The Daily Northwestern - September 21, 2023

The

The Daily Northwestern

ursday, September 21, 2023

3 CAMPUS/US News

10 CITY/District 65 District 65 school board approves 2024 budget

Northwestern retains No. 9 spot in the 2024 U.S. News college rankings

6 GAMEDAY/What to watch for NU prepares for Big Ten home opener versus Minn.

NU to fund Dillo Day, Fall Blowout

More ASG funds, resources exist for other student groups

By JACOB WENDLER daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler

Northwestern has agreed to fund the anticipated costs of Dillo Day and A&O Productions’ Blowout, Vice President of Student A airs Susan Davis announced Sunday in an email to the NU community.

According to the email, the O ce of the President is partnering with the Division of Student A airs and the Associated Student Government to provide the additional funding.

IDPH endorses CDC booster update CDC recommends booster for individuals six months and older

By LILY OGBURN daily senior staffer @lilyogburn

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently

endorsed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to administer COVID-19 booster shots from Pfizer and Moderna approved by the Food and Drug Administration for

New Shake Smart shakes up Norris

By JOANNA HOU

daily senior staffer @joannah_11

Shake Smart is bringing some refreshing changes to Norris University Center.

The chain, which currently has more than 40 locations on college campuses nationwide, operates its Norris location between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. In June, Shake Smart founder and CEO Kevin Gelfand told The Daily he founded the concept on his own college campus — San Diego State University — after noticing healthy dining options were few and far between.

The Northwestern location sells smoothies, acai bowls, sandwiches and oatmeal.

Weinberg sophomores

Asha Reddy and Madison

Liu came to test out the new dining spot after seeing the space — once home to the relocated Starbucks Coffee — closed off for the majority of last year. Liu ordered the rawçaí bowl, which features strawberries, banana, chia and coconut flakes.

“At home, I eat a lot of smoothies and acai bowls,” Liu said. “They’re harder to get in Evanston, so I thought it might be good to try here.”

McCormick senior Sengdao Inthavong, who also came to try Shake Smart for the first time on Wednesday, is a big smoothie fan.

While Inthavong used to visit the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion to get smoothies at Protein Bar & Kitchen, the new location is a big draw for him, especially because he lives closer to South Campus this year.

As a South Campus resident, Weinberg sophomore Gina Valdivia also said the location was a big draw. She ordered the ‘a perfect 10’

people six months and older.

This new recommendation from the CDC comes just nine days after the FDA approved new mRNA shots for all people over 5 years old.

“Illinois now has a new

tool to prepare our residents for the fall and winter respiratory season: an updated COVID-19 vaccine that targets current strains,” IDPH

» See BOOSTER , page 9

e change freed up approximately $230,000 for ASG and the Student Activities Finance Commi ee to redistribute to student organizations for use in the 2023-2024 school year, according to ASG Co-Presidents Donovan Cusick and Molly Whalen. ey said the additional money was redistributed to student groups through the rules utilized by the Student Activities Finance Commi ee in Spring 2023 and that a ected organizations have been noti ed.

“Fall Blowout, Dance Marathon and Dillo Day are campus

traditions that help make Northwestern a special place and create lifelong memories for our students,” University spokesperson Hilary Hurd Anyaso told e Daily in an email.

Cusick and Whalen said talks between ASG and NU administration about the school funding student organizations began last fall. The pair said the gap between available and needed funding was consistently growing.

A er working with student organizations to determine how much funding the groups needed for the upcoming year, Cusick and Whalen submi ed a proposal to administration. The University approved the proposal with a total commitment of greater than $600,000 in July 2023.

The funding commitment allocates approximately $102,000 for A&O productions, about $479,000 for Mayfest and about $30,000 for Northwestern University Dance Marathon, according to Cusick and Whalen.

“Our events could not happen without (the University’s) willingness to discuss and to help us bring diverse entertainment to Northwestern without compromising our core values, including

» See FUNDING , page 9

City Council talks capital improvement e

By LILY CAREY daily senior staffer @lilylcarey

Amid concerns of funding, Evanston City Council began discussing proposed 2024 Capital Improvement Program projects at a special meeting Monday night.

e CIP typically allocates $40 to $90 million on the annual budget toward citywide infrastructure projects, and the 2023 CIP amounted to $92.5 million.

e proposed 2024 CIP, however, comes in at $111 million — a number that city engineer Lara Biggs said is “more than we could execute with current sta and resources.”

Much of the 2024 CIP is going toward the 1909 water intake replacement project, an ongoing project to replace the city’s oldest water intake providing drinking water to residents. There is nearly $47 million being allocated toward this project, and it is a major reason why this year’s CIP amount is so inflated, Biggs said.

e city also hopes to tackle

two major projects with the 2024 CIP — replacing aging water mains and upgrading outdated parks and facilities.

However, as Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) noted, “our capital needs far outweigh available funding.” In her presentation, Biggs referred to the current proposed 2024 CIP as a “list of needs,” and that the city would need to work on prioritizing a few major parts of the program over the coming weeks.

With funding tight, the big question at Monday’s meeting was how to secure funding for the 2024 CIP without drastically increasing the city’s debt. Currently, $32.2 million of the proposed $111 million CIP is slated to come from general obligation bonds.

As several public commenters pointed out, Evanston has o en issued bonds to fund CIP projects. According to the city’s website, bonds for general city projects are paid o by property taxes. As of a 2021 report, the city had accrued $145 million in tax-supported debt.

“Why is bond issuance our

rst go-to for revenue?” asked public commenter Meg Welch.

Councilmembers noted they haven’t taken out any new bonds in the past two years, which has allowed them to roll over $34 million in debt. Still,

debt remains high, Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) noted. Ald. Devon Reid (8th) advocated for taking out more bonds for the coming year, citing the

Illustration by Lily Ogburn

IDPH endorsed the CDC’s recommendation to administer FDA-approved COVID-19 booster shots for all people ages six months and older.

Colin Boyle

The Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center. Evanston’s proposed 2024 Capital Improvement Program totals $111 million, an increase from previous years.

Union workers demonstrate for fair contract using rat

By LILY CAREY daily senior staffer @lilylcarey

Local union members called a ention to a construction project on Sherman Avenue Monday with a symbol that’s hard to miss — a 12-foot tall in atable rat.

