The Daily Northwestern Friday, May 5, 2017
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Wildcats seek revenge against Penn State
Historian Deborah Lipstadt speaks about combating Holocaust denial, alternative facts
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IFC members must go beyond symbolism
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Residents call for EPL equity audit Suspension of librarian sparks demands for check
By KRISTINA KARISCH
the daily northwestern @kristinakarisch
Evanston residents gathered outside the main branch of the Evanston Public Library on Thursday to demand an equity audit of the library’s services, collections and policies. The crowd of about 20 residents held signs calling for equity — some making a play on words using book titles — and handed out information sheets detailing their proposed plan. Questions of equity have been raised at EPL in recent weeks following the suspension of Lesley Williams, EPL’s only black librarian, after a disciplinary hearing held April 20. “There’s an observable history of institutionalized racism in our community, as there is in most communities,” the information sheet read. “We need to examine
that history and commit to the change needed to stop replicating patterns of loss, lack and inequity.” The rally was planned to coincide with the library’s Donor Recognition Event. Brant Rosen, a rabbi and the Midwest regional director of the American Friends Service Committee, said he wanted to organize the rally at the same time as the event to convince supporters of the library to support the audit as well. “The first step would be to hire consultants to do an actual racial equity audit of the entire library system to see how well it serves the diversity of the population of Evanston,” Rosen said. “Then (they would) come up with recommendations so they can address these issues.” Rosen said he has been advocating for equity for some time, but the recent situation concerning Williams heightened people’s awareness. Rosen said he is a colleague and friend of Williams, whom he credits to raising his own awareness of the issue. » See LIBRARY, page 6
Allie Goulding/The Daily Northwestern
Founder and executive director of Curt’s Café Susan Trieschmann stands outside her Central Street location. Trieschmann was one of five Oakton Community College graduates who received the Distinguished Alumni award on Wednesday for their professional and community achievements.
Curt’s Café owner receives award Susan Trieschmann defies expectations as café celebrates 5 years By SYD STONE
the daily northwestern @sydstone16
In high school, teachers told Susan Trieschmann that she wasn’t smart enough to go to college. “I spent 48 years of my life
U.S. House of Representatives passes AHCA
Katie Pach/Daily Senior Staffer
A girl stands in front of the main branch of the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. Evanston residents gathered Thursday at a rally to demand an equity audit of the library’s services.
The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would repeal former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act and would enact a new Republican health care plan called the American Health Care Act. If the bill passes the Senate, 24 million Americans whose health insurance was covered by the ACA would no longer have health care
thinking something that wasn’t true, that my teachers in high school had made me believe,” she said. “Getting report cards that were all Cs and Ds is really difficult to overcome — that report card stuck with me like glue.” But Trieschmann didn’t let those teachers’ expectations hold her back. After graduating from
Deerfield High School, she attended Oakton Community College and DePaul University. She started her own catering company, became a founding member of Restorative Justice Evanston — an organization that helps with conflict resolution — and founded Curt’s Café on Central Street. The cafe, which celebrated its
fifth anniversary on Monday, has since expanded to two locations in Evanston and works with nearly 200 at-risk youth who may find alternative employment difficult, she said. Trieschmann was one of five Oakton Community College
coverage under the AHCA. In a statement Thursday, President Donald Trump said the bill has many benefits and will only become “better” as it goes through the Senate. “Premiums will be coming down, deductibles will be coming down,” Trump said. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) all expressed concern about the passing of the AHCA. Schakowsky, who voted against the bill, said in a statement that
Republicans favored a $600 billion tax cut for wealthy people and corporations and would achieve that by cutting Medicaid funding by $800 billion. “(Republicans) have voted in favor of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act … opposed the will of the American people … ignored the warnings of (health care professionals),” Schakowsky said in the statement. “They have told their constituents that they care more about toeing the party line than protecting the health care of millions of Americans.” Biss also issued a statement
expressing his concern for people with pre-existing conditions who would lose their health care coverage. He said if elected governor, he would protect those with pre-existing conditions from the premium increases they would be subjected to under the AHCA. In a statement released Thursday, Durbin also stated his concern for the passing of the bill. “I will fight this Republican health care repeal in the Senate until Hell freezes over,” he said in the statement.
» See CURT, page 6
— Amelia Langas
City considers tower plans Jim Obergefell talks at NU By SOPHIE MANN
daily senior staffer @sophiemmann
A Chicago-based group proposed a plan for a new, mixed-use residential development in downtown Evanston to local residents and business owners at Prairie Moon on Tuesday. The new 16-story residential tower will be on the lot that currently houses Prairie Moon, 1502 Sherman Ave., and Tommy Nevin’s Pub, 1454 Sherman Ave. The plan was presented by Albion Residential, a group that acquires,
develops and operates apartment complexes. If approved by City Council, the plan would allow the two restaurants to move into the building after its completion. Jim Prescott, who works with Albion, said the group chose downtown Evanston for the new building because the group has a deep connection to Evanston. “The president of Albion went to Kellogg,” Prescott said. “His first legal beer was at Tommy Nevin’s. He’s very familiar with downtown Evanston.” The property will include a 4,000-square-foot park on the
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
grounds, will have a LEED Silver certification and will generate between $900,000 and $1 million in annual tax revenue. Prescott said Andrew Yule, vice president of development at Albion, and president Jason Koehn knew they couldn’t pass on the site when they first noticed it last year. Ald. Donald Wilson (4th) said the process of getting a building approved in Evanston begins with a meeting with residents and business owners to get feedback on the proposal. Once the developers have that feedback and make » See TOWER, page 6
By JULIA ESPARZA
the daily northwestern @juliaesparza10
In 2013, Jim Obergefell raised enough money to charter a medical plane to fly his terminally-ill partner and himself from Ohio to Maryland so they could get married. “We got to say those words we never thought we would say, ‘I thee wed,’” Obergefell said. Five days into their marriage, however, Obergefell said the two learned Ohio would not recognize their union on his husband’s death certificate. Obergefell was the named
plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage. He addressed about 30 people in Harris Hall during an event hosted by College Democrats. In addition to sharing stories about his life, Obergefell encouraged students to be civically active and sustain the fight for progressive social rights. Obergefell and his husband, John Arthur, got married in Maryland because the state had legalized same-sex marriage in 2012. The two wanted their union recognized by the courts because Arthur had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Eleven days after the wedding, the pair sued the state of Ohio for the right to have their marriage recognized on Arthur’s death certificate. The case won at the state level, but was repealed and eventually made its way to the Supreme Court. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 in favor of Obergefell and more than 30 other plaintiffs. The decision effectively legalized and recognized same-sex marriage nationwide. “Once it finally hit that we really did win, I burst into tears,” Obergefell said. “It seemed like everyone in the courtroom was » See OBERGEFELL, page 6
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