The Daily Northwestern - March 2, 2023

The Daily Northwestern

The essentials aren’t just convenient — they’re for our mental health, too

Community members say administrative actions, external organizations and campus culture render Northwestern neither safe nor free for conversations about Palestine and Israel

By WILLIAM CLARK daily senior staffer @willsclark01

Content warning: This piece includes mention of Islamophobia, racism, antisemitism and death.

Throughout this story, some names have been changed to protect students’ safety. Many sources who requested anonymity did so to protect themselves from being blacklisted on Canary Mission. Sources who have chosen to remain anonymous will be indicated with an asterisk next to their name on first mention.

Student leaders discuss proposed GSRC in Plex

By LEXI GOLDSTEIN the daily northwestern @lexipgoldstein

Many students, like Communication senior Jo Scaletty, came to Northwestern looking for people who can understand challenges that can come with having queer identities.

“I feel like I have a perception that queer people just kind of find each other,” Scaletty, who is also external president of Rainbow Alliance, said. “I think it’s sometimes bizarre

— even to me — how it just happens over and over again, but it happened for me, so I was very glad.”

About a quarter of NU’s undergraduate population identifies as LGBTQ+, which is triple the 2013 figure, according to 2021 data from the Consortium on Financing Higher Education.

Multiple new queer student spaces have been founded in recent years, including the Society of Trans and Non-binary Students and an Out in Science, Technology,

In spring 2021, airstrikes, rocket attacks and police violence against protesters in Palestine and Israel left 261 Palestinians, including 67 children, and at least 13 people in Israel, including two children, dead.

At times, Northwestern’s administration has emailed community members about events that

impact students, faculty and staff student body, such as police brutality and global health crises. Yet to many students’ frustration, the administration stayed silent in spring 2021.

Ava*, a Palestinian alum who graduated in » See IN FOCUS , page 6

Renters can’t access reparations

One-year deadline to use grant approaches for recipients

By RACHEL SCHLUETER the daily northwestern @rschlueter26

Kenneth Wideman has lived in Evanston nearly his entire life. He tells people how much he loves his hometown whenever he travels, he said.

“I was raised here,” Wideman said. “My blood is here.”

His Evanston pride grew in 2019 when he learned the city was creating

a Restorative Housing Program to address the city’s historic discriminatory housing policies and practices.

Wideman, 77, applied for the program along with his 75-year-old sister. In January 2022, they were both selected to be in the first group of 16 residents to receive a $25,000 grant for home purchase, mortgage payments or home improvement.

However, Wideman said neither he nor his sister have been able to use their $25,000 because they rent their apartments and don’t own property.

Neither has plans to buy property, he said.

According to the city website, the reparations program doesn’t provide cash payments because doing so would subject recipients to taxes.

In March 2022, the city told Wideman he and his sister had a one-year deadline to use their reparations money, according to Wideman.

With the reparations grant set to

Illustrations by Emily Lichty

City considering rule to ensure fair work schedules

By CHRISTINE HOLTGRIEVE the daily northwestern @christineholtgr

Evanston resident Riad Rezko worked as a valet at the downtown Evanston Hilton Orrington hotel for more than a decade.

Hotel management switched him from full- to part-time employment, resulting in his loss of paid hours and insurance benefits. However, when his managers make him work overtime, they pay him the regular rate without additional compensation.

“They force us to do extended shifts, they force us to cover other people’s shifts,” Rezko said. “We have family, I have kids to watch.”

Evanston is now considering a Fair Workweek ordinance that would guarantee predictable work schedules for employees across the city.

The ordinance would require employers to provide workers with their schedule two weeks in advance, compensate them financially when their shifts change and allow them to take additional hours before the business hires new workers.

Mayor Daniel Biss and Ald. Devon Reid (8th) recommended the ordinance. Reid said he has been working on this ordinance for almost two years.

“We want to make sure, in Evanston, that we are taking care of our workers and creating the best possible and fairest working conditions that we can,” Reid said.

Rezko said he supports the ordinance. He wants a set schedule that will allow him to be with his family and support them at the same time.

Mari Fujara-Shevick, an 18-year-old Kilwins employee, said she has been subject to many lastminute shift changes herself. Once, she was called to come in two hours early for a shift.

Though she said she doesn’t mind the additional shifts too much because of the extra pay, some of her coworkers may not feel they are getting paid what they are owed.

The law set aside $350 billion to create Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which give governments nationwide money to address the health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

The City of Evanston directly received almost $43.2 million from this fund over 2021 and 2022 and has distributed most of the money.

economic and social consequences of COVID-19.

As of Feb. 28, City Council allocated almost $38 million of ARPA funds. It has about $5.2 million left to distribute, though about $1.2 million has been

By ensuring compensation for shift changes, the Fair Workweek ordinance would encourage employees to take unscheduled shifts and work harder, Fujara-Shevick said.

“It’s not even just compensation,” she said. “It’s a recognition that ‘we understand that this is difficult for you to come in and we appreciate you doing so.’”

Some business owners, however, raised concerns

requested for specific proposals.

City Council decides how to allocate the funds among seven categories based on eligible uses determined by the U.S. Department of Treasury, though unallocated Participatory Budgeting funds have yet to be categorized. Councilmembers are required by federal law to finish allocating funds by Dec. 31, 2024. All funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026.

William Tong

about how the ordinance would add additional record-keeping work and create negative financial impacts for their businesses.

Chris Birkinshaw, CEO of the chain Aloha Poke Co., spoke against the proposal at the Feb. 6 Human Services Committee meeting.

Birkinshaw said businesses are already struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic. The ordinance will only burden business owners further, he said. He is also against the provision that requires all businesses with more than 15 employees to comply.

“The 15-employee threshold squarely puts this ordinance at the foot of small businesses,” Birkinshaw said.

He asked the committee about the chosen number compared to Chicago’s ordinance — which has a threshold of 250 employees for restaurants and 100 for other businesses.

Reid said the city chose a threshold of 15 because these policies are important for all employees, not just those who work for big businesses.

“There shouldn’t be a number — really, every employee in the city should be covered by this,” Reid said. “It’s a fair compromise to have that number at 15.”

He said raising the limit to 100 or 250 would not adequately serve Evanston workers.

As part of this population, Rezko said he hopes the ordinance will encourage employers to put their workers first.

“Every management should understand respect,” Rezko said. “It’s not from bottom to top, respect should be from top to bottom and go both ways.” christineholtgrieve2024@u.northwestern.edu

Scan to see The Daily’s interactive tool breaking down how Evanston has been allocating ARPA money by category and project.

Illustration by Ziye Wang

President Joe Biden and Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to address the national health,

Here’s how Evanston has allocated $38 million in ARPA funds since 2021

Club Ski Team at NU hits the slopes

By JAKE EPSTEIN the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n

While the flat Evanston terrain doesn’t quite attract alpine sport enthusiasts, Northwestern skiers and snowboarders are shredding up a storm on the Club Ski Team.

McCormick junior and Club Ski Team coPresident Aidan O’Neil founded the club during Winter Quarter 2022, and members hit the slopes together for the first time this quarter.

“I’ve been racing since I was in middle school, and I wanted to bring that (aspect) to Northwestern,” O’Neil said. “I really missed the adrenaline.”

The team groups skiers of various experience and skill levels in a tight-knit community, O’Neil said. Though members want to win competitions and showcase their speed on the slopes, he added that the club’s main goal is to create an inviting, inclusive atmosphere for winter sports enthusiasts.

McCormick junior and co-President Andrew Lazarus said the club provides a strong community for anyone who loves winter sports — including non-skiers.

“Our members include anyone from first-time skiers to lifelong ski racers, and even some snowboarders,” Lazarus said.

The Club Ski Team entered three different two-day competitions this quarter, with members competing in the slalom and giant slalom fields, in which skiers race through poles and gates.

They weren’t just racing against other club teams. The members faced recruited athletes from colleges around the Midwest, like University of Minnesota Duluth, who underwent extensive training regimes prior to competition.

“We’re a part of the U.S. Collegiate Skiing Association,” Weinberg junior and Communications Chair Olivia Harbison said. “Since Northwestern doesn’t have a ski team, we fill that spot. Most of the other teams have a lot of infrastructure and mountains they can practice on.”

While the team’s competitors pride themselves on practicing and preparation, according

to Harbison, the club has yet to hold formal practices on the slopes. Instead, the skiers sometimes shoot some hoops in Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and have adopted a “learn as they go” mentality, Harbison said, honing their skiing skills when the lights shine brightest — in competition.

Harbison said the group benefits overall from its varied skill levels, as those with more racing experience can assist rookie competitors.

“Aidan is one of our more experienced skiers, and he was always standing at the top of the mountain with someone who’d never raced before,” Harbison said. “Since we don’t have a coach, we really rely on our experienced racers to be like the captains and teach everyone how to race.”

Despite stiff competition, Harbison and O’Neil

noted that nobody on the team ever placed last in an event, and many skiers earned top-50 finishes in fields of more than 100 racers.

O’Neil said he wants the club to grow in terms of size and skill and added that barriers to skiing at Northwestern could be slashed further. He said there will be more opportunities for the team to train and become more competitive next year.

“We hope to continue to develop as a ski race team but also make sure that skiing is more accessible to the student body,” O’Neil said. “So (we’re) doing everything in our power to bring more people to the mountain — bring people who have less experience so we can teach people how to ski and share the passion we have.”

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

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Photo courtesy of Andrew Lazarus

The Club Ski Team celebrates the culmination of its final event of the season. It competed in three two-day competitions this quarter.

Mills: A farewell. The end of my path as opinion editor

through the snow like stories: around yesterday’s snowpeople, tomorrow’s fights and today’s snow angels. Long tracks from bunnies streak through the snow — they pause with a twitch of the nose.