According to members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Cra workers, the rat makes an appearance whenever union workers protest a project that doesn’t meet area standards. Strapped to the roof of a car, the giant rat drew stares and honks of support from passing cars as union members protested with signs.

“ e Department of Labor sets a wage and bene t standard for certain areas, and this contract just hasn’t been abiding by that,” said Willie Douglas, an organizer with the Bricklayers BAC ADC 1 union. “We represent the workers, we have their best interests in mind and we’re coming out here to try and see to it that they get what they’re supposed to be ge ing.”

The site of Monday’s picketing, 1710 Sherman Ave., is overseen by masonry company Amero Building Restoration. Amero officials declined to comment on the project. The building formerly housed the historic Varsity Theatre, and is being redeveloped into an apartment building with ground-floor retail.

Robert Piane, a representative from the Carpenters Local 58 union, also came out to stand in solidarity with the bricklayers. Piane and Douglas agreed that many Evanston construction sites have established Project Labor Agreements with union

City of Evanston seeks contractor for solar panel installation

e City of Evanston has begun its search for a contractor to install solar panels on the Robert Crown Community Center, advancing on a yearslong goal.

Since the center’s reconstruction in 2020, city

workers, and that its residents and policies are usually supportive of workers.

Yet, Piane said underpaying workers is a “moral issue,” and noted that non-union construction sites can o en have “dangerous conditions” for workers.

“If (a PLA) is forced upon that,” Piane said, gesturing to the towering Evanston Labs construction site on nearby Orrington Avenue,

o cials have discussed installing solar panels on the building. More than three years later, Evanston put out a Request for Proposals from contractors on Aug. 3. With applications due Sept. 26, outside contractors can apply to work on the project through the RFP. e city will select the best bid, aiming to award the contract by Oct. 9, according to the RFP. e city is looking to enter a “solar power purchase agreement” with an outside developer, allowing it to avoid steep costs upfront. Under this agreement, the contractor will install and maintain the

“why isn’t it forced upon this?”

Residents said this isn’t the first time the giant inflatable rat has made an appearance in downtown Evanston in the past few months. The city’s downtown has been focused on retail and office space development as part of its postpandemic recovery, and construction sites have sprung up throughout the area.

panels. e city will then buy the power generated by those panels.

Prior to this process, Robert Crown received a silver LEED certi cation for sustainable building design from the U.S. Green Building Council. Silver is the third out of four tiers of LEED certi cation: platinum, gold, silver and certi ed.

Evanston has been working to increase the number of solar panels on public and private buildings alike for several years through initiatives like Evanston’s Accessible Solar Program.

As projects continue, Douglas said union workers will continue to advocate for their best interests. “Evanston is a really good town,” he said. “And we want to make sure that the people who are working out here are getting a good living wage.”

lilycarey2025@u.northwestern.edu

While some city buildings — like the Evanston Ecology Center, Levy Senior Center and Evanston Water Treatment Plant — already have panels installed, Evanston Sustainability Coordinator Cara Pra said she’d like to see more buildings receive the same.

“Any city facility that has appropriate sunlight and a new enough roof should eventually have solar panels,” she told e Daily in January.

— Aviva Bechky

Lily Carey/Daily Senior Sta er

Members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Cra workers stand in front of the inflatable rat on Sherman Avenue.

ON CAMPUS

Northwestern takes back No. 9 spot

By JACOB WENDLER daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler

Northwestern retained the No. 9 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s annual National Universities rankings after dropping to 10th last year. NU previously ranked ninth three years in a row.

The University tied with Brown University and Johns Hopkins University, coming in above Columbia University which snagged the No. 12 spot, U.S. News announced Monday. The Kellogg School of Business ranked second among business schools, and the School of Education and Social Policy ranked third among education schools.

Across U.S. News’ other rankings for 2023-2024,

the University dropped two spots to 15th in the Best Value Schools ranking, which takes into account academic quality and cost of attendance. It also ranked 261st in social mobility, climbing up from the 303rd spot last year.

U.S. News also ranked NU 13th for best undergraduate engineering programs — a three-spot jump from the previous list — and 10th for best undergraduate economics programs.

U.S. News altered this year’s ranking formula in response to criticism of its methodology after misrepresentation of data by schools like Columbia. NU’s Pritzker School of Law, along with several other prestigious law schools, opted out of the organization’s law school rankings last year.

The new formula weighs graduation rates for firstgeneration college students and those who received

The Daily Northwestern www.dailynorthwestern.com

Pell grants for the first time. It also eliminates five longstanding factors previously used to evaluate colleges and universities, including class size and alumni giving rate. Still, the results in the upper echelons of the ranking did not change significantly. Princeton University scored the top spot on the list for the 13th consecutive year. The top five universities — Princeton, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University and Yale University — remained unchanged, although Yale dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 this year.

The University of Chicago dropped from 6th to 12th on the list, however, making NU the top-ranked university in Illinois for the first time since 2006.

jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu

Reprise fills Cafe Bergson vacancy

By NORA COLLINS daily senior staffer @noracollins02

Reprise Roasters welcomed its first customers to its new Northwestern campus location Tuesday. The specialty coffee shop opened in Main Library’s Cafe Bergson as an addition to the chain’s existing spots in Evanston and Chicago.

Reprise took over the vacancy left at Cafe Bergson after the closings of both Brew Coffee Lab, which closed in May, and Brewbike, which occupied the space from 2015 to 2022.

As of Sept. 19, Reprise’s hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hours will be extended to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m in the coming weeks, according to Northwestern’s food service contractor Compass Group. Reprise accepts Dining Dollars, Cat Cash and credit card payments.

Co-owner and General Manager Kati Paiz says the cafe prides itself on sustainable sourcing and a direct

grower-to-customer pipeline.

“We are owned and operated by the supply chain, meaning we have a direct trade relationship with the farmers that grow our coffee,” Paiz said. “So we know exactly where everything is coming from (and) we try to be as sustainable as possible.”

Weinberg senior Ethan McAlpin said they purchased a Bourbon Vanilla Latte at $5.29. McAlpin said although they aren’t a coffee fan, the latte was good. However, they enjoyed their friend’s lavender lemonade more.

“The pricing is pretty normal both in comparison to Starbucks and the things that have been here in the past,” said McAlpin. “I would rather go here than somewhere else close if they have tangible (sustainability) goals.”

