyers has been bringing his two dogs to Pooch Park, a fenced dog park shared by Evanston and Skokie where they can go unleashed. People also bring their dogs onto Clark Street Beach, though Meyers said it is not allowed and less safe both for the dogs and other beachgoers.

Since the city closed the dog beach, Meyers said he walked by it regularly. Last fall, he said he noticed the water level had retreated significantly, making a fair amount of the beach visible.

An avid “dog guy,” Meyers said he contacted Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) and spoke at City Council with a group of fellow dog owners to request that the council work toward reopening the beach.

To rally support, he also organized a “barkin” protest Oct. 15 outside the dog beach. But when the dog owners arrived, they found the beach open.

“We all were out there with our protest signs,” Meyers said. “Instead of a protest, it became a party.”

With Cook County’s permission, Carter said the city was able to reopen the dog beach unofficially for several months starting in October before closing down for the winter. He added that the city has always been trying to reopen the beach since it closed.

Evanston resident Rishabh Juneja moved to Evanston with his Australian shepherd Brio in September. He brought Brio to the dog beach several times when it was open last year.

“It was nice when I came here to see there was this dog beach where he could socialize with other dogs because he loves that,” Juneja said. “I was very sad when it closed down, so I’m looking forward to (the reopening).”

With the dog beach officially reopening, Carter said the city will be mandating passes for entry, as it did prior to closure in 2018. The passes cost $75 per dog for Evanston residents and $200 for non-residents. They go on sale Monday.

Carter said the city expects to keep the beach open until next winter, when the weather makes it unsafe. However, Meyers

tails

and Juneja said they’re hoping to see the beach stay open all year.

“People are comfortable with making the judgment as to when it’s safe to take their dog to the beach or not,” Juneja said.

With the city charging for the beach pass, Meyers said he’d like to see Evanston improve the beach’s facilities by adding features like a dog waste bag dispenser and a hose, along with regular cleaning services.

But either way, he said he is excited to return to the dog beach.

“It’s not just for dogs,” Meyers said. “It’s for people too. It’s a great way to bond with people. It’s hard to not like someone who has a dog.”

caseyhe2026@u.northwestern.edu

Madison Bratley/Daily Senior Staffer

A four-legged Evanston resident runs and plays at Greenwood St. Beach. The nearby Evanston Dog Beach is set to officially reopen this week after closing in 2018.

Research finds risks of late-night bites

By ANITA

Many have been scolded by their parents for eating late at night. Unfortunately, the parents may be right on this one.

Feinberg School of Medicine researchers published a research article in October revealing how eating at night decreases the body’s ability to turn energy from food into heat that leaves the body — a process known as thermogenesis.

First authored by Chelsea Hepler, a postdoctoral fellow in the Bass Lab, researchers observed two groups of mice on high-fat diets for the study. One group fed during the mice’s active period, when they should be eating, and another group fed during their inactive period, when they should be sleeping.

Feinberg Prof. Joe Bass, principal investigator for the study and chief of endocrinology in the Department of Medicine, said food that organisms consume is converted into ATP by the mitochondria to provide energy to cells — or dissipated as energy in a process called thermogenesis.

When the mice ate during their inactive zones, thermogenesis decreased, which meant the amount of food stored as energy increased. The study found that this correlation could indicate why late night eating increases the risk of obesity and diabetes.

The researchers, led by Hepler, tested the relationship between thermogenesis and weight gain by manipulating the transcriptional repressor protein ZFP423 within the mice, Bass said. The protein was discovered by Duke University Prof. Rana Gupta, who was a key contributor to the research, Bass said. When the researchers removed ZFP423 from the mice to increase thermogenesis, they found the mice were less likely to gain weight and more resistant to glucose despite being fed high-fat diets during their inactive period.

Dr. Anita Bhardwaj, a pediatrician at University Hospitals in Cleveland, said knowing the link between thermogenesis and weight gain is important. This is because the knowledge helps researchers find specific solutions to mitigate the health

The Daily Northwestern www.dailynorthwestern.com

Editor in Chief Alex Perry eic@dailynorthwestern.com

General Manager Stacia Campbell stacia@dailynorthwestern.com

Holly and John Madigan Newsroom Phone | 847.491.3222

Campus desk

campus@dailynorthwestern.com

City desk city@dailynorthwestern.com

Sports desk

sports@dailynorthwestern.com

Ad Office | 847.491.7206

spc-compshop@northwestern.edu

Illustration by Pavan Acharya

Researchers observed two groups of mice on high-fat diets for the study: one group fed during the mice’s active period, when they should be eating, and another group fed during their inactive period when they should be sleeping.

outcomes of eating late at night, such as obesity and diabetes.

“Maybe one day we can figure out a way to trick the fat cells into burning more calories at night,” Bhardwaj said with a chuckle.

But, Bass said the study’s research doesn’t necessarily support diet trends like intermittent fasting because there are many unknown mechanisms explaining how humans process food.

He added that the research associated with the study doesn’t necessarily apply to young and healthy college students, since dominant factors for good eating habits involve caloric intake and nutrition.

“(The results of the study are) very important in the setting of critical illness where somebody doesn’t have the option of when they’re eating, and they’re provided the food consistently at a time that’s outside of their circadian phase,” Bass said.

Bhardwaj said eating late at night often means eating less healthy food, which can also affect a person’s weight. People tend to eat snacks high in sugar,

calories and fat late at night, she said.

Weinberg junior Benny Zhang said he used to order chicken wings and Triple Whoppers from Burger King at 1 or 2 a.m. while he was enrolled in organic chemistry and biology his sophomore year.

“My whole eating schedule is dependent on my work schedule,” Zhang said. “If I have an exam the next day, I’ll be home at midnight eating dinner.”

He added that the strenuous workload from his courses made it difficult for him to maintain a healthy eating schedule.

