The Daily Northwestern — October 19, 2020 by The Daily Northwestern

The Daily Northwestern Monday, October 19, 2020

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Pre-med students reflect on double life

Value campus spaces other than Greek life

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ROAD TO ABOLITION NU Community Not Cops, students march daily in hopes of disbanding NUPD

Evan Robinson-Johnson/Daily Senior Staffer

By ISABELLE SARRAF and BINAH SCHATSKY daily senior staffers @isabellesarraf, @binahschatsky

For over a month, a mask-shaped sign reading “We’re N This Together” hung from the Weber Arch. It was meant to symbolize a unified start to Northwestern’s academic year but was often mocked by students instead. By 11:51 p.m. Saturday night the sign was on the ground, by 11:53 p.m. it was in flames and by 12:30 a.m. it was in a crumpled heap at the feet of police officers guarding the home of University President Morton Schapiro. About 300 students, led by members of NU Community Not Cops, gathered in front of Foster-Walker Complex Saturday night for the sixth consecutive day of marches demanding the abolition of University Police. “You guys are here tonight for a cause,” one student said to the crowd. “And you’re here to protect Black and Brown lives.” “The power of the people don’t stop”

Music and spirited chants spread among the masked crowd as students marched through Evanston Saturday night. Some students tagged sidewalks and buildings, including UP headquarters, with “F--k 12,” “ACAB,” “Abolition is the Solution” and more. The march concluded in front of Schapiro’s house, where at least three UP officers stood guard behind a University Facilities Management barrier. Other officers were stationed around the block. Several Evanston Police Department officers stood at the nearby intersection in riot gear as well, some equipped with batons and shields. Standing in front of Schapiro’s house, students reminded the president of their demands. He didn’t make an appearance at any of the past week’s protests, and hasn’t personally met with student organizers at all. “Divest from NUPD, disband NUPD, invest in Black lives and get the f--k out of our University,” one student said to the crowd. Throughout Saturday’s march, students spray painted abolitionist messaging on neighborhood sidewalks and buildings, including Whole Foods Market, which is

Behind City Council’s pick for new city manager Amid controversy, Storlie chosen after interim year By JACOB FULTON

daily senior staffer @jacobnfulton

Evanston City Council announced Tuesday it had selected Erika Storlie as its

finalist to fill its open city manager role, amid public opposition from many residents to the possibility of her appointment. Storlie, who has served as Evanston’s interim city manager since September 2019 and has been a city employee since

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

2004, was one of three finalists for the job. The other two finalists were Aretha FerrellBenavides, who is the current city manager of Petersburg, Va., and Marie Peoples, who is » See STORLIE, page 1

owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos. As some students wrote anti-capitalist messages on the building’s exterior, at least one individual smashed a storefront window. University spokesperson Jon Yates told the Daily in an email the University firmly supports vigorous debate and the free expression of ideas but was disappointed by the vandalism and damage to private and public property. “Should members of the Northwestern community be found in violation of University policies, state or federal laws,” Yates said, “they will be held accountable through our processes.” But as students marched demanding abolition of UP, they also urged accountability from the administration, who they said have ignored their demands. “They care more about private property than human lives,” one student told The Daily. “There is no level of property destruction that we can do that is more violent than the cops existing.”

Robert Crown gym named after Logan family

The gymnasium in the newly renovated Robert Crown Community Center will be named the Logan Family Gymnasium, after the Logan family, who have been longtime residents of the city, the city of Evanston and Friends of the Robert Crown Center announced Thursday. The gymnasium will host events like camps, recreational activities and pre-K classes,

» See CNC, page 1

according to the release. The construction process on the project began in summer 2018, with a price tag of nearly $53 million. The renovations were initially proposed in January 2017, when the plan was to refurbish the inside of the building. However, later on, the project turned into a complete rebuild of the center, causing cost increases and community controversy. The city held a celebratory ribbon cutting on Oct. 3, though the center first opened on Feb. 29, with portions opening throughout the spring. The

facilities include two ice rinks, a variety of athletic fields, a new library branch and multiple community rooms, along with the gymnasium. “It is next to impossible to find a family who has invested more time or worked harder to make Evanston a safer, better educated and more just community than the Logan Family,” Evanston Parks and Recreation Board President and Friends of the Robert Crown Center Board Member Denise Barreto said in the release. — Jacob Fulton

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

2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020

AROUND TOWN

Double dutch event honors Breonna Taylor’s life By MAIA SPOTO

daily senior staffer @maia_spoto

Jumping rope, grooving to music and cheering each other on, Evanston and Chicago residents of all ages gathered outside Evanston Township High School on Saturday to honor Breonna Taylor’s life. Alongside the event, Haven Middle School student Olivia Ohlson coordinated hygiene product donations as part of her ongoing effort to help those financially affected by the pandemic. Members of the 40+ Double Dutch Club, a nationwide organization with Chicagoland chapters, also joined in to jump. Taylor was fatally shot by police in Louisville, Ken. in March, sparking nationwide protests for justice. Last month, a Kentucky grand jury failed to charge any officers with her killing. Organizer Melissa Blount said a Vanity Fair feature recounting Taylor’s life from the perspective of her mother, Tamika Palmer, inspired the event. Blount had never double-dutched before, but when she learned the mother and daughter shared a love for jumping rope, she immediately began planning “Jump Off for Breonna” to celebrate Taylor’s life. “We’re tapping into this spirit of joy,” Blount said. “I’ve been talking about this whole notion of cultivating Black joy, because there’s so much oppressiveness connected to Blackness in America. I want to lighten it up.” Evanston resident Miah Logan, who taught Blount to jump rope a few days prior to the event, said “everyone has a story” about how double dutch came into their life. Logan’s double dutch history, she said, is one of sisterhood and camaraderie. Jumping rope helped Logan, who moved from Korea to Pennsylvania as a child, build a community with the girls on her Philadelphia block. Though she took a 22-year break from double dutch, Logan helped lead the festivities Saturday, demonstrating jump-rope techniques and teaching community members hopscotch.