Paiz said her husband founded Reprise about eight years ago out of a Lake Forest train station. Since then, the company has grown to include three cafes, including its newest location at NU.

Paid added Reprise has a uniquely ethical business mode — paying farmers a dignified living wage, for

example — which she says allows them to maintain high quality coffee.

“If (our suppliers are) asking for $8 a pound, we’re paying $8 directly to them, versus a middleman or an importer,” Paiz said. “Having that closed loop system is something that you don’t see in (the) industry.”

Weinberg sophomore Janice Yoo said she bought a Hibiscus Lemonade from the cafe. She said the $4.49 price point made her hesitate, but given the information that Reprise products support workers’ livable wages, she said she would come again.

Compass said it partnered with Reprise because of their proximity and company mission.

“Reprise Roasters’ approach of focusing on direct trade, ethically-sourced, award winning coffee that is sourced direct from the farm, employs sustainable practices and embodies a commitment to social responsibility provides an optimal alignment to our goals,” Compass Group told The Daily in a written statement.

noracollins2025@u.northwestern.edu

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MINNESOTA AT NORTHWESTERN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

G FOR SHOOTING FOR THE STARS SHOOTING THE STARS

‘CATS SEEK SECOND HOME WIN TO TOP 2022 SEASON RECORD

What to Watch For: ‘Cats meet Minnesota

By ALEX CERVANTES daily senior staffer @cervantespalex

When Northwestern last took the field against Minnesota, running back Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 178 yards and three scores en route to a 31-3 Golden Gophers victory.

While Ibrahim is no longer suiting up in maroon and gold for coach P.J. Fleck, Minnesota (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten) will march into Ryan Field on Saturday night looking to enforce a similarly imposing ground attack. Conversely, after surrendering 268 rushing yards to then-No. 21 Duke last weekend, the Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) will hope to shore up their run defense in the team’s Big Ten home opener.

Here are three storylines to read before NU’s clash with Minnesota this weekend:

1. ‘Cats defense prepares for Minnesota running game

Against the Blue Devils, NU posted 21 missed tackles, the team’s most in a game since recording 25 against Michigan in 2021, according to InsideNU’s Bradley Locker.

The ‘Cats have allowed nearly 400 rushing yards in their two games against Power-Five opponents: Rutgers and Duke. Minnesota is averaging 173.7 rushing yards per game, the sixth-most in the conference. The group is led by freshman running back Darius Taylor, who has tallied 331 yards on 55 carries for two touchdowns in the team’s two most recent contests against Eastern Michigan and UNC.

NU Interim head coach David Braun said stifling the Golden Gophers’ rushing attack starts with the team’s “fundamentals and technique” — no matter how cliché that may be. Braun was blunt in assessment, saying the team needs to “define our gaps up front, violently get off of

blocks, understand the fit structure and play with great leverage.” Most of all, the defense needs to “tackle well.”

Braun said “it’s easy to say all those things” but that the onus falls on the coaching staff to allow the defense to “play fast.”

2. “Special teams make special teams”

NU received seven Blue Devils’ kickoffs last weekend, opting to return four. Senior wide receiver A.J. Henning and senior defensive back Coco Azema each returned two of them, totaling 53 and 48 yards respectively. The decision to allow Henning and Azema to return more than 50 percent of an opponent’s kickoffs is a shift from previous seasons — for instance, Evan Hull returned just nine in 2022.

Braun said the decision to let Henning and Azema try to make plays in the return game arose from a confidence in their ability to secure advantageous field position for the offense and create a spark.

“Both guys have the ability to do some really good things with the ball in their hands,” Braun said. “(On) some of those returns, a lot of good things are going on. We’re getting the ball out to the 30 and we’re a block away from really springing one and flipping the field.”

While optimism abounds surrounding the prospects of the team’s kick return unit, Braun instilled his faith in the punt game.

Senior punter Hunter Renner, who had a pair of first quarter shanks against Duke, is averaging 38.4 yards per punt through three games — nearly three yards fewer than backup senior punter Luke Akers in 2022. Still, Braun remains committed to Mishawaka, Indiana, native Renner, with the former characterizing the performance last weekend as a “lapse in consistency.”

“The product he has produced has been really

consistent in terms of the location (and) his operation time,” Braun said. “A couple punts that he’d like to have back, but full faith in what he’s able to do not only as a punter in terms of his location, but also just being a weapon of really discouraging any form of pressure with the operation time he gets the ball out with.”

Renner did rebound against the Blue Devils after the two kicks, averaging 40.3 yards over his last three punts — momentum which he’ll look to carry into Saturday’s prime time contest.

3. First game with all undergraduate students on campus

With the University’s 2023-24 academic year kicking off on Tuesday, NU will host its first home game on Saturday with a — likely — full

student section. First-year students will also be participating in the “Wildcat Dash” before the game, an annual tradition where the latest class of Wildcats dart across the field prior to kickoff.

Following the loss in Durham, Braun said “it’s awesome” to have students back in Evanston and packing the stands at Ryan Field in order to create a tough atmosphere for opponents.

“That’s why you come to Northwestern,” Braun said. “It’s a world-class institution and then as a student, you get an opportunity to experience Big Ten athletics. We can’t wait for ‘em to show up in big time numbers on Saturday night and the rest of the student body as well. We hope and desire and intend to make sure that we’re giving that student body a ton of things to get behind and cheer for the ‘Cats.”

alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

Micah Sandy/Daily Senior Staffer

Northwestern’s team huddles together during a pause against Rutgers. The Wildcats host Minnesota under the lights at Ryan Field on Saturday night in NU’s Big Ten home opener. Micah

Braun searches for consistency, progress

By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

Two days after then-No. 21 Duke diminished Northwestern’s trip to Wallace Wade Stadium, interim head coach David Braun took the podium at Walter Athletics Center on Monday, looking to place his team’s last effort on the backburner.

After taking Sunday off, the Wildcats had plenty of time to reflect on a game that Duke appeared to control from start to finish. Blue Devils’ quarterback Riley Leonard dominated through the air and on the ground, while Duke’s firm defensive unit seldom let NU find its footing.

“Everyone — starting with me — did not go down to Durham and play our best football,” Braun said. “It’s something that we used as a growth opportunity this morning.”