Bhardwaj said students who need to snack after dark, like Zhang, should try to eat healthy snacks that are high in protein, such as whole grain crackers with peanut butter, yogurt, whole-grain toast and cheese with fruit.

“It’s not just old people wisdom — there’s proof now that it’s actually good for your body,” Bhardwaj said.

anitali2025@u.northwestern.edu

The Daily Northwestern is published Monday and Thursday during the academic year, except vacation periods and two weeks preceding them and once during August, by Students Publishing Co., Inc. of Northwestern University, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208; 847491-7206.

First copy of The Daily is free, additional copies are 50 cents. All material published herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright 2020 The Daily Northwestern and protected under the “work made for hire” and “periodical publication” clauses of copyright law.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Northwestern, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208. Subscriptions are $175 for the academic year. The Daily Northwestern is not responsible for more than one incorrect ad insertion. All display ad corrections must be received by 3 p.m. one day prior to when the ad is run.

Check out

(Rough)

We Are Hiring!

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY CRANE

FIRE PROTECTION INSPECTOR (Entry and Lateral)

$44,740 to $64,410

FIREFIGHTER-EMT (Lateral)

$55,565 to $89,422

Requires minimum of PROBOARD / IFSAC Firefighter II, HazMat Ops, NREMT reciprocity-eligible Emergency Medical Technician

FIREFIGHTER-PARAMEDIC (Lateral)

$55,565 to $109,388

Requires minimum of PROBOARD / IFSAC Firefighter II, HazMat Ops, NREMT reciprocity-eligible Paramedic

Starting salary dependent on credentials/qualifications

Excellent Federal benefits, plus Tuition Assistance, career path & promotion potential. AFGE union shop. Hiring incentives, relocation available for well-qualified.

Email DirectHireFire@navy.mil and put “Crane Fire Recruiting” in subject line for benefits information and assistance in creating a resume for Federal employment. Equal Opportunity Employer.

A&E A&E

arts & entertainment

SZA takes Chicago on a boat ride through heartbreak

By SELENA KUZNIKOV daily senior staffer @selenakuznikov

With stunning visuals, insane choreography and a story of fresh love, heartbreak and bounce-back badassery, SZA made her second stop on her “SOS” tour Wednesday night with opener Omar Apollo at the United Center.

Let’s be real. We’ve all been waiting for more music from SZA almost as long as we’ve been waiting on Rihanna to release a track. SZA released her sophomore album “SOS” over five years after her first project “Ctrl,” following a new-release tease with the “Ctrl” deluxe version last June.

Even before the first song, SZA set the tone for the almost two-hour long concert. Starting off with a tease of her unreleased song “PSA,” she sat atop a ledge singing her heart out. At the end of the song, screens floated down and surrounded her. A virtual SZA jumped off the ledge and into the water pictured on the “SOS” album cover, seemingly symbolizing a dive into a new relationship or love.

Opening up with “Seek & Destroy,” SZA took her audience on a boat ride of emotions, eventually crashing into a whirlwind of heartbreak and rising up out of the damage as a baddie. The set design was immersive, with the screens previously surrounding her lifting up

to reveal a huge boat prop with “SOS” written on the side.

Considering her Chicago stop of her “Ctrl” tour in 2017 was at the mid-sized venue Concord Music Hall — with tickets starting at $27.50 — the 23,000-person-maximum-capacity United Center was an exponential upgrade for the R&B artist.

The show was the perfect culmination of songs from both of her studio albums, among other features — even though high-school me wishes we heard some tracks from her 2014 EP “Z.” Her voice sounded extremely healthy and full, hitting notes I didn’t even imagine were possible.

Stunning pink and orange lights set the tone for “Garden (Say It Like Dat).” Raw and vulnerable, she spoke to the feeling of being with someone but understanding the superficial nature of your relationship. It seemed like the entire crowd understood her sentiments as she crooned, “You’ll never love me / but I believe you when you say it like dat.”

“F2F” is SZA’s take on the grungy pop-punk princess sound of the early 2000s. This song is one of the most underrated on the album — and was one of the most entertaining to watch her perform. Though it was a shift from her usual R&B sound, she owned it and made it entirely hers.

“Low” took the singer — and the boat — on a wild ride through a storm, leaving the

crowd roaring as she did a split while guitarist Ari O’Neal riffed at the end of the song. Her cool-girl energy seeped into the audience, with everyone shouting out lyrics as she and her background dancers grooved along to the track. The storm came to a head as the boat broke apart and SZA boarded a raft to safety.

Floating in the raft and throwing confetti out to the crowd, SZA rode through a sea of cellphone flashlights while singing “Supermodel.” This part of the show felt like the acceptance of the loss, heartbreak and tribulations after the hectic up-and-down of a relationship.

Donning a puffy yellow Marie Antoinetteesque dress, SZA slowed it down while heading towards a lighthouse, signifying an escape into the light from the darkness of her past relationship. Singing “I used to be special / But you made me hate me / Regret that I changed me” from her song “Special,” the aching feeling of forcing yourself to change for someone else was palpable in her voice.

Returning to the stage to perform “Kiss Me More” and a few other tracks off “SOS” on the “ocean floor,” she quickly brought the crowd’s energy back up.

SZA’s music has been dominating TikTok for the past couple of years. And recently, her track “Kill Bill” has been streamed over half a billion times on Spotify alone since its release last December. Walking out swinging a chain mace á la Gogo

Yubari, SZA started the track off forcefully, accompanied by background visuals of dancers fighting in a dojo. She knows how to rile up a crowd, getting the entire audience to give its metaphorical exes the bird while singing “And if you wonder if I hate you, (f--k you)” in “I Hate U.”

The last song before her encore, “The Weekend” was a staple in my sophomore-year high school playlist — even if I couldn’t deeply understand the lyrics in the way I do now. As the background track began, the crowd sang the first verse before SZA could even take a breath.