Maia Spoto/Daily Senior Staffer

Evanston and Chicago residents gather to celebrate Breonna Taylor’s life. Melissa Blount said she organized “Jump Off for Breonna Taylor” to cultivate joy and community.

“I hope everyone can connect with each other through our differences today,” Logan said. “Whether jump-roping or hula hooping or learning a new game, we can learn together and help each other. Remember that this can be carried on outside of this circle today.” Evanston resident Michelle Jung Janus said she was happy to take in the joy of the afternoon alongside her daughter. Jung Janus said her experiences with racism inform the way she’s exposed her three-year-old to protests and conversations about

race over the past year. Jung Janus previously brought her daughter to a protest commemorating George Floyd in July. She said she was glad for her child’s sake that the Saturday event represented a celebration of life, rather than a mourning of death. “There’s a fine line between being aware and letting a three-year-old know all the trauma of what’s going on,” Jung Janus said. “But then — some kids don’t have that privilege.” Ben Blount, Melissa Blount’s husband, said he

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didn’t jump rope much as a kid because it was “a girl thing.” However, he said he loved the exercise, music and community he felt Saturday. Ben Blount said he hopes Evanston will engage with more double dutch events down the road. “The idea of people getting together to do stuff that’s physical is fun,” Ben Blount said. “It’s a good way to bring people together — then infuse that into other actions.” maiaspoto2023@u.northwestern.edu

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020

ON CAMPUS

Latinx students celebrate community By MARIA XIMENA ARAGON

the daily northwestern @menitaaragon

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MSA’s Latinx Heritage Month kickoff from 2019. This year, the programming combines active and passive virtual options.

hotels and all that, we used in different ways to expand the search as far as the types of speakers and platforms, so it’s not just Zoom,” Magaña said. Accounting for NU’s academic calendar, MSA’s programming extends beyond the end of Latinx Heritage Month up until the Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, which ends on Nov. 2. “It’s critical that students have opportunities to engage around their multiple intersecting identities and… have spaces to process those with other students,” Magaña said. Weinberg college advisor and biology Prof. Marcelo Vinces said he relies on the support of colleagues across schools and majors, as he is the only Latinx identifying member in his department. “You find community where you can, but when you’re just going to departmental

meetings or going to the classes in your major you don’t get to do those connections,” Vinces said. “That’s another reason why these University wide events, which are social events are important for all of us to connect with each other.” MSA’s Café con Leche event connected students with Latinx faculty and staff. Vinces, who attended the meet and greet, said now more than ever faculty and staff must be intentional with their outreach beyond just Latinx Heritage Month. “My identity has always been important in my education and career but that I have had to look extra hard to find those spaces where the intersections of my interest in science and my identity meet,” Vinces added. “Thankfully, there are those spaces (at Northwestern).” mariaaragon2023@u.northwestern.edu

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Pão de queijo, plátanos fritos and café con leche are a few of the foods that bring together Northwestern’s Latinx community during Latinx Heritage Month. Running from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15., Latinx Heritage Month provides student organizations and NU administrators with an opportunity to celebrate Latinx culture, and also offers workshops and discussions open to the NU community. Students and faculty have found unique ways to combat the challenges of a dispersed student population amid the pandemic. Dale Duro Latin Dance Company kicked off the month’s festivities with an Instagram series on food recipes and a breakdown of the history of dances such as bachata, flamenco and reggaeton. For Weinberg junior and Dale Duro Vice President Nicole Villalba, belonging to a Latinx community on campus is especially important at times when she is missing home. The dance group Dale Duro prides itself on being inclusive to all backgrounds and cultures as well. “Not all of our students are Latinx, which I think is really great,” Villalba said. “They’re just people who love dance and want to know more about our culture.” Utilizing passive and active virtual programming, Multicultural Student Affairs hosted a wide range of events, from virtual art tours of Pilsen murals to social media campaigns about Latinx voting history and resources. MSA Associate Director Alejandro Magaña sees the obstacles created by a pandemic as an opportunity to be creative. “The time that we would have spent looking at spaces on campus, arranging flights,

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OPINION

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Monday, October 19, 2020

Support campus community spaces beyond Greek life SIMONA FINE

ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Even before I applied to Northwestern, I worried about the large presence of Greek life here, with approximately 40 percent of undergraduates participating in the institution. The culture of sexual assault and the emphasis on conforming to fit into this system was unappealing to me from the start, but recently, as the Abolish Greek Life movement has grown, more and more students are also questioning the role of these discriminatory organizations on our campus. Students justify joining and preserving Greek with the party culture, philanthropy events and the sense of community. But if someone is truly interested in volunteering, they’d be better off joining an organization that does more than host one fundraising event per quarter. Off-campus gatherings were also always a viable option pre-COVID, and crowded parties are now implausible. While searching for a group of friends is difficult and Greek life advertises a quick way to find your brothers and sisters for life, there are other places at Northwestern where students can find their people. Not only are there tons of clubs and student organizations, but there are dormitories and residential colleges that offer other opportunities to socialize without the negatives of Greek life. I met the majority of my friends at Northwestern through Willard Residential College, where I lived during my freshman and sophomore

