The Daily Northwestern Thursday, April 12, 2018
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Medill dean to step down in June Brad Hamm will return to teaching journalism in 2019 By MARIANA ALFARO
daily senior staffer @marianaa_alfaro
Colin Boyle/Daily Senior Staffer
Johnny Carlson presents his firm’s plan for a development at 1727 Oak Ave. to the Plan Commission. Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve the plan with modifications.
Oak Avenue complex advances
Plan Commission recommends proposal despite public concerns By CATHERINE HENDERSON
the daily northwestern @caity_henderson
The Evanston Plan Commission listened to almost an
hour of public comment against the proposed “active adult” rental development at 1727 Oak Ave. but continued to recommend approval of the site to the city’s Economic Development Committee, under the
condition that the petitioner modify construction plans. During a Wednesday meeting at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, commissioners heard from the site’s developer, Trammell Crow Company, and
their partners, followed by public comment. The commission voted 6-1 to approve the site with changes. About 100 residents attended the meeting. » See PLAN, page 6
Medill Dean Brad Hamm announced Wednesday that he will step down from his position at the end of this academic year. Northwestern’s Board of Trustees was made aware of his decision Tuesday, Hamm said, and professors were notified Wednesday. Hamm told The Daily he is going to take a oneyear sabbatical and then return to Northwestern as a tenured journalism professor. He plans to split his time between the United States and Japan with his wife and 7-year-old son. Hamm, who became the school’s dean in 2012 after serving as dean of Indiana University’s School of Journalism for seven years, said leading Medill has “been amazing.” Under his leadership, the school started Medill Global and Medill Explores, a series of classes that send undergraduate and graduate students abroad for a week to report on different topics. The
school also opened a San Francisco campus in collaboration with the McCormick School of Engineering. “I’m thrilled with the kinds of programs we started and especially the travel programs because I think those just changed people’s lives,” Hamm said. “Student experiences were a crucial part of the last six years, plus the funding possible for students. I think that’s been the highlight for me.” The announcement comes a few months after Alec Klein, director of the Medill Justice Project, was accused of bullying and harassment by a group of women known as “Medill Me Too.” It also comes nearly a year after Medill announced it would not reapply for accreditation under the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, an international organization that evaluates journalism programs in colleges and universities. Hamm told The Daily these two issues “did not play a factor in any way” in his decision to step down from the role. “As a dean, you always have big things to deal with and so, regardless of whether you go this year or next year, there will » See HAMM, page 6
Funding reformed Leaders demand equity in schools ASG unanimously votes to overhaul funding for groups By GABBY BIRENBAUM
the daily northwestern @birenbomb
Associated Student Government Senate unanimously voted to pass a finance committee code change Wednesday that will overhaul the way student groups are funded. The code change, which was presented by ASG president Nehaarika Mulukutla, will eliminate A- and B-status funding designations. Instead, there will be a five-tiered system in which groups apply for funding by event. The changes
will go into effect in Spring Quarter 2019. Under the current system, student organizations are assigned to either A- or B-status and given funding for events based on that distinction. Mulukutla, a Weinberg senior, said the new system will be more equitable and allow for mobility and growth. Vice president for B-status finances Shreyas Tallamraju said the reform will allow B-status clubs specifically to expand their events. “A lot of my groups have a lot of trouble with getting the funding that they need,” the Weinberg sophomore told The Daily. “This new system » See SENATE, page 6
Community members say black students should be better served By JANE RECKER
daily senior staffer @janerecker
Communit y members demanded that Evanston/ Skokie School District 65 take more action to better serve black students at the Organization for Positive Action and Leadership’s Wednesday communit y meeting. According to the district’s quarterly suspension report — which was released Jan. 22 — 45 black students in the district were suspended during the second quarter of 2018 compared to four white students. The number of
HE SIMPLY WANTED TO HAVE A TALK· TO THE ENEMY IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR
suspensions for black students has nearly tripled compared to the second quarter of 2017. Reasons for suspension can range from physical acts of violence to disruptive behavior, according to the report. But Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th) said the definition of disruptive behavior is different from teacher to teacher. OPAL president Roger Williams said it was the organization’s job to hold the school district accountable for racial disparities and to advocate for better solutions. He noted that while Evanston as a whole has a high level of educational success, there are small groups of students who are struggling in school.
Kate Salvidio/Daily Senior Staffer
Organization for Positive Action and Leadership president Roger Williams speaks about the lack of educational equity in Evanston. The group said suspensions of black students in Evanston/Skokie School
“It’s like a person who has five children and one of them has pneumonia,” he
WITH DORI ERWIN COLLINS, MATTHEW GRAYSON,
said. “What are you going to » See OPAL, page 6
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