For the third consecutive game, the ‘Cats surrendered a score on their opponent’s opening drive. Unlike the team’s sole victory over UTEP, it failed to respond on the ensuing offensive possession.

The slow start allowed Duke to record the contest’s first 17 points — a hole far too deep against such an elite defense and punishing running game.

“When we pride ourselves on fundamentals and technique … our demeanor of play did not show up on Saturday,” Braun said. “In our two opportunities to play on the road so far this year, we have not started fast, we’ve not played well collectively.”

Graduate student quarterback Ben Bryant showed spurts of promise, but the sixth-year signal caller completed just 17-of-34 passes for 123 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception.

His QBR of 25.2 ranks 122nd of all eligible Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks this season.

Despite Bryant’s early season struggles, Braun reiterated his confidence in the team’s starter.

“What we see in practice is a really dynamic

quarterback that is an absolute weapon with his talent and his accuracy that commands the offense,” Braun said. “The level of consistency that we see in practice is what needs to show up on gameday moving forward.”

An old adage goes “special teams make special teams,” and the former North Dakota State defensive coordinator fielded several questions about his specialists and return units.

As for the punt team, Braun said that senior punter Hunter Renner will be starter for the remainder of the year. He beat out senior punter Luke Akers, who handled the majority of the team’s punting duties last season.

Braun also said the punt return team needs to get going for NU to succeed down the stretch. He added that players like junior defensive back Theran Johnson are straining and giving maximum effort whenever their number is called, but that effort must translate into more consistency.

With a matchup against Minnesota on tap Saturday night in Ryan Field, the Cats don’t have the luxury to recuperate before their divisional slate commences.

“(We’re) shifting into Big Ten West football, returning to Ryan Field against a very physical opponent that understands what it takes to win,” Braun said. “There is no doubt in our mind that there’s quite a challenge in front of us, but it will certainly embody what Big Ten West football is all about.”

NU will look to turn the tide of three consecutive losses to the Golden Gophers this Saturday, but the team will have to produce against an imposing rushing team spearheaded by freshman running back Darius Taylor.

As Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck’s group vies to hit the ground running and row the boat through Evanston, Braun said the Cats are excited about the challenge.

“We have to find a way to get these guys out of their comfort zone,” Braun said.

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

STANDINGS

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‘I don’t know what to expect’

NUFB excited for students, Big Ten West play

By LAWRENCE PRICE

daily senior staffer @lpiii_tres

Outside of Evanston locals, a miniature student section and local high school bands, Ryan Field’s stands were mostly bare on Sept. 9 when the ‘Cats played UTEP. The 14,851 people in attendance pales in comparison to a Wildcat contest in mid-October.

That’s because unlike most schools, NU’s quarter system meant classes and its freshman orientation week, Wildcat Welcome, weren’t in session yet. Most students, most notably excitable freshmen, weren’t on campus.

That all changes on Saturday, though, as the ‘Cats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) welcome in Minnesota (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten) for an under the lights battle

starting at 6:30 PM Central Time.

On top of that, freshmen will have the chance to partake in the “Wildcat Dash” across Ryan Field before the game — an annual tradition dating back to 2010.

With a real home crowd in attendance, the upcoming game marks interim head coach David Braun’s first “true” home game.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to expect,” Braun said. “Real excited for the opportunity for our guys to have students back, for it to be Wildcat Welcome, to have all the incoming freshmen at Ryan Field along with a great deal more of the rest of the student body.”

Aside from giving freshmen a chance to race across the grassy terrain at top-speed like players during the game, Saturday will see a student section filled to the brim. This also includes the recruits and commits who plan to be on the

sidelines.

And with it being a night game — an arguably more intense atmosphere than a day game — Saturday is likely to see even more fans coming out to support.

Sixth-year quarterback Ben Bryant said the electrifying energy from the fans makes the games even more fun. He added that it gives the ‘Cats a big advantage at home, especially in big games like Saturday’s.

“We’re all just excited to see students there supporting the team at a night game,” Bryant said. “You kind of feed off the fans and they kind of bring the energy on third downs when the other team is out there.”

Braun and Bryant’s excitement for the fans matched their enthusiasm facing the Golden Gophers — symbolizing the start of Big Ten play.

Bryant said the Big Ten West is wide open, and with both the ‘Cats and Golden Gophers on that side of the conference, he views Saturday as a chance to put their best foot forward. A win would give NU much-needed momentum before facing No. 7 Penn State on Sept. 30.

Although NU has lost its last three meetings against Minnesota, the combination of a young crowd mixed with the thrill of Big Ten play beginning sets a tone that can’t be replicated for the rest of the season.

“If you can’t get charged up for this opportunity, you know, you’ve got something wrong with you,” Braun said. “We have a young, freshmen group that’s excited to be a part of the Big Ten experience and we’re looking forward to having them in Ryan Field on Saturday.”

Micah Sandy/Daily Senior Staffer

Duke races past the ‘Cats, finishes 38-14

By AAYUSHYA AGARWAL daily senior staffer @aayushyagarwal7

To build off of last week’s momentous win, Northwestern (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten) needed to continue to stop the run.

Unfortunately for interim head coach David Braun and the Wildcats, the defense had no answer for No. 21 Duke’s (3-0, 1-0 ACC) run game, surrendering 268 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground in Saturday’s 38-14 defeat.

In last week’s victory over UTEP, the Cats

defense’s ability to limit the Miners’ rushing attack was instrumental towards their success. NU surrendered only 104 rushing yards and zero rushing touchdowns.

When the Blue Devils upset No. 9 Clemson on Sept. 4, quarterback Riley Leonard led the way with 98 rush yards. Similarly the Cats couldn’t contain Leonard on the ground on Saturday. He imposed his will on the very first possession by mixing in a few successful passes with a nine-yard scramble. A few more similar drives throughout the first quarter helped the Blue Devils continue to move the chains.

Making matters worse, NU had Leonard where they wanted him in the backfield, but couldn’t

Blue Devils reiterate blueprint for success

By LAWRENCE PRICE daily senior staffer @lpiii_tres

Listed as double-digit underdogs entering Saturday, Northwestern’s 38-14 loss to Duke wasn’t surprising.