After a few minutes of “SZA” chants from the crowd, the artist returned to the stage in a stunning crimson dress to perform “Good Days.” In her words, “I don’t miss no ex, I don’t miss no text, I choose not to respond.” As the song reached its climax, the screens above her read “The End” in classic film fashion, ending the night on a note of self-love and healing.

Packing about 30 songs into her setlist, the SOS tour plans to make 13 more stops, ending in Los Angeles.

SZA’s set encapsulated the volatile emotions that come from a terrible breakup. Her initial vulnerability and arc as she grapples with heartbreak are truthfully raw. The visuals, choreography, rich voice and a total of six outfit changes came together to create the perfect show for the first-time arena tourer.

Joanne Haner/Daily Senior Staffer

‘Funny Girl’ reimagined with gender-expansive lens

By LEXI GOLDSTEIN the daily northwestern @lexipgoldstein

As pale lights faded in, a chorus began to sing the Israeli song “Hayaldah Hachi Yafah Bagan” (The Prettiest Girl in Kindergarten) in Hebrew to open “Funny Girl.” The song, about admiring and being jealous of the “prettiest girl in kindergarten,” resonated with Communication senior and co-director Dani Goldberg. They said they dreamed of being the prettiest girl in kindergarten but felt they couldn’t be since they weren’t a girl.

Goldberg said they sought to reimagine “Funny Girl” through gender-expansive casting at sold-out performances this weekend at the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts.

The show, co-directed by Goldberg and Communication sophomore Talia Hartman-Sigall, featured Goldberg as a “trans/non-binary body” in the role of Fanny Brice and Weinberg junior Lily Cohen as a woman in the historically male role of Eddie Ryan, Brice’s close friend.

“I like to say that I was channeling my inner Fanny, and I wasn’t letting the norms and the standards in the arts industry and in society tell me what I couldn’t do,” Goldberg said.

The idea for an NU production of “Funny Girl,” which Goldberg said is their unofficial senior thesis project, came to life when they were quarantined with COVID-19 during the summer before their junior year.

Goldberg watched a recording of the West End revival of “Funny Girl” and saw a lot of their experiences reflected in an unexpected way. Growing up, they said they did not see themself in the media and arts, so the moments they feel represented stuck with them.

“I couldn’t quite shake it,” Goldberg said. “It became

my new go-to answer for ‘What’s your dream role?’”

Goldberg applied for the rights to the show in spring 2022 and later received a grant as a part of the Wirtz Student Performance Projects program.

Goldberg’s first call was to their friend, Weinberg senior Sofi Boczkowski, to ask her to join the team as the producer.

“I immediately said yes,” Boczkowski said. “And it wasn’t for ‘Funny Girl.’ They could have asked me for a wide range of shows. It was more so how Dani wanted to tell this story.”

While changing a character’s gender from the original source material is not a new phenomenon in NU shows, it is more prominent in student theatre and is less present in the department, Goldberg said. They said they did not change the show’s script, but rather cast non-traditional bodies in certain roles and discussed how that affected other characters and themes.

To highlight the queer love story between Brice and Nick Arnstein, portrayed by Weinberg freshman Aidan Einhorn, Goldberg and Boczkowski said they worked on a more intimate production that featured a smaller ensemble and set. Also, to modernize the production, they said they implemented alienation techniques such as breaking the fourth wall and using neon lighting.

Boczkowski said the neon lights were a key element of the show. Certain themes and characters like Arnstein had colors that connected to larger symbols.

For example, the LED lights — located at the bottom of the background curtain and on Brice’s mirror — turned blue during Brice and Arnstein’s wedding to symbolize Jewish love, according to Boczkowski. Any time Arnstein walked on stage, the lights turned pink to draw attention to his feminine side and challenge the toxic masculinity associated with the character.

Goldberg cast Einhorn for a “gentler” approach to

the role, they said, reinforcing the queer love story.

“I feel like there is a certain amount of myself in the character, as opposed to it being a completely separate entity,” Einhorn said.

The show emphasized certain lines that could be interpreted through a queer lens, such as “When A Girl’s Incidentals, Are No Bigger Than Two Lentils.” Goldberg said the line took on new meaning for them as a trans/non-binary body without breasts playing a female role.

Goldberg led a conversation with Beanie Feldstein,

who portrayed Brice on the Broadway stage, as part of her event through NU Hillel this Fall Quarter. They said Feldstein told them privately that Fanny becomes about whoever tells the story.

“I’m telling the story, the story is about me,” Goldberg said. “It really truly is about me and my experiences and it’s about all the experiences of trans and nonbinary people who haven’t seen themselves represented in order to show them that they are capable, lovable.”

lexigoldstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

‘Upon the Sea’ explores international student experience

By MARY RANDOLPH the daily northwestern

When Communication senior Rosalie Liu’s grandmother died in 2020, Liu said she channeled her emotions into art.

Liu’s work culminated in her short film “Upon the Sea.” After two years of writing, grant proposals, casting and planning, the film will enter production Spring Quarter — and Liu is the director.

“The goal was just to create something where I felt powerful enough to record my artistic voice, and that’s my tribute to my granny,” Liu said. The film follows an East Asian girl working as a Mandarin-to-English translator in the United States while dealing with the loss of her grandmother. As a translator, the protagonist struggles to find her own authentic voice. She also tries to cope with the fact that she missed hearing her

grandmother’s last words.

Liu said she shows this grieving process and identity crisis through a mixture of realistic and surreal scenes, including one underwater between the film’s three characters — the protagonist, a younger version of the protagonist and the protagonist’s grandmother.

Though Liu had originally planned to shoot the film last November, she said complications with funding pushed production back to this spring.

“Upon the Sea” has since received a Media Arts Grant from the School of Communication — which provides funding to student short films — and $2000 from a private donor.

