The Daily Northwestern — April 26, 2019

Page 1

The Daily Northwestern Friday, April 26, 2019

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Lacrosse

3 CAMPUS/Speaker

Wildcats earn No. 5 national ranking

Diane Nash, a civil rights trailblazer, emphasizes need for civic action during talk

Find us online @thedailynu 4 OPINION/Editorial

Why we need to save student newsrooms

High 61 Low 41

‘Fund Our Care’ hosts town hall

Scan this QR code with Snapchat or your smartphone camera to view an accompanying video on Family Focus in Evanston.

Students ask for more mental health resources By SAMANTHA HANDLER

daily senior staffer @sn_handler

Daily file photo by Colin Boyle

The Evanston Family Focus Center, 2010 Dewey Ave. The center opened in Evanston in 1976 to provide community and encourage childhood development.

Family Focus fosters community

Center provides programming, support to 5th Ward residents By CLARE PROCTOR

daily senior staffer @ceproctor23

On any given day after school, children shuffle from program to program at Evanston Family Focus. Located at 2010 Dewey Ave., the center serves more than 200 families in the community through

family-oriented programming. This center and its resources are vital to the Evanston community, said Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th), who attended Family Focus programming herself when she was growing up. “We have thousands of Family Focus alumni, folks that went through programming at Family Focus,” Rue Simmons

City comitted to small businesses More than 40 new businesses opened in past year By CASSIDY WANG

the daily northwestern @cassidyw_

Despite the rapidly changing retail industry, Evanston remains committed to fostering the success of small businesses, according to the city’s 2018 Economic Development Annual Report. More than 40 new businesses opened in Evanston in the past year, including 30 new general businesses and 14 new food establishments, per the report. “Despite the tumultuous shift in the retail economy, Evanston’s retail vacancy rate is the lowest it has been in ten years,” the report states. The report comes in contrast to a 2017 survey of 850 small independent businesses across the country by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, where 90 percent of businesses reported

that online shopping sites, specifically Amazon, are having a negative impact on their revenue. Although the large and growing influence of online companies like Amazon may threaten to crowd out small, local businesses, vacancy rates are at just 4 percent in Evanston, according to the report. City manager Wally Bobkiewicz said small businesses can thrive in Evanston in part because the city is a “walkable community” and residents value shopping locally. “People like the opportunity to take a walk in their neighborhood and be able to purchase goods,” Bobkiewicz said. “Amazon certainly has its place in the economy but I think here in Evanston people want (businesses) to be walkable, accessible. They want to know the people they’re doing business with.” Bobkiewicz said the city provides a strong network of support for businesses through its » See BUSINESSES, page 7

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

said. “What it has done to save lives, to transform lives, to empower families is invaluable.” Since opening in Evanston in 1976, Family Focus has offered classes, resources and a safe place for families in need of assistance, with an overarching goal of promoting early childhood development. Primarily serving 5th Ward residents, the non-profit is central to the

community, both for the support it provides and the community it fosters. The organization has since expanded to six other centers across the Chicago area. Historic building brings ‘sense of community’ Before Family Focus occupied the Dewey Avenue » See ORGANIZE, page 6

Medill sophomore Cayla Clements said even though the University “appears” to give help to students, seeking mental health resources is actually a process students must do on their own. “Things as little as, ‘You have to be the one to call CAPS,’” Clements said, “that CAPS won’t call you when you have to schedule an intake, that just the school won’t be there for you. You have to go through every part of the process yourself and that shouldn’t be how the school is run.” Clements spoke Thursday at a town hall in Harris Hall organized by Fund Our Care Collective where students shared their stories about struggling to find adequate resources at Northwestern. The Fund Our Care Collective was created this fall when students wanted to call for more action from the University after sophomore Daniel Jessell committed suicide. The group has a list of 10 demands for the administration — including decreasing the Counseling and Psychological Services ratio to 800 students per counselor by 2022 and making a majority of the requested new hires be people of color and members of the LGBTQ community. They also want to guarantee

CAPS availability during Wildcat Welcome. Those who attended shared stories of sexual assault, feeling suicidal and ways Northwestern has failed to provide adequate resources, especially for marginalized students. Some said CAPS failed to follow up with either them or their friends, while others said the process of getting help was already difficult enough to do by oneself and was not conducive to healing. Weinberg senior Jessica Ogwumike, a member of the collective, said the group understood the budget deficit may cause a challenge for funding, but she added that the University should “get creative.” “We’re fighting for priorities that better align with the preservation of student life, essentially,” Ogwumike said. In December, the collective marched to the Rebecca Crown Center to deliver their demands to Patricia Telles-Irvin, the vice president for student affairs. Two days before the protest,Telles-Irvin announced the hiring of two new CAPS staff members and the formation of a task force focused on student well-being. Weinberg junior Romie Drori said there has not been follow-up information about the new hires or the task force, despite requests from students. She added that when students and the members of the collective have asked for public town halls, the administration has responded with offering » See TOWNHALL, page 6

