The Daily Northwestern Friday, September 29, 2017
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
THE WEEKLY
Scan to listen to The Daily’s news podcast
Find us online @thedailynu 12 SPORTS/Women’s Soccer
Wildcats complete comeback in Indiana
Rauner to sign abortion measure
Students object to casting choice Open letter claims show’s callback list lacks representation By MADDIE BURAKOFF
daily senior staffer @madsburk
After Arts Alliance released the callback list for its fall mainstage show “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” two students penned an open letter claiming the list was “racially irresponsible” and lacked Asian American representation. The controversy centers on one of the musical’s main characters, Marcy Park. Communication senior Shea Lee, one of the letter’s authors, said the role is traditionally played by an East Asian woman — but none received a callback for the part. Lee, who is half Chinese, said she auditioned for the show and sees Park as a rare example of a “well-rounded” character meant for an Asian actor. “It’s hard enough to convince directors to give us a chance on roles that aren’t indicated as for Asian women,” Lee said. Yianni Kinnas, the show’s director, said the script does not specify
a race for Park’s role. Though the original Broadway cast included a Korean woman in the role, the show’s licensing company, Music Theater International, removed all race specifications for the cast when it was licensed for other productions, the Communication senior said. “My interpretation of the character, and overall for this script, is about the toxicity of competition,” Kinnas said. “That is a story and a narrative that is inherently relatable to any person of the Northwestern community, regardless of race or background.” In the letter, Lee and Communication senior Nina Jayashankar asked Arts Alliance to cast “a woman or nonbinary person of Asian American heritage” as Park. The letter, which Lee said had about 200 signatures as of Thursday night, said there is a “disturbing lack of actors of color” on the callback list. Kinnas said he thinks two or three East Asian women auditioned for the role of Park. He said the number of people of color on the full callback list was “proportional” to the number who auditioned. In response to the letter, the » See CALLBACKS, page 8
By RISHIKA DUGYALA
daily senior staffer @rdugyala822
to the city at a Human Services Committee meeting in July and aims to establish equity as the highest priority for City Council. It aims to engage city staff in equity training and asks staff to
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced Thursday his decision to sign an abortion bill, one he promised in April to veto to appease party conservatives. Rauner’s initial stance wavered after pushback from state Democrats and advocacy groups. In a news release, he said while he understands and respects the opinions on both sides, women — especially poor women — should be able make their own choices. “I have also spent a lot of time meeting with women across Illinois and listening to their personal stories, particularly lowincome women who do not have the same luxuries that many of us have,” Rauner said. “Their stories and their struggles are real and they have touched me in a very personal way. They deserve to have a choice as much as anyone else.” The bill will ensure access to legal and safe abortions in Illinois should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn its ruling in Roe v. Wade. The legislation would also repeal provisions limiting health care options for women covered under Medicare and in-state worker health plans. Rauner said his current position is not new; he campaigned with an acknowledged support for abortion rights in 2014. With re-election nearing, Rauner returned to his campaign promise, angering conservatives counting on his veto. According to the Chicago Tribune, some immediately denounced his decision to sign the bill. Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti said in a news release Thursday that as an anti-abortion Republican, she disagreed with Rauner’s decision to sign the bill. “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for a 15-year-old refugee who chose to have me and keep me,” Sanguinetti said. “I realize this bill is a political ploy to divide the people of Illinois. While I disagree with the Governor on this, we must focus on our areas of agreement — enacting real reforms we need to turn Illinois around.”
» See EQUITY, page 8
» See RAUNER, page 8
Erica Snow/Daily Senior Staffer
The Cook County Criminal Courts Administration Building, next to the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Ex-Feinberg Prof. Wyndham Lathem and co-defendant Andrew Warren both pleaded not guilty on all counts of first-degree murder Thursday.
Lathem shows in court Former Feinberg professor enters not guilty plea By ALLYSON CHIU and ERICA SNOW daily senior staffers @_allysonchiu @ericasnoww
CHICAGO — Former Feinberg Prof. Wyndham Lathem and co-defendant Andrew Warren both pleaded not guilty on all counts of firstdegree murder Thursday during
separate arraignments. Lathem and Warren were each charged Sept. 15 with six separate counts of first-degree murder for allegedly killing Trenton Cornell-Duranleau as part of what prosecutors called a premeditated murder-sex fantasy. Both men appeared in person to accept the charges and enter pleas at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building. When reading the charges, Cook County Circuit Judge Ursula Walowski said the state is seeking extended sentences
for both men due to the “cold, calculated and premeditated manner” of the alleged crime. The state is also seeking an extended sentence on the grounds that the “offense was accompanied by exceptionally brutal and heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty,” Walowski said. Both men, if found guilty, could face 20 years to life in prison. During a bond court hearing in August, prosecutors said » See LATHEM, page 8
Evanston officials take action on equity goals By NIKKI BAIM
the daily northwestern @nikkibaim22
Officials presented ongoing initiatives to integrate an “equity lens” across Evanston schools at the City-School Liaison Committee meeting Thursday. This school year, Evanston Township High School/District 202 launched a research program in which teachers shadow students of color, while Evanston/Skokie School District 65 began participating in a Beyond Diversity program — a two-day workshop that helps participants address diversity issues. The actions follow years of discussion about equity problems in Evanston, many of which focused on reports of a wide achievement gap across both school districts. As of spring 2015, 20 percent of black ETHS students
met college readiness benchmarks compared to 86 percent of white students, according to the superintendent’s 2015-16 joint achievement report. Of those who started kindergarten in fall 2014, 33 percent of black students were at or above the state benchmark in literacy skills compared to 75 percent of white students. District 202 school board president Pat Savage-Williams said “every institution, every district, every agency, needs to take a look at what they’re doing” to properly apply an equity lens. “Every piece of data we have, every time we look at the data, the black males are at the bottom,” she said. “I really have to applaud the administration for taking that on in a very serious way, looking at how to support black males academically, emotionally, looking at our achievement, looking at discipline and that comes out of the work.”
On Wednesday, 20 ETHS teachers shadowed students of color through a full day of classes, said Pete Bavis, assistant superintendent of curriculum at District 202. The selected students all volunteered, he said. Bavis said the purpose is to inform teachers what students of color experience daily. He added that the teachers will debrief with facilitators next week. In District 65, superintendent Paul Goren said nearly 220 teachers, administrators and staff members signed up for diversity training. Goren said the district also revamped its hiring process to include an equity lens in questions for prospective employees. “We’re honing down on the pipeline of teachers of color,” he said. “We’re using an equity lens on decision making and bringing that forward thinking of impact.” The city is also taking steps to expand the equity discussion
Allie Goulding/Daily Senior Staffer
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 superintendent Paul Goren speaks at Thursday’s City-School Liaison Committee meeting. Officials presented ways school districts and the city have been taking action on equity.
beyond the two school districts. Patricia Efiom, Evanston’s equity and empowerment coordinator, said the city’s Equity and Empowerment Commission will present its “strategic plan” at the Oct. 9 City Council meeting. The plan was first presented
gigio's pizzeria Evanston's Oldest Pizzeria
10% OFF with WildCard
Order online & get rewards www.gigiospizzaev.com 1001 Davis St, Evanston (847) 328-0990
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 10 | Sports 12