Producer and Communication sophomore Sally Sheng worked with Liu last fall to build the cast and crew and help with administrative tasks. Though the pre-production process has been long, Sheng said she has loved being a part of the process.

“Being an RTVF student, it’s good to be involved

in producing a film because you’re creating art,” Sheng said. “You feel so invested in the achievement of it.”

Sheng said the film resonated with her when she first read the script, as the film is shot from an Asian female’s point of view. She hopes the audience can empathize with the characters and story.

“We want other people, the general public, to see the things that happen from our perspective,” Sheng said.

As an international student, Liu said the experience of being unable to go home and be with loved ones is “universal.” She said she is especially excited to see one of the final scenes, in which the protagonist’s younger self and her grandmother sit together on a beach.

“Her granny started singing this little song that (the protagonist heard) in her dreams, and it was just a very warm moment,” Liu said. “It’s very vivid in my mind.”

Weinberg sophomore Kaitlin Sun, who plays the film’s protagonist, said this is the first film she’s ever acted in.

Sun said finding ways to empathize with her character helped her find her voice.

“There are parts where I have a similar experience — not completely the same, but definitely similar emotions and moments I can resonate with,” Sun said. “It made it feel more personal to be able to put parts of myself into this character.”

Liu said “Upon the Sea” will continue to fundraise and begin production in the first or second week of May.

She hopes to enter the film into festivals and reach a broader audience this summer post-production.

“I really want more people to hear this story,” Liu said.

maryrandolph2026@u.northwestern.edu

Liner Notes: White’s EP suspends time, place in Andalusia

By TABI PARENT the daily northwestern

@tabithaparent12

Blanco White’s somewhat redundant stage name does little to allay fears that his music will be similarly uninspired. But if his over a million monthly Spotify listeners are any indication, there is something compelling — or at least something that translates well through AirPods — about the music Blanco White creates.

Londoner Josh Edwards, the man behind Blanco White, is committed to proving that there is more to him than first meets the eye. Just as you wouldn’t expect a name as superfluous as Blanco White to have some hidden

meaning — it does, by the way; check out Sevillan poet Joseph Blanco White — you wouldn’t expect a man with a name as English as Josh Edwards to make such ethereal, Spanish-influenced music.

Edwards released his latest EP, “Time Can Prove You Wrong,” on Feb. 3. Over the course of just five songs, he dolefully dissolves all concepts of time and place with his enigmatically haunting voice and Andalusian-inspired guitar-plucking skills. Clocking in at a mere 19 minutes and 14 seconds, Edwards proves that a record doesn’t need to be lengthy to leave an impact.

The EP’s title track, “Time Can Prove You Wrong,” sounds like cracking open a time capsule on an uninhabited Spanish knoll. While

Edwards studied guitar in Cádiz, Spain, his knowledge of the charango, an Andean instrument, is what shines through. Edwards’ strumming is as untamed and wild as the “ocean quiet under (his) skin” that he croons about in the lyrics. But, it’s also controlled and steady, giving the song a heartbeat-like throughline. Combine that sound with the hoofbeat-esque drums and “Time Can Prove You Wrong” unleashes longing clad in ambiguously Spanish and Latin American-tinged beats.

If the EP’s first track takes place on a misty Spanish hill, then its second song, “Treasure I Once Held,” must be set in the early morning on a beach in Cádiz. Once again, the charango is the star of the show on this track, punctuated by a lazy cymbal drum that helps it take on a relaxed, almost tropical sound reminiscent of sunlight glistening on the early morning sea. Edwards is unhurried as he sings the song’s pensive lyrics, proving that most things are better when done slowly. It’s the type of song that makes you want to leisurely sip coffee on a balcony in the summer and drink in how stunning our world is.

The following two tracks exemplify what writing songs about the good old halcyon days is supposed to look like. Every artist has their own take on nostalgia, childhood, memory and the past, and Blanco White is no different. “Sail On By” and “Lesson All Along” are Edwards’ plaintive exercises in reconciling with an immaterial past lost in time. What Edwards searches for in the past is cryptically camouflaged in his abstract lyrics, making his music all the more captivating.

Edwards is nothing if not consistent. His songs are instantly recognizable, occasionally feeling formulaic to a fault. And there are, of course, questions to be raised about a London

boy’s penchant for dabbling so deeply in Latin American and Spanish music traditions. Critics have called into question Edwards’ authority to pursue such Latin and European musical traditions so deeply. Still, there is something comforting about an artist who knows their sound, has perfected their craft and has respect for traditions other than their own.

While the first four songs in the EP launch listeners back in proverbial time, the EP’s closer, “Who’s Gonna Love You Now?” aptly looks ahead to the “days you can’t see coming.” Edwards makes no claims to what listeners can expect from him in the future, but he guarantees he’ll be “there by (their) side.” And can’t we all use a little consistency in our lives?

tabiparent2025@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment

Editor Selena Kuznikov

Assistant Editors

Jamie Kim

Tabi Parent

Design Editors

Valerie Chu

Kelly Rappaport

Anna Souter

Illustration by Gemma DeCetra

Photo courtesy of Joanne Haner

The “Funny Girl” cast concludes a musical number.

that people don’t recognize it as something that’s actually a very pervasive issue,” Kerr said. “ I would just encourage people to be mindful when they’re discussing things like this because it is something that anyone around you could be struggling with.”

While Kerr agrees with removing the labels, they said it is a Band-Aid solution to addressing eating disorders on campus.

One way Kerr said they would like to see change is by increasing the number of faculty on campus who specialize in eating disorder recovery on both a nutritional level and a mental health level.

“It would be really nice to maybe see some programming from Northwestern Dining about things like intuitive eating and building a more balanced healthy relationship with food,” Kerr said.

According to a Winter 2018-2019 Healthy Minds Study, a higher percentage of Northwestern undergraduate students had both elevated and mild symptoms of eating disorders than the national undergraduate percentage. An average of 33.8% of undergraduate students nationwide had elevated symptoms, whereas 8% had mild symptoms. At Northwestern, 41% had elevated symptoms and 16% had mild symptoms.

