The Daily Northwestern — October 12, 2023 by The Daily Northwestern

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Thursday, October 12, 2023

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Media Day

2 CITY/Mensch’s

4 OPINION/Schieber

Collins, players discuss expectations for season

Trio owners of Mensch’s Deli to open brick and mortar location this spring

I grew up in the same locker rooms as Fitzgerald

High 59 Low 53

Indigenous Peoples’ Day sparks reflection Mitchell Museum celebration sees record attendance By LILY CAREY

daily senior staffer @lilylcarey

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal

NU Cheerleaders at Northwestern Football’s game against Penn State University on Sept. 30 at Ryan Field. Former cheerleader Hayden Richardson sued the University for alleged forced labor and sex trafficking in 2021.

NU disputes cheerleading lawsuit Defendants deny forced labor and sex trafficking allegations By JACOB WENDLER

daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler

Content warning: this story contains mentions of physical

harassment and sexual assault. Northwestern and four former employees denied allegations of forced labor and sex trafficking by former cheerleader Hayden Richardson in

separate court filings Tuesday. NU argued that the University “promptly and effectively addressed the concerns Richardson raised in 2019 and in 2020” and claimed that the concerns raised by Richardson in

2019 and 2020 did not specify sexual misconduct to the extent her lawsuit details. Former Spirit Squad Coordinator Pamela Bonnevier, former

» See RICHARDSON II, page 6

Kathleen and Jason Hardy (Medill ‘95) stood beside a touch table at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, watching their 10-year-old daughter Aislyn play with replicas of artifacts from the Cherokee Nation. The family makes a point to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day every year, they said, to honor Kathleen’s Cherokee heritage. Kathleen Hardy said it hasn’t always been easy to find Indigenous representation and events for the community. Amid the clamor of families exploring the Mitchell Museum on Monday, she said she saw a greater acknowledgement of Indigenous communities. “Since the Standing Rock protest, protecting water rights, a lot of Indigenous people are, I think, experiencing a moment right now … (of) a lot of media exposure, and just elevating their voices and the lives of the people,” Kathleen Hardy said. Kathleen, Jason and Aislyn Hardy were three of over 300

attendees at the Mitchell Museum’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. For the past several years, the museum has offered free admission and tours of its exhibits on the holiday, inviting Indigenous vendors to sell their goods at the museum. First celebrated in the United States in 1992, Indigenous Peoples’ Day typically falls on the second Monday of October and celebrates the heritage of Indigenous American peoples and their cultures. The holiday falls on the same day as Columbus Day and aims to acknowledge the damage of Christopher Columbus’ colonial legacy to Indigenous communities in the Americas. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Monday’s event at the Mitchell Museum showed record-breaking attendance, according to the museum’s Director of Development, Joseph Gackstetter. “For us, it’s really important to share the awareness of the day, as it kind of stands to show a mirror to our previous celebration of Columbus Day,” Gackstetter said. “I think it encourages people to rethink Columbus’ role in the North and South Americas — the impact that he’s had, as well as the crimes that he’s committed.”

» See MITCHELL MARKET, page 6

Moms fight gun President Schill hosts fi reside chat violence in city Conversations center around affirmative action, hazing scandal Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette, Local group new group Hines co-leads now has around the focuses specifically on Evanston. began in the sum2,000 volunteers merThofe chapter 2022. Hines, the group’s By KATE WALTER

daily senior staffer @katewalter03

Content warning: this story contains mentions of gun violence. After the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead, Sara Hines said she started “doom scrolling” — reading news headlines in horror — the same way she had 10 years prior following the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. But, unlike ten years ago, Hines is a parent now. She said she felt like she “just couldn’t stand on the sidelines.” Hines connected with others on Facebook to ask about starting an Evanston chapter of Moms Demand Action, a nationwide volunteer organization advocating for gun control measures. Though there had previously been a group focused on

Recycle Me

co-leader, said the chapter now has around 2,000 volunteers. Erin Fowler said she moved to Evanston around a year ago and got involved with the chapter after realizing that gun violence “affects every community, including this community.” She now serves as the BeSMART lead of the Evanston Moms Demand Action chapter, a role that leads the group’s advocacy efforts for the safe storage of firearms. “Our priorities are handing out gun locks so that people have, you know, sort of the bare minimum in their home to secure their gun if they have one, and normalizing the conversation around asking people if they have guns and how they store them,” Fowler said. As part of these efforts, Moms Demand Action advocated for the passage of a safe storage ordinance in Evanston, which City Council unanimously approved this summer.

» See MOMS, page 6

By JACOB WENDLER

daily senior staffer @jacob_wendler

University President Michael Schill shared priorities and goals for his second year at Northwestern with a group of approximately 100 staff members Tuesday afternoon at Norris University Center. Throughout the hourlong talk, Schill touched on the hazing scandal in the NU Football team this summer, the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action, and staff retention and culture, among other topics raised in questions submitted by community members. The fireside chat was organized by the NU Staff Advisory Council and moderated by Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer Lorraine Goffe. Schill said the University has focused on inclusion, pipeline programs to recruit students of diverse backgrounds and new admissions essays in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision prohibiting raceconscious admissions. NU rolled out new admissions essays earlier this year that capture how applicants’ identities have

impacted their experiences within the bounds of the legal ruling. “We will use those essay questions to the extent that we can, but I don’t want to sugarcoat it,” Schill said. “I always like to set expectations, because I think my credibility is important to the community, and I think that this is going to be hard — particularly in the early years.” University spokesperson Hilary Hurd Anyaso told The Daily last month that the new essays were crafted to “help applicants learn more about Northwestern in the process of helping us better understand who they are, where they come from, and what matters to them.” Schill said his experience as dean of UCLA Law School after Proposition 209 outlawed the use of race in admissions in California public universities was “a bit of a bloodbath” but that he’s hopeful his experience at NU will be different. Schill also emphasized the importance of working with predominantly nonwhite community colleges to prepare students with diverse backgrounds to transfer to NU. He said he plans to meet with community college chancellors in

Jacob Wendler/The Daily Northwestern

About 100 staff members attended the fireside chat with University President Michael Schill in Norris University Center Tuesday afternoon.