Outside of the football program’s unwavering — expected, of course — belief in their team’s chances of winning, a potential upset didn’t cross many minds. The Blue Devils are playing at a higher level than both Rutgers and UTEP right now.

But this loss didn’t feel as gut-wrenching as the score displays.

It was a battle between two programs at different points of the rebuilding process. One was at the end of, if not already done with, the journey, finally seeing the fruits of their labor. The losing team, on the other hand, hovered in the early stages — one foot committed to the rebuild, the other stuck in the past.

More importantly, it reflected what the Cats’ program could be. Duke’s triumph over NU showed how their football program is the blueprint to success for Power-Five football programs at academically rigorous schools.

Not too long ago, the Blue Devils were a broken vessel.

Duke was 2-9 and 3-9 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Bleacher Report predicted that they would finish last in the ACC in 2022.

That’s when the program hit the reset button. They parted ways with their head coach David Cutcliffe after 14 seasons (ring a bell?) and brought in then-Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko in December 2021. Outside of him, they cleared the house. Only two out of 11 coaches remained on staff after the 2021 season.

The result? The Blue Devils went 9-4 in 2022. Elko was named ACC Coach of the Year after leading his team to its best record in nearly 10 years.

And, from a recruiting standpoint, NU and

Duke aren’t much different. The Blue Devils don’t reel in five-star recruits or a plethora of four stars yearly. Each roster is filled with three-star recruits. Both Duke and NU are schools largely known for their academic prestige and not their football accolades, hardening the ability to compete with programs loaded with five-star freshmen like the University of Michigan and Clemson.

Because of this, it takes time and experience for these programs to reach their highest potential. Exhibit A was the Cats in 2020, where NU’s starter under center was graduate student quarterback Peyton Ramsey, surrounded by mostly juniors, seniors or other graduate students. Duke’s offense and defense was drenched in experience on Saturday, as four of their starting offensive lineman were graduate students or seniors.

Of course, experience doesn’t equate to wins, but it does give one an advantage. And in a way, a level playing field against teams and rosters that on paper are better.

NU wasn’t blown out, and I’m not calling them a “broken vessel” either. The Cats moved the ball well at times, especially during their methodical touchdown drive in the second quarter, or when they made some critical stops on the defensive end on third and fourth down.

But Duke played at a different level than NU on Saturday. Their defense flew around, the run game was consistent and quarterback Riley Leonard’s skillset proved how important a mobile quarterback is in today’s game.

If a mirror was placed in front of NU, it would be a reflection of the Blue Devils’ younger self — just one earlier in the rebuild.

Nonetheless, the Cats have made strides toward future success with interim head coach David Braun at the helm and a few young players flashing lots of potential for years to come.

However, NU has been here before — having to rebuild and start from scratch. Duke just made the roadmap clearer than ever.

lawrenceprice2024@u.northwestern.edu

take him down, leading to big gains. Early in the second quarter, the Cats looked like they were about to force a fourth down, but Leonard evaded multiple NU defenders behind the line of scrimmage and ran for 33 yards. By the end of the drive, Leonard’s run was critical in Duke adding a field goal to their lead, increasing it to 17.

While NU’s offense came alive late in the first half, the defense’s inability to stop Leonard grew in the third quarter, dimmering hopes of a comeback. In the Cats first two defensive possessions to start the second half, the quarterback had multiple double-digit rushes and two short-yardage rushing touchdowns.

NU’s defense struggled to get off the field after

halftime, allowing the Blue Devils to have possession for nearly 11 minutes in the third quarter. This was a similar problem they faced versus Rutgers, who had possession for the majority of the first half.

By the end of the afternoon, Leonard finished with 97 rushing yards on 13 attempts. His 7.5 yards per carry was the highest by any rusher.

Looking ahead to next Saturday when NU returns home to resume conference play against Minnesota (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten), limiting the run game must be a point of emphasis, especially to opposing quarterbacks.

aayushyaagarwal2024@u.northwestern.edu

SHAKE SMART

From page 1

smoothie after seeing it on the popular smoothies list and rated it “pretty highly.”

Valdivia used dining dollars on the smoothie, after learning that meal exchanges are only valid between 8 and 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. Others have told her the meal exchange, which comes with a smoothie or acai bowl along with a sandwich, is a higher value option.

A spokesperson for Compass Group, Northwestern’s food service contractor, said NU Dining will continue to work with its Shake Smart and Norris partners to evaluate hours of operations and offerings. The spokesperson did not specify why meal exchanges are only valid during certain hours.

For those paying out-of-pocket, Communication junior Gabriella Burgos said the price is hard to justify. Even though the weather isn’t quite warm enough for cold drinks, she said she wanted to give the new place a shot.

Each smoothie ranges from about $7 for a regular size to $10 for a large size. Burgos said that’s about the price of a meal, and she’s not sure that she’ll order often because of it. Still, she said her experience was a net positive.

“I’m usually a hater, but this is actually really good,” she said.

On Tuesday, Shake Smart will hold a Free Shake Day where all regular-sized shakes will be free.

Inthavong said the one thing he hopes Shake Smart might do in the future is list macronutrients from its products, as he values transparency in his

drink orders. To him, the pricing is reasonable and similar to Protein Bar’s. His order, the p-b2, came with peanut butter, chocolate protein and bananas. After trying it out, he said he has plans to return.

joannahou2025@u.northwestern.edu

BOOSTER

From page 1

Director Sameer Vohra, said in a press release. “These shots will help prevent hospitalizations and severe outcomes and are especially important for those who are over 65, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions.”

According to the IDPH, there has been a recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations across Illinois. During the week of Sept. 3, there were 330 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in Cook County, a 4.4% increase from the previous week. While the county currently has a low rate of hospitalizations as defined by the CDC, experts expect cases to increase this upcoming fall and winter.

Following the end of the federal COVID19 Public Health Emergency in May, insurance companies are no longer required to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. A CDC update shortly thereafter stated that “access to COVID-19 vaccines will generally not be affected for now.”

However, according to a fact sheet published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “once the federal government is no longer purchasing or distributing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, payment, coverage, and access may change.”

As the federal government stops covering the cost of vaccines, the distribution of vaccines will transition to the healthcare market. IDPH stated most insurance plans cover the vaccine, and those without insurance can still receive free vaccines at local health centers.

