The Daily Northwestern — March 5, 2020

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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, March 5, 2020

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Veronica Roth publishes first adult novel

Scan this QR code to listen to The Ripple: Evanston first Midwest city to support Back from the Brink

NU cancels Dance Marathon over coronavirus concerns University also halts international Spring Break trips, restricts travel due to viral outbreak By ISABELLE SARRAF

the daily northwestern @isabellesarraf

As universities across the country re-evaluate plans for spring break and large events, University

President Morton Schapiro said in a Wednesday email that Dance Marathon 2020 will be canceled “given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19,” also known as the novel coronavirus. “The decision was not made lightly,” the email read. “We felt

it was important to prioritize the health, safety and well-being of our students, Evanston community members and the University as a whole.” The 30-hour annual philanthropy event was scheduled to begin Friday evening. More than

1,000 students typically participate. Schapiro’s email said the cancelation was made in consultation with Northwestern’s COVID-19 policy group and health professionals, along with consideration of national recommendations on the virus.

“Given the prolonged duration of Dance Marathon, the close proximity of dancers and the strain it puts on participants, health experts thought those in attendance could have been at greater risk for illness had the event continued as planned,” the

email read. NUDM 2020 executive cochairs Eliana Scobey and Rachel Cantor addressed the news in a Wednesday email to dancers, expressing sadness over the » See CANCELLATIONS, page 6

SEEN NOT HEARD After split from Cru, Impact looks toward future at Northwestern

By CASSIDY JACKSON

daily senior staffer @cassidykjackson

When Sarabi Woods (Weinberg ’18) saw a lack of racial diversity in religious groups on campus, she took matters into her own hands. The year was 2017, and Woods decided to form Northwestern’s chapter of Impact, a black Christian organization. But by the end of her time at Northwestern, the group became more than a space for prayer. “Oh man, Impact is some of my best memories of college, like watching our freshman girls turn into sophomore girls and start leading Bible studies of their own, and watching them growing deeper in their faith,” Woods said. “All of those were just wonderful memories. College overall was not the best, but Impact made it worth it.” As Woods reminisced on the group’s beginnings, however, she couldn’t separate its start from the conflict that surrounded it.

For the past three years, Impact functioned as a subsidiary of Cru, an interdenominational Christian organization. But those ties ended this past summer after ongoing tensions came to a head. The two chapters parted ways on Northwestern’s campus, and Impact student leaders said the decision wasn’t mutual — after Impact members expressed frustrations with various Cru practices, meetings between the groups went awry, students felt manipulated by full-time staff members and communication went from strained to nearly nonexistent. The schism was announced at Cru’s annual Leadership Summit, where few Impact members were present. However, Weinberg junior Nadia Hundley said the split is for the best. “It’s not good to be in a relationship where you’re giving all you can and nothing is really being reciprocated back,” Hundley said. “Being separate, we really have the freedom to come into our own ... especially now that we have recognition from the University.” Last November, Impact applied to be recognized as an official student organization for the third time

and was finally accepted. The organization hosted their first Bible studies in Lunt Hall, and while Woods said it wasn’t the nicest room, it was a muchneeded home for the group. “I think in the beginning it was like, ‘Okay, this room is kind of dusty,’” Woods said. “But then after us being in it for our first meetings, it was like, ‘All right, this is our room. This is our spot. You know where to find us.’” During Fall Quarter, the organization expanded their programming to include a new series called Chat & Chew. A few times a month, Impact members discuss the intersectionality of culture and Christianity. For SESP junior Chestan James, Impact has served as a safe space centered around God’s love. “Life has been tough and just to be there ... and being encouraged by them and showing the hope that we have in Jesus was just an intimate time where we were able to come together within our struggles and experience hope together,” James said. “That helped me through last night and through

Illistration by Emma Ruck

today, and that’s happened countless times within Impact.” Impact’s been a safe space for Hundley as well. Before the organization’s split from Cru, Hundley was able to vent about her experience in Cru with other members of Impact. “We would hang out and I was like, ‘Wow, I really like these people. They don’t make me feel like I feel in Cru,’” Hundley said. “They let me vent when I needed to vent and they made me feel heard. And now people in Impact are like, we’re a good squad. Impact’s going strong.” cassidyjackson2021@u.northwestern.edu Scan this QR code with Snapchat or your smartphone camera to listen to episode one of an audio InFocus about Impact’s split from Cru

ASG proposes legislation Sports games to continue Resolutions on census, GQNBT report introduced

No plans to cancel athletic events due to COVID-19

By YUNKYO KIM

By CHARLIE GOLDSMITH

the daily northwestern @yunkyomoonk

Associated Student Government Senate introduced three resolutions Wednesday regarding the census count, protection of students’ freedom of speech and the widespread release of

a task force report that details institutional actions supporting genderqueer, non-binary and transgender students at NU. They also passed a bill, introduced by ASG parliamentarian and Weinberg sophomore Elizabeth Sperti in a Feb. 26 session, that proposed the creation of an ad hoc committee to consider establishing a one-stop advocacy

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office for all student concerns. Wednesday’s session marked the Senate’s penultimate meeting of Winter Quarter. ASG officials were eager to roll out resolutions before the end of the term and elections season, which officially starts in the spring. Weinberg junior James » See ASG, page 6

daily senior staffer @2021_charlie

Despite uncertainty on Northwestern University’s campus surrounding COVID-19and the school’s recent cancelation of the annual Dance Marathon event, there are no plans to cancel

Northwestern men’s basketball’s home game Saturday against Penn State at Welsh-Ryan Arena. A Northwestern athletic department spokesman told The Daily the department will work closely with the University to determine future plans for all athletic competitions. “Any decisions about Athletics

and Recreation events or travel would be made in lockstep with Northwestern University administration” the spokesman said. “At this time, no adjustments have been made but we continue to monitor the situation and will announce any changes should they become necessary.” » See ATHLETICS, page 6

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Arts & Entertainment 4/5 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8


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