The Daily Northwestern — February 29th, 2024

The Daily Northwestern

ursday, February 29, 2024

4 OPINION/Journaling

Columnist

‘It’s absolutely horrible’: Current and former students, staff and faculty at Northwestern Law allege toxic work environment, lack of transparency since 2021 under Dean Hari Osofsky

By JACOB WENDLER daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler

In June 2022, Northwestern Law student Alicia Crawford took over as president of the Pritzker

School of Law’s Student Bar Association — the organization that serves as a liaison between the student body and administration.

Just nine months later, Crawford resigned.

“While in the navy, I made a promise to myself, that I would never advocate for something I did not believe in, nor would I remain silent and complicit in

Leaf blower ban debated

Businesses concerned about propane prevention

By SHREYA SRINIVASAN daily senior staffer @shreyasrin

Almost a year a er the city banned gas- and propane-powered leaf blowers — an e ort meant to reduce the city’s “carbon footprint” — the city is considering a short-term pause for the coming spring.

e pause will be considered at the city’s Health and Human Services Commi ee’s March meeting.

e pause comes a er an “outpouring” of concern from small landscaping Evanston businesses, according to Ald. Juan Geracaris (9th).

Geracaris said the pause will be used to create more robust provisions for landscaping businesses, who said they need more resources to be able to transition to electric-powered leaf blowers.

After learning about the city’s plan, Natural Habitat Evanston member Amy Parker,

a long-term advocate of discontinuing gas- and propane-powered leaf blowers, said she sent a le er to Geracaris to oppose a pause to the ban.

“Evanston is under the microscope here, we are a leading community,” Parker said. “If we walk this back, other communities are going to say ‘Ah, see? Didn’t work.’’”

In the le er, she said the city can change how information

» See LEAF BLOWER , page 9

things I believe to be fundamentally harmful,” Crawford wrote in her Feb. 28, 2023, resignation le er.

Crawford’s complaint would be followed by several more from other community members raising concerns about turmoil at Pritzker since Dean Hari Osofsky joined the law school in August 2021.

Nearly two dozen current and former students,

sta and faculty members told e Daily that the law school has been plagued by mismanagement, a toxic work environment and a lack of transparency since Osofsky stepped in, leading many longtime employees to ee the school.

» See OSOFSKY, page 6

ASG splits funding for clubs

Five thousand distributed among new organizations

By ISAIAH STEINBERG the daily northwestern @isaiahstei27

e Associated Student Government Senate passed ve resolutions and distributed $5,000 to 10 new student organizations at its Wednesday meeting.

ASG’s New Student Organization Support Fund allocates $5,000 in funding to new organizations each quarter, for a total of $15,000 in funding each year.

To qualify for funding, organizations must have been active for two years or less and have a Student Organization Finance O ce account.

Senators asked representatives from each group questions to determine how much money to allocate them.

Organizations requested funding to host events and live performances, a end competitions, perform community service and ensure transportation for initiatives.

Vibrant Colors Collective received $850, Black Poetry Society received $750, Gymnastics Club received $705, Bienestar received $616.27, Emerging Coders received $500, 180 Degrees Consulting received $400, Safe Security received $385.93, United Students for Veteran Health received $300, Prairie Cats Ecological Restoration Club received $292.80 and BridgeNU received $200.

»

Illustration by Shveta Shah

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, has a vision — an Asian American Art and Cultural Center.

“We want a place dedicated to the research, preservation, celebration and creation of Asian American history, art and culture, and that building is perfect for it,” Molitor said.

Although Evanston ASPA has not yet secured the property, Molitor said she is determined to bring the concept to fruition.

If successful, the center — a space that would celebrate all Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islander American ethnicities across generations — would be the first of its kind in the Midwest, Molitor said.

“We have a lot of Asian cultural institutions in the region, but they’re ethnicity-specific,” said Molitor, who is Filipina-Indian American. “With this center, we want it to reflect our community, and our community is an umbrella of many different Asian cultures and ethnicities.”

According to Molitor, efforts to put the center in motion started over a year ago.

The rise in anti-Asian hate at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was a “wake-up call,” she said.

“There was this realization that there is zero representation in the community where 10% of Evanstonians identify as Asian American,” Molitor said. “It became important for us to claim space in the city.”

Early months of planning were focused on community surveys and discussions with Evanston stakeholders, Molitor said. From early 2022 to late 2023, she led a proposal in the participatory budgeting pilot, though her proposal did not receive funding from the program.

In the midst of that process, Molitor enlisted the support of Josina Morita, the Cook County Commissioner for the 13th District, which includes Evanston, and the first Asian American commissioner. Morita

said she was drawn in by the inclusive and multigenerational nature of the project.

“My kids are Chinese, Japanese and Black, so it’s about what kind of space they’ll be looking for when they figure out who they are in the world,” Morita said. “I hope this will be a space for the next generation of Asian Americans to feel like they have somewhere to belong.”

With Morita on board, the two began identifying a physical property for their vision.

Morita said they discovered the perfect property — 831 Chicago Ave. — during the participatory budgeting process. Going into the building for the first time, Morita remembers thinking, “this is it.”

“The layout is perfect, and if you go inside, some of the architectural pieces kind of remind you of Asian architecture,” she said. “It’s also near a lot of different modes of transportation that are accessible locally and regionally.”

Since then, Molitor and Morita have spent time at the drawing board, coming up with ideas for how to maximize the building’s 18,450 square feet.

According to Morita, the open space on the first floor would be reserved for cultural celebrations, galleries and exhibitions. It would also offer an indoor market for Asian American vendors in the winter.

The second floor would serve as an “office incubator,” housing small Asian American-owned businesses and, potentially, Morita’s government office, she said. Here, Molitor and Morita also plan to make room for a multiethnic archive featuring historical documents and artifacts, as well as a curricular resource center to help educators teach Asian American history in schools.

In the basement, which Morita said has an “unfinished brick aesthetic,” Asian American artists would enjoy ample studio space to gather, create and teach.

“It will just be an all-around asset to Asian Americans in terms of space to do what they want,” Morita said. “There’s nothing else like it nearby, so it will also drive visitors from around the region to Evanston.”

Before seeing their ideas come to life, though, Molitor and Morita must first secure the building.

According to Molitor, the final fundraising goal for the center is $3 million, with an initial down payment of $400,000 for the building.

“We are looking for private donors and public

funding from the city and state,” Molitor said. “Hopefully, we can also get some federal funding as well.”

For the Asian American Art and Cultural Center to succeed, the initiative also requires approval from the government and community.

Morita said she serves as an “elected officials liaison,” inviting figures to visit the building and learn about the mission.

So far, she said Illinois House of Representatives Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) have visited, and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) are scheduled to come next week.

Meanwhile, other members of Molitor’s team, including Omar Salem, a member of the Evanston/ Skokie District 65 Board of Education, are assisting with community outreach.

“It’s mainly grassroots for me, spreading the word

about the center to the community, my friends and colleagues,” said Salem, who is Palestinian-FilipinoChinese American. “People I’ve talked to think this is something that’s needed and worthwhile.”

Molitor said the project currently does not have an exact timeline, but according to Morita, their goal is to reach the initial $400,000 by the end of next month.

As Evanston ASPA continues to spread the word, Molitor said she hopes the public will recognize the project’s value.

“As much as this is a center for the Asian American community, it really is a center for the community at large to learn about the history, culture and experience of Asian Americans,” she said. “If we as a community are striving to end structural racism and achieve racial equity, then this is the type of work that needs to be done.”

Casey He/The Daily Northwestern Driven by a vision for the Asian American Art and Cultural Center, the Evanston ASPA continues working to secure the building at 831 Chicago Ave.

More than 70 students gathered outside of Sargent Dining Hall in a Tuesday walkout to demand be er working conditions for service workers contracted by Compass Group, NU’s food service contractor. Students Organizing for Labor Rights organized the walkout a er they received several reports from dining hall workers describing overworking and hostility from management in the past month.

Protesters formed a line, holding up signs that read “We demand justice for workers,” “Compass, realign your morals” and “Hold Compass accountable.” ey chanted phrases including “We support workers” and “Shame on Compass.”

“Our privilege as students … to have meals available to us at almost every hour of the day cannot come at the sacri ce of workers’ rights,” SOLR member and Communication senior Jordan Muhammad said at the rally.