The winter is a reminder of our histories on the land. It is a time in which we tell our stories and retrace the trails of our more-than-human relatives, the snowshoe trails of our ancestors — a manifestation of past events, they guide us through the present.

The snow is melting now, and the footprints are beginning to fade. The snow crusts over and the few prints that remain become ice for one last moon, as if to say, “we are always here.”

Every day, three times a day, my dog Rita and I walk slowly through our neighborhood. She is nearly 13 years old, though being a stubborn pitbull, she tries not to show her age. Rita sniffs and I let her take me where she wants to go — where she wants to sniff. As the snow melts and returns, I’ve begun to take note of my surroundings again. Some days, I walk aimlessly through grass, following Rita’s nose as I ponder where it is she might be taking me. On other days, I see her tracking through the snow, following the footprints of wild animals and other dogs. Inevitably, she will lead me to a patch of yellow snow. Nice.

It’s so fascinating to me how much of the world we can’t see at any given time: how many trails there are to be followed. Footprints weave

Long tracks from bunnies streak through the snow — they pause with a twitch of the nose. They jump past the trailing little feet of a skunk.

- KADIN MILLS, Opinion Editor

They jump past the trailing little feet of a skunk. Raccoon hands blot a path to a garbage can, slinking by carefully.

We each leave our footprint in the snow, and while our impression may not last forever, it is intrinsically intertwined with every other footprint which crosses our trails. As this winter comes to an end, I reflect on the footprints I have left behind me.

As a columnist, I swore I would never become an editor for The Daily Northwestern. I told myself I valued my time too much to commit it all to the newspaper. But when I was asked to fill a vacancy, I decided I would. I walked confidently through the snow and into a blizzard — I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

The people pleaser in me has struggled. Every rejected story has the potential to upset someone but for every opinion published, there are thousands of other perspectives to be heard. I have felt pressured to make everyone happy, but I have had to learn it’s just not possible.

Instead, I have focused on learning from my mistakes and the incredibly difficult decisions I shouldn’t

have had to make at this stage in my career. Working for the opinion desk can be demoralizing, but I have loved reading the work written by the talented people in this community. I have read and edited dozens of articles from dozens of people, each voice unique and special. The privilege to work with each is something for which I am incredibly grateful, and I would do it all again.

Except I won’t. I am not sure which direction my path will go, but my path as opinion editor ends here. I am happy to finally get to move the mountain I’ve buried myself in and I anticipate the day I might carry on from this adventure.

Our trails cross and recross in unexpected ways. Soon, we will all be gone from here, and we will find ourselves in a new forest with new snow and new directions to walk in.

In the meantime, I am ready to map a new story onto the world.

Kadin Mills is a Medill junior. He can be contacted at kadinmills2024@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

Fu: You can have too much boba in Evanston, actually

always seem to take Chinese language and culture courses. White twinks grow bamboo, and white men love Asian wives. Strange.

When I arrived in Evanston — 18-years-old, Massachusetts-raised and ready to kick off my college career — one of my first thoughts was: “Where are all the Asians?”

At home, I know the places to be. For a haircut, I would stop by my favorite one-man hair salon. For steaming hot tteokbokki or budae-jjigae, I know any place on Allston Street will knock it out of the park. And for groceries, pastries, dim sum and spicy noodles that make your tongue dance, I know Chinatown always delivers.

These places were all second homes to me. There was something comforting to me about the pump of EDM radio stations, honking cars and fragrant smells. Coming to Northwestern, I felt like I had to start over. While I didn’t find much, I did, however, find six boba tea shops, all a stone’s throw away from each other. Cute. Downtown Evanston seems to be picking boba to present diversity. There’s a bankable foreignness to it — white people love Asian things. White people who search for meaning often seem to land on Buddhism, and white economics students

It feels like Evanston has chosen East Asianness to serve as acceptable “diversity,” a clean and cute “diversity.” This harmfully reduces East Asianness to a mere aesthetic, minimizes South, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander experiences in describing Asianness and effectively deems Latin American, African and African American cuisines as less desirable.

Beyond boba, downtown Evanston has also seen a rapid influx of ramen restaurants, with Tomo Japanese Street Food, Hokkaido Ramen and Ton-ichi Ramen all opening within the last year. I find it weird that Evanston keeps attracting duplicates — multiple ramen restaurants and boba tea shops — instead of opening up quite literally anything else. For starters, where is the fast food? Where are the restaurants serving food that isn’t middling, over-priced East Asian food? It feels like the good old brand of American racist and classist with an East Asian beauty filter on top. Maybe it’s not that deep, and I’m just overthinking it. It might have nothing to do with Evanston’s values and how developers want the city to look. It could have to do with the fact that boba chains all see Evanston, Illinois as a booming market because there are many wealthy college students with the petty cash

for expensive boba prices. Or perhaps, this is because of the sizable Chinese international population that comes to NU for its world-class academic reputation and also likes to drink boba.

Coming to Northwestern, I felt like I had to start over. While I didn’t find much, I did, however, find six boba tea shops, all a stone’s throw away from each other.

- YIMING FU, Assistant Opinion Editor

It could also be a simple cost-benefit analysis — boba shops tend to have low food costs, because tapioca and teas can last for a long time without going bad. That said, Evanston doesn’t seem to be trying to diversify its food offerings at all, which still feels violent.

We’ve got a lot of boba shops on our hands. But an abundance of tapioca doesn’t necessarily translate to a deep sense of belonging for East Asian students, despite our student groups often partnering with local boba shops for profitshare events. And to be clear, I do love boba. I like to get boba as a chill activity with friends, and it is something incredibly familiar to me, having spent my childhood floating between China and Chinatown. I believe a fruit tea with lychee jelly can fix a bad day. So I’m probably the target demographic for these boba shops. But there’s a point where there’s too much. And I think we’ve reached it.

I know I certainly didn’t hear of the latest boba tea store opening, and think, “Oh my gosh, Evanston loves me now.” I actually did not drop to my knees and weep about how Evanston’s sixth boba shop finally provided me the opportunity to return to my roots and celebrate my culture. Instead, I rolled my eyes a little, made a little mental note to check it out later and moved along with my life.

Yiming Fu is a Medill junior. He can be contacted at yimingfu2024@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

David: The world must apologize to women – and believe them

constantly used social media as a way to defend herself from baseless accusations. When she posted her injuries, Megan asked, “Why would I lie about getting shot? Why are y’all so upset that I don’t wanna be in the bed sad? Why y’all upset that I can walk?”

Content warning: This article contains mentions of gun violence.

Megan Pete — better known by her stage name Megan Thee Stallion — is a rapper who initially rose to fame with her 2019 hit “Big Ole Freak.” Since her debut, Megan has released two critically acclaimed albums and several chart-topping singles and has won three Grammys, including Best New Artist. Aside from her commercial success, Megan’s “hot girl” persona and Southern charm made her one of female rap’s most beloved starlets.

On Dec. 23, 2022, Daystar Peterson, a former rapper known as Tory Lanez, was convicted of several charges relating to a July 2020 incident in which he shot Megan with a handgun. The two were close friends prior to the shooting, a particularly important friendship for Megan after her mother’s death in 2019. This all changed when Lanez decided to violently attack Megan on the way back from a house party. After the attack, Megan had to wait more than two years for Lanez to be convicted. During this time, she has been the victim of mockery, ridicule and harassment from social media and some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

From the moment the story broke, many doubted whether Megan had been shot at all, to the point she felt the need to post pictures of her injured feet after the shooting. She

We need to take a more proactive approach to supporting women. This starts with believing them.

The truth is, people aren’t mad she can walk: They are mad she survived. Had Megan sustained fatal injuries, we would be hearing a completely different narrative. Everyone would have sent their condolences and memorialized her. The media would talk about her potential and the impact she had on music. But because she survived to tell her story, the world has turned its back on her. This isn’t about being pro-Lanez or anti-Megan. This is about misogyny. The abuse Megan has endured is reflective of the abuse survivors of gender-based violence often face. The reason many women don’t come forward is that they fear they won’t be believed or that their entire life will be picked apart and criticized in an effort to discredit them.

In 2017, actress Keke Palmer accused singer Trey Songz of sexual intimidation. Palmer alleged that she even hid from the singer in a closet because she was so afraid of him. Her accusations were swept under the rug by Hollywood and the media until several more women accused the rapper of sexual assault in later years.

In both women’s experiences, it is obvious that violence against them isn’t taken seriously, even when they have money, fame and status. Women who are unable to escape abusive environments or who can’t speak out against their abusers are given even less consideration. As this cycle continues, women are forced into isolation, continuing the stigma placed on survivors.

The world owes Megan Thee Stallion and countless other women an apology. An apology for never taking their words at face value. An apology for turning survivors into villains. An apology for creating a culture that silences women and perpetuates a vicious cycle of abuse.

When women are pressured into silence, predators continue their abuse. Abusers can only be held accountable when attention is brought to their actions. Too many abusers are able to maintain their positions of power because people are either unaware of their actions or are too afraid to speak out.

We need to take a more proactive approach to supporting women. This starts with believing them.

Loretta David is a Weinberg sophomore. She can be contacted at lorettadavid2025@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com.

The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern

Volume 145, Issue 15

Editor in Chief

Alex Perry

Opinion Editor Kadin Mills

Assistant

Opinion Editors

Loretta David Yiming Fu

Managing Editors Seeger Gray

Joanne Haner Angeli Mittal Olatunji OshoWilliams Kara Peeler Nicole Tan

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside The Daily office.

Letters have the following requirements:

• Should be typed and double-spaced

• Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number.

• Should be fewer than 300 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.

Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group.

Editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily’s student editorial board and not the opinions of either Northwestern University or Students Publishing Co. Inc.

- LORETTA DAVID, Assistant Opinion Editor

”

EPL creates community during Black History Month

By SHREYA SRINIVASAN the daily northwestern @shreyasrin

Evanston Public Library celebrated National Black History Month with games, events, speakers and its Evanston Black History Scavenger Hunt throughout February.

The Black History indoor Scavenger Hunt highlights some of Evanston’s historical landmarks that commemorate the city’s Black history, such as Family Focus, located at 2010 Dewey Ave., and the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.

Each day of February focused on a different center. The library also hosted various storytelling and arts-and-crafts activities throughout the month with the goal of educating and engaging Evanston’s youth.

Kennedy Joseph, the STEM experiences library assistant at EPL’s main branch, said they created the scavenger hunt to promote community and connection.

“Evanston has such a deep, rich history, especially pertaining to the Black community,” Joseph said. “I think the biggest thing is recognizing Black History Month and, especially for Black kids, knowing that being Black is something to celebrate.”

One of EPL’s larger events, the Black History Family Game Night on Feb. 19, partnered with the Oakton College to have their Black Student Union members come talk about the college’s programming.

Carmen Francellno, the family engagement coordinator at the main branch, said she wants to deepen EPL’s relationship with Evanston’s Black community. Francellno is trying to launch an

“African American read-in” with Oakton College in March, she said.

“We are trying to be more intentional about offering throughout the year,” Francellno said. “I definitely think it’s important for representation and for people that are not a part of Black culture to understand some of the things that happen in different cultures.”

This year, EPL worked to make its Black History Month offerings available both online and in person.

As a part of its monthly Short and Sweet initiative, the library hosted a storytime and kids arts and crafts event based on Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space. Liz Steimle, the event’s assistant programming coordinator, read books like “Mae Among the Stars” by Roda Ahmed, followed by a make-your-own rocketship bookmark section.

“The inspiration behind it was trying to find something for everyone during the transitional phase from the shelter-in-place to in-person programming,” Steimle said. “This program is a hybrid program, with a link to the storytelling video for people who aren’t comfortable with in person programming.”

EPL also brought in Black artists, authors and experts throughout the month, including Dr. Ruby Lathon, who spoke about holistic Black mental health care on Zoom.

Drawing on her battle with thyroid cancer, Lathon talked about the importance of diet and therapy for preventing age-based diseases for the Black community.

“Most of us need some level of therapy,” Lathon said at the event. “When we’re dealing with Black mental health, there’s a lot of data that shows Black

emerged as the frontrunner with 34% of the vote.

Incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was first elected four years ago, lost her bid for reelection with only 17% of the vote.

women carry more stress and fear. If we don’t deal with our problems, we push it off as just being part of our personality.”

EPL set up events like the scavenger hunt in concert with the Shorefront Legacy Center, which is dedicated to promoting Black historical figures and culture in Chicago’s North Shore.

Joseph’s collaboration with the Shorefront Legacy Center allowed them to educate Evanston

comprehensive plans that we need to restore public safety in our communities, turn around our schools and stabilize our finances.”

Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will face off in the April 4 runoff election for mayor of Chicago following the first round of voting Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

No candidate won more than 50% of the vote Tuesday. Vallas, a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools,

In a news release Tuesday night, Vallas, who positions himself to the right of both Johnson and Lightfoot, said he would make public safety a top priority.

“The City of Chicago needs a leader who will bring our city together,” he said in the release. “Someone who shares our residents’ values as a lifelong, prochoice Democrat. Someone who is prepared with the

Johnson, a Cook County commissioner and former CPS teacher, came in second with 20% of the vote.

In a speech to his supporters following the election, Johnson called for investment in affordable housing, the public school system and mental health services for all Chicago residents.

“We are going to finally retire this tale of two cities and usher in a better, stronger, safer, united city,” Johnson said.

residents about its rich Black history, they said.

“One intention that I have created is for young Black kids to go and say, ‘These are cool things that are happening in my town,’” Joseph said. “For me, Black History Month, a lot of it is about community. It’s just these little pieces of fun facts that really make you feel proud to live in a town like this.”

shreyasrinivasan2026@u.northwestern.edu

Lightfoot became the first Chicago mayor to lose reelection in 40 years.

In her concession speech, she said she is proud that under her administration, Chicago made record investments in affordable housing, education and public safety.

“I will be rooting and praying for our next mayor to deliver for the people of the city for years to come,” Lightfoot said. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to be mayor.”

Casey He

Madison Bratley/Daily Senior Staffer

The Evanston Black History Scavenger Hunt was based on research from the Shorefront Legacy Center, a group dedicated to promoting and educating about local Black history and culture.

Vallas, Johnson to enter in runoff for Chicago’s mayoral election April 4

2022, said many students reached out to the administration asking it to respond. She said she didn’t expect NU to take an explicitly proPalestine stance but simply hoped the administration would acknowledge it was a difficult time for Palestinians, Jews and Israelis.

“I don’t even care what they say, I just want to hear that Northwestern is literally just considering that we exist as human beings and deserve like, I don’t know, some support in any capacity,” Ava said.

NU’s students have not been silent about issues in Palestine and Israel. Over the past several years, moments of intense debate, activism and disagreement related to events in Palestine and Israel — as well as the University’s relationship with Israel — have flared up.

Many students and faculty members have expressed dissatisfaction with the way dialogues on campus unfold, stating these conversations are either unproductive, unfree or unsafe — or stifled completely. While some said they feel talking about Palestine and Israel is becoming freer and safer, others said structural and cultural barriers continue to prevent productive dialogue.

David Shyovitz, a history professor and director of NU’s Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies, said he wonders if these tense moments would be more constructive if they unfolded differently.

“I wonder if some of these are really missed opportunities,” Shyovitz said. “Maybe some of these really very tense expressions of these dynamics could be used to build longer-term discussions or longer-term relationships.”

Administrative statements and silence

After NU hired Medill Prof. Steven Thrasher in 2019, he gave a graduation speech at his alma mater, New York University.

In the speech, he voiced his support for National Students for Justice in Palestine — a student-led, pro-Palestine solidarity organization active in the U.S. and Canada — and the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which supports a Palestinian-led movement for sanctions on Israel and draws inspiration from the South

ASG passes NUDivest resolution

ASG votes to divest from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Hewlett-Packard, G4S, Caterpillar and Elbit Systems, companies that divestment supporters say sell products used by Israel in human rights violations in Palestine.

African anti-apartheid movement. Thrasher also referred to Israel as an apartheid state.

In response, then-University President Morton Schapiro and then-provost Jonathan Holloway released a statement saying that while Thrasher is entitled to his own views, “Northwestern as an institution unequivocally rejects BDS” and values its “many relationships with a variety of universities and research centers in Israel.”

Thrasher said although the University did not formally punish him, the statement functioned as an “intimidation” tactic, discouraging others on campus from voicing certain opinions.

“Ultimately, I was still hired and arrived,” Thrasher said. “But it’s very stressful … even seeing a press release about my graduation speech, that itself has a chilling effect on other people.”

Some students and faculty who are critical of Israel said that historically, the administration’s proIsrael statements have made speaking up about Palestine and Israel nervewracking. This dynamic makes it much easier for tenured professors to voice their opinions than it is for students, Thrasher said.

Meanwhile, Shyovitz said those with social and religious connections to Israel, like himself, also sometimes feel hesitant to voice their opinions.

“I think everybody is kind of at risk of being silenced by somebody else,” Shyovitz said. “The power dynamics are not wholly unidirectional.”

Aneesa Johnson (Communication ‘18), said the University’s reactions to individual students expressing their views has also hindered open conversation.

Johnson, who is Palestinian, said that while at NU, she was reported to the University for bias and hate after she posted tweets criticizing

NU criticizes Prof. Thrasher’s pro-BDS remarks

In a statement from then-President Schapiro and then-Provost Jonathan Holloway, NU is declared to be “an institution (that) unequivocally rejects BDS” and values its “many relationships with a variety of universities and research centers in Israel.”

Zionism. She said someone from the University emailed her while she was in an off-campus program and requested a meeting to discuss her tweets.

Johnson said she was confused about the email and was told further details could only be discussed during an in-person meeting.

“I went into the meeting very angry,” Johnson said. “I was like … this is ridiculous that I’m sitting here as a Black and Palestinian Muslim woman who wears hijab being reprimanded for bias and hate, especially with regards to a political issue that directly affects me.”

After Johnson expressed her frustration during the meeting, she said the administrator had a positive, constructive conversation with her.

Yet she said the fact that the University contacted her and required her to attend a meeting still impacted her.

“I think most people at 18, 19 years old, receiving an email that I did from the University, they’re going to be scared … and they’re going to shut up after that,” Johnson said.

The University’s policy regarding allegations of harassment based on political belief or affiliation falls outside the Office of Equity’s jurisdiction, NU Assistant Vice President of Communications Jon Yates said in an email to The Daily.

Thrasher said University responses like these play into a broader power dynamic, “socializing” community members into staying silent.

George*, a Palestinian student and former NU SJP board member, said SJP often struggles to get support from professors for its events, which he attributes to faculty being afraid of having their names affiliated with the organization.

Some Palestinian students also said administrative silence about violent and distressing

Students reestablish NU SJP

According to an anonymous SJP organizer, SJP reestablishes itself “in response to the brutality that occurred in spring 2021 when there were international protests in solidarity with Palestine.”

events in Palestine — including those in spring 2021 — has left them feeling the University does not value conversation about Palestinian issues or take their mental and emotional wellbeing into account.

