Northwestern saw increases in the student enrollment of historically underrepresented groups in the Class of 2028.
Class of ’28 more racially diverse
Black and Hispanic enrollment up a er a rmative action ban
By JANELLE MELLA
the daily northwestern
@janelle_mella
ETHS adjusts to phone ban
Some students get creative for more phone time
By ANAVI PRAKASH daily senior staffer @anavi_52
One month into the implementation of Evanston Township High School’s new “BellTo-Bell, No Cell” phone policy, senior and student representative Rachel Durango-Cohen said she and her peers have gradually become more accepting of giving up their phones for the whole school day a er being initially uneasy about it.
phone for 85 minutes. What’s 10 more?’”
For Durango-Cohen, the policy was a positive addition to the school community because it eliminates the use of phones for entertainment purposes in the middle of class, she said. She added that she had to adjust by using her schoolissued agenda instead of her phone calendar. While planning with an agenda has been su cient, Durango-Cohen said her phone was ideal because it would give her reminder notications throughout the day.
Evanston Township High School District 202 announced the policy in April, stating it would mitigate classroom distractions, cyberbullying, privacy and safety concerns and social isolation as well as improve teacher-student relationships.
Northwestern’s preliminary admission data released Tuesday revealed an overall increase in historically underrepresented groups within the class of 2028.
considering race as a factor in the admissions process.
This was the first admission cycle that came a er the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action last year, barring universities from
Taco Bell will ring once more
Cantina to open in 45 days, manager says
By
Since arriving at Northwestern last year, Weinberg sophomore Eshaan Chandani has tallied his “days since last Taco Bell” on a whiteboard above his desk. Recently, though, he added a new countdown to the board: “days until Evanston’s Taco Bell Cantina.”
ough an exact date hasn’t been set, property manager
Gordon Magill expects the franchise, located at 1737 Sherman Ave., to open in 40-45 days. Magill also managed the downtown Evanston Taco Bell that was once next door but closed in 2018.
The city has lacked fast food, usually a staple for college towns, since Taco Bell le , said Andy Vick, the executive director of Downtown Evanston. The old Burger King, which used to set up shop on Orrington Ave., closed its doors in 2020 and was one of the last all night eateries in Downtown.
“I’ve heard from a number
According to the report, the latest NU class saw an increase in the percentage of Black or African American students, reaching 15.4% from 14.2% since last year. e percentage
of Hispanic or Latino students also rose from 17.2% to 17.5% from last year.
The enrollment of international students increased from 10.5% to approximately
Known as “Bell-to-Bell, No Cell,” the policy was implemented in June, at the start of the summer school. Students must place their phones in a phone storage unit at the beginning of their 85-minute class periods and are not allowed to touch them until the bell signals the end of the period. However, students are allowed to use their phones during the 10-minute passing periods and lunchtime.
“There’s two sides of it,” Durango-Cohen said. “Some people are cramming in all of their phone time during those passing periods, and then others are like, ‘Oh, I haven’t had my
e need for the policy rst began a er the COVID-19 pandemic, when teachers noticed an increase in phone distractions in the classroom, according to District 202 Superintendent Marcus Campbell. ETHS biology teacher Jason Foster said he appreciates the new policy.
“Once cellphones are put away, it’s like a reset to how
» See BELL TO BELL , page 10
NU dining sta rally for higher pay Workers concerned about job security
By JERRY WU daily senior staffer @jerrwu
Crowds of NU’s dining workers rallied at e Arch Tuesday to demand new contract bene ts as the union begins negotiations with Compass Group, the University’s food service provider.
Huddled under umbrellas, dining workers joined by members from the Students Organizing for Labor Rights held signs reading “Students Support Workers” and “Justice for workers at the Allen Center.” Together, they ra led o a list of demands for the upcoming contract, such as a wage increase, retirement funds and pensions. Negotiations between
Compass Group and UNITE HERE Local 1, the union representing NU’s subcontracted service workers, have been ongoing since the workers’ previous threeyear contract expired at the end of August.
e former agreement, reached a er nearly two years of negotiations, included an almost $6 increase in the minimum hourly wage to $19.88 and a permanent extension of health insurance bene ts for all workers. ose changes will continue taking e ect until a new contract is achieved.
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) also arrived at the event later in the a ernoon expressing her solidarity with NU dining workers.
“I’ve lived in Evanston for over 26 years, I own a house
in Evanston, I raise my kids in Evanston,” said Veronica Reyes, a cashier at Foster-Walker Complex.
“And if Northwestern decides to hire a new company for food service, there is no guarantee that we can keep our job.”
Top of concern in the negotiations is providing job security for the 103 workers currently employed at the Kellogg School of Management’s James Allen Center, which hosts the Executive MBA and Executive Education programs.
While the center is slated to shut down for reconstruction Nov. 28, Compass has only proposed extending employees’ recall rights — without guaranteeing continued employment to all of the workers — according
to a representative from UNITE HERE Local 1.
Compass spokesperson Sophia Bamiatzis told e Daily that the company so far has “placed 51 Allen Center employees in other positions” at NU and are “committed to o ering any future available positions to our 26 potentially displaced associates in accordance with the current CBA.”
Elizabeth Arreguin, who’s worked as a housekeeper at the center for nearly 24 years, said she had rst begun hearing plans about the center reconstruction since the pandemic. e announcement this year “devastated” her. She’s the only one working in her family right now, since her husband
» See MARCH, page 10
Daily file photo by Joss Broward
City awards 44 businesses sustainability grants
By NINETH KANIESKI KOSO
the daily northwestern
Sustain Evanston awarded 44 Evanston businesses with grants of up to $25,000 as part of the city’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan Thursday at Temperance Beer Company, according to a city press release.
The grants aim to promote sustainable practices aligned with CARP in local businesses. From replacing inefficient appliances to installing of solar panels, the grant covers sustainable projects, equipment and services in all industries.
Sustain Evanston launched in 2019 as a way to recognize Evanston businesses that have taken steps to achieve the city’s goal of carbon neutrality and sustainable practices. It began awarding grants in 2023, allocating over $200,000 to 18 Evanston businesses.
In 2024, the Sustain Evanston grant program expanded to $600,000 — with half a million coming from the city’s budget and $100,000 coming from Northwestern’s Good Neighbor Fund. NU’s donations were specifically used for landscapers to buy electric leaf blowers and rechargeable batteries. Over half of the businesses awarded a grant this year are local landscaping companies.
In 2023, Evanston banned the use of gas- and propane-powered leaf blowers due to concerns of noise and air pollution. Landscaping companies began transitioning to electric-powered leaf blowers and other equipment.
The city provided grants to help businesses transition, but many local landscaping companies said the money was not enough.
“(Electric leaf blowers have) outrageous prices — three times the price of a gas power blower,” said Hector Hernandez, a partner of Hector’s Landscaping and Tree Services. “(The city) didn’t even give us a full year to even get those funds.” Evanston’s Sustainability and Resilience Manager Cara Pratt announced in a June City Council meeting that the original funds allocated for transitioning to electric leaf blowers had been exhausted.
Pratt requested $122,000 of additional funding for nine landscaping businesses that had yet to receive funds at the meeting, but the city council did not move forward with the request.
When the city banned gas- and propane- powered leaf blowers, Hernandez said it failed to reach out and inform the majority of the Hispanic community. Applications for electric leaf blowers from the city were long and hard for non-English speakers to complete, he said.