In a petition circulated by SOLR, anonymous Compass workers shared testimonies describing understa ng, overworking and Compass’s alleged refusal to schedule overtime workers in the dining halls and Norris University Center. Some testimonies

Black Studies department urges NU President to call for a cease re in Gaza

e NU Black Studies community urged University President Michael Schill to publicly call for a cease re in Gaza in a statement Friday.

e statement asked Northwestern to honor its commitments to addressing its institutional history of racism. It tied the Palestinian experience to other “global colonial histories” that continue to shape the contemporary world.

During this Black History Month, the department invited community members to re ect not only on Black culture and legacy but also on the histories of other oppressed and marginalized groups,

were read out during the protest.

Workers said sta shortages have resulted in dining hall stations closing early without explanation, leaving other workers to cover those stations. Some also said they experienced health issues as a result of the overwork, mistreatment by inexperienced management and reduced employee meals.

e petition calls on the University to hold Compass accountable by hiring more sta , allowing employees to work overtime hours with adequate compensation, ending hostile work environment conditions and disclosing Compass’s hiring practices and reasons why dining halls stations have closed to students.

e petition gained over 780 signatures from NU students, parents, faculty and alumni. According to SOLR members, more than 300 signatories indicated interest in learning about and ge ing involved with SOLR.

Compass will renegotiate its contract with workers this summer, according to SOLR members. Members said they plan to continue raising awareness about these negotiations and how to improve worker conditions.

“( e turnout) is really unprecedented and honestly should be pre y scary for the University as we come up to contract renegotiations — the fact that students see what’s happening and are not okay with it,” SOLR

including Palestinians.

“We encourage the Northwestern community to take up the question of where we go from here through declaring support for a cease re in Gaza and e ectively tackling the institutional history of racism at Northwestern,” the group said in the message.

e message comes as Israel’s o ensive in the Gaza Strip has killed over 29,000 Palestinian civilians since militant group Hamas’s Oct. 7 a ack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 Israelis, according to Palestinian and Israeli o cials.

e Black Studies community noted in the statement that NU has political and nancial connections to Israel, noting several members of NU’s Board of Trustees have served on the executive boards of companies that supply arms to Israel.

In November, Schill announced the formation

member and Weinberg junior Julián Fefer said.

In a 2018 University news release announcing Compass’s takeover of NU food services, University spokesperson Jon Yates wrote that the NU’s plan to work with Compass emphasizes “a commitment to ensuring fair wages for food service employees.”

SOLR member and SESP junior Hana-Lei Ji said that although NU is not directly involved in Compass’s policies and services, the University should respect its promise to work with Compass to ensure the equitable treatment of its service workers.

Following the walkout, a group of SOLR members marched to the o ce of the Compass Group Human Resource Manager Roshan Widhanage, to whom they delivered and read the petition.

Widhanage’s o ce declined to comment on the petition.

“One thing that we always try to prioritize is to see the person that we’re delivering the petition face to face,” SOLR member and SESP sophomore Anusha Kumar said. “We’re hoping that by really pu ing some emotion behind these words … (we’re) showing this is a real concern, and that there are real people behind these challenges.”

joyceli2025@u.northwestern.edu jerrywu2027@u.northwestern.edu

of a new President’s Advisory Commi ee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate, made up of students, faculty, trustees and administrators.

Even though the commi ee has said it will address Islamophobia, the statement raised concerns in the community over whether that promise will be honored.

e Black Studies community pointed to a 2020 statement from former University President Morton Schapiro condemning “anti-Black racism.” e department said they have seen “nothing” in terms of “actual initiatives” since 2020.

“We wonder whether the current task force on antisemitism will come to resemble a formulation of recommendations against di erent racisms never to be implemented,” the statement said.

Jerry Wu

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Generational divide spells trouble for Biden in 2024

In the days following Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, a Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll found that 52% of Americans 18-24 years old support Israel and its right to defend itself. But, the same poll found that a staggering 95% of Americans 65 years and older support this idea.

These results are not all that surprising since Americans typically rally around its allies’ causes, and Israel is one of America’s strongest allies. But 18 weeks into the conflict, support for Israel and the Biden administration is only declining, most notably in younger Americans. A recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 65% of Democrats under 45 disapprove of how Biden is handling the conflict, while 67% of Democrats 45 and older approve of his actions with regard to supporting Israel.

”

I hate to not vote because I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to exercise this right, but I am si ing this one out. I can wait for the housing market to cool down or for a future president to forgive my student debt, but the Palestinians do not have this luxury of time.

- MELISSA DUDA, op-ed contributor

This generational divide seems to align almost perfectly with how Americans consume their news. The average viewer of mainstream media outlets, such as Fox News, CNN and MSNBC is about 70 years old, and

there are many examples of how these media outlets carefully curate a favorable view of Israel’s actions. Spencer Snyder, an independent journalist, found that CNN headlines typically try to dodge the truth when it comes to covering the war.

For due diligence, I decided to look at CNN headlines, and I found an article titled, “‘Mass casualties’ as UN shelter struck amid intense fighting in Khan Younis.” I believe

”

However, the administration’s unyielding support for Israel at the expense of Palestinian lives is a bridge too far for me, and many of his younger constituents share this sentiment.

- MELISSA DUDA, op-ed contributor

a more truthful title would be “‘Mass Palestinian casualties’ as UN shelter is struck by Israeli bombs amid intense fighting in Khan Younis, a place where Israel told Palestinians to flee to.”

But do not just take my word for it.

According to Daniel Boguslaw, an investigative reporter at The Intercept, CNN routes its coverage of the conflict through the Jerusalem Bureau, an organization that is subject to the Israeli Defense Forces censor, which inevitably paints Israel’s actions in a more favorable light.

In contrast, younger Americans tend to consume news through social media platforms, one of the most popular being TikTok. Eighty-six percent of the platform’s active users are between 16 and 44 years old. Videos by independent users allow viewers to see the shocking amount of death, starvation and destruction in the Gaza Strip because of Israel’s unprecedented bombing campaign. Israel’s actions have amounted to the International Court of Justice finding plausible evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

But wait, is TikTok also engaged in skewing what viewers see on their platform to create a more favorable impression of the Palestinian cause? While some conservative politicians may feel the answer is yes, TikTok claims that younger generations are more sympathetic toward the Palestinian cause by default. A TikTok newsroom article cites a 2006-2016 Pew Research Center study finding that support for the Palestinian cause has increased in Americans born after 1980, long before TikTok was even an idea.

The Biden campaign is in a tough spot for the 2024 election. The generational divide seems so ubiquitous in the U.S., and it goes beyond the war in Gaza. With housing being the most unaffordable it has been in decades and student debt financially kneecapping the younger generation, it is almost impossible to buy a starter home, an asset that is supposed to be a ticket to the middle class.

I am not just blaming the Biden administration for this inaction. According to NBC News, our current Congress is the third oldest since 1789, with the average age in the Senate and House being 63.9 years and 57.5 years, respectively. The majority of politicians in Congress have no idea what it is like to have crippling student debt or to buy a starter home in these housing market conditions.

e Biden campaign is in a tough spot for the 2024 election.

e generational divide seems so ubiquitous in the U.S., and it goes beyond the war in Gaza.

But at the end of the day, Biden is the one running for President.

While I am just as frustrated about my student debt load and inability to afford a starter home right now as the next millennial, this

did not rattle me enough to forgo my vote in this upcoming election.

However, the administration’s unyielding support for Israel at the expense of Palestinian lives is a bridge too far for me, and many of his younger constituents share this sentiment. An article in The Guardian asked a college freshman about this issue, and she said, “My generation is appalled. There’s a lot of people who are not willing to put their votes towards this administration as a result of their actions in Gaza.”

This spells trouble for the Biden campaign since record turnout from younger voters helped him win in 2020. Biden is losing support not only from younger generations but also from voters of color, another cohort that showed up for him in 2020. A poll by NBC News found that Biden’s net approval rating among Black voters dropped nearly 20 points through 2023. Support for Biden by Arab Americans was 59% in 2020, and now, it has justifiably nosedived to just 17%.

I cannot bring myself to vote for Biden in 2024 — or Donald Trump — and independent candidates never really have a chance. I would need Biden to distance himself from supporting Israel beyond perfunctory and empty statements to consider voting for him.

I hate to not vote because I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to exercise this right, but I am sitting this one out. I can wait for the housing market to cool down or for a future president to forgive my student debt, but the Palestinians do not have this luxury of time. About 1.4 million Palestinian refugees are currently waiting in terror, pushed up against the border of Egypt in Rafah, ahead of Israel’s intended bombing campaign and ground invasion around Ramadan. That is why it is such a breaking point for me.

