The Daily Northwestern Friday, October 6, 2017
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NU launches STEM textbooks program Loans will go to low-income, first-year students By ERICA SNOW
daily senior staffer @ericasnoww
Alec Carroll/The Daily Northwestern
Medill senior Louisa Wyatt, Director of Sports Journalism J.A. Adande and Mara Brock Akil speak at McCormick Foundation Center on Thursday. When Adande met Brock Akil, he said she was “just a girl from Kansas City” wearing overalls.
‘Girlfriends’ creator gets award
Mara Brock Akil (Medill ’92) honored for TV production success By LAUREN BELL
the daily northwestern
When Mara Brock Akil (Medill ’92) first met Medill Prof. J.A. Adande (Medill ’92) during their new student orientation meeting, Adande said she was “just a girl from Kansas
City” wearing overalls. “What strikes me about it is I remember when we were in college and we went to a Bulls game and we literally were at the top of Chicago Stadium,” he said. “(Now we’re) courtside among all the celebrities at the Staples Center, and I thought about how far we both had
come.” Now, Brock Akil –– creator of the show “Girlfriends,” which ran for eight seasons on UPN and The CW –– is being honored for her success in TV production. Brock Akil received the Medill Hall of Achievement award at the McCormick Foundation Center Forum on
Thursday and later spoke with Adande about her career and diversity in the media to an audience of about 50 people. Brock Akil will also receive the Northwestern Alumni Medal from the Northwestern Alumni Association during » See AKIL, page 12
Northwestern launched a pilot program this quarter to loan firstyear students textbooks related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes, Provost Jonathan Holloway said. Holloway said about a month ago, he approved a proposal brought to him by the Office of Undergraduate Admission. He said he approved the program, Books for Cats, so students could have textbooks at the beginning of the quarter instead of delaying purchases and potentially falling behind in classes. He said the program allows low-income students to pursue STEM fields on an even playing field. “We’ve admitted them,” Holloway said. “They are now a part of this community, and we are ethically obliged to make sure that they have every resource they can so that they can have as close to an equitable access to (their) future.” Holloway said the Office of Undergraduate Admission contacted 351 students to notify them of their potential eligibility for the program.
Brian Drabik, senior associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid, said STEM textbooks can be very expensive and a burden to lowincome students. He said students can borrow textbooks for various subjects including chemistry, economics and math from the University and pick them up in the bookstore at Norris University Center. While Books for Cats focuses on “key, introductory” classes, Drabik said students can keep the textbooks into following quarters if they are still needed. “Especially for incoming students ... having assistance with their startup costs is so essential,” Drabik said. “Many times, lowincome students may come to campus not as prepared as they thought they may have been, so I imagine that this will alleviate a lot of stress for these students.” Communication sophomore Kimani Isaac said even though there are opportunities at NU to lower textbook costs for first-year students, there aren’t many for older students like herself. She said she created a petition calling on the University to support textbook affordability. As of early Friday morning, more than 530 people had signed the petition, addressed to Holloway, vice president for student affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin and University » See BOOKS, page 13
NU contemplates Affordable housing project to proceed calendar changes By NIKKI BAIM
Altered schedule could lengthen Spring vacation By ALLY MAUCH
the daily northwestern @allymauch
The University is considering changes to the academic calendar that could involve shortening the length of Fall Quarter and increasing the length of Spring Break, Provost Jonathan Holloway said. Holloway said these changes, including creating a “more humane Fall Quarter,”
would have to be “put in place” by Dec. 1 in order for them to take effect during the 2019-20 academic year. Faculty have discussed possible calendar changes since the 2015 Faculty Task Force on the Undergraduate Academic Experience found that the current academic calendar puts students at risk for mental exhaustion. “I’m very attuned to the fact that calendar stress is real,” Holloway told The Daily on Thursday. “I fully understand the need to rest — you burn hot for 10 weeks and we’ve got
the daily northwestern @nikkibaim22
Housing Opportunities for Women will proceed with its Dempster Street affordable housing development despite the city’s decision to reject the organization’s funding proposal, said Savannah Clement, Evanston’s housing policy and planning analyst. At a Housing, Homelessness and Human Relations Commission meeting Thursday, Clement said the organization sought 10 percent of its funding from the city. The rest of the development would be supported by the Illinois
» See CALENDAR, page 12
» See HOW, page 12
Katie Pach/Daily Senior Staffer
Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) at a City Council equity training. Revelle and other members of the Housing, Homelessness and Human Relations Commission discussed the Dempster Street affordable housing development at a Thursday meeting.
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