This fall and winter, the IDPH is working to mitigate cases of the three viruses responsible for the most hospitalizations: COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, and the flu. Vaccines are now available for all three, and the shots are safe to be administered together, the IDPH wrote in its press release.

According to the CDC, the updated vaccine is a replacement for prior Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing,” the CDC said in a Sept. 12 press release. “And protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time.”

lilyogburn2026@u.northwestern.edu

financial accessibility to all students,” Weinberg senior Janitza Luna, Co-Chair of A&O Productions, said in a statement to The Daily.

In the email, Davis said the University is actively working with NUDM to plan this year’s event. Executive Director of NUDM and Weinberg senior Grace Dyer said the organization is grateful for the partnership.

The University attracted criticism in the spring after Mayfest’s executive board published an open letter in The Daily calling on administrators to provide more funding and support for Dillo Day.

“Mayfest’s executive board appreciates the efforts of ASG and of the administration in securing our funding for this year,” Mayfest Co-Chairs Darya Daneshmand and Alexandra Kahn told The Daily in a statement. “We’re grateful for the support in navigating rising costs and inflation and for having the necessary components of the festival covered financially to help us bring the best possible experience to the student body without compromising on our organization’s values.”

The University did not specify whether Mayfest’s April op-ed impacted decision-making related to the changes, nor did it provide information about any donors for funds being allocated to these events this academic year.

Cusick and Whalen said while the University has not yet committed to providing support to student organizations in future years, ASG is having ongoing conversations with administration about ensuring future support for student groups.

“They’ve definitely been willing to come to the table with us,” Whalen said. “We put together a multi-page proposal, and we were working with a lot of different administrators about this issue. I think especially after additional advocacy from student groups, they really felt the urgency from other student groups to address this issue.”

jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu

“It’s really good,” Inthavong said. “It’s got all that flavor.”

Micah Sandy/The Daily Northwestern

Shake Smart is already serving up smoothies students are excited about.

Evanston/Skokie School District approves budget

By OLIVIA MOFUS daily senior staffer

The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education approved its 2024 budget at a Monday night meeting.

Board members spoke about the key differences between the 2023 budget and the current one, which they described as “balanced” and “challenging.” The fiscal year 2024 budget has an additional $1.2 million in revenue and $1.7 million in expenses, meaning funds could be tight as the school year begins.

The increase in expenses stems from salary increases, student transportation costs and other costs such as grounds maintenance according to an August 16 budget presentation.

The revenue increase comes from late property taxes. According to the budget presentation, District 65 did not receive the expected $1.2 million in property taxes from fiscal year 2022 levy but eventually acquired the money.

“Despite the fact that it’s balanced, we face a lot of challenges,” District 65 Business Manager Kathy Zalewski said. “We’re facing a $4 million deficit, and we have a lot of work to do.”

Zalewski said the district has been spending too much in recent years. The 2023 fiscal year ended with an operating deficit of $7.5 million, the district’s first deficit since 2009. In the coming months, Zalewski said the board plans to begin a collaborative process to balance the 2025 fiscal year budget while promoting financial stability.

CITY COUNCIL

From page 1

lack of bonds taken out in the past two years. Councilmembers acknowledged across the board that it would eventually be necessary to take out more bonds. Hitesh Desai, the city’s Chief Financial Officer, said the finance and budget committee has also looked into taking out a line of credit — an option Desai said is more temporary, but could come with a higher interest rate.

While Nieuwsma and Kelly pushed back on fears that the city was “spiraling into debt,” suggested a more cautious approach.

“Let’s hold o on issuing bonds (until 2024), but when we do, let’s try and stick to the trends that we’ve established over the last few years and not issue more debt than we retire,” Nieuwsma said.

With tough decisions on the 2024 CIP still to come, councilmembers said they aim to keep sustainability and equity goals in mind as they gure out what to prioritize.

Reid noted that councilmembers should remain conscious of policies that won’t “overburden working class Evanstonians,” and avoid sources of revenue that could fall too heavily on taxpayers.

“Whether we raise property taxes, whether we issue new bonds, how much we’re gonna issue in new bonds, we should be thinking about new revenue and how we can do that in a way that is progressive,” he said.

lilycarey2025@u.northwestern.edu

The Daily Northwestern Volume 146, Issue 1

city & campus

City Editor

Lily Carey

Assistant City Editors

Lily Ogburn

Megija Medne

Olivia Mofus

Campus Editor

Jacob Wendler

Campus Assistant Editors

Leah Schroeder

Nora Collins

Samanta Habashy

Design Editors

Danny O’Grady

Paloma Leone-Getten

Assistant Design Editors

Jamie Kim

Lillian Ali

Bettina Sanchez

“Our revenue is a finite amount, so we will be working collaboratively to look at the

programs, to look at the costs of purchased services, of transportation to reduce those costs and live within our revenues,” Zalewski said.

In its tentative budget presentation from two weeks ago, the board said the budget aims to improve access to common core aligned grade level standards, emphasize equity and culturally relevant teaching, attract and retain staff and encourage long-term financial sustainability.

Board members noted the “super smooth” start to the new school year, celebrating recent programs within the district.

District 65 Interim Superintendent Angel Turner highlighted the district’s K-5 literacy adoption initiative. The district decided last school year to utilize new material and curriculum for K-5 English literacy and language arts after identifying challenges, including a gap in reading level between white students and Black and Latine students with the previous literacy program.

“Our teachers are very receptive,” Turner said. “So much so that in my time of meeting with our (executive) leadership on a daily basis, they’ve shared with us this need to continue to offer more professional learning so we could build the capacity of teachers to really work with our students. It’s just exciting to see happy kids, happy adults.”