UKRAINE

From page 1

by forced displacement and a dim sky illuminated by flames from explosions.

Since Feb. 24, 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Office recorded more than 8,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine, though it noted the actual numbers are likely substantially higher. In just one year, Russia allegedly committed more than 65,000 war crimes, according to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin.

“Russia did not expect that we will last this long,” said 64-year-old Joseph Owerko, a demonstrator who was born in Ukraine. “We are thrilled that we are steadfast, committed to defending our mission — to defend the freedom of free people over the world.”

According to the former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried, Russia’s government likely expected the war to end quickly with little Ukrainian resistance.

Some protesters said they didn’t expect to be recognizing a one-year anniversary for the war either — but for a different reason.

Oksana Vickers, a Ukrainian-American student at the University of Chicago, said she didn’t expect the full-scale invasion to continue this long.

“It is a very surreal feeling,” Vickers said. “I so distinctly remember the day last year that the war broke out, and I was beside myself.”

While mourning the past year’s loss and devastation, demonstrators also celebrated the strength of the Ukrainian people.

Almost every speech at the rally ended with the slogan “Slava Ukraini,” a Ukrainian phrase

Pediatric gastroenterologist and Feinberg Prof. Mark Fishbein said while he does not promote calorie counting, he does not think removing calorie labels is the best way to support students with eating disorders.

“I definitely don’t think taking the calorie labels off the food is going to change someone’s behavior in that respect,” Fishbein said. “It’s maybe a message from the University saying that we’re not going to contribute to (harmful triggers).”

Weatherspoon said she will work with CAPS, the campus dietician and health services to continue supporting students struggling with eating disorders using a “multidisciplinary” approach.

She added that now is the right time to spread awareness for eating disorders since this year’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week begins Feb. 27 and ends March 5. CAPS is hosting events for “Body Acceptance Week” throughout the week to promote eating disorder awareness.

“We encourage anybody who’s struggling with an eating disorder to just see us for support,” Weatherspoon said. “We want to be just a resource for students as well because we recognize that the earlier eating disorders are treated, the higher the chance for recovery.”

ericaschmitt2025@u.northwestern.edu

that translates to “Glory to Ukraine.” The crowd responded, “Heroiam Slava” — Ukrainian for “Glory to the Heroes” — every time.

The protest took place by the Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukrainian Village. People holding yellow and blue flags lined the building’s stairs and nearby streets. Some protesters wore elements of traditional Ukrainian clothing, like Ukrainian wreaths.

Vickers said the protest helped her connect with a local Ukrainian community.

“UChicago does not have a lot of Ukrainians,” Vickers said. “I really needed to feel like I was understood and seen.”

Protestors who don’t have Ukrainian heritage shared that spirit of unity, too.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) expressed his solidarity.

“We are all Ukrainians tonight,” he said. “We are Ukrainians in our love of freedom; we are Ukrainians in our love of liberty; we are Ukrainians in our love of democracy.”

In the short breaks between speakers’ speeches, the crowd chanted, “Arm Ukraine now!”

Liliia Popovych, one of the protest’s organizers, called for other countries to give Ukraine more weapons, including F-16 jets. President Joe Biden told ABC on Friday he is not going to send the jets to Ukraine “for now.”

“This is a huge difference between death and killing,” Popovych said. “Killing can be stopped. Killers can be stopped … And that’s what (the) Ukrainian army is doing right now.”

sofiadymova2026@u.northwestern.edu

DAILY PUZZLES & CLASSIFIEDS

Classified Ads

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an ad. Corrections must be received by 10am on the day before ad runs again, call 847-4917206. All Classifieds must be paid in advance and are not accepted over the phone. To run online, ad must run in print 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.

It is the policy of The Daily Northwestern to accept housing advertising only from those whose housing is available without discrimination with respect to sexual orientation, race, creed or national origin. The presumption is therefore, that any housing listing appearing here is non-discriminatory.

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an ad. Corrections must be received by 10am on the day before ad runs again, call 847-4917206. All Classifieds must be paid in advance and are not accepted over the phone. To run online, ad must run in print 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.

HELP WANTED ADS are accepted only from advertisers who are equal opportunity employers. The presumption, therefore, is that all positions offered here are available to qualified persons without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, handicap, or veteran status.

at NU an even more unexpected.

Huh said because NU is a predominantly white institution, she did not expect to find her largest group of Korean friends at the University.

She was also surprised academically. While she wrote about journalism with a focus in print in her essay, she ended up falling in love with broadcast journalism after joining Northwestern News Network her freshman year.

On a similar note, Medill senior Vanessa Kjeldsen wrote about hands-on journalism opportunities available at NU in her “Why Northwestern” essay as a transfer applicant.

“I loved the idea that you get to learn by doing, and I also loved the AND is in our DNA’ of that (learning),” said Kjeldsen, who transferred from Boston University before her sophomore year.

Kjeldsen said she is grateful for the endless learning opportunities Northwestern has to

RYAN FIELD

From page 1

Contractors would be responsible for analyzing the validity of NU’s economic impact study, additional fiscal and employment effects on the city and the local market for concerts.

City Council originally planned to hire consulting group Hunden Strategic Partners to conduct this study. After discovering racist retweets from the company’s Twitter account, community members pushed the council to find another research firm, Revelle said.

Lesley Williams, 7th Ward resident and president of Community Alliance for Better Government, said she’s not surprised the studies NU funded show the Ryan Field project would have beneficial economic impacts.

“There’s the expression about ‘The person who pays the piper calls the tune,’” she said.

According to NU’s economic impact study, performed by consulting group Tripp Umbach and published in November 2022, the rebuild would generate about 2,900 new jobs, $660 million in economic impact and $12.5 million in taxes for Evanston.