However, with the need to electrify expensive equipment, Pratt said the city introduced many landscaping companies to Sustain Evanston’s sustainability grants.
DMAC Architecture & Interiors received a grant both in 2023 and 2024 to create a “pocket
park” in an empty lot by their building. The plan was to create a biodiverse green space in what would have been a parking area, according to marketing associate Leslie Cousineau.
“The idea of it was to provide something that was more sustainable for the environment and for the city of Evanston and the neighborhood and us,” Cousineau said.
Cousineau said the park will absorb some of the rainfall and provide shade to help cool down the surrounding area. The second half of the grant will be paid upon completion of the park, which is scheduled to finish by the end of the year, she said.
As part of the grant, Hernandez said he received battery-powered leaf blowers, while other companies received funds to purchase them.
Apart from landscaping companies, the owner of Mack’s Bike & Goods, Kelly Mack, said she received a grant to replace inefficient air-conditioning in her building with a new heat pump, an environmentally friendly alternative.
As part of the Sustain Evanston grant program, Mack said Pratt visited her business to give recommendations on making her business more sustainable and applying for the grant.
“I hope that they consider figuring out ways to have the opportunity to expand it,” Mack said. “I know I have a lot of ideas in my head about things that I’d love to do to our space to make it more energy efficient and green.”
ninethkanieskikoso2027@u.northwestern.edu
Daily file illustration by Emily Lichty
This is the second year Sustain Evanston has awarded grants for local businesses.
Build ‘robust discussion,’ Schill urges
By EDWARD SIMON CRUZ daily senior staffer @edwardsimoncruz
University President Michael Schill told freshmen and transfer students to “embrace unconventional views and respect di erence” in his New Student Convocation address Wednesday, September 18.
Students donned their class T-shirts and coalesced in the bleachers of Martin Stadium for the sunny a ernoon during Wildcat Welcome, a weeklong orientation intended to prepare them for their rst classes at NU.
Schill said students are responsible for connecting with people of di erent perspectives and backgrounds to build an environment that values “robust discussion and debate.”
“Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean you should,” he said. “We all have a responsibility to think about the e ect of our speech on others.”
Schill directed students to review NU’s updated policies on demonstration and discrimination, saying previous rules were “insu cient to meet the moment.”
Most notably, the University’s revised demonstration policy bars overnight demonstrations. Another new policy outlines restrictions for public displays, formalizing several rule changes announced in April.
While Schill reemphasized the importance of free expression and condemned “speech that impedes or is intended to prevent others’ participation,” he did not directly reference last spring’s pro-Palestinian encampment at Deering Meadow.
Schill also encouraged students to seek both academic and emotional support from peers, faculty and sta . He called on students to join extracurricular activities and challenge themselves intellectually by taking classes in unfamiliar subjects.
“ e point is to develop breadth and depth, qualities that enable you to lead ful lling lives in an ever-changing world,” Schill said.
Weinberg freshman Lana Alnajm said she hopes to see Schill fostering more direct dialogue with students of di erent backgrounds.
She said these dialogues are necessary for the University to recognize the perspectives of historically marginalized groups.
“I feel like the administration, especially nowadays — they put certain priorities or their donors over their students,” she said.
A er Schill’s speech, Provost Kathleen Hagerty addressed the students, as did Associated Student Government co-Presidents Caleb Snead and Ty’Shea Woods.
Woods spoke about her journey ascending to campus leadership roles as a Black, rst-generation and lower-income student, while Snead reiterated the abundance of support students could nd from their classmates, ASG and University sta .
Earlier in the morning, students had walked
through Weber Arch before arriving at Deering Meadow. ere, Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, assistant vice president and chief of sta for student a airs, and Susan Davis, vice president of student a airs, o ered them advice for their time at NU.
Brown-Henderson asked students to recite four messages aloud: “We will ask and receive,” “we will embrace our dwelling places,” “we will go far together” and “we will grow.”
Weinberg freshman Elina Zhang said she appreciated the a rmations, especially the one about asking for help.
“Listening to these speeches, they echoed what I’m feeling right now,” she said. “Some of the worries I have coming into college as a new student, but it made me feel really supported.”
edwardcruz2027@u.northwestern.edu
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In his speech Wednesday, University President Michael Schill told students to cultivate “robust discussion and debate” by engaging with peers of di erent beliefs.
Council funds ‘wrap-around health support’ pilot
By SHUN GRAVES
daily senior staffer @realshungraves
Neticia Waldron, a health care professional who is spearheading the Evanston Pathway to Wellness initiative, exhaled while addressing City Council on Monday evening.
She recounted how her grandmother died of a heart attack. She hadn’t even turned 60. And this year, her mother died from a chronic illness, Waldron added.
Her program — approved unanimously by City Council — will provide health support to some of Evanston’s poorest census tracts, where residents can expect to live up to 13 years less than those in the city’s more affluent area in part due to chronic conditions, according to city data.
“That very health disparity has impacted my family,” she said.
Focusing on those tracts in southwest Evanston, the one-year pilot program will split 150 residents into two groups.
A control group will receive food stipends and a digital monitoring platform that will help screen for health issues and offer wellness information. The other group will get “wrap-around support” with cooking courses, fitness sessions, regular checkups and more, in addition to the control group’s services.
Elizabeth Lynch, a preventive medicine professor at Rush University Medical Center, will collect data from the participants and compare outcomes between the two groups. The study will focus on high blood pressure.
“I’m really excited to work on a project that is really driven by the community in this way,” she said.
The council approved $400,000, which Waldron said will fund research and the screening devices. The money comes from some of Evanston’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds, which came from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s not the first ARPA-funded pilot initiative to target some of the city’s lowest-income residents.
City Council unanimously approved a new phase of Evanston’s guaranteed income program this March. Using $900,000 in ARPA funds, the
initiative doles out $500 a month to 150 qualifying families in census tract 8092.
That tract has served as the crux of the city’s efforts to improve health incomes. Located in central Evanston west of the Metra tracks, 8092 had a city-high child poverty rate of 28.9% in 2018, according to the city.
“I’m really happy that the city has identified this problem — and responding to it by allocating some resources and involving partners in a collaborative approach here,” Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) said. “I certainly hope that
this one-year program will lead to some ongoing funding, ongoing resources from whatever source we can come up with until that 13-year discrepancy is down to zero.”
However, the federal pandemic funds will run out eventually.
Ald. Thomas Suffredin (6th) wondered whether the program, if successful, could continue past its first year without a funding source.
“The worst-case scenario is that this succeeds, and there’s no money for it in the future,” he said.
The program’s research-based nature has
attracted interest from Endeavor Health and other partners, Waldron said. Insurance might also cover future costs.
Waldron has also jumpstarted Whole Woman Fitness, a wellness venture in Evanston that will administer the new Pathway to Wellness initiative.
“We educate people to change their habits, their body and how to actually move in the right direction,” she said.
shungraves2027@u.northwestern.edu
Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern
Neticia Waldron, who spearheaded the Evanston Pathway to Wellness initiative, speaks before City Council at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center on Monday.
arts & entertainment A&E
Tune into these Chicago area live music venues
By ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ
the daily northwestern @alexbespeakin
Chicago, the birthplace of house, gospel and urban blues, has a lot to offer when it comes to live music. But, with 250 live music venues across the city, many students wonder where the best places are for a night out. Check out these five venues that will not let you down.