Melissa Duda is a second-year graduate student in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She can be contacted at melissaduda2024@u.northwestern. edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Le er to the Editor to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com. e views expressed in this piece do not necessarily re ect the views of all sta members of e Daily Northwestern.

Dear Diary... e importance of a journal over the years

CHIARA KIM ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

I have never been very consistent at keeping a journal — the small, navy blue one I write in from time to time has been with me since seventh grade.

e rst page of the journal dictates that in case of loss, the reward is, “I’m not paying you, you probably read it.” (As I leafed through the rest of the diary, I discovered I was not the most pleasant pre-teen, but I stand by my stated fear of people reading it).

It contains pre y typical diary stu : my daily routines, favorite songs, deepest confessions and biggest fears. Not material I would particularly love sharing with a stranger. But for me, reading through my various landmark events and random thoughts in the diary is a re ective and nostalgic experience, despite being painfully awkward at the same time.

My friend and I bought diaries the same day in seventh grade, lling out our rst entries together in her basement. Mine contained introductions to my family and friends, my classes and the dance program I was in.

e various entries throughout middle school mainly featured various crushes (like the boy who said he liked me in a game of truth or dare), friend drama (the same boy) and academic achievements (like the 100% I got on my last trigonometry quiz, huge). I talked about pool parties, roller coasters and rock climbing summer camps. I wrote about the major transformation I had when I got my braces o and got my eyebrows done in the same week.

I started my journal wanting to never forget anything that happened to me. I kept lists of my favorite songs, shows and current trends and sayings. I wrote diligently about dreams and

memories I had, as well as daily accounts of my experiences.

As I moved throughout high school, many of the entries shi ed toward my internal thoughts. I talked about how well I was doing mentally once I started rowing. I wrote about my travels to new places and friends I had made.

2020 was entirely undocumented. 2021, however, was full of re ections on the school I had gone to all my life before college, and the new relationships I had formed as I branched out that year. I talked about my newfound con dence and excitement for a new stage of my life.

”

- CHIARA KIM, assistant opinion editor

In college, I’ve used my journal less but have become more thoughtful with each entry. Now, my journal is more focused on key events and growth in my life, like big races or mental paradigm shi s or life lessons like “relearning how (doing) simple things that make other people happy is the best.” Whereas in my diary in middle school was a place to note things I was doing, and in high school to record thoughts I was having, I began using my journal when I really had something to say.

I have wri en impassioned le ers to people who wronged my friends, resolutions and insights into my personal growth and even (terrible) spur-of-the-moment poems. I’ve focused on the small moments, I have wri en entries re ecting on thoughts that have gathered in my mind over time. Smaller lists, thoughts and

quotes have made their way onto my notes app, which is more accessible when I want to write something immediately (but which I plan on printing and pu ing in the diary itself).

My journal is an anthology, tracing out the pa erns of my life. e detailed anecdotes I have chosen to commit to writing (though questionable at times) have shown what I have valued most over the years. e overall trajectory and pa erns not only illustrate my development as a person but also the ways I’ve stayed the same.

I’ve always valued family and friends above all else, cherished learning and used writing to reflect. But I’ve become more empathetic and kind, less quick to judge and more invested in my well-being and creating positive change instead of seeking validation from others.

” Editor in Chief Avani Kalra Opinion Editor Ethan Lachman Assistant Opinion Editor Chiara Kim

I read through my journal about once a year since and leave annotations to document my personal growth and my frustrations or connection with my past self. I have worked through my grievances with certain people and even mediated conversations with myself when I was too harsh in my own journal entries.

I am a very nostalgic person, and I o en re ect on how my past selves have built my current personality. However embarrassing my past entries seem to me now, in the end, I wrote all of them at some point in time, expressing my feelings. In this practice of self-documentation, I have made my journal into a narrative of my life, even if it’s just for me to look at.

Each page of my journal marks a di erent layer of myself. And I am about 12 pages from starting anew.

From Dec. 20, 2021: “I just read parts of this journal and it’s crazy how much you can change and grow in a short amount of time. I’m so lucky to have such good people surrounding me, and I hope I can always continue to grow.”

Chiara Kim is a Medill junior. She can be contacted

at chiarakim2025@u.northwestern.edu.

Managing Editors Colin Crawford Jacob Wendler Lily Carey Shannon Tyler Ashley Lee Micah Sandy Danny O’Grady

By MISHA OBEROI

the daily northwestern

For the past two years, Environmental Justice Evanston has been working on a prototype of a map based on environmental equities data in partnership with the city.

The geographic information system mapping tool, set in motion in October 2022 by Mayor Daniel Biss as part of the Environment Equity Investigation, will identify the places in Evanston facing significant environmental disadvantages.

The city presented EJE with a prototype of the tool last year, said Jerri Garl, the co-chair of the organization, which is a branch of local environmental advocacy group Climate Action Evanston.

EJE then gave the city several recommendations for the map, including incorporating data from the city’s EPLAN report, according to Garl.

The Evanston Project for the Local Assessment of Needs is conducted every five years by the city’s Health and Human Services Department. In 2022, the EPLAN report revealed health inequities in the city’s historically Black 5th ward, where the life expectancy is five to 13 years shorter compared to neighboring wards.

Douglas Sharp, EJE’s GIS expert, said that a life expectancy parameter was not included in the

develops equity map

mapping tool’s prototype. EJE recommended that the city add the EPLAN data as additional data layers to the prototype.

Sharp said he wants the tool to include environmental justice indicators like access to transportation services and tree canopy coverage.

“We need to really get down to the street level to know what is important to people in the neighborhoods,” Sharp said.

EJE also made recommendations on the mapping tool’s interface, Sharp added. The group felt the usability of the tool could be improved and suggested using hyperlinks as opposed to text on the screen, he said.

EJE has also been conducting listening sessions with residents to understand how environmental justice impacts them and to better inform the city’s investigation.

Sharp said that listening sessions may yield further data elements that could later be incorporated into the mapping tool.

EJE met with the city in early January to discuss the prototype. Although progress has been slow, Garl said that the mapping tool is an ongoing responsibility for the group.

Evanston’s Sustainability and Resilience Manager Cara Pratt said the city is still in the “early stages” of incorporating EJE’s suggestions into the model.

city

“The city hopes that the tool helps Evanstonians better understand their neighborhood — the history and present conditions,” Pratt said. “Ideally this tool would also be used to inform City decision-making

so that decisions align with our commitments to environmental justice and racial equity.”

mishaoberoi2027@u.northwestern.edu

How to vote in Evanston’s upcoming primaries in March

By SASHA DRAEGER-MAZER the daily northwestern @sashadm27

With the primary season officially underway for both major parties and Super Tuesday fast approaching, many Illinois voters will hit the polls on March 19 to vote in a variety of federal, state and local elections. Here’s how you can cast your ballot. Local in-person voter registration has closed, but you can register online until March 3 on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website. To register, you’ll need two forms of identification, one of which must show your current address. Possible forms of ID include your driver’s license, social

security card or passport.

To vote by mail, you must request a mail-in ballot by March 14. For your mail-in ballot to be counted, it must be postmarked by March 19 at the latest.

In Evanston, early voters can cast their ballots at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center at 2100 Ridge Ave. over the coming weeks during the following times:

March 4 – March 8, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

March 9, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

March 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

March 11 – March 15, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

March 16, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

March 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

March 18, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

On Election Day, Evanston voters can cast their ballots at a number of polling locations depending on their current address. Find out what polling place to visit here.

What’s on the Ballot?

Depending on your declared party, your ballot will feature several of the following races:

The Democratic ballot will feature the Democratic candidates in the races for President of the United States, U.S. House of Representatives for the Illinois 9th Congressional District, Illinois House of Representatives District 18, Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Metropolitan Water Reclamation

District Board, as well as a number of judicial races. On the Republican ballot, there will be the Republican candidates for President of the United States, Illinois House of Representatives District 18, Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board.

On the Libertarian ballot, voters will find races for Cook County State’s Attorney and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk.

March 19 is only a few weeks away, so remember to mark your calendars and exercise your right to vote this primary season.

sashadraeger-mazer2027@u.northwestern.edu

Illustration by Shveta Shah Mayor Daniel Biss announced the GIS mapping tool as part of the Environment Equity Investigation in October 2022.

From page 1

Despite several formal complaints lodged with human resources, the Office of the Provost and other University officials, members of the Northwestern Law community say their frustrations remain unaddressed.

In July 2020, then-Interim Provost Kathleen Hagerty announced that Pritzker Prof. James Speta would take over as interim dean of the law school the following month.

They also noted that Osofsky did not meet with faculty before the vote, a traditional step in dean search processes.