the coming weeks. Goffe also asked Schill about his response to the allegations of hazing in NU’s football program this summer that led Schill to fire head coach Pat Fitzgerald in July. Schill began by acknowledging that the recent months have

been “an extraordinarily difficult time for the University” and that his decisions — such as initially suspending Fitzgerald for just two weeks — were not met with universal approval by the NU

» See FIRESIDE, page 6

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8

2 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

AROUND TOWN

Mensch’s Deli to open brick and mortar location By ANNA BOCK

daily senior staffer @anna__bock

Over ten years ago, Wilmette natives Kiki Eliopoulos, Jack DeMar and Eric Kogan walked the halls of New Trier Township High School with big dreams of opening a restaurant together. After years of DeMar harboring a “big crush” on Eliopoulos, she said the pair dated fleetingly at the end of their senior year before splitting apart. Last year, they reunited as co-workers, then as a couple. “That was our own love pop-up,” said Eliopoulos, laughing with now-fiance DeMar at a table outside Mensch’s, the pop-up Jewish deli they started with Kogan. Now, more of their teenage dreams are coming to life. After a successful past spring and fall at their pop-up location at 1619 Chicago Ave., the trio plans to open a new, brick and mortar version of their Jewish delicatessen down the street at 1608 Chicago Ave. The owners hope to open their doors this coming March or April, Eliopoulos said. Sourcing their bagels from New York Bagel & Bialy Corporation in Skokie, the current pop-up opened last spring in DeMar’s salad to-go shop, Picnic. Word of the new spot to get open-faced bagel sandwiches, fresh-squeezed orange juice and coffee brought in lines out the door each Saturday and Sunday. Positive responses from the community after soft-launching their idea encouraged them to expand beyond these initial aspirations, DeMar said. The trio implemented tips they gleaned from customer feedback in the first few months at the “trial” location, shifting opening hours earlier to 9 a.m. this fall and making changes to their assembly line to improve efficiency. “I learned so much just from the community telling me what they want,” said Eliopoulos, who also bakes the pies and sweet pastry items on the menu at the pop-up. The pop-up’s offerings give a taste of what

customers can expect from their expanded, fullservice menu. Beyond bagels and sweets, the broad selection will include quintessential Jewish deli offerings such as hot sandwiches, soups and breakfast items, according to DeMar. Eliopoulos said she plans to broaden her sweets selection, too. “We just want to serve good food and for everyone to feel welcome,” Eliopoulos said. The new location will be on the same stretch of businesses along Chicago Ave. as the pop up and the two other Evanston restaurants DeMar owns: Pono Ono and Picnic. DeMar said he hopes the trio’s deli brings in a wider range of people from Evanston, neighboring towns and beyond. “It’s (for) more than just our

age group and some locals,” DeMar said. “Grandpa eats a pastrami sandwich, the kids can get a French toast and (customers our age) get some bagels and a pie to go.” While aiming to allure a broader customer base, Mensch’s pop-up garnered a dedicated Northwestern following, as well. Weinberg juniors Peter Ryan and Caroline French said they’ve made it out to the pop-up almost every weekend since its opening last spring. The pop-up provides students with an excuse to rendezvous over bagels and coffee on weekend mornings before heading to the library, Ryan said. Offering a sweeping menu selection to satisfy the cravings of every age, DeMar and Eliopoulos

said the pastrami sandwich is their favorite new menu item so far. After brining and pickling for two weeks and smoking the meat for an additional 14 hours, the trio tasted their recipe recently. “Our partner Eric just gave me a big hug, and I was like, ‘Okay, we nailed it,’” DeMar said. With much to look forward to this spring, the pop-up location’s doors will remain open Saturdays and Sundays this fall, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., through Oct. 29. For avid Mensch’s fans like Ryan, the deli’s spring opening cannot come soon enough. “I’ll go two or three times a week,” Ryan said. annabock2024@u.northwestern.edu

Anna Bock/The Daily Northwestern

Co-owner Eric Kogan and fellow Mensch’s employees assemble customers’ open-faced bagel sandwich orders. The pop-up currently shares its space with Picnic on weekend mornings.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

ON CAMPUS

Jewish student community hosts vigil

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By SAMANTHA POWERS

eic@dailynorthwestern.com

daily senior staffer @SQPowers04

The Daily Northwestern

Editor in Chief Avani Kalra

General Manager Stacia Campbell

Close to 200 Northwestern community members prayed, cried and hugged one another in front of Deering Library Monday night, honoring lives lost over the last three days in the IsraelHamas War. The NU group assembled to hear speeches from students and Jewish community leaders and offered prayers by candlelight. At the end of the vigil — which lasted over an hour and a half — community members linked arms and sang Jewish prayers. Israel declared war on Sunday against Hamas — a militant group and the governing organization in the Gaza Strip — after Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday. The initial attack, Israel’s subsequent strikes and continued violence on both sides have left at least 1,500 Israelis and Palestinians — primarily civilians — dead, and thousands more wounded. Weinberg senior Lily Cohen, who helped organize the event along with other students, thanked non-Jewish attendees for showing their solidarity with the Jewish community. “This has been a challenging weekend, but it’s very inspiring to see us all standing here,” Cohen said. The crowd sang the Mi Shebeirach, a prayer for healing, as well as Oseh Shalom — a prayer for peace — and the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, among other prayers and songs. Hillel Executive Director Michael Simon also led the group in the Mourner’s Kaddish, a Jewish prayer recited in honor of the deceased. “Funerals have begun in Israel,” Simon said. “Sadly, we know there are going to be many, many more funerals. As we say Kaddish we have in our hearts all of those who have died, all of their families, all of their loved ones and all of our community.” Weinberg senior and men’s soccer player Rom Brown, who is from Israel, honored Israeli forces and first responders in his speech. Brown served

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Close to 200 Northwestern community members gathered by candlelight outside Deering Library to honor the lives lost in the Israel-Hamas war.