Students Take Back The Night

March highlights student activism, denounces sexual violence By JOSIAH BONIFANT

the daily northwestern @bonijos_iahfant

Take Back The Night, a week of events centered around supporting sexual violence survivors, culminated in an impassioned march and optional speak out for survivors to comfortably share their stories Thursday. The events throughout the week were co-hosted by a variety of groups on campus dedicated to supporting survivors and encouraging healthy expressions of sexuality with College Feminists as the primary organizer. The group’s Take Back The Night Chair Kai Kuo said the movement began in an era of public feminist protests, inverting the norm that women are afraid to walk at night. “It’s a movement traditionally for female-bodied people — that’s how it started — but it’s become something for survivors of sexual violence as a whole,” Kuo said. “The night is ours; any space should be ours. We have the right

to feel safe wherever we go.” The march began at the Rock with a speech from SPEAK for Change director Alana Farkas with an emphasis on the students in attendance being activists. Around fifty students marched down Sheridan Road holding posters about consent and rape culture and chanting, “knowing, active, voluntary, present and ongoing” — the University’s definition of consent. Several cars honked support to the activists before they gathered around the steps of Norris University center. SESP first year Kate Hader said she had been to one other event for Take Back The Night and was glad that the movement had an opportunity with the march to be so visible on campus, as a contrast to the sexual assault last month. “It’s really important to support survivors, especially on a campus where a sexual assault just happened,” Hader said. “Survivors are important and valued and should be able to exist in society.” Kuo noted that the activism on

Firstname Lastname/The Daily Northwestern

Students gather around the Rock as an act of solidarity before marching.

Northwestern’s campus as a whole tended to ebb and flow dependent on the notoriety of specific instances of sexual violence. They said the personal fluctuations among the student body made the work the Center for Awareness Response and Education does on educating on issues of survivorship all the more important. “Everybody has a part in preventing and ending sexual assault,

whether it’s intervening in a situation you don’t think is safe or shutting down casual sexism,” Kuo said. “We all have a role in this fight and it doesn’t have to be something as big as a march or a protest.” Weinberg senior Sarani Pachalla said she came last year to support several of her friends » See TAKEBACK, page 6

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8


2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019

AROUND TOWN

Scholar talks gender inequality, book By ABIGAIL SUTTER

the daily northwestern @sutter_abigail

Catharine MacKinnon discussed her latest book, “Butterfly Politics,” a novel about gender inequality and sexual assault, in Hardin Hall of the Rebecca Crown Center Thursday afternoon. The event was a culmination of efforts by the Gender and Sexuality Studies program, One Book One Northwestern, and the Department of Legal Studies. Political science prof. Mary Dietz said the Gender and Sexuality Studies program has been interested in getting MacKinnon to come to NU for years. The event was also made possible by the Edith Kreeger Wolf Endowment, a fund that brings scholars, advocates and other professional figures to Northwestern’s campus in an attempt to further students’ appreciation and knowledge of women in different fields. In addition to being an author and a radical feminist legal scholar at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, she has served as the first special gender advisor to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court from 2008 to 2012, where she implemented her concept of “gender crime.” “She’s so fundamentally important to the scholarship we work in, particularly feminist theory and sexuality studies,” Dietz said. MacKinnon said the inspiration for her latest title comes from a concept known as the Butterfly Effect –– a theory developed by Edward Lorenz that suggests small changes in one place can produce immense change in an entirely different location. She said she translated this theory into the world of legal scholarship and gender studies, arguing that relevant and small interventions can produce systematic changes in our world. A group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope, an image MacKinnon said represents a metaphor for the survivors of sexual violence. She added “survivors cut across identities,” noting they can hold any social identity, including race, gender, sexuality and more.

Bettina Neuefeind/Flickr

Catharine MacKinnon. MacKinnon discussed her new novel about gender inequality and sexual assault, at the Rebecca Crown Center on Thursday afternoon.

In addition to discussing her book, MacKinnon also touched on topics ranging from the possibilities of an Equal Rights Amendment to international sex crime laws. She said the current national political climate has created a culture where the more power a man has, “the more sex he can exact from his inferiors.” However, she said activism such as the #MeToo movement have helped to change this. She drew on the powerful reaction to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings and his example of the “tantrums of entitlement” prevalent in modern society, saying, “we are the backlash this time.” “Inequality is not consented to,” MacKinnon said. “Sexual violence doesn’t just happen to you once. Victims are serial too.” Toward the end of the Q&A, MacKinnon discussed the unequal treatment of sexual abuse survivors in the legal system. She said language perpetuates furthers power imbalances. She said survivors can “claim” attacks or “allege” an event took place, but they hardly ever “report”

such things, while perpetrators are merely required to “deny.” There is no equivalent word to express the insecure state of survivors who report what happened to them. “Apparently we lose our credibility with our virginity,” MacKinnon said. “Think on it.” Following Mackinnon’s talk, Weinberg sophomore Shiqi Xiao, who lived in China, said she connected to the discussion in a very personal way; the country’s own #MeToo movement is heavily watched by the government. After informing MacKinnon of the current state of Me Too in China during the Q&A, Xiao said MacKinnon not only discussed the topic in depth with her, but provided her advice on how to further investigate and take action. “It’s because of this event that I finally have a source of information on the movement,” Xiao said. “It’s really cool, because I didn’t have that opportunity when I was in China.”