“My understanding was that we were told, essentially, we had to go ahead with this because the University had already decided, and that if we didn’t, it would be done anyway,”

That would make Pritzker’s next permanent dean the fourth person in three years to lead the law school.

After Speta took over as interim dean in August, though, faculty said they received few updates from the Provost’s Office on the dean search process — one that, in the past, had involved more faculty input.

“ e law school never felt like a place where you were worried about your job, but suddenly it started to feel like that environment where you had to know the right people and fall in line.”

Seven months later, the chair of the 10-person search committee informed faculty that they would not learn the identity of any potential finalists nor have the opportunity to comment on them, several faculty members told The Daily.

The following week, six tenured faculty members wrote an email to Hagerty expressing their frustrations about the lack of transparency. In particular, they said, they were concerned that the process had not met requirements set by the American Bar Association.

“The law school never felt like a place where you were worried about your job, but suddenly it started to feel like that environment where you had to know the right people and fall in line,” one former staff member who worked closely with HR told The Daily.

The decision stemmed from a review of the law school’s HR practices that Osofsky had requested, sources said. The former staff member described it as a “bureaucratic smear

“Getting rid of HR was the first demoralizing piece of the puzzle,” one senior administrator told The Daily.

member of the marketing team said. “She was definitely anxious, upset, stressed all the time.”

Since Osofsky joined the law school, the marketing team has lost at least five longtime employees — several of whom have been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements upon their departure, according to former team members.

The University did not respond to a question about how many employees or faculty members at the law school have been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements upon their departure from Pritzker since Osofsky joined the law school.

“The dean was just picking us off one by one and really with no rhyme or reason,” the former member of the marketing team said.

ABA Standard 203(c) requires law schools to have a process “that assures meaningful involvement by the faculty or a representative body of the faculty in the selection of a dean.” Faculty said in the message that they did not have any role in electing committee members.

“That body cannot be deemed ‘representative,’ especially as no effort was made to have it reflect the faculty or its preferences,” they wrote.

Two days later, Hagerty responded that the search process did satisfy ABA requirements, as faculty constituted six of the 10-member search committee. She said the committee had conducted outreach to the broader faculty to receive input.

Hagerty noted that several other highly ranked law schools also use closed searches.

“The decision to conduct a confidential search was made after engaging with multiple stakeholders to ensure that, at all times, we remain in compliance with relevant accreditation standards,” she wrote in an email on March 19, 2021.

The results of the review were never shared with staff, sources familiar with the situation told The Daily. Winters did not respond to several requests for comment, and Durst and Heiler declined to comment. The University and Osofsky did not comment on changes made to the HR team under Osofsky’s tenure, nor the results of any review into the department.

- Former Pritzker staff member

University spokesperson Jon Yates told The Daily in a statement that the search process satisfied ABA Standard 203(c) and was consistent with dean searches at other NU schools and other similarly ranked private law schools.

“Such strategies help to ensure all potential candidates — including sitting deans or others in leadership positions — feel comfortable progressing in the search and allow Northwestern the best chances of attracting a robust pool of competitive candidates,” he said in the statement.

On Friday, May 7, 2021, Speta announced via email that the provost had named Osofsky — then-Dean of Penn State Law — as her selection for the new dean and asked tenure-line faculty to meet the coming Monday to vote on Osofsky’s tenure. The names of other potential candidates in the search process were never shared.

Following the former associate dean’s departure, Osofsky hired a part-time, remote consultant to lead the marketing team. A permanent replacement did not take over until October 2023, despite complaints to human resources.

Records obtained by The Daily show the consultant was paid nearly $75,000 between December 2022 and August 2023.

on the notion that ulty were pressured to vote

Three former staff members said it felt evident that the dean only intended to collaborate closely with a select group of people.

“It was very clear there were people she had no interest in hearing from,” one former employee said. “It was like she picked a team

In a March 2023 message to a representative from NU HR, the former social media director expressed frustrations with what they saw as general dismissiveness and a lack of respect for the organizational structure of the marketing team from the consultant.

“I had a terrible migraine and also extreme anxiety and stress … to the point my family and friends were very worried about me,” they wrote. “I was extremely confused about what was going on — why was I repeatedly being stripped of my job responsibilities?”

The consultant declined to comment for

“My view is a committee of my colleagues looked at all the candidates and picked a slate and passed them to the provost, who is someone I think very highly of,” they said.

Some faculty members told The Daily they didn’t feel comfortable voting against Osofsky since their vote would be widely known among their peers.

“Realistically, it’s very hard to vote no on an incoming dean candidate knowing that the University is going to put that person in no matter what,” one faculty member said.

‘The first demoralizing piece of the puzzle’

Shortly after Osofsky joined the law school, many faculty and staff quickly became frustrated with her leadership style, several sources told The Daily.

One faculty member said, despite being “very happy” when Osofsky was selected, their view toward the dean shifted rapidly.

Osofsky told The Daily in a statement that she has worked collaboratively with the law school community from her first day “to move forward ambitiously and to improve our cul-

”

“ e sense of micromanaging goes all the way down to the basement. (It’s) unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

Current and former employees said frustrations were not isolated to the HR and market-

ing departments.

- Current Pritzker staff member

“This unusually expedited procedure is necessary, given the continuing nonpublic nature of the search,” Speta wrote in the email.

The University did not comment on why faculty were not given the opportunity to elect members of the search committee or learn the identity of the finalist more than three days before voting on Osofsky’s tenure.

Several faculty members later told The Daily they didn’t feel they had sufficient opportunity to give input on Osofsky’s selection or to voice concerns during the subsequent tenure vote.

” departing.

Several current and former staff members told The Daily a major turning point came

”

“ e dean was just picking us o one by one and really with no rhyme or reason.”

ing to progress sions, diversity, fundraising

“As new leaders often do, I made some important organizational changes,” she wrote in the statement. “I am proud of the progress we have made together and am excited for all we are currently building.”

- Former member of the marketing team

‘Like having your worst nightmare boss’

Several former staff members told The Daily they left the law school because the work environment became unbearable for their physical and mental health.

HR,

Four current and former staff members told The Daily it was not uncommon to see people crying at work after Osofsky took over.

“It’s like having your worst nightmare boss,” one current employee said.

Current and former staff and faculty members said it was well-known that the marketing department faced particular challenges with the dean’s leadership.

“She came in right away and decided, for reasons I’m not entirely clear on, that she didn’t like our team,” one former marketing employee said. The former member of the team said Osofsky’s alleged lack of respect toward the marketing employees “felt like hazing.”

Four former members of the marketing team said the workplace environment immediately took a toll on the law school’s former associate dean of marketing, who declined to comment for this article due to an agreement she signed with the University.

“The dean was just hammering (the former associate dean), and we saw the deterioration of her mental health in this time,” one former

Several pointed to a high turnover rate for the position of executive assistant in the office of the dean. At least five different people have occupied the role since Osofsky joined NU.

the role since

Two former assistants to the dean told The Daily they left due to external factors, while another said they left because they were “unhappy with pretty much every part of her leadership style.”

“Unfortunately, it has been a year and a half of extreme therapy on my end,” the latter assistant said. Three current and former staff members who have worked closely with Osofsky said they have not experienced a toxic work environment, with one noting that “she’s very policy-driven and process-driven.” Osofsky’s current assistant said he has found the work environment warm and inclusive.

Another senior administrator said, however, that many current employees have accepted that morale is not improving any time soon.

“It’s absolutely horrible,” one current employee of the law school said. “Everyone’s just praying that she’ll leave or that she’ll get ousted.”

‘Unlike anything I’ve ever seen’

Several staff and faculty members said unclear strategy, micromanagement and a lack of trust have also hindered the law school’s ability to function effectively.

“People are always going to be unhappy with the dean,” one longtime faculty member said. “But this is a situation where everyone (is) unhappy, and I think that’s about general incompetence.”

Four former members of the marketing team said micromanagement by Osofsky made it nearly “impossible” to do their jobs. Several of them pointed to the collapse of the law school’s alumni magazine — previously published in print each spring and fall — as an example.

According to one former member of the marketing department, work on the Fall 2021 issue of the magazine began before Osofsky joined Pritzker. However, several former members of the team said that, while previous deans had a minimal role in the editorial process, Osofsky insisted on being heavily involved.

Emails obtained by The Daily show Osofsky sent the team several requests for changes to a draft of the magazine submitted to her in August 2021. One included a request that quotes from Speta be replaced with her own quotes — even though she had not been at the law school when events featured in the

and Administration Molly Heiler — had all worked at Pritzker for over a decade.

A veiled search process told The

Another tenured faccommittee

campaign.”

of disciples to treat well.”

Plan-

magazine took place.

“I kept saying, ‘This is never gonna happen,’” one person who worked on the magazine said. “‘This woman’s never going to OK this, and she’s never going to kill it. It’s just laying on her desk.’”

The team went back and forth with Osofsky over the changes for several months, emails show.

However, the magazine was never published, despite several prominent alumni and faculty expecting their accomplishments to be featured.

“The sense of micromanaging goes all the way down to the basement,” one Pritzker staff member said. “(It’s) unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

According to the Pritzker website, production of the alumni magazine has been put on hold as of January 2024. The last issue available is Fall 2020.

The University did not respond to questions about the discontinuation of the print magazine.

Some other staff members said they feel confident in Osofsky’s leadership, though.

Hagerty told The Daily in a statement that she and University President Michael Schill support Osofsky, adding that her accomplishments have advanced Pritzker’s priorities and bolstered its reputation.

sloppiness.”

Yates told The Daily that Osofsky has positively impacted recruitment by helping bring 19 new faculty members to the law school, including six tenured or tenure-track hires.

Crawford, the former Student Bar Association president, said Osofsky’s lack of administrative support has also impacted her life and career.

Crawford found an off-campus apartment in 2021 through StudentSpace, a service that NU uses to recommend off-campus housing for graduate students. She quickly noticed that the building’s elevator had several city code violations.

“Northwestern’s deans, like leaders of any major organization, make difficult decisions about the directions of their schools,” Hagerty wrote in the statement. “Every choice — no matter how big or small it may seem — always will have its critics. That is the nature of leadership in a community where diversity of thought is promoted and celebrated.”

Associate Dean of Admissions and Career Services Donald Rebstock, who has worked at the law school for 27 years, said he attributes the recent success of his team to Osofsky’s leadership.

Crawford’s apartment and others on her floor were forcibly broken into in January, after which it took three weeks for her to get a face-to-face

”

“When there’s a dean transition, you’re kind of starting all over again,” he said. “That can be hard, especially for people who have been here for a long time — and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t challenging for me as well. But presently, I think we’re moving past that.”

‘When students need somebody, they don’t have them’

Several faculty members pointed to the dean’s delay in appointing and announcing faculty committees as another failure that has impacted students.

Osofsky has yet to appoint a clerkship committee, which is crucial in helping law students apply for federal clerkships, students and faculty members told The Daily.

Another faculty member noted that the law school’s website for faculty-administered committees has not been updated since before Osofsky joined NU, posing a critical barrier for students seeking faculty support.

The website currently reads: “Committee information will be posted once available.”

The University did not respond to a question about why faculty committees have not yet been announced publicly.

Three faculty members also alleged that Osofsky’s over-involved style of management has impacted the faculty recruitment process.

“She’s very frustrating, because she insists on micromanaging a lot of aspects of the process,” one faculty member said.

They pointed to two incidents from 2022, one of which involved the dean allegedly rescinding an offer sent to a candidate — a move several faculty members described as highly unusual. In a February 2022 meeting with faculty, Osofsky shared that the offer had been revoked but did not offer an explanation, according to sources present at the meeting.

The University did not respond to a question about the incident.

Another incident occurred several months later, when the dean inadvertently attached an offer letter with confidential salary information to an email sent to faculty about a different new hire. One faculty member described the incident as a “catastrophic blunder” which raised concerns about pay equity.

Osofsky acknowledged the incident in a Nov. 15, 2022 message to faculty, apologizing for her error.

“I think that’s just a perfect example of how her micromanagement leads to mistakes,” one faculty member told The Daily. “It leads to

Yates told The Daily that Osofsky has presented on the law school’s budget on three separate occasions this academic year, “providing the same level of detail on salary information that is consistent with the University’s practice.”

Several current and former staff and faculty members also labeled Osofsky’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy as inconsistent and unclear.

demoralized, and truly unable to do their jobs.”

Three days later, another former member of the marketing team sent a letter of support, corroborating the allegations in the initial letter and expanding on their experience.

The letters alleged that the marketing team had been subject to rude and denigrating feedback, a lack of respect for regular working hours, unrealistic expectations and alleged “gaslighting” by Osofsky in response to concerns raised by staff.

A representative of the Provost’s Office redirected concerns to HR, according to emails obtained by The Daily.

One former employee told The Daily that Osofsky directed them and other administrators to write and sign statements about diversity, equity and inclusion. The former employee said, while they and others felt the statements were “performative,” employees did not feel comfortable raising concerns.

“Deans can be unpopular, they make unpopular decisions, but for this many people to come forward and keep pushing it up to the leadership of the University — it means there’s a serious issue here.”

- Former social media director

“I’m running out of options to live, and I am reaching a breaking point,” Crawford wrote in a Jan. 29 email to a Pritzker administrator. “I need help figuring out a solution.”

“There was one time that I spoke up, and I said something,” they said. “(Osofsky) called me privately and was like, ‘Tell me why you’re not supportive.’ And when the dean of the law school does that, obviously I didn’t feel like I had a choice.”

The colleague followed up with the representative from NU HR and the Provost’s Office on April 17, 2023, to inquire about the response to her complaint and ask about another circulating among students.

administrator

One senior administrator pushed back on the notion that Osofsky’s DEI work lacks substance or strategy, noting that, in their view, “there’s been significant progress” since Osofsky joined the law school.

The former social media director at Pritzker described Osofsky’s understanding of diversity as “very literal,” saying there was an emphasis on bringing in people of color but not on committing resources to marginalized students, staff and faculty.

Earlier that month, over 70 law students signed a draft titled “Statement of No Confidence in Dean Hari Osofsky,” which requested the immediate removal of Osofsky from her position, sources familiar with the matter told The Daily.

The letter was addressed to representatives from the Office of the Provost, the Office of General Counsel and the Office of the Ombudsperson but ultimately never submitted, sources said.

Yates confirmed that no “Statement of No Confidence” in Osofsky has been submitted to the University or the provost.

“We bring in all these students of color who we’ve actively recruited and told them they’re going to have such a lovely educational time here, and then they find a hostile environment,” the former social media director said.

“While some of us will graduate this year, we cannot sit silent while Dean Osofsky demolishes Northwestern’s community and culture, the very attributes that drew us to Northwestern,” a draft obtained by The Daily reads.

Crawford said she appreciated the help she received from faculty and administrators who she had built close relationships with in her former position as SBA president but expressed concern for other students who might not have those support systems.

“I think the only reason I was able to (seek out help) is because I created that access,” Crawford said. “But, do we expect every student — specifically every student that is a first-generation law student or from a diverse, underrepresented community — to be able to create that access? Because if that’s the answer, then I can’t say that certain people should come to Northwestern.”

Crawford said while she’s not sure if Osofsky knew about her situation, she attributes the institutional failure to Osofsky’s role as the “captain of the ship.”

Yates told The Daily that “the Law School has developed and implemented concrete action to advance DEI that is grounded in listening” since Osofsky joined the law school. Initiatives have included establishing alumni affinity groups, an LGBTQIA+ Rights Clinic and a new working group to combat hate and increase understanding, he wrote.

The students raised several complaints in the draft statement, including Osofsky’s alleged tendency to seek out photo opportunities with students and professors of color, an allegation the University did not respond to.

The second former marketing employee said they were ultimately told HR determined that, since Osofsky had not violated NU’s code of conduct, nothing could be done.

Yates confirmed that the University reviewed the concerns and found no policy violations.

While concerns about the substance of DEI work at the law school have long persisted, staff and faculty said they feel the situation has been distinct under Osofsky.

“Many people on the faculty care very much about equity issues, and we have been frustrated and offended to see the dean use them in such a self-serving way that we think makes a mockery of those issues,” one faculty member told The Daily.

Complaints pile up

“We have worked with very difficult deans,” the former social media director said. “Deans can be unpopular, they make unpopular decisions, but for this many people to come forward and keep pushing it up to the leadership of the University — it means there’s a serious issue here.”

Calls for institutional change

After several months of corresponding with HR and other University officials, the former social media director decided to elevate their concerns to higher leadership.

Several current and former staffers said, while many of their concerns stem directly from Osofsky’s leadership, the law school must implement reforms to protect employees in

One of Osofsky’s former executive assistants said they would have reported their experience to HR but did not feel it would be helpful after

“A lot of the things I experienced could’ve been avoided not just with a different dean, but with some kind of protection for administrators,” the former assis-

“It just always goes back to the dean — when students need somebody, they don’t have them,” Crawford said. “There’s less availability and less bandwidth to take care of marginalized students like myself.”

Professed priorities neglected, employees say

“A lot of the things I experienced could’ve been avoided not just with a di erent dean, but with some kind of protection for administrators.”

Several current and former staff and faculty members told The Daily that Osofsky has publicly articulated priorities of transparency and diversity. However, her actions have consistently contradicted that messaging, they said.

Five faculty members told The Daily that concerns over administrative transparency have persisted throughout Osofsky’s tenure. They said Osofsky shares few details about budgetary information with faculty — a change from previous deans.

At a Jan. 30 meeting, a faculty member asked the dean why she could not provide more budgetary details. Osofsky cited confidentiality concerns, according to sources present.

“It was the most insulting PowerPoint presentation I think I’d ever seen,” one faculty member who was at the meeting told The Daily. “It could not have been more of a show trial version of giving us budgetary information. Past deans nonetheless would consistently give detailed numbers.”

- Former assistant to the dean

In they emailed offi-

cials from the Office of the Provost and the Office of General Counsel to make a formal complaint about Osofsky’s administration and to request an investigation into her alleged misconduct.

Staff and faculty also alleged that Osofsky is aware of frustrations with her leadership and said they believe she is worried about Schill finding out about discontent at the law school.

“Since her arrival in August 2021, Dean Osofsky’s toxic leadership has had a widespread negative impact on the students, faculty, and staff of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law,” the former social media director wrote in the letter. “My colleagues are stressed, frustrated,

One current staff member alleged staff have been instructed by Osofsky to avoid interacting with Schill when he visits Pritzker, where

he is a professor of law.

“When he comes in, (Osofsky) tells us we’re not allowed to look at him, talk to him, nothing,” the employee said. “I don’t know what she’s worried about, but trust me, people want to talk to him.”

as intimidation.

A faculty member also alleged that Osofsky is known to ask faculty members to observe who meets with Schill when he’s at Pritzker and report back to her — something they perceive Osofsky did not comment on the allegation.

One current employee said they were “shocked at the arrogance of the Provost’s Office” not to take any significant measures after students, faculty and staff have raised concerns, noting that, in their view, it will likely take years to repair the damage done.

“I don’t know who can fix this,” they said. “Let’s say she leaves. Who’s gonna come in and fix this mess?”

jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu

College Republicans hosts ‘detransitioned’ activist

By ISAIAH STEINBERG

the daily northwestern

@isaiahstei27

Content Warning: This story includes mentions of suicide. Activist Chloe Cole gave a talk opposing genderaffirming care for minors at an event hosted by the Northwestern College Republicans Tuesday night.

The event was titled “Transition and Detransition.” Cole, 19, began transitioning at 13 and finished “detransitioning” at 16. She now supports bans on genderaffirming care for minors, and testified to Congress about her experience in July. She is a “patient advocate” for Do No Harm, a political advocacy group which opposes gender-affirming care for children.

Gender-affirming care has been approved by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and other major medical associations as an effective form of treatment for those facing gender dysphoria, including minors.

Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association also show that access to genderaffirming care is linked to improved mental health outcomes and lower rates of self-harming behavior. An Associated Press review of 27 studies found that about 1% of adults who receive gender-affirming surgeries express regret.

Representatives from NU’s Society of Transgender and Non-Binary Students and other individuals handed out informational brochures and flyers and waved pride flags at the event.

The brochure distributed by STANS disputed some of Cole’s main points and highlighted the positive results of gender-affirming care, arguing social and medical transition is “the only scientifically-supported method of addressing gender dysphoria.” It also featured resources like the Trans Lifeline and Trevor Project Suicide Hotline.

Members of conservative student group Young Americans for Freedom were also present at Tuesday’s event. NUCR worked with the national branch, Young America’s Foundation, to organize it.

Weinberg junior Mattie Poelsterl, head of advocacy and education for STANS, said the group protested the event because Cole’s experience is not representative of all transgender youth. The group disagreed with her position that no child should be allowed to transition.

“We believe the College Republicans and YAF are

using this event mostly to feed into transphobia here on campus,” Poelsterl said.

During her speech, Cole criticized her doctors for “manipulating” her parents into believing she would commit suicide if her parents prevented her from transitioning. She said children should not be permitted to make decisions that will govern the rest of their lives.

Cole said she experienced “gender euphoria” after her transition, but then became depressed and realized she wanted to grow up as a woman.

Cole said her identity does not come from pronouns or self-identification.

“I wish someone had told me that I was perfect just the way that I was,” she said.

Cole also repeated a common idea used to oppose gender-affirming care — that gender dysphoria is a phase, or a part of adolescence that passes.

Weinberg senior and NUCR former President

Agustin Bayer said the purpose of the event was to bring light to “an issue others seek to obscure.”

“When we put up posters to publicize this event, as we were approved by the University and everything, there were students here at Northwestern that tore them down,” Bayer said. “And that is something that I have never seen in all my four years here.”

In May, NUCR hosted anti-LGBTQ+ activist and conspiracy theorist James Lindsay, who helped popularize the rhetoric that members of the LGBTQ+ community are “groomers.” The following night, NU’s Associated Student Government froze the College Republicans’ funding for posting flyers violating NU’s Policy on Discrimination & Harassment.

ASG has since reinstated NUCR’s funding, according to Bayer.

Bayer said the event is not hate speech and that people should not be offended by “divergent

opinions” on controversial issues.

“I think that for some students who identify as members of the LGBTQ community or as allies, if they care about living fulfilled lives, they should be prepared to listen to voices that disagree with the path they’re currently taking,” Bayer said.

Poelsterl said the event may have made transgender students feel unsafe on campus.

Weinberg junior and STANS Treasurer Misty Roe added that gender-affirming care is lifesaving and follows standards set by the medical community.

“We will advocate for our right to exist as trans people on this campus,” Poelsterl said. “We will advocate for our trans brothers and sisters who around the country are being harmed by the rhetoric that Chloe Cole is spreading and the bills that her rhetoric is being used to pass.” isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu

Micah Sandy/The Daily Northwestern

Conservative activist Chloe Cole speaking behind a lectern at Louis Hall at Norris University Center. Cole spoke about her experience “detransitioning” as part of Northwestern College Republicans’ speaker event Tuesday.

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1

about the ban is distributed, through banners and signage. Also, the city website has not been translated into Spanish, which is crucial to Latine workers at landscaping businesses.

Geracaris echoed Parker’s sentiment. He said he is worried about the small Latine businesses not being aware of the ban’s existence.

Although landscaping businesses can apply for up to $3,000 to cover the cost of transitioning to electric, the grant is only available to registered businesses, and only four businesses have actually received a grant, Geracaris said.

“Not all the business owners are, you know, English might be their second language,” Geracaris said. “The (grant) application process and getting all that stuff together, I think, is daunting for some.”

Geracaris has also suggested a “buyback” program, which City Council could implement alongside the pause. The program would allow businesses to exchange gas-powered leaf blowers for their electric counterparts and require “minimal documentation.”

Several other members of Natural Habitat Evanston have also raised concerns over the environmental consequences of a potential ban reversal.

Citing the United States Environmental Protection Agency, DePaul University Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science Prof. Clark Elliott said gas-powered leaf blower emissions can result

From

Elevating Deaf Voices and Latin Music Ensemble also applied for the fund, but decided during the meeting to rescind their applications and pursue funding from other ASG grants.

Most groups did not receive the full amount they requested due to the constraints of the available funding. Weinberg junior and ASG Executive Officer of Accountability Alexis Schwartz said groups can supplement unfunded requests using other ASG grants such as the Executive Grant and the Sustainability Grant.

“We have a lot of money left to give out to support,” Schwartz said during the meeting. “We really want to make it accessible for you guys to do the things you want to do.”

The ASG Sustainability Grant distributes $2,000 to organizations seeking to promote and improve sustainability at NU each quarter, with a $500 limit per group.

The Executive Grant distributes $23,000 in funding each quarter to student organizations that focus on affinity events, community building activities, and innovative ideas, with a limit of $1,000 per group. The grant is currently accepting applications.

Bienestar, NU’s undergraduate Latine

in respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Increased noise pollution can also lead to lower cognitive abilities in children.

Leslie Shad, the co-lead for Natural Habitat Evanston, said that she believes landscaping businesses should adjust to the climate crisis.

“Honestly, the whole market is changing, and we have to figure this out, or we’re just burning our planet up,” Shad said.

Geracaris emphasized that this pause is meant to help small businesses “adjust” to policy changes.

“I think there’s a lot of concern that we’re going to completely backtrack on what we did, I don’t think that’s the case,” Geracaris said. “We’re not going to backtrack on this ban, we have to move forward.”

Additionally, the ban currently instructs residents to report landscape workers who still use gas- and propane-powered leaf blowers through 311, the city’s call center, which has shown to be “problematic,” Geracaris said.

He said that he hopes the city’s community responder program, which will be implemented this summer and direct certain lowrisk calls to unarmed community responders rather than law enforcement, can help address the issue.

“We all have to make huge changes regarding the way we do pretty much everything in relation to the climate crisis we have,” he said. “But we also have to be mindful that we’d have to help people get there.”

shreyasrinivasan@u.northwestern.edu

community service club, requested funding for upcoming events, meetings and other initiatives.

Weinberg senior and Bienestar Co-President Cristian Carpio said NSOSF funding would benefit the organization’s community-building events.

“I don’t think we’ve catered until now,” Carpio said. “We’ve been inching our way with other funding streams to be able to get to that point, but as a new org even almost two years into it, we haven’t had a single event. The funding will definitely help.”

Vibrant Colors Collective, NU’s multicultural theater organization, received funding for its spring performance.

Communication junior Ferdinand Moscat, Vibrant Colors Collective’s “co-director of fun,” said it was his first Funding Senate. He said he enjoyed the chance to learn more about the pitch process and how to answer senators’ questions.

The Senate also passed resolutions to establish a Universitywide inclement weather policy, include equivalent gluten-free options in dining halls and Norris University Center, place first-aid posters in dorm common areas, expand safety preparation measures on campus and offer reusable Ozzi to-go cups in dining halls.

The NSOSF will not accept applications for reimbursement funding from previous events at future

Funding Senate meetings, according to SESP senior and Speaker of the Senate Leah Ryzenman.

Ryzenman said she was grateful to organizations and senators for preparing and staying throughout the whole meeting, which lasted nearly four hours.

“I really appreciate both the student

organizations and the senators’ due diligence,” she said. “I think they were asking the right questions and student groups came super prepared and passionate about their organizations.”

isaiahsteinberg2027@u.northwestern.edu

Illustration by Taylor Massey

The New Student Organization Support Fund allocates $5,000 to new student organizations each quarter.

Sixth inning leads NU to home-opening victory

By SHUN GRAVES the daily northwestern @realshungraves

With Northwestern and Illinois State tied 1-1 in the sixth inning Tuesday, junior catcher Bennett Markinson held the weight of the game — his team’s home opener — in his hands.

Then, Markinson went yard.

“Sometimes you need that as an offense,” coach Ben Greenspan said. “That first guy gets a big one, and you go from there.”

Markinson’s home run arced auspiciously over the left field fence, and the Wildcats (2-5, 0-0 Big Ten) followed with a romp over the Redbirds (2-5, 0-0 Missouri Valley) just as the visiting defense faltered.

NU netted three more runs in the sixth and snapped a five-game losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 victory.

In a game where the ’Cats recorded just six hits, the sixth-inning flurry arose from a number of factors — and players. Illinois State pitchers Tanner Perry and Braden Roesch allowed three walks in four at-bats, filling up the bases and setting the stage for NU’s insurmountable lead.

Graduate student outfielder Griffin Arnone then launched an RBI deep toward right field. On the next at-bat, the Redbirds struggled to reel in a hard-hit ball to the first base line, juggling the ball in the infield as the ’Cats notched another run.

Up next at the plate? A passed ball that gave NU another run, its fourth of the inning.

Illinois State’s sixth-inning bungles arrived after a stronger start for the team from Normal, Illinois. Meanwhile, the ’Cats’ bats started off quietly — notching three hits in the first five innings, including one RBI in the second.

Not Wildcat wunderkinds, graduate student

pitcher Kyle Potthoff and sophomore righthander Amar Tsengeg arrived this year at NU after respective stints at the University of Missouri and the University of Texas at Dallas. Still, they allowed only three hits until the Redbirds’ Shai Robinson launched a far-left home run that clunked the foul pole in the sixth.

“I’m really proud of the way we competed on the mound, competed in the strike zone,” Greenspan said. After the action-packed sixth inning, NU’s bullpen allowed five hits but kept the Redbirds at bay and iced the 5-1 victory.

Tuesday’s game followed a stretch of early losses on the road this month. No. 12 Duke swept last weekend’s series in North Carolina, underscoring the ’Cats’ inconsistency in offense and troubles with pitching depth.

“Tough weekend at Duke,” Markinson said. “They were a really good team. I thought we played better than the box score shows, the first two weekends as a whole. I think it’s huge to be able to come in February in Chicago and play a home game and get a win.”

The victory over Illinois State also marks a decisive milestone for Greenspan, who arrived

as coach in August after the turbulent, hapless 2023 campaign. A non-conference series this weekend against Bethune-Cookman in Florida could test whether the team continues some muchneeded momentum.

“We all believe, I think, there was no hindrance from the first two weekends,” Markinson said. “We know what we can do. It’s just great to be in the home ballpark, get a win and get rolling as we move forward.”

shungraves2027@u.northwestern.edu

Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra

Igor

Benjamin

Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern

Sophomore infielder Owen McElfatrick makes a swing during Northwestern baseball’s home opener against Illinois State on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

By AAYUSHYA AGARWAL daily senior staffer @aayushyagarwal7

Fresh o of a six-day layo , Northwestern returned to the court at College Park, squaring o against Maryland Wednesday.

e Wildcats (20-8, 11-6 Big Ten) were victorious over the Terrapins (15-14, 7-11 Big Ten) in the teams’ Jan. 17 Evanston matchup and looked for a season sweep against their conference foe on Wednesday.

Both teams struggled to score early, combining for nine points by the game’s rst media timeout. Junior guard Brooks Barnhizer’s pullup jumper opened the contest’s scoring. Minutes later, sophomore forward Nick Martinelli’s hookshot snapped a near-three minute NU scoring drought and gave the visitors a 6-5 lead.

As the ‘Cats held the Terrapins scoreless from the eld over an eight-minute stretch during the rst half, both teams faced di culties nding any semblance of o ense. Sophomore forward Luke Hunger’s layup gave the visitors a 10-8 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the half.

While matching the Terrapins’ ice-cold stretch with a similar icy period, NU rode a 7-0 run o the charity stripe, extending its lead to 20-14 with less than ve minutes before the intermission.

e ‘Cats tallied their rst points from beyond the arc o of graduate student guard Boo Buie’s pullup three, extending the visitor’s lead to 23-16. Scoring the next six points unanswered, the Terrapins trimmed NU’s lead to one with less than three minutes remaining in the rst half.

A er Barnhizer’s late heroics, the ‘Cats held a 29-24 lead entering the locker room.

Kicking o the second half, Buie’s driving layup and senior center Ma hew Nicholson’s alley-oop score helped NU build a seven point lead. Minutes later, Martinelli’s and-one layup extended the visitor’s lead to eight.

A er the Terrapins scored six unanswered points and trimmed NU’s lead to two, sophomore guard Blake Smith’s and-one layup and Nicholson’s dunk were part of a 11-3 NU scoring run. e ‘Cats extended their lead to 10 with a li le over six minutes remaining.

Despite a late 8-0 Maryland run, Martinelli’s staple le -handed oater silenced the Terrapins

in a visiting win. Here are three takeaways from NU’s victory over Maryland.

1. Langborg loss looms large

Minutes before tipo , graduate student guard Ryan Langborg was ruled out with an ankle injury. Despite losing senior guard Ty Berry to a season-ending knee injury, the ‘Cats have gone 4-1. NU’s only loss over this stretch was when Langborg was ejected a er a agrant 2 penalty 10 minutes into the contest.

With the Princeton transfer’s absence on Wednesday, the ‘Cats were similarly undermanned.

e lack of available rotation players led coach Chris Collins to give Smith his rst career start.

Smith wasn’t the only Wildcat to see extended playing time early on. Collins elected to play sophomore forward Justin Mullins and freshman guard Jordan Clayton in the game’s opening minutes.

Amid Langborg’s absence, NU struggled to li the lid o the rim over the rst frame. e ‘Cats shot at a 7-of-19 clip from the eld, including a

lone trey on seven a empts from beyond the arc entering the intermission.

2. ‘Cats contain explosion from Terrapin guard Jahmir Young

When both teams squared o a few weeks ago, the ‘Cats had di culties containing Maryland guard Jahmir Young, who tallied a game-high 36 points.