in the Israel Defense Forces for two and a half years after high school. “I’m sure that all of you are closely following every update and honestly, none of us can even imagine the distress that our brothers and sisters are going through right now,” Brown said. “During these times, feelings of guilt that we can’t do enough to help keep trickling in.” SESP senior Dalia Segal-Miller helped organize the vigil and spoke to the emotions running through her mind. Segal-Miller said she felt a sense of hopelessness at her inability to help those suffering overseas. “What can we do over here that will bring peace to land over there?”, she asked. “How can we go on with our daily lives as millions of people are

losing their brothers, sisters, children and loved ones?” She then directed attendees to a resource sheet organizers compiled with a list of charitable groups dedicated to bringing aid to victims of violence in Israel. Segal-Miller invited people to give Tzedakah, a Hebrew word meaning charity, in the form of donations to the listed groups. Weinberg sophomore Mateo Garcia-Bryce attended the vigil with friends. He said he hopes for peace for Palestinians and Israelis involved in the conflict. “At the end of the day, we’re all human,” GarciaBryce told The Daily. “The loss of human life, from what we’ve seen already and what we will see, is horrible. The violence needs to stop.” samanthapowers2026@u.northwestern.edu

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4 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

OPINION

Join the online conversation at www.dailynorthwestern.com

Schieber: I grew up in the same locker rooms as Fitz DAVID SCHIEBER

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

Content warning: This story includes mentions of sexual harassment. Pat Fitzgerald and I were raised in the same town: Orland Park, Illinois. We played on the same local peewee football team: Pioneers Football. We went to the same high school: Carl Sandburg High School. Fitzgerald is 15 years older than me, so our paths have never crossed and we have never spoken, but we went to school in the same buildings and had some of the same coaches. He was the alumnus who made it. The one they told us to look up to. The locker rooms at Carl Sandburg High School were the first places I had my naked body assessed by others. This was the first place boys watched and commented on me as I undressed. The first place I saw boys and coaches make snide comments about my and other boys’ penis sizes and body shapes. I was called gay relatively often. This was the first place I had a middle-aged coach, standing silently, arms crossed, staring intently as I and other 15-year-old boys showered in front of him. You had to get naked and shower; coach would start making fun of you otherwise. These are not memories I look back on fondly or are easy for me to write about. I was reminded of my time spent in the locker rooms at Carl Sandburg High School after reading the stories published by The Daily on ritualistic hazing in the Northwestern football program. As a faculty member in the Department of Sociology at NU, I am also now familiar with the long history of

social science research on rituals, hazing and group initiation processes. These are topics I have spent time reflecting on recently. In her now classic book “Dude, You’re a F— : Masculinity and Sexuality in High School” sociologist C.J. Pascoe describes how common my own experiences are for boys in America. Her study argues that these adolescent bullying cultures, often centered in middle school and high school locker rooms, play a massive role in defining masculinity for America’s boys. How else did we end up in a world where boys in America “looksmax” by “mewing” (develop the “ideal” masculine jawline using chewing exercises) to prove their undeniably masculine status? These insecurities do not emerge from nowhere. Any sociologist worth their salt knows the social importance of rituals. Wendy Espeland, a colleague and mentor of mine in the sociology department, has driven this point home for countless Northwestern sociology students in her sociological theory class SOCIOL 306-0: Sociological Theory. Rituals allow humans to express group membership, process strong emotions and reinforce group solidarity. From birthdays and graduations to funerals and memorial services, humans mark important and particularly emotional life events with ritual. Perhaps nothing could be more human. Group initiation processes, sometimes taking the form of hazing, are one such ritual. How do you know you are a true member of a group and not an outsider? Because you were initiated. Another colleague and mentor of mine in the sociology department, Gary Alan Fine, has spent a large part of his career studying these initiation processes. For example, in high stress careers (think EMTs, police officers, emergency room physicians, active military, etc.) people bond over extremely dark

jokes regarding the traumatic experiences they have faced. In fact, according to Fine, you are not considered a “true” member of these groups until you can take part in these joking cultures by having your own dark stories and jokes to tell. These small group joking cultures are beneficial, Fine would argue, because they help people bond, process traumatic experiences and build camaraderie in stressful situations. However, these small group cultures can also easily become sites of insidious abuse and hazing similar to my high school locker room and those studied by

”

Fitzgerald did not take responsibility for the pain he caused my students, and he has now lawyered up. This is not leadership.

- DAVID SCHIEBER, op-ed contributor

C.J. Pascoe. This is why I found the humiliating hazing reported by The Daily this summer so gross yet unsurprising. People bond through shared emotions, and what shared emotions are more powerful than embarrassment and shame? More so, when reporting hazing or abusive behavior means the threat of no longer being part of the social group, cultures of silence arise. I still can’t stop thinking about the article reporting that Black students who refused to cut their dreads in the spirit of “good clean American fun” were told to “check their scholarships.” These reports infuriate me.

I imagine there will always be some sort of initiation process on the NU football team. Selected players become some of the few athletes in the nation to play for a Big Ten school, practicing for hours and hours and hours together, trying to excel at coursework, athletics and socializing, even when a season doesn’t go as planned. These are exactly the types of intense social contexts where rituals and initiation processes arise. However, once these initiations cross a line to becoming abusive, racist or traumatizing, they need to be swiftly squashed. Fitzgerald did not take responsibility for the pain he caused my students, and he has now lawyered up. This is not leadership. I am glad NU has taken steps to address hazing across the athletic department, and I hope this commitment is serious. NU has an opportunity to lead by example on this issue. This is surely not the only school where hazing happens –– maybe we just have a good student newspaper. However, NU can be an institution that addresses these issues head on. From my perspective as a sociologist, NU must make sure these harmful types of hazing are rigorously stomped out and left behind, while also acknowledging that becoming a member of any athletic team at Northwestern is a huge life event for our students. It is still something worth ritualizing and celebrating. Nothing could be more human. David Schieber is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Sociology at Northwestern University. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

Lachman: Serving up hot, fresh, Krispy Kreme memories ETHAN LACHMAN

ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

As my 21st birthday rolled around earlier this year, I did what any person turning 21 does: downloaded the Krispy Kreme app. I was on a mission to celebrate with a free piece of fried goodness from the renowned doughnut company. Growing up, I always looked forward to watching the conveyor belt of doughnuts when my parents took me to the local Krispy Kreme. The drive was 30 minutes, but it was worth it to see the glowing Hot Light sign. I remember waiting in line for the fresh ones to come out of the grease — warm, gooey dough bathed in icing. And when I made my way to the end of the line, I always knew what was waiting for me: a coveted, magnificent and free Original Glazed doughnut.

I have fond memories of a slightly older me arriving at the front of the Krispy Kreme line, still desperately trying to decide how many doughnuts to get — even though I knew it would never feel like we bought enough. Aside from the few times I sprang for the dozen, I’d enviously hover while my family nibbled on my doughnuts… after claiming they didn’t want any. They were that good. I’ve realized now, though, what makes Krispy Kreme special isn’t even its one-of-a-kind doughnut experience. Among a crowded field of competitors, what differentiates Krispy Kreme is quite simple: the community. At Northwestern, student organizations frequently sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts to raise money throughout the year, and they do it for a reason — it’s a crowd pleaser. They know Krispy Kreme reminds us of elementary school birthday parties, of tearing the doughnut open to reveal the fluffy, buttery goodness on the inside while anxiously peeking into

the box to see if there’s enough for seconds. Organizations selling the doughnuts know the nostalgia associated with them will make the person’s day. I’ve always believed that the downside of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is that they become stale rather quickly. As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve realized that might actually be a good thing. The doughnuts’ vulnerability to losing their freshness speaks to the need to live and enjoy them in the moment. Now I’m grown up, and I no longer get a free doughnut every visit (though I’m happy to purchase an extra). I try not to plan how many doughnuts I’m going to eat like I used to, making an effort to appreciate what’s in front of me and decide in the moment. I also sometimes drive my parents, which I find incredibly rewarding since they took the wheel to bring me there so many times. All in all, Krispy Kreme reminds me to cherish childhood because it doesn’t last forever. Components of my relationship with the brand have inevitably changed, but the foundation of that

Crawford: The return of R&B girl groups COLIN CRAWFORD

OPINION EDITOR

When I first heard FLO’s music in Spring Quarter of 2022, I was instantly transported to the 1990s and early 2000s. While scrolling through YouTube music videos, a new song was being recommended to me by the algorithm. With a strong desire to procrastinate my copious amounts of reading, I decided to tune in. “Cardboard Box” became an instant classic for me, capturing the feelings of Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” set against a ‘90s feel. As soon as the track started, I was transfixed by the first strums of a guitar, sounding close to the intro of “No Scrubs” by TLC. This group was what I had been waiting for: a new R&B girl group that captured the sounds and aesthetics of the past while delivering tight harmonies and vocal prowess. Girl groups, especially those formed by Black artists, have long been influential in pop culture. In the 1960s, Diana Ross & The Supremes took radio stations by storm and crossed over from the R&B charts with a string of Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits like “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love” among others. The R&B girl group reached its zenith in the 1990s with the success of groups like Destiny’s Child, Xscape and SWV just to name a few.

Market saturation and changing tastes led to a drop in the popularity of girl groups, but FLO’s emergence proves that this lull has left fans of the genre aching for a new generation. I believe FLO is the beginning of that generation. FLO has not yet reached the chart-topping status that these groups once did, but they still have time. It’s only been a year since they first debuted with “Cardboard Box” and have since released two EPs and several collaborations with icons like Missy Elliott. This is a symbolic passing of the torch from a female rapper from that 1990s/2000s era to FLO. There are striking similarities between FLO and the R&B girl groups of times past. A common thread between the girl groups is their familiarity with each other before becoming a musical act. The Ronettes started as a family group, Diana Ross sang with group members while growing up in Detroit and Beyoncè and Kelly Rowland grew up singing together as well. Similarly, Stella Quaresma and Renée Downer of FLO went to school together in London before forming their trio with Jorja Douglas in 2019. Even the fact that FLO is a singing trio is a sign of the success that awaits them. The Supremes started out as a trio, Destiny’s Child found its greatest success as a trio and TLC is one of the best selling girl groups of all time. FLO also has another key advantage that many other artists are using to generate hits — nostalgia. Yearning for the past has always existed, but in music it is increasingly prescient.

Silk Sonic, for example — a project between Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak — released an album, “An Evening with Silk Sonic,” that pays homage to the smooth R&B stylings of the 1970s. Victoria Monét’s most recent project, Jaguar II, also employs the nostalgia factor with tracks like “How Does It Make You Feel,” while Michaela Jaé collaborated with the producers of Earth, Wind & Fire to release “Something to Say” in 2021. These songs are few of many R&B releases that are harkening back to the past. FLO embraces this association wholeheartedly. I was lucky enough to see them live this past April and on the set list was “Superstar,” an R&B one-hit wonder in the UK by Jamelia, released in 2003. The fact that FLO covered a song that was on the charts two decades ago and it fit into the vibe of the rest of their discography shows how they represent the second coming of the R&B girl group. More than anything, I’m grateful for FLO because I missed that sound, that vibe, those telltale harmonies. And as a proud FLO-lifer, I can’t wait for their meteoric rise to fame. Colin Crawford is a Medill junior. He can be contacted at colincrawford2025@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

connection — one based on forging relationships through a shared experience of bliss — remains the same. For a class I took recently, I even snuck in a shoutout to my favorite doughnut store. We were tasked with providing a selfie “that says something about you.” My choice: a picture of me holding a box of wonderful, mouthwatering, comforting Krispy Kreme doughnuts. And, you should know… I successfully got not one, but two free birthday doughnuts. If you want to wish me “HBD” next year, you know where to find me. Ethan Lachman is a Medill junior. He can be contacted at ethanlachman2025@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern Volume 145, Issue 7

Editor in Chief Avani Kalra Opinion Editor Colin Crawford Assistant Opinion Editor Ethan Lachman

Managing Editors Ella Jeffries Selena Kuznikov Saul Pink Scott Hwang Laura Simmons

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@ dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside THE DAILY office. Letters have the following requirements: • Should be typed and double-spaced • Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number. • Should be fewer than 300 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar. Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of THE DAILY’s student editorial board and not the opinions of either Northwestern University or Students Publishing Co. Inc.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