The board also approved a $14,900 contract with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) to help the district search for a new superintendent. The new top D65 official would replace Devon Horton, who accepted a position in a Georgia school district in June.

oliviamofus2026@u.northwestern.edu

F LL 2023 FALL 2023

REL 210: REL 210: In ro o Buddhism Intro to Buddhism -- BBuckelew uckelew

REL 220: REL 220: In ro o Hebrew Bible Intro to Hebrew Bible -- Hur tHurst

REL 221: REL 221: In ro o New es amen Intro to New Testament -- tewart Stewart

in r 2024 Winter 2024

REL 170: REL 170: In ro to he Stud o Religion Intro to the Study of Religion -- KKing ing

REL 240: REL 240: In ro o Chris iani Intro to Christianity -- tewart Stewart

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REL 172: REL 172: In ro o Religion, Media, and Cul ure Intro to Religion, Media, Culture -- TTaylor aylor

REL 210: REL 210: In ro o Intro to Buddhism - Buddhism - PPrice-Wallace rice-Wallace

REL 230: REL 230: In ro o Judaism Intro to Judaism -- SSchwartchwartz

REL 262: In ro o Black Religions - REL 262: Intro to Black Religions - KB Denni Meade KB Dennis Meade

M o s t o t h e r e l i g i o u s s t u d i e s c o u r s e s c o u n t t o w a r d

M o s t o f h r l i g i o u s s t d i e c o u e s u n t w a d t h e E t h i c a l & E a l u a t i v e T h i n k i n g t h e E t h i a l & E v a l u a i v e T h i k i n g D i s c i p l i n e ( F D - E E T ) D i s c i p l i n e ( D - E )

Daily file photo by Patrick Svitek

The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Joseph E. Hill Education Center.

Rice prof. addresses increasing energy demands

By NORA COLLINS daily senior staffer @noracollins02

When members of the Northwestern academic community sat down in the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center Wednesday afternoon for the 10th Achenbach Lecture, they were met with a warning: energy demand is increasing exponentially, and we’re struggling to keep up.

According to this year’s Achenbach Lecturer, Rice University Prof. Ramamoorthy Ramesh, quantum mechanics could be the solution.

The Achenbach lecture was started in 2013 in honor of renowned McCormick Prof. Jan D. Achenbach, who passed away in 2020. He became a member of NU faculty in 1963 and taught as both a mechanical engineering and civil and environmental engineering professor.

“Each year, the United States president selects just a handful (of people) to receive the National Medal of Science or the National Medal of Technology,” Huang said. “It’s extremely rare for someone to receive both. In the entire history of the United States, there have been no more than three people receiving (both of) those awards. Achenbach was one of them.”

Achenbach pioneered the field of applied mechanics, improving the detection of cracks and corrosion in aircraft to advance air safety. He also founded NU’s Center for Quality Engineering and Failure Prevention, which focuses on quality control in structural mechanics.

“(Achenbach) was a giant in science and engineering,” said McCormick Prof. Yonggang Huang, who hosted the lecture.

Ramesh opened his Wednesday talk with a slide titled, “Energy: The Final Frontier” — a reference not just to Star Trek, but also to rising concerns around exponentially increasing energy demands due to artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies.

Discussing new materials and approaches enabled by quantum mechanics, Ramesh said more energyefficient computing could soon become a reality.

“(Ramesh) has done groundbreaking work in energy,” Huang said. “If someone published one paper in (their) lifetime it’s already a big achievement. But he has published two every single year. This technology is very successful and is able to

save a lot of energy.”

Ramesh is the founding director of the Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, a program that aims to reduce the cost of solar electricity, putting it on par with other energy sources like natural gas and coal. Ramesh said the SunShot Initiative was created to mirror the momentous Moonshot program, which prompted NASA’s moon mission.

He joined the Biden-Harris agency review team for the DOE in November 2020, and his work helped reduce the cost of solar energy. But Ramesh said the team has made some mistakes.

The cost for solar electricity in 2010 was about 27 cents per kilowatt hour, according to Ramesh. As a product of the program’s goal, the cost has dropped to two cents today. However, tackling this macroscale market came at a cost.

“For example, by the time that we started (in

2020), all manufacturing had left the United States. 90% of manufacturing solar panels is happening in China. Therefore, the United States lost the battle. That’s still a problem.”

He said the second mistake was not focusing on energy storage — a critical concern in solar energy due to its variability. As opposed to conventional fossil fuel energy sources, solar output can be affected by environmental conditions such as dust, cloud cover or snow.

Other countries, specifically France and Germany, have been using policies such as freedom tariffs to reduce the cost of solar energy, Ramesh said. But the DOE wants to focus on a more sustainable approach — one backed by evolving science and technology rather than policy.

“If there’s one thing you can take away today, it’s the notion of a sense of urgency,” Ramesh said.

yearbook on CAESAR

Ramesh also touched on the new DOE Energy Earthshots Initiative, a framework to attack climate change by accelerating clean energy technology.

He said the computing industry has seen a revolutionary increase in energy efficiency by 100 times around every 25 years — first from vacuum tubes to bipolar transistors, and then to complementary metal-oxide semiconductors. He said quantum materials and mechanics could now enable this anticipated transition by moving beyond the constraints of traditional transistors.

McCormick freshman Gautham Anne said listening to the lecture as an undergraduate was eye-opening.

“I don’t have much experience yet regarding material science, but being able to look towards the future (with Ramesh’s research) is powerful,” Anne said.

noracollins2025@u.northwestern.edu

Nora Collins/Daily Senior Staffer

Ramesh was the founding director of the Department of Energy SunShot Initiative.

SPORTS

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Northwestern sports season off to remarkable start

By ALEX CEVANTES daily senior staffer @cervantespalex

Northwestern’s fall sports season is off to a remarkable start, highlighted by its pair of undefeated soccer teams and another dominant opening from field hockey.

As the 2023-24 academic year commences, a new marketing push from the Athletic Department is encouraging student attendance at fall sporting events. Though the University’s academic calendar does not align with the start of fall seasons for its athletic programs, the new incentive — a points-based system for men’s basketball game tickets — coincides nicely with the beginning of Big Ten play for many of the Wildcats’ Olympic sports teams.

Here is a breakdown of where each NU athletic program — which includes several highly-ranked squads — stands for now.

Field Hockey

Coach Tracey Fuchs and the ‘Cats are adjusting to life without one of, if not the greatest, senior classes in program history. Still, it’s business as usual at Lakeside Field, while expectations of another deep NCAA Tournament run remain.

Despite the departures of Bente Baekers, Ana Medina Garcia and more — along with the absence of first-team All-American and senior midfielder Maddie Zimmer, who is playing for Team USA in the 2023 Pan American Games this fall — NU entered the season as the No. 2 team in the nation. The team dropped its season-opening contest at home to No. 9 Louisville, 1-0, but the ‘Cats have since rattled off seven-straight victories and commence Big Ten play as one of the hottest teams in the country.