Evanston SPACE
Right off the corner of Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue, Evanston’s live music hall has hosted a variety of acclaimed artists, including Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers and Lucinda Williams. The venue, which hosts standing and seated performances, aims to provide an intimate space for fans to get closer with performers. SPACE is also a multi-dimensional venue:
It’s used as a recording studio, it’s home to Union Pizza and it’s hosted community events for Evanston and Chicago residents alike.
The Hideout
Nestled in the Bucktown neighborhood, a century-old balloon-framed house that took two days to build stands strong. Built in 1881, the house was known as a “hideout” due to its remote location next to factories and warehouses. After being used as a speakeasy during Prohibition, the space started being used for live performances in 1996. The Prohibitionera, secluded-style venue is for the 21+ crowd that wants a venue to be authentically themselves. This place is meant to build community through plays, parties and, of course, live music.
The Bassment For business casual folks who love a night
out filled with live vocals and instruments, the Bassment is for you. Located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, the Bassment offers a welcoming space for guests to enter through a secret door. Once the $10 entertainment fee is paid and a red drape is drawn back, an enormous contemporary lounge awaits visitors. This venue’s design, inspired by the 1960s’ British cultural invasion, features brick walls, gold accents, velvet and leather couches, as well as a full stage. Live acts, such as the 479, Angela Martin, and Frankie Parker & The Gentleman will easily brighten up your weekend.
Thalia Hall
With bohemian accents, Thalia Hall was founded as a local establishment by saloonkeeper John Dusek. Modeled after the Prague State Opera House, the space was originally meant to bring arts and entertainment to neighbors. Even though this spot is mainly used for
live music and performances, it has also been used as a community hub. For instance, Thalia Hall was where diplomats devised the birth of Czechoslovakia. Now, alternative pop star Sarah Kinsley, alternative band French Police and rock band La Femme will soon take the stage at this iconic landmark. Events are either 17+, 21+ or open to all ages.
The Salt Shed Once the Morton Salt Company factory, the Salt Shed now makes its mark on the West Town neighborhood. After the factory’s closure in 2015, it was transformed into an iconic music hub within the Salt District. Performers Clairo, André 3000 and Suki Waterhouse have one thing in common: They will all be welcomed by the Morton Salt logo as they take the stage here this fall.
alexanderhernandez-gonzalez2027@u.northwestern.edu
Eid: ‘Silly goose’ JFK grandson’s TikTok entices youth vote
By KARINA EID daily senior staffer @karinaaeidd
Whether he’s riding his RipStik or speaking at the Democratic National Convention, former President John F. Kennedy’s sole grandson Jack Schlossberg is writing his own political playbook with a comedic twist.
Schlossberg became Vogue’s political correspondent in July — just in time for the 2024 presidential election. He makes content for Vogue’s TikTok account and writes opinion articles for the website.
In a July 10 Vogue article, Schlossberg said he uses TikTok as an outlet to be a “silly goose” while also trying “to get the truth out there” — modeling a er “great leaders” such as his grandfather, making politics fun and positive for younger audiences. While Schlossberg does not use the Kennedy name on paper, he still wears it. He radiates the charisma of his grandfather with a strong physical resemblance to his uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. He evidently inherited the political gene, which manifests in his engaging and o entimes comedic sel e-style social media videos about current events, especially key facts about the current presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.
In the past few months, Schlossberg has risen to social media stardom, amassing over 830,000
followers on his personal TikTok and Instagram accounts combined. Schlossberg also creates concise yet informative videos, coined “Jack Reacts,” for Vogue’s TikTok account, through which he o ers viewers a peek into what they may have missed in politics in a given week.
For instance, one video documents Schlossberg sharing his opinion on who won the presidential debate, claiming that Harris took the prize. Another recent video provides quick facts about Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, which he posted around the time Harris announced her vice-presidential choice. However, some videos on his personal accounts are more humorous.
His content tends to hinge on strong partisanship for the le , and in many videos he makes comedic bits about Trump and his running mate JD Vance. While videos from his personal content tend to be more biased and informal than those on Vogue’s page, he adopts the same casual yet academic energy.
In discussing his family’s political legacy, he told Vogue on July 10 that he “[wants] to contribute in [his] own way” in addition to making “a positive impact today.” at in uence is helping to galvanize young voters with current political ma ers, although it’s at times masked by his comedic and goofy charm. In fact, by charming many young people with his enthusiasm through a screen, Schlossberg is reaching a key demographic in the election.
TikTok is becoming an increasingly popular
platform for young people to get their news. Nearly four in 10 people spanning ages 18-29 said they use the app regularly, according to a Pew Research Center study from July 15. In addition, 48% of TikTok users in this same age group use the app to keep up with politics or political issues, according to a separate Pew Research Center study from March 18.
Young voters age 18-32 are a critical age group in elections. Schlossberg’s mission to make a positive impact “today” begins with his ability to make politics more digestible and popular among young people who may have the ability to sway the upcoming election.
In the past month, Schlossberg visited the
University of Pennsylvania campus to urge voting among students living in the ba leground state. He even encouraged students to bring their friends to the polls, according to e Daily Pennsylvanian. Schlossberg’s videos – some educational, some opinionated – help excite and inform young voters about their civic duties in a way that typical political news coverage may not. In doing so, he is perhaps giving some young people the foundation to make political decisions and to ultimately cast their ballot.
“You can make a di erence because you have a voice,” Schlossberg said in Vogue’s TikTok video on June 28. karinaeid2027@u.northwestern.edu
Find Broadway in your backyard at these local theaters
By BETSY LECY daily senior staffer @betsy_lecy
For those craving a vibrant musical theater scene, no need to book a plane ticket to the Big Apple. Look no further than Northwestern’s backyard — Evanston and the greater Chicago area — for your fix of plays and musicals this school year.
Before the curtain rises on NU’s on-campus productions, check out this list of theater venues in the Evanston and Chicago area for your daily dose of dramatics.
Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre is the oldest and largest nonprofit theater in Chicago. The two-theater complex is the recipient of the Special Tony
Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and is internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs. With more covert narratives like “Inherit the Wind” and “The Magic Parlour,” the theater provides a unique, off-the-beaten-path experience, especially if you’re exhausted by mainstream musicals. For the most dedicated theater fans, the theater offers annual memberships for the 2024-2025 season, as well as a variety of discounts for those looking to catch a show without breaking the bank.
Steppenwolf Theatre
Ensemble is the ethos of the Steppenwolf Theatre. With around 49 members, the company has delivered productions to a multigenerational audience and can be the perfect place to add to your musical theater bucket list. Currently, the theater is showing two
productions: “Noises Off” and “Happy Days Are Here (Again).” The former show is a British sex farce featuring a cast and crew that are scrambling to prepare for an opening night. Despite their earnest efforts, complete chaos reigns. Tickets for the showing range from $56 to $98, but a season membership is available for those looking to see a year’s worth of farces.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Only a short distance from campus at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center stands the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre. Here, audiences can enjoy both original and Broadway productions centered on Black and African diaspora storytelling. The wait to catch a show here won’t be long; the theater opens on Oct. 26 for the opening of the play “Until the Flood.” However, the theater has a variety of plans for the
upcoming season and offers memberships for those interested in a full year of theater.
Theo
The theater’s name is no mistake. Deriving from Greek meaning “the divine gift,” the nonequity theater transcends your standard musical experience. The cabaret aspect creates an intimate setting in their 80-seat community-based venue. Theo compiles a variety of productions for theatergoers while they enjoy a drink. The theater is currently showing “Never Better,” a show narrating the struggles of a jaded college sophomore surviving in a world weighed down by grief, loneliness and fears of the future. Tickets for this production range from $40 to $45, but more avid theater-goers are welcome to purchase a season subscription.
ElizabethLecy2027.1@u.northwestern.edu
Chicago Fashion Week features diversity, accessibility
By ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ-GONZALEZ
Chicago is renowned for its deep-dish pizza, architecture and neighborhoods, though some people forget about its fashion scene. Some Chicago Fashion Week organizers said they want to celebrate the threads that make up the city’s cloth. This fall, the 12-day fashion event will make its debut Oct. 9-20 across the Chicago area. It will take inspiration from the countless city styles and define a ‘new look’ through clothing collections, educational opportunities, awards, gala celebrations and more.
Pam Kendall, co-owner of Evanston-based boutique cloth + home, is hosting a fashion show of her own in light of the week called “Threaded Stories — A Runway Show of Distinctive Fashion” on Oct. 13. This show will highlight nine local designers, their stories and how they ended up settling in Chicago to create fashion.
“There is a tremendous amount of talent here coming from independent designers,” Kendall said.
Chicago-based designers generally produce their own clothing or source outside of Chicago. In recent years though, many Chicago-based clothing manufacturers who rely on the fashion industry for business have struggled due to many brands sourcing overseas for production, Kendall said.
Kendall said she hopes the attention of Chicago Fashion Week will shine a spotlight on the local garment production industry within the city.
Other fashion capitals that house acclaimed
fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan and Paris, all have a defining style that encapsulates the city’s aesthetic. For instance, New York has a streetwear aesthetic and London is known to be business casual.
Chicago’s style, on the other hand, is intersectional, undefined by one style, Medill senior Anna Souter said.
“I love Chicago fashion in general because there’s no one way to define it,” Souter said.
With Chicago Fashion Week approaching fast, she said it’s up to student fashion organizations, like STITCH Magazine and UNITY Charity Fashion Show, to inform students of the events.
Yet her one hope is for the fashion week to highlight the novelty of Chicago.
“Fashion Week is different in every place it exists. And so it should be unique to Chicago,” Souter said.
Medill sophomore Keya Soni Chaudhuri said many people don’t take smaller-scale fashion weeks seriously, especially compared to New York Fashion Week.
However, she said this isn’t necessarily negative.
“Chicago is a place where it’s really easy to sign up to walk for Chicago Fashion Week, to attend and just a feeling of a smaller, more accessible space for fashion folks,” Chaudhuri said.
Chaudhuri, a model for Freedom Models and Select Model Management, said it’s logical for Chicago to have a fashion week, especially because the city has a lot of commercial connections, including offices, retail stores and industrial complexes.
Chaudhuri said she hopes that marginalized communities will be recognized during the event.
“Chicago really has the opportunity to bring light to a lot of otherwise underrepresented communities, and I hope that that is something that we see this fashion week in the future,” Chaudhuri said.
alexanderhernandez-gonzalez2027@u.northwestern.edu
arts & entertainment
Editor Betsy Lecy
Assistant Editors Karina Eid Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez
Design
Editors Paloma Leone-Getten
Danny O’Grady
Illustration by Shveta Shah
Chicago Fashion Week will take place from Oct. 9-20 across the Chicagoland area.
Photo Courtesy of Basil Clunie Contributed by Time Stops Photography
Madeline King/The Daily Northwestern
Photo Courtesy to Eldridge Shannon II
Lausch embraces starting quarterback role
By JAKE EPSTEIN daily senior staffer @jakeepste1n
Northwestern redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch began his Week 3 buildup with the same mindset he established as a sophomore on Brother Rice High School’s varsity squad — prepare like the starter.
“Maybe I was the No. 2, but I was preparing like I was going to go play,” Lausch said Tuesday. “If an opportunity did come, I’d be comfortable, and I wouldn’t have to change anything.”
Lausch has worked his way up the depth chart since arriving on campus in 2022, battling for the Wildcats’ starting quarterback job since January. While he’d eventually beat out Brendan Sullivan, who transferred to Iowa in early May, coach David Braun and his staff contacted Mississippi State’s Mike Wright one day after he entered the transfer portal.
Although Braun and offensive coordinator Zach Lujan rolled with the veteran as NU’s Week 1 starter following a heated quarterback battle in camp, the coaching staff shifted course, informing Lausch he’d be handed the offensive keys against Eastern Illinois.
“(I’m) really excited to dive into the game plan and get going this week,” Lausch said ahead of his first career start. “I’m ready for the opportunity and excited to go compete with my teammates.”
For Braun, the move reflects a collaborative decision between the coaching staff. While Braun initially said he’d stick with Wright following Friday night’s 26-20 loss to Duke in double overtime, he clarified that his competitive and emotional investment in the game dictates that he doesn’t make personnel decisions in the spur of the moment.
Braun has entrusted the present and potential future in No. 12’s hands, a move signaling significant progress during Lausch’s tenure in Evanston.
“Jack, when he arrived on campus (was a) great athlete, great competitor, incredible intangibles you look for in the quarterback position — but not a ready-made Big Ten quarterback,” Braun said. “He’s done such a great job of developing in different areas, from throwing from the pocket to some of the things he can do throwing the ball on the run.”
While Lausch has officially stepped in as a starting quarterback for a Big Ten squad, his path to the collegiate gridiron was far from linear. Many presumed football wasn’t even the three-sport athlete’s top sport.
Lausch, who played football, baseball and basketball, said his multi-sport background has proven a pivotal element to his development as an athlete.
“The best practice for the fourth quarter of a football game is hitting with two outs in the seventh inning with guys on base,” Lausch said. “Just being in a competitive atmosphere helps you be a better player, regardless of the sport.”
As Lausch and Brother Rice baseball coach Sean McBride traveled south for a baseball tournament during Lausch’s junior year, Lausch’s phone began to ring off the hook.
McBride said Lausch — the No. 23 outfielder in the 2022 recruiting class and a top 250 MLB prospect — fielded calls from powerhouses like Vanderbilt, Texas and Notre Dame. Once Lausch hit a walk-off home run to defeat the nation’s No. 1-ranked squad in IMG Academy, his baseball stock soared even further.
“Every scout of every major league team was calling me every single day,” McBride said. “Even to the end, I had a few calls that last day, like, ‘Is he playing football or not? Because we’re prepared to take him pretty early.’”
Entering his senior year at Brother Rice, Lausch had received just one Division I football scholarship offer from Indiana State. He committed to Notre Dame in June 2021, where he was initially a baseball prospect — though he’d be granted a preferred-walk-on spot in football.
But, even after a condensed junior season due to COVID19 and starting just a handful of games after beginning his varsity football career at safety and punt returner, Lausch looked to put everything on the line for his true passion ahead of his senior football season.
“Obviously, there’s scouts telling him that, ‘Hey, baseball might be your way to get drafted,’” former Brother Rice football coach Brian Badke said. “But deep down, Jack wanted to be a Division I football player. I don’t think there’s a better spot in the country than for Jack Lausch to be at Northwestern, in his hometown, playing in the Big Ten.”
With one final season to put himself on the map for bigtime football programs, Lausch recorded video game numbers for Brother Rice.
The 6-foot-2 dual-threat quarterback tallied 2,447 passing yards, 1,084 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns, guiding his team to a 7A state semifinal in 2021.
“The transformation he made as a thrower, I was more than confident he could play at the next level because he’s so dynamic,” said Matt Kelly, Lausch’s offensive coordinator at Brother Rice. “He’s such a great leader… He takes ownership and responsibility and doesn’t blame anyone else.”
After garnering Chicago Sun-Times High School Football Player of the Year honors, Lausch caught former NU coach Pat Fitzgerald’s attention. On Dec. 6, 2021, the ’Cats offered Lausch a scholarship. One week later, he committed to NU.
Kelly compared his former quarterback’s status in the local community to that of a movie star. The captain of the football
and baseball teams, Lausch possesses a persona that makes people gravitate toward him, according to Kelly.
“He would stay after games and take pictures with every single kid that wanted a picture, sign every hat, football — you name it,” Kelly said. “He was a three-sport athlete, one of the top-10 students in the school, and at lunch he’d be sitting with a kid in the band or he’d be sitting with a kid in engineering… He’s never thought of himself as bigger and better than others
McBride said Lausch helps out with the school’s baseball and football camps whenever asked, and every young player in both programs looks up to the quarterback as a model to aspire toward.
“You could not be more loved or respected than he is around here,” McBride said. “I’m glowing up talking about him. He’s just a different level of person that you don’t see too often for someone that age.”
A significant contingent of friends and family attended his starting debut against the Panthers. The matchup also marked a full-circle moment between Lausch and his longtime trainer Jeff Christensen, who was the first-ever quarterback drafted out of Eastern Illinois.
“The neighborhood where he’s from is extremely proud of him because they all know how hard he worked, what he’s truly about,” Badke said. “It’s a great tribute to him and all his hard work that he’s representing the South Side of Chicago, the Catholic League. I’m tearing up because I know how he worked to get here. His time is now.”
While Lausch had thrown just 11 career passes prior to earning the starting job, he said he’s ecstatic to apply the lessons he’s learned from veterans like Ben Bryant to help the ’Cats move into a potential new era.
If all goes according to plan for Lausch, he could be Braun’s starter for more than 30 games.
“The growth that we’ve seen out of Jack Lausch, specifically from January on, has been something that leads us to have a lot of optimism for not only this week, but for the future,” Braun said.
As he embraces his newfound starting role, Lausch has found comfort in his game-week routine, studying film and tendencies as he’s done throughout his storied football journey.
An internally-motivated competitor, Lausch’s goals aren’t stat-driven — but he said he’s holding himself to a high standard this season.
“I just want to be the best player I can be, and I want to be a leader,” Lausch said. “I want to command the offense to the best of my ability, and I just want everyone to play as one and be as efficient as possible. I want to win games for this team.”
jacobepstein2026@u.northwestern.edu
Roundtable: NU football bowl prospects shaky
By GAMEDAY STAFF the daily northwestern
Northwestern entered its 2024 campaign with much promise along the shores of Lake Michigan, where it officially unveiled its temporary facility in Martin Stadium with a 13-6 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 31.
Three games later, the Wildcats (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) have reached their conference gauntlet. Amid a Week Five Bye, here is how The Daily’s Gameday Staff assesses the ’Cats’ opening slate and potential prospects.
Initial Prediction: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Key Question: Will the offense find the stability it needs to succeed?
On the defensive side of the ball, NU’s first four games have not provided any reasons for panic.
The ’Cats have held their opponents to a combined 63 points, a noteworthy decrease from the 103 points allowed through the first four games last season. NU ranks 42nd in the country in total defense, ahead of teams like Michigan and Maryland.
But, the offense provides cause for concern. After a disappointing loss to Duke, redshirt sophomore Jack Lausch took over at quarterback. While his outing against Eastern Illinois showed some promise, he did not pass the real test.
Lausch threw for 53 yards and two interceptions in
a 24-5 loss to Washington. He averaged two yards per attempt and had a 4.0 QBR. Graduate student running back Cam Porter’s injury did not do Lausch any favors, but the ’Cats had no offensive momentum throughout this game.
The ’Cats are going to have real problems in conference play if they don’t improve, fast. Clarity and consistency at the quarterback position impede a clear path to a bowl game. NU cannot solely rely on the entire defense or on Porter. The ’Cats need to use the bye week to find the answer for this offense.
— Anna Watson, Senior Staffer
Initial Prediction: 5-7 (2-7 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 3-9 (1-8 Big Ten)
Key Question: Can Zach Lujan create a successful formula to get this offense rolling?
Although increased expectations surrounded this squad heading into the year, an even split of two wins and two losses isn’t abnormal.
The ’Cats have had an up-and-down roller coaster of a ride. Although coach David Braun and his squad sit at .500, it’s apparent that the on-field showing hasn’t been too promising.
The exposure of where the struggles lie came in a distasteful 24-5 loss to Washington, as NU totaled just 112 yards of offense while only throwing for 53 yards.
Give credit where credit is due. Porter and graduate student wide receiver A.J. Henning have been stellar. It’s inconsistency at quarterback that hasn’t been kind to first-year offensive coordinator Zach Lujan, who has
struggled to find a formula for an offensive attack in his first four games of FBS football.
The upcoming bye week gives the ’Cats a chance to bounce back, but the hole they’ve found themselves in seems far too deep to get out of in a chance to clinch bowl eligibility.
— Blake McQueary, Reporter
Initial Prediction: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 3-9 (1-8 Big Ten)
Key Question: Can the Wildcats’ offense wake up before it’s too late?
Braun had his hands full coming into his second stint at the helm. With the ’Cats coming off their first bowl appearance in three years, it appears the expectations may have been unrealistic with the amount of question marks that surrounded the team, especially under center.
While Lausch has found more success than his teammate Mike Wright, who was benched after just two games, it still has not been nearly enough to foresee a bowl appearance this season for NU. Two interceptions and 53 yards passing is just not going to cut it.
The defense has looked stout under defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle, but the ’Cats will find themselves as one of the bottom feeders in the conference unless the offense wakes up and does it soon.
But if this transformation does not come following the bye week, it’s hard to imagine the ’Cats picking up more than one or two games in the Big Ten.
Braun and Lujan will need to work their magic in
the coming weeks, or the ’Cats will begin a new stretch of postseason-less football.
— Brendan Lunga, Reporter
Initial Prediction: 6-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Key Question: Can the offense get the ball in the hands of playmakers like Cam Porter, Bryce Kirtz and A.J. Henning?
The season’s outlook has quickly flipped on its axis.
Although NU boasts a 2-2 record, the rest of season projection for the team isn’t optimistic. As the ’Cats visited Seattle for Washington’s first Big Ten game in program history, the Huskies dismantled the visitors on both sides of the football en route to a 24-5 victory.
NU’s quarterback situation isn’t the most stable, either. The Wright experience lasted merely two games, while Lausch has only played one-half of above-average play through his two appearances.
Porter has played the best football of his career through his three appearances, averaging over five yards per carry. Graduate student wide receiver Bryce Kirtz, on the other hand, needs more touches.
The defense, led by Xander Mueller, has shined brighter than the offense.
But the secondary has not been excellent, allowing two long touchdown passes against Washington. With myriad flaws and holes on the roster, as well as a difficult Big Ten schedule, going bowling appears a tall task.