While NU came out on the winning side, Young’s e orts allowed the contest to come down to the nal possession. If the visitors wanted a chance to complete the season sweep, they needed to limit the Terrapin guard.

As both teams exchanged leads amid o ensive struggles, the ‘Cats contained Young early on, limiting him to shoot 1-of-6 from the eld and bucketless on three a empts from beyond the arc.

While NU restricted Young’s shooting abilities, it faced di culties keeping him o the charity stripe. e Maryland guard shot a game-high 10 rst half free throws and tallied eleven points.

Young wasn’t the only Terrapin held in check

o ensively. e ‘Cats held Maryland to shoot 5-of26 from the eld — including a 1-of-14 clip from deep — over the rst half.

3. Amid o ensive struggles, Martinelli leads NU’s o ense

With an extremely thin rotation and points at a premium, the ‘Cats needed a player outside of Buie and Barnhizer to spark the o ense.

Martinelli answered the bell from the game’s onset. As NU struggled from the eld, the sophomore forward remained aggressive. e Terrapins were unable to keep Martinelli o the charity stripe during the rst 20 minutes and the Glenview, Illinois, native was perfect on eight a empts from the free throw line. By the intermission, Martinelli recorded a gamehigh 12 points while corralling ve rebounds.

Out of the locker room, the sophomore forward continued to lead the o ense. Tallying 15 secondhalf points, Martinelli nished Wednesday’s contest with a career-high 27 points. aayushyaagarwal2024@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal Sophomore forward Nick Martinelli attempts a shot.

LACROSSE

Northwestern Lacrosse helps local leagues thrive

By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

During the late 1990s, a legion of lacrosse legends descended upon Winnetka’s Skokie Playfields to coach a youth clinic. Several dozen players, many of whom hardly — if ever — had grasped a stick, got to learn from the sport’s brightest minds and premier talents.

“Our offensive coach met with their staff treated his staff as equals, coaching staff in the country.”

It was there that current Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller first crossed paths with a man who would eventually go on to build a high school lacrosse dynasty: Loyola Academy coach John Dwyer III. The two exchanged contact information but couldn’t have foreseen the boundless impact they’d have on the local game.

“She brought a star-studded cast of then-Maryland players; one of them was (now-Loyola-Maryland coach) Jen Adams, which is amazing when you think about the little town here in Winnetka that we had such quality coaching for a raw beginners’ clinic,” Dwyer said.

way to varsity competition.

Glenviewbased club Team One expanded

While NU captured its seventh national championship in Stony Brook, New its operations to girls’ program

any level. Now, Bonaccorsi said, 80-90% of her players join her team

with prior playing experience.

national growth and media coverage lacrosse we have not seen before,”

“Growing up, it was an all or nothing thing … you’re either putting (down) thousands of thing but playing for your high school team,” Bonaccorsi said. “Now there’s a bunch of different clubs being able to offer different levels of lacrosse based on ability wants.”

Months after Amonte Hiller’s first skills sessions, the rumor mill began churning. The Wildcats women’s lacrosse program, which had disbanded in 1993, seemed back on its

With three young daughters enamored with the game, Dwyer approached then-NU athletic director Rick Taylor to inquire about the potential program’s progress. Rick Taylor confirmed the rumors, but he said the school was far from

For Dwyer, the perfect candidate — who’d eventually coach his youngest daughter from 2018 to 2022 — was just a stone’s throw away.

fielded squads. Now, the figure Collins said he, Dwyer and a few game. He said Amonte Hiller was

her Wildcat Elite Club. here,” Collins said. “I’ve been fortuEliott Whidden) and Carli Harpel.”

Less than two

“I said, ‘I’ll give you one coach you might want to at least talk Dwyer said. “I gave ly’s contact inforand he goes ‘Wait this the same family from setts?”

months had her clinic site, Amonte Hiller built a perennial powerhouse from scratch, forever transforming the game’s local landscape — and impacting countless individu-

Amonte Hiller was als in the process.

According to New Trier High early

Several Team One merged with Amonte Hiller’s club executive

a no-brainer. “We what was best for girls’ lacrosse in Illinois,” Roth said.

“Instead of having two programs and splitting resources and time, it was in the best interest of everybody to say ‘All right, let’s put all our eggs into one basket.’”

During the 11-year span that separated national titles seven and eight for the ’Cats, Team One’s girls’ program expanded to more

Bridging the gap between college

Looking for insight from the reigning national champions, Hinsdale Central High School coach Matt McNiff emailed Amonte Hiller and her staff

Venechanos on their Wildcat Elite team 2000s, impact

All the while, Amonte Hiller’s facilities and feedback have been readily available to the program, according to Kelly Kubach, the club’s girls’ lacrosse director and former Michigan defender.

“We’ve had the privilege in previous years to train at Ryan Fieldhouse and have the Northwestern coaching staff at our practices,” Kubach said. “Not only were they able to educate our coaching staff but also impact our player development … (Amonte Hiller) has always been a great resource that wants us to learn from her … and better the game of lacrosse in the area.”

BonacAve players participated in the pregame

‘Why we play’: Inspiring the next generation As NU took down Marquette Feb. 19,

stick line and caught glimpses of the game’s most sensational stars right before their eyes.

Bonaccorsi said it took watching just one game last season for many of her players to get hooked on the

Lake Show.

Northwestern

“We see girls wearing Northwestern Lacrosse shirts now at practice, and it’s just putting the opportunity in front of them … and the parents to be like ‘You could drive 40 minutes up the road and see the best team in the country,’” she said.

The girls saw just that at the Marquette game. Spanning large sections of sold-out silver stands, area high school and club players supported some of their former peers on the Golden Eagles and watched sophomore attacker Madison Taylor score six points in a dazzling display.

A boundless legacy to emulate.

lacrosse, club programs and high school squads, adopting the NU

they really are tremendous people

like the ’Cats every single day if we can.”

shot clock in 2017.

drought, Amonte Hiller

who shifted his entire approach at Team One. While she’d enced mounting pressure in consecutive NCAA Tourna-

her energy back onto the the same.

Since then, Roth and his colleagues have spent less time in the office and honed in on practice planning and relationship-building. He said the advice from a “lacrosse savant” like Amonte Hiller has yielded remarkable results — both on and off the field.

and local programs said Amonte Hiller’s McNiff in contact lacrosse operations. After and-forth cordence, McNiff

rapid response rattled responthe ’Cats comed and his coaching staff into Ryan Fieldhouse for an early February practice.

“We came into their beautiful facility, watched a practice (and) they gave us a few pointers,” McNiff said.

beyond

ber group. Kincaid, the former Illithe Year at Maine South High operate their program.

Roth estimated that total club player volume has increased by “five to 10 times” in the past decade, and more club and travel teams continue to enter the fold every year. With more programs and players emerging in the area, ingame competition now extends to elementary school years.

are consistently open with how they

Club-level expansion — Team One and beyond

which

started

coaching high school lacrosse in Illinois seven years ago, just two players had played at

The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year said the opportunity to inspire young players isn’t something she takes for granted.

“We always talk about it in practice, but that’s why we play — to play for the younger generation,” Madison Taylor said. “It’s such a great feeling when they come up to you after the game, you’re like ‘Wow, I really did make an impact on those little girls.’”

Many of the ’Cats serve as volunteer coaches for local youth programs, including senior defender Kendall Halpern at Team One and graduate student attacker Erin Coykendall at Lakeshore Lacrosse. Lakeshore Lacrosse CEO and Benet Academy coach Amanda Kammes said these role models are essential for female athletes.

“The thing that drives young kids — young girls specifically — to be motivated is to have mentors to look up to,” Kammes said. “Little boys have so many mentors in that capacity kind of built in … having Erin, the Tewaraaton Finalist, come out and actually work with them is just invaluable to our girls.”

“Kelly’s just a general role model to female athletes … and she was instrumental in helping us grow our club,” Roth said. “She is the GOAT. Scotty (Hiller) might be the perfect complement to the GOAT. The kids, when they see her, it’s like a celebrity, and that just makes them want to play more.”

As Amonte Hiller looks to add another national title to her resume and break her mentor’s — Navy coach Cindy Timchal — Division I record in the process, she’s cemented a legacy as a champion of the sport’s growth.

Some 25-plus years ago, that legacy was fortified in Evanston by way of a chance encounter between two future legendary coaches — a 15-time high school state champion coach at Loyola Academy and the conqueror of the collegiate status quo.

“She’s one of the most influential people I know,” Dwyer said. “There’s been a few people that have helped me tremendously over the years, and Kelly would be right at the top of that list.”

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

East Ave