Serving the Northwestern and Evanston communities since 1881
The Daily Northwestern Monday, April 11, 2022
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
Find us online @thedailynu
8 SPORTS/Hunger
2 CITY/Lakefront
4 A&E/Fusion
Lone 2022 recruit talks future of NU basketball
Understanding takeaways from the report following Evanston’s lakefront allegations
Fusion shows ‘After Dark’ as its spring show
High 58 Low 41
NU relaxes COVID testing guidelines As requirements lift, school drops enforcements By ANGELI MITTAL
the daily northwestern @amittal27
Since students were allowed to return to campus in winter 2021, Northwestern has implemented a series of testing requirements which have changed according to the public health landscape and national guidance. Last year, NU was adamant about community adherence to these protocols — with thirdparty reminders and then-Northwestern University Health Services emails to those who missed testing. University spokesperson Erin Karter wrote in an email to The Daily that the University, as well as schools and units, sent testing reminders when deemed necessary. With greater community vaccination because of the Fall Quarter requirements — as 98% of the NU community has received two doses and 90 to 93% of students have received a booster shot — these consistent testing reminders seem to have relaxed. For fully-vaccinated individuals who have received a booster shot, if eligible, there’s no testing
requirement for Spring Quarter. Yet NU continues to mandate arrival testing at the start of each quarter, which McCormick sophomore Emma Jackson said it should continue to do. “If it’s more like a testing encouragement, I think students will not get tested,” she said. “Just because restrictions for COVID are being lifted doesn’t mean we can just completely forget about testing at all.” Last year, after missing some of the twice-weekly tests required of undergraduates, Jackson said she received email reminders from the University. At the start of Winter Quarter 2021, students were required to complete three PCR tests with the University’s partner, Color, upon arrival. About 7,500 tests were conducted during each of the first three weeks of January 2021, reflecting these requirements and the decreased numbers of students on campus with most classes still exclusively virtual. Starting February 22, 2021, students were asked to complete two antigen tests with the University’s new partner Abbott. As a result, the anticipated updated testing requirements of one PCR and one antigen test was postponed by a week due to shipping
» See TESTING, page 6
Seeger Gray/The Daily Northwestern
Residents talk city skate culture Ahead of the building of a new skate park, skaters reflect on culture By ELENA HUBERT
the daily northwestern @elenahubert25
Avery Bryant, a recent Evanston Township High School graduate who has been skateboarding in Evanston since late elementary school, said there isn’t a day he doesn’t get chased out of a skate spot in Evanston. That will soon change. After more than 15 years without a designated skate park, Evanston skaters will finally have a sanctioned
shred spot. Residents voted on a final design at a Tuesday meeting for the skate park set to open in Twiggs Park in fall 2023. Bryant said he’s hopeful the skate park will legitimize the skateboarding community in the eyes of Evanston residents. Because Evanston doesn’t have a skate park, Bryant said skaters new to the scene have to chase after any boards they see to connect with each other. He said the skate community is also dependent on street skating in unauthorized areas like Fountain Square. Residents often complain
about property destruction and trespassing they attribute to these skaters. “Our values don’t necessarily align perfectly with most people who are walking around downtown Evanston,” Bryant said. “So I understand why people are upset about it. I try to be respectful though.” Evanston’s skating history The parking lot of the Robert Crown Community Center formerly housed Evanston’s only skate park, which was made out of wood, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was closed after falling
into disrepair and never reopened. Nate Kipnis has been skating since the 1970s. He is the owner of sustainable architecture firm Kipnis Architecture + Planning and sits on the skate park advisory group. He described a similar skate scene to Bryant in Evanston in the late 1970s. Back then, he went by “Nate the Skate” and rode for a local skate team, where he and the team attempted tricks like frontside aerials and grinds in competitions.
» See SKATE, page 6
ASG hosts first restaurant week Leaders reflect on Evanston Restaurant Week to partner with, promote local businesses By KARA PEEELER
the daily northwestern @karapeeler
Associated Student Government’s Community Relations Committee is partnering with local businesses to host Evanston Restaurant Week from April 11 through 15. Northwestern students can present their Wildcard for discounts or a free item at 13 participating restaurants, including La Cocinita,10Q Chicken or Ovo Frito. Most discounts range from about 10 to 20%. Through Restaurant Week, ASG hopes to connect students to the greater Evanston community, according to Weinberg junior and ASG Chair of Community Relations Mychael Torres. She said she hopes students will use the week to support local businesses. The Community Relations Committee took inspiration from other colleges when planning Evanston Restaurant Week, Torres said. Members launched a survey and visited businesses in-person to gauge interest in the collaboration. “Something that we’ve heard from Evanson is that they want to
Recycle Me
(do) well with the business side,” Torres said. “So we’re trying to help do that.” Weinberg freshman Madeleine Tutwiler is a member of the Community Relations Committee and helped work on the initiative. Tutwiler said she first joined the committee because she knew very little about the Evanston community and wanted to change that, which she said likely rings true for many students. The week allows students the opportunity to try out new restaurants with the bonus of a discount, she said. “I feel like there’s a big disconnect between Evanston residents and Northwestern students, and specifically with businesses, I feel like we’re not really part of their culture,” Tutwiler said. “This is the opportunity for Northwestern students to become more engaged in small businesses in Evanston and hopefully mend any bad sentiments between us and them.” Local restaurants, like Soul & Smoke, enjoy business from NU students and having them around, said Co-Owner Heather Bublick. Soul & Smoke will be offering 10% off during the week. She said she’s excited for the
Morton’s impact Amid Civic Center discussions, figures detail her influence By ISABELLE BUTERA
the daily northwestern @isabelle_butera
Seeger Gray/The Daily Northwestern
Evanston Restaurant Week will run from April 11 through 15.
increased business from students after Spring Break. While business from students ebbs and flows throughout the year, Soul & Smoke also caters events with NU sports teams and clubs, Bublick added. “We love partnering with Northwestern,” Bublick said. “Anytime we can engage with the student population, it’s always good.” The committee is optimistic
about finding success. Torres said she hopes to see many students participate during the week, though she acknowledges some inhibiting factors like proximity to off-campus restaurants or unsavory weather conditions may exist. Both Torres and Tutwiler said Evanston Restaurant Week may incentivize students to venture
» See RESTAURANT, page 6
For Ald. Bobby Burns (5th), Lorraine Morton (SESP ’42) was not just a political mentor to whom he turned for advice — she also played a “grandmotherly role.” Long before Burns entered Evanston politics, he already knew Morton as his mother’s close family friend. “When you left her presence, you felt better about yourself,” Burns said. “You felt better about the day you were having. She made you feel warm and encouraged, and she loved to live.” The Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, named in Morton’s honor, has been the subject of much debate within recent months in Evanston as city officials discuss relocating the center to a more sustainable and accessible location. However, some residents have opposed the move due to high
costs and the building’s historical significance. Almost four years after her passing, current leaders in Evanston’s political sphere said they continue drawing inspiration from her legacy as Evanston’s first Black mayor. Morton had a long history in both civic engagement and Evanston’s educational landscape, which continues to impact Evanston politics today. Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Morton first came to Evanston to receive her Masters of Arts in Education at Northwestern. She later returned to Evanston and worked as an educator for 30 years in Evanston-Skokie School District 65. She served as the first Black teacher in the district outside Foster Elementary school, which was segregated at the time, and later as principal of Haven Middle School. In 1982, she was elected as alderman of the 5th Ward before becoming Evanston’s first Black mayor in 1993. Morton served as mayor for 16 years, while engaging in numerous community organizations and raising her family.
» See LORRAINE, page 6
INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | A & E 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8