— Charlie Spungin, Data Visualizations Editor
Initial Prediction: 7-5 (4-5 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Key Question: What steps must be taken to replicate last year’s final stretch?
Braun is no stranger to starting .500 through the season’s first four games. For the second consecutive year, Northwestern has started with an even record after four weeks.
The difference between last year’s ’Cats squad and this year’s: a capable, pro-ready starter in Ben Bryant versus an inexperienced, developing starter in Lausch. It doesn’t help that the strength of NU’s schedule is ballooning as the season progresses. As the current AP poll stands, the ’Cats will face five programs either ranked or receiving votes: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State and Illinois. ESPN’s remaining strength of schedule index values NU with the 31st-hardest remaining schedule of 134 eligible FBS programs. The ’Cats defense has proved itself a worthy competitor in the newly-aligned Big Ten. Through four games, the team has caught four interceptions.
But if NU has any hopes of finishing strong, the offense must ignite. Lujan must find a way for the ball to get into the hands of Henning and Porter.
Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
Initial Prediction: 6-6 (4-5 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Key Question: Can Jack Lausch develop into a long-term option at quarterback?
With new offensive and defensive play-callers and a fresh face at starting quarterback, there were always going to be growing pains for NU. Two wins and two losses was never an unlikely spot Braun’s team would occupy at this juncture, but the on-field product outweighs the record.
Behind Mueller, the front seven has been as good as advertised — sometimes even better. While poor tackling and secondary holes reared their ugly head against the Huskies, NU’s defense has developed into a consistent bright spot.
Redshirt sophomore defensive end Anto Saka has developed into a lethal weapon whenever he’s thrust into passing downs.
Porter and Henning have shown flashes of brilliance — and the offensive line held up for the first three weeks — but the ’Cats continue to search for consistency. Wright didn’t pan out, and Lausch needs more trust in his arm to compete in the Big Ten.
While NU possesses a key opportunity to recalibrate during the bye week, the road to bowl eligibility appears far steeper than initially anticipated.
Jake Epstein, Gameday Editor
Initial Prediction: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Updated Prediction: 4-8 (2-7 Big Ten)
Key Question: Can the defense keep Northwestern in games?
The biggest question for NU is the quarterback — both Lausch and Wright have not shown the ability to win games against higher competition. Assuming the ’Cats stick with Lausch, his development is central. But, in the meantime, the main way NU can win games is behind elite play from their defense. But, the defense can’t keep NU in games without improvements in the secondary. Washington quarterback Will Rogers had his way in the passing game against the ’Cats, passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and the secondary looked outmatched. It won’t get easier. The ’Cats will face some of the top quarterbacks in the conference, including Ohio State’s Will Howard, Maryland’s Billy Edwards Jr. and Illinois’ Luke Altmyer. Jake Mozarsky, Reporter
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
From page 1
13%, while the percentage of American Indian or Alaska Native students increased from 2% to 2.4%.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action, the University rolled out a set of new changes to its application last September.
Most notably, the perennial “Why Northwestern” section was removed and replaced with a 300-word prompt that asks students about their identities and backgrounds and how it affects their engagement with the NU community.
Students were also given the option to answer five additional questions that ask them to share how they see themselves getting involved in different aspects of campus life.
“Although the Supreme Court decision impacts the use of race in admissions, it does not affect the University’s ability to define our mission and values, including the importance of diversity and inclusion,” said Stacey Kostell, NU’s vice president and dean of enrollment, in the Tuesday news release.
A day before the release of its admission data, NU was placed No. 6 in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual National Universities rankings, tied with the California Institute of Technology, Duke University and Johns Hopkins University. NU’s admission results appear to run opposite to those of several other elite universities, which experienced declines in underrepresented minority enrollment.
“Our commitments to expansive outreach, innovative and student-centered recruitment practices, holistic admissions review and
MARCH
From page 1
can’t help out anymore because of heart problems.
“Housekeeping is a strong job, and I feel pain everywhere,” Arreguin said. “I feel pain everywhere in my back, in my hands. That’s why I’m strong to fight for my benefits, insurance and everything.”
Union organizers also provided updates to their most recent round of negotiations, which also occurred on Tuesday. They announced that Compass has only offered them an 80-cent increase in their wages — which is far from what many workers
widening college access reflect Northwestern’s values,” University President Michael Schill said in the news release.
In August, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced a drop-off in the percentage of Black, Hispanic and Native American students in the incoming class from about 25% to 16%. Black student enrollment specifically dropped from 15% to 5%, and Hispanic student enrollment dropped from 16% to 11%.
Harvard University also reported an overall decrease in minority groups with this year’s freshman class. The percentage of Black or African American students in their class dropped from 18% to 14%. Those identifying as Native American decreased from 2% to 1%.
However, the percentage of Hispanic and Latine students went up from 14% to 16% from last year’s data.
Similar to NU, Duke University reported an increase in the percentage of Hispanic or Latine students from 13% to 14%. Duke saw an increase in Native American, American Indian, Native Alaskan or Native Hawaiian from 1.2% last year to 1.3% this year. The percentage of Black or African American students remained at 13%.
NU results also extend beyond race and ethnicity, including an increase in the number of Pell Grants awarded to the freshman class and a rise in first-generation students at the university.
Among this year’s freshmen, 16% are first-generation college students and 22% have received Pell Grants. Both percentages are an increase from the 15% of first-generation students and 20% of Pell Grant recipients from the previous year.
The finalized numbers for the class of 2028 makeup will be available in 10 days.
janellemella2027@u.northwestern.edu
have asked for.
Valentina Espinoza, who’s also worked at the Allen Center for more than two decades, said her job is “physical” and each day is “difficult to get by.”
All she wishes is that the workers, many of whom have worked for decades at the center, continue to work at NU.
“I was devastated because I knew what was going to happen,” Espinoza said. “Many will have to go to different locations. I think the University can support us — they have to give us the opportunity to work here.”
jerrywu2027@u.northwestern.edu
BELL TO BELL
From page 1
classes were in the past,” Foster said. “There is a trade-off with that, but I’m happy to see more communicating with each other.”
Foster used a phone storage unit in his classrooms, a “non-negotiable” rule, prior to them being implemented schoolwide. He said students in his emergent world language biology course were only allowed to use their phones for communication and translation purposes.
With the new policy, these students use Google Translate on their Chromebooks and a World Language Department iPad to take photos of text and have them translated, he said.
With the “Bell-to-Bell, No Cell” policy, Foster said he has seen more students on their phones during passing periods — some owning two phones — and playing games on their Chromebooks during class and breaks.
Campbell said the district has banned entertainment sites like Hulu but that students have found ways of working around the restrictions.
Decisions that went into the policymaking process were supported by national research,
TACO BELL
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of Northwestern students that they really liked the Taco Bell that was in the area in the past, and I know students are very excited for it to come back,” Vick said.
Magill said the closure of the previous Evanston Taco Bell was unrelated to its profit. The location was doing well, but the franchise manager wanted to consolidate locations, he said. He thinks that the chain is coming back to downtown Evanston to try out its cantina model.
Taco Bell’s cantinas have open kitchens and offer alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, sangria and alcoholic Taco Bell Freezes.
“There aren’t many places where people can have a drink in Evanston, especially that are open late,” said Weinberg senior Serena Mehta.
Chandani is particularly enthusiastic about the restaurant being a Taco Bell because “there’s nothing like that first bite of the Cheesy Gordita Crunch,” he said.