Women’s Club grant program to help teens, seniors By SHUN GRAVES

the daily northwestern @realShunGraves

Charley Smith leads Haven Youth and Family Services, a youth care organization in Wilmette that strives to never turn anyone away. However, the mental health crisis that arose among teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic severely tested that commitment, he said. “We had a waiting list at one period in time,” said Smith, the executive director. “We had to hire additional therapists. We also don’t turn anybody away that can’t afford services.” Smith said Haven relies on funding from resident donations and groups like the Woman’s Club of Evanston, whose annual grant program has previously awarded funds to Haven Youth and Family Services. Now, as the club opens next year’s application process, Smith hopes to secure a grant again. “The Woman’s Club does a wonderful job of supporting different organizations and nonprofits with a variety of different services to the community,” he said. This year, the club’s community grant program will focus on physical and mental wellness for local teenagers and senior citizens. Organizations must submit applications by Nov. 1, and the club plans to announce award recipients in the spring. Recipients can also apply for additional opportunities to host fundraisers at the club. However, the number of awards varies by year, said Kathy Fisher, the club’s contribution chair. Each community grant typically ranges from $500 to $5,000 with an average amount of $1,250, according to the club. The Daily reported that the grant program awarded a total of $175,000 to 17 organizations in 2019. Fisher said the grant program also aims to boost the profile of the club, which spearheads community initiatives like its Dreams Delivered Prom Boutique, an annual drive for prom dresses and accessories for local high schoolers. Akilah Wilson, who grew up in Evanston, recounted fond memories of the prom boutique which helped her feel “empowered and seen.” “When it comes to programming like that, I

Shun Graves/The Daily Northwestern

A man walks past the Woman’s Club of Evanston in downtown Evanston. The club announced its annual community grant program on Sept. 22.

definitely think fondly of the Woman’s Club of Evanston,” she said. “In their lane, I think that they definitely have impactful and powerful programs and grant opportunities.” Wilson now serves as the communications manager for the Evanston Community Foundation, which also distributes grants and other funds, awarding $3.23 million total in 2022. Residents’ need for mental healthcare and services has grown in the aftermath of the pandemic, but local donors have also helped

organizations meet those needs, said Rebecca Cacayuran, the foundation’s vice president for community investment. “In 2019 our grants budget was $840,000,” she said. “During the pandemic, because of the community response, we gave grants of $4.4 million.” Smith said his youth care organization witnessed teenagers’ need for help continue to grow this year. Beyond its care services, the organization also runs the Warming House

Youth Center, a drop-in activity center for teenagers in Wilmette that has also received a grant. As community needs remain high, Fisher said the Woman’s Club of Evanston’s focus on teenage wellness couldn’t be timelier. “You hear a lot about mental suffering and physical wellness and suffering since the pandemic,” she said. “That’s where that kind of focus came from.” ShunGraves2027@u.northwestern.edu

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6 THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

MOMS DEMAND ACTION From page 1

Under this ordinance, Evanston gun owners must follow safe storage requirements, such as making sure guns are locked in a container or gun room. “This is a really big step, and an important step, to identifying Evanston as a place that takes gun violence prevention and firearm safety really seriously as a community,” Hines said. Over the summer, the group collaborated with the city to table at the First Friday events and distribute gun locks in an effort to promote safe firearm storage. Hines said Moms Demand Action is also focused on understanding how gun violence impacts racial minorities in particular. “Our Black and Brown communities in Evanston, just like most of the United States, are disproportionately impacted by gun violence,” Hines said. “That’s where there’s the most need and where we can make the biggest difference.” Last November, the group held a panel about the state of gun violence in Evanston. Speakers included Mayor Daniel Biss, city parks and recreation director Audrey

MITCHELL MARKET From page 1

Currently, the Mitchell Museum houses two exhibits. The upper level is home to the “No Rest” exhibit, which pays artistic tribute to missing and murdered Indigenous women. The traveling exhibit was originally supposed to close in September, but has been extended through 2024. In the downstairs area, visitors can take “A Regional Tour of American Indian Cultures,” encountering artifacts, displays and replicas of different Indigenous nations from across North America. At Monday’s event, several new tables were set up in the downstairs area for Indigenous vendors. Racks of colorful skirts and displays of vibrant beads greeted visitors as they moved through the space. Behind one of these tables, Maritza Garcia and Sergio Ceron advertised Garcia’s business, Chacha Beads. Garcia, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw

Thompson, and representatives from YWCA Evanston/ North Shore and the Life Without My Child group. Moving forward, Hines said the chapter is centering conversations on school safety and looks to hold a roundtable discussion in late November regarding firearm incidents at schools. Jenette Sturges, the marketing and communications director at Evanston Public Library, said that Moms Demand Action members had attended and spoke at EPL’s board meetings after a January incident where a library security monitor, who was an off-duty police officer, drew a firearm on an individual. Moms Demand Action encouraged EPL to “think deeply about what safety really means” during its search for a new safety manager. Sturges said the Moms Demand Action chapter plays a critical role in leading the fight against gun violence in Evanston. “I would sum up their role as being sort of the conscience of the community that is just exceptionally vocal about what we’re all thinking, which is that the level of gun violence that we’re seeing in the community is not acceptable,” Sturges said. katewalter2025@u.northwestern.edu Indians, said she designed and made all of her beads by hand. “These are caps made out of my designs, this is my traditional wear,” she said. “But I grew up here in Chicago, so I’m more influenced (by) the florals that the tribes up here, they use, all that stuff.” Ceron, a member of the Otomi people of Mexico, said events like Monday’s are a great opportunity to “share a little bit of our culture” with the broader community. As visitors from Evanston, Chicago and beyond cycled in and out of the museum throughout the day, attendees like Kathleen Hardy were left feeling hopeful of the way in which Indigenous culture is being shared. “It’s been really important, and we talk about the people who live here first, and how they used the land and what they revered about the areas they lived in,” she said. “And we’re starting to hear that again.” lilycarey2025@u.northwestern.edu

RICHARDSON From page 1

Deputy Director of Athletics Mike Polisky, former Deputy Title IX Coordinator Amanda DaSilva and former Associate Athletic Director for Marketing Heather Van Hoegarden Obering filed separate responses to the lawsuit. Bonnevier was fired in 2020 following an Office of Equity investigation into her conduct, and Polisky stepped down from the role of athletics director in May 2021 following a number of protests. Hayden Richardson, a member of the cheer team from 2018-2020, sued the University in 2021 for allegedly ignoring complaints by Richardson and her peers that members of the cheer team were repeatedly harassed and groped by fans and alumni for the purpose of soliciting donations. NU filed a motion to dismiss forced labor, sex trafficking, forced-labor trafficking, breach of contract and emotional distress claims in June 2021, but a federal judge ruled last month that most of the claims could move forward. U.S. District Judge Edmond Chang wrote that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act could apply because Richardson alleges that the defendants knowingly benefited from the incidents. Chang also agreed with Richardson that her “Spirit Squad Contract” — which allegedly stipulated that she would have to repay the University for scholarships and expenses had she left the team — could amount to coercion. NU and Bonnevier both disputed Richardson’s characterization of the Spirit Squad Contract in their filings. “Richardson was free to separate from the cheerleading team at any time if she so desired, and the Northwestern Spirit Squad Guidelines Richardson signed for the 2019-2020 academic year did not include any provision regarding repayment upon termination,” the University wrote. Northwestern acknowledged that it was made aware of allegations regarding safety on the cheer team and inappropriate interactions with fans in its filing but maintained that both the Office of Equity and the Department of Athletics

FIRESIDE From page 1

Lily Carey/The Daily Northwestern

community. “I think what was so difficult for people is, our view of ourselves is one of exceptionalism … And we have to do a correction,” he said. “Because I do believe that we are exceptional. And I do believe that the goal should be exceptionalism.” Schill also assured staff members that lawsuits related to the scandal will not impact the University’s financial health. Fitzgerald filed a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit against NU and Schill last week, and

adequately responded to the complaints. According to NU’s filing, most of the anonymous letters from cheerleaders delivered to Obering by Richardson in January 2019 “did not reference any sexual conduct whatsoever.” The filing repeatedly says Richardson told Polisky and Obering she “loves” the Wilson Club — the exclusive donor suite where groping and harassment is alleged to have taken place — and did not raise concerns about the club in a subsequent email to DaSilva. Andrew Miltenberg, Richardson’s attorney, told The Daily he sees the University’s filing as an attempt to obfuscate and delay the case. “We are thrilled that we will finally be able to confront the University and the sanctioned behavior of so many of its wrongdoers,” he said. “By its own doing, Northwestern is quickly coming to epitomize so much of that which is currently infecting higher education. It is disappointing that such a storied institution cannot get out of its own way.” Representatives for the University did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing. The University also said that concerns raised by Richardson about Bonnevier in May 2020 were “not sexual in nature” and that Richardson said the “sexual environment” previously described had come to an end. According to the filing, the Office of Equity gave Richardson the choice to participate in the 2020 investigation into the cheer team, and she chose to participate as a witness rather than a complainant. In their filings, Bonnevier and NU noted that the Department of Athletics ended the cheerleaders’ participation in tailgates after the concerns were raised. Northwestern and Obering also contested the lawsuit on the grounds that the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act is unconstitutional. The parties have until Oct. 31 to serve their first set of requests for fact discovery, which will close on July 8, 2024. jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu the University faces two separate lawsuits from former football players for alleged negligence. “We’re going to have to find a way to pay for them … but it’s not going to fundamentally change this institution,” Schill said. “And one of the things I’ve said repeatedly … is I had 10 priorities, and I’m committed to each one of those priorities … and I see no reason why we can’t continue that. We just have to be smart about how we go about it.” Goffe said fireside chats with the president will be hosted annually in future years. jacobwendler2025@u.northwestern.edu

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DAILY CROSSWORD Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Stoppers 6 Facebook verb 10 Food writer Drummond 13 Southeast Asian capital 14 One-over-par score 15 Sargasso Sea spawner 16 *Period of connectivity that began in the 1990s 18 Maven 19 Paper cutters 20 Send via UPS or USPS 21 Billie Eilish’s “All the Good Girls Go to __” 22 *Place for navel gazers? 26 Actress Jessica who co-founded The Honest Company 28 Average booster 29 Sprang up 32 Firm: Abbr. 33 __ Lanka 36 *“Let me stop you right there” 40 Dead __ Scrolls 41 Iraq neighbor 42 Down-yielding duck 43 “McSorley’s Bar” painter 45 Fed. food stamper 47 *Power source for some superheroes? 50 Helen of Troy’s mother 54 The Grand Ole __ 55 Places for hoops and studs 57 “__ to Dirt”: Sharon Olds poem 58 Modern innovator, and what can be found in the answers to the starred clues 61 “Long,” in Hawaiian 62 Cola with a red, white, and blue logo 63 Sip 64 Inquire 65 Avant-garde

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

10/12/23

By Catherine Cetta

66 Dissuade DOWN 1 Lure with false emails 2 Jousting weapon 3 Up to 4 Brings up the rear 5 Knight titles 6 Mucho 7 Three-time French Open winner Swiatek 8 Barrel of beer 9 Word with wash or wear 10 Said another way 11 Like a haunted house 12 Get to “I do” without the ado 14 Utterer of “Yogi-isms” 17 Gaming novice 20 Messy room 23 Glowing gas 24 “The Far Side” cartoonist Larson 25 Spotted 27 American __: veterans’ group 29 Commercial intrusions 30 Caviar 31 Racking up wins

Last Issue Puzzle Wednesday’s PuzzleSolved Solved

32 Soda container 34 “Insecure” actress Issa 35 Leb. neighbor 37 Q.E.D. part 38 Sharp flavor 39 Lines of communication? 44 __ of the land 45 Dragon roll ingredient 46 Desertlike 47 Bucks

10/12/23

48 Beehives and some buns 49 Like the itsy-bitsy spider 51 Film critic Roger 52 Slow on the uptake 53 Starlike flower 56 Arrive at the airport safely 58 IRS form expert 59 She/__ pronouns 60 Fitting

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

Coach comes in clutch: Fashion pops up at Norris By SAMANTA HABASHY

the daily northwestern @habashysam

Students accustomed to lengthy coffee lines at Norris University Center were treated to a surprise Monday afternoon when fashion brand Coach graced the Norris East Lawn with a complimentary coffee truck and bag display as part of their Wear Your Shine tour. Coach sent out a text on Oct. 8 notifying receivers that Coach would be on campus for a limited time. Workers assembled the art installation with a lit-up Coach logo on either side and mirrors with sayings like “WearYourShine” on them. Students passing by stopped to take photos and admire a shiny display of handbags. Coach’s marketing brand affiliate Lindsey Spiegelman said the tour is coming to 20 college campuses to allow students a moment of self-reflection. “(Coach) wants students to take a moment to breathe and debrief a little from the chaotic day in college,” Spiegelman said. The pop-up launched at Howard University and has since traveled to The Juilliard School and Ohio State University, Spiegelman said. Throughout the day, the pop-up caught students’ attention. “I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about it,” Weinberg junior Hebah Alshaikh said. “Also, I was wondering if they were giving out handbags?” While Coach was not giving out free handbags, the coffee truck offered different hot drinks including lattes, mochas, hot chocolate and tea. Brand ambassadors

Micah Sandy/The Daily Northwestern

Norris’ Coach pop-up featured an art installation with mirrors for photo opportunities.

in matching Coach bucket hats walked around and answered students’ questions. Weinberg sophomore Alexandria Snyder said she was glad to get to the event early. “I was not expecting this, but it’s cool to come check it out,” Snyder said. Weinberg sophomore Lily Li was in line for MOD Pizza in Norris when she saw the pop-up outside. She

said she felt the pop up was random and out-of-place on a college campus. “I feel like [Coach] is really luxury for a couple of college students moving about their day,” Li said. According to a Coach press release, the Wear Your Shine campaign hopes to inspire people to overcome “self-doubt to shine brightly in fashion and in life.”

In-store influencer Hannah Seldowitz said the campaign intended to reflect Coach’s revamped, more youthful image. “(Coach) rebranded in the last two years to attract more young customers trying to show that our styles are evolving,” Seldowitz said. samantahabashy2026@u.northwestern.edu

and her daughter, Natalie, had reportedly along with all the innocent lives lost, wounded retaliatory attacks on Gaza. At least 1,500 Israelis Two Evanston residents Raanan been abducted while visiting family in Nachal Oz, and impacted by the terrorist attack,” the letter and Palestinians have been killed in the attacks. Israel, and asked community members to keep the from DHS reads. “Sadly, we know that many stuEvanston Police Department also announced believed to be taken two in their prayers. dents and families have been impacted by the in a Tuesday tweet that it would be “conducting In an announcement sent to Deerfield High tragic events in Israel. We come together as a extra patrols at houses of worship citywide.” EPD hostage by Hamas School community members Monday night, school community to support each other during had tweeted earlier in the day that patrols would Two Evanston residents have been reported missing in Israel and are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas militants, recent reports say. Chabad of Evanston posted to its Facebook page Sunday that two of its congregants, Judith

Principal Kathryn Anderson wrote that Natalie Raanan, a member of the DHS class of 2023, had been reported missing. The announcement said Raanan’s family “fears she was taken hostage by Hamas.” “We keep Natalie and her family in our hearts,

this difficult time.” The announcement follows the outbreak of a war between Israel and Hamas, a militant terrorist group. Hamas launched a coordinated surprise attack from Gaza Saturday. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas Sunday and has launched

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WOMEN’S GOLF

NU finishes third at Illini Women’s Invitational By LUCAS KIM

daily senior staffer @lucaskim_15

Following junior Lauryn Nguyen’s individual win and a second-place team finish at the Windy City Collegiate Classic, No. 29 Northwestern remained instate for the Illini Women’s Invitational earlier this week. The Wildcats overcame a sluggish start to place third in a tough 15-team field that featured six of the nation’s top 30 teams. NU tallied a 14-under 850 (291-277-282) — 13 strokes behind winner No. 13 LSU and four behind runner-up No. 8 Ole Miss. Experiencing their first taste of fall weather, the ‘Cats maintained their composure after a first round that yielded mixed results. “(The weather) was a little bit of an adjustment for us from the week before when we hosted, we had almost record warmth,” coach Emily Fletcher said. “We just made some unforced errors, made some mistakes early on the first 12 holes, and we really responded and got our footing.” NU got off to a 3-over 288 start, good enough for sixth place. But stellar play

from all five ‘Cats on the lineup propelled the squad into second place, and they finished the round with 14 fewer strokes than the 18 holes prior. Sophomore Dianna Lee led the charge for NU, logging a 1-under 71 and 2-under 70 over the first two rounds. Lee, who placed T-39th and T-34th in the team’s first two fall tournaments, entered the final round tied for eighth individually. “One thing about Dianna is she’s a competitor,” Fletcher said. “We believe that Dianna will contribute significantly each and every week. But I would say this, this is not a surprise to us to see her outstanding play.” The final round saw every ‘Cat hit at or below par, with both Lee and Nguyen carding 2-under 70. However, this was not enough to fend off a rallying Ole Miss squad as NU fell to third place by the tournament’s conclusion. Each of the five ‘Cats in the lineup finished within the top 30 with Lee finishing tied for sixth at 5-under. Nguyen logged her second-straight top 10 performance, tying for ninth with a 4-under 212. With a tournament win already under her belt this season, Nguyen has cemented herself as one of

the top players in the nation. “When (Nguyen) gets hot and gets on a roll, she’s as good as anybody in college golf,” Fletcher said. “We saw that in her performance last week at our Windy City Collegiate Classic, winning that (where) the strength of field is tough as you will see all year long.” NU also enjoyed contributions from senior Jennifer Cai and freshman Ashley Yun, both of whom tied for 19th at 1-under. The ‘Cats will head to the west coast for the Stanford Intercollegiate next week to round out their fall tournament schedule. With every tournament result counting toward the team’s chances at the NCAA tournament, Fletcher stressed the importance of fall competitions — even though the postseason may seem far in the distance. “As much as we want to be as good as we can right now, we also realize that we can’t give in to our weaknesses; we’ve got to continue to improve,” Fletcher said. “But in this case, I would tell you this group is plenty good enough, talented enough for us to compete at a really high level.” lucaskim2025@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal

Sophomore Dianna Lee hits the ball. Lee led NU with a T-6 finish at the Illini Women’s Invitational earlier this week.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Collins, players discuss new season Players field questions at Big Ten Media Day By ALEX CERVANTES

daily senior staffer @CervantesPAlex

After four straight campaigns finishing at or above .500 in conference play, Northwestern sputtered to a 2-16 finish in the Big Ten last year. With the 2023-24 season under a month away, coach Joe McKeown, senior forward Paige Mott and junior forward Caileigh Walsh fielded questions at Big Ten Media Day on Monday as the team looks to rebound from last year’s struggles. Entering his 16th season at the helm of the Wildcats, McKeown said his team is looking to meet the program’s lofty expectations once again. “We’re used to winning at a high level,” McKeown said. “Last year was a little tough. Our approach now is to just put our head down and go to work. … I think you’ll see the Wildcats right back to where we were.” Here are three takeaways from NU’s round of interviews in Minneapolis:

sophomore guard Caroline Lau owns the highest 3-point shooting percentage, having knocked down 31.3% of her attempts. The solution to those shooting woes, McKeown hopes, lies in Boston University transfer Maggie Pina. “Maggie Pina is an amazing story, actually a kid from Philly who has scored 990some points in her career at Boston U,” McKeown said. “One of the great shooters and we couldn’t shoot last year.” Pina, who averaged 9.4 points per game as a senior for the Terriers, canned 37.5% of her 3-pointers. A career 34.4% shooter from deep, Pina improved her 3-point shooting mark by nearly eight percentage points from her junior to senior year. In her first game in Spain, the lift her shooting could provide was immediately clear. The graduate student guard knocked down all six of her shots, including five 3s, McKeown said. “She ain’t going to play defense, but she’s going to make shots,” McKeown said. “I can guarantee you that.”