Women’s Soccer

The team is not surprising anyone this season. After setting a program record of 16 wins in 2022 and marching to the Sweet Sixteen — tying the program’s

farthest postseason advancement in its history — NU is poised to make another NCAA Tournament run in 2023.

The No. 18 ‘Cats are undefeated through nine games (7-0-2), propelled by a top-10 scoring unit in the country, one which has tallied 28 goals this season. NU’s stout backline of graduate student defenders Danika Austin and Nicole Doucette alongside junior defender Emma Phillips has conceded just seven scores this year. The team’s stalwart nature allows coach Michael Moynihan to unleash his full arsenal of offensive weapons, including senior midfielders Meg Boade and Josie Aulicino, on opponents to great effect.

Men’s Soccer

Coach Russell Payne has engineered a renaissance for the ‘Cats in 2023. After a pair of sub .500 campaigns to open his tenure in Evanston, Payne and NU have jumped out to an undefeated 6-0-2 start on the season — the program’s best run since 2008.

Led by senior forward Justin Weiss, who ranks third in the nation in total points with 16, the ‘Cats have climbed to No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, their highest ranking since being slotted No. 5 in 2013. Anchored by infallible sophomore centerback Nigel Prince, NU has conceded its fewest goals (seven) through its first eight games since the 2018 season.

Cross Country

Although Rachel McCardell has departed Evanston, coach Jill Miller returns a couple key cogs from last season’s NCAA Championship appearance in graduate student Kalea Bartolotto and junior Ava Earl.

The ‘Cats already have a pair of races under their belt, boasting a first-place finish at the Flyers Flames Challenge and a third-place result at the Badger Classic. Earl, Bartolotto and senior Katherine Hessler placed in the top 10 against Big Ten competition in Madison. NU will travel to Charlottesville, Virginia, for the Virginia

Invitational this weekend, looking to settle its lineup.

Volleyball

In the team’s final non-conference matchup of the season, droves of students piled into Welsh-Ryan Arena to watch NU sweep Yale, 3-0. The game set the single-match record for student attendance at 1,376, which is also an Olympic sport student attendance record at the University.

Entering Big Ten conference play this weekend against No. 1 Wisconsin, the ‘Cats sit at 6-4, having won four of their last five matchups. Senior setter Alexa Rousseau remains key for coach Shane Davis, while graduate student outside hitter Julia

MEN’S SOCCER

Sangiacomo paces the team with 103 kills on the season.

Women’s Golf

NU returns three first team All-Big Ten honorees from last season in Lauryn Nguyen, Dianna Lee and Jieni Li, as the ‘Cats look to build on last season’s No. 15 finish and NCAA Championship appearance.

NU has appeared in just one tournament so far this fall, finishing in a tie for 12th place at the Branch Law Firm/ Dick McGuire Invitational. Senior Jennifer Cai led the ‘Cats with a 1-over 217 (72-74-71), which resulted in a share of 17th place on the individual leaderboard.

Men’s Golf

NU is still hunting for its first NCAA Championship appearance since 2018, with the dynamic pairing of sophomore Daniel Svärd, last season’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and junior Cameron Adam pacing the ‘Cats.

In the team’s lone tournament of the fall thus far, Svärd and Adam led NU to a tie for fifth place out of 14 teams at the Gopher Invitational. Svärd, Adam and sophomore Ethan Tseng all placed in the top-20 in Minnesota, and will look to carry that momentum into the Windon Memorial Classic next week.

alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

NU soccer draws in Wisconsin conference opener

By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n

Through its seven nonconference tests, No. 13 Northwestern seldom faltered, punching in game-clinching goals at the death and locking in on defense to secure the program’s highest ranking in nearly a decade.

However, as coach Russell Payne’s team kicked off its conference campaign at Wisconsin, the extra edge of table implications trumped the teams’ rudimentary resumes.

Early season victories were all for naught — just 90 minutes of play would write an opening statement on the Big Ten landscape.

While the Wildcats (6-0-2, 0-0-1 Big Ten) drew first blood in Madison, the Badgers (3-2-2, 0-0-2 Big Ten) struck back on set pieces, settling a 2-2 scoreline.

Both squads did not sniff a clear cut chance through 45 minutes of action, with sophomore defender Nigel Prince and graduate student defender Reese Mayer holding steady at central defense to clinch a first half clean sheet.

Payne told the Big Ten Network during the halftime break that his team, spearheaded by a young core, needed to take more chances.

“We were in some good attacking spots, but we gotta let it fly,” Payne said.

Only eight minutes into the second half, NU’s veteran strike partnership did just that, turning a small window of space into the contest’s opening conversion.

Graduate student forward Ugo Achara Jr. received senior forward Justin Weiss’ deflected pass and shook a Wisconsin defender on the half turn, burying a right-footed effort into the bottom left corner to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead.

While the Badgers possessed a prime opportunity to equalize six minutes later, graduate student goalkeeper Jackson Weyman denied Wisconsin forward Kevin Andrews’ point blank effort.

Entering the final 20 minutes of action, freshman defender Fritz Volmar drove down the left flank, finding junior defender Ibrahim Obeid, who doubled NU’s edge to 2-0 on a tap in.

The Badgers quickly crept back into contention as Wisconsin defender Birgir Baldvinsson’s 75th minute header hurled into the back of the net, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

After more than a dozen minutes of defending, the ‘Cats conceded a late corner, which they cleared only as far as Badger midfielder Tim Bielec’s right boot. Bielec caught Weyman flat footed, sinking a curling effort that knotted the game at two-apiece with less than four minutes to play.

Although NU garnered a last-ditch opportunity on a corner kick, neither side could find a crucial difference-maker as the final horn blared and cemented a 2-2 draw.

Next up for the ‘Cats is a Sunday showdown against Ohio State in Martin Stadium, where Payne and company hope to extend their unbeaten run to nine games..

jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Katie Chen

Sophomore midfielder Jason Gajadhar wins a header in last season’s matchup against Wisconsin. Gajadhar played 81 minutes against the Badgers on Tuesday.

Daily file photo by Claudia Arriaga

Senior midfielder Meg Boade. Boade has four goals and nine assists for Northwestern so far this season.