years. Other peer institutions have figured out that creating an expansive residential college system is an effective way to quell Greek life. Yale University launched their residential college system in 1933, which began limiting Greek organizations on campus. At Rice University, there are no fraternities or sororities, as Greek life has been completely eclipsed by their residential colleges, which now constitute the basis of undergraduate social life. Widespread residential college systems are able to capture the benefits of Greek life without the exclusivity or the problematic activities. Students at Yale report feeling a sense of belonging when in their residential college and a survey sent out to the Class of 2023 just two weeks into their freshman year demonstrated how quickly people became connected to the identity of the living space. When queried as to which college they would most prefer to be a member of, a majority of respondents selected their own college and claimed it was objectively the best. Residential colleges at Rice also have established traditions and identities that foster camaraderie. Not only do they host events and parties as expected, but each college has unique celebrations to commemorate student’s birthdays, ranging from hanging up signs to throwing the honoree into a fountain. Unlike Greek chapters, residential colleges are inclusive and act as a microcosm of the campus, so they are as diverse as the university itself is. There is also no stressful rush process because everyone is automatically accepted into one of these spaces at universities with a holistic residential college system. Also, the University has more autonomy over the

regulations in the residential colleges since there are no pesky national organizations peeking in and disturbing any efforts to alter the system. For example, in residential colleges at Northwestern, any student over the age of 21 is allowed to consume alcohol in their private room, while sororities are banned from having alcohol in their houses or from throwing parties due to a sexist National Panhellenic Conference rule. This policy forces women to rely on men for social events, which has clearly bolstered the culture of sexual harassment and assault in fraternity spaces. Ridiculously gendered rules like this one simply don’t exist for self-governing residential colleges.

And even if residential college life isn’t the perfect fit for everyone, Greek life, which prides itself on being exclusive, certainly isn’t either. Northwestern has a foundation for building a comprehensive residential college system. Currently, we have 10 residential colleges on campus, some of which are thematic, that each provide a unique living environment. As a proud member of Willard Residential College, I spent many evenings attending Munchies, Firesides, or Woovie Nights and enjoyed lunches with faculty fellows at High Table. I happily wore our red and gold T-shirts and threw up my hands into

a W shape, screaming “Sko Woos” at events where we competed against the other colleges. Through these events, I was able to meet many of my friends at Northwestern, and through our established practices, I developed a sense of identity around living in this community. If you ask me which residential college is best, there is no doubt in my mind that the only correct answer is Willard. I’m not the only person who has felt pride in their Northwestern residential college. Students rep their colleges by wearing their sweatshirts across campus, just like how Greek-affiliated undergraduates sport their letters. Each year, Willard brings in fellows to speak about historical shenanigans and festivities, demonstrating the decades of Willard spirit that have coalesced to form the college’s current traditions and identity. If Northwestern expands the residential college system so that it encompasses all students on campus, more people will be able to discover community without being swayed by the harmful institution that is Greek life. The residential college system gave me the opportunity to foster social connections and I want everyone to get their fair chance at finding friends this way. And even if residential college life isn’t the perfect fit for everyone, Greek life, which prides itself on being exclusive, certainly isn’t either. Simona Fine is a McCormick junior. She can be contacted at simonafine2022@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 many problems with college LinkedIn culture BEN BORROK

OPINION EDITOR

In recent years, creating a LinkedIn page has become an inevitable feature of college life. The website, designed to improve the networking capabilities of employers and potential employees alike, has grown steadily since its official launch in 2003. The intentions of the website are smart, and to the need for young professionals to connect with professionals in their field. Users can post their work experiences, education, resumes and even broadcast to their network if they are looking for a new opportunity. Despite these helpful features, I detest the website. My critique is not solely of the website, but of the mindset that it encompasses. I am not simply complaining about the inconvenience that goes along with networking to get your first job; that is inevitable. My gripe is with the professional work culture and the copious amounts of unsolicited advice-givers that fill the platform. Granted, I hate bragging about myself. It made college applications difficult and it makes networking difficult as well. While previous networking strategies would require me to email potential employers and schedule

meetings with people, LinkedIn makes it so that you cannot escape the achievements and updates of others. Your interactions and achievements are there for anyone to see, making personal, heartfelt interactions impossible. Rather, it becomes a zero-sum game. Everyone’s intentions are transactional. Every time you reach out to someone, it becomes clear that your intentions are for your own benefit only, and that doesn’t sit right with me.

Overall, I feel that too much pressure is put on students to be professionals, as if we don’t have the rest of our lives to figure things out. I hate to think that everyone is only interacting with me and each other because of personal gain, that our time and relationships are only valuable if they give us an upperhand in the American workplace. This ideology, for the lack of a better term, has spread to people my own age. People I know from high school and college have, understandably, begun to posture for careers by eliminating any sign of their personality on their profile page. Gone are pictures

and personal interests, replaced by leadership skills and work experiences. I don’t see this as useful for a job — no employer is hiring a list of achievements, they hire people who fit within the company culture. Yet, it becomes evident that the opportunities are selected not off what makes students happy, but what looks good for a resume. How are you comfortable living your life for an employer? What time is left for our own experiences? Beyond studying and working, when are we meant to be living? I hate that I feel guilty when I take time for myself, that any time spent doing something besides work is unproductive and will result in me falling behind my peers. There is a notion, which is especially prevalent on LinkedIn, that we need to overextend ourselves in the workplace in order to be deemed successful. I am constantly being promoted motivational posters on my LinkedIn feed who talk about finding success before the age of 25. These posts are complemented by a smattering of similar profiles commenting about how they found success and giving unsolicited advice that is far too reliant on socioeconomic status to be taken seriously. To be frank, the expectation is unattainable and is crushing for the mental health of students. We graduate at age 21-22, how are we expected to figure it all out within such a short period of time? This mindset has also driven many away from their passions, as pressure is put on to be financially successful above all else. Discourse

on LinkedIn, as well as other social media, encourages people to drop their passions in exchange for economics or STEM fields under the guise of usefulness. I encourage you to imagine living in a world without entertainment, media, art or social sciences. How unbelievably depressing that sounds, not to mention economically devastating for society. I play this game too, and as much as I may complain, I know that it is necessary to network in order to find later success. That does not mean, however, that the current state of worker culture is justifiable, and much can be done to address these draining attitudes.Too much pressure is put on students to be professionals, as if we don’t have the rest of our lives to figure things out. In a sense, it feels like a thievery of our youth, with fewer opportunities to make mistakes and fun college memories. I don’t want to look back and regret the experiences I passed up in order to pursue a career. I believe that having the best of both worlds — work and personal life — should be attainable for everyone. Ben Borrok is a School of Communication junior. He can be contacted at benjaminborrok2022@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 142, Issue 9 Editor in Chief Marissa Martinez

Managing Editors Austin Benavides Sneha Dey Molly Lubbers Jacob Ohara

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 • Should be double-spaced • Should include the author’s name, signature, school, class and phone number. • Should be fewer than 400 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.

Opinion Editor Ben Borrok

Assistant Opinion Editor Simona Fine

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.

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020

Pre-professional frats, clubs reconsider recruitment By EMILY SAKAI

daily senior staffer @em_sakai

As Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council chapters face criticism for their exclusive recruitment practices, other organizations on campus are moving to reform their own recruitment practices in an effort to be more inclusive. Northwestern’s chapter of co-ed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, had conversations around abolition this summer but ultimately favored reform, said Hajin Jang, the chapter president. The Weinberg senior said pre-professional aspects of AKPsi make it distinct from social fraternities. “At the end of the day, we’re all about helping underclassmen going into business,” Jang said. “Most of us thought that it’s best for Northwestern and the Northwestern business community if we stay and keep trying to do what we’re doing.” AKPsi has been emphasizing diversity and inclusion in the recruitment and pledge processes this year. They have been implementing mentorship programs and bias training, Jang said, to help members of marginalized communities feel more comfortable in the chapter. The fraternity also hosted an information session this year specifically for women, where women in AKPsi spoke about their experiences and prospective members could ask questions, Lauren Risenhoover, a Weinberg sophomore and member of AKPsi, said. This year, Risenhoover said, AKPsi’s pledge class is split 50-50 between men and women, when in previous years there have been slightly more men than women. “AKPsi is a really valuable resource that has allowed me to meet a lot of other women who want to go into business and learn a lot about different fields,” Risenhoover said. “Although we definitely recognize the necessity to reform the system, overall, there are benefits that could potentially come from AKPsi in terms of allowing access to opportunities.” Phi Alpha Delta, a co-ed fraternity focused on law, changed their recruitment this year by completely eliminating interviews from the process. Daniel Rodriguez, a SESP junior and PAD’s

Daily file photo by Caroline Olsen

Students visit tables at a club fair. This year, many organizations are adjusting their recruitment processes to be more exclusive.

marketing chair, said the group is recruiting anyone interested and wants PAD to be a community “where everyone is welcome.” “We want to be accessible to everyone. Interview applications are already inherently intimidating for some students,” Rodriguez said. “Opening it up by not having such a rigorous process really helps students be able to approach us easier.” Organizational changes have not been exclusive to pre-professional fraternities.

Northwestern’s Chinese Students Association has made major changes to its recruitment process as well. In order to join in the past, Isabell Liu, Weinberg junior and CSA’s cultural chair, said the organization required a more serious application process and interview. They still have these components, Liu said, but they are more casual and more focused on matching new members with a mentor. Liu said she was uncomfortable with the

organization’s exclusionary system. “I personally did not realize the parallel between the harm that is caused by the exclusionary practices of Greek life and CSA,” Liu said. “I’m not saying that they are the same thing. But there are definitely some parallels in terms of our application process, and more importantly, just how people felt after walking out of CSA.” emilysakai2023@u.northwestern.edu

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6 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

CNC

From page 1

A summer of “empty promises”

Monday marks 138 days since NU students released demands to abolish campus police. A June 3 petition, which has since garnered over 8,000 signatures, urged the University to disarm, defund and disband UP and redirect the funds to institutions that serve Black students’ wellbeing. At one virtual dialogue this summer, a student involved in NU Community Not Cops who wished to remain anonymous said administrators showed up woefully unprepared. The student said though panelists were sent materials in advance about abolition, they deflected questions about transformative justice to the one Black woman on the panel — Sekile Nzinga, interim chief diversity officer. It was disrespectful for those administrators to put no labor on themselves and instead rely on the labor of a Black woman, the student said “It felt like they didn’t feel obligated to learn about any aspect of abolition at all,” she said. “Those meetings were stalling tactics and just very performative.” NU administrators made commitments throughout the summer to creating a cultural change on campus, but Provost Kathleen Hagerty said the University was not committed to defunding UP. Instead, she said, NU is currently reevaluating the role of police on campus. On July 24, she added that there would be “no problem” with disclosing the UP budget. [CQ][CQ] Administrators have yet to release it. On Sept. 10, the University announced it has engaged two outside consultants to lead a review of UP’s community engagement, operations and policies — including a budgetary review. Yates said the review involves reporting protocol, an assurance of bias-free policing and the “maintenance of the highest standards for lawenforcement professionalism.” The University also plans to improve public

STORLIE From page 1

serving as Coconino County, Ariz.’s deputy county manager. City Council is slated to vote on Storlie’s contract on Monday. The approval of the contract would finalize her appointment as Evanston’s next City Manager. According to the contract, Storlie’s annual salary will be $225,000 — nearly $10,000 more than her predecessor, Wally Bobkiewicz. But residents have questioned Storlie’s preparation for the job, especially on the fronts of equity and inclusion, when compared to the other two finalists, who are both Black women.

Did all roads lead to Storlie?

The city hired GovHR USA, an administrative hiring agency, to conduct the search for the next city manager in January. The three finalists were announced from among 76 applicants in early October. Even before the city announced its final decision, some residents assumed City Council would nominate Storlie. The assumption came in part from a May proposal to cut short the nationwide search for a new city manager, directly appointing Storlie to the position instead. Proponents of the direct appointment, including Mayor Steve Hagerty, said Storlie had proven herself ready for the role, both through her years of service to the city and her time as interim city manager during the pandemic. Additionally, Hagerty said he was concerned about the implications of selecting a candidate who would be willing to leave the community they served in a time of crisis. However, many residents opposed Storlie’s direct appointment, saying it was the exact opposite of the transparent public hiring process the

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020 safety procedures relating to de-escalation and crisis response, which Yates said will ultimately lead to a public report with recommendations, including a discussion of the UP budget. But some students say these “empty promises” are not enough.

“Stand up, fight back”

NU Community Not Cops started marching daily on Oct. 12 — and the organization said they don’t plan on stopping until the University commits to abolishing UP. Students ended the first march at Schapiro’s home, where they were met by police presence. “It shows that police are here to be a private security force for the wealthy,” one student said. “You don’t need cops stationed outside of your house. It’s a ton of audacity.” Prior to Monday’s march, students hung a banner on Weber Arch demanding “Cops out of NU” and another by the Donald P. Jacobs Center reiterating their message to disarm, defund and disband UP. Yates said the University removed the sign from the Arch, consistent with its practice of not allowing any signs to be placed on the Arch. Yates said the sign was rehung from a tree near the Arch, but it was found laying on the ground near the Arch just hours later. After Schapiro announced the review of UP’s budget in September, a student involved in NU Community Not Cops told The Daily the organization held a meeting with the outside consultants. According to the student, the consultants were asking “gotcha” questions that undermined the ideas behind abolition. She said she got the sense from the consultants that the budgetary review would not be fully completed by the end of the quarter. NU Community Not Cops realized after this meeting, she said, that the University didn’t feel the same sense of urgency as students. If NU is “just going to throw money at the problem,” she said, they could have hired abolitionists to explain concepts like transformative justice. “We started the daily marches to show them public called for. Before the June 8 City Council meeting where the Council was slated to vote on the direct appointment, members of Evanston grassroots groups like the Organization for Positive Action and Leadership, Community Alliance for Better Government and Dear Evanston held a socially distanced rally calling on the city to vote against the proposed nomination. Prior to the meeting, Storlie said she supported the completion of a public process as was planned — a statement Evanston grassroots activist Allie Harned said may have been the “tipping point” in the decision to proceed with the search. “I’ve been here for 16 years. I know the public process has been at the core of what Evanston and who Evanston is,” Storlie said at the time. At the meeting, City Council voted against the direct appointment, and the search continued.

Involving the public in the search

Throughout the search process, the city opened up multiple points for public input, including two recruitment meetings this summer. As part of the efforts to generate the job description, residents emphasized the importance of racial equity, social awareness and budget consciousness. After the names of the three finalists were made public, residents were also given the chance to attend an Oct. 7 public forum in which the candidates answered questions about issues like affordable housing, climate change and other essential topics. However, some residents, like former Evanston Public Library librarian Lesley Williams, said the public forum indicated that other candidates may have been better suited for the job than Storlie. “Given the extreme budget problems that we have in Evanston, it’s really kind of surprising that

that a lot of students care about it,” she said. “It’s easy to ignore a petition, but it’s harder to ignore 60 people walking through Evanston shouting. If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes.”

“Out of your house, into the streets”

As students marched through Evanston, residents and off-campus students gathered on their balconies, peered out of restaurants or observed from sidewalks and car windows. Students encouraged onlookers to join the march, sometimes pausing in front of houses and apartment complexes, chanting “out of your house, into the streets.” In her four years of organizing at NU, one student said this is the first time she’s felt supported by wealthy White students. Between generous individual donations and showing up to marches, she said it actually feels like people are getting behind the message of abolition. She added that turnout has increased every single day since the marches began, in part because students have started bringing friends along. “I don’t see a reason why this has to stop until Northwestern abolishes the police department,” she said. “It really feels like we could keep this up until that happens, and I don’t think the University takes us seriously enough to think that we will do that.” Throughout the week, students reported harassment from Evanston residents during these marches — from unwanted photographs to hecklers to one driver reaching out of his window to hit students who passed his car. While students spray painted the street outside the police department Saturday night, one man stood at the opposite street corner with an American flag. There have also been residents out supporting student efforts, raising fists in solidarity or chanting with the crowd. “When I say Evanston is the most racist place I’ve ever lived, I’m not exaggerating,” one student told The Daily. “But showing up for Black residents in Evanston makes me really happy.” the council would choose someone like (Storlie) over someone who had so much direct experience with budgeting,” Williams said. Additionally, some residents criticized Storlie’s response to a question asking about her previous work related to equity initiatives. Storlie talked about her role in the implementation of Evanston’s reparations program — but some residents said she was taking credit for the work of Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th). Over a dozen residents spoke out at public comment during Monday’s City Council meeting, sharing their support for Ferrell-Benavides and Peoples ahead of Tuesday’s announcement. City Council decided on their finalist in a closed executive session soon after the public forum, which many residents said limited time for public input and response after the event. Storlie was announced as the Council’s choice several days after Monday’s meeting. Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th) said in an update on her website that she, along with Ald. Thomas Suffredin (6th), advocated for a public vote on the candidate selection. However, none of the other members of City Council agreed with them, resulting in the private vote.

An announcement and a reaction

The announcement that Storlie would be the city’s final choice was met with significant public outcry. Many residents took to Facebook, responding to the city’s post announcing the nomination with negative comments. Commenters said the city discounted residents’ input and didn’t choose the best candidate for the job. Jessica Sales, the former chair of the city’s Mental Health Board, resigned from her position on Wednesday in direct response to the selection of Storlie as the city manager finalist.

Abolition above all else

In keeping with the mission of NU Community Not Cops, the goals of the Saturday action were abolitionist — a movement that calls for the abolition of policing and prisons as perpetrators of systemic racism and violence against Black and Brown communities. Heard alongside calls to defund the police amid Black Lives Matter protests this summer, abolition implies not just the dissolution of the current system of public safety but a reinvestment in a new community-driven system without police. The June petition outlined several opportunities for the University to invest in and commit to the health and well-being of Black students, such as the allocation of funds and resources to activist groups involved in the pursuit of justice for the Black community. These include the Chicago Community Bond Fund, Black Lives Matter and #NoCopAcademy. Other ideas included the creation of a fund or grant meant for students facing legal fees or issues after participating in protests or political activism, and ensuring injuries sustained in the course of community-based activism are included in NU-SHIP coverage. Students emphasized community care throughout Saturday’s demonstration, forming barricades to protect those who were spray painting, blocking bystanders taking pictures, passing around snacks and drinks, and periodically spreading out to allow for more social distancing. As the group concluded the march outside Schapiro’s house, one leader reminded the crowd of the core elements of their organizing. “Do not forget what abolition is,” the student said. “Yes, it means no cops. Yes, it means no law enforcement. But it also means that you, every single one of you, built the courage and the community to hold each other accountable.” isabellesarraf2022@u.northwestern.edu binahschatsky2022@u.northwestern.edu Sales said she was disappointed by the city’s choice, because she feels that it doesn’t represent Evanston’s stated commitment to equity and inclusion. As a result, she said she has become disillusioned about the role residents play in the city’s governing process. “I no longer want to be complicit in recommending that Black or brown constituents consider serving on a board, because I really fear that that adds to their previous experiences of marginalization or tokenization,” Sales said. “I don’t feel that those places are a safe place to their work and contributions and labor would be rewarded.” Local grassroots organizers from multiple groups, including Evanston-based Facebook organizing group Every Single Person Committed to Anti-Racism, organized a Friday protest against Storlie’s appointment. Ahead of the event, over 100 residents have expressed interest in attending the protest. Harned, the Evanston activist, is also a member of the group and one of the organizers for the protest. She said she hopes the event will pressure City Council to reverse their decision and vote against the approval of Storlie’s contract. Instead, Harned said she hopes to see the city either consider another candidate, restart the selection process or wait to choose a new city manager until after the April aldermanic elections. “(Storlie) is a safe choice and an easy choice for them to make, whereas choosing an outsider to come in and maybe really shake things up is a brave choice and a bold choice,” Harned said. “We want brave, bold, proactive leadership in this town that’s going to make people uncomfortable, so that we can actually try to get closer to racial equity than we’re at right now.” fulton@u.northwestern.edu

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020

Evanston Made market adjusts to new protocols By JORJA SIEMONS

the daily northwestern @jorjasiemons

Seventy-four Evanston-based artists sold goods ranging from beaded necklaces to illustrated cards two parking spaces apart from one another at the Maple Street Parking Garage as a part of the second annual Maker’s Market hosted by non-profit Evanston Made. To ensure ability for social distancing at the Oct. 18 event, attendees had to reserve time slots beforehand and were only allowed to shop for half an hour each. Evanston Made’s executive director, Lisa Degliantoni, said she was initially uncertain about hosting the event, but feedback from local artists proved its importance, and resulted in a socially distanced market. “(The motivation) came from the vendors requesting that we do something to help them sell in an environment where a lot of them have not sold their goods in a really long time,” she said. Degliantoni founded Evanston Made in 2012 after she moved to Evanston and realized there was no organization connecting citizens to local creatives. Last year, the organization instituted the Maker’s Market to provide a “super casual, fun shopping environment,” Degliantoni said, with local vendors and multiple booths teaching people how to make various handicrafts. Though this year’s market served the same purpose, Evanston Made created COVID-19 safety protocols for vendors and shoppers to follow. Vendors were only allowed to use contactless payment methods, elevators were disinfected often and hand sanitizer and masks were provided. Maker’s Market board member Evan Finamore said the market took on a much more “controlled” disposition this year, compared with the bustling environment of years prior.

Man connected to two Evanston shootings in July charged with murder

A 26-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder related to a July shooting.

While Finamore enjoyed last year’s atmosphere, she said she had hoped the event would retain its personality. “Everything is different, so it’s just another thing that has to be orchestrated differently,” Finamore said. For vendors, the market was also an opportunity to showcase pieces made during the pandemic. Eco and botanical artist Baz Cumberbatch presented a new mixed media series inspired by Lake Michigan’s beauty. Using only natural materials such as bamboo and coconut, Cumberbatch created illustrations and miniature models of sailboats. “Put it on the lake or in a pond, with the water and wind blowing, (and) it will move just like a regular sailboat,” Cumberbatch said. Socorro Muciño, a photographer and printmaker, also featured work based on the local landscape with her new project “Looking Up.” Consisting of various photographs of Evanston trees, the series serves as a “spiritual” experience that Muciño hopes inspires people to “look forward to a better time.” Vendors also said they saw the market as a safe way to engage with the community. Paul Segedin of Urban Prairie Design makes furniture using copper pipe and locally sourced wood, and has mainly done commissions recently. Nevertheless, he joined the market to connect with his hometown. “It’s going to be fun to be out there with other artists,” he said prior to the event. At the market, Segedin showcased wood and copper candle holders, cutting boards and several small sculptures he made out of wire and wood. Despite the difficulties many residents are facing, Deligantoni said she remains grateful for local engagement. “The silver lining of COVID has been that people are willing to step up and support the creative community of Evanston,” Deligiantoni said. jorjasiemons2024@u.northwestern.edu At around 1:16 a.m. on July 23, Evanston Police Department responded to reports of gunshots in the 300 block of Howard Street. When officers arrived, they found a 20-yearold man lying on the ground. Chicago Fire Department paramedics attempted to treat the man, but he was deceased. A second victim, a 21-year-old Evanston

Photo courtesy of Kathy Halper

The Maker’s Market at Maple Street Parking Garage in Downtown Evanston. The market was adapted this year to meet COVID-19 restrictions.

resident was found nearby with a graze wound on his head. He was brought to AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital and later released. An EPD investigation found that one person was responsible for both shootings, and Evanston police worked with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office to put out a national warrant for the suspect’s arrest. The

26-year-old was arrested on Oct. 10 in Toledo, Ohio and charged with first degree murder on Oct. 15. The man is currently being held in the Cook County Jail with no bond, and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 29. — Jacob Fulton

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Monday, October 19, 2020

FOOTBALL

Wildcats prepare for football season, medical careers By ELLA BROCKWAY

daily senior staffer @ellabrockway

Tyler Gillikin never imagined he’d be starting his first year of medical school in the middle of a once-in-acentury pandemic. As a first-year at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, he’s spent the last two months learning about the COVID-19 virus that has transformed the world at the same time that professional doctors and scientists are studying it. He’s also preparing to play his final season of Big Ten football. The Atlanta native and redshirt senior long snapper initially wasn’t planning on doing both at the same time — it was coach Pat Fitzgerald who was the driving force in trying to line up his academic and athletic schedules, Gillikin said. Now, he’s perhaps the only player in college football who owns both a white coat and a starting spot on a Power Five team. “It definitely is a lot going on, but I think the coaches have been very helpful in allowing me to do what I do not only to continue to get better on the field, but do well in the classroom as well,” he told The Daily. “Time management’s obviously something that we as student athletes have always been great at, for the most part, and being in med school just brings that to a whole other level.” Gillikin is one of a number of players on this year’s Northwestern roster navigating two laborious paths: preparing to be a college football player and preparing to be a doctor. Offensive lineman Sam Gerak and linebacker Erik Mueller are the team’s two pre-med seniors, both studying biological sciences with neurobiology concentrations with plans of medical school in the future. “I’d probably be lying to you if I said it was easy,” Mueller said. “It’s challenging emotionally, mentally and physically, obviously with the football aspect, but also with the demands of pre-med here at

Northwestern, which is as difficult as they paint it out to be.” It ’s an academic course load marked by 5:30 a.m. wakeups, studying — “all day, every day, for weeks on end,” Mueller puts it — tutoring sessions, study groups and the dreaded sophomore year Organic Chemistry. Add the schedule full of film, workouts and practice that being a Big Ten football player demands, and it’s not surprising that there’s only one word Gillikin uses to describe his days this fall: “packed.” “It’s made me balance my time a lot better, because you can’t give half of yourself to each thing. You have to give all of yourself to each thing,” said Gerak. “In the classroom, you have to live up to the standard of what a Northwestern student is, and on the field you have to live up to what a Wildcat is.” Playing college football and preparing academically to become a doctor is no easy feat in “normal” times, and it’s made no easier by the fact that this year, they’re doing both amid a pandemic. Gillikin, Gerak and Mueller never could have pictured the turn this year would’ve taken, but they say the events of this year have inspired their desire to follow this career path. This quarter, Gerak is taking a biology course on genetic evolution that has touched on the patterns in which viruses like the coronavirus evolve. Mueller’s parents both work in the medical field — his father is a general surgeon and his mother is a nurse — and their firsthand stories of working with COVID-19 patients gave him an up-close view of the national response to the virus. “It’s been encouraging to see our health care professionals and everyone who sacrificed so much to take care of these patients,” Mueller said. “Seeing their dedication has really helped reinforce (my idea) of ‘Yeah, I would love to do this, and take care of people and provide them whatever they need.” As they watched COVID-19’s impact on the medical field, these players were also busy trying to

Illustration by Carly Schulman

determine what it would do to the football field. The Big Ten’s everchanging decisions on how and when to play football were a rollercoaster — announcing a modified schedule in August, postponing all fall sports three days later and then resurrecting the season in September. For Gillikin, Gerak and Mueller, it made for a busy summer of following the latest medical developments, and even fielding questions from teammates curious for their pre-med perspectives. They’re now seeing directly what it’s taking to stage a season — daily rapid testing, stringent safety protocols and the proto-bubble the

MEN’S BASKETBALL

NU to serve as host for 2026 NCAA Midwest Regionals

Northwestern will serve as the host school for the Midwest Regional of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, according to an Oct. 14 NCAA announcement. Chicago’s United Center, home of the NBA’s Bulls and the NHL’s Blackhawks, will serve as the host venue. “We are proud to be selected to host a 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional (Sweet 16/Elite 8) with our friends, (the) United Center,” Northwestern Athletics said in a tweet after the announcement. Beginning during the second weekend of March Madness, the regional tournament includes the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds. The NCAA also announced other championship venues between 2023 and 2026, including Houston, San Jose, Calif. and Washington, D.C. as fellow 2026 regional sites. In 2018, the NCAA announced Indianapolis as the host city of the 2026 Final Four. The United Center is no stranger to March Madness: The stadium hosted the 2016 Midwest Regional and is also slated for the Midwest Regional in 2022. Chicago has also hosted Big Ten Tournament games at the stadium frequently — teams have played in the city 10 times since the tournament’s first iteration in 1998.

NU made its lone March Madness appearance in 2017. Coming in as an eight seed, the Cats won their first round game over the Vanderbilt Commodores, 68-66, before falling to the Gonzaga Bulldogs — the region’s top seed and national championship runner-up — 79-73. Though coach Chris Collins has remained at the helm since the appearance, NU has struggled to conjure

program has entered as it prepares to open its 2020 campaign on Saturday against Maryland. It’s yet to be determined exactly how these efforts will pan out, but so far, they’ve brought even deeper appreciation for the medical professionals working inside the program. “I think we’ve done a really good job, and I’m hopeful that other schools and other conferences around the country can implement those, because (the virus) is still an issue going forward,” Mueller said. “Having both perspectives of being on this football team and seeing the medical aspect, I’m just excited that we can move forward and hopefully play a

safe season for all of us.” These players still have some time before they officially jump from the line of scrimmage to the front lines of the medical field, and as time passes, it’s certain that their journeys there will be shaped by their experiences of living through this pandemic moment. “There’s a reason why medicine has always been my dream, and it’s to help people, and feel that I can provide a service that can change somebody’s life,” Gillikin said. “And that’s personally what I think being a doctor is all about.” ellabrockway@u.northwestern.edu

FOOTBALL their 2017 magic. The Cats finished the 2019-20 season 13th out of the Big Ten’s 14 teams and lost 74-57 to Minnesota in the first round Big Ten Tournament. This year, the men and women’s college basketball season should begin on Nov. 25 after the NCAA’s Division I Council approved that as a start date. — John Riker

Daily file photo by Katie Pach

Dererk Pardon looks to get around Giorgi Bezhanishvili. Pardon was the only captain healthy enough to play in the game.

Four players opt out of season due to pandemic risks

When Northwestern takes the field next Saturday against Maryland, they will be short a couple of key pieces. In a team statement released Friday, it was announced that senior defensive end Samdup Miller, senior quarterback Aidan Smith, senior safety Travis Whillock and redshirt sophomore tight end Jason Whittaker were all opting out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We completely support the decision each young man made during the spring and summer as they evaluated their personal circumstances,” Coach Pat Fitzgerald said in the statement. “All four Wildcats have been outstanding teammates throughout their time in our program. Nothing about the support we promised their families during recruitment will waver, with the full complement of scholarship, academic, sports medicine and professional development resources available.” This announcement comes after a hectic week of college football, when University of Florida’s football team faced a team outbreak and University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban tested positive on Wednesday. Back in Evanston, the Wildcats will have big shoes to fill, as every player except for Whittaker on the roster

started a game last season. Miller is certainly the Cats’ most experienced player to opt out with 35 career starts entering this season — the most of any returner coming into this season. But NU has the competitive depth to replace him. In a press conference last week, defensive coordinator Mike Hankitz said he’s been impressed with senior defensive end Earnest Brown IV and sophomore Eku Leota, who have both shown promise when given the opportunity. At the safety spot, Whillock and senior safety J.R. Pace have formed a dynamic duo for the past two years. Without the Texas native roaming in the secondary this season, defensive backs coach Matt MacPherson could look to junior Bryce Jackson, who has primarily served as a backup safety, but has played over the past couple of seasons. Fortunately in the quarterback room, Smith wasn’t expected to start over the likes of graduate transfer Peyton Ramsey, junior Hunter Johnson and even a healthy sixth-year TJ Green. The tight ends room also has plenty of depth with graduate transfer John Raine, as well as redshirt junior Trey Pugh and junior Charlie Mangieri who both saw playing time last season. The Wildcats will need all teammates to step up as they look to bounce back from an uncharacteristic 3-9 campaign in 2019. — Andrew Golden