Sama Ben Amer, a Medill sophomore and former Daily staffer who was on SJP’s board this fall, is a production assistant at Students Publishing Company, the nonprofit corporation that publishes The Daily. She is not involved in any editorial processes at The Daily.

She said she was frustrated that she didn’t receive an email from the University in May 2022 when Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot in the head and killed by the Israel Defense Forces, adding that none of her professors brought it up in class.

“I felt like politics aside, it’s a journalist who was murdered … and we’re the number one journalism school in the world,” Ben Amer said.

“So I feel there’s a great responsibility on us to be the first to denounce that sort of thing and lift her legacy up.”

External lobbying groups make

NU unsafe for dialogue

Amid the violence in Palestine and Israel in spring 2021, students began drafting an Associated Student Government resolution that called on NU to release a statement “supporting Palestinian human rights” and “condemning Israeli oppression.” The resolution further called on the University to divest from six corporations that “have aided the oppressive and destructive Israeli occupation.”

One student said after he began working on the resolution and mentioning it to other ASG members, the Google Documents draft began receiving access requests from accounts he didn’t recognize.

“Eventually it got to a point where I could just look up the name on Google and then on LinkedIn, and it was like, ‘Oh, this person is from Washington, DC.’ And then I saw (the) Israel on Campus Coalition and (the Israel Education Center),” he said.

The IEC is a branch of the Chicago-based Jewish United Fund, which aims to increase support for and understanding of Israel.

According to its website, the IEC “work(s) closely with Hillels across the Midwest to provide … the most effective strategies to combat delegitimization, anti-Israel activity, and the

MENA Program critiques campus conversations

MENA Studies Program says pro-Palestine students are intimidated, harassed and silenced on campus and that conversation isn’t happening on equal footing. The statement calls on the University to create conditions for freer and better-informed conversations, to avoid conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism and to devote more resources to MENA students on campus.

February 19, 2015

May 24, 2019

April 21, 2015

Group asks NU to change antisemitism definition

In response to the divestment resolution and a series of antisemitic incidents on campus, AMCHA Initiative, a nonprofit organization that aims to combat antisemitism on college campuses, writes a letter to then-President Schapiro. The letter urges him to have NU adopt the 2010 U.S. State Department definition of antisemitism, which includes “demonizing Israel,” “applying a double standard to Israel” or “delegitimizing Israel.”

October 19, 2020

NUCNC sparks Zionism and antisemitism debate

In an email, then-President Schapiro calls the chant ‘piggy Morty,’ used by Northwestern Community Not Cops in reference to police, antisemitic. In response, NUCNC releases a statement saying “false claims of antiSemitism have been used throughout Northwestern’s history to shut down student activists, especially Palestinian activists, and to divide coalitions by falsely claiming that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism.”

Spring 2021

Fall 2021

May 27, 2021

ASG passes divestment resolution

ASG votes to condemn Israeli human rights violations; Hillel releases a statement saying some Jewish members were “silenced, vilified, (intimidated) and personally attacked” during the proceedings. ASG apologizes in response.

February 14, 2022

SJP petition calls for Sabra boycott

SJP organizes a petition calling on NU to boycott Sabra products and replace them with a different brand. Sabra’s parent company financially supports certain brigades of the Israel Defense Forces, which human rights groups have accused of violating human rights. Organizers distribute flyers at Norris University Center and place a banner first at the Norris entrance, then on The Rock.

I wonder if some of these are really missed opportunities. Maybe some of these really very tense expressions of these dynamics could be used to build longer-term discussions or longer-term relationships.

David Shyovitz Director, Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies

BDS movement.”

According to its website, the ICC — the other organization that requested access to the ASG resolution draft — coordinates with various pro-Israel organizations nationwide to increase support for Israel and envisions campuses “where the anti-Israel movement is marginalized.” In 2018, ProPublica found that the ICC has a history of running anonymous social media campaigns to discredit pro-Palestinian activists and that the organization coordinates closely with the Israeli government’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs.

Daniel*, a MENA-identifying student involved with the ASG resolution, said it isn’t possible to talk about campus discussions of Palestine and Israel without also discussing the fears many Muslim and MENA-identifying students have about being surveilled by outside organizations, including foreign governments.

“College campuses — that’s where ideas are exchanged,” he said. “(It’s) supposed to be the bastion of free speech, but that doesn’t apply to Palestine because of these private and foreign interests that are allowed to do whatever they want with college students.”

The spring 2021 resolution wasn’t the first ASG resolution calling on NU to divest from companies associated with the Israeli military. It also wasn’t the first ASG resolution that received a reaction from outside organizations.

When ASG passed a similar divestment resolution in 2015, the AMCHA Initiative, a nonprofit organization that — according to its website — aims to combat antisemitism on college campuses, wrote a letter to thenPresident Morton Schapiro. The letter urged Schapiro to have NU adopt the 2010 U.S. State Department definition of antisemitism, which included “demonizing Israel,” “applying a double standard to Israel” or “delegitimizing Israel” as forms of antisemitism.

Historically, NU Hillel has also been in contact with the IEC and the Israeli Consulate.

According to Michael Simon, NU Hillel’s executive director, Hillel “communicate(s) regularly with the Israel Education Center and with the Israeli Consulate of the Midwest (based in Chicago).”

Several students who are critical of Israel also consistently identified Canary Mission as making it more difficult for them to speak out. Canary Mission is an anonymous online blacklist that compiles public dossiers of student

NU paints over pro-Palestine messages

SJP paints The Rock with pro-Palestine messages, including “From the River to the Sea” the day before admitted students’ day. An anonymous SJP organizer said the messages were painted over twice by University employees. “The intent was not to stifle free speech, but to allow the admitted students… to participate (in the tradition of painting The Rock),” Assistant Vice President of Communications Jon Yates said.

April 24, 2022

activists and organizations it deems to be antiIsrael or antisemitic.

According to reports from media outlets The Forward and The Times of Israel, the Israeli government has used Canary Mission’s blacklist to deny visitors entry at its borders.

“Canary Mission is literally the thing that stops me the most when speaking up,” Ava said.

Ava is stateless — her family grew up in Palestinian refugee camps — and she hopes to someday attain U.S. citizenship. She said she worries being blacklisted on Canary Mission would make it more difficult for her to get a job and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.

As a result of this fear, Ava said she never joined SJP during her time at NU. George said many Palestinian students he knows have avoided becoming involved with SJP for this same reason.

said her Canary Mission profile was brought up once during a job interview, she was still able to attend graduate school and easily find work.

Though she hasn’t tried to visit Palestine since she was blacklisted, she said her friend — who is also blacklisted — was able to enter safely.

College campuses that’s where ideas are exchanged. (It’s) supposed to be the bastion of free speech, but that doesn’t apply to Palestine because of these private and foreign interests that are allowed to do whatever they want with college students.

Charles*, a Palestinian American student, said he’s been having conversations with his family for at least 10 years about precautions to avoid being blacklisted on Canary Mission.

“If it’s out there and attached to my name that I’m critical of the Israeli government, then organizations like the Canary Mission, they don’t work alone,” he said. “That can be preventative to me being able to go back to where my people are from, and where I have family, and connecting (with) what I consider my homeland.”

Some? aActivists who have been blacklisted on Canary Mission said they have still been able to succeed professionally and even visit Palestine. Johnson, who was involved in the 2015 ASG divestment campaign, was blacklisted after her freshman year. Although she

NU SJP posts flyers in Norris

NU SJP posts flyers in Norris with phrases saying “We will not be silenced,” “End the siege on Jerusalem,” “End the siege on Nablus” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.” The flyers are taken down by the University. Yates told the Daily that “Any flier placed in unauthorized or unapproved locations are removed by University staff.”

November 3, 2022

May 11, 2022

NU ignores Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing

Israel Defense Forces shoot Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the head. Several days after Abu Akleh’s killing, Sama Ben Amer writes an op-ed in North by Northwestern criticizing Medill for failing to acknowledge Abu Akleh’s death, arguing Medill needs to engage in more conversations about how to “protect and defend journalists of color.”

November 9, 2022

Cohen op-ed calls SJP slogan antisemitic

After SJP paints pro-Palestine messages on The Rock, Weinberg junior Lily Cohen publishes an op-ed in The Daily writing that the phrase, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” — often used in SJP’s messaging — is antisemitic.

“I want people to be brave enough not to let the scare tactic work on them and to speak the truth, and to advocate regardless,” Johnson said.

But for many students, the fear remains. While George is not blacklisted on Canary Mission, he said he was terrified at the border the last time he visited family in Palestine, worrying that Israeli border agents might somehow know about his involvement with NU SJP and deport him to the U.S.

“It’s really so hard for us to get into the homeland just for being Palestinian,” he said. “And once you are in your homeland, you never know if you’re going to be safe from some authorities who are going to be out for you.”

How campus institutions shape conversations

The Middle East and North African Studies Program released a statement in fall 2021 that said students who are critical of Israel lack established spaces and institutions of support on campus compared to students who support Israel’s policies.

Prof. Wendy Pearlman, a MENA Program professor who teaches about Palestine and Israel, said the department wrote the statement in response to a group of MENA-identifying students telling the program’s faculty members they didn’t feel they had any other spaces on

Anonymous banner responds to op-ed

In response to Cohen’s op-ed, an anonymous banner is put up outside Deering Meadow. The banner is made from copies of the op-ed taped together, which have the phrase, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” painted over them. It is taken down within hours.

campus to go for support.

“We’re not here as an academic department to say we support some students and not other students — we’re here for any student who wants to learn about the Middle East and North Africa, regardless of their position,” Pearlman said. “But we found quite compelling some of the students’ concerns.”

Many students said the organizations that are — and aren’t — established on campus shape the way conversations unfold.

