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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, May 19, 2022
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Brazilian students host community events, organize mentorship programs at NU
MSA hosts sketchbook workshop for APIDA Heritage Month
Beyond the housing inequities in Evanston
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NU, city talk Dillo, COVID-19 protocols Security measures, virus mitigation discussed for Dillo By RUSSELL LEUNG
daily senior staffer @rjleung7
Content warning: This story contains a mention of mass shootings.
Illustration by Gemma DeCetra
Aston, the Evanston Police Department’s K-9 police dog, both locates suspects based on scents and identifies narcotics at crime scenes.
EPD K-9 Aston patrols Evanston Dog performs double duty in evidence location and drug searches By SAUL PINK
the daily northwestern @saullpink
Evanston police officer Random Johnson’s partner is
a 4-year-old from the Czech Republic. Every day, he rides along in Johnson’s patrol car, responds to calls with him and even returns to Johnson’s house when the day is over. Aston, a black German
Shepherd, is Evanston Police Department’s current K-9 police dog. Johnson, EPD’s resident K-9 handler, has worked with Aston since 2019. Police dogs assist departments such as EPD
with locating suspects, identifying narcotics and protecting officers in dangerous situations. They comprise a specialized unit in EPD, but
» See K-9, page 6
Northwestern administrators and Evanston city officials presented COVID-19 and Dillo Day information in a Tuesday virtual community discussion. Dave Davis, NU’s executive director of neighborhood and community relations, opened the roundtable with updates from the University, including on the upcoming succession of Rebecca Blank to University president, commencement in June and the Ryan family’s $480 million donation to support research and the renovation of Ryan Field. Davis said he is excited for Blank to expand relations between NU and the surrounding community. “I think the relationship between Evanston and Northwestern has been trending in the right direction for a number of years,” Davis said. “I’m confident that she will continue to build on those efforts and even broaden that engagement.”
Vice President for Operations Luke Figora discussed current trends in University COVID-19 transmission. He acknowledged the uptick in cases at NU — which reported a record-high positivity rate of 9.28% on Friday — but said the University will continue all inperson activities. Figora said NU continues encouraging community members to wear masks and get tested for COVID-19. He added the University’s high vaccination and booster shot rate has mitigated the number of severe coronavirus cases. “At a high level, things are relatively stable on campus. I think the overall focus on COVID has certainly leveled off a little bit from the Northwestern community,” Figora said. “Our population’s relatively healthy, and we’re looking forward to getting through the rest of the year.” Ike Ogbo, Evanston’s director of health and human services, discussed the city’s COVID-19 trends. The city reached a high transmission rate last week, Ogbo said. Despite the rise in overall cases, he said the number of cases that require intensive care has not increased significantly. Several law enforcement officials then provided security updates for Dillo Day. University Police Deputy Chief Eric Chin
» See COMMUNITY, page 6
YWCA executive ‘A solid and vibrant community’ reflects on career Newly approved Armenian Student Association comes to campus CEO of YWCA to retire after 18 years of leadership By JORJA SIEMONS
daily senior staffer @jorjasiemons
Content warning: This article contains mention of domestic abuse and anti-Black hate crimes. When Karen Singer started working as YWCA Evanston/ North Shore’s interim executive director in August 2004, she didn’t anticipate applying for the permanent position. “I had known very little about YWCA — it was kind of a quiet organization in town (that) kind of flew under the radar,” she said. “Once I got there, what struck me so immediately and profoundly was what an amazing mission this organization had.” The social justice organization’s mission, to eliminate racism and empower women, kept Singer around for executive applications that fall, and for the next 18 years as chief executive officer.
Recycle Me
She announced her intention to retire from YWCA earlier this month. Operating in Evanston for more than 90 years, YWCA Evanston/North Shore provides emergency shelter and longerterm housing for survivors of domestic violence and their children, as well as other services like counseling and employment assistance. The organization is a part of YWCA USA, the largest provider of domestic violence survivor support programs in the country. “It has been the journey of a lifetime for me, personally and professionally,” Singer said. With a background working with unhoused women and families, Singer said she considered herself rooted in gender and racial equity work when she started at YWCA. The only area of YWCA services she really didn’t know anything about was swimming, she said. Evanston’s YWCA also includes a robust aquatics program that hosts Flying Fish Swim School and a collaboration with Evanston Swims! to provide free
» See SINGER, page 6
By LAYA NEELAKANDAN
daily senior staffer @laya_neel
When Weinberg freshman Isabel Toghramadjian decided to attend Northwestern, she was disappointed to learn there were no Armenian student organizations on campus. Upon her arrival, Toghramadjian said she quickly found other Armenians because Armenian last names are recognizable. However, she said there was no way for them to meet in an organized setting, so she decided to do something about it. Toghramadjian is the president and founder of NU’s newly approved Armenian Student Association, the University’s only Armenian student interest group. The group aims to bring Armenian culture to campus through events and advocacy, she said. “I’m very optimistic,” Toghramadjian said. “We have the potential to create a solid and vibrant community … This is going to be something good and sustainable.”
She first started an Instagram account in Winter Quarter and began following as many Armenian students as she could to gather interest. Toghramadjian then applied to be an official organization with Student Organizations & Activities. Last week, she found out the organization was approved. This quarter, Toghramadjian said the club is looking to establish a general email list and launch a Wildcat Connection page. It also hopes to host a meet-and-greet event during Reading Period so students can get to know each other. Toghramadjian said she hopes the club will be fully solidified by fall. “I’m glad I could establish it early because it has potential for the next three years,” she said. “Hopefully it will also be sustainable once I’m gone.” Communication junior and Social Media Chair Anelga Hajjar said she also hopes the club can serve as a safe space for Armenian students and raise awareness of the diaspora. Hajjar said turmoil in Armenia over the past year
Illustration by Olivia Abeyta
The newly founded Armenian Student Association aims to spread Armenian culture to the Northwestern campus through events and advocacy, said Weinberg freshman and club founder Isabel Toghramadjian.
has made her feel isolated on a campus where she previously didn’t have a way to connect with other Armenian students. “There was a resurfacing for me about what it means to be Armenian,” Hajjar said. “(This club) helps create visibility because we might be small, but we’re mighty.” Hajjar said she also hopes the club will be a learning opportunity for students who identify as ethnically
Armenian but might not have a connection to the country and its culture. She said she has heard some NU community members deny the existence of the Armenian genocide, so she hopes the group can work together to advocate for Armenian rights. Weinberg freshman and club member Stephanie Rissmiller said she is excited to
» See ARMENIAN, page 6
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