1. McKeown hopes tough nonconference schedule pays dividends

3. Summer Spain trip lays foundation for team culture

The ‘Cats opened last season with matchups against a pair of top-20 squads (Oregon and Notre Dame) in two of their first three games. Although both games ended in blowout losses, NU and McKeown will once again face some high-quality opponents in nonconference play. The ‘Cats will travel to South Bend, Indiana, on Nov. 15 to face coach Niele Ivey’s Notre Dame squad, which is ranked No. 11 in The Athletic’s preseason rankings. A multi-team event in Las Vegas will see NU matchup with Florida State, another projected top-20 outfit and could even see McKeown’s bunch face forward Cameron Brink and Stanford. “We carved out a brutal schedule, which I wanted to challenge our team,” McKeown said. “Hopefully by the time Big Ten hits, we’ll be ready.”

McKeown might have confused Flamenco, the dance form based in southern Spain, for the pink birds native to Florida, but that did not deter him from discussing his favorite off-court memory from the team’s summer overseas trip. “It was like watching a Broadway show,” McKeown said. “The drama and the emotion, it was incredible. … And then the three (Flamenco dancers) were such incredible athletes. It was about 110 degrees in there, I tried to get two of them to come be power forwards.” On the court, the ‘Cats swept all three of their games, notching wins over Madrid Select, Nou Basquet Paterna and Catalonia Elite. Both Mott and Walsh said improving the team’s culture was a big focus over the summer, with the trip across the pond serving as a key building block. “When you’re losing, it’s really hard to stay together and keep the energy high,” Mott said. “But we worked a lot on it. We went to Spain, we bonded a lot and we’re just taking it one day at a time.”

By ALEX CERVANTES

The most conference wins in program history. Two All-Big Ten honorees. The Big Ten Coach of the Year and the inaugural Assistant Coach of the Year. A second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. These are the accolades of last season’s Northwestern squad, whose second-place finish in the Big Ten was the program’s highest since Dwight D. Eisenhower was in the Oval Office. With the Wildcats’ season-opener against Binghamton less than a month away, a new campaign draws closer with each passing day. At Big Ten Media Day on Tuesday, coach Chris Collins and three players — graduate student guard Boo Buie, senior guard Ty Berry and junior guard Brooks Barnhizer — fielded questions from the media ahead of the 2023-24 season. As NU searches for another program milestone — making the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons — Collins is not mentioning last year’s success. Returning four of their top six scorers, the ‘Cats have continuity but also boast six new faces — three transfers and three freshmen. “Our guys have done a very good job so far in the summer and into our preseason practices of understanding that last year is last year,” Collins said. “I purposefully don’t ever mention it with this group because it’s not relevant to this year’s team. We have to be hungry to pursue accomplishments with this team.” Here are three takeaways from NU’s media appearance in Minneapolis: 1. Replacing Audige on defense Chase Audige, the reigning Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year, is hooping in the nation’s capital now. With their defensive cornerstone gone, the ‘Cats will still lean on their defensive principles to carry over into the new season, Barnhizer said. “It’s kind of like a next man up mentality,” Barnhizer told Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine. “Chase was a great player and we’re going to miss him. But now there’s a new opportunity for other people to come in and be physical. … Hopefully

daily senior staffer @CervantesPAlex

Daily file photo by Angeli Mittal

Northwestern graduate student guard Boo Buie dribbles the ball. Buie was one of Northwestern’s four representatives at Big Ten Media Day on Tuesday.

we can just be the same defensive team, if not better.” Assistant coach Chris Lowery, who ushered in NU’s patented post doubles, enters his second year in Evanston. His defensive renaissance of sorts ultimately saw the ‘Cats finish 22nd in KenPom’s defensive efficiency metric. NU will be looking to replicate that success again this season. The ‘Cats return one of the conference’s best rim protectors in senior center Matt Nicholson and add sophomore transfer guard Justin Mullins, who averaged 1.5 steals per game as a freshman at the University of Denver. 2. Buie talks potential offensive transformation While NU’s defense was elite, its offense was not nearly as dominant. The ‘Cats shot just 32.1% from 3-point range, which ranked 282nd in the nation, according to KenPom. Collins expects Berry to improve his career-worst 29.1% mark from distance last season. Buie pointed to all three transfers — Mullins, graduate student guard Ryan Langborg and graduate student forward Blake Preston — as sources of potential offensive sparks as well, in particular Langborg. Langborg, one of Princeton’s NCAA Tournament heroes last spring, is a career

36.3% 3-point shooter. Buie said Langborg is “another older guy who just knows what he’s doing,” one who can bring both shooting and playmaking to the offense. “So far, just in this preseason, we’ve been really shooting it and moving it well and playing really connected,” Buie said. “The offense has been flowing really well.” 3. Student support in Welsh-Ryan Arena There was unprecedented turnout at men’s basketball games last winter, prompting the Athletics Department to issue a new points-based system for students to secure tickets this year. The impact of the student section’s support is not lost on Collins and his squad. “Hopefully we can really recreate those similar atmospheres,” Collins said. “I really thought it probably helped us to three or four more wins. And that’s a big deal when you’re fighting to be a postseason team, you’re fighting to be in the upper echelon of the league.” While talking to Revsine, Barnhizer echoed a similar sentiment to Collins. The Lafayette, Indiana, native said the increased support is a testament to the trajectory of the program. alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu

2. McKeown leaning on transfer to shore up shooting struggles It’s no secret that NU struggled from beyond the arc last season, shooting a Big Ten-worst 26.7% from 3-point range. Among the team’s returning players,

alexcervantes2024@u.northwestern.edu