The Daily Northwestern — October 19, 2016

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The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, October 19, 2016

DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM 8 SPORTS/Men’s Soccer

3 CAMPUS/Politics

Wildcats shock No. 4 Notre Dame in OT

Medill professors pinpoint disengaged but potentially crucial voting group

Find us online @thedailynu 4 OPINION/Letter to the Editor

MARS will do better to combat rape culture

High 66 Low 56

AIMING FOR INCLUSION

Students encounter exclusion early on Wildcat Welcome presents challenges for black students By ALLYSON CHIU Sam Schumacher/Daily Senior Staffer

U.S. representative and senate candidate Tammy Duckworth addresses college affordability during a roundtable discussion with teachers and students. Duckworth advocated for the In The Red Act, which would provide additional grants and allow students to refinance loans.

Duckworth discusses education By SAM KREVLIN

daily senior staffer @samkrevlin

CHICAGO — After her father lost his job, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) dropped out of private school and entered the public school system. Duckworth — who is currently running for Senate against Republican incumbent Mark Kirk — said she relied on food stamps and other government services to get by, but never lost the hope of going to college. Duckworth spoke about obstacles facing young people at a roundtable discussion with Illinois teachers and students Tuesday in Chicago. Duckworth said the lack of Pell Grants and affordable loans — and the need to refinance those loans — have left students hopeless. As an Iraq War veteran who

lost both her legs in combat, Duckworth said she approaches educational reform from a national security perspective. She said others in Congress view education as a “soft issue” or just another “handout.” “When people talk about the strength of this nation, they talk about tanks and guns and helicopters,” Duckworth said. ”But when we talk about national strength and our role as a global leader, nobody talks about education as part of that foundation. If we don’t have affordable college education, we aren’t going to get the pilots to fly those aircrafts. … We aren’t going to get engineers who are going to be developing the next generation of fighter jets.” A Duckworth-backed legislative package aims to close tax loopholes to provide enough money to invest in community colleges, increase Pell Grants and

Political experts talk Illinois races By NORA SHELLY

daily senior staffer @noracshelly

Huge amounts of money are being poured into some Illinois state house races, but it may not end up making a difference due to the impact of Donald Trump’s candidacy on down-ballot races, several political experts said at a panel Monday. The discussion featured journalists and political scientists discussing dynamics of Illinois politics during the 2016 election cycle. The event was organized by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a nonpartisan group that aims to increase accountability in government officials, promote civic involvement and address the role of money in politics. According to one of the ICPR’s data programs on money in politics, Illinois Sunshine, several state house and office races have reached an unexpected level of spending. “We’re seeing unprecedented

amounts of money being pumped into these tiny races,” said Natasha Korecki, panelist and Politico Illinois reporter. “(But) in the end it might do nothing to help them gain a seat just because of the dynamics of this election.” The rhetoric of the presidential campaign — and particularly the divisive campaign run by Republican nominee Donald Trump — will have an effect on other races, several panelists said. For Republicans, turnout may be an issue, said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. “As this Trump thing looks to be dissembling … some Republicans may just stay home,” he said. “That will hurt all down-ballot Republicans.” Yepsen said polls show Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton are nearly tied among older, white, uneducated women, while in 2008 that same cohort » See PANEL, page 6

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allow students to refinance their loans at lower interest rates. The act was introduced in the House in April and has yet to be voted on. One of the loopholes Duckworth hopes to close is an end to deductibility of executive compensation, which allows tax write-offs for performance-based bonuses. She said such exemptions — given to employees whose salaries often surpass $1 million — cost taxpayers over $50 billion over 10 years. In addition, ending corporate tax inversions that allow U.S. companies to move their tax domicile — a person or company’s permanent address that is used for tax purposes — overseas would raise $25 billion over 10 years, she said. “If you would just tax that, we would raise the $60 billion,” she said. “There is money out there, and that money isn’t going to hurt

middle-income families.” Duckworth reiterated that even without closing loopholes, cutting military spending would free up more funding for education. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who hosted the roundtable with Greenblatt said she trusts Duckworth to enact affordable education reforms. She said Congress has failed over the past eight years, but that Duckworth understands the importance of affordable education because of her middle-class background. “There is such obstruction in the U.S. Senate and House right now that even this common sense idea, which essentially is a fair taxation idea…hasn’t had the legs it needs to have because there aren’t enough people in Congress willing to do that,” Weingarten said. » See DUCKWORTH, page 6

daily senior staffer @_allysonchiu

Each day of Wildcat Welcome, Communication freshman Mega Dafiaghor changed something about her appearance in the hope of making new friends. “I had a different approach every single day because I didn’t want it to be like, they don’t want to hang out with me because I’m black,” Dafiaghor said. “I wanted it to be like, maybe I just don’t seem friendly enough or maybe I should dress more athletic today … but nothing changed.” Dafiaghor is one of many black students who said Wildcat Welcome is not as inclusive and welcoming as it should be. A 150-page report on the black student experience at Northwestern — sent to students in September over email — recommended the University review the inclusiveness of Wildcat Welcome and add more preorientation opportunities based on data gathered from student feedback. In the report, black students who participated in focus groups said they felt alienated in Peer Adviser groups and that it seemed as though some students in their groups hadn’t interacted

with black people before. In Fall 2015, African-American students comprised less than 10 percent of American undergraduates at NU, while white students made up nearly 70 percent, according to the report. These statistics did not include international students and students who didn’t indicate their race or ethnicity. Dafiaghor said her PA group had seven students, two of whom were black. “People weren’t really willing or they just weren’t talking to me at all,” Dafiaghor said. “I see how they interact and talk with other people, but I didn’t understand why they weren’t doing that towards me.” Efforts to change the dynamic of PA groups include “better and more robust” training for PAs, said Josh McKenzie, associate director for New Student and Family Programs and director of first-year experience. “We have around 200 Peer Advisors with different levels of experiences,” McKenzie said. “How do we do a better job preparing our Peer Advisers to be mentors and to be people that can advise in many different capacities for any single student that is in the group?” In addition to PA groups, some students, including Weinberg freshman Sandra Kibet, said they were disappointed by the diversity and inclusion True » See WELCOME, page 6

Menstrual product plan takes shape Students plan pilot program for free tampons, pads

By YVONNE KIM

daily senior staffer @yvonneekimm

A student-run initiative for free menstrual products in campus bathrooms is gaining momentum, with a bathroom assessment planned for Thursday and a pilot program expected to launch before the end of the quarter. A survey released Sept. 28 to gauge student thoughts on the idea was met with “fabulous” reactions, said SESP junior Sophia Etling, a member of College Feminists and Rainbow Alliance, two students groups sponsoring the initiative. The survey collected 1,044 responses, Etling said, which comprises almost a fourth of Northwestern’s female undergraduate population. Associated Student

Government and Sexual Health and Assault Peer Educators are also sponsoring the initiative. “The results were really positive,” ASG President Christina Cilento said. “It reaffirmed our commitment to it. … (Students) gave great feedback on how to make it as inclusive as possible.” Students in support of the effort presented a proposal outlining the results of

the survey to vice president of student affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin two weeks ago and are now planning the implementation of a pilot program. “We are looking to address the deficit of accessible menstrual products on campus,” the proposal said. “Just as the University provides free condoms for students to engage in safe sex, so too should Northwestern provide free

menstrual products so students feel supported in their natural bodily functions, without financial barriers.” Survey responses, which were included in the proposal, revealed that 97 percent of respondents rarely use the current dispensers in bathrooms, with 67 percent having never used them and 30 percent using them “very infrequently.” Nearly 90 percent of respondents said the potential program was an “important or very important” issue to them. Students leaders will meet Thursday to further discuss the issue, after which they will assess bathrooms on campus to develop an effective pilot program. The program will place pads and tampons in certain bathrooms — those in the Technological Institute, Kresge Hall, the first floor of Main Library, Norris University Center and Annenberg Hall — to gauge how many products are needed and how

Graphic by Davis Rich

» See MENSTRUAL, page 6

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


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