For instance, George said while groups like Hillel have a house on campus, groups like SJP and MENA Student Association are less established. Charles said campus discussions are often hosted by Israel-sympathetic groups, pushing conversations in a more pro-Israel direction.

Ben Amer said this fall, she and other SJP organizers worked to make SJP more of an established institution in NU’s campus culture through increased visibility and fundraising for humanitarian causes.

“Right now, I would say SJP is not part of the culture — it’s part of the counterculture,” Ben Amer said. “It’s not widely accepted as a legitimate student organization in some people’s eyes, and I think including the administration.”

Emily*, a Jewish student who is anti-Zionist, said Jewish students who are not pro-Israel also struggle to find spaces on campus where they feel comfortable.

Jewish Voice for Peace — a Jewish-led, antiZionist organization — defines anti-Zionism as “a loose term referring to criticism of the current policies of the Israeli state, and/or moral, ethical, or religious criticism of the idea of a Jewish nation-state.” EmilyShe said she identifies with both parts of JVP’s definition.

George defined anti-Zionism as opposing Israel existing as a state on the grounds that it was established by the displacement of Palestinians and continues to be maintained by occupation and denial of?denying full rights to the Palestinians who remain.

Emily said Hillel was the first place she went after moving into college to get food for Passover. But she hasn’t been back since then, largely due to how she feels about Hillel’s positions on Palestine and Israel.

According to Hillel International’s “Standards of Partnership,” the organization cannot partner with, house or host organizations and speakers who deny Israel’s right to exist as a

Robin R. Means Coleman emails campus

Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Robin R. Means Coleman sends an email to NU community members encouraging “meaningful, respectful” dialogue. Cohen and Simon said they were dissatisfied with the email.

November 14, 2022

November 14, 2022

Hillel criticizes banner, SJP defends it

Michael Simon calls the banner an example of “antisemitism” and “public bullying” in an Instagram post. The Hillel co-presidents release a statement condemning “the use of hateful rhetoric and the public, targeted attack on Jewish identity.” SJP releases a statement writing that “the current public fixation on the phrase… as an ‘antisemitic terrorist slogan’ is a particularly violent form of silencing.”

November 16, 2022

November 18, 2022

Pres. Michael Schill emails campus

President Schill sends an email to community members saying the slogan can be interpreted in different ways. He encourages dialogue, while noting he “would have hoped that the people who put up the sign near Deering Meadow … would have responded instead by discussing the issues, perhaps through their own op-ed.” Cohen and Simon said they were more satisfied with Schill’s email.

Daniel* Anonymous MENAidentifying student

Jewish and democratic state; “delegitimize, demonize, or apply a double standard to Israel”; or “support boycott of, divestment from, or sanctions against the State of Israel.”

When asked about the guidelines, Simon said Hillel International encourages campuses to adopt the guidelines in ways that reflect the local environment.

“I connect in a lot of ways to some of the spirit of the guidelines,” Simon said. “I also want to be careful about what it would mean to follow the letter of the guidelines.”

Since many campus organizations have voted for divestment resolutions in ASG, such as FMO and Rainbow Alliance, directly following the guidelines would mean Hillel could not partner with many campus organizations. Simon said avoiding these partnerships could be “very counterproductive.”

“Hillel has partnered with organizations like FMO and Rainbow Alliance in the past, and we would certainly welcome partnerships with such organizations now and in the future,” Simon said in an email to The Daily.

Though Simon said he wants anti-Zionist Jewish students to feel welcome to participate in Hillel and its community on campus, he also said the organization doesn’t “have an obligation to provide a platform for positions that … don’t just question Israel’s policies … but that are primarily designed to delegitimize Israel.”

op-ed in The Daily in Fall Quarter 2022. In the op-ed, Cohen said her love for Israel is central to her Jewish identity and called the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” — a phrase SJP often uses in its activism and messaging — antisemitic.

“From the perspective of a lot of students who consider themselves to either be Zionists or just generally support the existence of a Jewish state in Israel … we’ve seen other people who have brought it up … get attacked and ripped apart for it,” Cohen said. “It’s hard to be willing to do that.”

Cohen said she and many other Jewish students felt targeted by the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” because it has been used by Hamas, a Palestinian military and political group, to call for the destruction of Israel and its Jewish inhabitants. In her op-ed, she said the slogan was antisemitic because it originates from the 1988 Hamas charter.

We started off the quarter wanting to establish ourselves as a quoteunquote legitimate organization. But even when we go through the process by the books, we are still called terrorists.

Emily said she’s now working to launch an NU chapter of JVP, which she hopes could serve as a community space for non-Zionist Jewish students and as an ally for SJP.

“Coming from a community back home where I was going to Sunday school every weekend with Jewish people who have like-minded ideas … I think it is kind of lonely coming here and not having that community,” Emily said.

Palestinian students who do not identify with SJP’s tactics or messaging also face challenges. Charles said he doesn’t feel comfortable in Israel-sympathetic spaces on campus, but he has also felt alienated from SJP.

He said he doesn’t think his views are as “extreme” as SJP’s, and he doesn’t like that the group leans into provocative rhetoric, operates relatively anonymously and isn’t particularly open to “formal discussion” in his opinion.

But beyond SJP, he said he’s not sure what spaces he has to speak his mind on campus.

“Northwestern feels like a very Israeli-sympathetic school,” Charles said. “And places where I would expect … (to be able to) speak and share my opinions as a Palestinian, places like SJP, I don’t feel welcome there either.”

Emily said she thinks anti-Zionist students want to have conversations, but she doesn’t think it’s fair to blame SJP for a lack of dialogue because these conversations can be frustrating for Palestinian students. George also said past conversations he’s had with pro-Israel students and organizations were unproductive and “draining.”

Ben Amer said while conversations can be valuable, she doesn’t think they’re always worth engaging with — especially when one party has a better established platform to speak from. To move forward, conversations need to be held on equal terms, she said.

“The parameters for conversation and discussion cannot relent certain truths … and if we were to have a conversation, the level that both parties should be at should be even-handed,” Ben Amer said. “The access to the platforms in question are not the same, so conversations benefit one party more than the other.”

Navigating backlash, retaliation and prejudice

Many students said they fear backlash and retaliation from their peers when voicing opinions about Palestine and Israel.

Ava said when she posted or spoke about her views, peers would unfollow her or start avoiding her in public. She said other NU students visibly flinched when she told them she was Palestinian.

Some Zionist students also said they fear voicing their opinions on campus. Weinberg junior Lily Cohen, a Jewish student who is Zionist, said she felt students who express Zionist opinions have received intense backlash from peers.

“Zionism is just the belief that Jewish people have a right to self-determination,” said Cohen. “I believe in the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.” This was one reason she decided to write an

Palestinian liberation activists first used the slogan in the 1960s as a call for a secular, democratic state in the entire territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Zionists have also used the phrase in some contexts to advocate for Jewish control over the region. In the 1980s, Hamas — which opposes secular Palestinian liberation groups and organized a number of suicide attacks in Israel in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s — picked up the slogan to advocate for Islamic, Palestinian control over the region. However, the slogan does not appear in the 1988 Hamas charter.

Today, many Palestinians on campus interpret the slogan as a call for Palestinians to be able to live freely in the lands where they used to live. For Charles, whose grandparents are now denied entry to the places where they were born, this message resonates with him.

Ava said she only recently heard someone suggest the slogan advocates for the elimination of Jews from the region — she had always considered it to be a call for Palestinian unity.

Before writing the op-ed, Cohen said she talked to the administration in November 2022 about classifying “from the river to the sea” as “harmful language.”

She said she hoped doing this would reduce how often the phrase was posted around campus, “alleviating the frustrations” of students who didn’t like seeing it. However, Cohen said the University’s legal team “(didn’t) see a legal basis to consider it hateful speech.”

Her op-ed ignited tense debate and argument about Palestine, Israel, Islamophobia and antisemitism on campus.

Ben Amer said she was frustrated by Cohen’s op-ed because she felt it employs Islamophobic and racist tropes against anti-Zionist students by implicitly comparing them to terrorists.

Hillel released a statement later that day condemning the banner, calling it a “targeted attack on a Jewish individual.” Pictures of the banner also ended up on the Jewish on Campus Instagram account, which documents incidents on college campuses it deems antisemitic, with a caption stating the slogan was a “direct call for violence against Jews.”

Ben Amer said she was glad to see a response to the op-ed in the form of the banner. She said the slogan is a call for Palestinian freedom and isn’t antisemitic.

2020 and 2021.

Daniel said that, in his experience, people often enter conversations about Palestine and Israel with “very racist stereotypes about Muslim people and people from the Middle East and North Africa” in mind.

I think recently, especially, it’s really erupting in the U.S. again. I and a lot of other Jews are just really on edge and are kind of hypersensitive and hyperaware to antisemitism coming from any angle.

“Unless you are in groups that are aware of the harm that the author had caused, you’re not going to realize what the problem is,” Ben Amer said. “The good of the banner was in broadcasting to the entire campus and forcing that conversation onto everyone and forcing everyone to reckon with what that article meant.”

SJP later released its own statement, saying “the current public fixation on the phrase ‘From the river to the Sea, Palestine will be free’ as an ‘antisemitic terrorist slogan’ is a particularly violent form of silencing.” The statement also clarified the organization’s position as opposing Zionism — “the ongoing racism, materialism, and militarism of the State of Israel” — and not the presence of Jewish people in the region.

Later that week, NU administration sent out two emails.

One of the emails, from President Michael Schill, maintained that the slogan could be interpreted in different ways, while noting he “would have hoped that the people who put up the sign near Deering Meadow … would have responded instead by discussing the issues, perhaps through their own op-ed.”

The administration’s response was a change from past silence regarding tensions about Palestine and Israel. Cohen said she didn’t think the emails from the administration would change anything, but she was happy they were sent.

Some students involved in SJP, like Ben Amer and George, said they were encouraged to see the administration respond in some way. They said they were also glad the administration took a more neutral stance and did not call the slogan antisemitic.

Ben Amer said she appreciated that the banner was provocative.

The whole issue stems from people assuming that what I’m saying is something else and then refusing to let us respond or react or do anything. It’s kind of like ... even your voice is taken away from you.

“People take for granted how dangerous hearing those things can be — she fully called us terrorists, and the ramifications of that will just set us back so much,” Ben Amer said.

“We started off the quarter wanting to establish ourselves as a quote-unquote legitimate organization. But even when we go through the process by the books, we are still called terrorists.”

Following the op-ed’s publication, an anonymous banner was placed on the fence outside Deering Meadow facing Sheridan Road. The banner — made from copies of the op-ed taped together — had the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” painted on it.

The morning the banner was displayed, Simon said some Jewish students came to him in tears, feeling it was an act of intimidation and bullying. He said he sent a message to NU Student Affairs asking whether the banner was authorized to be posted on Deering Meadow’s fence. It was taken down after a couple hours.

“There’s this undue pressure on Palestinians ... to protest peacefully and respectfully and without any sort of disruption,” she said. “And that negates the whole purpose … It’s not meant to be cooperative, it’s not meant to subscribe to any sort of status quo or rulebook because that’s exactly what we seek to disrupt.”

National trends of antisemitism and Islamophobia

Amid increasing national instances of antisemitism and Islamophobia, many students and faculty worry that broader trends are hindering productive conversations at NU.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents increased by 34% between 2020 and 2021. Extreme antisemitic acts, including harassment and assaults, increased by 43% and 167% respectively, reaching their highest levels since the ADL started tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979.

“I think recently, especially, it’s really erupting in the U.S. again,” Cohen said. “I and a lot of other Jews are just really on edge and are kind of hypersensitive and hyperaware to antisemitism coming from any angle.”

She said conversations with her great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, have instilled in her the importance of the idea of Israel as a refuge for Jews.

There has also been a rise in Islamophobia across the U.S. The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations reported a 28% increase in Islamophobic hate and bias incidents between

Grace*, a Jewish student who is anti-Zionist, said pro-Israel rhetoric can become more founded in people’s minds when antisemitism increases. But she said she thinks that idea should not overshadow the human rights violations Israel commits today.

Johnson agreed that while empathy toward Jews is crucial given their experiences of historical and current safety threats, it’s important to draw a line between Palestinian advocacy and antisemitic rhetoric.

Some Palestinian students said they feel accusations of antisemitism in response to antiZionist activism can be weaponized to shift the focus of conversations away from Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.

“The whole issue stems from people assuming that what I’m saying is something else and then refusing to let us respond or react or do anything,” Ava said. “It’s kind of like … even your voice is taken away from you.”

Emily said that as a Jewish person who has been to many of SJP’s events, it’s clear to her that the group isn’t antisemitic.

“I think conflating Palestinian freedom with antisemitism actually takes away from … the actual antisemitism that’s happening around the country from the far right,” Emily said. “I think it makes sense that … Jewish students are scared right now. I think that we need to redirect that fear towards the far right … and not conflate that with ‘free Palestine.’”

Shaping conversations going forward

Community members like Shyovitz said they felt that following Cohen’s op-ed, the focus on one slogan — “from the river to the sea” — was counterproductive, preventing more “in-depth, historically informed” dialogue from taking place.

These conversations have played out differently on other college campuses. Salaam Khater, the president of the University of Illinois Chicago’s SJP chapter, met with NU SJP members for the first time in fall 2022. She said she thinks NU’s campus atmosphere is different from UIC’s.

“We have not received major backlash from students that were noticeable in the sense of being Zionists or pro-Israel,” Khater said. “The atmosphere overall is pretty safe (at UIC) in the sense of where many Palestinians or allies feel safe in speaking up.”

She said having a large, formally recognized community of MENA and Palestinian students at UIC may provide a greater sense of safety. Although neither NU nor UIC collect demographic data about MENA students in the broader student population, UIC has an established Arab American Cultural Center on campus, and 23% of its MENA-identifying students are Palestinian.

To move forward, Shyovitz said, conversations need to progress beyond specific instances of controversy.

He said he would like to see more support for more courses about Palestine and Israel so campus dialogues can be more informed and thoughtful.

“If we could get past arguing over slogans, and instead actually argue over content or try to understand one another’s actual historical and moral and political claims … we might be better off,” Shyovitz said.

Charles said he thinks it’s important to discuss whether certain language or slogans are antisemitic or harmful, since he wants to ensure that antisemitism does not flourish at NU or anywhere else.

However, he wishes campus conversations would not fade after that discussion alone.

“We never make it back … to that actual debate of like, ‘Is Israel committing unjust crimes against the Palestinian people?’” he said. “It never gets back to that point because tensions flare, we start getting emails and it dies down until the next thing.”

Sama Ben Amer Medill sophomore

Lily Cohen Weinberg junior Ava* Anonymous Palestinian alum (‘22)

SEGOVIA

CLASSICAL GUITAR SERIES

western daily north

BANDINI-CHIACCHIARETTA DUO with the DALÍ QUARTET

Saturday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. | Galvin Recital Hall, $30/10

Giampaolo Bandini, guitar; Cesare Chiacchiaretta, bandoneón; Ari Isaacman-Beck and Carlos Rubio, violin; Adriana Linares, viola; Jesús Morales, cello

The Bandini-Chiacchiaretta Duo was formed with the aim of promoting Argentine music through the charm and magic of its most representative instruments. They perform with the Dalí Quartet, the 2021 recipient of Chamber Music America’s

867-467-4000 concertsatbienen.org

Guarneri String Quartet Residency, to present “Tango Sensations: The Music of Astor Piazzolla.”

Press play on The Daily's video coverage of Northwestern and Evanston.

Daily file photo by Nathan Richards

Students celebrate after the Associated Student Government Senate passed a resolution in 2015, asking NU to divest from six corporations that supporters said sell products used by Israel in human rights violations in Palestine.

Daily file photo by Alice Yin

A banner hung by Wildcats for Israel and Tannenbaum Chabad House was torn in half near The Arch in January 2015. The banner quoted a statement by Martin Luther King Jr. expressing support for Israel.

Daily file photo by Joanne Haner

The Rock in May 2022. When Students for Justice in Palestine painted several pro-Palestine slogans on The Rock, University employees painted over them in anticipation of admitted students’ day.

Photo courtesy of Michael Simon

The banner that came in response to Lily Cohen’s November 2022 op-ed, in which Cohen wrote that the phrase “From the River to the Sea” is antisemitic. Michael Simon posted this photo to his personal Instagram.

RENTERS

From page 1

expire, Wideman said the city should consider letting him and his sister use the reparations money toward rent or furniture. At the Feb. 2 Reparations Committee meeting, Wideman — a Vietnam War veteran — appeared in public comment to ask for a way for him and his sister to receive reparations.

“I fought for this country, and I’ve been giving back since Vietnam,” he said. “I’ve given to this community for a long time.”

Reparations Committee member Carlis Sutton said he thinks the siblings should receive

QUEER LIFE

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Engineering and Mathematics chapter in 2022.

“I know I’ve seen my numbers grow over the past three years here, probably close to double or triple what the engagement was when I first got here,” said Matthew Abtahi, assistant director of Multicultural Student Affairs.

The 650-square-foot Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, located on the third floor of Norris University Center, is designed to be a safe space for queer students on campus. But many students have compared the space to a “closet” and said the location is too small and lacks privacy.

To address these concerns, Abtahi said plans are underway to move the GSRC to House Five in FosterWalker Complex. The new space, almost four times as large as the current Norris location, could open during the 2023-24 academic year, he added.

“I think it is only appropriate for us to move on out of the humble space we have and slowly get towards finally meeting what students have asked for,” Abtahi said.

The new GSRC’s proposed floor plan features a creative work space, tech hub and mini stage for small performances, they said.

City Council approves assistance for small and medium rental providers

New Norris Starbucks set to open Monday, will accept mobile ordering

A new Starbucks location will open March 6 on the ground floor of Norris University Center, replacing the current location on the first floor.

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their reparations grants in progressive cash payments.

Sutton called it “insensitive” for the city to withhold the money.

“Through reparations, the city is trying to compensate for past harm,” Sutton said. “So why (is it) causing the Widemans harm now?”

Activist Meleika Gardner also attended the Feb. 2 committee meeting and said she felt “heartbroken” after hearing Wideman’s story. Gardner said she originally supported Evanston’s reparations but no longer approves of the program since it is not inclusive of all Black residents.

“I’m really upset with how Evanston is

Scaletty said Rainbow Alliance was heavily involved in advocating for and planning the new GSRC.

“We want a space that we can come in and feel safe, and like we could just stay there all day if we needed to,” they said. “A space where we can just kind of relax from sometimes frustrating situations that happen on campus.”

For Scaletty, it is important that the GSRC can be a safe space for students who have been misgendered or had class in a building without all-gender restrooms, they said.

GSRCs are standalone resource centers that students can go to for trainings, educational seminars or one-on-one consultations, Abtahi said.

“Think like a Norris, but very queer — without a Starbucks, maybe a coffee maker,” he said.

However, for Abtahi, the Foster-Walker Complex GSRC is considered the mid-range solution for creating a queer resource space on campus. The long-term solution would be a standalone house, he said.

Abtahi said creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students beyond the GSRC is also an ongoing goal of the MSA.

McCormick sophomore Nikolai Ortiz, who has worked in the MSA and is vice president of OSTEM, said seeing rainbow flags and general support for the

medium rental providers with Evanston’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The program will grant landlords 75% of rent income lost — up to $15,000 — due to the pandemic. To qualify, applicants must own 35 or fewer units of property. The city estimates the $500,000 program will fund 70 to 80 applicants.

During Monday’s meeting, Ald. Devon Reid (8th)

Renovated with a marble countertop and a modern look, the spot last occupied by Dunkin’ will have a grand opening on March 13, according to an Instagram post from Northwestern Dining.

Shake and smoothie shop Shake Smart is set to open in Starbucks’ old location on the first floor in Fall Quarter 2023, according to the post.

The first floor Starbucks location is scheduled to permanently close March 5 at 5 p.m., Compass Group

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changing what reparations is,” Gardner said. “They’re watering down reparations. It’s not reparations if you’re excluding the already excluded.”

Like Sutton, Gardner suggested expanding the program to distribute reparations through direct cash payments, which would allow recipients to use the money for rent.

City Corporation Counsel Nicholas Cummings said the reparations program aims to bridge the wealth gap between Black and white Evanston residents.

Rental assistance, he said, would not help accomplish that goal.

“Ultimately, the only party that benefits from

LGBTQ+ community the first time he came to Evanston was a beacon of hope after growing up in a conservative part of Texas.

Yet many students, including Ortiz, said they do not know of queer student groups beyond Rainbow Alliance.

“We have so many student organizations on campus,” Ortiz said. “I feel like for some reason, nobody knows about the queer ones on campus.”

Most groups use Listservs and Discord to publicize activities like events or meetings. However, some leaders of queer student groups have to limit publicity in an abundance of caution, according to Ortiz.

When taking photos for an Instagram post, Ortiz said OSTEM has to ensure all members are out and comfortable being photographed and posted. He added that OSTEM chose to not publish its Discord link on fliers out of fear of malicious activity and exposing people who may not be fully out yet.

But, some students also hope for increased support from the University in terms of having more all-gender bathrooms.

Weinberg sophomore Claire Schwartz, a member of the LGBTQIA+ Student Advisory Board, said NU does not have enough all-gender bathrooms and that the ones available are difficult to find or are

said he’s been working with the Housing and Community Development Committee and the Small/Medium Landlord Task Force to develop the program.

Reid said the program has gone through lengthy discussion, and he encourages other councilmembers to vote for it.

Ald. Bobby Burns (5th), another member of the

District Marketing Manager Sophia Bamiatzis wrote in an email to the Daily. Construction on Shake Smart is scheduled to begin in summer 2023.

The new Starbucks location will offer mobile ordering options through the Starbucks app and have drink orders printed on stickers for both mobile and in-person orders, Bamiatzis added. The coffee bar will feature a new Mastrena II espresso machine and a cold beverage station.

a rental assistance program is the landlords, and not necessarily the tenant,” Cummings said.

Sutton disagreed. He said rental assistance is similar to the current reparations program, under which money eventually goes to contractors and banks.

Wideman said he hopes the city will find a solution to fulfill the grants to him and his sister. He wants to see the program shift to include people who do not own property.

“Nothing is etched in stone,” Wideman said. “I just want the city to do the best thing for the community.”

rachelschlueter2026@u.northwestern.edu

locked on weekends.

Schwartz said the board worked with administrators last year to clarify the meaning of “all-gender housing” and advocate for more all-gender bathrooms.

The University currently has at least 42 all-gender restrooms on campus, according to the MSA’s map. For all-gender housing offerings, NU has more than tripled the number of all-gender beds — from 88 to 279 — since 2019, Media Relations Managing Editor Erin Karter wrote in an email to The Daily.

Abtahi said they keep trans, nonbinary and Black queer students in mind when creating new programs regarding safe spaces. According to COFHE data, trans and nonbinary students are more likely to feel out of place, sad and less hopeful than their cishet peers at NU.

He said in a “dream world,” the MSA would have more funding to address some of the root causes of data trends across the University.

“The fact that every office in student affairs is digging through their budget to see how this can be possible to serve queer students tells me everyone knows and cares and wants to do better by the 24% of our students (who) are LGBTQIA+,” Abtahi said.

lexigoldstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

committee, echoed Reid’s support for the program.

“The way we’ve thought about this program is really an emergency response to people or business types affected by COVID — landlords certainly being one of them,” Burns said. “They needed the support a while ago, (and) I think they still do.”

— Casey

He

“We’re looking forward to bringing this new Starbucks to Norris University Center for our NU community and guests,” Patrick Cleope, Compass Group director of retail services, wrote in the email. “The new technology, particularly the Starbucks mobile connect app, will help our team increase efficiencies giving our students and guests the prestige Starbucks experience.”

— Lexi Goldstein

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City Council unanimously approved a program Monday to provide financial assistance to small and

NU Robotics Club gears up fighting robots after wins

By ANGELI MITTAL daily senior staffer @amittal27

The Northwestern University Robotics Club debuted “George,” a combat robot, to fight in the 30-pound weight class competition at the Norwalk Havoc Robot League’s world championships in Connecticut last December.

Though the team entered the contest with an open mind about their prospects, Weinberg junior and NURC co-Corporate Outreach Chair Katie Mumford said the announcer at the club’s first fight made it sound like George didn’t really stand a chance. Leading up to the fight between George and “RIPperoni” — a robot from Omega Team — Mumford said the announcer raved about the opposing team’s 30-pound metal box.

When NURC won the contest, the team was ecstatic, Mumford said.

“When we won that first fight against these professional engineers, who are getting all hyped up, and just me looking at my teammates and seeing everyone’s so excited — that was just amazing,” Mumford said. “We could have gone home then and I would have been happy.”

December’s competition was the first time the club’s combat robotics team competed at NHRL’s championships, where robots enter the arena to fight against each other.

McCormick junior and NURC co-President Jackson Bremen said the club did not have a large enough team to travel to competitions that weren’t within driving distance, like the world championships, prior to this academic year.

At the world championships, teams from across the globe with different skill levels are invited to compete. Each team proceeds through a 25-seed bracket in double-elimination rounds — that is, until it loses its two matches.

Mumford said NU was one of two collegiate teams in the 30-pound weight class, the other team being a more established club. The world championships marked the first time she was able to drive the robot in a tournament.

“We’re all just like truly student-run and design and build,” Mumford said. “December

was an amazing moment for all of our team members to see just how much potential we have but also how much talent we also have.”

While NURC entered the competition hoping to win at least one contest, the group walked out of the championships with an overall 13th-place ranking worldwide and two of four wins in the 30-pound category — and a competitive drive, Mumford said.

According to combat robotics lead and McCormick senior Garrett Short, many competitors at NHRL also compete on the TV show BattleBots, where robots fight in the 250-pound weight class.

“There’s a lot of experience and money being thrown around (at the competition),” Shorts said. “It’s always really cool to see other people’s robots and their innovations — and since it was a world championship, it was like the best of the best.”

It took NURC three tries to qualify for last year’s championships, Bremen said.

But, Mumford said George’s new upgrade to the now-named “DeathPact” helped the team win its first qualifying event for this year’s world championships, which will be held in November.

“We feel like there’s a little bit of unfinished business there because we’d like to do better in the future,” Bremen said. “We’re really proud of how we did. I’m really proud of everyone on the team.”

Bremen and Mumford said one of the team’s best aspects is that it’s inclusive of students who may not encounter similar mechanical work in coursework as they do in NURC.

Mumford said NURC offers a competitive outlet and learning opportunity for students to learn how to design, manufacture and build robots.

“We are, first and foremost, extremely committed to fostering a safe and fun environment for people of all identities and backgrounds,” Mumford said. “We are very serious about nobarrier entry and creating a really comfortable culture for anyone interested in STEM.”

At the upcoming November championships, Mumford said she will likely drive George again.

However, prior to competing, she said the team still has some improvements to make to DeathPact.

“Our biggest weakness, even to this day, is that if we get hit really hard or flipped over, we cannot drive upside down, and we can’t flip ourselves back over — so we just look like a turtle on its shell,” Mumford said. “Hopefully, we’ll fix that.”

amittal@u.northwestern.edu

Photo courtesy of Garrett Shorts

Last December, Northwestern’s Robotics Club debuted George, a fighting robot, to compete in the team’s first Norwalk Havoc Robot League’s world championships. The team is already set to compete in the championships again this year.

Rapid Recap: Penn State stuns Northwestern 68-65

By AAYUSHYA AGARWAL daily senior staffer @aayushyagarwal7

At long last – the calendar has flipped to March, a month where Northwestern’s season-long program heights will finally be on national display. Hoping to snap their two game losing streak, the Wildcats (2010, 11-8 Big Ten) hosted Penn State (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten) on senior night.

With a strong final week to the season, NU could receive a valuable double-bye in the Big Ten tournament next week. The two teams combined for only 52 total points, and by the intermission, senior guard Boo Buie, senior forward Robbie Beran and junior forward Ty Berry each had six points apiece.

Throughout the second half, both teams exchanged leads.

As the game went into overtime, the two sides continued to exchange leads. With the game tied at 65 apiece, the Cats inability to corral a defensive rebound was the difference, with the Nittany Lions drilling a corner three with less than a second to play, and leaving Northwestern with its third straight loss.

Takeaways:

1. Forcing turnovers, the Cats stay true to their identity

One of, if not the biggest, strengths for NU this season has been its ability to have active hands in the passing lanes and force turnovers. The team has constantly

created havoc for opposing offenses, making it difficult for them to build momentum. These turnovers allow for the squad to generate fast break opportunities on the other end. In Sunday’s loss to Maryland, NU forced seven turnovers — it surpassed this number midway through the first half on Sunday. By the intermission, the Cats had forced nine turnovers and recorded eight points off turnovers.

Scoring its first points off senior guard Boo Buie’s steal that led to a fast break three by redshirt senior guard Chase Audige, NU held true to this mentality from its first possession. Several possessions later, Buie forced another steal, and the squad had forced three turnovers within the first two minutes of the contest. Midway through the first half, the team turned up the defensive intensity even higher. Audige’s steal led to a fastbreak opportunity for graduate student forward Tydus Verhoeven, who stayed involved in the passing lanes. The Cats forced three straight turnovers, from steals by Verhoeven and Audige, who alongside Buie, had two steals apiece by the intermission.

The Cats found other avenues to continue racking up turnovers. This forced a ten-second violation and multiple possessions where the Nittany Lions chucked up last-second looks.

When an 8-0 Penn State run early in the second half silenced the Welsh Ryan crowd, it seemed as though all momentum shifted away from NU. Similar to the first half, the Cats forced three straight turnovers, capped

What To Watch For: NU looks to go 2-for-2

By JAKE EPSTEIN the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n

After pouring in 21 goals in a victory at Marquette on Feb. 23, No. 3 Northwestern will look to continue its winning ways at home against Vanderbilt and Youngstown State on Saturday and Sunday.

The Wildcats (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) haven’t batted an eye since their season-opening loss at Syracuse on Feb. 11, and all signs point toward a weekend sweep at Ryan Fieldhouse.

Graduate student attacker Izzy Scane and the potent NU offense appear primed for another high-scoring affair against the Commodores (1-3, 0-0 AAC), who have conceded double-digit scores in all four games this season. Vanderbilt dropped its past three contests and will need to elevate its game by several notches to keep the matchup competitive.

The Cats then look to turn up the heat against the Penguins (1-3, 0-0 MAC), who also leak goals defensively. Since this is a senior day tie, coach Kelly Amonte Hiller will likely feature her veteran players extensively.

Here’s three takeaways to keep in mind as NU guns for two home victories this weekend.

1. Is the best defense a good offense?

The Cats know how to light up the scoreboard. Amonte Hiller’s squad has registered 15-plus goals in all four contests this season, including a 21-goal onslaught last time out.

With Scane conducting the Lake Show and firing home 27 goals on the season so far, the NU attack shows no signs of relenting.

Four other players have notched 10-plus points on the young season, including freshman midfielder Madison Taylor, who instantly impacted the team’s scoring output by tallying 12 goals in four games.

While the defensive effort has been less than stellar at times, the Cats’ scorers leave plenty of room for error and will look to

take advantage of two dodgy defensive units this weekend.

Fans of defense may wish to avert their eyes, for goals, goals and more goals are on the menu at Ryan Fieldhouse.

2. Erin’s expected epoch

Senior attacker Erin Coykendall is entering the weekend fresh off an eight-point performance at Marquette, where she rattled in four goals and dished out four assists.

The senior attacker will have extra incentive to make an impact this weekend, since Senior Day is scheduled rather early for the Lake Show.

Possessing a powerful shot and an uncanny ability to effortlessly execute circus passes, Coykendall will play a vital role in NU’s success. Expect her to pour in points this weekend — and throw in some showmanship for good measure.

3. A showcase of old and new faces

Given that Sunday is Senior Day and the Cats enter the contest heavily favored, Amonte Hiller will likely throw her veteran players into the spotlight.

NU will celebrate 11 of its seniors against Youngstown State, meaning several players who haven’t seen much game action this season will have an opportunity to shine against the Penguins.

Coykendall and senior attacker Dylan Amonte serve as attacking mainstays for the team and will certainly carry over their hefty role this weekend. Senior attacker Hannah Gillespie will continue to be a workhouse for the Cats, but other seniors will step into the fold for their first significant minutes this season.

Make no mistake, though: Amonte Hiller wants to win. Expect Taylor — the three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week — to continue her dominant rookie campaign. Sophomore midfielder and defender Samantha White and sophomore midfielder Samantha Smith will join her in solidifying a strong young core that has been crucial to NU’s early season success.

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

by an Audige steal and a Penn State offensive foul. This sequence propelled a 7-0 NU scoring run, giving the team a three point advantage midway through the second half.

2. A tale of two halves for Northwestern’s perimeter defense

A cause for concern in the squad’s consecutive losses this past week was its difficulties in stopping opposing offenses from beyond the arc. In last Thursday’s loss to Illinois, NU surrendered 7 Illini threes on 13 attempts in the second half. Likewise, in Sunday’s loss to Maryland, they could not stop the Terrapins from deep, allowing 14 made threes on 22 attempts. Notably, the team held Iowa to a season low 3-for-24 clip from deep. For the Cats to win Wednesday’s contest, they needed to limit the Nittany Lions from deep.

Early on, the Cats forced many unbalanced Nittany Lions three point attempts late in the shot clock as a result of excellent switching on the defensive end. While NU surrendered a three on a last-second, bankshot three, it restricted the next six three point attempts. The Cats only surrendered 3 total threes on 13 Penn State attempts, helping it build a double digit lead at 17-7 midway through the first half.

However, the second half was an entirely different story. NU faced its first deficit in the contest early on in the second half, after surrendering consecutive threes. Minutes later, an 8-0 Penn State run,capped by a corner three, caused the Cats to face their

NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS

highest deficit of the night at four. NU was unable to seal the lead it had late in the second half, surrendering eight total Penn State threes on thirteen attempts, including the game-winning shot in overtime.

3. Buie and Barnhizer’s second half instrumental to Cats’ effort

Sophomore guard Brooks Barnhizer continued his recent success, tying a careerhigh 19 points, including a team-high 14 second-half points. A spinning jumper by the sophomore guard jump started a 7-0 NU run. Soon after, he continued ticking the scoreboard, canning his next 3 three point attempts, giving the Cats a six point advantage with six minutes to play. In the second half, Barnhizer was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including four made three pointers. Meanwhile, Buie continued playing at the high offensive level he has all season. While the senior guard had a rare off-day in Sunday’s loss to Maryland, he rebounded quite well, scoring 12 of his total 20 points in the second half. When the Cats faced their first deficit of the contest early on in the second half, a three by the senior guard gave the Cats the lead right back. Midway through the second half, Buie tallied five unanswered points, capped by another made three pointer. A running floater by the senior guard gave NU a one point lead with a little more than two minutes to play in overtime.

aayushyaagarwal2024@u.northwestern.edu

Rowan Lapi on navigating NIL

By ANNIKA HIREDESAI daily senior staffer

There is no shortage of college students posting “a day in the life” vlogs to their YouTube channels. Many incoming Northwestern freshmen watch these videos to get an idea of what their life on campus may look like. This luxury, however, didn’t extend to student athletes until recently.

Senior midfielder Rowan Lapi could not film vlog content about her life as a student-athlete during her first two seasons on the women’s soccer team.

The NCAA enforced strict restrictions barring athletes from receiving compensation beyond athletic and educational scholarships. For decades, the NCAA argued that compensation would nullify the amateurism of collegiate sports that differentiates them from professional sports.

However, in July 2021, following the National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston Supreme Court case ruling, the NCAA approved a Name, Image and Likeness policy permitting athletes to receive compensation for use of their personal brand, opening the door for brand partnerships with collegiate athletes.

Lapi said she immediately started reaching out to brands when players were allowed to ink NIL deals.

“At that point, I don’t think I had that many followers either, so I got a lot of free stuff in exchange for a post on my Instagram story,” Lapi said. “I only reached out to people that made sense for me. I would randomly send off DMs, and then people would reach back out.”

Currently, Lapi has long-term partnerships with two brands — Syndacart, a browser extension for online shopping, and a company that uses data to provide fitness and injury assessments to high school and collegiate athletes.

Lapi said shorter-term agreements are also common in the NIL space. Companies like Course Hero have offered compensation — monetary and product — in exchange for sponsored content. Other brands have also reached out to her first and sent product samples.

Lapi posts on social media to let her followers know if she enjoys the products.

“If I really like it, and I like the company and the brand and image that they are cultivating, then I’m down to put them on a story,” Lapi said. “But only if I like it or if I would want my followers to know about it.”

Though a high follower count certainly adds to an athlete’s appeal, brands understand that authenticity is the coin of the realm in social media. When followers trust a user’s recommendations, they are more likely to try a brand’s product or service for themselves.

Lapi has her own litmus test to gauge whether her image aligns with her values.

“I just believe that if you get content and post stuff that is organic, you should be able to look at your past nine posts, and people should be able to get your vibe,” Lapi said, describing what she calls the nine-post test. “It should give a read of who you are. As soon as that’s off track, I’m not doing the right thing.”

Not all athletes have incredibly high follower counts, but players are still uniquely positioned to have substantial influence through what Lapi describes as a network of close ties. Most student-athletes are mutuals

on social media and are also connected with players across the country that they competed with in high school. This web of connections has the potential for widespread reach, according to Lapi.

“I think the network is why brands, especially when this opened up, started going crazy,” Lapi said. “There’s so much potential with this stuff.”

As an aspiring professional player, Lapi is well aware of the pay discrepancies female professional athletes face.

She described how players without financial support from their families have to work second jobs to support themselves while playing their sport. She said cultivating a NIL presence in college may have the potential to alleviate some of these financial burdens in the future.

“These are professional athletes — they shouldn’t have to do that,” said Lapi. “I think that’s the cool thing about NIL in women’s sports. It’s just one more opportunity to let women be professionals in their sport but also make some more money just by doing what they already do.”

Daily file photo by Claudia Arriaga

Senior midfielder Rowan Lapi fends off a Rutgers defender. Lapi capitalized on the new NIL regulations to build her personal brand.

Joanne Haner/The Daily Northwestern