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Evanston’s March unemployment rate drops to 2.8 percent The job market in Evanston remained strong in March, with the unemployment rate dropping to 2.8 percent from 3.1 percent the month before. The data, released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, shows figures well below the state unemployment rate of 4.5 percent and the national rate of 3.9 percent. The news is evidence that Evanston is still enjoying a decade-long economic recovery, even as some fear a looming global recession. Illinois lost 2,800 non-farm jobs last month, adjusting for seasonal variation. The biggest statewide losses came from professional and business services and trade, transportation, and utilities industries. Still, the headline numbers don’t paint the full picture of the employment situation. It excludes workers who have looked for work for more than four weeks, and those who work part-time but are unable to work more hours. The state government is facing a $3.2 billion deficit after years of economic hardship. Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration projected confidence in restoring financial stability. “This administration has begun the hard work of restoring fiscal sanity to our state so that we can build a thriving economy for all Illinoisans,” Deputy Governor Dan Hynes said in a news release. — Alan Perez

Setting the record straight An article published in Thursday’s paper titled “NU-Q Dean Everette Dennis reflects on school’s first decade” incorrectly stated that Dennis was the inaugural dean of NU-Q and that he is retiring. John Margolis was the first dean of NU-Q, and Dennis is taking a leave before coming to Evanston as a member of the Medill faculty. The Daily regrets the error.

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 3

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019

ON CAMPUS

Civil rights trailblazer talks activism By PRANAV BASKAR

daily senior staffer @pranav_baskar

To civil rights luminary Diane Nash, there’s no fundamental difference between being an activist and being a citizen: They’re one and the same. In an age when democracy continues to backslide, it’s every person’s obligation to push for progress, Nash told a crowd of roughly 40 Northwestern community members at a Thursday event. In a conversation with African American Studies Prof. Martha Biondi held in Lutkin Hall, Nash recounted her experiences as a civil rights trailblazer, emphasizing the enduring need for civic action. Biondi began the talk by outlining Nash’s central role in the civil rights movement. Nash was responsible for coordinating the Freedom Ride from Birmingham, Alabama to Jackson, Mississippi; leading lunch counter sit-ins; and contributing widely to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. “She brings meaning to the word ‘freedom fighter,’” Biondi said. “Her tireless efforts transformed this country.” Nash said she was politicized at an early age — as early as three years old, she watched the news with her grandmother. Growing up, Nash said she rushed to finish her chores so she could watch the Democratic and Republican presidential debates undisturbed. That social consciousness followed Nash to college in Tennessee where she quickly discovered ways to immerse herself in desegregation initiatives. “We were the group that led sit-ins,” Nash said. “We worked on consensus. If there was an issue, we’d take a straw vote…and if the margin of support wasn’t strong enough, we’d keep talking. We felt like we needed the whole-hearted support of everyone.” Nash said she organized a march to the city courthouse, where she asked the mayor directly whether he supported discrimination solely on the basis of race. “At first he talked around the question,” Nash said. “But I had studied syllogism, so I got him

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Civil rights activist Diane Nash speaks with Weinberg Prof. Martha Biondi at a Thursday event hosted at Lutkin Hall. Nash recounted her experiences as an activist and emphasized the need for civic activism.

to answer.” Soon after Nash’s efforts, Nashville became the first city in the United States to desegregate lunch counters, Biondi said, which set an example for a movement that would soon cross state borders. That campaign became institutionalized through the creation of SNCC, a coalition of students across the South dedicated to fighting Jim Crow. While Nash was initially reluctant to join SNCC as an elected, vocal member, she came around to the idea. She said she thought it was important to create a central network to help spread information and coordinate activism. Weinberg junior Alisa Liu, who attended the event, said she loved Nash’s demeanor throughout the conversation. “It was incredible,” Liu said. “It’s just so insane she lived through all of those events, and I think what

was more shocking to me was that the talk wasn’t heavy at all. It didn’t have a feeling of hopelessness or anything — she was incredibly positive.” That’s not to say that Nash didn’t encounter hardship — quite the contrary. In her time organizing, Nash was imprisoned multiple times, once while she was still pregnant with her first child. She still has vivid memories of the fear she experienced when approaching mobs or police forces while marching. But each time that anxiety set in, Nash had a response. “We told ourselves, ‘The work we’re doing is important. We have to act for the people who will follow us,’” Nash said. “Even though we hadn’t met you, we loved you. Future generations, it’s up to you to do the same.” pranavbaskar2022@u.northwestern.edu

The Daily Northwestern is published Monday through Friday during the academic year, except vacation periods and two weeks preceding them and once during August, by Students Publishing Co., Inc. of Northwestern University, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208; 847-491-7206. First copy of The Daily is free, additional copies are 50 cents. All material published herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright 2016 The Daily Northwestern and protected under the “work made for hire” and “periodical publication” clauses of copyright law. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Northwestern, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208. Subscriptions are $175 for the academic year. The Daily Northwestern is not responsible for more than one incorrect ad insertion. All display ad corrections must be received by 3 p.m. one day prior to when the ad is run.

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OPINION

Join the online conversation at www.dailynorthwestern.com Page 4

Friday, April 26, 2019

EDITORIAL

Continuing the mission of #SaveStudentNewsrooms Last year, The Daily Northwestern joined the national #SaveStudentNewsrooms campaign in support of all independent student newsrooms across the country. Our colleagues at the University of Florida’s The Independent Florida Alligator launched this campaign in support of The Daily Campus, the student newspaper at Southern Methodist University. Earlier that year, SMU’s student media board voted to shut down the company running the newspaper. This means the once-independent publication will now have to affiliate with the University to continue publishing, making it susceptible to administrative censorship. We at The Daily, an independent newsroom, joined in this campaign along with many other student newsrooms around the country to show support for student newsrooms and student journalism. A year after joining the movement, we continue to understand and promote the importance of independent student news organizations, especially on college campuses. Every day, as student newsrooms are at risk of becoming dissolved or reaffiliated with universities, we also continue to understand our privilege as a news organization that is not under control of Northwestern in any way. We are

editorially independent, and not subject to censorship. The Students Publishing Company board supports The Daily’s operations, though it does not interfere with editorial decisions we make. The board oversees alumni donations, the purchase of newsroom supplies and serves as an advisory board if the newsroom needs advice — particularly on ethical and legal matters. The existence of the board makes it possible for our newsroom to be entirely run by students, a privilege many newsrooms are at risk of losing as they experience a decrease funding, resulting in papers shutting down or dissolving. While we’ve won various awards over the years, we value our freedom as an independent newsroom more. We see the power of a group of students, unaffiliated with the University and not subject to censorship, bringing the news that we believe is most important to the Northwestern community. Naming problems around us is the first step in bringing about and seeing concrete change. By covering issues and events around campus that may otherwise go underreported or unnoticed, we hope to increase awareness of problems that the Northwestern community faces. From writing to multimedia storytelling to investigative

reporting, we hope to support a multitude of different avenues through which our journalists can magnify a range of diverse voices. Stories and articles produced for The Daily have drawn awareness to issues and inequalities on campus and in Evanston. In 2018, Ally Mauch, then an assistant web editor, wrote an In Focus story about student and faculty efforts to diversify the music curriculum in Bienen, which often only includes white and male composers and performers. When he was the Video Editor, Christopher Vazquez created a video documentary about transgender students struggling to find gender-open housing options on campus. Colin Boyle and Ryan Wangman wrote about residents of the 5th Ward in Evanston fighting for a neighborhood school in the only ward without one, which happens to also have highest percentage of black residents. We’re still working on stories that are crucial to understanding inequality and injustice, both on campus and beyond, in hopes of bringing a level of awareness to every resident and student . We aren’t flawless, but we are still actively working to improve our coverage and our content, and there are so many more important stories that still need to be told. Joining the #SaveStudentNewsrooms

movement, a year later, still holds a great deal of meaning for us. Producing journalism that impacts this campus and beyond is only possible with the generosity of alumni, and as our print advertising revenue has seen a drop in the last few years, our future as an independent student newsroom is not certain. Daily staffers have gone on to be wellknown journalists, producers and industry members, but more importantly, they’ve gone on to be better reporters and people once they leave. People should support the freedom and the empowerment that comes with student journalism, and the impact that independent student newsrooms have on communities. Looking forward, The Daily hopes to continue its status as an independent student newsroom that brings the most crucial and accurate content to its community. This isn’t possible without public support and donations. Students matter, and student journalism matters.

This piece represents the majority opinion of the Editorial Board of The Daily Northwestern. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members or Editorial Board members of The Daily Northwestern.

The iron wall of admissions needs to be anonymous CATHERINE BUCHANIEC

DAILY COLUMNIST

Shrouded in secrecy, highly selective universities rarely give insight into their admissions practices. Within the past year or so, however, the curtain has slowly risen to reveal an apparatus plagued with murky issues. From the Harvard affirmative action Supreme Court case regarding Asian applicants to Operation Varsity Blues, the illusion of fair admissions continues to crumble — Northwestern included. In an article published Wednesday, The Daily reported that a select pool of about 550 applicants had their files read and their admissions decisions made by University President Morton Schapiro. This group of students includes legacies, children whose family members have donated to NU, and others connected to Schapiro who ask him to read their student’s application. Unlike college admissions officers, Schapiro regularly interacts with donors and alumni while simultaneously having the ability to admit their children and grandchildren. With this discovery, the notion of an iron wall between the realm of wealth and

admissions essentially collapses — so much for not buying your way in. I understand the most obvious advantage of admitting legacy students: The likelihood of an alum donating thousands of dollars — possibly even a few million — most likely increases if their child currently attends the institution in question. However, by doing so, NU continues to take part in a process biased against middle-class and low-income families. When evaluating prospective students, universities often look for a return on investment. They may want to admit the next Supreme Court justice, the next Fortune 500 CEO, perhaps even the next member of the royal family. They want students that are going to impact the world — names that are going to go in history books and add to the school’s endowment and fame. By attending Northwestern, students make an unspoken contract — they get to use Northwestern’s name and resources to achieve success; the University then gets to advertise that success to attract future students. The donations received during the process are an added but vital bonus. For a typical prospective student coming from a legacy background or a famous family, the return on investment value appears especially high. This wealthy student already has industry connections, familial wealth and countless other societal advantages compared

to a student hailing from, say, a low-income background. They are already steps into a game other students are only just beginning to learn. In light of recent conversations about admissions decisions, universities have continued to defend their practices. At some institutions, including NU, this defense has manifested itself in a supposed separation between the alumni relations office and that of admissions. Yet, if that was the case, how did the files of legacy, wealthy and famous students move from Northwestern’s admissions office to Schapiro’s desk? The admissions office has previously said that they don’t have access to information about whether one’s parents donated money, but then how would they know those files fell under Schapiro’s unique purview? Northwestern claims to employ a needblind admissions policy, meaning the amount of financial aid a prospective student would need in order to attend does not factor into their admissions decision. However, the admissions office has access to legacy information. Admissions officers have the ability to Google whose parents are famous and, in the case of Schapiro, can see the donor list. When looking at admissions, especially in regards to Schapiro’s 550 files, what is really being judged? Money and connections or

talent and potential? In a letter to the editor published last month, an alum called upon Northwestern to lead the charge in reforming the college admissions system and I agree. In order to solve the problem of college admissions, Northwestern needs to put their cards on the table before changing the game. In order to do this, I believe Northwestern ought to introduce a sense of anonymity into college admissions. Not only should someone’s legacy status be kept secret, but the names of applicants should also remain anonymous. Even if admissions officers don’t have access to the donor list like Schapiro does, they do have the ability to Google names — to see if someone’s mother won an Oscar or if their father was recently elected. The ideal iron wall between admissions and wealth wouldn’t just be one between offices. It would provide a sense that students are being judged on their own accomplishments, not their families; their abilities, not their income level.

Catherine Buchaniec is a Medill first-year. She can be contacted at cbuchaniec@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 139, Issue 113

Editor in Chief Alan Perez

Print Managing Editors Kristina Karisch Marissa Martinez Peter Warren

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 • Should be double-spaced • Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number. • Should be fewer than 400 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.

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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.


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6 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

ORGANIZE From page 1

building, the property housed the Foster School, the segregation-era black school in Evanston. The school closed in 1967 as a part of the city’s desegregation plan. Following the closure, the building temporarily housed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School before it was moved to its current location at 2424 Lake St. The 5th Ward has not had a community school since. Colette Allen, the center’s director, said Family Focus provides students with a “safe space” to go to after school, a need for the community given that it lacks a community school. “All of our kids from this Ward are bussed out of here, so that sense of community that a school often brings is missing here,” Allen said. “And that’s what Family Focus provides, that sense of community.” ‘Holistic’ family support The programming Family Focus offers equips the entire family unit to strengthen childhood development, Allen said. “All the programs are centered around the family,” Allen said. “Not just the children, and not just the parents, but it takes a holistic approach to the

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 family. We support them from zero to 80.” Family Focus’s early childhood programming supports families with children from birth until they are 3 years old. It helps parents prepare their children for school through workshops and bimonthly home visits, which teach parents to read and play with their children. Once children reach third grade, they can attend the after-school programming. Allen said about 60 students, split into third- through fifthgraders and sixth- through eighth-graders, come to Family Focus every day after school for homework support and enrichment activities. Many activities emphasize STEM learning, she said. “We don’t have engineers and technicians and scientists, especially from the African American and Latino communities,” Allen said. “This is an opportunity to expose kids to things that they don’t normally get exposed to.” The center also has a Family Advocacy Center for families with children at risk of being placed into the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services system. Funded by the DCFS, Family Advocacy Center staff coordinate supervised visits and work with social workers and the court system, ultimately aiming to reunite parents with their children and keep families together,

Allen said. Programming supports grandparents responsible for raising their grandchildren as well. A support group meets once a month to participate in educational and social activities. These grandparents call themselves the “second-chance group,” Allen said. “Some of them feel like they didn’t do such a good job of raising their own children and that they’ve been given a second chance, now that they have custody of their grandchildren,” Allen said. Family Focus also operates a food pantry and clothing closet to provide resources to the community. The food pantry is open every Saturday, and the clothing closet every other Saturday. Allen said the pantry is open to whoever needs resources, and Family Focus doesn’t ask questions about whether people qualify to receive food and clothing. Spirit of collaboration Family Focus is not alone in the Dewey Avenue property; 18 other social service agencies rent space in the building, including Evanston Cradle to Career, McGaw YMCA Head Start and the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston. The different organizations collaborate with one another to meet an array of needs families might have, Allen said.

“That’s the great thing of being in a building where we have partner organizations: We do a lot of cross-referrals between agencies,” Allen said. “If somebody in the Head Start program has an older sibling that needs after-school care, they will refer them to us.” Family Focus, Inc., the organization’s corporate entity, currently owns the building, but the building is being sold. Family Focus CEO and President Merri Ex said the organization hopes to sell to someone intending to keep the building as a community center, where Family Focus would remain as a tenant. A group of community members called Foster Center Our Place have been working to raise funds to purchase the building. Evanston resident Rose Johnson, who leads the group, said having all the different social service agencies housed in the Family Focus building is “invaluable”. “There’s a lot that happens for kids, especially the kids in the 5th Ward, because of Family Focus and the other not-for-profits that are housed in that building,” Johnson said. “And I would like to see that continue. Our kids deserve as much as we can do for them.”

TAKEBACK

groups that discuss sexual assault or have personal connections may inadvertently be minimizing the issue by not showing up. “For people who haven’t been a survivor or in these spaces where they’re constantly having these conversations, it’s easy to forget this is a problem that exists at Northwestern and is very prevalent and a trauma that many people have to live through daily” Pachalla said. “Being here makes it known that we’re still here and we exist.”

clareproctor2021@u.northwestern.edu

TOWNHALL From page 1

one-on-one “closed-door” meetings. “The whole thing is shrouded in secrecy,” Drori said. “They said there’s no administrative resources for notes.” Two administrators — SESP Dean David Figlio and Liz Trubey, Weinberg assistant dean for academic advising — attended the town hall. Members of the collective said they personally invited 15 administrators, including Telles-Irvin, Dean of Students Todd Adams, Provost Jonathan Holloway and the director of CAPS, though they did not make an appearance. Figlio said he has seen how students are “in pain” and as an administrator, it is helpful for him when students can name the pain they are experiencing. “My heart melts because I know how hard you work,” Figlio said. “People work really hard at this institution.” Incoming Associated Student Government vice president Adam Davies, who attended the town hall, said going forward ASG can help facilitate talks with students and administrators. The SESP junior said ASG could possibly host a town hall or have administrators speak at public ASG Senate meetings. “As a trans student, personally this is something I’ve seen time and time again,” they said. “One of the things we’re really trying to do is bring resources to marginalized students who need them the most.”

From page 1

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

samanthahandler2021@u.northwestern.edu

who are in student groups like Sexual Health And Assault Peer Educators and are directly involved in supporting survivors and found the event motivational enough to return. Pachalla noticed she was one of only a few students who came out of interest, rather than to support one’s student organization. She said the march was a reminder for her on how to best support an issue she is passionate about, noting that students not in

josiahbonifant2021@u.northwestern.edu

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DAILY CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Dash meas. 4 “Unstoppable” cleaner 9 Dealer’s abbreviation 13 Brother of Athena 15 What informants might wear 16 First-rate 17 What turtles use to keep up outward appearances? 20 __ demon 21 Persian Gulf resident 22 Tall trotter 24 “Grab __”: “You’re pinch-hitting” 27 Cashew family shrub’s observation? 35 Ducks in Eugene 36 Blow it 37 Gross __ 38 Turner on a screen 39 Shakespeare’s Athenian hermit 41 It’s chilly in Chihuahua 42 Yamaguchi rival 43 Tour opening? 44 Title song words before “My love has come along” 46 Ad offer Wile E. Coyote really regrets accepting? 50 Bring up 51 Stephen who played Inspector Bucket on “Dickensian” 52 Mount Rainier gateway 56 Twists 61 Old MacDonald’s bookkeepers? 65 It might pop up 66 Giant Chicken on “Family Guy” 67 Spelling start? 68 Brigitte’s bridge 69 Reason to raise goblets 70 Quick DOWN 1 Yoga accessories 2 Item on a set 3 “__ lies ... ”

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019

Continuing education program promotes learning

By CHARLOTTE WALSH

daily senior staffer @charwalsh_

A class on the Arab Spring, hosted by the Continuing Education program, was once so popular that it had to be relocated to the larger Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston, said program co-chair Sheila Gideon. However, when volunteers surveyed students at the end of the class, they still wanted to take it on campus, even if it meant capping the course. “There’s an energy that’s generated from campus and being with students and seeing what’s on the walls,” Gideon (Communication ’60, ’61) said. “Just as we maybe bring something to campus, it certainly brings something to this group of people.” The Continuing Education program, sponsored by the Alumnae of Northwestern University, is celebrating its 50th anniversary of offering noncredit Northwestern courses to the public. Four classes are offered by NU professors each quarter. The courses are often held Tuesdays and Thursdays in various locations within Norris University Center. Courses and professors are selected with the help of “scouts,” or volunteers who aid with program curricula, co-chair Debby Hudson (Weinberg ’75, SESP ’93) said. Organizers will hear of an interesting class or professor — either through volunteers, students or other professors — and will reach out to them to teach a class. The program has held classes on topics ranging

BUSINESSES From page 1

established business districts that are supportive of newcomers. However, Bobkiewicz said the most important tool the city uses in economic development is its interest in small businesses. He said the city tries to understand the issues facing small business owners and tailor the services they offer based on the needs of individual businesses. Such initiatives have allowed for the success of small businesses. Bobkiewicz said although the threats posed by online shopping are real and clear, “small businesses in Evanston and everywhere recognize that and are trying to differentiate themselves.” The report includes examples of such businesses that are ‘differentiating themselves’, like Assembly

Aaron Wang/The Daily Northwestern

A student listens to Dr. Claire Sufrin lecture as a part of the Continuing Education program. The program is celebrating its 50th anniversary offering noncredit Northwestern courses to the public.

from robotics and artificial intelligence to Alexander Hamilton, to name a few. Gideon said because the classes are held during the day, the majority of students are retired. Classes must be capped at 360 students, a number that Hudson said sometimes isn’t enough for the program’s most popular selections. Evanston resident Charles O’Kieffe said he has

been a fan of the classes for years, and first became interested when his wife took them while he worked. At 87 years old, O’Kieffe is currently enrolled in all four classes the program offers and said he enjoys the classes because it gives him something to do “upstairs” away from his routine at a Presbyterian retirement home. The professors are knowledgeable, he said, and he enjoys the community of learners that gathers to

Creators Market on 1642 Orrington Ave., which sells handcrafted clothing, accessories and gifts. Owner Reyes Witt said when conceptualizing her store, she wanted to ensure her customers “get a story from the products they’re purchasing.” “Not only are they really great products, but they’re made with top-shelf ingredients,” Witt said. “There is somebody who’s running a small business that’s putting all of the quality into it.” Witt said she started her business in Evanston last year because of the city’s strong economic development. She added that the Evanston community values what small businesses offer. “They love it,” she said. “They’re excited about it. There’s a very creative and artistic community here in Evanston. People get it.” She emphasized the importance of small business owners knowing what support and resources

are available for them. When coming into a new community, she said figuring all that out can be a challenge. When she started her business, Witt said she got the sense that the city really wanted her store to be successful, which she said can’t be found in a lot of other places. Witt said that for small business owners like her to succeed, they need a strong community and government. “I feel like I hit the jackpot,” she said. “I feel like I couldn’t have ended up in a better place.” However, some Evanston businesses still face hurdles to economic success. The report said with limited space availability in the city, rents continue to rise, which may pose a challenge for smaller, independent businesses. Bobkiewicz said although high rent prices are a factor in a business’s decision to operate in Evanston, the

hear them speak. “We’re all here for the same reason — to learn something and be challenged,” he said. Claire Sufrin, assistant director of Jewish Studies is currently teaching her fourth class for the program entitled “Martin Buber: Philosopher, Theologian, Poet.” Compared to the undergraduate courses she teaches, she said adults are usually pretty excited to be in class. While she understands weekly lectures are not for everybody, Sufrin said it’s rewarding to see students coming back class after class. “The main thing we often say that we teach in humanities classes is critical reading and writing skills and the ability to know that we’re in a particular historical moment,” Sufrin said. “I think being reminded of that is really important at different stages of life.” And since the students are mainly older, Sufrin said they have often lived through the events she lectures on. Because of this, Sufrin said she hears about the material she teaches in a new light. To that point, Gideon agreed, saying one of her favorite parts of running the program is seeing how students can speak to the culture of a particular era. “They are the most interesting, well-traveled, welleducated, critical, discriminating individuals,” Gideon said. “It’s really an inspiration to see how people can keep that zest for learning throughout their lives.” charlottewalsh2021@u.northwestern.edu

large presence of customers who shop locally may balance the potential cost. “Certainly those costs are a factor but one of the reasons we continue to see businesses locating here is this is a very dynamic place,” Bobkiewicz said. “There are a lot of people here who want to shop locally.” Bobkiewicz also said the city should be considerate of barriers, like high rent costs, for small businesses going forward. From a city perspective, Bobkiewicz said there’s a continuous effort to make barriers as minimal as possible for independent business owners. “Evanston’s the place to be,” Bobkiewicz said. “People want to live here, work here, go to school here, shop here. Businesses see an opportunity to reach customers here in Evanston.” cassidywang2022@u.northwestern.edu

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SPORTS

ON DECK APR.

27

ON THE RECORD

We have to finish well into the Big Ten Tournament so that we can get a high seed, putting us in the best position we can be in. — Kelly Amonte Hiller, coach

Baseball NU at Michigan State, 3:05 p.m. Saturday

@DailyNU_Sports

Friday, April 26, 2019

STILL ROLLING

Cats earn No. 5 national ranking, take down Buckeyes on road NORTHWESTERN

By CHARLIE GOLDSMITH

daily senior staffer @2021_charlie

Even though she’s won seven national titles at Northwestern, coach Kelly Amonte Hiller still knows national rankings matter. While she was preparing for Thursday’s game against Ohio State on Wednesday, the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Committee released its most updated seedings. It revealed the Wildcats as the fifth-best team in the country, with an advantageous projected draw toward the Final Four. “Since it’s actually the Committee putting out, as of right now, where each team would be, I think (the rankings) are pretty important,” Amonte Hiller said. “It shows us that we have to finish well into the Big Ten Tournament so that we can get a high seed, putting us in the best position we can be in.” The only thing that could have jeopardized that seeding before the regular season ended would have been a loss to the unranked Buckeyes (9-8, 1-5 Big Ten). But another six-goal performance from senior attacker Selena Lasota prevented any question of where NU (12-4,

Daily file photo by Evan Robinson-Johnson

CROSS COUNTRY

17 12

OHIO STATE

5-1 Big Ten) stands heading into the conference tournament next weekend. The Cats won 17-12 in Columbus following the fourth six-goal game of the season for Lasota, keeping the team’s No. 5 ranking safe for the moment. Lasota scored two goals late in the second half to increase their lead from two goals to four, putting Ohio State away with her dynamic offense down the stretch. Lasota’s late performance helped NU tip the scales of a game that was surprisingly tight early on. The Buckeyes led 5-4 10 minutes into the first half, receiving multiple lightly-contested chances close to the net. Ohio State attacker Liza Hernandez had the hosts’ first two goals, but after that she was held scoreless until after the game was in hand for NU. Keeping Hernandez in check, the Cats held the Buckeyes to one goal in an 18-minute stretch late in the game. NU went on a 7-2 run to pull away, and its star attacker attributed the turnaround to her team controlling more draw controls after a slow start. “We tried to focus on not getting too shaken by any specific play they made,” Lasota said. “We haven’t had as much communication on defense and clicking

on offense and trust in each other (as the team can), but we saw a lot of great progress.” Then Lasota turned the game around with her offensive performance, and the Cats took home the eighth win in their last nine games. NU, who finishes its regular season in second place in the Big Ten behind undefeated No. 1 Maryland, will play No. 8 Michigan in the first round of the four-team Big Ten Tournament on May 3 in Baltimore. In the two games before this one, NU defeated the Wolverines and No. 9 Notre Dame, leading Amonte Hiller to say she’s confident about where the Cats are heading into the postseason. In what will likely be the team’s final game this year against an unranked opponent, she said the team responded well to a better-than-expected first half from the Buckeyes. “Ohio State is not going to just roll over, they’re going to fight for everything since they’re a good team,” she said. “Each game we have to take what’s coming, and we were able to make a few adjustments of what we were doing in the second half to get a little bit better.” charliegoldsmith2021@u.northwestern. edu

SOFTBALL

Eight Wildcats post NU looks for sixth straight sweep season-bests in CA By ANDREW GOLDEN

By TROY CLOSSON

daily senior staffer

Eight Northwestern runners posted season-best times after a strong weekend on the West Coast, a positive sign as many hope to qualify for NCAA Regionals at the end of next month. The Wildcats split up between three California meets this weekend, and across the board, coach ‘A Havahla Haynes said she was pleased with the team’s performances. Juniors Aubrey Roberts, Kelly O’Brien and Sarah Nicholson were among those who ran season-bests — as they look ahead to qualifying for NCAA Regionals at the end of next month, Haynes said the weekend was a step in the right direction for each of them. “(They) have to run a little bit faster perhaps, so we’re going to keep working toward that,” Haynes said. “But they all had great races, which was really exciting.” Though it was only her second time, Nicholson competed in the 10,000-meter race at the Mt. Sac Relays on Thursday. In her first time running the distance last month, she struggled, posting a 35:31 time and tapering off toward the end of the race. This time, she ran a 35:03, the third-fastest 10K in program history. “She changed her mindset going into it,” Haynes said. “She really relaxed early on, planning to go a second faster per lap to get the time down — and she executed it perfectly.” Nicholson said this go around she “definitely felt better” than her first 10K at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic.

Executing a better race strategy early on left her with more energy over the last two miles, Nicholson said, and feeling more in control showed up in her results. “Mentally, I went in trying to attack it as a four mile tempo and a two mile race… over the first four miles, really just focusing on airplane music during the race and staying with the people around me,” Nicholson said. “And then over the last two miles, mentally making a commitment to be uncomfortable.” O’Brien and Roberts also ran season-bests half an hour away at the Bryan Clay Invitational, posting 4:25.59 and 4:35.00 times, respectively. Both qualified for NCAA Regionals last year, and Haynes said they’re both trending in the right direction to make a repeat showing. Along with the three juniors, freshmen Rachel McCardell, Sara McCoy and Hannah Hall each ran season-best times too. In the 1,500-meter race, McCardell and McCoy crossed the line in 4:34 and 4:56 respectively at the Bryan Clay and Long Beach State Invitationals, while Hall ran an 18:11 5K at Bryan Clay. With strong performances throughout the spring from freshmen like McCardell, Hall and Sielle Kearney, Haynes said she’s excited as the runners come close to qualifying for USATF Junior Outdoor Championships at the end of June. Nicholson said as the season winds down, she’s excited to see the team’s younger runners continue to step up. “We’ve got really good momentum going now,” Nicholson said. “So I think the next few races will be really, really exciting.” closson@u.northwestern.edu

daily senior staffer @andrewcgolden

As Northwestern heads to East Lansing for its weekend series against Michigan State, the Wildcats are in the midst of one of the greatest stretches in program history. NU (37-7, 17-0) enters this weekend at the top of the Big Ten standings at 17-0 on a 16-game winning streak, its longest since 1985 — and this year’s freshman class has been an integral part of the team’s success. The Wildcats’ eight-player 2018 recruiting class has been headlined by freshman ace Danielle Williams, who was named a USA Softball Player of the Year finalist Wednesday. Williams has been dominant all season, going 25-3 with a 1.25 ERA and 237 strikeouts. While raving about how great a ballplayer Williams is, coach Kate Drohan said the nomination is about more than just one person. “You can look at Danielle’s numbers and look at her shutouts and her strikeouts and all that stuff, but it takes a team to do that,” Drohan said. “When I think about a player being singled out like that, I think that’s a team nod and a team recognition.” Drohan said fellow freshman catcher Jordyn Rudd has been “working her tail off ” behind the plate the whole season, in tandem with Williams. Rudd’s impact has reached further than just behind the plate — she leads the team with a .341 batting average. Fellow rookies Nikki Cuchran and Maeve Nelson join her as three of NU’s top four leaders in average. In Tuesday’s doubleheader against Illinois, the freshmen took over the games with their power. Cuchran, Rudd and Williams all hit home runs, with Rudd driving in all four runs in the Cats’ second game on a grand slam.

While many factors have contributed to the freshmen’s success, Drohan cited their competitiveness, their investment in learning and their ability to step up in clutch situations. Some of the freshmen also emphasized the mentorship of the upperclassmen. “They’ve literally taught us everything,” Nelson said. “The first day we were here, we were running with our heads cut off… they’ve been here for us the entire time and it’s obviously translated on the field for us.” The Cats’ roster of freshmen and veterans, like senior outfielder Morgan Nelson and senior first baseman Lily Novak, has been the perfect balance for a team that doesn’t rely too heavily on one player offensively. However, NU will need all of its players firing on all cylinders offensively against the Spartans.

The Spartans (15-29, 3-13) rank right below the Cats in batting average by .001 and are lead by freshman standout Charla Echols, who is ninth in the Big Ten with a .379 batting average. Michigan State has four additional players with averages of .289 and above. NU will need great pitching performances from Williams, along with veteran pitchers Kaley Winegarner and Kenna Wilkey to combat the Spartans’ offense. “They’re an offensive-minded team so that’s what we’ve gotta battle this weekend,” Drohan said. “We’ve really challenged (our) pitching staff to challenge them and we’ve challenged our offense to take away opportunities in their offense.” andrewgolden2021@u.northwestern. edu

Daily file photo by Andrew Golden

Danielle Williams stands at the mound. The freshman was named a finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award this week.


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