The Daily contacted the firm to ask about the new jobs’ permanence and wages, as well as what proportion of economic impact would initially go to NU and local businesses. Tripp Umbach did not answer.

Williams said she was also skeptical about the reliability of NU’s January 2023 Impact Research public opinion survey, for which her uncle was called twice to answer the same questions. The community needs economic research residents can trust, she added.

Williams also said NU should make broader direct investments in the city’s schools, social welfare and jobs programs, along with reparations for racial segregation in the past.

offer, both in and out of the classroom. She added that she feels lucky to have learned from her peers and the passion they have for their studies.

“Everyone is doing such cool things at this school, and so many people are excited about what they’re doing and they work incredibly hard,” Kjeldsen said. “That’s a very inspiring environment to get to be surrounded by all of the time.”

Looking back at her first-year self, Doakes recommends incoming students focus on progress, not perfection.

Similarly, Huh said she would tell her firstyear self to stop stressing about the little things and place energy and happiness elsewhere.

“I would just like to savor every single moment, the good and the bad, the stressful and the carefree moments. All of that,” Huh said. “I’d like to relive it, honestly. I’d give anything to relive my past four years here.”

beatricevillaflor2026@u.northwestern.edu

About 56% of residents support the Ryan Field rebuild, while 29% oppose it, the survey reported. Residents in a survey subgroup who live within a mile of the stadium reported similar approval rates. Researchers from Impact surveyed 500 registered Evanston voters by phone, according to findings it released on the Rebuild Ryan Field website. The results have a 95% confidence level with plus or minus 4.5 percentage points sampling error — a measure of how representative a sample is — though error in subgroups is higher, the findings show.

Marjorie Connelly, standards chair at the American Association for Public Opinion Research, reviewed the survey results after being contacted by The Daily. She said she had questions about its methodology, though she saw no glaring overall problems.

“Because the margin of error for subgroups (in the survey) varies … I would be curious about how many other respondents are stadium neighbors,” Connelly said.

Findings for specific subgroups could be unreliable depending on their sample size, she added, and the subgroup sample size was not publicly released. Impact Research did not respond to requests for comment.

Revelle said the Ryan Field approvals should primarily rest on how the rebuild project would affect residents in the stadium’s immediate neighborhood. She also said she would prefer more information about the environmental consequences of the field before approving NU’s request.

“Maybe some Northwestern students would like to ask some questions about building a brand new $800 million stadium,” Revelle said. “That’s twice as expensive as any other collegiate stadium that’s been built in recent memory.”

williamtong2026@u.northwestern.edu

zhizhongxu2026@u.northwestern.edu

DAILY CROSSWORD

AFGE union shop.

Email DirectHireFire@navy.mil and put “Crane Fire Inspector” in subject line for benefits information and assistance in creating a resume for Federal employment. Equal Opportunity Employer.

FIREFIGHTER-EMT (Lateral) $55,565 to $89,422

FIREFIGHTER-PARAMEDIC (Lateral) $55,565 to $109,388

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services Naval Support Activity Crane Minimum of accredited Firefighter II, HazMat Operations, and EMT or Paramedic. Salary dependent on credentials and qualifications. Excellent Federal benefits, plus Tuition Assistance. AFGE union shop. Recruitment and Relocation Incentives available for well-qualified candidates.

Email DirectHireFire@navy.mil and put “Crane Firefighter” in subject line for benefits information and assistance in creating a resume for Federal employment. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Q&A: Hill on shaping AP African American Studies

By AVIVA BECHKY daily senior staffer @avivabechky

When Evanston Township High School history teacher Kamasi Hill heard the College Board was developing an AP African American Studies curriculum, he knew he wanted to get involved.

So, he reached out to an administrative team at the College Board. He began working as a member of the 13-person committee developing the course early last year, sourcing primary documents, creating exam questions and training teachers.

But in January and early February of this year, the class became a matter of nationwide controversy after Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized parts of the curriculum — including units on movements led by women, intersectionality and Black Lives Matter — and the College Board released a new framework making those subjects optional.

The Daily spoke with Hill about conservative pushback, curriculum development and teaching an AP African American Studies pilot class at ETHS. This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

The Daily: What did you take care to include in the curriculum?

Hill: Two of the issues that I feel like always kind of get the short end of the stick in terms of representation and adequate space for examination has been art and African American religion. So I wanted to make sure that the course reflected the full scope of the African American experience — in particular, African American art and African American religion.

The Daily: What moments have stood out to you as you’ve been teaching the course?

Hill: Hearing the students tell me how the curriculum shows up in other classes. So I hear, “Oh, we learned this and we did this in art” or “We did this in cooking” or “We did this in” — whatever. Because it’s an interdisciplinary course, the students are seeing how it shows up. Those are the moments that really stand out, when those kinds of light bulb moments go off for students and they’re able to see that this is not simply an AP

course that they’re learning about. It shows up in different facets of their academic and personal life.

The Daily: How have you navigated some of the national pushback, especially in Florida, surrounding the AP African American Studies curriculum?

Hill: The first thing I’ve done is I’ve protected my kids. I don’t want the media to be contacting them. I didn’t want them to feel like there was something wrong with the course. So I just wanted to make sure that the kids were fully aware on what the class is all about.

The second thing is, for me, as a historian, I realize that when it comes to Black studies, Africana Studies, African American Studies, it’s always been a fight for representation, for inclusion in curriculums. And, you know, even fights

at the state and federal level to ensure that the contributions and history of African Americans are included. So it’s not surprising that this class is a fight because there’s always been a fight.

The Daily: What was the process of bringing together the whole curriculum?

Hill: A lot of discussion, a lot of editing. It’s just a lot of preparation. You’re meeting, you’re talking, you’re working through things and you’re editing. I mean, history is about revision. A lot of people say, “Well, we don’t want revisionist history.” All of history is revisionist. We’re constantly revising, we’re constantly evaluating, we’re constantly analyzing.

The Daily: In Florida, Gov. DeSantis criticized subjects in the curriculum like queer theory and

Black feminist theory. How did you want to incorporate curriculum topics like that?

Hill: Those are secondary sources that will always be a part of the conversation. Primary curriculum is all primary source material. Supplemental materials like queer theory and intersectionality, all that stuff, can always be included, but aren’t primary sources that are a part of the everyday curriculum.

The students do have a project that they have to complete, and they’re able to choose any subjects that they’d like within the curriculum, as well as the secondary source materials. So they’ll have access to the challenging and controversial material that the state of Florida has deemed problematic.

avivabechky2025@u.northwestern.edu

Photo courtesy of Kamasi Hill

Kamasi Hill. The Evanston Township High School history teacher helped shape the AP African American Studies curriculum.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

No. 21 NU left licking its wounds after Terrapin defeat

By ALEX CERVANTES daily senior staffer @cervantespalex

Northwestern’s tilt against Maryland pitted a relatively unstoppable force against an immovable object. The No. 21 Wildcats (20-9, 11-7 Big Ten) have been built for the road, notching six victories in hostile environments this season. Conversely, the Terrapins’ Xfinity Center has been unassailable in Big Ten play. 10 teams have now entered, 10 teams have fallen.

Coach Chris Collins and company’s attempts at knocking off Maryland (20-9, 11-7 Big Ten) in its stronghold fell short. Behind a three-point shooting barrage and a stellar defensive stand against NU’s backcourt, the Terrapins cruised to a 75-59 victory.

“(Maryland) deserved to win,” Collins told reporters postgame. “(The team) outplayed us in the second half — we couldn’t keep up with the scoring.”

Senior guard Boo Buie entered Sunday’s matinee on a tear, averaging about 26.3 points over his last four games. Fresh off pouring in a career-high 35 points versus the Fighting Illini, Maryland keyed in on Buie, rolling out a full-court press and matchup zone to make him uncomfortable. And it worked.

The Terrapins held the Cats’ talisman to a season-low four points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field. It was Buie’s first singledigit scoring performance since Nov. 23 against Auburn and the first time he was

held to fewer than 10 field goal attempts since Jan. 25.

Maryland made it difficult for Buie to establish any semblance of scoring rhythm, with a variety of defenders pressing up on him near mid-court on every possession. Forward Julian Reese’s ability to play in drop coverage on high ball screens meant there was always a Terrapin defender ready to cut off Buie’s dribble drives.

“It’s really hard for you to run a lot of sets against them, because of the way they switch and zone and man,” Collins said of Maryland’s defense. “They have good quickness, good size. They were making (Buie) be a passer.”

Despite the host’s successfully containing Buie, the teams exchanged blow after blow in an exhilarating first 20 minutes.

In a battle between two rather inefficient three-point shooting teams, the rim must have looked as wide as the ocean. Seemingly every shot from distance dropped, especially for the Terrapins.

Propelled by potential All-Big Ten guard Jahmir Young, Maryland lit the Xfinity Center aflame, hitting 8-of-11 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half. Young, who entered the game shooting 28.4% from beyond the arc at home this season, was 4-of-6 from three-point range by intermission.

Still, the Cats’ first-half offensive response came from Buie’s playmaking and redshirt senior guard Chase Audige’s scoring.

Though Maryland made Buie into “a passer,” according to Collins, he was still able to find and exploit holes in the

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Terrapins’ defense to the tune of seven first-half assists. Conversely, Audige was able to shake off his recent shooting woes, recording 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the first frame.

Maryland’s three-point shooting and NU’s backcourt play coalesced into an 80-point first half, with both teams shooting above 59% from the field and the lead changing hands nine times.

Out of halftime, the Cats’ offense fell stagnant — much like it did three days prior against Illinois. Collins said “the ball stuck a little more in the second half,” allowing Maryland to drive the Cats’ side of the floor. NU’s offensive rut was also exacerbated by the Terrapins’ continued success scoring the ball, especially from deep.

A 14-7 run over the first six minutes of

Cats fall to Cornhuskers 64-80

By JAKE EPSTEIN the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n

After coming up short against Wisconsin on Senior Night, Northwestern looked to cap a cumbersome conference slate at Nebraska on Sunday.

Without their floor general in senior guard Kaylah Rainey, the Wildcats (9-20, 2-16 Big Ten) instilled a next-player-up mentality, but the Cornhuskers (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten) ran away with the regular season finale and clinched the series sweep in an 80-64 victory.

Freshman guard Caroline Lau stepped into the fold for her third career start in Rainey’s stead and tallied the contest’s opening bucket with a three-pointer. Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley instantly responded with a triple of her own, but both squads suddenly froze from the floor.

With four minutes left in the first frame, sophomore guard Hailey Weaver tallied a steal and knocked down a deep two-pointer, cutting the Cornhuskers’ lead to 9-7.

Weaver’s jumper served as the Cats’ final score of the first quarter, and NU carried a dismal 3-of-20 shooting clip after 10 minutes of action. Nebraska didn’t shoot the lights out at 4-of-13 but led 12-7 at the quarter’s close.

While junior forward Paige Mott sank a jumper to begin the second frame, the cold Cornhusker offense then caught fire on a 7-0 run into a media timeout.

Mott halted the run with a swift hesitation leading to a mid-range conversion. Nebraska forward Maggie Mendelson responded with a layup, but Lau and Mott strung together four straight scores to cut the deficit to 21-19 with 4:25 to play in the second period.

After Nebraska shot out to a 30-23 lead, sophomore forward Caileigh Walsh converted in the

paint. Cornhusker coach Amy Williams then received a technical foul for arguing with the officials, and sophomore guard Jillian Brown made both technical free throws. With just four seconds to play, Lau dished to Weaver, who beat the clock and drilled the game-tying downtown take.

Despite a streaky start to the contest, Lau ran the floor to the tune of nine points and three assists, helping coach Joe McKeown’s team enter the intermission with the matchup knotted at 30 apiece.

Mott sank her first two shots of the third frame, sending NU into a 34-31 lead with 8:27 remaining in the period. However, Nebraska mounted an 11-2 run, barreling back in front 42-36.

Cornhusker forward Alexis Markowski rattled off seven consecutive points with fewer than two minutes left in the third frame, stretching the Nebraska advantage to double digits.

The Cats ended the quarter on a three-plus minute field goal drought, and Walsh tallied the final points of the frame on a 2-of-2 trip to the charity stripe, cementing a 60-50 hole entering the final 10 minutes.

NU needed its primary ball handler to step up in the final frame for

any shot at a comeback, but Lau went scoreless in the third period and sat on the bench as the quarter began. With 8:10 to go, Lau checked back in. She hit Weaver who converted in the paint to cut the deficit to nine at the six-minute mark.

Headed into the final media timeout, Lau drove inside and banked in a floater before Brown picked off an errant pass and drew a foul. The Cats trailed 69-58, and their best freethrow shooter went to the foul line with 4:15 to play.

Fresh off the break, Brown converted both free throws, but Mott picked up her fifth foul, ending her afternoon with 18 points. Less than a minute later, graduate student guard Sydney Wood fouled out, sidelining a third starter from NU’s typical rotation.

The Cornhuskers then cruised to victory at the contest’s conclusion, sending their seniors out on a high note with an 80-64 win.

In a rebuild year for McKeown’s squad, the Cats finished last in Big Ten play. NU will face 11th seeded Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, when the team will hope to pull off a Minneapolis miracle.

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

the half stretched Maryland’s advantage to nine points before a 12-2 spurt midway through the second frame all but put the Cats to bed.

Similar to the first 20 minutes, Maryland once again caught fire from beyond the arc, making 6-of-11 three-point attempts in the second half. When the buzzer sounded, four different Terrapins had hit at least two three-pointers, paving the way for a 14-of22 mark.

Despite Maryland’s superb shooting, Collins said he didn’t feel as if the majority of the Terrapins’ three-point success could be attributed to defensive slips from the Cats.

“Some of the (makes) were breakdowns where we lost guys, but I would venture to say maybe six or seven of those 14 were really good shotmaking,” Collins said. “At

the end of the day you’ve gotta make the shot, so give those guys credit.”

Now left licking its wounds following two straight road defeats, NU returns home Wednesday for Senior Night against Penn State.

Though a shot at the Big Ten regular season crown is largely out of the picture, there’s still a lot to play for over the Cats’ final two games — including a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

“We feel good about who we are; we’re a good team,” Collins said. “Everybody’s going to lose a little bit … It didn’t feel so good today getting beat, but we gotta go home and try to make it right on the next one.”

alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

Why I Play: Oishi talks aggressive sabre style

By KUNJAL BASTOLA the daily northwestern @kunjal_bastola

Freshman sabreist Megumi Oishi only began her Northwestern fencing career in the fall, but has already proven she has what it takes to be successful on the mat. Having finished in sixth place with a medal in the junior women’s sabre category at the January North American Cup, Oishi is poised to have a stellar first season with the Wildcats and is a large part of NU’s rise in the NCAA rankings.

The Daily spoke to Oishi about her love for fencing, why she chose Northwestern and goals she has for her future.

“Why I Play” is a Q&A series where Wildcats discuss their love for their sports and how they got their starts. This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

The Daily: What made you decide to pursue fencing?

Oishi: I’ll be honest, I was not very good at any other sports, especially ball sports, but my mom, when I was around 9 years old, was very passionate about getting me into a sport. And so literally, she just put me in a summer camp, and I loved it. And the reason why I love it is because it combines both cognitive skill and physical ability. So I think you’re thinking at the same time that you’re moving, which I think is very unique to fencing.

The Daily: Why is the sabre your weapon of choice?

Oishi: To be honest, I just started out in it. So it was just by happenstance, but I love sabre because it’s so fast. I think of myself as a very offensive person. I love being aggressive and fencing, and it just fits my personality a lot. So I love it.

The Daily: What about Northwestern stood out to you as the place to continue your fencing career?

Oishi: Northwestern, I think, just

seemed like a very friendly and welcoming space, whereas other highly competitive colleges — even though they did offer a very strong program in terms of fencing — in terms of academics, they did seem a little bit daunting, a little bit closed off and cold. So in terms of that, Northwestern just stood out to me as a very kind, welcoming space. The coaches as well. Like during our first meeting, I could already tell that I would be very happy here, so that’s mainly why I chose Northwestern.

The Daily: What is your favorite fencing memory and why?

Oishi: I think my favorite fencing memory was during the 2021 summer nationals. Both me and my mom were competing, which is a really cool thing about fencing, actually, veteran fencers — so, fencers over the age of 30 — can also compete. You can compete at any age really in fencing. So my mom and I were both competing. We both got national medals. It was just really cool to see, cuz we had practiced together at the club, and we both went to the competition and we’ve done so well. It’s just really cool to see both of our hard work paying off at the same time.

The Daily: What are some goals you have for the future?

Oishi: I think in terms of just basic, what am I looking for in my career? I think definitely All American honors at NCAAs and hopefully help Northwestern to become a top-five university in terms of college rankings.

Coming to Northwestern, it’s just been so great falling back in love with the sport with the help of my coaches. So I think just moving forward, I would like to enjoy the sport a lot more just as it is. And obviously moving forward as people come in and join the team. I would love to keep working with that and keep cultivating this really strong and healthy team culture that we have right now.

kunjalbastola2026@u.northwestern.edu

Jacob Wendler/Daily Senior Staffer

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal