The Daily Northwestern — May 1, 2023

The Daily Northwestern

4 A&E/A&O Ball

070 Shake and redveil rock the Metro Chicago

El-Kurd discusses Palestine in media

Journalist speaks about respectability politics, news bias

By KRISTEN AXTMAN daily senior staffer @kristenaxtman1

Palestinian writer and poet Mohammed El-Kurd discussed respectability politics in front of about 100 students and community members at Lutkin Hall on Saturday.

In his remarks, El-Kurd argued activists should move beyond respectability politics to deliver honest messages about current events like the Palestine-Israel conflict.

“Respectability is when you have to heal a certain way, dress a certain way, say certain things, have a bunch of qualifiers before you move on to the important part,” El-Kurd said. “Tossing that out the window can be quite liberating for people.”

El-Kurd is the Palestine correspondent for The Nation and released his debut poetry collection, “RIFQA,” in 2021. He was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2021.

The event, titled “Beyond Respectability,” was co-hosted

Off-campus students offer ideas and advice for meals on a budget

by Students for Justice in Palestine, the Middle Eastern North African Students Association, Northwestern’s Community for Human Rights, the Muslim-cultural Students Association and the MENA Studies Program.

El-Kurd said he decided to work in journalism because of misinformation about Palestine in the media. Poetry offers him a path to explore similar topics, but with more freedom. He uses poetry to approach subjects like stalking and cyber illusionary violence — a useful medium because discussing his feelings on those topics could otherwise place him under scrutiny, he said.

He also said many people believe the portrayal of Palestinians in the media comes from reporters’ ignorance, but he said large media outlets like Fox News and CNN have reporters on the ground in Palestine. Reporters tend to ignore Israeli state violence because the occupation often serves establishments’ strategic interests, he said.

“It’s time that we approach protection for our people with a little bit more compassion,” he said. “We should be

» See EL-KURD, page 6

Jamba to return to Evanston in fall

Smoothie shop comes amid effort to revitalize city’s downtown

By SAUL PINK daily senior staffer @saullpink

Growing up in Evanston, John Holmes frequently stopped by the smoothie chain

Jamba, formerly Jamba Juice, on Davis Street to order a banana berry smoothie. When it closed in 2015, he said he felt heartbroken. Holmes would drive 30 minutes to Highland Park in a minivan with his friends

MSA marks Arab Heritage Month

Student group celebrates with food, performances throughout April

By AVA MANDOLI daily senior staffer @ava_mandoli

This April, Northwestern Multicultural Student Affairs formally recognized Arab Heritage Month for the first time.

Weinberg junior Sara Ibrahim, the Middle Eastern North African Student Association copresident, said this acknowledgment is a step in the right direction toward increasing MENA visibility on campus. She said this has historically been limited by the lack of a MENA category on the U.S. census.

“One of the big reasons why there was never any programming or community for MENA students is because we don’t have faculty in MSA,” Ibrahim, a former op-ed Daily contributor, said. “That all goes back to being invisible on the census. You can’t create jobs or community for a community that doesn’t exist on paper.”

MSA didn’t organize any programming for Arab Heritage Month this year, which Ibrahim said is because MSA doesn’t have staff members dedicated

to supporting MENA students. Instead, the MENA Student Association, which was founded in spring 2021, planned April’s events, some in collaboration with the MENA Studies and MENA Languages programs.

The student group organized an Arabic calligraphy workshop, poetry readings, speaker events and more throughout the month. The second annual Arab Expressions event takes place Friday, featuring spoken Arabic

poetry, live music from oud and tabla players, a traditional dabke dance performance and food from Al Bawadi Grill.

Last Spring Quarter, the

» See ARAB HERITAGE , page 6

from Evanston Township High School just to go to Jamba. He even started an Instagram account, @bringbacktheevanstonjamba, to advocate for the smoothie shop’s return to downtown.

“It was kind of a joke but

kind of serious,” Holmes said. But in the fall, Holmes — now a senior at Boston University — will see his dream come true. A new Jamba location is set to open at 1732 Sherman » See JAMBA , page 6

Residents, activists talk green homes

Attendees suggest individual efforts for sustainable houses

By COLE REYNOLDS the daily northwestern @charcole27

Local climate groups and the city hosted a gathering Saturday morning about educating people on renewable energy in their homes. The event spotlighted individual actions instead of government initiatives.

As Evanston pursues climate projects like an energy-efficient animal shelter, Saturday’s gathering focused on smaller-scale improvements, from replacing stoves and heating units to installing home solar panels. There, climate experts presented ways for every Evanston home to become more sustainable and affordable.

“These kinds of actions are both good for the earth and good for the consumer,” said Scott Allen, environmental outreach coordinator of Citizens Utility Board, during a

presentation at the event.

Four years into implementing its Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, Evanston has reduced its carbon emissions by 38% from 2005 levels, according to the city’s Sustainability and Resilience Manager Cara Pratt. But she said there is more to those numbers than meets the eye.

Pratt said a significant amount of that reduction is due to renewable energy credits, where the city purchases credit for surplus climate improvements made in other areas. Evanston’s use of natural gas, she said, has barely deviated from its original starting point.

“From 20 years (ago), we’ve made no real progress in reducing our emissions from natural gas,” Pratt said.

Many of the home sustainability improvements presented by Allen focused on reducing use of natural gas in residential properties. Allen suggested replacing gas ranges with induction cooktops, as well as using geothermal or air-source heat

» See CLIMATE ACTION, page 6

Illustration by Lily Ogburn

A new Jamba location is set to open this fall on Sherman Avenue in downtown Evanston.

Illustration by Lillian Ali

Northwestern’s Middle Eastern North African Student Association is celebrating the first Universityrecognized Arab Heritage Month this year through the arts, food and community.

By ALIYA BEKSHENOVA

Mas Salud, a Latin fusion restaurant and bar, opened its doors in downtown Evanston for the first time last Friday.

Located across Oldberg Park on Clark Street, the restaurant is a six-minute walk from The Arch.

Two hours before their grand opening, co-Owners Ryan Aitelhadj and Jovanni Viveros were ready to see their long awaited vision come to life.

“We’ve had a lot of setbacks on this journey, and we completely remodeled this place,” Aitelhadj said “We’re very excited since we’ve been waiting for a year.”

The story of how Mas Salud came about is a long one, Aitelhadj said.

With a background in finance, Aitelhadj started a catering company out of his house after losing his job. He then opened a brick and mortar restaurant called Salud Kitchen with co-owner Michael Melnick, in 2021. Mas Salud, where Melnick is also a co-owner, is an off-shoot of Salud Kitchen, located in Portage Park, Chicago.

When Aitelhadj and Melnick announced the new restaurant on Instagram, they were looking for a chef — and Viveros reached out.

Viveros, who grew up in Veracruz, Mexico, learned many of the culinary skills he brings to the restaurant from his family members. He said he has been learning how to make food from scratch since he was a child.

“My mom and grandma taught me a lot about Mexican cuisine … and the kitchen always caught my attention,” explained Viveros.

The Mas Salud menu is largely Viveros’ creation.

The Evanston Police Department arrested a man in connection with the Clark Street Beach shooting

Served tapas style, it features an extensive drinks selection and dishes inspired by several Latin American cuisines including dishes like empanadas and albondigas. Viveros said the flautas is one of his favorites.

“Everything we’re serving is [Viveros’] dreams, his ideas, his blood, sweat and tears,” Aitelhadj said.

Aitelhadj said he is grateful to their interior designer Jessica Rivera for incorporating elements of her own Latine background into the space. Rivera hails from Puerto Rico.

Rivera’s vision is behind the restaurant’s colorful murals, ceiling hanging chairs and umbrellas inspired by Fortaleza Street in Puerto Rico.

on April 12 that left 18-year-old Jacquis Irby dead and his two 15-year-old brothers injured.

In a Saturday news release, EPD stated it arrested 20-year-old Jalen Murray in Evanston. The police accused Murray of firing the gun and charged him with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

After its initial investigation with the North Regional

“The umbrellas, for example, are a touch of what she would see when going back home to San Juan,” Aitelhadj said. “The interior is made up of things she naturally gravitates to.”

Last week, the restaurant provided food to Northwestern’s multicultural sketch comedy and improv group Out Da Box for their spring show.

Weinberg freshman Thomas Alemu is part of ODB and he said he loved the food.

“It was really good. I really liked their tacos especially,” Alemu said.

Aitelhadj said the restaurant is more than happy to partner with more Northwestern clubs in the future.

Violent Crimes Task Force, EPD determined a verbal altercation led to the shooting.

“The altercation escalated with at least one offender firing a handgun into the group containing the victims. After the shooting, the offenders immediately fled the area,” the news release stated.

EPD said Murray was scheduled to appear in bond court Saturday and that the investigation is still in

Mas Salud offers a 20% discount for Northwestern students and a 15% discount for faculty upon verification of a university ID.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused staffing and financial difficulties for Salud Kitchen in its original Chicago location. Now, the owners are more confident in the future success of their new location.

“With time, work, and a lot of effort, we were able to get this place going,” Aitelhadj said. “We went through hell in the first location, so we’re built to take this on.”

aliyabekshenova2026@u.northwestern.edu

progress.

In the two weeks since the shooting, Mayor Daniel Biss released a statement with the city’s “violence prevention steps.” Those include an increased police presence around the lakefront and downtown areas and more community support programs.

Shannon Tyler

Katie Chen/The Daily Northwestern

Mas Salud, a Latin fusion restaurant and bar, opened on Clark Street on Friday.

Person arrested in Clark Street Beach shooting, investigation in progress

McSA celebrates Eid Al-Fitr with banquet

By KAAVYA BUTANEY and JAY DUGAR daily senior staffers @kaavya_butaney / @dugar_jay

The Muslim-cultural Students Association hosted an Eid Al-Fitr banquet Sunday night to celebrate the end of Ramadan in Norris University Center’s Louis Room.

McSA organized events throughout Ramadan, which was from March 22 to April 21, including iftar banquets to celebrate breaking the fast at sunset and Kahoot night.

The Eid celebration included a Quran recitation and translation, and speeches from Associate University Chaplain Tahera Ahmad and University of Illinois Chicago chaplain Ariz Saleem.

“I’m really proud ... of being a part of this community because of the students here,” Ahmad said. “It’s not just about being woke, right? It’s about consistently sustaining each other through the hard times.”

Weinberg sophomore and McSA co-President

Ayman Hayat said the association’s banquet came

more than a week following Eid, which took place April 21. This delayed schedule allowed students who traveled home for Eid to celebrate with the on-campus community as well.

“We all had this shared struggle, and then you come together to celebrate that,” Hayat said. “It’s just so joyous.”

Hayat said McSA wanted to give back to the community by catering from local business Habibi In, which serves Mediterranean cuisine. Members of McSA visit the restaurant so often that the workers know them, Hayat said.

In addition to celebrating Eid, Hayat said he was also looking forward to hearing NU senior speakers reflect on their time at Northwestern and in McSA.

Weinberg senior Sara Muttar, a senior speaker, said McSA was instrumental to her NU experience because members of the organization helped make her feel welcome.

Muttar said before arriving at NU, she was unsure how she felt about her religious identity as a Muslim and was afraid McSA would not accept her. But, she said, McSA welcomes both cultural

The Daily Northwestern www.dailynorthwestern.com

and religious Muslim people.

“Everyone can come as they are,” Muttar said. “I think it’s super beautiful, and it doesn’t matter how you are, or how you resonate with your religious identity.”

Senior speaker and McCormick senior Fardeem Munir was excited for what he described as a “Sunday evening with the boys.” While Eid feels different on campus than at home, he said both center on community, joy and celebration.

Munir added that McSA has given him some of his closest friends on campus.

For Weinberg freshman and McSA Public Relations Director Jannah Issa, Eid is a time to be around people. She said she always goes to prayer for Eid and often spends the holiday seeing family and friends.

“It’s a time for family and dedication,” Issa said. “(It’s) a time to ground yourself and to think about how far you’ve come or where you are with the people around you.”

kaavyabutaney2026u.northwestern.edu jaydugar2025@u.northwestern.edu

Editor in Chief Alex Perry eic@dailynorthwestern.com

General Manager Stacia Campbell stacia@dailynorthwestern.com

Holly and John Madigan Newsroom Phone | 847.491.3222

Campus desk campus@dailynorthwestern.com

City desk city@dailynorthwestern.com

Sports desk sports@dailynorthwestern.com

Ad Office | 847.491.7206 spc-compshop@northwestern.edu

The Daily NorThwesTerN is published Monday and Thursday 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; 847491-7206.

First copy of The Daily is free, additional copies are 50 cents. All material published herein, except advertising or where indicated otherwise, is Copyright 2020 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.

Check

Jay Dugar/Daily Senior Staffer

A banquet hosted by the Muslim-cultural Students Association to celebrate Eid. Guests ate dinner catered from local business Habibi In during the event.

A&E arts & entertainment

070 Shake brings the energy to sold-out A&O ball

By KRISTEN AXTMAN daily senior staffer @KristenAxtman1

Rapper 070 Shake, donning a black sweatshirt, kicked off her performance at the A&O Ball Thursday night with a glass of red wine in hand. The concert at Metro Chicago sold out in about 15 minutes, according to Medill senior Delia Corridon, co-head of production for A&O. A&O partnered with WNUR for a ticket giveaway to give students another chance to get tickets.

“She had a chill vibe when she came out and then it ramped up,” Corridon said.

Corridon said 070 Shake did a great job of engaging Thursday night’s crowd. 070 Shake encouraged students, who gathered at Metro Chicago in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood, to do a mosh pit. During her set, she sang repeatedly

from the barricades of the stage during her set.

At one point, she brought a Northwestern student on stage to crowd surf.

“We didn’t know that was going to happen,” Corridon said. “She said ‘who is gonna get up on stage?’ and pulled one of the kids out onto the stage. I was like ‘oh my gosh.’”

Corridon said during the opening act, rapperproducer redveil, brought a lot of energy to the show, revving up the crowd for 070 Shake.

Corridon said it was interesting to see someone so young working in the entertainment industry, since redveil is only 19 years old. She added redveil has a cult following among members of A&O.

Weinberg sophomore Sajel Peters missed redveil’s performance because of delayed buses from campus, but said she enjoyed 070 Shake’s set, especially the songs that she’s featured with — including Kanye West’s, “Ghost Town” and “Violent Crimes.”

“She found a really good medium between the vibe of her songs and the energy she brought to the crowd,” Peters said.

Peters said she added a lot of 070 Shake songs to her Spotify playlists after attending the concert.

Weinberg junior Kashish Dhawan has been a fan of 070 Shake since last summer. She said her favorite moment of the concert was the song “Skin and Bones.”

“It felt very intimate because she was very casual and relaxed, which is almost better than a big production-type concert,” Dhawan said.

Dhawan said going to a concert with only NU students has its benefits and drawbacks.

She said she loved being with her friends at the concert. But, not every member of the crowd is as big a fan as those you would see at typical concerts.

“The audience is a little bit less enthusiastic at times just because it’s a free concert with free transportation,” she said.

She added that she wished the set had been longer, but she is still glad she was able to see 070 Shake. Both Peters and Dhawan said they were surprised 070 Shake did not sing “Escapism,” a song she is featured on with singer-songwriter RAYE that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in January.

“I was bummed out (that) she didn’t sing “Escapism” because it’s a song everyone knows, and the crowd would have been fun,” Peters said. Corridon said she did not know why 070 Shake did not sing “Escapism,” but speculated that it’s because she is only a featured artist on the song.

Still, Peters said live music will never disappoint her.

“A&O Ball is such a fun thing to do during Spring Quarter, and it’s fun to see so many Northwestern students in the same place, “ Peters said. “I really appreciate it.”

kristenaxtman2025@u.northwestern.edu

Rapper Bankrol Hayden talks mixtape, headlining tour

By JOANNE HANER daily senior staffer @joanne_n_h

California-raised rapper Bankrol Hayden said he’s always wanted to be his own boss. At 21, he’s well on his way, beginning his first headlining tour this month. His second studio album, “29,” released this year, debuted almost three years after his debut album “Pain

is Temporary.”

“It just started with me wanting to chase a dream,” he said.

Although his eyes weren’t always set on the music scene, his older brother’s band inspired him during childhood. He began by freestyling in his grandma’s basement and was soon launched into the world of making music.

The title from his newest album, “29,” derives from important milestones in Hayden’s life. On Nov. 29, 2018, he broke his back, arm and ribs in

a car accident. Two years prior, his grandmother passed away on the same day. He calls it his “angel number.”

“If I’m dealing with bad things in life, whenever I’m living too fast or need to slow down, I see that number, and it’s like a warning,” Hayden said. “I know it sounds stupid, but I feel like it’s real.”

Hayden added that talking about these experiences feels like a shift in energy and makes him feel vulnerable. He wanted to incorporate

those aspects of his life into his music. While he doesn’t necessarily feel like he can compare himself to any one artist, he enjoys listening to popular rappers like Drake and Kid Cudi.

“I always listen to music with emotion, which is crazy because my music is the opposite of that,” Hayden said. “I like to keep it up-tempo, feel good, easy for people to sing along. I try to stay true to myself too.”

As a young artist, Hayden has much of his career ahead of him. He said he’s taking it step by step, but his song “Courtside” has become the anthem for the holiday season on NBA on ESPN. His newest album also features several other bigname rappers, including Lil Tecca, Blueface and Lil Skies.

His latest venture, “The 29 Tour,” has stops in 21 cities, including Subterranean in Chicago on Thursday. But it hasn’t been long since Hayden came to Chicago. He performed at the Juice WRLD Day Festival at the United Center in December, alongside Trippie Redd, Cordae, Ski Mask the Slump God and more.

“I’d never been more nervous for something. I was throwing up before I went on the stage,” Hayden said. “But once I went on it was perfect.”

Hayden says he’s excited to connect with fans in a more intimate concert setting, adding that having a loyal fanbase is the “most important part.”

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records

Bankrol Hayden will make a stop in Chicago on his tour Thursday at Subterranean.

Seeger Gray/Daily Senior Staffer

Refresh dances in undercover-mission themed show

By ELLA JEFFRIES daily senior staffer @ellajeffriess

Refresh Dance Crew held its seventh annual spring show, “Refresh Undercover,” in the Technological Institute’s Ryan Family Auditorium this weekend.

The undercover mission-themed performance had been in the making since fall, with featured choreography from Fall Quarter’s Refusionshaka event as well as some dances from Winter Quarter content videos.

Weinberg freshman Sabrina Lam joined Refresh last quarter. While she was initially intimidated by her fellow dancers, she said she loves the group’s supportive community.

“Everyone is so talented. So at first I felt like I couldn’t compare, but everyone’s so sweet,”

Lam said. “If you make a mistake during practice or even the show, they are still there for you and cheering you on.”

Lam said the show was an opportunity to push herself out of her comfort zone by performing in the piece “Hard White” by Nicki Minaj, which was a femme, sensual style dance in the section called “Seduce the Enemy.” Lam said she never would have imagined dancing to this style if the choreographers hadn’t encouraged her to try it.

The show consisted of five sections, each meant to immerse attendees in a different phase of an undercover mission. The last part, titled “Escape to Victory,” perfectly described the weekend for Refresh, which performed for three packed audiences.

Three student dance groups also made guest appearances directly after intermission, with K-Dance on Friday, Ahana Dance Project at

Saturday’s first show and Purple Passion for the weekend’s last show.

Weinberg freshman Thomas Pottinger attended the 10 p.m. Saturday show. It was his first time going to a Refresh performance, and after what he described as a really enjoyable experience, he said he is looking forward to attending more in the future.

“My friend was performing, so I obviously went to support her, but all of the dance and choreography was really well done,” Pottinger said.

For the group, the last show on Saturday is when the energy is at its best, as Refresh alumni traditionally come out to support the group.

McCormick senior Raymonde Council said one of the most important parts of performing is feeding off positive energy from both her fellow dancers and the crowd, and this year’s live audiences did not disappoint.

“Even when we’re performing for a smaller audience, we make sure to cheer for each other in the wings because it makes the biggest difference in morale,” Council said. “So when the audience is loving it and having fun, it’s very much this positive feedback loop that you can see in the dancers’ energy.”

Council said her highlight of every show is freestyling, which this year she did to the song “Creature” by Pop Smoke and Swae Lee.

For Council, performing in her final show was a bittersweet moment.

“It was really beautiful to see the show come together, yet closing this chapter feels very sad,” Council said. At the same time, being around a community that has done a lot to uplift me, I’ve seen a lot of growth in myself. So I’m very grateful to have this last performance.”

ellajeffries2025@u.northwestern.edu

Alternative rock band safety scissors sets sights high

By CARYL SHEPARD the daily northwestern @carylshepard_

After attracting a large audience at its first few Evanston shows, the indie alternative rock band safety scissors looks to expand its presence at Northwestern.

The quartet comprises Communication junior Judy Lawrence on guitar, Weinberg sophomore Anika Wilsnack on drums, McCormick junior Maddie Farr on vocals and guitar, and Weinberg junior Hope McKnight on bass.

The group’s origins date back a few years. McKnight and Farr met when living in Sargent Hall their freshman year. After Farr unsuccessfully auditioned for a musical group her sophomore year, she decided to form a band of her own with McKnight.

Their idea became concrete during a conversation on the train last year, McKnight said.

“It was sort of this hypothetical, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if we started a band?’” Farr said. “Then we actually did.”

The two put up flyers in search of more members, which Lawrence quickly responded to. Wilsnack later found the band through Instagram after the group had already played a few shows.

safety scissors draws inspiration from a variety of influences — among them The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, My Chemical Romance, Paramore and boygenius — to form a coherent style.

“We each have our own slightly different musical styles and it comes together in this great glory of indie alternative rock,” Wilsnack said.

After rehearsing in spaces like the Wirtz Center’s practice rooms and the Sigma Alpha Iota music

sorority’s basement, safety scissors played its first performance in January at Songwriters Association at Northwestern’s open mic.

Shortly after, the group played its first basement show with student band 99%. The members “hit the ground running and haven’t stopped since,” Farr said.

Since then, safety scissors has landed a few other gigs, including for The Daily’s Notes from the Newsroom series and another basement show with Parkhopper.

“I think each and every one has gotten better,” Farr said. “Of course, there was something really special about our first gig because it was ours and there was really exciting energy.”

Despite her excitement at the group’s growth, Lawrence said the band’s members sometimes struggles to coordinate practice times and work around their busy schedules as full-time students at NU.

As the group continues practicing, its members say they hope to break into the Evanston and

Chicago bar scene — but getting their foot in the door remains difficult, according to McKnight.

“(The bar scene is) just really hit or miss,” Wilsnack said. “Until you get to the point where people are reaching out to you to make a bill, it’s a lot harder to be the one trying to find the venue than for the venue to try to find you.”

Recently, McKnight said many more bands have started up at NU. As the school’s music scene continues to explode, she said safety scissors hopes to contribute to the growth.

Ultimately, Farr said the band aims to continue refining its sound and play as many shows as possible.

“Every week we get better and our songwriting improves and our sound improves and it’s more cohesive,” Farr said. “We just want to keep that going for as long and as far as we can.”

carylshepard2026@u.northwestern.edu

Indie-pop group Saint Motel performs intimate concert

By LEXI GOLDSTEIN the daily northwestern @lexipgoldstein

Cue the applause: Indie-pop band Saint Motel took the stage Monday at the intimate Metro Chicago for the first stop on its “The Awards Show” tour. The band is known to mesh cinema and music together, as seen in its albums “Saintmotelevision” and “The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.”

Prior to the performance, concert attendees could vote for four songs to be played during the show — each slot had three options from past albums. A playful way to bring old favorites back to the mainstage, the selection was a change of pace from most concerts, where a new album is typically the sole focus. Instead, the emphasis was on enjoying the band’s whole discography.

Before the award show began, opener Homes at Night delivered soulful notes on original “Bonnaroo,” a stripped-down cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” and “Texaco,” a track the alternative duo will release at midnight Friday.

In front of a golden curtain, Saint Motel members frontman AJ Jackson, guitarist Aaron Sharp, bassist Dak Lerdamornpong and drummer Greg Erwin emerged to greet the crowd with their hit song about a bar crush, “Van Horn.”

Then came time for the first of four envelopes to be opened, with each one containing the song that received the most votes from attendees. The winner for the first song was rock opera “Daydream/ Wetdream/Nightmare,” which transported audience members to three stages of a dream that corresponded to three distinct parts of the song.

Sticking with the 2012 album “Voyeur,” Saint Motel got the crowd moving with plastic surgery commentary in “Puzzle Pieces.” The second envelope and a collective drumroll on the thighs gave way to fan-favorite track “1997,” written about the Heaven’s Gate cult. The sweet piano is offset by sinister lyrics: “It’s gonna happen / In 1997” — later followed up with: “Then it happened / In 1997.”

After the nod to “Voyeur,” Jackson introduced the unreleased track, “Everyone’s a Guru Now.” This performance was the first time the band had played the track for a live audience, and though it

was well received, the contrast between the group’s new and old sound was apparent, with the former veering more into pop than indie.

Throughout the night, Jackson’s studio-quality vocals and perfect belting elevated each and every song. A unique performer, Jackson juggled playing multiple instruments while delivering engaging frontman energy. Live saxophone and trumpet solos transformed the room into an electric atmosphere just in time for Sharp to open the third envelope and reveal “For Elise,” an ode to famous muses.

Most of the band’s commercial successes were tucked away in the second half of the show once the crowd was fully warmed up. Jackson led the crowd in singing “bah bah” for “Saintmotelevision” classic “Sweet Talk.” A crowd favorite, the lyrics tell of a hopeless romantic: “You could yell, ‘Piss off! Won’t you stay away?’ / It’ll still be sweet talk to my ears.”

Surprisingly, the crowd was most rowdy not when a favorite song was announced, but when an attendee was brought onstage to open the final envelope. The crowd was cheering for audience member “Dave” even after “Sisters” was introduced.

The crowd that stuck around for the encore

was in for a treat. Staying true to the award show theme, once the band exited the stage, a projector started playing an orchestral medley of Saint Motel’s slower songs.

After the “Balsa Wood Bones” instrumental came on, Jackson reentered to sing about taking down a bully. The few teary eyes in the crowd were immediately wiped in time to mosh for “Destroyer,” and then the main event: “My Type,” arguably Saint Motel’s most popular song. A fantastic closer with a catchy tune, Jackson took the song to the next level by stepping off the stage and wandering into the crowd. Dancing all the way up to the balcony, Jackson had incredible energy, truly reinforcing his reputation as an interactive and fun frontman.

The show was perfect for fans itching to hear some past material live again, especially if they did not get to see the tour for “The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” due to the pandemic. Adding in the quirk of onstage envelope song reveals, attendees got two experiences in one: A concert and true award show production.

lexigoldstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

arts & entertainment

Editor Ella Jeffries

Assistant Editors

Lexi Goldstein

Beatrice Villaflor

Design Editors

Valerie Chu

Danny O’Grady

Anna Souter

Joanne Haner/Daily Senior Staffer

Ave., just two blocks from the previous location.

Jamba sells smoothies, juices, bowls and iced beverages at over 700 locations nationwide.

Laura Brown, the business development and marketing manager for the non-profit organization Downtown Evanston, said Jamba’s return addresses a common desire to see more “healthy options” downtown.

“I feel like it falls in line with that sort of food trend,” Brown said. “So I think it’ll be a great spot – right near Starbucks – just a quick grab and go.”

Jamba applied for a permit to remodel the location, which was most recently a T-Mobile store, on March 16, according to the city manager’s report.

Its return comes amid a push to revitalize Evanston’s downtown — an area that historically relied on workers commuting to offices for business and was thus hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The city is now reviewing two plans to boost funding for the downtown business district: one focusing on attracting a new demographic to downtown and another to fund small businesses affected by COVID-19.

Lifelong Evanston resident Melissa Lardner said she is excited to have a “classic” smoothie shop downtown again.

When she used to go to Jamba, her go-to order was the orange dream machine smoothie. After Jamba closed, Lardner said her daughter drank bubble tea instead, while she got a coffee.

She said the Jamba will fill the void of a shop

CLIMATE ACTION

From page 1

pumps instead of gas-powered ones.

With national tax credits for sustainable improvements already available and national rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act on the horizon, Allen said Evanston homeowners are entering the best time to make home improvements. For example, he said a group created by CUB estimates a homeowner could pay just $13,000 on a $30,000 geothermal heat pump if they use tax credits and rebates.

The problem, presenters said, is the various credits and rebates can be confusing to access and compile.

“We’re in danger of leaving people behind in this transition,” Allen said.

Pratt said the event was part of the city’s strategy to educate people about home improvements and generate ideas for that strategy. Organizers asked attendees to gather in small groups and brainstorm ideas for better outreach.

Since rebates likely won’t be available until spring 2024, attendees and presenters alike said this year is a chance for residents to plan improvements ahead of time.

“The time to make these choices is not under duress when your heating goes out but it’s zero

dedicated only to smoothies in downtown Evanston.

“I just think that’ll just be a nice little addition and just be a nice place for families to go,” Lardner said. “It’s a great little treat, and I feel like it’s a better start to the day than like, a Starbucks coffee.”

Brown said Jamba’s proximity to Northwestern’s campus and the Starbucks on Sherman Avenue could make it especially appealing to NU students.

She hopes to continue adding new businesses to downtown, especially ones that offer activities in addition to businesses like Jamba. An AMC movie theater reopened on Maple Avenue in November and a Sky Zone indoor trampoline park is set to open on the same block.

“We’ve always sort of talked about having more experience-based businesses,” Brown said. “So getting people more things to do.”

Customers like Holmes and Lardner, however, are ready to go back to Jamba as soon as it opens.

Holmes doesn’t credit his Instagram campaign, which racked up 48 followers and occasional comments from Jamba’s official account, for the smoothie shop’s return. But he said he’s looking forward to returning to one of his childhood favorites.

He plans on ordering three items and tasting each of them: the banana berry, mango-a-go-go and razzmatazz.

“I’m extremely excited to have Jamba Juice again,” Holmes said. “I have some gift card money to spend.”

saulpink2025@u.northwestern.edu

degrees, or when it’s 95 degrees and the air conditioning doesn’t work,” said Joel Freeman, who helped facilitate the event. “The idea of turning this into a planning process — kind of a strategic plan for yourself — is a key element.”

Many attendees agreed the lack of information on building sustainable infrastructure was at least in part to blame for the slow progress in reducing carbon emissions.

Osh Nissan, an owner of a local sustainable contracting firm, said many contractors are unfamiliar with energy-efficient technologies and hesitant to install them, a point echoed by others in the crowd. And for homeowners, information on appliance upgrades and climate improvements needs to be “streamlined” from the city, another attendee said.

Jack Jordan (Weinberg ’22), an energy analyst at Invenergy, suggested the city send each house a survey on their appliances. With the data collected, he said, Evanston could develop customized improvements for each house as a “Home Strategic Plan.”

“I think that’s a really good way to communicate all these opportunities to homeowners,” Jordan said, “Just physically say, ‘Here, we will help them come up with a plan.’” colereynolds2026@u.northwestern.edu

DAILY PUZZLES & CLASSIFIEDS

Classified Ads

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an ad. Corrections must be received by 10am on the day before ad runs again, call 847-4917206. All Classifieds must be paid in advance and are not accepted over the phone. To run online, ad must run in print on same day. The Daily does not knowingly accept misleading or false ads and does not guarantee any ad or claim, or endorse any advertised product or service. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

It is the policy of The Daily Northwestern to accept housing advertising only from those whose housing is available without discrimination with respect to sexual orientation, race, creed or national origin. The presumption is therefore, that any housing listing appearing here is non-discriminatory.

pushing for sanctions. We should be pushing for people to be ashamed to advocate for expansion as racist ideology like Zionism.”

The language used to discuss the IsraelPalestine conflict in the media is reflective of respectability politics, El-Kurd said. Many news outlets under-exaggerate the degree of violence inflicted upon Palestinians, he said, using terms like “forced eviction” instead of “ethnic cleansing.”

As a reaction to widespread demonization of Palestinians in the media, El-Kurd said some academics, citizens and journalists started to practice humanization — a practice that can entail flattening the reality of someone’s life. In doing so, he said writers fail to encapsulate the entire scope of Palestinians’ humanity.

“The full spectrum includes disdain, rage, hatred, joy, revolution, fear and all those things,” he said.

Weinberg junior Muhammad Saleh, a member of SJP who attended the talk, said El-Kurd’s view on humanization stood out to him. He said he’d like to see activists take broader routes to empower Palestinians instead

ARAB HERITAGE

From page 1

MENA Student Association introduced Associated Student Government legislation advocating for increased visibility of MENA communities on campus. Programming for Arab Heritage Month was among those demands.

Arab America, a national organization, pioneered the initiative to designate April as National Arab American Heritage Month in 2017. In 2021, the Biden administration recognized NAAHM for the first time.

SESP sophomore Eman Hamed, the incoming co-president of the MENA Student Association, said the process of gaining University recognition for Arab Heritage Month helped members bond.

“The collective endeavor that is getting ourselves seen on campus and establishing our presence brought us way closer than I think going to university with majorityMENA students would have,” Hamed said.

Hamed said MSA Assistant Director Matthew Abtahi provided useful informal advice in navigating University bureaucracy to gain recognition for Arab Heritage Month, though MSA still lacks a staff member dedicated to supporting MENA students.

On Wednesday, Hamed said she met with MSA Associate Director Alejandro Magaña to discuss the creation of that staff position next academic year. MSA told her it plans to include the position in its budget for the upcoming

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an ad. Corrections must be received by 10am on the day before ad runs again, call 847-4917206. All Classifieds must be paid in advance and are not accepted over the phone. To run online, ad must run in print on same day. The Daily does not knowingly accept misleading or false ads and does not guarantee any ad or claim, or endorse any advertised product or service. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

HELP WANTED ADS are accepted only from advertisers who are equal opportunity employers. The presumption, therefore, is that all positions offered here are available to qualified persons without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, handicap, or veteran status.

DAILY SUDOKU

of limiting them by describing them as defenseless victims.

El-Kurd’s blunt willingness to tell the truth also stood out to SESP sophomore Eman Hamed, a member of SJP. She said this is a quality El-Kurd almost uses as “a weapon” while being interviewed by journalists and in his daily life.

“I took away the fact that I should be mindful of the conversations we have about Palestine and the ways in which we water down those experiences to make them digestible, which is not necessarily fair,” Hamed said.

Hamed also said El-Kurd reaffirmed the importance of student activism. She said she was surprised by El-Kurd’s support because he critiqued how performative some types of activism within institutions can be.

Saleh said he felt inspired and capable of making change after hearing El-Kurd speak.

“I’m glad that he introduces us to these complex ideas so that we can implement them in our own thinking, and the way we go about our own actions to help Palestine,” he said. “He still acknowledges how important we can be as an institution to our own communities.”

kristenaxtman2025@u.northwestern.edu

year, but the job still must be approved by the Office of Budget and Planning and other administrative entities, Hamed said.

Arabic Prof. Rana Raddawi said the MENA Studies and MENA Languages programs share the student association’s goal of celebrating MENA cultures.

“There is this beautiful relationship,” Raddawi said. “Whenever there is an event on their side, we support, we attend if we can, and the other way around.”

McCormick senior Omar Khatib, who grew up in Jerusalem, said the MENA Student Association created a space he didn’t realize was missing: one where he could celebrate his heritage with others that shared it.

“(It) made me feel like I have a small community that emulates my life back home,” Khatib said.

MENA Student Association goes all-out in planning events, Hamed said, an attitude that makes large-scale celebrations like Arab Expressions and MENA Beats, a concert highlighting MENA artists and DJs, successful.

But Hamed also said she hopes to establish the MENA Students Association as an “informal space” where students can bond every day.

“The entire purpose of affinity groups is to have your representation on campus, but also to have that community as a safety net to fall back on,” she said.

avamandoli2025@u.northwestern.edu

DAILY CROSSWORD

TAs express frustration with workload and pay

By SAMANTA HABASHY the daily northwestern @habashysam

Second-year Ph.D. student in history Alison Choi said she felt physically and mentally relieved after finishing the teaching assistant requirement for graduate students.

Choi said going to campus four days a week took a lot out of her along with the need to be accessible to her students through office hours or virtually.

“Figuring out a balance between grad school and TA-ing is a skill while trying to take care of myself, and sometimes I find myself prioritizing being a TA over my well-being,” said Choi, who is also a history department union organizer for Northwestern University Graduate Workers.

TAs are an integral part of every NU department. TAs pursuing a Ph.D. must teach for about three years out of the usual 5- or 6-year program, and most graduate student TAs are required to work the job two quarters each year.

Typically, TA duties include grading assignments, leading discussion sections and holding office hours to assist students and answer questions. They manage this workload on top of their graduate school coursework.

Choi said she doesn’t have much control over the classes she assists, the content the professor chooses to teach or the readings assigned in classes.

“Our title is ‘graduate workers’ because we’re simply there to work and not make any decisions, but it’s up to us how we run our discussion sections,” Choi said.

She added TAs also don’t receive any teaching training prior to starting.

Fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in screen cultures Jennifer Smart said leading a discussion section was harder than she initially thought.

One challenge she faced was how to be intentional

with framing the questions she asked in her discussion sections.

“A big part of the effort that I expend on a discussion section is coming up with questions I think students will want to engage (with),” Smart said. “Asking open-ended questions sometimes doesn’t make for a productive use of the students’ time.”

Choi said she had to teach herself these skills as she continued to TA.

Before becoming a TA, Choi shadowed one during her first year of graduate school. There, Choi said, she first experienced the power dynamic between TAs, students and professors. She said being a woman of color as a TA was a “distinct experience” because she felt she wasn’t as authoritative as her white male coworkers.

Choi said she tries to ensure everyone’s voice is heard during her discussion sections. She added that her identity influences her teaching style.

“When I was introduced as a grad student, the students looked at me and expected me to say something important,” Choi recalled. “I then had a responsibility as a future instructor, and I’ve since rooted my teaching style to focus on women of color and feminism, creating a safe, accountable space to learn and grow.”

But balancing graduate school coursework and TA responsibilities can make some TAs feel burnt out and undervalued, according to Choi.

“The time that we spend grading papers or exams often overlaps with our own final assignments, and that’s when it can get pretty busy and stressful,” Zixin Zeng, a first-year graduate student in psychology and TA, said.

Some graduate student workers have been pushing for change within the system.

NUGW advocates for fair working conditions and fair pay for graduate student workers, including TAs. The minimum annual stipend rate for Ph.D. students in 2023-24 is $36,960, according to the NU Graduate

School website.

Choi believes the stipend is not enough pay for how much TAs work.

“(The stipend) does not account for the differences in labor; some discussion sections might have eight students and others might have 18, but you get paid the same and are expected to work more,” Choi said.

Smart said being a TA is a very “nebulous” job category because there’s not much structure to it and she has to figure it out as she goes.

NUGW also hopes to create boundaries between TAs and professors by establishing more regulations on TAs’ duties according to Smart.

“The duties are not very well defined. And it kind of takes a while to grasp because things drastically change from quarter to quarter, and I think the lack of

consistency makes it a weird job,” Smart said. Despite the struggles, Zeng said being a TA provides a beneficial teaching and instructing experience. She said it’s meaningful to see how the professor lays out the content of the course and interacts with students.

Choi said there are resources out there to help TAs through the process but she takes a breather when she is not working. She said she does not have much control over her day or workload when she is.

“TA-ing can be really rewarding, but there’s talk of how the University should account for the intense labor that TAs are required to do to minimize the frequent burnout that comes with the job,” Choi said. samantahabashy2026@u.northwestern.edu

CNAIR Artist in Residence discusses narrative recovery

By JESSICA MA daily senior staffer @jessicama2025

The Center for Native American and Indigenous Research hosted a public talk with its 2023 Artist in Residence Noelle Garcia on Wednesday evening.

Garcia, a multidisciplinary artist from the Klamath, Modoc and Paiute tribes from Oregon and Nevada, is currently based in the Chicago area. Her art focuses on themes of identity, family history and recovered narrative.

During her talk, Garcia walked the audience through a presentation of some of her artworks, and described the experiences and sentiments behind them. Through art, Garcia described her childhood experiences growing up with her father who was incarcerated. He often sent drawings in his letters to her, she recalled.

“I grew up understanding drawing as this expression of affection,” Garcia said. “Having gone through all the art schools, affection is something we don’t talk about in art.”

Garcia shared a drawing from her father’s funeral, which she translated into a painting — something she does frequently. The painting is intentionally abstract, she said, so it can be a place to play with space, lines and paint.

CNAIR Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement Pamala Silas, an enrolled member of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin and descendant of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, said Garcia weaves her life stories into her artwork.

“Art is embedded in our everyday life,” Silas said. “It was wonderful to hear the stories and see how it transcends everything about who she is. There’s a freedom

she expresses in trying new things.”

To select the artist in residence, CNAIR partnered with the Center for Native Futures, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a Native and Indigenous gallery space in the city of Zhegagoynak or Chicago.

Center for Native Futures co-founder Chris Pappan, who is of Osage, Kaw and Cheyenne River Sioux descent, said the center strives to invest in Indigenous artists by sharing their work with a broader audience.

“They asked us to put forward an artist, so we thought Noelle would be the perfect choice,” Pappan said. “I’m getting to know her as a person and as an artist.”

Silas said CNAIR aims to “carve out a space” for Garcia as she pursues her artistic endeavors.

While at NU, Garcia — who previously taught at National Louis University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Homan Square — has been invited to art classes to conduct guest critiques, Garcia said.

Garcia, who loves to paint, described the process as similar to nature. Paint doesn’t have any edges, she said, which makes it engaging to work with.

In addition to painting, Garcia also creates soft sculptures, for instance, by covering bottles of pills with beads. Indigenous people are more likely to have heart disease and diabetes, which research stipulates derives from generational trauma, Garcia said.

“If you use Indian health care, sometimes they’ll send you these giant bottles of pills,” Garcia said. “People will bead around pens, around lighters. I thought, ‘Well, I can bead around bottles.’”

Garcia said she feels frustrated about the way art is taught in American education. Academia centers Eurocentric ideas of what art should be and what art history is, she said.

Education is used as a means of erasure, Garcia added, as institutions give positions based on academic credentials, which isn’t representative of artistic knowledge.

“You’re not going to give this amazing grandma who does amazing beadwork a professor position, because she doesn’t have a degree,” Garcia said. “But why is she going to get a degree in Indigenous studies when she’s lived it and knows more than some of the academics?”

Garcia also emphasized the importance of mentorship. When she works with other Indigenous artists, she aims to support and uplift them, she said — a practice

she wants to see other educators adopt.

For Garcia, learning and teaching are a part of her practice. Indigenous history contains missing pieces due to boarding schools and relocation, Garcia said. Learning practices such as basket making involves going to museums and meeting with elders, she said.

“My dad has not been able to learn these things, because he was forced into a boarding school. But I can learn it for him,” Garcia said. “I can teach my kids how to do it, and I can teach my art students how to do it.”

jessicama2025@u.northwestern.edu

Pritzker J.D.-Ph.D. offers interdisciplinary pathways

By JESSICA MA daily senior staffer @jessicama2025

HanByul Chang has dreamed about attending law school since middle school. But in college, she wanted to pursue her other passion — chemistry — at the same time.

As part of the Pritzker School of Law’s J.D.-Ph.D. program, Chang got to do both. This spring, she will graduate with a Ph.D. in chemistry and earn her J.D. at the same time.

“The honest reason behind applying to the joint program was because I didn’t know what I wanted to do more,” Chang said. “I wanted to do both, so I just applied to both.”

Twenty-three students are currently enrolled in the joint degree program, which started in 2006, according to Pritzker Associate Dean of Admissions and Career Services Don Rebstock (Bienen ‘87, Kellogg ‘93). Rebstock, who helped start the program,

emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research — both in the law classroom and in departmental disciplines.

The program prepares students to pursue careers in academia, such as a professorship at a law school or in a department. For the most part, students have ended up in those career paths, according to Rebstock.

Deirdre Edward, who is in her third year in the program, is a Ph.D. student in engineering sciences and applied mathematics, as well as a J.D. student. She became interested in hard sciences, like astronomy and physics, during her undergraduate studies. But, she said she couldn’t see herself pursuing them for the rest of her life, so she decided to explore other career paths.

Edward realized she could use her quantitative skills in other fields, such as public policy, and now researches topics like climate resilience and infrastructure. She hopes to look into flood resilience, including how federal policies regarding flood risk can be improved.

“It felt, frankly, (like) a more useful way to exercise

my STEM background,” Edward said. “I was normalized to talk about your parent’s house being underwater in 50 years. It’s a nihilistic perspective for a kid to have.”

In her application, Edward described her past research experiences, some in computer science, through a public policy angle. She wanted to demonstrate her skills in engineering and develop an interesting narrative, she said.

Rebstock described the application process as “streamlined.” On the graduate school application, prospective students check a box to apply for the J.D.Ph.D. program. Then, the law school and graduate school review the application separately.

“If there’s a mutual interest, we have a joint offer letter that we send out to the admitted candidates,” Rebstock said. “We provide full funding for seven years — that’s tuition and living expenses.”

According to Rebstock, out of the 60 to 70 applications the program receives each year, it typically enrolls about three students. Since 2006, 26 students have completed the program, he said.

Each week, the cohort participates in a seminar, led by Pritzker Prof. Shari Diamond, the faculty director for Pritzker. In a smaller, less formal format, students can receive feedback on their research.

Edward emphasized the variety of academic interests within the program, calling it inspiring to see peers apply their legal knowledge in “novel ways.”

Traditionally, students in other J.D.-Ph.D. programs are primarily drawn to political science and sociology, Edward said. But at NU, Edward knows just as many students with academic interests in other areas, like biomedical engineering and rhetoric.

“This program has such an interdisciplinary focus and is supportive of trying strange, novel combinations of fields,” Edward said.

Chang said the program can be a commitment in time and effort. But she encouraged students who are considering the program to apply.

“It’s worth it at the end of the day,” Chang said. “Just take it day by day. Enjoy doing what you enjoy doing.”

jessicama2025@u.northwestern.edu

File illustration by Lily Ogburn

Northwestern TAs struggle to balance individual coursework and demanding workloads.

Jessica Ma/Daily Senior Staffer Artist in Residence Noelle Garcia spoke about her drawings, paintings and sculptures, which touch on themes of identity, family history and recovered narrative.

Four standout Wildcats selected in 2023 NFL Draft

By LAWRENCE PRICE daily senior staffer @lpiii_tres

After no Northwestern players were drafted to the NFL last year, the Wildcats made a major, and historical, bounce back this year. For the first time since 1985, four Wildcats were drafted. Here they are:

Offensive lineman Peter Skoronski — Tennessee Titans (Rd: 1 Pk: 11)

The All-American is headed to Nashville.

Offensive lineman Peter Skoronski was selected 11th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday — the highest-drafted Wildcat since 1983 with offensive tackle Chris Hinton at No. 4 to the Denver Broncos. He’s NU’s most recent first-round draft pick since cornerback Greg Newsome II went 26th to the Cleveland Browns in 2021.

Although Skoronski was the second offensive lineman taken off the board, five spots after the Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio tate’s Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 6, the Park Ridge, Illinois, native was regarded as this year’s top offensive lineman by many outlets.

The junior declared for the

draft Dec. 16 to conclude a decorated and polished collegiate career in Evanston. Alongside being one of the five 2022 captains, Skoronski earned a unanimous firstteam All-American honor — the first in NU history.

Playing 33 games overall, the four-star prospect started in every contest during his first year, stepping up in the absence of future first-round pick offensive tackle Rashawn Slater and securing a secondteam All-Big Ten selection — the first Cats’ freshman to do so since linebacker Paddy Fisher in 2017.

Skoronski continued to dominate and refine his game as his career continued, snagging first-team All-Big Ten honors in both his sophomore and junior years, and also winning the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2022. A constant brick wall, Skoronski allowed only six pressures on 480 passblocking snaps in his junior campaign.

Although in a rebuild mode, the Titans will task Skoronski with protecting whichever quarterback is under center in Ryan Tannehill or Malik Willis. Following Tennessee’s decision to cut three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Taylor Lewan in February, it’s safe to say Skoronski will play a pivotal role in the Nashville trenches.

Defensive lineman

Adetomiwa Adeba wore — Indianapo lis Colts (Rd: 4 Pk: 110)

After playing at Lucas Oil Stadium in

MEN’S TENNIS

Northwestern falls in semifinals to Michigan

By ALYCE BROWN daily senior staffer @alycebrownn

Despite a big push, Northwestern couldn’t quite make it past a historical stumbling block for the program — the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

The Wildcats (20-9, 7-2 Big Ten) picked up a convincing quarterfinal win over Wisconsin but ultimately fell in a close semifinal contest to Michigan.

NU’s No. 3 tournament seed gave it a bye through the first round, starting its tournament run in the quarterfinals Friday against the sixth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers (11-11, 4-5 Big Ten). When the teams last met April 16, the Cats emerged with a 4-1 victory — and they replicated that success this weekend.

Wisconsin came out strong, tallying the doubles point with 6-4 wins on Courts 2 and 3. This was a marked difference from the teams’ last matchup, when NU bageled two Badger pairs to take doubles, and the early Wisconsin point looked like it could cause problems.

But the Cats knew how to turn it around. Graduate student Steven Forman and junior Gleb Blekher tallied NU’s first two points in straight sets on Courts 1 and 6, respectively.

Graduate student Ivan Yatsuk grabbed the third point, battling back after dropping his first set 0-6 to win his second 6-0 and his third 7-6 — a valuable comeback for the Cats.

The race for the clinching point ensued between graduate student Simen Bratholm on Court 3 and graduate student Trice Pickens on Court 4. Both were within a few serves of winning their matches, but it was Pickens who pulled out in front to finish NU’s 4-1 win over the Badgers.

Indianapolis during the Big Ten Championship in 2020, Adebawore will return there soon, but this time flexing some new threads for the Indianapolis Colts.

Over the course of his four-year tenure in Evanston, Adebawore’s nod as one of the five captains complements his successful career as a college athlete. He totaled 12.5 sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles over his 33 starts for NU.

Having declared for the draft two days before Skoronski, Adebawore’s stock began to rise at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in February, in which he made quick, and scary, work of an opposing offensive tackle during a drill.

However, the Senior Bowl wasn’t half the story — his time to shine came at the NFL Combine, when he proved once again that his athleticism was off the charts. At over 280 pounds, Adebawore ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, and sported a 37.5-inch vertical and 10.5-foot broad jump, the highest in all three categories in combine history.

According to multiple outlets, Adebawore’s name continued to climb the NFL Draft big board prior to April, making him a possible draft in the second, third and quietly a brink-first round pick.

Although the Kansas City, Missouri native’s selection didn’t come until the fourth round, Adebawore will join the likes of AllPro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in Indianapolis. The move will give the Colts even more flexibility and athleticism in its defensive trenches.

Defensive back

Cameron Mitchell — Cleveland Browns (Rd: 5 Pk: 142)

Former first round pick defensive back Greg Newsome II handed the No. 2 torch down to Mitchell after pursuing his dream in the big leagues. Now, the two will be lurking in the same secondary together.

To express his excitement after the selection, Newsome II tweeted, “NOOOO WAYYY LFGGGGGGG GO BROWNS.”

Mitchell played 35 games for NU, stepping into his own this past season. After securing Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week against Nebraska in week one, No. 2 finished with a career and team-best of nine pass breakups this past season. He was also an All-Big Ten honorable mention for the past two seasons.

The Bolingbrook, Illinois native played the majority of his time on the outside last season, or followed around whichever top receiver was assigned to him. With a deep sky room alongside Newsome II, time will tell how the Browns will utilize Mitchell.

Adebawore isn’t the only Wildcat turning in his Evanston purple and white stripes for the Indianapolis blue and white — Hull will be joining him.

Following a miraculous 2021 season of rushing for more than 1000 yards and more than 250 receiving yards, the back upped the price in 2022. Although finishing with around 900 yards on the ground, Hull more than doubled his receiving yards from the year prior, picking up 546 yards. By season’s end, the rusher-turned-dynamite led all FBS running backs with 54 receptions, securing an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Now heading to Indianapolis, the rusher will play behind first-team AllPro running back Johnathan Taylor, who coincidentally went to Wisconsin, in the Colts’ depth chart. However, with a 4.47 60-yard speed, his continual mix of athleticism and elusiveness for the Cats this past season and pass-catching ability, Hull may see the lineup sooner rather than later.

Taylor went down with a high ankle sprain injury mid-December this past season, forcing the Colts to place him on the injury reserve list and miss the remainder of the season. With Taylor’s injury history and weary durability, Hull might propel himself into the lineup even sooner. But for now, only time will tell what to expect for the former Cat. lawrenceprice2024@u.northwestern.edu

SOFTBALL

Cats sweep, capture Big Ten title

By JACOB EPSTEIN the daily northwestern @jakeepste1n

The convincing victory over Wisconsin moved the Cats on to Saturday’s semifinals, where they went head-to-head with second-seeded Michigan (24-4, 8-1 Big Ten). The Wolverines took down NU 4-1 just last weekend, and their rematch was now do-or-die.

Michigan took doubles handily, taking down Forman and Bratholm on Court 1 and Pickens and senior Natan Spear on Court 3 for the point.

As singles got underway, NU put up a fight. The Cats won 4-of-6 first sets — a departure from last weekend’s Wolverine wins in singles. Unfortunately for the Cats, however, not all the courts could hold on to their early leads.

Yatsuk did convert his set into the first singles point of the match on Court 2, defeating Michigan fifth-year Andrew Fenty — the same player Forman upset last weekend.

The Wolverines then picked up points in wins over Pickens and Forman, pushing the Michigan advantage to 3-1.

But NU remained in contention. Blekher took down Michigan junior Jacob Bickersteth on Court 6 to notch a second singles point for the Cats. Blekher earned an All-Tournament Team nod Sunday.

Hopes of a Wildcat win were soon dashed, however, as the Wolverines registered their final point on Court 3 to win the match 4-2.

The loss to Michigan marked the Cats’ second consecutive stumble on the conference semifinal stage.

Next week, NU looks to put the tournament loss behind it as it moves on to the end of the season — the team NCAA Tournament. Next weekend will be the first and second rounds of the tournament, where competing teams are yet to be announced.

alycebrown2025@u.northwestern.edu

On May 6, 2022, Northwestern’s softball program felt excitement for the first time since 2008: the Wildcats were the outright Big Ten regular season champions, finishing with an 18-3 record against their Big Ten opponents.

A year later, No. 18 Northwestern seized a similar feat, sweeping its home series against Nebraska this past weekend to clinch a share of the regular-season conference crown — the first back-to-back title for NU since the 1986-87 seasons.

The Cats (33-10, 18-2 Big Ten) and the Cornhuskers (32-17, 12-8 Big Ten) held each other scoreless in the series’ first two innings Friday, but NU swiftly stormed out in front, netting 11 runs in the third. While Nebraska grabbed two runs at the top of the fourth inning to nimbly trim the lead, the Cats cruised to a second consecutive 11 score inning, securing a 22-2 edge heading into the fifth.

Friday’s contest concluded in a 22-4 run-rule rout for NU after the Cornhuskers tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Coach Kate Drohan’s team carried heaps of momentum into Saturday’s matchup.

Freshman designated player Kansas Robinson put the Cats on the board early Saturday by scoring on graduate student infielder Nikki Cuchran’s first inning sacrifice fly. But Nebraska quickly punched back with runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead.

Following junior infielder Hannah Cady’s game-tying run in the bottom of the third inning, the Cornhuskers rattled off four unanswered runs to solidify a 6-2 lead in the sixth. With a four-run deficit heading into the seventh and final inning, NU’s hopes of corralling the coveted conference hardware appeared slim.

But Drohan’s Cardiac Cats came back alive, as Cady tallied the first run of the inning on a wild pitch. Then, sophomore pinch hitter Lauren Sciborski struck gold off a crunch time at bat with a double to left center, scoring graduate student shortstop Maeve Nelson, senior outfielder Angela Zedak and Cuchran to level the score at 6-6.

With the seventh inning closing with a tied score, the teams headed toward extra innings with each holding the other off the board in the eighth frame. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, with freshman outfielder Kelsey Nader on third base, Robinson stepped up to the plate. She left no doubt, hammering a walk-off home run over the right-center wall, capping off an 8-6 victory for the Cats.

NU held control of its own destiny Sunday. With the series win in its back pocket, a decisive sweep would catapult the squad to its second straight regularseason championship. However, this proved easier said than done.

The Cats picked up where they left off on Saturday, opening the battle for Big Ten supremacy with a four-run first inning to take an early 4-2 lead. Following NU’s first frame offensive clinic, the Cornhuskers captured control of the contest’s momentum, scoring seven runs to take a 9-4 edge into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Although the odds seemed stacked against them, once again, the Cardiac Cats

came alive right on cue.

In the bottom of the fifth, senior outfielder Kendall Peterson entered the batter’s box with the bases loaded and hit a two-run RBI single, while a throwing error to third base sent Nader home to bring the score within two. Graduate student outfielder Skyler Shellmyer then showcased her veteran, collected presence, smacking an RBI single with two outs to split the deficit.

Shellmyer scored the tying run, and the onus shifted to NU’s first year phenom. Robinson stole home on a wild pitch, diving face-first through the dirt to snatch a 10-9 lead for the Cats — just before the game entered a weather delay.

After resuming play, both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning, meaning the final three outs all came down to graduate student pitcher Danielle Williams. The Cats’ fifth-year ace reverberated confidence as she stepped into the circle.

Williams quickly secured two outs in the frame but soon had Nebraska outfielder Abbie Squier in a 2-0 count with a runner stranded on third. While Squier made solid contact with the third pitch, the ball flew innocently into Cuchran’s glove at the first base line, ending the contest in a 10-9 NU victory and concluding the Cats’ 36-year streak without consecutive conference championships.

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Jorge Melendez