“If I’m up super late and I get hungry, I have to
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
what other schools have done and an ETHS teachers working group, said ETHS principal Taya Kinzie. She added that the school’s goal was to be responsive to students’ academic and social emotional needs.
Prior to this year, ETHS’ phone policy addressed phones being used only with teacher permission. Students did not always abide by this policy and used their phones throughout the class period, Kinzie said.
Under this policy, Spanish Literature teacher Fernando Campos said he did not run into any problems because he had an understanding with his students. However, he said he “welcomed” the new policy because it decreased distractions in the classroom.
ETHS French teacher Grace Romanelli said she is “very, very happy” with the new policy but acknowledged that having a 100% compliance rate is difficult. She said she sometimes sees students in the bathroom with their phones during class time.
“Having your own phone from day one, from a young age, is the status quo these days,” Romanelli said. “It takes some education to learn how not to become addicted.”
anaviprakash2027@u.northwestern.edu
order DoorDash, which is really terrible for my wallet because of delivery fees and tipping the driver,” Chandani said.
When Magill began working with Taco Bell again, he was concerned about the impact on the neighborhood, which boasts a number of authentic, local Mexican restaurants. Ultimately, it decided that Taco Bell Cantina’s food and alcohol service is a specific niche that had yet to be filled, Magill said.
Most of the Mexican restaurants in the area opened while Taco Bell was still there, Vick said. He thinks there is plenty of room for options and that it is good for there to be a variety.
The property is still “pending inspections,” according to Friday’s City Manager’s Report.
“There are a lot fewer workers coming in on a daily basis to downtown, which has made it difficult for restaurants to stay open,” Vick said. “But hopefully, for every business that closes, we’ll open two new ones and eventually we’ll be back to a full downtown.”
naomitaxay2027@u.northwestern.edu
Schill received $400,000 in 4 months, returns show
By JACOB WENDLER daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler
University President Michael Schill earned $405,139 in calendar year 2022, according to tax returns filed by Northwestern.
With a $349,855 base salary between September 2022 — when Schill took office — and December 2022, Schill received about onethird as much as his predecessor, who made $1.2 million in base compensation in calendar year 2022.
That figure is on par with the salaries of other presidents of elite private universities. All 10 of the top-ranked private universities on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best National University Rankings paid their top leaders between $1 million and $2 million in base pay in 2022, barring the University of Pennsylvania, whose former President Liz Magill took over in July 2022 and earned $723,000 in her first year as president.
Former University President Morton Schapiro took home $4.9 million in calendar year 2022, with nearly $1 million in bonuses and incentive compensation as well as about $2.4 million in “other reportable compensation” from the University, making him one of the highest paid presidents of a private university in the county. That number significantly surpassed Schapiro’s $3 million paycheck in 2021, despite the fact that he departed NU in September 2022.
According to NU’s 990, the annual approval process for the compensation of top administrators included a review by an independent committee of the Board and a third-party consultant. Still, Schapiro was not the highest paid employee of the University in 2022. Former football coach Pat Fitzgerald took that spot for the seventh consecutive year, with $6 million in total compensation. Fitzgerald filed a lawsuit against the University for more than $130 million last year after he was let go by NU following allegations of hazing in the football program during his tenure.
Head Basketball Coach Chris Collins earned about $3.3 million, while former Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Derrick Gragg — who recently transitioned to a newly created
athletics advisory role — made $1.4 million. Ten other University employees took home six figures in 2022, including Vice President Chief Investment Officer Amy Falls, former
Vice President of Alumni Relations & Development Bob McQuinn, University Provost Kathleen Hagerty and three faculty members. A University spokesperson declined to comment on the compensation of administrators.
jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu
University President Michael Schill addresses a crowd at Parent & Family Orientation 2024. His
leaders, according to public tax filings.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
SPORTS
Fall sports roundup: Northwestern nds rhythm
By THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN SPORTS DESK
the daily northwestern
ough classes just started, the Northwestern athletics schedule is already in full swing, with eleven programs either midway through the season or preparing to start.
Here’s a quick overview of each sport om the Daily Northwestern’s sports desk, as well as the next opportunity to obtain points for the football and basketball ticketing system. roughout the quarter, we invite you to follow along with our up-to-date and in-depth coverage of each program.
We look forward to covering these great teams this season. ere are plenty of storylines: a eld hockey team striving for its second NCAA championship, a new head coach guiding the volleyball team, a trip to St. Andrews, Scotland for the men’s golf team and so much more.
When you head to an athletic event, look for us up in the press box. We’ll be there.
— Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
Field Hockey:
No. 2 Northwestern has leaped to an undefeated start, dominating its nonconference slate and opening Big Ten play with a bang.
A year removed from a heartbreaking shootout loss in the 2023 National Championship to No. 1 North Carolina, the Wildcats (8-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are on a collision course for a rematch with the Tar Heels this November in the nal stage. rough NU’s eight wins, it has outscored opponents 21-1.
Senior mid elder Maddie Zimmer and sophomore forward Ashley Sessa — who transferred from North Carolina to NU last fall — return alongside head coach Tracey Fuchs from a Parisian summer spent competing for Team USA in the Summer Olympics. Annabel Skubisz, the 2023 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, returns in net for the ’Cats. So does First Team All-American mid elder Lauren Wadas.
Women’s Soccer:
Northwestern women’s soccer has started this season the same way they did last year’s: a strong nonconference slate and a poor start to Big Ten play.
two matches in a row, 1-3 and 2-3. ings didn’t pick up during NU’s home opener against Notre Dame or their rematch in
to the program for day one, as he and Nordby rank No. 62 on the preseason ITA doubles rankings.
The Wildcats (5-5-1, 0-3 Big Ten) kicked o the season with an impressive victory over Boston University and defeated No. 17 Virginia Tech.
NU, however, has had a di cult run in the Big Ten, losing all three of its matchups so far. e Wildcats have been outscored 5-1 in these matches. Despite outshooting Purdue 20-7 in their rst conference matchup, the ’Cats lost 2-0.
But with Northern Illinois in town last week, the ’Cats found a groove, defeating the Huskies in straight sets for the rst win
pionships last year as a freshman.
NU lost its latest game, a road matchup with State on Sunday, up two late goals. matchups have been close losses. Northwestern has 65 shots on goal and only scored 13 goals this season, a gure that puts them near the bo om of the Big Ten.
Most of NU’s o ensive production comes from rst-year forward Kennedy Roesch, who has scored a team-high four goals and bagged one assist. Senior defender Emma Phillips anchors the back line. Graduate student mid elder Josie Aulicino, the set-piece specialist, and junior mid elder Caterina Regazzoni — who represented the Switzerland national team at this summer’s UEFA European Women’s Championship quali ers — will be instrumental for the ’Cats down the stretch.
this summer’s UEFA European Women’s
It’s all Big Ten play remaining for the ’Cats. On ursday, NU will take on a Maryland team that is also 0-3 in conference play, presenting a good chance for the ’Cats to score their rst conference win of the season.
NU with 31 blocks and 1.22 e ’Cats will head into Big Ten play ursday at Maryland.
7 p.m.
— Anna Watson, Senior Sta er
NEXT HOME GAME: vs. Maryland, Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, ursday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m.
Women’s Tennis: Coach Claire Pollard is leading Northwestern into the 2024-25 season fresh o her 24th NCAA tournament appearance.
Visualizations Editor
the NIT Championship, where round. fall season opens with
year in the 200-yard race. Sophomore Diego Nosack swam in the 400-meter individual medley event in the NCAA ChamOn the women’s side, the departure of Ayla Spitz, who set the school record in the 500-meter freestyle last year, will sting. Director of Swimming and Diving Rachel Stra on-Mills enters her second season coaching both the men’s and women’s programs. Each team will kick o their season against Miami (Ohio) at the Norris Aquatics Center — located within Henry Crown Sports Pavilion — on Oct. 12.
NEXT HOME MEET: vs. Miami (Ohio), Norris Aquatics Center, Satur-
Following a third-place Big Ten Championship nish and a trip to the NCAA Championships, Northwestern women’s golf returns to the links this fall with the hopes of reaching the NCAA Champion-
ship nals for the 11th time.
e ’Cats enter the year ranked No. 8 in the country by Golfweek and No. 10 in the
Ten matches remain for NU this season. Six of them will be played at Lakeside Field in Evanston; the next home match is Friday, Oct. 4 against Rutgers.
e ’Cats are traveling to College Park, Maryland, this week to take on the No. 5-ranked Terrapins. Maryland is 5-2 this year, but NU defeated them 5-1 in last year’s matchup.
— Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
NEXT HOME GAME: vs. Rutgers, Lakeside Field, Friday, Oct. 4, 3 p.m.
Men’s Soccer:
Northwestern began its season on a tear, securing a 4-0 start for the rst time in program history. In his fourth year at the helm, coach Russell Payne led his squad to a 5-1 nonconference record. e team conceded just one goal from the run of play during that span, which came in a 1-0 defeat at No. 4 Western Michigan.
However, the Wildcats (5-3, 0-2 Big Ten) have hit a lull as conference play begins, dropping two consecutive Big Ten matches to UCLA and Washington.
e ’Cats have scored just two goals in their past ve games, and the graduate transfer forward duo of Akinjide Awujo and addaeus Dewing has yet to nd the back of the net.
To reach her 25th, she’ll be relying on a e Wildcats’ top three players from last season — Maria Shusharina, who was a unanimous All-Big Ten Team selection, Justine Leong and Christina Hand — all graduated. Leong and Hand were NU’s top doubles team and nished the year ranked the No. 61 pairing in the nation.
NEXT HOME
Meanwhile, NU’s defense has appeared elite thus far. Behind junior center back Nigel Prince and graduate student center back Reese Mayer, the ’Cats have posted three clean sheets this season. Junior goalkeeper Rafael Ponce de León has been the starting netminder and has improved with each game.
— Jake Epstein, Gameday
Editor
NU will look for its rst conference victory Friday night against Maryland in Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. e ’Cats knocked o the Terrapins in College Park last season, and they’ll need to start stacking results with eight Big Ten matches remaining.
NEXT HOME GAME: vs. Maryland, Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.
Volleyball: Northwestern Ten play (2-6, 0-0 Big Ten) to a myriad of o -season changes, including adding e ’Cats
MATCH: The ’Cats are on the road all fall.
e mainstays at the No. 4 and No. 5 singles slots for NU were seniors Sydney Pra and Kiley Rabjohns, who are both expected to take steps forward in the
In addition, graduate student Britany Lau, who largely played No. 6 singles and No. 2 doubles alongside Shusharina, will return for her sixth
Four new Wildcats, including one of last year’s top Division III players Katya Shepherd Johnson and prolevel player Mika Dagan Fruchtman, bring a boatload of promise to the NU kicks o its fall season with the Notre Dame Invite on October
Men’s
— Charlie Spungin, Data Visu-
NEXT HOME MATCH: e ’Cats are on the road
Cross Country:
A er narrowly missing out on an automatic NCAA Championship bid last year, Northwestern is poised to remain in national conversation a er a strong start to its 2024 campaign.
e Wildcats are returning key runners and have already made a statement with top-three team nishes in each of their rst three meets, including a dominant team victory at the Big Ten Preview 6k, where they outpaced No.19 Wisconsin.
Senior Ava Earl led the charge with a third-place 20:17.3 nish that sha ered her personal best by seven seconds.
Graduate student Holly Smith, sophomore Ava Crinti, graduate student Chloe Wellings and junior Skye Ellis all nished in the top 20 and set new personal records of their own, highlighting the team’s depth.
Senior Lauryn Nguyen, the sixth golfer in NU history to be named All-American by both WGCA and Golfweek, returns to the ’Cats as a dominant number one. Nguyen enters the year named as a Preseason All-American by Golf Channel and Golfweek. Sophomore Ashley Yun was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year last year and will be a weapon for coach Emily Fletcher ree new freshmen join the squad this fall: Megan Meng, Elise Lee and Hsin Tai Lin. Lee made her collegiate debut in the Women’s Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by Vanderbilt, this past weekend. e ’Cats placed third on the leaderboard in that tournament.
e ’Cats host their annual Windy City Collegiate Classic in Wilme e next Monday and Tuesday.
— Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
NEXT HOME TOURNAMENT*: Windy City Collegiate Classic, Wilme e, Sept. 30–Oct. 1
Men’s Golf:
A year removed from the program’s first Big Ten title since 2006, coach David Inglis’ squad has only added two newcomers: graduate transfer Aidan Kramer and Irish freshman Mark Gazi.
The group’s performance vaulted them to the top spot in the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings for the rst time in program history, overtaking Oklahoma State.
NU’s schedule features several key meets, starting with the Nu ycombe Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday.
e ’Cats have participated in two tournaments so far, placing 11th of 13 at the Sahalee Players Championship, hosted by Washington, and nishing 13th of 15 at the Fighting Illini Invitational, hosted by Illinois.
Coming off a season where Northwestern n- ished seventh in the Big Ten with a 3-6 conference coach Arvid Swan’s squad is looking for an improved result this season.
e Wildcats are losing their top two singles players from last season, Presley ieneman and Gleb Blehker.
e ’Cats will wrap up their regular season at the Bradley Pink Classic before gearing up for the Big Ten Championships on Nov. 1. With the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 in sight, the ’Cats will look to maintain early-season momentum as they travel into Badger territory later this week.
— Audrey Pachuta, Senior Sta er
NEXT HOME MEET: e ’Cats are on the road all fall, but they do run in Loyola Chicago’s Lakefront Invitational on Friday, Oct. 4.
Swimming And Diving:
Expect junior Daniel Svärd, who was the individual Big Ten Champion in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, to be a key player on the roster. Junior Ethan Tseng matched the 18-hole program record of eight-under-par during a tournament last year and should continue to deliver strong results.
NU is traveling to the historic St. Andrews in Scotland the week of Oct. 14 to tackle the St. Andrews Links Collegiate. e tournament will be held on the Old Lady — St. Andrews’ Old Course, believed to be the oldest golf course in the world.
For now, the ’Cats are preparing for their home invitational, the Windon Memorial Classic, which will take place on Sunday and Monday.
Graduate student Saiprakash Goli and senior Felix Nordby lead NU as its top returners, having played at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles slots last season. Freshman Vincent Yang brings promise
Northwestern swimming and diving boasts an Olympian this year. Sophomore David Gerchik swam for Israel in the 200meter backstroke in Paris this summer. Gerchik, a backstroke specialist, placed third at the Big Ten Championships last
— Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
Sept. 29–30
Classic on
— Charlie
— Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
Women’s Golf: